'Amr ibn 'Absah reported that the prophet (S.A.W) said : "the closest that the Lord is to the His slave is in the later part of the night,so if you be one of those who remember Allah at that time,then do so "(Reported by al-tirmidhi and al-Nisaa'i).

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CHAPTER 06 -
The Engagement.

She was standing in front of her Lord. At past three third of the night for tahajjud salah. To reduce her inner turmoil. She was asking for his guidance..,to show her the right path. Soon after some time fajr adhaan being called. She replied to adhaan and recited small dua'a which was recited after adhaan. She stand to offer her first salah of the day. With utmost concentration she lift her both hands in front of her Lord and folded her hands above her chest. After salah she did long dhikr, then recited qur'an. She went downstairs only to find that already her cousins are working on preparing breakfast. She went towards kitchen.

"Assalamu alikum." Aasiya loud cheerful voice make their heads to look at her.

"Walikum assalam. Soon to be bride. Did you get enough beauty sleep, or you're unable to sleep entire night while thinking about jiju. Huh!" Hafsa teased her while remaining all of them just laughed at her discomfort.

Aasiya ignoring Hafsa's remark she went towards kitchen to help in breakfast.

"What do you think you're doing miss.?" Fatima asked her while raising her left brow placing her left hand on her hip.

"Setting breakfast table and helping you. Duh!" She as mater of factly.

"That's what am asking. You're are forbidden to work for today so you and make yourself comfortable on dinning table. Breakfast will be in 5." Fatima shooed her off.

"Okay. Fine, but please hurry. Am so hungry." Aasiya said.

"Hey! Aafii wass up.? She asked afreen while sitting beside her.

"Huh! Waiting for breakfast." she replied.

Soon breakfast was served and all the girls had their breakfast with a little teasing.

*********

Trrrrringgggg..Trrrrringgggg..

Zaryaan answered his phone call without checking the caller Id.

"Assalamu alikum." Zaryaan said in hoarse voice controlling his yawn.

"Walikum assalam. Don't tell me you're still sleeping. Ohh! Allah Ryannnnnnnn." Imran said in disbelieving tone.

"Hey! Imran what's the matter bro...why are you shouting, mannnn." Zaryaan replied lazily while keeping his hand away from his ear.

"You duffer, today am going to engage. And look at you. My friend sleeping like a maniac. Come on man I need you're help man am damn nervous." Imran said with a slight sigh.

"I remember it bro. Don't act like a girl. I'll be there. Relax." Zaryaan cut the call while putting his phone in bed side table.

He wore a dark blue colour Lenin shirt with black colour trouser, tuck his shirt while his upper button was open and folded his sleeve slightly below his elbow, put some cologne and set his hair back with a gel. He picked his mobile and wallet from night stand and make way downstairs.

"Ammi am going to my friends house. Imran today's he is going to engage. So Allah hafiz." Zaryaan said while placing a kiss on her cheek.

Zaryaan was having a sinking feeling in his heart. Like something bad was going to happen, like something by which his whole existence will be questioned. But he put all those thoughts at bay and started driving to hi way to the most bitter reality of his life.

***********

"Ma sha allah you are looking beautiful dear." Fatima said.

"Imran will have a tough time to keep his gaze lower." Hafsa teased her while all the girls in her room giggled.

"Jazaki allah." Aasiya replied while blushing furiously.

"Hey Btw did you call Yusra and Aliyah. They're not yet here. I've told them to be here. But see." Aasiya expressed her disappointment.

"Ohh hun don't worry they'll be here, so relax " Sanam tried to make her calm.

Aasiya hummed in response with a sigh.

She was wearing a pale pink colour long anarkali with white colour pant, and matching dupatta, the top had consisted of white colour bead stones on her neckline and sleeve ends., on the lower part it had white frills. With small stones studded completely covering the pink colour. She was looking beautiful in that dress, she was waiting for Ahmed family's arrival. Its 6 in the evening, so she made her wudhu and went to offer her maghrib salah, went downstairs.

"Ya allah! My daughter looking so pretty, may Allah keep you away from all the evil eye." Mrs. Siddiqi said while placing a soft kiss on her forehead.

"Jazaki allah ammi." She said with a shy smile.

"Assalamu alikum, Siyaaaa." Yusra and Aliya greeted her in unison while entering her room.

"Ahh walikum assalam." She greeted them back.

"Where have you been. Am waiting for you guys for so long." Aasiya said with apout.

"Aww, dear sorry." Aliya said while hugging her.

"Am damn nervous and this is my first time guys. I need you're support." She said while shaking, badly.

"Hey hey! Siya. It's alright. .everything is gonna be okay, relax." Yusra tried to calm her while rubbing her back and hugging her tightly.

"Okay come on. Just take a nap before they come, okay.?" Aliyah suggested her. Aasiya nodded her head a lay her head on her friend's lap.

***********

Zaryaan arrived to Aasiya's house with Ahmed family. "Assalamu alikum, please come." Mr.Siddiqi welcomed them.

They escorted males to their garden where the engagement is taking place, and females went inside the house. Mariam and her relatives seated in living room, placed the gifts on the table which they bought along with them for Aasiya.

Aasiya came down with her friends and cousins along her sides. While her head and gaze was casted down, and seated beside her soon to be mother in law.

"Assalamu alikum aunty." Aasiya greeted Mrs . khan while thinking it's Mariam.

"Walikum assalam dear you looking so beautiful ma sha allah." Mrs. khan replied with a tender smile on her face.

By listening to her voice she lifted her gaze to look at the owner of the voice. Aasiya's eyes widened and her face turned red due to embarrassment.

"Ohh, am so sorry aunty. I thought." Aasiya tried to explain but Mrs . khan cuts her off.
" ohhh don't you worry dear. By the way, am Yusra's mother, actually you're mother and I are good friends. I am glad that our daughters also best of buddies." Mrs . khan said with a soft smile and warm eyes patting her cheeks.

"Ammi, oh.! You two already met each other. So Siya this is my ammi. Ammi, this siya soon to be bride." Yusra introduced them. They both smiled at her childish antics.

"By the way, Siya. I was just in kitchen you're soon to be mother in law was discussing something with aunty. So you both make comfort with each other we'll be back." Yusra said and went back with Aliya and Fatima.

Aasiya was feeling little uncomfortable under Mrs.khan's gaze, like she was seeing through her. She uncomfortably shifted her place. "You know Siya, if I would have known that my friend had such a beautiful daughter I would've asked you're hand for my son." Mrs . khan said in a teasing tone while smiling warmly.

Aasiya looked at her in disbelieve. With eyes wide open. "hahahaa...relax am just telling fact, but don't worry. Am just too friendly. Okay!" Mrs . khan waved her hand and patted her head.

"Aunty Yusra is just like you. She got you're humour and friendly nature." Aasiya said with small laugh, in a while they both chatted they're long lost friends.

After a while Mariam and Mrs.Siddiqi came to where Aasiya and Mrs . khan are seated started the engagement ceremony. Mariam came and sat at right side of Aasiya while on left side is Mrs.khan. she took a blue colour velvet box from the bag and opened it. It contains a beautiful daimond ring. Which has a big ruby daimond on the middle and its surrounding are studded with small white diamonds on a platinum band. The ring was undoubtedly mesmerising. But, its not what Aasiya likes. She rather choose simple single daimond ring than huge one. She some what felt disspointed. But after a while she said Allhamdullilah and smile at her soon to be mother in law and smiled.

***********

Zaryaan was sitting beside Imran and his friends, listening to his friends teasing to Imran.

"Assalamu alikum Imran." Raiyaan said while walking towards Imran and his friends with Khalid jiju.

They all greeted them back. Raiyaan introduced khalid to Imran and his friends.

"Assalamu alikum, umm! if am not wrong you're Zaryaan khan, CEO of khan corporations. Right.?" Khalid asked with slight frown.

"Walikum assalam. Yeah that's me. Umm sorry, I didn't recognise you." Zaryaan answered completely confused.

"Hey! Its me Khalid, Khalid osman. Remember? We met at a college trip." Khalid tried to make his long lost to remember him.

"Khalid.! Arrey. Yes yes. How are you man." Zaryaan give him a bro hug.

"Allhamdullilah. Am all good what about you. I didn't get in touch with you after that trip. Then you went to London and me busy with my family business." Khalid said with a slight smile while Raiyaan and remaining members present in garden just watching them with amusement.

"By the way, this is Raiyaan. My sala cum friend. Actually I married to his cousin. Raiyaan this is my long lost friend Zaryaan khan. You remember khan uncle." Khalid paused. When Raiyaan nodded his head referring that he remember. "yeah his son."

"Oh! Its nice to meet you Raiyaan." Zaryaan shook his hand. "same here, Please make yourself comfortable." Raiyaan said and left to look for other arrangements.

"Hey jiju, salam. Where's the groom. By the way." Asif asked while half running and half walking to the group of men.

"Walikum assalam. Here meet the groom Imran Ahmed, and Imran this is my sala, Asif." Khalid introduced them with each other.

"Assalamu alikum, Imran." Asif greeted him.

"Walikum assalam, I think you didn't like me." Imran said with a slight frown.

"Hmmm, you've to try hard. Its about my Siya Di. I can't give you her just like that." Asif said with a serious expression, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Ohh! Is it just a joke. Because am really scared with this little protective brother." Imran said with wide eyes,and amused look.

"Ohh just don't mind his words he is just over protective for Siya.,thats it, Asif." Khalid said in a warning tone.

"No no its alright. I can understand. But trust me dude. In sha allah I won't do anything that would cause her sad." Imran said with seriousness and sincerity in his words. Asif hugged him and whisper something like. 'keep her happy bro. she is our precious pearl.' Who would think that a boy like Asif who just make fun of Aasiya and don't miss a chance to pull her leg will hide this much caring and love for his cousin. Indeed love and care of siblings will always hide in their small silly fights.

**********

"Mubarak mubarak Imran." Hafiz congratulated his friend for his engagement. Just a minute ago Raiyaan and Khalid along with Mr.Siddiqi came and make him wore a platinum band with a rolex watch, and now they're seated for having appetizers. Which include biryani,tangdi kebab,barfi,shaorma,rassagulla,gulab jamun. (yummy. ...ummm)

After sometime Zaryaan's phone started to ring. He excused himself to attend a call, and went to back yard. He talked for some time and ended the call.

while returning his landed on his sister who was having fun with her friends. He smile to himself thinking about his sister's loving and caring nature from the last incident. He was so proud of her. 'my little sister' he thought to himself and, he started to turn around when someone suddenly turn towards Zaryaan's direction. Just like that Zaryaan forgot how to breath. Its like air has been sucked from his lungs.., its like he was again dreaming. Like she was smiling at him. It's her. It's the girl from the river 2 years back. He was just looking at her without a movement in his body.

***********

* Tahajjud salah:- its a night prayer performed at final third of the night.

* Allhamdullilah:- all praise to Allah.

*sala:- brother in law.

*khala:- maternal aunt(mother's sister).

*Di :- sister.

*jiju:- sister's husband.

*Mubarak:- congratulations.

***********

Assalamu alikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu....

So ....finally Zaryaan got to see her again. ..

What is going to happen now..?

Imran&Aasiya..?

Or

Zaryaan&Aasiya..?

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