Salaam readers,

Enjoy the chapter and don't forget to comment <3

"Aleena, how many times do I need to tell you not to soil your dress. You are six years old already, but you still act like you are two."

"Mama, I didn't make it dirty on purpose," I replied, my voice breaking.

"Weren't you informed that we have to attend a party and you weren't supposed to play in the backyard in your new outfit," She narrowed her eyes, "Therefore, you will not come along. Stay at home with aunt haazra."

I pouted my lips and began crying.

"Aunty Aisha, I'm sorry as it was my mistake that her dress got dirty. Aleena did not have the heart to play, I forced her to." Isaac said softly to my mom.

"Ummm...I'll forgive both of you this time. Aleena go to your room and get changed in a fraction of a second."

I ran gleefully to my room and took out my favourite blue Cinderella gown, slipped it onto myself, admired myself in the mirror and gave a wicked smile. I had purposely soiled my dress earlier because I wanted to change into this.

Later that day I asked Isaac why had he taken the blame on himself when clearly he hadn't forced me to play.

He shrugged his shoulders. "I cannot see you cry."

_______________

"Aleena, I'm speaking to you."

I raised my eyesight towards our school principal who was eyeing me suspiciously.

"Why didn't you submit your assignment?"

I stood there giving her a bored expression.

"Do you know that you are the only girl in the class who is extremely irresponsible."

"But ---"

"Do not create excuses, dear child."

"I promise to submit it tomorrow," I replied meekly, trying my best to sound sorry.

"I wish to see your assignment on my table at sharp eight in the morning."

"Thank you," I turned around and smiled internally.

"Along with your assignment, you shall submit your detention too."

"Detention?" My heart sank and I gave her an annoyed expression.

"Stop making such faces," She thundered, "You will write the same assignment thrice and submit all three of them in the morning."

The rest of the day in the school was spent sulking. I knew nothing about the particular mathematics assignment, it seemed like an impossible task.

After school, I hurried home and began working on my detention with a foul mood. I tried solving the puzzles and problems zealously but I wasn't able to solve even simple and basic problems, and I burst into uncontrollable tears.

Fortunately, and to my utter astonishment, Isaac visited my house sometime around dusk and handed me a completed assignment, along with two separate copies of the same.

I couldn't control my happiness and kept repeating that I'm extremely thankful for his help and I could never find a better friend than him.

I knew he was my true friend and would do anything to make me happy.

We promised to be there for each other during all the hardships of life.

But, we were only ten years old at that time and did not know the real meaning of 'hardships' or the exact meaning of 'life' itself.

______________

People had gathered in my house and it was filled with chattering noises.

More and more people began accumulating and a huge number of them kept consoling me.

But, no one could mend by a broken heart. It was impossible for someone else to understand my loss.

The dim interior of the house was crammed to the capacity with those who wished to pay their last respects

I shivered, lost in the dark well of my own grief. He was the greatest joy of my life and now he was gone.

Who would love me now? I thought painfully.

Who indeed would ever love me like that again?

The bond between a father and daughter was something very valuable and impossible to express in mere words.

I saw tears shimmering in the eyes of my sweet mom and she blinked them back. She had been sitting in the exact spot from the past several hours.

Her eyes glistened from unshed tears, the tears which were straining her eyelids, but she was adamant not to let them flow.

Ayath had cried so much so that the doctor had to prescribe pills for her and Ali had not spoken a word after we had received the terrible news.

I just felt devoid of any emotion. I couldn't bring myself to cry.

I stood there frozen, watching the lifeless body of my father.

We had talked endlessly about the sensible things he would do in future. The new discoveries and inventions he would make. It hadn't occurred to either of us that the future might be measured so very shortly.

The silence suddenly penetrated and I glanced around in a daze and realised that the house was pretty much empty save for some close relatives. I shook my head at my total lack of concentration.

I wandered around the house towards dad's room and the silent room seemed to eat me whole. Without dad's larger-than-life presence the pretty little room was an empty shell.

Everything seemed like a nightmare and I was positive that when I woke up everything would be normal and dad would return from work. After all, he had promised to take us out for dinner.

Oh, why was I wasting my precious time in between irrelevant people who were making no sense? Dad couldn't leave me just like this and I was sure that people were spreading rumours about his death. I had to get away from these false people and I had to meet dad for dinner.

I made way towards my bedroom to get changed into a beautiful outfit. I did not wish to make dad wait. He was a busy man.

I opened my closet and chose a forest green elegant gown, which dad had gifted me last summer.

Spreading the outfit on my huge bed, I turned to fetch my bathrobe from the hanger.

"Aleena?" I turned around to find Isaac standing on the landing outside my bedroom.

He was breathing fast, his hard strikingly handsome features set in a dark mask of concern as he moved towards me.

"What are you doing here?" I gasped.

"Oh forget about me." He gestured with his hands in an act of dismissing my question, "Seems like you are getting ready for some occasion, aren't you?" He inquired with raised eyebrows which were directed towards my gown which lay on my bed.

"Yes. I'm getting ready to go to dinner with dad, you could accompany us, dad loves to have you around," I replied clapping my hands and giving a broad smile.

"Aleena...." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Stop doing this to yourself."

"Doing what?"

"He isn't waiting for you."

"How do you know?" I rested my hand on my hip.

Isaac seemed reluctant, he ran shaking hand through his hair, "Aleena, Your dad is dead. He isn't alive anymore, you need to come in terms with the fact," He gritted rawly.

"Get out of my room this instant. I can't believe that even you are doing this. He is alive and I do not have the heart to see you anymore."

"Aleena, please stop doing this to yourself."

I dealt him a withering glance, "My, aren't we self-important? What makes you think that I would waste my breath trying to convince you of anything?"

"You can say whatever you please. But it won't change the fact the uncle aboobaker isn't with us anymore. You need to cry it will help you feel better."

With enormous effort, I straightened my slim shoulders and stood my ground, but I was deathly pale, "I don't know what you're talking about. Now, if you'll excuse me," I gestured towards the door, "I have to get ready. Dad dislikes people who do not understand the importance of punctuality."

"Listen to me."

"Stay away," I snapped.

"I wish I could.....I really do wish that I could," He bit out with clenched fists, concern emanating from him in waves.

"If you weren't so huge then I would throw you out of the room," I snapped at him with renowned fury.

"Fine, go on get ready," He threw his acts in act of surrender, "If you really wish to celebrate the day Uncle aboobacker left us, then your wish is my command. I will drop you to your destination and make sure that you enjoy your fullest."

I stared at him for a few terrifying moments and then sank down to the cold floor, crying my heart out.

"Papa....."

He knelt beside me, "Aleena, get a grip on your emotions. Everything is Almighty's qadr and his plans are always perfect. He knows what the future contains."

"Death is going to consume all of us. You will unite with your dad in heaven InshaAllah. Until we are in this world, we just need to have patience with the decisions of our creator and live a life that could benefit someone."

"Your dad was a great scientist, he did discoveries to make life easier for all of us. He helped hundreds of patients by paying the expenses of their treatment."

"We are proud of uncle aboobaker. Instead of shedding tears, we should supplicate to the Almighty to grant him highest place in jannath."

"I wish I could be as sensible as you Isaac," I sobbed, "Dad loved you so much."

"I love uncle aboobaker too. He will always remain in our hearts."

I nodded my head, wiping my uncontrollable tears.

"Aleena I have promised to help you in every hardship. Believe me, I will stand by you during every single hardship you face in your life, InshaAllah."

I knew the promise was true.

"I'm not only your friend but someone who would rather prefer to make your troubles as my own than see tears in your beautiful eyes."

I smiled faintly.

"And I promise to be there for you. whenever you need help, just remember Isaac and he will be very much pleased to oblige." He said pointing towards himself and smiled at me.

"Are you listening?"

I blinked several times and stared blankly at Aahil. I couldn't help but think about all the wonderful times I spent with Isaac. He was someone I would trust with life and wouldn't doubt him even if he himself confided his sins. He was such a huge part of my life that it wasn't easy for me to put him in the spot of a foe.

"I have no idea what promise Isaac is talking about." I snatched in a ragged breath and clutched an item of nearby furniture for support.

"Don't you dare lie to me." Aahil thundered.

I squinted with fearful curiosity at the card and then flung it on a nearby coffee table.

Aahil snatched it again and displayed it to me like a piece of prosecution evidence.

I gulped and gaped at the wordings presented before my sight, "How could you do this to me, Isaac." I whispered with pained comprehension.

"Isaac," Aahil savoured with seething satisfaction, "It was a mistake to withdraw the case and permit the police to let him free."

"No, it couldn't be Isaac!" I gasped in horror, appalled by the sight of Aahil's clenched fists and rampant aura of physical violence.

I coiled my shaking hands together and my tongue stole out to moisten my dry lips, "Isaac could never do this. I'm sure someone is trying to frame him."

"Why are trying to protect him?" Aahil inquired with raised eyebrows.

I don't know whether I'm trying to protect him or not but my heart knows that Isaac could never ever betray me.

Whether he was right or wrong, I didn't know, but I couldn't help feeling it was unfair of Aahil to think that I could be involved with Isaac and would betray him.

"You think I'm here to betray you, don't you? Thank you for belittling me."

"Aleena....I?"

"Make as many false assumptions as you wish because it doesn't matter anymore. You have made it clear that you don't trust me."

His facial expression softened, "I did not mean what I just said. I was angry and couldn't think straight."

Noor left the scene, closing the door of the living room as he passed by, allowing both of us to argue in privacy.

"I don't even have the rights to be angry with you, the way a loving wife would do. You always try to attach ulterior motives to all my actions, Don't you? I can't believe that you still link me with Isaac," Tears rushed into my eyes and I did not want an argument with him. I turned around and began walking, but Aahil shot to his feet and wrapped his arms around me and held me close.

"I'm sorry," he rasped, "I've made you feel bad when you have been sick with worry over my health. I'm sure you were concerned about me, so you chose to sleep away from me," He planted warm little kisses around my temples, then drew back enough to lift his hand and tenderly brush away
from my cheeks.

He gave a rueful smile, "Forget about it. It's not that important, Aleena. All the confusion will be solved InshaAllah."

"Aahil...," I swallowed hard, took a deep breath and spilt out what I felt. "I really don't want us to fight over petty issues." I shook my head as more tears flooded into my eyes as I thought of asking him about safe.

Again he gathered me close, gently pressing my head on his shoulders,
"Don't cry, darling," He said softly, stroking my hair and back as I struggled to regain composure.

"I did something right in marrying you, Aleena. You're all I need and want, and to have you at my side.....It means everything to me."

My heart fluttered and my mind shut down thinking. He wasn't good at expressing himself and this was probably the closest Aahil would ever get to a declaration of love.

I couldn't get myself to ask him, whether he loved anyone else in the past.

I did not want to know about his past.

As he was mine and I was his,
to have and to hold, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, not until death does us apart but even after death and be reunited in heaven InshaAllah.