Flashback...

The weather was cold and charming with light breeze blowing on it's own rhythm. The sky was clear, shining with stars, brightening at every second everywhere making the atmosphere all the more romantic for couples.

A peaceful kind of silence was blowing with the breeze, calming every scared hearts. Not even a sound of cricket was heard, giving the environment it's own privacy to speak in it's own language.

Love was present in the air, hitting it's target with full force and unaware of the things that were revolving around Laiba and Ashar, both of them sitting beside each other, on a park bench, both lost in their own thoughts.

"I'm sorry" she whispered ever so softly making his heart churn with the softness of her voice.

"Don't have to be. It wasn't your fault!" He smiled, but his smile not reaching his eyes.

"You aren't angry with me for coercing you to come with me?" Hope for the positive response from him was very much evident in her tone.

Chuckling, he shook his head, "Now when I think of it, I'm glad that I came with you."

Unaware of her heart skipping a beat and thousands of butterflies becoming alive, she smiled at his response.

Taking a spoonfull of her butterscotch ice cream, she said, "I don't have a very good relation with my mother" her thoughts taking her back to the conversation that she had in the car while going to the party.

"Very well aware of that!" He nodded his head, taking a spoonfull of his butterscotch ice cream.

"No matter how much I try, she just gets on my nerves and I can't stop myself from hating her more." She said clenching her fists tight.

It didn't take a second also for Ashar to not realize the anger that was riling up inside her.

"You know, I'm no one to comment on your relationship with your Mother because we still haven't crossed that border line which gives us the right to speak out our thoughts freely but one thing, I really want to share with you" he looked at her and she motioned him to go on.

"Religion Islam commands us to honor our parents, to obey them, to respect their opinion, and be kind to them. Allah Almighty says in the Noble Quran: "Worship Allah and join none with Him in worship, and do good to parents" (Quran, 4:36). Parents are the ones who have been with us through almost everything in our lives that's why we should be devoted to them. Respecting parents is one of the most significant aspects of Islam.

There are many verses in the Holy Quran where kindness to parents is even mentioned with the most important aspect of Islam that is worshipping Allah alone. Allah Almighty says in another verse of the Holy Quran: "Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him and that you be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honor." (Quran, 17:23)

The above-mentioned verse of Holy Quran cleared that no word of disrespect should be uttered toward parents. Honoring parents can be considered a form of worship if the intention is to please Almighty Allah by respecting His commands. Allah (SWT) advised us to show kindness, respect, and humility to our parents.

Once a companion of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) asked Him which of the many good deeds a man can do is the most loved by Almighty Allah. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) answered him by saying,"To offer the prayer in its proper time". The companion then asked, "And what is next?" to which Prophet Muhammad replied, "To be good and dutiful to your parents..." (Bukhari)

The child is obligated to care for the parents by displaying all the qualities and knowing that the reward for this is with Allah (SWT). The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said in one of His hadith,"If anyone possesses these three characteristics God will give him an easy death and bring him into His Paradise: gentleness towards the weak, affection towards parents, and kindness to slaves." (Tirmidhi)

In short, being dutiful to parents, obeying them and treating them with kindness is ingrained in the teachings of Islam. May Allah Almighty guide us to follow the teachings of Islam in a better way! Ameen"

Aameen, she whispered softly. The way her heart was beating after listening to his words was something new for her. He surely is a charmer.

Not knowing what to say or how to behave after listening to him, she cleared her throat and shifted uncomfortably on the bench.

"It's okay, you don't have to be embarrassed about anything. We all are learners!" He smiled.

"You've memorised the hadith's?" She asked

Nodding his head, he replied, "Not all but some."

"Isn't it tough?"

"Nope, why would it be? In fact I enjoy reading it and then memorising it."

"That's awesome, you know!! Your girlfriend must be very lucky to have you in her life" She punched his arm slightly. He chocked on her statement.

"What made you think of that?"

"O.M.G. you're single!!!" She gasped

"There's nothing to be so shocked about!"

"It's unbelievable that a guy like you is single!! I can't believe it..." She kept on screeching.

"I'm a one woman man" he simply said.

"Yeah, yeah...already in love with your Queen?" She asked looking at him.

"Head over heels!" He replied looking at her.

"You know it's not easy to find someone who believes in marriage and is in fact so loyal towards their partner!" She stated her thought.

"Maybe but I always felt like why should I run behind someone who's not my diamond" he shrugged making her speechless for a second.

"So much love for that one person whom you haven't even met yet or even seen her?" She asked

"There's no need for all this because she already hold a special place in my heart" he said staring at the open space in front of him.

"Marry Me!!" She said all of a sudden.

"Whatttt??!!!" He kind of shouted.

"Yes...marry me. See, I'm too far away from getting a guy like you so when I have you in front of me then why I shouldn't try stealing you?" She asked biting back a laughter.

"You are crazy!!!!" He shook his head.

"That I am...but didn't I scared you?" She asked now fulling facing him.

"Like I said....you're impossible!!" He couldn't control himself and he laughed making her laugh, too. Their laughter mixing together creating a perfect harmony...little did they knew that they were inviting the love to hit them with full force.

Throwing away their respective ice-cream cups in the bin, they walked on the grass. "So, what brought you in Chicago?" She asked

"My work..." He replied keeping his hands in his jeans pockets.

"Speaking of work...what do you actually do?" She asked looking up at him. She was 5'6 while he was 6'.

"Truth to be spoken, I've just started working in my own company." He said looking at her while she gave him a confused look. "After completing my Masters, when I returned back to my home in Canada, Dad asked me about my future plans and when I told him that I want to join my family business.

Instead of accepting that offer he told me that why should I join family business? Why can't I prove myself that I can alone start the business of my own and run it without anyone's help? I took that up as a challenge and after taking ample amount of time to think of all the profits and risks, I agreed to his challenge.

My Dad gave the capital with which I brought my office here and the apartment. Once I'm stable enough then I'm gonna return Dad's money." He said everything so casually that as if it was the most easiest things to do.

Speechless. Laiba was totally speechless. She couldn't just believe her ears. Afterall, who leaves behind luxury for austerity? But then again, Ashar was something else, different from all yet popular.

"Are you saying that you left behind everything and chose austerity?" She blinked thrice in a row.

Chuckling at her expression, he shook his head in amusement before replying to her, "I chose Austerity for me but luxury for my QUEEN!!"

She opened her mouth to say something but no words came out.

"....and besides Allahamdulilah, I've everything that is more than enough for my daily life and I accept that now my business has just started, it's still in it's initial stages but once my prayers will be answered then you'll see how far I'm gonna take my business" he smiled seeing his dreams dancing in front of his eyes.

"Your parents must be very proud of you"

"I'm yet to make them proud!" He replied.

"Seriously, Mr.Grey Eyes, after knowing you from up this close, I feel myself lucky to have you as my neighbour." She smiled while he smiled back in return.

"What about you?" He asked.

"I'm pathetic and so is my life! After completing my Uni I started working in Hugs with Mugs" she shrugged.

"And I believe there are many things that happened between Uni and Hugs with Mugs." He gave her a knowing look while she averted her gaze from him, not knowing how to respond him.
"Who knew that the girl who loves to annoy and calls herself a blank open book has many written layers but is scared to show them or erase them!!"

Was his words or was her being clumsy made her stumble on her own heels, but Ashar was quick enough to hold her from falling.

The time went still as the wind went wild.
But his grasp on her waist was mild.

She looked at him,
He looked at her,

As the wind engulfed them in it's arms,
Making her shiver

He wrapped his jacket around her
A sense of warmth found her

Hidden from them, roaming around them,
Love, finally found them.

A little drizzle
A little sprinkle

Was enough to make their life sparkle.

But for how long?

'Cause a storm was heard
Falling on the deaf ears

Unaware of everything that was going
They walked side by side

Walking towards the future
Where she would be His QUEEN.

Assalamualaikum, my beautiful readers. How are you all?

Are you all liking the story so far?

How do you find Ashar and Laiba's chemistry so far?

Would love to read your responses.

Hope to update soon.
Till then keep voting and commenting, guys.

Love ya...