Bismillahi Rrahmaani Rrahiim.
Assalaam Alaykum everyone. I am so overwhelmed that I don't know how to say this.

JazaakumuLlah khayran for your enormous support, for reading my novel. It means more than a lot to me.. BaarakaAllah fiykum.

All that while, all my readers were some lovely friends I have met on Wattpad (and other silent ones whom I do adore), save for my few cousins. But now I got a gang of ex-classmates *squealing*
May Allah make you happy like you made me.

I hope you will love the chapter designed only to give you a rough glimpse on how Eid is spent.
_________________

Salma together with Tasniim and her husband, Aliy, arrived at Tasniim's house from Eid prayers. The couple was expecting guests, Aliy's close relatives, so Tasniim invited Salma and her mother along, partly because she knew they had no family and partly because both Tasniim and Aliy counted them as family. But since Husaynah had politely apologized, that she preferred remaining at home, only Salma ended up joining them.

"I better get going, so we don't get late for breakfast." Aliy told his wife after having three pieces of dates and a cup of coffee. In Eidul Adh-ha, it was an act of sunnah (involuntary deed), to leave for eid prayers before eating anything.

He had promised to pick his parents from their house.

"My dearest one, is that an excuse for 'can't wait to have food'?" Tasniim said playfully, as she smiled to her husband.

"My precious one, do you mean you can't tolerate missing me that much?" Aliy spoke as he moved closer to Tasniim, enjoying the view of his beautiful blushing wife.

"Seriously? What's the connection here?"

A step closer. "Allow me to illustrate." He spoke with playful eyes.

"Uhmm.. I think you need to go. I got a guest to attend to." Tasniim tried shifting away from the dining room, she wasn't so comfortable remaining there any longer when she knew Salma could hear everything as there was a window between the dining room and the kitchen where they left Salma.

Aliy blocked her path then spoke, "Salma, is what am hearing true? That you are a guest in your sister and brother's home?"

Salma and Aliy tried their best to mantain distance between them, but because Aliy was treated like a son by Husaynah, he couldn't help but see Salma as his little sister.

Salma just let out a giggle, loud enough to let Aliy know she hadn't ignored him. She was now used to being the headline of distraction for both husband and wife. "Tasnii, it's ok. Am fine." She decided to ditch her sister and go for her brother.

"I hate you Salmaa." Tasniim wondered why sisters enjoy siding brothers in law. Like seriously?

Much to her amusement, Aliy chuckled and continued narrowing the gap between himself and Tasniim.

Salma fled from the kitchen towards one of the bedrooms not really interested in overhearing the love birds.

"Eid Mubarak Tasniy. May Allah grant you all the happiness you deserve."

"Eid Mubarak Zawjy. May our nikah be blessed by Allaah. May our love never die."

"Sayyidna Aliy says: He whose words are soft, loving him becomes a must.
I have never met anyone with words softer than yours."

Tasniim replied nothing. It was such a tense atmosphere. The good kind of tension where all distance was covered and eyes locked, the perfect demonstration of two bodies, one soul.

After a tight affectionate embrace, Aliy spoke, "Now, may I leave for your in-laws?"

"Why not my in-love?" Tasneem said with a glowing smile beautifying her cute face.

Aliy giggled. He admired this side of Tasniim. The Affectionate Adorable side. "Ok then." With hasty steps as if he feared he would never leave, Aliy left.
______________

A hectic day it was in the house of Aliy and Tasneem, thanks to their lovely guests. Aliy's family had decided to gather at Aliy's house, as they had never done so before, in the two years that Aliy had been married to his wife.

After the brekfast, her parents in law were driven back to their home so as to await the relatives and friends who would definitely go to give their greetings.

Tasneem was nostalgic, she wanted nothing to go wrong in serving her guests for the day. Although they kept repeating to her that, they weren't guests but siblings to her as well, Tasneem never stopped worrying.

She always felt the urge to treat them like royalty, as they always did. The honour of marrying the prince of the family, Aliy, who happened to be the last born of his family. Tasneem was one of the few girls walking on earth, lucky to be the princess of her in-laws.

"Are you sure we got all the ingredients we need?" Tasneem asked Salma, worry clearly heard in her voice.

"For the fifth time now, yes madam, we do!" Salma spoke cheerfully enjoying this worried state Tasneem is in.

She was lucky during breakfast, the family decided Tasniim must not cook anything for they shall bring all the food, even tea. They did not wish to overburden her. Then during lunch, despite their insistence Tasniim shooed them away from the kitchen, saying it was then her turn.

"You little rabbit! Wait till you get married, and I will never come to help you." Tasneem replied with gritted teeth, though her expression showed nothing but affection.

"Oh yeah!? Mirror! Mirror! Can you hear? Please remind me, why am here?" Salma posed in front of Tasneem's tall mirror in the kitchen, mimicking snow white's evil stepmom.

"Well it only talks to its owner!" Tasneem huffed, rolling her eyes.

"Oh really? Nice meeting you, Evil stepmom." Salma said with all sarcasm, pointing her tongue out.

Against her wishes, a smile formed onTasneem's face, she just gave up and laughed at her heart. It took only a few seconds though, for her to re rant her worries.

"Let's start chopping the things, I don't want to be late." Tasneem placed a few onions on the chopping board, and started the work.

"Aunty princess, please let me help you in the kitchen. I also want to learn how to cook biryani." A little ten years old girl named Nasteha, cheerfully asked her aunt in law. Princess has been Tasniim's nickname ever since she joined the family.

"Nash, are you guys back already? Or you didn't go for Eid greetings?" Tasniim inquired from the girl. "No, auntie. I don't like roaming around with loads of kids, but please don't tell mom. I told her I'm not feeling well." The girl replied making a disgusting face.

Tasniim smiled, touched by how the girl trusted her. That was the case with not only all the nieces and nephews of the house but even their mothers. And that among many other things made her husband admire her more.

Salma chirped in this time, "Ofcourse darling, we would love to have you around. Go and inform mama that you will stay with us."

"But mom won't allow, please just let me stay, she will say if I'm sick I should rest."

"But you have to try asking her. It's not good to anger our parents, right? What did the prophet say about mothers?"

With all shyness the little girl spoke, "Jannah lies under the feet of the mothers."

"Good girl." Salma paused to kiss her. "Now be nice and ask Mama politely. I am making du'a that mama accepts, now you make yours before going."

"Ya allah get mom to accept."

"Amiiin. Now go, ok?"

When she left, Salma told Tasniim, "Later in sha Allah, you shall explain to her that lying is not good. Ok? Because if you did so now, it would have scared her and led her not to trust you anymore."

"Yeah you are right. You know Salma, I want to learn that wisdom of yours. I love how you speak so wisely. How you handle everyone. Maa Shaa Allah." Tasniim told her friend.

"Oh please." Salma indicated her disapproval of being praised. "May Allah make me better than what you say, and may He forgive me for that which you do not know." She recited the prayer recited when someone praises you.

"Promise me you will be there for my kids when I get them." Tasniim asked Salma. After two years of marriage, there still was no sign of concieving yet the pair had not lost hope in the Almighty. For he has spoken,

"وَلَا تَيْأَسُوا مِنْ رَوْحِ اللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُ لَا يَيْأَسُ مِنْ رَوْحِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْقَوْمُ الْكَافِرُونَ)"
[Surat Yusuf 87]
And despair not of relief from Allah . Indeed, no one despairs of relief from Allah except the disbelieving people."

"I will be more than there habibty. By the will of Allaah, it will reach a stage they will be confused as to who really gave birth to them."
Salma spoke as she side hugged Tasniim.

"For his sake, I love you."

"May He whose sake you love me for, love you too."

The lovely moment was interrupted by Nasteha, who hopped into the kitchen with full excitement, "Mommy says I can cook, Thank you Auntie. You are such a strawberry." If she was an emoji, her eyes would have red heart-shaped pupils gleaming within.

"Aaaww. You rock baby girl. Now let's get to work. Do you know how to wash the rice?"
 
And thus, they helped each other in cooking lunch. And just like the power puff girls, with salt, sugar and everything nice (Chemical X is missing though) the three saved the day.