Sophia's P.O.V
It's been three years Already since Ethan promised me. Everyone around me had already gotten married  Hannan, Rayaan, Zunairah and you won't believe this but I have a nephew named Yusha next week will be his first birthday. I feel happy for Rayaan and Michael. Hanaan married a man named Zubair Asim whose parents are from Columbia even though she's from Indonesia they make the absolute cutest couple just like Zunairah and Muhammad.
As for Ethan I've read that his restaurant has become a huge hit it's futures in top magazines and that there is donors that he will be opening a resort in Kuwait soon. You'd think by now I would have eaten at his restaurant and talked to him in person but I haven't seen him since Zunairah's wedding and we didn't talk. Don't get me wrong we haven't lost communication we still text each other Everyday but with busy my schedule and his being too packed we haven't gotten the chance to see each other much. And I had the stress on taking my MCATS so I could get into MedSchool and I got into the school of my dreams Alahmdullilah. InshaAllah my dream of becoming a doctor is closer in reach. InshaAllah I'm going to make it. It's a scary thought that it's already been three years. I remember what prophet Muhammad Peace be upon him said about time passing too quickly is a sign that the end is near.

I came home after work one evening and I saw Ethan sitting in the drawing room with Yusuf; Michael's older brother, My uncle Issa and my father. He looked so different from the last time I saw him. He trimmed his beard and had a suit on that made him look so professional  I tried to go all incognito and pass by but sadly being a niqabi I didn't come with that power at home Abi called me and he told me to sit down that Ethan wanted to talk to me I think for a moment there my heart became paralyzed after I sat down abi, uncle and Yusuf left.
we were sitting together in the living room across from each other. My heart was bounding in my chest waiting for him to ask or say anything. Hoping it was good news I wondered if he wanted to see my face he had the right to, but all he was doing was looking down at his intertwined hands and smiling like he was the luckiest man on earth.

"Are you okay?" I asked a bit worried after a few minutes had pass just to break the silence.
"Yeah I am now I've been having this weight on my chest ever since I asked you father for your hand the first time And now it seemed to have disappeared like it wasn't even there when I found out you still haven't chosen anyone. It still means I have a chance. Sophia I want to formally officially ask you to marry me I've waited for this moment a long time and I hope you have as well waited for me as I have for you."
"Oh my Allah Yes, Yes Oh my Allah yes!!" The moment I said that he jumped from his seat
"Allahu Akbar thank you Allah thank you Allah." Causing me to laugh under my niqab.
"You thought I was going to say no?" I asked curiously

"I honestly don't know because you can be unpredictable at times."

"Unpredictable? What's that supposed to mean."

"It's just that I've known you for almost four years and you still surprise me mashaAllah it's one of the many things I like about you."
~*~*~*~*~

I didn't care if people thought I was being ridiculous about having a small Nikkah ceremony with a Dinner for the Elders and not an over the top wedding as long as Ethan is okay with it and he was. Having a big  wedding would make other people would find fault in it no matter how amazing it might be. So why not save other people from getting Thambi on my behave. I don't want to be the reason they have their good deeds reduced on the day of judgment.

After the small ceremony and everyone was eating Ethan suddenly intertwined his hand with mine and he held it up as he bend over and his kiss my hand. Oh shit he kissed my hand. Calm down I told myself as I looked around to see if anyone else saw that. And to my horror it was Sumayah who saw and she smiled and winked at me making my face change into different shades. Ethan looked up and chuckled as though he could see the expression on my face through my niqab. It might seem weird for everyone else for a guy to marry a someone who he hasn't still seen their face but Ethan did. He told me he wanted it to be a surprise and that monster how I look like he knows that I have the true hidden beauty that matters most.

I was dragged into a room by many of my cousins so they could each congratulate me as well as tease me like no tomorrow about finally getting married and not becoming very some old spinster it went on for a while until my parents came with Ethan. They both Advices on marriage and made dua for us be fire the left us alone. Once we were alone he came closer to me and reached out reminding me that I was still wearing my Niqab
"Tu es belle." he said after lifting my niqab and looking at my face for the longest minute ever. "You are absolutely beautiful inside and out."
Our wedding night was the night I discovered he had a tattoo with Chinese or Japanese writing that enveloped his right Shoulder that looked faded. When I questioned him about it he told me he had got it at a young age when he worked under a man know as Major it was symbolic to him that and it was part of the initiation that you got it. He was told it meant loyalty.
"But I broke that code the day I walked out and joined Yusuf. If it wasn't for Yusuf and Michael I would have been a dead man now. Major is father's brother but he's also the man who killed my father in cold blood. I couldn't work with him knowing that. So when I found out I wanted out and Yusuf helped me with that."

Ethan's P.O.V
Sophia is everything I could ever ask Allah for in a wife. She's beautiful intelligent dedicated and righteous. And I'm honored that she waited for me so I would have the strength and courage to ask for her hand.
For our honeymoon Sophia decided that we should go to Mombasa in Kenya because she's never been there and it's close to Somalia were her great grandparents come from. Which shows you how much she appreciates her roots considering At first she wanted to go to Somali but I was a bit hesitant on that after knowing Somalia has been in civil war for over two decades so we settle with Kenya. My life was officially feeling complete for once in a very long time. I finally had my own family I could pray salat with, fast with, go to the masjid with and read Quran with because with Allah's help I found myself a believer and I am grateful that Allah has decided to pair me up with her.
The first time I saw her I knew deep down that she was the one for me. Though she was covered from head to toe I seriously had a hard time lowering my gaze I was awed by her devotion and strength when she spoke trying to get my eyes off her was quite a challenge. Just the way she was covered for no one else's other than Allah and without a care what others thought intrigued me. She's a righteous believer and wallah I love her. I love her for the sake of Allah and I love that with her I'll start my family, my own Muslim family.
She wasn't disappointed at me for my past the night I told her the gruesome stories of my past and what I had to do in order to survive when I was with Major. I thought she'd leave me like I feared she would Instead she said "Alhamdulillah that you are the man you are now. And I'm sure Allah forgives you for that because you did it all before you found Islam."
"I'm disappointed that I couldn't help Toby find his sister, I was so close but Major got a wind of me."
"What do you mean? Toby's sited lived in our apartment building?"
"Yeah Emma did that was before Major relocated her and kidnapped us."
"Oh my Allah do you mean Emma as in the Johnson's daughter? I babysitter her once how is that even possible who were they?"
"That is her I'm not sure who they are probably some people hired by Major to raise Emma. Emma was a baby when she and Toby were separated so she might not know those aren't her parents."
"This is so not right why haven't you told the police this."
"Because if I did major might do something unexpected like kill Toby and Emma and most likely get away with it. I can't risk them."
"They are family aren't they?"
"Yeah they are my cousins."
"Don't lose faith everything will be okay Allah will protect them inshaAllah he sees all and hears all and he is the Ultimate protector." As she said that to me I knew from the moment that I was right to choose her And that she's the right one to complete half my Deen with. and I thank Allah for making her my Zawjati. Just watching her make dua after every prayer I couldn't ask for anyone better. I know deep down she's a women that can keep me strong when I am week. If there is truly an existence of a soul mate she is mine as I am hers Alhamdulillah.
This truly is love when you know that with her there might be a chance that Allah may grant me and my future family Jannnah for generations to come because she it a righteous believer