Friends?

Samir has been looking for Shyra everywhere but he would turn up empty-handed. Each time he would get a clue about her, he would try not to get excited because he didnt want his heart to be broken again.

Even his parents kept telling him to stop looking for her and to let go of the feelings he had for her. But for Samir, it wasn't just about feelings of love, he also needed to know where his friend was.

He had unanswered questions that only Shyra could answer but she was nowhere to be seen.

Samir had even asked the girls but they each told him the same thing. They don't know where their friend is.

"Samir, you should let go of the idea of finding her..."

"Why is that Mama? Is it because you want me to marry someone else?" Samir asks his mother looking at her.

His parents never supported him in deciding to start his own investigative company because they knew that he would use the resources to look for Shyra.

"Your father and I want you to be happy with a woman who doesn't run away from her friends and family. She isn't the one for you, my son. I know that you might think that I want what is best for you, but that's where you are wrong. I want you to come home for dinner tonight and I won't take no for an answer. Whatever you have planned, postpone it or just let it go," his mother tells him leaving no room for arguments.

Samir knew that his parents meant well but he needed to see if she was okay or if she needed anything.

He had no choice but to agree to go to dinner at his parents' home.

He wanted to give an excuse saying that Azaan needed him but couldn't because his friend was busy.

"Your father and I will be expecting you at home, don't be late," his mother says leaving him to his thoughts.

I wish that you could have sent me a clue that you are alright. I pray that you are safe from whatever you ran away from here. And that you come back when you are ready and I will be waiting for you but I won't stop looking for you. I made a promise and I intend to keep it.

Samir needed to check on one of his men that he had sent to a nearby town in search of Shyra. He needed good news before he faced his father during dinner.

"Any news?"

"I am sorry, sir. I have no news of her," the man explained to him, "But I will keep looking for her...
"No need to do that, come back. I have another assignment for you. Come by the office so that you can collect the file, thank you," Samir says cutting him off.

He then hung up the phone and looked at the last picture of Shyra on his phone. It was taken on their school trip that all the girls and guys went before the seniors graduated.

They took the picture as their last memory of each other. And it was also the last time that Shyra smiled again.

"I will find you, Shy. I know that you needed someone to be there and I wasn't. I blame myself for what happened to you..."

Samir wiped the fallen tear and got up from his chair, he then went out of his office letting his secretary know that he wouldn't be in for the rest of the afternoon.

"If anyone asks tell them you dont know where I will be or if I will be back. And you can take the rest of the afternoon off," Samir tells his secretary.

This didn't even surprise her as it was somewhat normal for him to do this every time his parent would visit him.

"Okay, sir. Have a good day."

Samir nodded and walked out of his office. He got into his car and started driving but with no destination in mind.

All he could think about was how Shyra must be feeling knowing that she could be alone.

After a short drive, he arrived at Azaan's home, it was like tha car had its mind.

He parked his car and got out not knowing what to do other than to go inside and maybe find out if Iman had heard from Shyra.

Samir knocked on the door and Khala Farwa opened it letting him inside the house.

"Asalam Aleikum, come in. They are in the living room," Khala Farwa says leading him inside.

"Waleikum salaam. Thank you."

He walked into the living room and was greeted by Uncle Aayan and Aunt Hayat plus Azaan.

"Is something wrong?" Aunt Hayat asks him. It was as if she knew that something was wrong with him.

"I... can't find her. It is like..."

"She disappeared? What if it isn't your time to find her? I am not saying to let her go or even suggesting it. I am saying that when the time is right, you will see each other again. But dont you think that neglecting your health will make her happy when she finds out how you have been treating yourself? Think about it," Hayat tells him smiling at him.

Samir knew that Hayat was right but in his heart, he was scared of what might happen to Shyra.

Samir stayed and chatted with Aayan and Azaan about business but his mind was somewhere else.

He looked at the watch to see it was almost 6 p.m. and he needed to get going to his parents.

Samir bid them farewell and walked out of the house feeling a little bit of ease after talking to Hayat but he was still worried about Shyra.

Now it was time to go and see his parents for dinner. Even though the dinner would be at 7 p.m. Samir needed to get there early as he did not want any arguments from his parents about being late.

Samir then got into his car and started driving to his destination.

In a few minutes, he arrived at his parents' home. Samir parked the car only to find that there was a car that he didnt know.

I hope it isn't what I am thinking.

He quickly shook his head at the negative thoughts that were appearing because of the unknown car he saw in front of him.

Samir knocks on the door and one of the maids lets him inside. He then walks inside heading to the living room. As he approached he could hear the voices of his parents and other guests that were there.

Samir knew why his mother didnt let him argue about having dinner at home. He somehow knew that she was planning on inviting other guests.

"Asalam Aleikum..."

All of the people who were there looked up to see Samir standing at the door of the living room.

"Waleikum Salaam, you are early, my son. Come in and sit down," his mother says to him with a huge smile on her face.

"I didn't want to make you angry, Mother," he says to her and then turns to face his father. "How are you doing, Dad?".

"I am good, alhamdullilah. Why don't you say salaam to Mr. and Mrs. Abdulrahman and their daughter Warda?" His father tells him.

He greeted them and knew that they weren't there to have dinner but for something else.

"I will go and check on the dinner, excuse me," his mother says walking out of the living room.

After a few minutes, she came back telling them that it was time to eat. They all walked into the dining room, his mother made sure to make Warda sit beside him.

"Samir, did you know that Warda graduated at the top of her business class in university? And she is even planning on taking over the company from her father," his mother says to him with a huge grin on her face.

"Thats great. Ma shaa Allah," Samir says congratulating her making his mother smile more.

When the dinner was finished, his mother asked one of the maids to take coffee and the dessert she made in the garden for Samir and Warda so that they could talk.

Samir couldn't help but shake his head at his mother who didn't notice it.

She was too busy jumping for joy at the sight of her son and the girl she chose heading to the garden to talk.

As they took a seat opposite each other, Samir needed to let Warda know that whatever his mother had told her, he wasn't interested for now.

Samir still needed to find where Shyra was before he decided what to do for his future.

He has always loved Shyra ever since they were kids, but he kept his distance and respected her until they were old enough to get married.

Samir has always pictured Shyra as his wife and the mother to their future kids. In shaa Allah.

"I am sorry for what my mother promised you about me. I am not..."

"Interested in me or marriage?" Warda cuts him off by asking.

"Both. I am in love with someone else and I have been searching for her for quite a while. And I am hoping when I find her, that I will marry her," he explained to her.

"And your mother doesn't like her, right?" She asked him.

He nods at her.

"Yes, I have no idea why. And she won't tell me anything about it," Samir explained to her. "Everytime I tried to ask her, she changes the subject about it," he added.

"Its okay. Don't worry, I won't take her place but can we be friends, so that your mother gets off your back and we both win?" Warda says proposing to Samir. "We just have to pretend to be friends until you find your lady-love," she added making Samir smile.

"Fine, can we just be friends without meeting because..."

"You want to look for her, right? I agree. Of course, I can do that. It was nice meeting you. And I pray that you find her well and you will be happy with her, In shaa Allah," Warda tells him.

Samir hoped that Warda wouldn't back out of their deal and would even help him get his mother off his back. But only time will tell if Shyra can be found safe and sound.

We live for hope and prayers. We hope that things will be okay but we pray that they will be. Thats how faith works. We only need to believe in it and understand it for you to get it.