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11th June, 2019Assalamu alaikum, my dearest dearest readers. So sorry for disappearing for 3 months but you guys know I was away for a genuine reason (Publishing Bowled Over by the Broken kept me super busy, Subhan Allah).Sending all of you so much love and wishing my Wattpad family that Allah eases all your tasks for you. Here's the next chapter, as usual like all chapters in this book, it's not very long (since that's exactly how I want it) but I sincerely hope I can update the next part soon in sha Allah <3
"Jibreel sat with the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and he looked at the sky and saw an angel coming down. Jibreel said: This angel has never come down since the day he was created, until now. When he had come down, he said: O Muhammad, your Lord has sent me to you (to give you the choice of being) either a Prophet-king or a Messenger-slave. Jibreel said: Be humble before your Lord, O Muhammad. He said: "Rather (I choose to be) a Messenger-slave."[Narrated by Ahmad in his Musnad (7160)]
Chapter 6:I don't know youSilence is a paradox, it sometimes stands for the most authentic form of joy where no words can match its depth and yet other times it hints at the catastrophe that no words can explain its intensity. Unfortunately, in Afreen's case, it ended up being the latter."What happened?"The words slipped from her mouth before she could stop herself, and although the entire family who had just returned from Zubair's house was seated in the living room, her eyes were trained on her mother, desperately seeking an answer from her.When her question was met some more silence signifying tragedy, she resisted the urge to repeat herself. It was after many long moments of honoring the ticking of the clock as the only sound in the room that her mum finally turned to look at her."Where did we go wrong in raising you?" She asked, her voice deathly calm, causing Afreen to wince in reply. "Not only did you give yourself the liberty to date someone behind our backs, but you also fell for a guy that does not remotely match our standards?""Mamma," Afreen whispered, "How can you say this?" "And why can't I say this?" Zainab challenged. "What is wrong with you, Afreen, have you lost all sense? Their house is not even quarter the size of ours, they are those typical middle class people, I can't believe my daughter could make such a choice.""In Islam deen must be given priority over financial status," she put forth."Don't teach me Islam," Zainab snapped. "I can't get you married in a house where I don't even know if that guy is capable of providing a decent meal three times a day. Raiyyan, I'm telling you, message your friend right now and ask him if he's free to come meet us with his parents tomorrow, this girl is a lost cause, about time I get her married before she makes us a joke in the society.""I'm not getting married to anyone but him," Afreen insisted, a stubborn edge to her tone."Then stay a spinster all your life.""That's enough, Zainab," Ibrahim interjected and Afreen turned to look at her father, her eyes moist."Abbu, please, I..." "We cannot get you married in that family, Afreen," her father proclaimed, in a tone that conveyed his decision was final and nothing she'd say could alter it. "Your mother wasn't willing to give him a chance, but seeing you, I swallowed my pride and went to visit them this evening but I'm extremely disappointed. I don't see anything in that guy or his family. Zainab is worried about their financial status and she has every right to, but if we keep that fact aside and even if I say that in your wedding I'll write a lavish apartment for you in your name and gift you a car so you can live a hassle free life, the problem does not get solved. See, people should not be judged for their money, although as parents we would want you to marry rich so you don't have to struggle for basics, but okay we'll keep that aside for now. My problem is their mentality. There are many people out there without a huge bank balance but they are respectable and have a positive outlook to things, they think big. But this guy's family, they are far from all of it. Their fault is not that they are poor, their fault is they don't want to do anything about their situation and are seeking an easy way out, which means their solution is not hard work and sincerity, their solution to this is getting a rich daughter in law and I'd be foolish to get you married in that family.""But Zubair is not like that Abbu," Afreen begged. "Maybe his family is like that but Zubair is very nice, he does not want anything from me, he has big dreams and he's ready to work hard, please give him a chance.""Not when your life is at stake," Ibrahim shook his head."Raiyyan Bhai, please say something," Afreen requested."Afreen I'd do anything for your happiness but I can't picture you happy in that family, I'm really sorry but I side by Mamma and Abbu's decision. I'm not even bothered about his money, it's the deen I'm focusing at. I asked him a few questions and he is far from being on the same page us, he was so casual about not praying his five daily prayers.""You can't judge him like this, just because we are rich does not mean we look down upon those below us," she accused."Did you not hear me, money is the last thing I'm worried about," Raiyyan repeated. "Like Abbu said, it's their mentality that's a problem.""But I'm marrying Zubair not his family and he is not like that," she cried out in frustration."You are very much marrying his family," Zainab interjected. "You have to live in the same house as his mother and when she taunts you, your own husband will not take your side. You don't know half the things that happen after the wedding, you just want to jump into marriage blindly.""I don't want us to talk on this topic anymore," Ibrahim verbalized, frustrated. "This is a closed chapter now. Afreen, concentrate on your studies while Zainab looks for a nice groom for you and once you graduate, we'll get you married.""I am not getting married to anyone except Zubair," she rebelled, unwilling to budge."And we will never get you married to him," Zainab opposed."I will not come in front of any other family that comes to meet me on the prospect of marriage.""Suit yourself," Zainab shrugged. "Your father and I will select the boy ourselves and let you know of your wedding dates.""Mamma, you're traumatizing me," she warned."You'll thank me later for this," Zainab replied."We will become a joke in the entire society because when the Imam asks me for my consent to sign the nikah papers, I'm going to refuse," she revolted."Afreen, you've lost it," Raiyyan sighed in disbelief."All of you are scheming against me," she cried, jolting up. "Just because he isn't rich you'll don't want me to marry him. What sort of Muslims are we, we preach something in public and behind closed doors this is what we do," she accused, stomping to her room, leaving everyone tongue tied at her behavior.Islam is a religion of moderation, but sometimes we hold on so tightly to one of its teachings, we end up committing a sin by transgressing other aspects it preaches.
"Well... that was something."Switching off the light, Rufaida climbed into bed and turned to look at her mum deep in thought. She would admit it, she was just as lost as her."When Nani said they were rich, I didn't think she meant it at this level," she agreed, "They've got the money, the status, the power, the looks... they've basically got everything.""No one gets everything in life, Rufi," Asma quickly denied. "Everyone gets something in life, some people also get many things in life but nobody gets everything.""That's also true," Rufaida nodded. "But the rich people's world is fascinating, don't you think, Ma? They may have many problems but on the outside, money covers up everything for them.""Money cannot buy you peace, Rufaida," her mother spoke, her eyes distant. "I know you are overwhelmed right now after encountering them, and I agree that money is the solution for most of the problems we currently face, it would definitely be great to reach a stage in life where we do not have to think twice before spending every penny too but as nice as all that is, I never want you to see money as the ultimate goal for anything you do in life. Whatever path you choose, your deen must be your priority, you must seek to better yourself as an individual, never compromise on your character. Of course, once all these things have been taken care of, you can focus on the monetary benefits your choice can yield. But never do things just for money. When our Prophet, may peace be upon him, was given a choice to either be a prophet and king or a slave and messenger, he chose the latter. Money is definitely something, but it can't come with you to your grave, so look at things that actually matter.""I know, Ammi, I know. I also know that money is fitnah of this ummah but I dream of living a decent life, where our needs are met without hesitation, where once in a while we can treat ourselves and when we see people in need, we must have enough to give them in charity. Nothing extravagant, but fulfilling and satisfying," Rufaida sighed."May Allah grant you more than you dream of," her mother prayed."Aameen."There was a long pause after that conversation, the mother-daughter duo contemplating on life in general when Asma spoke again."I really like Raiyyan and Tammara's pair. I didn't get to speak to them much, but just seeing them together, it looked nice, ma sha Allah. He looked like a good husband who was keeping his wife happy.""Yeah, Tammara seemed like a really nice person herself, and both of them make a lovely pair. May Allah bless them," Rufaida agreed."Which reminds me, I liked Ahmed too," her mum commented, her eyes teasing."Okay...""He seemed like the guy who'd follow his brother's footsteps and keep his wife happy.""Good for him," Rufaida shrugged."He's the kind of guy I'd want your future husband to be.""Ammi," Rufaida warned."I'm just stating my opinion," she replied."Such opinions are not appreciated," Rufaida grumbled."He's decent, smart, comes from a good family, seems balanced in deen and dunya, has a nice personality. What else could a mother want for her daughter?""Maybe want for her to accomplish her goals without feeding her the image that marriage is everything and she can do whatever she wants only after finding herself a good husband?""Of course I'm going to support all your dreams and wish for you to chase them, but if a good suitor comes along the way, I'm just keeping my options ready.""There's a long way to go until I get married, Ammi," Rufaida reminded."Take your time, Ahmed also is very young now..."When Rufaida exhaled loudly at that insinuation, Asma laughed at her daughter's plight. "He may probably even accept your proposal if I did send one, considering he was on his second serving of the chicken cutlets you made.""Really?" Rufaida asked, surprised."Didn't you notice? They weren't comfortable having the food we served, they probably were contemplating on the hygiene aspect since we come from a small household, but Ahmed was a different story. I'm pretty sure he would have gone on a third serving if his mum hadn't shot him a glare." "That's funny," Rufaida noted, not thinking too much into it."And Rufi?" Her mum called, "Don't stress about the things I was speaking of before, I was just pulling your leg. Ahmed's mother seemed furious that her daughter had fallen for Zubair, no way would she want her son too to marry someone below their status, I was teasing you initially but obviously, our society doesn't work like that.""Of course, Ammi, it's not like I'm interested in whatever that you were hinting at either. They can keep their money and I'll keep my dignity. If I ever get married, I'd want to be a part of a family that would value me for my character and not any superficial things." "And may you find someone who sees you for your heart," her mum prayed and those words kept replaying in Rufaida's mind until slumber finally took over her...
"Shall I spill the tea?""No.""What a spoilsport.""I don't need any more drama in my life.""But you have to listen to this.""Why is Kiran crying, again?" Rufaida finally questioned, tired of Amrit's constant jest."That's what the tea is about," Amrit insisted."I honestly don't want to hear any sad news.""But you have to.""What sort of enforcement is this?" Rufaida protested."Do you not care for your friend?" Amrit gasped dramatically."Cut it, Amrit," Kiran snapped, and turning to look at Rufaida, she continued, "So the new tea is that my parents think I'm over my boyfriend and they brought a guy they think is perfect for me home yesterday and forced me to meet him.""Oh!" Rufaida exclaimed."Exactly, oh," Kiran nodded."What did you do?" Rufaida prodded."Told him I'm not interested and walked off," Kiran shrugged."Oh!" Rufaida exclaimed again."You can do better than oh," Amrit deadpanned."I honestly don't know what to say," Rufaida replied truthfully, thinking back to the similar situation at home. She didn't know what to tell Kiran, or this new girl named Afreen whose family she had met yesterday. She didn't know if the parents should be blamed for not allowing them to choose a life partner or the daughters' had to be held responsible for going against their parent's wishes. She couldn't tell Kiran to carry her plan and run away with Gaurav, but at the same time she knew he was a nice guy and she didn't know how to tell her to get over him just to please her parents. She didn't know how to tell this girl named Afreen that she deserved a mother in law better than her Maami and that her parents had every right to be worried of her decision to marry her cousin Zubair but she also couldn't tell her not to go ahead with it, what if both of them really loved each other and found a way out? She had no answer to any of these puzzles but what Rufaida did know was that love was a complicated affair she wished to not associate herself with because when in love, despite the logic our mind followed, the heart would always hope for an alternate reality.Rufaida knew that logically, she could do nothing about this problem that she was witnessing some people get into and yet her mind couldn't help but probe deeper into the situation at home as she tried to ignore Amrit and Kiran in the background. It had been a week since Afreen's family had visited them and there were absolutely no signs from them, their silence unmistakably indicating their lack of interest. Yet, her Maami was going bonkers, still holding on to every useless string of hope, unwilling to accept that this girl who she had dreamed of making her daughter in law was slipping from her hand. Rufaida could only guess that the said girl, Afreen, was grounded and her phone had been confiscated because she had heard Zubair, in a fit of frustration, inform his mum the other day that he had no clue of what was going on and was unable to reach his girlfriend.At the thought, Rufaida's eyes instinctively roamed the campus, testing her luck as she tried to spot Afreen. It was futile, though, because she was almost certain Afreen hadn't been attending college, because if she had, then Zubair wouldn't be this worried. However, she didn't know if he had always been around her or whether her memory cells were too sharp and easily spotted him in crowds given their previous exchange, because while looking for Afreen, she ended up finding Ahmed. She immediately turned her face away from him, unwilling to experience a flashback of their history, but she couldn't help but miss the panic in his expression, as he dodged his way out towards the large University gates. While Rufaida dismissed the situation and went back to concentrating on her unfinished assignment that was due after the current lunch break, she had no clue that Ahmed's panic was a reaction to a tragedy...
"Mamma, what's going on?" Ahmed enquired upon reaching home, rushing to his mother upstairs. "I couldn't understand half the things you were telling me on the phone.""Afreen is neither opening the door, nor is she responding," his mother cried, knocking on her daughter's door for the hundredth time, which yet again ended up being a futile attempt. "I did not want to trouble your father, and Raiyyan isn't answering my calls, he's out with Tammara for Fariha's vaccination," she elaborated, on the verge of tears."Mamma, calm down, I'm pretty sure she's fallen asleep," Ahmed tried to pacify, certain that his mum was going into overdrive."Try opening the door, Ahmed, I swear my heart is just about to burst out of my chest.""Mamma look at yourself, your sugar levels seem extremely high, calm down, will you?" He emphasized, banging the door of his sister's room while yelling her name. "Since how long are you trying?" He enquired."Past half an hour," she replied, licking her lips that had gone exceptionally dry. "Ahmed, break open the door," she commanded after a few seconds.At the order, Ahmed raised his eyebrows in reply, looking at his mum as if she had just asked for a blasphemous favor. "Not sure if I will break the door or the door will break me... It's made of sturdy wood, you know?" He explained."What use is playing hours of football when you can't even break open a door?" Zainab accused, not in the right frame of mind."What does me playing football have anything to do with breaking open a door? We kick the ball in the game, not bolted doors," he gasped, offended."This is not the time to be funny, Ahmed," Zainab shouted."Mamma for real, I can't just smash into it and expect it to open, it's not like how they show in the movies.""Atleast try, what use is eating so much food if you can't even bang into a door.""Fine," Ahmed agreed sarcastically, exhausted by her pestering. "I'll go ten steps back and then lunge at it with full force, but in case the door doesn't open, and I smash my head into it, I hope you have a plan to take me to the hospital, Mamma."Bumping her palm to her forehead at her younger son's theory, she chided, "Then do something, this girl is going to be the death of me.""I know Afreen, Mamma, she wouldn't take any major step, she's just trying to scare you, you really need to take it easy. I'm pretty sure she's napping inside.""I hope you're right Ahmed but this does not seem like it. She hasn't spoken to any of us throughout the week, God knows what her state of mind is, I don't trust her on anything now. When she had come for lunch a while back, I had informed her that Riyaz was coming home tonight, told her to come for dinner in presentable clothes. God knows how that piece of information has triggered her.""Where is your set of spare keys?" Ahmed enquired, the seriousness of the situation finally dawning on him."I can't find it! It's literally nowhere!""Wait..." Ahmed paused. "When we recently rectified the locks, Afreen ended up having my room key along with hers and I had hers with mine," Ahmed recalled, running adjacent towards his room before grabbing the pair of keys from the keyhole. As he rushed back to Afreen's room and accomplished the task, the door clicked open and in the rarest of the rare moments, life surprised Ahmed.It turned out his entire life had been a lie.It seemed like the twin with whom he had shared his mother's womb and claimed to know her so well, he really didn't know who she was.In the biggest debate his mind had ever conjured, Ahmed didn't know if these 21 years with his sister had been a joke, or the sight before him was a fib.Lying before him was what he thought to be his twin, sleeping peacefully, but the pool of blood around her slit wrist spoke of a different tale.
"Jibreel sat with the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and he looked at the sky and saw an angel coming down. Jibreel said: This angel has never come down since the day he was created, until now. When he had come down, he said: O Muhammad, your Lord has sent me to you (to give you the choice of being) either a Prophet-king or a Messenger-slave. Jibreel said: Be humble before your Lord, O Muhammad. He said: "Rather (I choose to be) a Messenger-slave."[Narrated by Ahmad in his Musnad (7160)]
Chapter 6:I don't know youSilence is a paradox, it sometimes stands for the most authentic form of joy where no words can match its depth and yet other times it hints at the catastrophe that no words can explain its intensity. Unfortunately, in Afreen's case, it ended up being the latter."What happened?"The words slipped from her mouth before she could stop herself, and although the entire family who had just returned from Zubair's house was seated in the living room, her eyes were trained on her mother, desperately seeking an answer from her.When her question was met some more silence signifying tragedy, she resisted the urge to repeat herself. It was after many long moments of honoring the ticking of the clock as the only sound in the room that her mum finally turned to look at her."Where did we go wrong in raising you?" She asked, her voice deathly calm, causing Afreen to wince in reply. "Not only did you give yourself the liberty to date someone behind our backs, but you also fell for a guy that does not remotely match our standards?""Mamma," Afreen whispered, "How can you say this?" "And why can't I say this?" Zainab challenged. "What is wrong with you, Afreen, have you lost all sense? Their house is not even quarter the size of ours, they are those typical middle class people, I can't believe my daughter could make such a choice.""In Islam deen must be given priority over financial status," she put forth."Don't teach me Islam," Zainab snapped. "I can't get you married in a house where I don't even know if that guy is capable of providing a decent meal three times a day. Raiyyan, I'm telling you, message your friend right now and ask him if he's free to come meet us with his parents tomorrow, this girl is a lost cause, about time I get her married before she makes us a joke in the society.""I'm not getting married to anyone but him," Afreen insisted, a stubborn edge to her tone."Then stay a spinster all your life.""That's enough, Zainab," Ibrahim interjected and Afreen turned to look at her father, her eyes moist."Abbu, please, I..." "We cannot get you married in that family, Afreen," her father proclaimed, in a tone that conveyed his decision was final and nothing she'd say could alter it. "Your mother wasn't willing to give him a chance, but seeing you, I swallowed my pride and went to visit them this evening but I'm extremely disappointed. I don't see anything in that guy or his family. Zainab is worried about their financial status and she has every right to, but if we keep that fact aside and even if I say that in your wedding I'll write a lavish apartment for you in your name and gift you a car so you can live a hassle free life, the problem does not get solved. See, people should not be judged for their money, although as parents we would want you to marry rich so you don't have to struggle for basics, but okay we'll keep that aside for now. My problem is their mentality. There are many people out there without a huge bank balance but they are respectable and have a positive outlook to things, they think big. But this guy's family, they are far from all of it. Their fault is not that they are poor, their fault is they don't want to do anything about their situation and are seeking an easy way out, which means their solution is not hard work and sincerity, their solution to this is getting a rich daughter in law and I'd be foolish to get you married in that family.""But Zubair is not like that Abbu," Afreen begged. "Maybe his family is like that but Zubair is very nice, he does not want anything from me, he has big dreams and he's ready to work hard, please give him a chance.""Not when your life is at stake," Ibrahim shook his head."Raiyyan Bhai, please say something," Afreen requested."Afreen I'd do anything for your happiness but I can't picture you happy in that family, I'm really sorry but I side by Mamma and Abbu's decision. I'm not even bothered about his money, it's the deen I'm focusing at. I asked him a few questions and he is far from being on the same page us, he was so casual about not praying his five daily prayers.""You can't judge him like this, just because we are rich does not mean we look down upon those below us," she accused."Did you not hear me, money is the last thing I'm worried about," Raiyyan repeated. "Like Abbu said, it's their mentality that's a problem.""But I'm marrying Zubair not his family and he is not like that," she cried out in frustration."You are very much marrying his family," Zainab interjected. "You have to live in the same house as his mother and when she taunts you, your own husband will not take your side. You don't know half the things that happen after the wedding, you just want to jump into marriage blindly.""I don't want us to talk on this topic anymore," Ibrahim verbalized, frustrated. "This is a closed chapter now. Afreen, concentrate on your studies while Zainab looks for a nice groom for you and once you graduate, we'll get you married.""I am not getting married to anyone except Zubair," she rebelled, unwilling to budge."And we will never get you married to him," Zainab opposed."I will not come in front of any other family that comes to meet me on the prospect of marriage.""Suit yourself," Zainab shrugged. "Your father and I will select the boy ourselves and let you know of your wedding dates.""Mamma, you're traumatizing me," she warned."You'll thank me later for this," Zainab replied."We will become a joke in the entire society because when the Imam asks me for my consent to sign the nikah papers, I'm going to refuse," she revolted."Afreen, you've lost it," Raiyyan sighed in disbelief."All of you are scheming against me," she cried, jolting up. "Just because he isn't rich you'll don't want me to marry him. What sort of Muslims are we, we preach something in public and behind closed doors this is what we do," she accused, stomping to her room, leaving everyone tongue tied at her behavior.Islam is a religion of moderation, but sometimes we hold on so tightly to one of its teachings, we end up committing a sin by transgressing other aspects it preaches.
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"Well... that was something."Switching off the light, Rufaida climbed into bed and turned to look at her mum deep in thought. She would admit it, she was just as lost as her."When Nani said they were rich, I didn't think she meant it at this level," she agreed, "They've got the money, the status, the power, the looks... they've basically got everything.""No one gets everything in life, Rufi," Asma quickly denied. "Everyone gets something in life, some people also get many things in life but nobody gets everything.""That's also true," Rufaida nodded. "But the rich people's world is fascinating, don't you think, Ma? They may have many problems but on the outside, money covers up everything for them.""Money cannot buy you peace, Rufaida," her mother spoke, her eyes distant. "I know you are overwhelmed right now after encountering them, and I agree that money is the solution for most of the problems we currently face, it would definitely be great to reach a stage in life where we do not have to think twice before spending every penny too but as nice as all that is, I never want you to see money as the ultimate goal for anything you do in life. Whatever path you choose, your deen must be your priority, you must seek to better yourself as an individual, never compromise on your character. Of course, once all these things have been taken care of, you can focus on the monetary benefits your choice can yield. But never do things just for money. When our Prophet, may peace be upon him, was given a choice to either be a prophet and king or a slave and messenger, he chose the latter. Money is definitely something, but it can't come with you to your grave, so look at things that actually matter.""I know, Ammi, I know. I also know that money is fitnah of this ummah but I dream of living a decent life, where our needs are met without hesitation, where once in a while we can treat ourselves and when we see people in need, we must have enough to give them in charity. Nothing extravagant, but fulfilling and satisfying," Rufaida sighed."May Allah grant you more than you dream of," her mother prayed."Aameen."There was a long pause after that conversation, the mother-daughter duo contemplating on life in general when Asma spoke again."I really like Raiyyan and Tammara's pair. I didn't get to speak to them much, but just seeing them together, it looked nice, ma sha Allah. He looked like a good husband who was keeping his wife happy.""Yeah, Tammara seemed like a really nice person herself, and both of them make a lovely pair. May Allah bless them," Rufaida agreed."Which reminds me, I liked Ahmed too," her mum commented, her eyes teasing."Okay...""He seemed like the guy who'd follow his brother's footsteps and keep his wife happy.""Good for him," Rufaida shrugged."He's the kind of guy I'd want your future husband to be.""Ammi," Rufaida warned."I'm just stating my opinion," she replied."Such opinions are not appreciated," Rufaida grumbled."He's decent, smart, comes from a good family, seems balanced in deen and dunya, has a nice personality. What else could a mother want for her daughter?""Maybe want for her to accomplish her goals without feeding her the image that marriage is everything and she can do whatever she wants only after finding herself a good husband?""Of course I'm going to support all your dreams and wish for you to chase them, but if a good suitor comes along the way, I'm just keeping my options ready.""There's a long way to go until I get married, Ammi," Rufaida reminded."Take your time, Ahmed also is very young now..."When Rufaida exhaled loudly at that insinuation, Asma laughed at her daughter's plight. "He may probably even accept your proposal if I did send one, considering he was on his second serving of the chicken cutlets you made.""Really?" Rufaida asked, surprised."Didn't you notice? They weren't comfortable having the food we served, they probably were contemplating on the hygiene aspect since we come from a small household, but Ahmed was a different story. I'm pretty sure he would have gone on a third serving if his mum hadn't shot him a glare." "That's funny," Rufaida noted, not thinking too much into it."And Rufi?" Her mum called, "Don't stress about the things I was speaking of before, I was just pulling your leg. Ahmed's mother seemed furious that her daughter had fallen for Zubair, no way would she want her son too to marry someone below their status, I was teasing you initially but obviously, our society doesn't work like that.""Of course, Ammi, it's not like I'm interested in whatever that you were hinting at either. They can keep their money and I'll keep my dignity. If I ever get married, I'd want to be a part of a family that would value me for my character and not any superficial things." "And may you find someone who sees you for your heart," her mum prayed and those words kept replaying in Rufaida's mind until slumber finally took over her...
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"Shall I spill the tea?""No.""What a spoilsport.""I don't need any more drama in my life.""But you have to listen to this.""Why is Kiran crying, again?" Rufaida finally questioned, tired of Amrit's constant jest."That's what the tea is about," Amrit insisted."I honestly don't want to hear any sad news.""But you have to.""What sort of enforcement is this?" Rufaida protested."Do you not care for your friend?" Amrit gasped dramatically."Cut it, Amrit," Kiran snapped, and turning to look at Rufaida, she continued, "So the new tea is that my parents think I'm over my boyfriend and they brought a guy they think is perfect for me home yesterday and forced me to meet him.""Oh!" Rufaida exclaimed."Exactly, oh," Kiran nodded."What did you do?" Rufaida prodded."Told him I'm not interested and walked off," Kiran shrugged."Oh!" Rufaida exclaimed again."You can do better than oh," Amrit deadpanned."I honestly don't know what to say," Rufaida replied truthfully, thinking back to the similar situation at home. She didn't know what to tell Kiran, or this new girl named Afreen whose family she had met yesterday. She didn't know if the parents should be blamed for not allowing them to choose a life partner or the daughters' had to be held responsible for going against their parent's wishes. She couldn't tell Kiran to carry her plan and run away with Gaurav, but at the same time she knew he was a nice guy and she didn't know how to tell her to get over him just to please her parents. She didn't know how to tell this girl named Afreen that she deserved a mother in law better than her Maami and that her parents had every right to be worried of her decision to marry her cousin Zubair but she also couldn't tell her not to go ahead with it, what if both of them really loved each other and found a way out? She had no answer to any of these puzzles but what Rufaida did know was that love was a complicated affair she wished to not associate herself with because when in love, despite the logic our mind followed, the heart would always hope for an alternate reality.Rufaida knew that logically, she could do nothing about this problem that she was witnessing some people get into and yet her mind couldn't help but probe deeper into the situation at home as she tried to ignore Amrit and Kiran in the background. It had been a week since Afreen's family had visited them and there were absolutely no signs from them, their silence unmistakably indicating their lack of interest. Yet, her Maami was going bonkers, still holding on to every useless string of hope, unwilling to accept that this girl who she had dreamed of making her daughter in law was slipping from her hand. Rufaida could only guess that the said girl, Afreen, was grounded and her phone had been confiscated because she had heard Zubair, in a fit of frustration, inform his mum the other day that he had no clue of what was going on and was unable to reach his girlfriend.At the thought, Rufaida's eyes instinctively roamed the campus, testing her luck as she tried to spot Afreen. It was futile, though, because she was almost certain Afreen hadn't been attending college, because if she had, then Zubair wouldn't be this worried. However, she didn't know if he had always been around her or whether her memory cells were too sharp and easily spotted him in crowds given their previous exchange, because while looking for Afreen, she ended up finding Ahmed. She immediately turned her face away from him, unwilling to experience a flashback of their history, but she couldn't help but miss the panic in his expression, as he dodged his way out towards the large University gates. While Rufaida dismissed the situation and went back to concentrating on her unfinished assignment that was due after the current lunch break, she had no clue that Ahmed's panic was a reaction to a tragedy...
***
"Mamma, what's going on?" Ahmed enquired upon reaching home, rushing to his mother upstairs. "I couldn't understand half the things you were telling me on the phone.""Afreen is neither opening the door, nor is she responding," his mother cried, knocking on her daughter's door for the hundredth time, which yet again ended up being a futile attempt. "I did not want to trouble your father, and Raiyyan isn't answering my calls, he's out with Tammara for Fariha's vaccination," she elaborated, on the verge of tears."Mamma, calm down, I'm pretty sure she's fallen asleep," Ahmed tried to pacify, certain that his mum was going into overdrive."Try opening the door, Ahmed, I swear my heart is just about to burst out of my chest.""Mamma look at yourself, your sugar levels seem extremely high, calm down, will you?" He emphasized, banging the door of his sister's room while yelling her name. "Since how long are you trying?" He enquired."Past half an hour," she replied, licking her lips that had gone exceptionally dry. "Ahmed, break open the door," she commanded after a few seconds.At the order, Ahmed raised his eyebrows in reply, looking at his mum as if she had just asked for a blasphemous favor. "Not sure if I will break the door or the door will break me... It's made of sturdy wood, you know?" He explained."What use is playing hours of football when you can't even break open a door?" Zainab accused, not in the right frame of mind."What does me playing football have anything to do with breaking open a door? We kick the ball in the game, not bolted doors," he gasped, offended."This is not the time to be funny, Ahmed," Zainab shouted."Mamma for real, I can't just smash into it and expect it to open, it's not like how they show in the movies.""Atleast try, what use is eating so much food if you can't even bang into a door.""Fine," Ahmed agreed sarcastically, exhausted by her pestering. "I'll go ten steps back and then lunge at it with full force, but in case the door doesn't open, and I smash my head into it, I hope you have a plan to take me to the hospital, Mamma."Bumping her palm to her forehead at her younger son's theory, she chided, "Then do something, this girl is going to be the death of me.""I know Afreen, Mamma, she wouldn't take any major step, she's just trying to scare you, you really need to take it easy. I'm pretty sure she's napping inside.""I hope you're right Ahmed but this does not seem like it. She hasn't spoken to any of us throughout the week, God knows what her state of mind is, I don't trust her on anything now. When she had come for lunch a while back, I had informed her that Riyaz was coming home tonight, told her to come for dinner in presentable clothes. God knows how that piece of information has triggered her.""Where is your set of spare keys?" Ahmed enquired, the seriousness of the situation finally dawning on him."I can't find it! It's literally nowhere!""Wait..." Ahmed paused. "When we recently rectified the locks, Afreen ended up having my room key along with hers and I had hers with mine," Ahmed recalled, running adjacent towards his room before grabbing the pair of keys from the keyhole. As he rushed back to Afreen's room and accomplished the task, the door clicked open and in the rarest of the rare moments, life surprised Ahmed.It turned out his entire life had been a lie.It seemed like the twin with whom he had shared his mother's womb and claimed to know her so well, he really didn't know who she was.In the biggest debate his mind had ever conjured, Ahmed didn't know if these 21 years with his sister had been a joke, or the sight before him was a fib.Lying before him was what he thought to be his twin, sleeping peacefully, but the pool of blood around her slit wrist spoke of a different tale.
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