Hunain:

" Ammi abbu, the guy will not be able to come today. His immediate family is only his friend so he is a famous doctor who has many appointments and operations to carry out this week. They will be able to come only after this week. "

Maarij was overexcited regarding the guy whose proposal was brought forth by some aunty, and I had to make sure I look into it more than anyone else does. I mean parents do care for their children, but I was protective about my only sister.

The guy's name was found out to be Mehmood and his friend was someone I had heard of from the internet quite often as I was interested in reading new researches and articles on heart's anatomy and physiology. Dr. Saaleh Ibraahim was one of the famous cardiologists in America, and so the aunty had told that this guy.. Umm.. I mean .. Mehmood was his friend.And regarding Saaleh being our cousin, that was not too real thing because we never knew his family or him directly. It was always that his name was mentioned in 'motherly lectures' to persuade us siblings to move forward in our career and keep our heads high and just in stuff like that.So naturally we were supposed to feel jealous of this cousin, but there was nothing like that too. Again . Because we never knew each other personally. Strange right? We were cousins, I mean not the direct ones, but still we knew not about each other's presence.

I tried to search for Mehmood on social media so that I could get some time to know about him more than very little I knew. Luckily, I found him on Instagram and soon I had sent him a request.

Keeping my cell aside, I walked to the outside of the house so that I could get myself some fresh air.

Planning to drive, I got into my car and drove slowly towards the main road .I thought I should surprise my sister with a hamper of donut and also gift her with an abaya so that she picks interest in wearing it.When I parked my car outside, I saw a girl running towards my direction, her face was flawless, but it had mascara smudged below her eyes and her lipstick was worn off , she was crying badly.When I noticed her dress that made me look away, though I felt some soft corner for her but I reminded myself of the ayah of Surah Noor which first recommended men to lower their gaze before commanding women to hide and lower their gaze too. I found myself caught with her dazzling beauty, simple and too innocent to pertain. Astaghfirullah.

She brushed past me , pushing apart the door of Dunkins where I was also heading too.

Bound by unknown spell I followed her and seated myself opposite to where she was sitting. It was as if destiny was playing some inaudible tunes to some story which was yet to begin.

Soon the door flung open again and there was a boy, nearly the girl's age who was staring at her beastly.

I felt blood rushing to my veins and I curled my fists, ready to attack him if something was found against what I can see. And exactly the same happened.

" You whore! Why did you run? Do you want to insult our family by running away from the party? I told you to act normal around everyone, then why did you lie to me when you said you were just going to the washroom! "

I partly heard their conversation and I didn't knew what got into me but what happened next blew some sense out of me and my fist was in contact with his face , wounding his jaw. Few drops of blood dripping down his jawline while he was staring at me like the same mad beast.

' How dare you treat a woman like this?? You don't seem to be coming from a low class family, but your attitude shows otherwise. '

" Oh. So you found yourself another entertainment Diljah? "

And I smashed his face again.

' You better go if you want your facial features to remain alright. '

" Who are you to warn me like that huh? Her boyfriend? Her lover? Or some onenight stand? Make it clear she is mine, she is my fiancé and no filthy man like you can ever snatch her away from me! I'm leaving right now, but Diljah remember you'll have to pay for this.This man here, will only use you and then throw you away like a kid eats the chocolate and mercilessly discards the wrapper. "

' How dare you.. ? '

I once again punched his already bleeding jaws which made him wince in pain.

He wiped his bleeding lips and then stomped his feet out of there, glancing at my direction once shooting daggers before leaving finally.

' Are you okay? I mean. I know you aren't. Im sorry to interfere. Just wait here pls. I know I'm no one to you, infact I'm just a stranger. Uh. I. I. '

" Thanks. "

I heard her soft melodious voice, her gaze were lowered, tears fresh in her eyes.

' Uh. Can you pls not cry? I don't like wastage of water. I mean, see , some areas in the city are deprived of water. If you could supply them instead? '

And then again I heard her melodious voice, this time even sweeter. Her laughter. A short and pleasant one. I excused myself and without thinking anything I moved outside.

Soon I brought the bag from my car which had the abaya in it and presented it to her.Yes, I wanted to give her this. I just felt that she should be covered. She is something worth preservable.

' Take this. You'll feel comfortable and safe wearing it. '

I didn't wait for her to take the bag or didn't even bother to see if she accepted or not, I just left the bag at her table and went outside. I was just rewinding the whole thing in my mind, and no matter what I couldn't connect the dots.Because this was exactly not my behavior, the hunain who never evee tried to initiate a conversation with someone of opposite gender, or even look at them, had today, spent few minutes of his life with someone, a lady, totally stranger, and the lady who made me feel for a millisecond that she was the someone whom Allah had to send for me.

But. I was worried. Was she really the one? Or was I loosing my iman?

Durre:

Diljah hadn't been answering any phone calls since her engagement fiasco.

Our whatsapp group looked so empty, ghostly infact. Allah knows where Maarij was, Di was not answering and neither she was online since past one days, and I was sitting here waiting for time to pass eagerly. It had never happened so that we friends were disconnected with each other for more than 12 hrs. And this happened now. It meant there was something serious.

Before getting ready for her engagement she had shown me her dress and that she was feeling all jittery about the event, she said that Nadir had some intense emotions floating in his eyes which she couldn't understand exactly about what it was. I just hoped that everything went well.

As for Maarij, she was overexcited about her 'American proposal' and was all dreamy about that guy, which I heard was some Mehmood.

Thankful to Allah Tala, the fuss about my marriage thingy had disappeared for a time being or maybe it was the calm before the storm. Oh no please, Allah Tala noo!

Diljah:

After few hours had passed, I felt so much better crying myself to sleep and when I woke up it was nearly 7 in the morning. I had skipped the dinner, and it was almost time to run for the church!

I quickly washed myself , wore a new dress and pulled my hair into a neat braid and then slided the bag onto my shoulder and began storming out of my room to the exit door.

But my pace got halted, I remembered something which made me smile a little even after whatever happened yesterday was the bad news for me but still there was a light of happiness which was made to shine towards my way, when I got bumped into him.

I couldn't hide my tears and my messed up state and found an escape to the Dunkins as usual as we friends did. That was a lil place of ours, not really, but we had been spending our time there a lot often and whenever we had to share anything we used to be there and so this was natural for me to beseech this place for my confinement. But i didn't knew he would follow me there too.

The abaya... That black piece of cloth which I always cringed about thinking how do the muslim women wear it in the burning hot weather and still appear so cool and calm as if they are air-conditioned from inside.

I took my steps back into the home and thought of something for few minutes and then gathered courage to wear that abaya. And I did.

I didn't think twice upon whether I should just discard it or not, I just remembered the one who gifted me this and it was as if a natural reflex which made me do so... I just found peace and prestige when I wrapped the black scarf around my head.

Father Peter, would definitely stare at me like I'm an alien.

But I was to please someone, someone particular... May be?

I wish he could see me wearing what he gave, I wish he could capture me in his eyes only with one glance only in one blink...

I tied the strap of my sandles and walked myself towards the nearest church.

As usual Father Peter was lightning the candles around the church, and I made my appearance offering greetings to him. When he turned around and looked at me from head to toe, he smiled, sauntered towards me and patted my head.

What was happening?

" Father? "

' Yes my child? '

" Aren't you thinking about what's wrong with me? "

' No I'm not. Because God had already shown me some signs that you'd change slowly. You know why am I happy for you? Because God is the one who is showing you the way. '

" I don't understand anything Father. "

' You don't even need to my child. Just have faith in God.  He will definitely make your path easier. God bless you my child. '

And that day I didn't bow my head down in front of Jesus, neither I knelt in front of him.

God is showing me a way, which way is this?