Love doesn't make the world go around. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.

Just as I speculated, over the past few days, there have been people over the house.

Sending prayers, questioning the events, and much more. I was tired and only wanted to flop down on my bed at that time.

My training with my father has been intense and exhausting. My body was cramping from more places than I can name, and now that the guests came over, I had to hold in a wince every time I bent down to pick up dishes and teacups.

Looking at my brothers, it was obvious that they were tired of keeping up conversations and continuously smiling. I would do anything but indulge myself in holding a conversation with the uncles and aunts of society.

Imagine my surprise when I pick up the last of the dishes from the table that were going to be washed for the twentieth time on the same day and the door of our house is knocked again.

"Ya Allah." A whisper that had been sitting on the tip of my tongue finally slipped out, and Ammi flicked my head.

"Hoor, guests are a blessing. Usman, see to the door." Sighing I rolled my eyes while Usman moved to the door.

My ears were as wide as those of an elephant to find out who was at the door.

"Ammi! Khulaid and Aza are here!"

My heart plummeted. What!

It seems like the lies are going to bite me sooner than expected.

Abu Bakr rushed to the door, I rushed to the kitchen, Ammi rushed to the door as well, and Saif started to quickly fix the cushions and couches in the lounge.

I can't go out!

Khulaid is fine, but Aza!  Why him!? He will find out.

As if the day was not hectic enough before, it just made a havoc in my brain too.

"Assalamualaikum!" Aza and Khulaid say in unison as they enter the house, and my breath cracks.

By now, I am plastered to the door of the kitchen with my ear flat on the door.

"Walaikumasalam!"

"Forgive us for coming unannounced." Aza said. At least you are considerate! You should not have come here!

"No, Habibi, come sit. I will get you tea along with something to eat." My Ammi is always the one with the guests. The sweetest peach you will find.

How do I tell Ammi to kick them out?

Ammi enters the kitchen; her eyes widen when she sees me leaning against the door frame.

"Hoor, what are you doing?" Giving her a sheepish smile, I straighten up.

"Go get the kebabs out. Your brother's friends are here." Grumbling incoherently underneath my breath, I get the kebabs out, make tea—how many times has this been already?—and set up a tray.

Putting some biscuits and cake for more choices, I had set up the platter for them in only fiifteen minutes.

"Now do not ask me to serve them. I am not going out all sweaty." Ammi nodded and grabbed the tray herself, walking out of the kitchen.

Now, it was not that I was not in good attire because I was wearing a very good outfit today, but Aza being there is making things complicated. That man would take one look in my eyes and read my like a story book parents read to their children at night.

Sighing in relief, I went back to my original position to hear whatever was going on outside.

"Khulaid told me about how he found your daughter. Alhumdulilah, you found her." Aza's voice sounded thicker than usual. A slight accent slipped out.

That is a weird accent.

"Yes Alhumdulilah. Abu Bakr told me how you and the Amir helped them out. Speaking about Amir, I would like to thank him personally."

"Ammi, you know I was pretty close with Amir; I even spared with him," Saif seems to say, and I stifle a laugh.

And lost!

"You lost." Khulaid booms out laughter, and I had to clench my lips to prevent my own laughter from escaping.

They are not aware that Amir is sitting right in front of them!

"Your daughter, Hoorain, She is okay, right?" The way my name sounded in his voice sent tremors down my spine.

"Ah, let me get her. Khalid also wants to see you and thank you in person."

No no! Ammi, do not come here!

Ammi comes in the kitchen and looks at me. Before I speak, she raises her finger and says, "You have five minutes. Thank the people who helped your family. I am calling your baba as well."

"Ammi, I..."

"Not another word. Come." And my Ammi, as the ruler of this house, leaves just as she came.

Screaming a silent cry, I thrash my foot on the tiled floor as silently as possible. I was probably red in the face by now.

::

Baba walked in front, and I walked behind him.

"Hoor, why are you hiding behind me?" Baba whispered to me.

"I do not know; it feels weird. It is like Ammi is forcing me to meet my husband or someone like that. Your wife is forcing me to meet them." Baba, let's have a hearty laugh, grabbing everyone's attention, and I feel eyes on me.

I quickly averted my gaze to my hands.

Do not make eye contact with Aza; everyone else is fine.

Baba sat on the same couch as Ammi—it was their place; they would always sit there—while I seated myself on the single couch that was next to my brothers triple seater.

Right in front of Khulaid and Aza.

Ya Allah! What are your plans!?

It was quiet and my face burned when I felt his eyes on me. The same stare I felt at the bazaar. Even though the contact was brief but it sent shivers down my spine.

Baba cleared his throat and a smile took over my lips.

"I would like to thank you, Khulaid bin Kudsiya. You brought our daughter from the war zone, and you have my utmost respect. Aza bin...?"

"Aza bin Khuzzain." My eyes closed.

This was the first time he mentioned his last name. What was this? Why now?

"Aza bin Khuzzain, may you be the pride of your father; if you have not found out a way to send my sons to us, I do not know what we would have done on our own. The doors of this house will always be open for you."

"It was all our pleasure." Aza seems to say:

I felt his gaze return, burning me through my clothes, goosebumps appearing on my arms.

"Hamza," my eyes widened and my body stiffened as I waited for him to continue, "Amir Hamza also sends his best wishes for your family and your daughter."

Me, who was still smiling like a creep while staring at my hands, felt multiple eyes on me.

One of them burned through my skull. Ammi was sure persistent.

if possible, she would give me away as a slave to my dear savior.

Clearing my throat, I looked up at Khulaid and blinked a few times.

"May Allah bless you and all your generations. Thank you for bringing me back to my family." Khulaid grants me with a big smile that I would not have expected from him to back in the camp.

Did Khulaid bin Kudsiya have a secret sweet spot for women?

Silence once again bloomed in the lounge full of people. I bit the inside of my cheek when the glare in my skull intensified.

Ammi!

Craning my neck towards Aza, my eyes met his, and a jolt of electricity swindled down my spine. His eyes, the only visible part of his face, held a look of surprise for a moment, but he was quick to hide it.

"Aza bin Khuzzain, you helped my brothers; I have nothing else to say except thank you." Giving him a small smile, my voice was laced with fake smile which he must have not noticed and  nodded.

"Hoorain binte Khalid, I recall seeing you at the bazaar once. You were clumsy back then as well; I hope you got your purse back." My eyes widened when I saw the mischief in his eyes. My smile dropped.

"What purse?" Abu Bakr asked while looking at me suspiciously.

"Oh, you don't know? She tripped and managed to lose her coin purse to a thief." Aza, you petty little

"I found it later. No need to worry." I released a nervous laugh, cursing Aza mentally for having a great memory.

"Yeah, if it was not for me being there at the right time." Excuse me?!

"So you have helped her before as well! We must thank you again." Ammi started, but Khulaid shook his head.

"Just doing my duty." oh the pretencious Aza flapped his way around my Ammi's little innocent mind.  Ammi gave me a vicious look, and I immediately looked away.

It was him! Who left my purse at the doorstep?

My eyes found Aza's again, and his eyes flashed with recognition. The same look he gave Hamza back at the camp and the same feeling met me again, and unconsciously, I knitted my fingers.

"I think we should go; it is already too late, and you all must be tired." Aza stands up, and all my brothers and father stand up as well.

Finally.

I stand up as well, and we all walk to the door of the house.

"Allahafiz." Khulaid is the first one to exit the house. Aza slightly nods his head towards my brothers, and then his eyes land on me.

My feet tingle, and my heart hammers.

"Fee amanallah." (Be with the safety of Allah), he nods and exits the house as well.

I am not sleeping tonight!

Tada! So it was him who left the purse on her house mat. Does that mean he followed her home? Like a stalker!

Ahhh! Is Aza secretly her admirer? Or maybe he has a little crush on Hoorain while he hates her disguise.

Whooooo