1st Sept, 2018

He came home very tired. Today he attended many calls from the client since his profile has been posted in his company's Facebook page as a recruiter's contact. He was really felt bad after receiving many calls. He didn't get a free time after lunch also. He was called for office meeting too that day. Having finished his day work, he reached his home at 8pm where his family is expecting for Ahmed to meet his Nani's family. His mama and maami are going to visit for Hajj pilgrimage the next day morning, so her mom was calling Ahmed since three days. Ahmed couldn't fulfil his mom's request because every day he'll come back home with more tiredness.

This night when he steps in home, Ahmed saw his family get readying some where,
He came in and asked his mom,
"Mi, where are you readying to go? That too, in this night." His mom sighed and told him, "Dear, your mama and maami is going to leave from Airport, that too early in the morning. If we go now, we can see them, else we fail to meet them. Please don't say 'no', dear. Let us go, you go and fresh up and come soon."

Ahmed couldn't go against his mom's request, so he decided to take her to his Nani's home. And it is only two stops before Ridha's home. After putting on his track and t-shirt, he left his home in a car with his family. He neglected his body tiredness because of his mother's persistent request. And he knows that there is no more chance to meet his mama's family after their trip.

Once they reached their home, they spend good times in doing hugs and his mama's family warmly welcomes them. Ahmed stayed in their house for about six months during his PG for the sake of his lovable one's house nearby. So he is close to their Mama's house. His mama consider him as his own son because they don't have children. That night, his mom was so happy to see her maternal relations like everyone who gets closer to their maternal relations than the paternal one.

Later, his Nani called Ahmed, "When are you planned to marry, my son?" The whole family focussed on his Nani's question. They knew that Ahmed loves Ridha. They don't know about her details and family details because they just waited to get that from Ahmed's words. Ahmed doesn't know how to react for the question. So he remain unanswered.

His mother replied, "Once he settle himself as a man, he can marry know, Ammi" Then his maami started, " Hey dear, you attained the age of 23, you are earning better and you can plan your marriage from now on".

Actually Ahmed doesn't want to know everyone about their plans on marriage and only Allah knows at what age they can fit in each other's life. So he continued his silence. That time, he happened to see Ridha's text popped on a screen a minute ago. So he replied her,
Ahmed - "Sorry! I couldn't chat with you tonight, because I came to my Mama's house since they are leaving for hajj by tomorrow"

"And my Nani is deeply conversing about my marriage with my mother, Will text you later, Ridha"
by pocketing his phone and begin to listen his elder's conversation.

Their conversation lasted long and at one stage, his mama(uncle) secretly called Ahmed outside and told him many useful advices, " Listen my dear, don't put those ladies words on your ears. Now only you begin to learn how to earn. It's hardly been a year, so let you settle yourself and your family and think about marriage. It will help your future better In sha Allah" and came near to him and utter something silently in Ahmed's ears, "Every ladies are double minded people, even my wife too". Ahmed laughed at his last statement that came out as a whisper. It's nice to have a person who guides you in a good way when all others confuses.

Then an hour later, Ahmed took his mom and dad to nearby R.T.O beach. It's famous for "Midnight mor're thatha". There is an old man who sells buttermilk at midnight near that beach. Mostly people come there to drink his buttermilk. It will be special and delicious to drink and that's why he was more reputed for his passionate drink. Ahmed used to come with his friends to that beach to drink the buttermilk and go for a long night ride. But this night, he wanted to bring his family and make them taste the most favourite buttermilk. His mom enjoyed the drink and the cool dark night. They stayed there half an hour and returned home.

It is 1 A.M and he remembered that he gave a word to Ridha that they can have some deep chat before sleeping. So he took his phone and checked Ridha's last seen. It's around the time when he texted her last. He shared some photos which he tooked with his family near the beach, and texted hoping she'll come online,
Ahmed - "Sorry, I gave you a word that I ll text you since I was busy this whole week. I know that you'll get hurt. But sorry I couldn't leave you time. And today I made my mom more happy as you always tell me to do something for her. Today I took her to my favourite buttermilk vendor and brought her that drink. She was happy with her maternal family. Ridha !!! Sorry dear, please come online. No matter how long you take to come online, I ll wait for you till dawn"

"Ridha???"( At 3 A.M)

He couldn't control his burning eyes from closing and atlast he slept by holding phone in his hand.

'She cried the whole night by thinking that he was busy and
He longed for her and waited for her reply till dawn.'

-----------------------------------------------------------

Ridha's Past starts:

"Ma, please we'll go for a round over this village and come. It looks too greenish and Azar told me that we have a pumpset near the field, so we can have a long walk into the fields and admire the nature", Ridha suggested her mom. Sana also joined Ridha and said in a chorus, "Ma, please , please, let us go and have fun today."

Ridha and her family visited her maternal relations in her vacation. It is a small town in the southside of TN. Her aunt house is situated in the middle of the entire field of the village. It's like they are living with the one sensed Living things. Greenishness spread over the field around them. Some tall trees stood on the corner of the field like a body guards. The water from the well is driven out by the motor and it's like a small water fall from the large pump set and it's flowing into very narrow streams across the fields. No one will have thought to go back to their home once they go to that town. For every vacation, she'll come here with her family. This time, they came here to spend their winter holidays to enjoy with her maternal relations.

"Okay, I 'll also come with you since it too long. We'll go once we finish our breakfast", Nisa said. "Take some clothes because you'll get wet once you get into the field" Ashiq told her five sisters. Ashiq is cousin-brother for Ridha and Sana. He also belongs to the same age group as Ridha.
"No problem if we get wet also" Ridha replied him with the smirk on her face.
"Do whatever, I'll take some" Sana interrupted Ridha. "Okay we all leave by now, so that we can reach home at 3pm" Azar told everyone. Azar and Umar are also same age mate , three years elder than Ridha. She considered them as her own elder brothers. She loves to have a own elder brother, so she have a special care on them and they also treat her the same. "This is my t-shirt, Give me, you're always taking mine since we have the same. First of all, I need to complain mom that from next time she should not buy same colour and design for both of us" Hussain argued to Hasan. "No way, see I marked inside the collar for clearance" while searching the mark, he found nowhere so he managed to say by having a fake smile, "yeah, it's yours" and escaped by talking something to Sana before third world war starts. Hassan and Hussain are twins, they are also Ridha's most younger cousin, one year younger than Sana.

"Is this kaajal okay for me, I have just lighten up on my eyes" Sharmi asked Rabiya. "Mm , it's good", She replied. Sumaiya interrupted them saying "We are just going around your town and have some fun. For this too, you'll makeup di" and giggled at Sharmi. Sharmi and Rabiya are same age group, eldest of all in the gang of ten. Sumaiya is the youngest blood sister of Rabiya and Umar.

When walking on the road which lies between the fields on both side. Wind is blowing on the direction opposite to their faces. It's just a cool climate and some drizzling happening from time to time. Many wind mills are located intermediate in the fields. Once they walked in four groups based on the age groups, Sharmi and Rabiya, Ashiq and Sumaiya, Ridha and Umar and Azar , Sana and twins chitchatting among each other, they don't knew that they walked miles from her aunt's home. Azar guided into a mango grove where it is dense with mango trees and many unripened mangoes are scattered all over the branch.

After a minute, Ridha passed by a tree where she saw a mango,in yellowishly green colour, yet to ripe. She thought it will be very tasty among all mangoes hung over there. But it is not in a reachable distance to get from any human hands. So she called Umar to get that since he is tallest of all, "Bhai, please I need this mango, it's not reachable for me". Others have gone to enjoy in the pumpset which is visible from where Ridha stands. When Azar turned to see Umar is trying to get that mangoes. He also left the gang and joined this two, "Hey Umar, what are you trying?".
"Our sister needs this particular mango, so I'm trying to get it for her." Umar replied.
"Wait", he went to search something on the ground. Ridha wants to taste the one which drives her mind crazy and she saw Azar ended up his search by getting a lengthy twig from the ground. "Move a bit", he said to Umar. When he jumped heavily to get that, he couldn't get it finally and asked Ridha, "I'll get this easier one, this also taste the same, Ridha" by pointing it to the reachable one nearby.
"No Bhai, that mango looks delightful and delicious, I want it Bhai, please"

Now Umar took a small stone and aim for a the mango which she asked. Ridha has gone unbearable happy when her brother hits her targeted mango. "You both are amazing brothers" and took that one from her hand. When she bites the mango, the two brothers waited to see her expression. They uncontrollably laughed to the floors when she made a weird face and said, " It's too sour Bhai. It's not at all nice. I don't want it" and kept casually in one of the branches and begin to walk near the pumpset. Azar and Umar got irritated for a second and smiled over her sister's funny thought of having that odd one. They giggled and reached the field where water is pouring into the large field from the large pump. Ridha, Sana, Sharmi, Rabiya and Sumaiya raptured and went to sit near the place where water is pouring with excitement.

"Ma, I ll go near to the paddy field by following this small stream" Ridha said and Sana followed her. The water looks very clear and she admired to see her foot in that crystal clear water when she dipped in it. Then when she saw the entire greens of the field which got covered by some trees and small shrubs, she exclaimed, "Masha Allah, how amazing Allah's creation is!!!". Ridha and Sana enjoyed there by catching some butterflies and leaving many. And the twins too gathered playing with them.

They left the place with lots of memories and mangoes from the mango grove and some small Gooseberries. While returning home, the wind breeze passed from their back like dropping them till the home, the gang of ten rejoiced with the wonderful creations of Allah the whole day. Ridha saw many peacocks over there, she tried to catch some feathers. But she couldn't get a single one. Later Umar came and gave one piece of peacock feather to her, "Have it Ridha, this is what you want to get, right". Ridha put a large smile and told him "Thanks Bhai".

She was happy with her cousins. She thought them as their own brothers and sisters. She always has a little thought in her heart when they gather over the vacation every time. The thought is to have a mates for her five brothers and five sisters including her In sha a Allah. It will be like gang of 20, in addition to the kids which leads to huge family. She giggled by the thought and said Alhamdhulillah for the present what her Rabbu gave her.

She also thought of Ahmed for a while, 'what if Ahmed comes to join this gang, how will he do with my brothers, will he join them or behave in a repulsive way'. Then later she thought that it was a wrong assumption and she won't have any relations with him in the future. But his thought disturbed her a lot.

Ridha's Past ends...
-----------------------------------------------------------
After praying her fajr, she took her phone from the shelf hoping that she'll go upset by seeing no texts from Ah'med. But unfortunately , her eyes widened with happiness and her heart gave her a little hope that he won't leave her. When she opened it, she found a long text messages from him and some photos, a little smile graced her lips. When she found his Sorry, her heart melted for him. How can it be possible. When she expected him, he won't even turn to her side. But how can he left with these much texts. Added to that he waited for her the whole night without sleeping. She couldn't find any logic in her love. Only thing she experienced from him everytime is

'When she longed for him, he won't even turn a bit. But when she left with no hope and make a U-turn in her life, he comes in her way to take her back to his way and assure his love is real and true.'

Now she felt diplomatic. Once side his reason for the hurt which she had last night seems true. But the other side, it seems like he will miss her once she left no hope for him in all means and take a new route. Every time she fall for him and love him when he shows love endlessly to her. But finally he'll avoid her by saying he was busy in her work when some days gone. This was the routine thing going on their love. Ridha couldn't find his real love or his preferences for her like first. Now she feels like she need nothing but a brave heart.

Whatever the situation pushes her, she wanted it to handle by herself. She wanted to go in the way that she has gone previously in her school days. She wanted her to be strong like a shield preventing the soldier from enemies. She really dont want to wait for Ahmed's help to stand when she fell for him. And she didn't think love should not come this way.

By seeing those texts, she don't like to reply any. She didn't want to tell him the worries she had the whole night and her cries. Because he may feel fake on her when she shows that she worried a lot for him. So she thought to have some distance and she made her heart that once she grows mature, she can handle any sort of pain which happens intentionally or unintentionally by him at any cause.

She controlled to go near her phone and that day has gone easier than any other day since it's Sunday. She busied herself in kitchen helping her mom by making some dishes. And after magrib, she went to the nearby masjid with her mother for hearing a weekly bayyan (Islamic lecture).

When she silently sits in the bayyan, hearing the reciter words, she felt engaged with her Lord's words. He started the lecture by doing Qirath and telling it's meaning and begin his lecture, "Every one is leading a life, some with luxuries and some with poverty and the remaining striving between these two states. The people who gets all kinds of worries and tests is mostly liked by Allah. He loves his slaves who maintains patience when loads and loads of worries comes. He has to withstand his patience by thinking it's Qadr Allah(Allah's decision). Allah tests whether his slave comes His way or not when he is tested. If his slave seeks help in Allah when he suffers the most, He'll love him plentiful. He will shower his blessings for his patience. Do you know which prophet got muhabat(mostly liked) from Allah?"

A complete silence drove the hall, Ridha's eyes pouring with tears when she heard about his saying 'Allah's test on His slaves and He loves the one whom He tests' since she covered her face with cover. Then again he continued "It's Ibrahim(AS), the one who wholeheartedly willed to give his only son when His lord ask him to sacrifice. That too he just had a continuous dream of cutting his own son for his Rabbu. By thinking that as his lord's command, he told his son Ismail(As) about the dream. Unlike these days children, his only son accepted his Dad's request and he readied himself getting slaughter by his lovable dad. 'Sacrifice' is the only thing they have done for the sake of their Lord. When Allah knew their depth of their imaan(belief), He sent a goat and commanded Ibrahim(AS) to slaughter the goat instead of his son. Allah will test his beloved ones but He will never leave the one who carry His trust in his heart."

It's really amazing lecture which her Rabbu gave a message to withstand patience and seek His help at rough times. Ridha's heart got cleaned from worries when hearing the lecture like her eyes cleaned from her shedding tears. Then later the lecture ended by saying the importance of Eid-ul-Adha(Islamic festival) and what and all needed to follow on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah(last month in Islamic calendar) and the Eid Day.

She came out of the masjid with the positive and inspiring thought that her Lord gave the message in the form of this wonderful lecture. When she reached her home, she happened to take her phone asusualy that her Rabbu will always be there for her in all times and she doesn't need anyone's help to stand straight and made her walk in her life.

When she entered home and unpinned her hijab, she happened to see his texts on her phone,
Ahmed - "Just thought to come to see you because you didn't even reply to my texts. I'm worried that what has happened to you, Ridhu. So I came near your home and on the way, saw your dad going to masjid for Isha namaz. Every time I always end up by seeing your dad when I come to see you, Ridha?"

She saw the time of his last text. It was around 8:20 pm. By seeing the clock showing 8:30pm, she guessed that he may be passed by her when she returned from masjid. She suddenly thought that he may be gone some few kilometres away. So she quickly texted him asking,

Ridha- "Where are you, Ah'med?"
"I'm also longing to see you."
"Why did you came long way?"
"Did you come with your friends or family?"

A minute later, she received message,
Ahmed - "Don't know why and what made me come this much distance, but I feel something had happened to you, so I came here to see you. No, I came for you alone"

Ridha - "Why can't you inform me previously? Did I tell you to come this long way? Okay tell me where are you now? Please come again near my house. I'm also longing to see your face"

Ahmed - "Okay. I'll come"

After some fifteen minutes of waiting, Ridha finally saw him riding his bike, making a turn on a street, infront her house. She just put on her shawl without pinning up and gazed the one who is sighing her through the windows near her balcony. They completely saw each one's gesture from long distance, just for a few seconds. Ridha's heart was filled with happiness but she felt sorry for Ahmed that he came long way for the sake of her and to only see her for few seconds. She just expected him to come to see her when he comes nearby her house for any other reason than her.

She understood that she gave him more tiredness to his body and to his heart too. Once he left her street, she stood in her balcony hoping to meet his eyes again. But she knew that he is staying few miles apart from her. She hoped that he should go safely to home.

And she texted saying, "Sorry Ah'med. Please don't come without informing. I couldn't understand you. Because I expected to see you when you came near my house for a purpose. You could have come here and gone by yesterday itself. Why did you spend your energy to come for me alone? Please show me the love which doesn't give too many happiness or too many sadness. Just show your love which your body and heart can do. Don't make be overflow with joy or don't make me under the roof of sadness. Please help me grow mature by understanding your situations. It will be happy for you as well as me, Ah'med"

Ridha knew that he was not online. But she thought that if he see it once, she hoped that he will understand her situation and maintain some distance to gain a quality relationship in them.

'Being at distance doesn't matter for two souls,
Though being at distance, having belief and understanding each other only matters at the end,
True love won't distance the two hearts, it brings them even more closer.'

A/N:
Assalamu alaikum(Peace be upon him) and Hi to all readers. Please tell me how you feel to read the Ridha's past and present life. Is it okay for you to understand her life? Do comment me please. It will make be better. Your negative comments also appreciated:-):-):-):-)