Khadijah:

It was as if someone had poured ice cold bucket on me, I did not want to believe what I heard was true.I knew that Maarij and Durre were closer to each other than me, but... did I deserve to be treated this foreignly? I felt a pang of hurt in my chest when realization hit me along with this betrayal thing. This wasnt actually betrayal from my friend. It was my stupid mind.

I will not accept this and I wont let my feelings conquer me. I am destined to be here and I'll stay here until God sends me my protector, my rescue , until I am able to run away far from here so that I am not punished for accepting other religion.

Hearing the azaan for Ishaa, it broke me out of my trance and I went into the washroom for performing abulution. This part was always hard. My mother thought that I was getting some OCD. And I had to make her think that way too. I presumed everytime I washed my body parts, that they were dirty and I need to clean them. She nevertheless bought this reason and always sympathised with me, and would say that this all is because I am not getting married to Nadir fast. Strange and creepy!

I felt peace residing in every ounce of my cell, after washing my parts... it was though true, that I was washing my parts from dirt from filth, that I was surrounded with and in which I was involved.

Locking my room after informing my mother that I was doing some project work on which I needed focus, I stood for prayer.

Facing the Qiblah(direction towards which Muslims pray) , I started reciting verses of Quraan with which the prayer commenced. Surah al Fatiha.

After finishing my prayer, I folded my dupatta neatly and placed it inside the cupboard. I had fixed that permanently for prayer purpose only, I could not bring a prayer mat for reasons obvious.

" What happened Dijah, are you too upset with me? What I did was wrong? "

I recieved a text from Maarij and I was planning not to reply, soon another followed.

" Bhai is extremely angry with me too, everyone is mad at me. Aesa bhi kya krdia maine yar! (What did I do so wrong!) Pls say something?? "

I was feeling emotional and pity too, she was wrong though but now everyone was playing angry with her. And, maybe this was my problem... I had a very good heart.

I was just about to type, when my cell buzzed again. This time , the caller displayed was Nadir. How did Nadir? Oh God. What's happening?

I didnt answer my cell, keeping it aside and on silent mode I preferred sleep. Hugging the duvet closer to my body, I recited dua for sleep and the last verses of Surah Baqarah I had recently memorized when I was learning about all the new things of Islam,which were for your protection and a good peaceful slumber.. I drifted away slowly.

***

When I woke up the next day it was past 7 and I had missed my fajar prayer. Missing fajar prayer was like missing your breakfast, you are not charged and your soul is lethargic the whole day. I decided to make up for the qaza prayer, and after taking a quick shower I stood facing the Qiblah.

Meanwhile in prayer, I heard my mom knocking on the door too louder than ever.

I finished off my rakahs by saying salaam, took off my hijab and kept the dupatta aside which I was using as a prayer mat. Before mom could sense anything different, I rushed to open the door. With a big smile I greeted her morning and hugged her. She too returned the gesture. For the time , I was happy that my mom was showering her love on me for which I craved badly however I couldnt stop myself from thinking of it would last after knowing that I was now a Muslim.

" You know what beta? Nadir has recovered from his injuries . I am so thankful to God. He wants to marry you after your exams only. Also that he is happily agreed for you to continue your studies if you wish doing so, after marriage. Isnt that a great news? I always knew Nadir would be a perfect guy for my beautiful daughter. "

Mom kissed my forehead and then cupped my face in her hands affectionately,

" May God bless you Diljah. Only if your father were alive he could have witnessed how gorgeous of a woman you have grown up into. I am really proud of you my child, thank you for keeping my wish to marry him. You wont be ever disappointed in him. Just trust your mom, okay? "

I nodded, without any reason to oblige towards her heartiest supplication. I had seen a mothers supplication failing before, so this was ironical to me how she seemed satisfied and unaware of the hell she had unknowingly created for me.

I then excused myself from her and informed her that I was getting late, for basketball practice.

On mom's insistence I took two pieces of bread spreading them quickly with nutella spread and just put them wrapped in a plastic bag and went outside, I bit my tongue saying salutations to her. 'ASSA.. '

" Yes beta? "

' Nothing mom. I was just saying that asal mai you are the most beautiful woman not me. '

I winked at her and quickly stepped outside. Soft morning breeze tickled my face and was trying to mess up with the new hairstyle I had made, uh-oh my hijab!

But then I remembered keeping a dupatta in my bag at last moment and so I thought I should just wrap that on my head so that I am comfortable. Reaching the school was not that much a problem, there was little or no traffic at this time as most students who were collected by school tramsport came around 8 and it was just twenty minites past seven now.

Hunain:

It was more than 6 hrs now, I was locked in my room. Depression was not something I was pleased with, anyhow I was caught into it. I felt sorry towards Allah, sorry towards myself that I failed... I failed miserably in guiding my modesty. I reminded myself of the verse of Surah Noor,

Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do.

Was it that I was more in anguish because of what Maarij did? Or was it because that the girl they were talking was actually not the one I wanted to marry... she was Durre shehwar, someone entirely different from the being my heart had chosen already.

Reciting tawuz several times until I felt my mind towards peace, I decided to go back to work no matter what the time was.

***

I didnt realise when sleep engulfed me, as when I woke up I found myself lying on the bench that stood against one of my garage's wall. Sunlight peeking through the window I left open last night, it was early morning but sadly I was so occupied in the grief of yesterday that I had missed my fajar prayer. Never in my life had happened so that I missed them. And this was a saddening plus most disturbing thing to have noticed. Was my love towards her a thing unpleased in sight of Allah? I began to ponder.

Stretching my arms and loosening the few buttons of my shirt I raised up and tried moving my head in different positions. It had been numb due to my awkward sleeping position yesternight.

Washing my face several times and then performing wadhu I tried pleasing my Rabb, asking His forgiveness, and making up for the missed fajar prayers.

I was in no mood to go home so instead I thought of going to a walk in the park that was a mile away from my garage and which stood opposite to Maarij's school.

Taking out my cellphone, I played Surah Yaseen in the vocals of my favourite Sheikh Mahir Al Maiqaly and then plugging the earphones I began jogging.

The serenity the voice of Quran sent through your body was undescribable, I felt as if Allah's words were soothing my heart, calming the storms in my mind and just letting me breathe peacefully at this time.

It was when I was so deeply engrossed in my peaceful world, that I banged myself against someone who was also jogging from the opposite direction. Thank God, it was not a woman creature! I hastily removed my earphones tugged them inside my jacket pockets and moved my eyes towards the object of collision, and I saw him staring back at me with devilish glint in his eyes.

" Oh hello Mr. Loverboy. How have you been ? Wanna punch me more? Look what your darling did to me? Did you know that she is a bloody murderer? She tried to kill me dropping... "

' Firstly I would like to introduce you myself, as we didnt get that much formal that day which you are reminding me of. Oh, I can see the bruises still. Poor boy, you didnt recover yet? How old are you by the way now? In teens? . '

I closed my eyes for a second and then calmed my breathes and continued,

' I am not intrested in your life boy, but please buy my advice and keep your violence to yourself. A man is not he who raises hand or shouts over a woman, who is weaker than him. If you will to compete, fight with one who matches your strength. And I must tell you, you dont match my level of strength so I prefer not wasting my stamina over you. Sorry I bumped into you, that might have hurted you right? May I take you to the doctor lil boy? '

He huffed and was just about to say something when his eyes traveled outside the park , following his gaze I dreaded noticing his prey, moving slowly towards the school. But, why is she wearing a scarf? I mean... uh.. she ...

" Okay brother I get your advice, I must show her how weak she is in front of this lil boy. "

I wish I could break his mouth but letting anger take control of my mind was not a good option, I had to let my temper loosen and then think of something to save her. I was sure, he would do something she might get hurt. Meanwhile I had to be sure I dont touch her, like the way I mistakenly did when in hospital... I never want things between us to turn unislamically romantic. Never. But still, I had to save her somehow.