"it's bizzare to know that some things never change. some incidents will remain just the same. and you'll never be able to overcome the memories. it's weird how they play right in front of your eyes and the thought of being able to leave everything behind and move ahead in life suddenly becomes too strenuous. it's a struggle on its own and there's no escape - gabriel."

Sulaaymaan had almost turned the whole villa upside while searching for his one and only.

The time was half past four and a few calls had awoken him from a deep slumber. He did not seem to understand much of what was being said from the other end until Afra's name was taken.

Feeling skeptical about it and thinking that maybe Afra was kidding with him, he ran about the whole villa to find her.

He did not want to awaken his mother who normally slept late at night. After a failed attempt of not being able to find her and having to believe that she was gone on a wild goose hunt, he inhaled sharply.

Gathering his car keys and making sure to keep his anger in check lest he should end up creating any trouble, he drove away towards the address given. It was a silent drive and all the while, his thoughts were driving him insane.

Why was Afra gone at half past four in the morning?

Why were they asking him to come to a hospital?

Why was she with all his guards?

Momentarily letting his eyelids drop with exhaustion, he pinched the bridge of his nose. Securing his grip on the wheel, he pressed on the accelerator and whizzed through the empty road.

The hospital was quiet as he approached it. Not many people were seen and there was plenty of parking space available. He parked the car closest to the emergency entrance and dashed towards the hospital.

Once the sliding doors shut behind him, his eyes searched for any familiar face to ask for help.

"Sir?"

Someone came jogging from the left corridor and his eyes squinted at Aasiq.

"Aasiq?"

Aasiq explained briefly on how Afra had formed a master plan. How they had found out Waasay's place. And what occured during the terrifying night.

Towards the end of the story, he almost collapsed to the floor. Waasay was found stabbed in the abdomen and he had murmured some words to Afra that they couldn't make Afra say yet.

He was wanting to interrogate Waasay on the trivial matter himself. But the fact of the matter was he could not believe his brother could be involved in something as terrible as this. Had it not been for Derek's quick sense of understanding, he would not even have thought Waasay could be the major part of this plan.

It was a play of the fate that Afra had decided on investigating the matter that very day.

Waasay's parents — Hasan and Ruqayya — were called almost immediately as Waasay was taken into emergency operation. The one thing that —  thankfully — Sulaaymaan was relieved about was that Aasiq and Afra had formed a very satisfying response.

They were informed that Waasay had given Afra a call as that was the only number that was the one that he could instantly reach out for.

He panted and urged Sulaaymaan to follow. Without much delay, he ran along with him towards the corridor, deeper and deeper until he saw a group of people worriedly crowd around an operation theatre with Afra seated on one side and Waasay's parents on the other.

Her head was in her hands and unaware of anything going around. It was late and judging by whatever she had gone through in the last few hours, she must be too tired for anything.

Grabbing the opportunity, he shifted more towards his uncle's side. Hasan and Ruqayya were in a horrible mess. While Hasan was murmuring replies and nodding his head at certain words, Ruqayya kept staring in the air.

Her face blank and devoid of any emotions. Her eyes empty and lifeless.

Sulaaymaan helped them both settle down and tried to encourage them. Attempted to carefully let them know that Allah wanted it to happen and it was all going to be fine. That life was meant to be this way and one should not lose hope in his decisions.

Ruqayya — Sulaaymaan bit his lip hard at her sight — was hardly reacting. A tear escaped his eye and he quickly jogged to safe distance to not let them see him break down.

Waasay was born to them after fifteen years of their marriage through IVF. Sulaaymaan muffled his cries in as his aunt's face blurred his vision.

What would she be going through?

Only one question left him hardly in space for any other thoughts. Waasay, why? Why would he have done anything wrong? What was the emergency that he was involved in this?

How didn't he even think once about his parents?

He pinched the bridge of his nose. If only Waasay would have asked him for help.

Was he threatened into this?

Was he forced into committing certain crimes?

Sulaaymaan broke into a slight smile at how cheery and bubbly Waasay was. He was his soulmate. From a long time, he was the only guy Sulaaymaan had ever trusted for the first time ever.

It hurt him to think that he was wrong.

Thinking that it was probably too much to go through right at the moment, he turned around and decided to confront Afra.

He slowly walked up to her and stood right by her legs but she still had her head in her hands.

"Ahem ahem."

She jolted upright and her eyes wildly skimmed around until they feel over his feet. Her neck tilted up and her puffy eyes made contact with his.

"Sulaaym —"

He turned around and murmured from his shoulder.

"Follow me."

She nodded gently and followed him absently. Once he had even stopped abruptly to let a man with a woman on the wheelchair to pass by and she had banged straight into his back.

He walked until they were out into the fresh morning air and light streaks of orange highlighting the sky and gradiating gradually.

"So — ," he began, crossing his arms tight and giving her a stern look," — what are you going to say now?"

She didn't meet his gaze and kept fumbling with her fingers. Five minutes passed and she slowly met his eyes and looked away just as instantly.

"I....didn't mean to do this okay. I only wanted some information. Why was he the one who was found meeting that guy in the mall? Why was he mixed up in this craziness? Why had he hid that from you? From how long was he involved?"

She was barely able to stand and her eyes were already blurred with unshed tears.

"And what made you think I wasn't going to do that?"

Afra looked up and blinked away her tears.

"It was all meant to happen."

"And what if something would happen to you?! What made you think that you were being smart and confident and doing the right thing? What the hell made you think that all this wouldn't be as dangerous as it turned out? How come you concluded that I wouldn't ask Waasay about all th —"

"Because you look dead!"

She yelled and he stood stunned, facing her with his eyes wide.

"Because you look dead okay! I'm scared that you've lost your light. I'm scared that you're not the same Sulaaymaan anymore. It looks like you're only pretending to be happy. You've lost that glint from your eyes idiot. You've changed. Dark circles make you seem like a panda. You've lost so much weight that I'm wondering how you're still able to fit into your pants!"

She paused, sucking in air noisily. He was so stunned with the way she was shooting glares at him that he tried to handle the situation in a better way.

"And in the end, it was all for the best. Waasay would.....well.....he....never mind."

Sulaaymaan sighed.

"I....was told that Waasay had whispered something into your ear."

She looked worried, suddenly not meeting his eyes anymore. But after stuttering some random words out, she managed to blurt out something coherent.

"Afra...I asked you something."

"Nothing. He....just said he was sorry. Which made me to believe that he was not involved in all this intentionally."

She could be right. Waasay was never the guy to be a part of all this. Sulaaymaan just knew he couldn't be a part of it on his own accord.

He was still upset with her. She was sort of correct in her analyzation but that didn't mean it didn't bother his conscience.

"Let's meet everyone one last time and leave. It's too late."

All along the ride, Sulaaymaan kept ignoring him. She would sneak glances at him and try nervously bringing up a conversation only to receive his one word answers.

In a way, she found his answer correct too. She may have been attempting to go in search for some answers, but that didn't necessarily guarantee her protection.

Maybe that was why — for the first time ever — he was ignoring her so much.

And it was hurtful.

"Sulaaymaan, are you seriously going to ignore me? I'm telling you it was all planned by Allah. Besides I am grateful that I went there because Waasay —"

Before she could even complete the answer, he jerked the car to a stop and turned his body to face her.

"You, young lady, were very irresponsible. Don't rationalize with me. Whatever the reason, you went there without my permission and I'm not talking to you until you comprehend your mistake."

And without giving her a chance to reply back, he began to drive again and bothered to not even acknowledge her presence.

Maybe she was Overreacting or was just too exhausted to control her emotions because she soon found her eyes dripping with tears.

He was right.

She did wrong.

But atleast she wanted him to talk to her.

She was bleeding. Her periods began the moment Waasay was taken into the theater. For two hours straight she's been bleeding but by Allah's grace, nothing too much to soak her clothes.

She was moody, sore, cranky and exhausted. Not to mention, Sulaaymaan's way of acting was leaving her feeling devoid of any attachment.

She didn't have her periods the last month. In the light of recent events, she didn't even need any other explaination for that.

She needed some sanitary pads. Wiping her under eyes, she snuck a quick glance at him and cleared her throat slowly.

"Sulaaymaan?"

He didn't answer.

"Sulaaymaan, I....need you to stop at a medical store."

After a second, he gave her a confused look, turned around and asked in a blunt tone.

"Why?"

She was panicking now. Sure he was her husband but was he meant to know that?

Heat rushed to her cheeks as she gulped her hesitation.

"I.....my periods have started."

She whispered.

And exactly the next moment, the car abruptly stopped and her body almost smashed against the headboard with the force.

"Oh my god! What's that? Why didn't you tell me before?"

He yelled and started muttering a train of 'Ya Allah'.

"Sulaay —"

"What is that?"

"Can you — "

"Are we supposed to get your checked with a doctor?"

Afra was almost cracking with laughter at how cute he looked pulling at his hair.

"Sulaaymaan — "

"What sort of disease is that?"

She stopped trying to calm his down.

"Oh my god, wait! How did you find out you had it?"

"SULAAYMAAN! I'M BLEEDING. IT'S NOT A DISEASE. I'M JUST BLEEDING. PERIODS YOU KNOW? YOU DIDN'T STUDY IN YOUR BIOLOGY CLASSES?!"

The moment Afra finished and sat back leaning against the seat, his cheeks darkened with a light crimson.

"Oh....."

He barely whispered and cleared his throat, turning around and resting his hands over the wheel awkwardly.

"I.....sorry."

A soft smiled quirked on her lips.

"It's fine.....I really didn't know how to ask that myself."

He hummed a yes and began to drive again. Although the silence was a little heavy over them with what had happened, she did not mind it much.

Atleast he wasn't being mad.

It took them twenty minutes before a small medical store caught their eye. He parked the car on a safe spot and she climbed out hurriedly, telling him to wait for her. He handed her some money and she smiled in response.

Sulaaymaan didn't mind much since the store was right in front and he was keeping a close watch while leaning over the dashboard.

As she walked in after swinging the door open, a man as tall as Sulaaymaan walked up close.

"Hello. How may I help you?"

For a second, Afra's eyes were stuck at him.

He was very handsome. Deep coloured eyes, a thin nose and a radiant smile.

"Hmm.....thank you....I'll keep looking for now."

She rapidly started to seek forgiveness under her breath while going around searching for what she was trying to find out.

Her eyes fell over the shelf that had an arrangement of different assortment of sanitary pads. The company's she used frequently was located high up from her reach and despite trying to reach out for it even on her tiptoes.

"Here miss. Let me help you."

She whirled around and immediately backed up a few steps.

"BABY! Is there a problem?"

Afra frowned and turned to the direction of the voice, finding an angry looking Sulaaymaan huff with each stomp he took and glared daggers at the man.

"Baby, you want that?"

The man was now standing at a distance watching Sulaaymaan easily pull off what she wanted and handed her the package.

His arm snaked around her shoulders and he pulled her closer.

"Are we done?"

He whispered softly in her ear. She nodded gently and watched with a grin as he snatched the fifth riyal bill from her hand, slapped it on the man's open palm and after throwing him a quick glare, he interwined his fingers with Afra and pulled him behind her.

Just as they walked out into the early morning breeze, Afra cleared her throat.

"Someone did not appreciate the help I was receiving."

Sulaaymaan grumbled.

"Yeah right. When you have a husband by your side, why bother about a hefty man?"

Afra's playful smile widened and she secured her tightened her hold over his hand.

"When I have a Prince by my side, what's the use of another guy."

She winked as his eyes turned to her and before she could even understand what was happening, Sulaaymaan burst out laughing.

« Assalaamualaikum Princesses ❤

Today we have something unlike any other times to discuss.

I'm sure you must all be aware of what's happening in Ghouta, Syria.

Just wanted to let it out that they're HUMANS too. And they're our brothers and sisters. If you are in the position of being able to donate, do it! Allah's reward for you will be uncountable. However if you're like me — helpless and devoid of any financial service — you can do one very powerful thing.

Go and pray. Make loads of duaa.

This is our test too as much as it is the Syrians or any other Muslim martyr.

Mine and your test is praying. To see which one of us will have the heart to pray for them and which ones won't.

I hope you'll all understand the urgency of the matter and forget about all your desires for once.

Because WALLAHI, they are dying and you're living.

They need more of your prayers than you yourself.

May ALLAH SUBHANA WA TAA'LA guide our Ummah, grant patience, Imaan and Taqwa to those who're suffering, make their deaths easier upon their families, protect them as much as possible and grant them the highest positions of Jannatul Firdous.

May ALLAH SUBHANA WA TAA'LA open and lighten up the hearts of everyone of us.

ALLAHUMMA AAMEEN.

I love you all and I believe in you. I know you'll make sure to remember these brothers and sisters who are in need of our duaas.

Please do it. ❤❤❤❤

Jazak'ALLAHU QAIRAN KATHEERAN for all of your support too. ❤❤❤

Much love,

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