"Life is all about the changes but not all changes are good nor all are bad" 

♠anonymous♠

========

Iqraam 

I had called Shumayll and told him to check up on Ruqayyah when the call cut abruptly 

i had tried calling her after that and after 2 hours, she decided to answer!

it was Wednesday night , meaning we were returning tomorrow and the race was on Saturday 

i must admit, i was shocked to know that she was worried about this race 

"as salaam" she said and a smile made its way on my face 

taking a seat on the kitchen chair, i propped my head up on one of my hands and held the phone in the other 

"was salaam, how are you?" i asked as i pulled the fruit decorated tray to me 

"Alhamdulillah- how are you?" she asked, a hint of playfulness in her voice 

"I wanted to ask you to book me a meeting with Oneil Agarwal" i said and plopped a piece of pine apple in my mouth 

tasty!!

"Oneil Agarwal?" she asked me 

"yes, he is the CEO of OA construction works" i said and heard faint voices behind her 

"Ruqayyah where are you leaving!?" 

"Ruqayyah, this is no way to treat guests-" 

"I will be there in a minute-" replied Ruqayyah 

who were they? 

while i waited, i helped myself some apples

mmmmhhmmmm delicious 

"There is no such name in the company visual log book-" she replied 

"What? oh wait- yes, yes its not there-" i said remembering that he was my new client 

"Hes the new client-" i explained eating another piece of apple 

"How come i never got a call?" she asked me 

i chuckled 

"He went to the office and Mark handled it- he might have forgotten to tell you" i replied 

"Oh okay- what are you eating?" she asked me 

"What?" i asked her 

how did she know? 

"You were talking with something in your mouth!" she replied 

"Ohh" i hadn't realized 

wow where are my manners? 

Ya Allah! 

"Sorry-" i said sheepishly, this time placing down my fruits 

"So? what was it?" she asked me 

"Apples" i replied as i stood up 

"Fruits?" she asked me 

walking out of the kitchen, i laughed 

"No- apples are also known as vegetables!" i replied sarcastically 

she chuckled

"Oh cool, i have to go-" she said hastily 

"Uh Ruqayyah-" i said 

"Yeah?" she replied 

"Who are at your place besides Shumayll?" i asked her 

she went silent 

"N-no one" she replied 

"Uhuh- thats why so many voices?"i asked her 

"uhh.. those were... tv- yes those were the tv- drama-" she replied nervously 

I bit the inside of my lip 

"Are you sure?" i asked her 

"Who is sure of what?" asked Nabaahat walking to me 

O_o

ohkayy 

"Uh nothing-" i said showing her my phone and she raised an eyebrow 

damn that girl is smart 

"Y-yes-" said Ruqayyah and i sighed 

"Something wrong?" i asked her 

"No- everything is fine- perfect!" she replied all too fast 

"you are a nervous wreck and you say everything is perfect- great going- give the phone to Zaik, please" i said and Nabaahat smirked 

i heard shuffling and Ruqayyah calling Zaik 

"As salaam" his voice rang through my phone and i immediately smiled 

"Was salaam- hows things going, buddy?" i asked him waling out of the living room to the deck/porch 

"Good...." he said 

he seemed rather down 

"Tell me what happened?" i asked him and he chuckled lowly 

"How did you know i was not good?" he asked me 

I laughed 

"your voice said it all, say..... i had an instinct you were not okay" i said 

"Whats an instinct?" he asked me curiously 

"It is something... like you just feel it was gonna happen or is happening- like you have that feeling of knowing its going to happen or is happening... something like that" i explained somehow 

it was hard at times to explain kids these things 

"Ohh- " he said 

"So why were you not good?" i asked him 

He sighed 

"My mama is not happy and my grandparents are home" he said 

Ruqayyah's parents?

"your mom's mother and father are there?" i asked him 

"No- my dad and his parents are here and i dont like my grandmother" he replied 

what?

"Can you repeat that mate?" I asked him pacing the floor

"My father is here and I don't like his mother" stated Zaik and I managed to laugh

"Okay here's the deal, he's your father, keep calm and be nice... Allah likes nice people" I said and he chuckled

"Yeah I know..." he replied

"Okay I have to go, but Zaik-" I said

"Hmm?" He replied

"Keep being you son!" I said and he chuckled

"Okay, Allah Hafiz!" He replied and I did the same

Disconnecting the line, i stood motionless on the deck staring at waves crashing against the rocks

"What happened?" Asked father standing beside me

I stared ahead

Over the last few days, we have all bonded so well together that it feels like we are one complete happy family 

But now I just don't know if I want him to know...

Or maybe he does

I know a lot about you son

He sounded stalker ish but that's my father

"Her husband is back" I muttered

"So?" He asked me

"He is at her place with his family" I replied

The rocks reminded me of my own self

The waves we're the reality and the rock was suffering

The stars reflected on the ocean surface and it was amazing

"And?" He asked me

I turned to him

"Its simple, he came to take her back" I replied looking down at my bare feet
"What if he's not?" He asked me

I looked at him, straight into his eyes

Wow I also have that feature!

"What do you mean he's not? He's back, he will of course, want them back!" I replied

"I know this girl of yours, Ruqayyah, and I think she's quite smart".he replied

I stared at him incredulously

Was he serious?

"Were you stalking her?!" I asked

He shrugged

"Nope, i was merely getting information about my maybe daughter-in-law" he replied smirking

I felt heat creep on my neck

"Quit blushing like a girl and get ready-" he said in a serious tone

"What?" I asked him

He smirked

"We are going to their place!" He replied

"We are returning tomorrow" I said and he shook his head

"I think it's time you tell your mother about this whole deal" he said and I shook my head furiously

He smiled at me

"No, I think it's time you do, she is your mother and last time I checked, you love her a lot and don't want to hurt her, it's for the best" he explained

I smiled weakly

I had no choice

"Fine" I huffed and he patted my back

We walked inside and saw everyone seated in the living room, playing about and chatting

I set down on an empty seat with father beside ammi, opposite me

He nodded to me as he took my moms hand in his

"Ahem- uh..." I did not know where to start

"You have something to say?" Asked ammi and I nodded

"Ah...um.... ammi- i- uh... know you have been rooting for my marriage.. and uh.... you.. ahum- want the best... um.. for me.." I managed

Yes I managed

Maybe I can do this

I looked up to ammi and all my confidence, if there was any, went away

Traitors!

"Get to the point Iqraam" she said staring at me

"Ammi I am already in love" I blurted out

Everyone went silent and I felt myself heat up

I swear I was redder than the color itself

"I..uh... was.... crap, please don't be angry-" I said to her looking at her for response

She just looked at be casually

No reaction, nothing

"Who's she?" Asked Nabaahat smirking

I continued staring at ammi

Her eyes sparkled and a smile broke on her face

"Well??" She questioned and if possible, I grew more redder

"Uh..." I rubbed my neck

"Iqraam..." warned ammi and I sighed
What if she doesn't like her?
What if she doesn't accept her?!!

Ya Allah

Why did I not think of all this when I fell in love?

Oh that's right, love tends to slow down brain functions and cause distractions at times! 

"Iqraam?" Called abba and I broke back to reality

Reality where I would die soon

"Uh.... Ruqayyah..." I merely whispered out her name

"I did not catch that!" Sang ammi and I growled lowly

"Ruqayyah" I replied looking at the floor

Suddenly everything was silent again

Painfully silent

Then, everyone squealed and screamed before attacking me into one huge hug

I almost went out of breath

Soon they let go

"So what's stopping you?" Asked ammi

This is the hard part

"Shewasmarriedandhas2kids" I said in a rush

Ammi stared at me

"I did not quite catch that Iqraam, mind repeating?" She asked me questioningly

"Uh... you see... she..um.... she-" I inhaled a deep breath

Muttering am faint bismillah, I spoke

"She has 2 children and is divorced" I said slowly

I looked up to ammi and her mouth hung open

"Excuse me?" She asked and I nodded

"You can't be serious, Iqraam!" She said to me and I shook my head

This was why I was delaying in telling her about this

"Ammi, i- " I said but I had no words

I did not know what I needed to explain or how I would explain

"Iqraam, how- how did... this happen?" She asked me

"I don't know... the time I hired her, a week later..." I replied

Her eyes seemed to held recognition

"That time when you we're sick.... it was not just stress was it?" She asked me and I shook my head

"How could you not tell me such a huge thing?!" She asked me

"Ammi I am telling you now.... it took a million ounce of courage to do this" I muttered and she sighed

"How old are the kids?" She asked me

"Zaik is 5 and Zahi is 3-" I said waiting for another fit

However it did not come

"When was she divorced?" She asked me

"October 2012" I replied

"He know about the daughter?" Asked ammi and I nodded

She shook her head

"Why are you telling me this now?" She asked me, concern edging her voice

"Umm.... coz her husband is back and.... her in laws are at her place?" I made it sound like a question

"Then what are we waiting for? An invitation?!!" She asked me standing up

"What are you talking about?" Asked Namaan

"We are going to her place!" She smiled at me

Everyone yelled and screamed and hugged ammi

"We can't" I broke out to them

"What do you mean?" Asked Iqra

"Time zone- they will be gone by another hour or so and by the time we get our flights and everything checked, it will be above two hours and the flight is like 20 hours?" I stated and she shook her head

"Cant we like over speed or something?" She asked hopefully

"Badi ammi- this is an air plane... not a sports car, any increase than normal velocity, we all die" said naaman and I nodded

"Thats true-" I replied and so did abba

"Well- I don't know- you are the billionaire here! Do something, if we leave now, we will be there by this time tomorrow!" She said and I sighed
I had forgotten the time difference

Meaning we will land in the night there

"Now what?" Asked NAbaahat and Nafaasat grinned

"We can ask abba to fly us there..." she muttered

"Wait what?" I asked her in confusion

"He's a pilot Iqraam!" Said ammi and I stared at abba

He grinned sheepishly at me

Wow great

No that a great idea

"Thats a great idea- I will charter a plane- we get in easity- we have a pilot- well two- one in training but we can make it by tomorrow" I said and they nodded

"Get packing people!!!" Yelled Iqra and soon everyone rushed to pack leaving ammi, abba and me alone

Ammi walked to me and held my shoulder

Smiling she said

"I am proud of you.... but are you sire?"

I nodded

Never had I been this sure before in my life!

She bend down and hugged me

"I love you Iqra's, don't ever forget that" she whispered and I nodded

"So what's gonna happen between you and abba once we return home?" I asked her

She gave me a sad smile

"I don't know.... depends on you kids..." she replied slowly

"Can I tell you something mah?" I asked her and she nodded

"Yes..." she said looking down at me

"I want abba to stay and Namaan and Nabaahat and Nafaasat too" I said and she chuckled

"We will see, Iqraam" she replied and I nodded

Ya Allah you have always been with me and did best for me... please help me through this as well...

------
She cant sing
She can't dance but who cares
SHE WALKS LIKE RIHANA!!!
that's me singing walks like rohana by the wanted...
Okay
So yeah I love u all heapsss
Support this book on twitter with a hash tag #TBTN or just simply follow me! @aaliyah_azmi
Love u all heaps
Muahh
Now I go chat with me crush!
*hands over cookie coz u all are soooo awesome!
Okay byeee
scopian_16