I didn't imagine that my piece of imagination; my book would cross over thousands of peoples' heart.

I am SO OVERWHELMED.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I know, thank you is just an understatement when it comes to thank you all. I am running out of words to say how much grateful I am.

Again, thank you so much.

YAZAN

"Yazan, I see you've changed"

I looked up from my plate of omelette and bread with an eyebrow raised at my dad. "Changed? for good or bad?" I asked, a little nervous chuckle escaped my lips like I was treading between fire and ice.

He kept his phone down on the handheld of the sofa and turned to look at me. "Of course I meant for good. I don't know what magic your Mom has done on you in India but Alhamdulilah...I am glad to see you like this" 

I nodded, taking in the appreciation I was getting for maybe the first time ever in my life. Ever since I could possibly remember. "LIke this? Like what?" I asked, perplexed.

"Well..." He sighed relief. "For starters, my friends at the Masjid seem to be very glad to know that the young boy who's helping around in the masjid and always the first one to be there at Fajr, to open the lights and the ACs, is my son" 

A smile involuntarily crept my face and he was smiling too but there was also something else. His eyes were sparkling with proud. "Alhamdulilah" I said and something clicked in my mind. Something I had been meaning to ask him since a long time. Strike the iron while it's hot Yazan!

I went to the kitchen with my empty plate, cleaned it and kept it on the rack then I braced myself to approach him..

"I had to discuss something with you, by the way" I spoke hesitantly as I made my way towards the sofa and sat across from him. 

"Go on" He gestured me to speak. "I'm listening" 

I leaned forward resting my elbows on my knees. "Dad, I wanted to distribute free food to all the workers working on the construction site of our restaurant and if possible, every once in a while free lunch to our employees from our restaurant" I paused, taking his body language into consideration. 

"Hmm...I see..." He nodded.

I took a deep breath and continued as I shifted in the sofa, "Dad, if you don't mind..I...I also wanted to suggest since we are making enough profit every month. We should consider installing a tent for the workers that work in the blazing heat. That tent will have a fridge and a resting couch or something so they can take a break, have something to eat and then work?

He listened to me with rapt attention, a stern look clouded over his face as if he was trying to do some difficult math calculations in his head.

"What do you think?" I asked, "I was thinking about this since a very long time. If Allah has given us the capability to do something, to help the poor and needy, we shouldn't take a step back, isn't it?"

"Of course, only if you are okay with it because you know these things better than I do" I added, my heart beat suddenly took a leap and started beating ferociously in my chest.  I could hear every beat of my heart thumping in my chest as the room fell silent after I spoke. The agitation and anticipation of his answer killing me inside. I'm much more comfortable speaking with mom about anything but when it comes to Dad, I don't know what it was but he was just the stricter parent amongst the two of them. 

"Yazan" He spoke sternly.

"Ji" my voice came out as barely a whisper. I kept my hand on the my knees because I couldn't stop shaking them out of nervousness. Heck, I didn't even know why I was feeling so nervous when I said or did nothing wrong but when you are young, you don't have much courage to stand up for what you believe in. 

It felt like forever, waiting for him to say something. 

His face broke into a wide smile and for a moment it felt like I was dreaming. 

I must had been staring at him with a question mark all over my face because then his smile turned into a chuckle. He shook his head. "I can't believe this!" 

"Yazan, I can't believe your words! I can't believe how I have not thought about this before! It's a brilliant idea. Brilliant of the most brilliant ideas! Well done Yazan!" As he got up, even I rose to my feet. He came up to me and patted my shoulder.

"Today is your day!" He said.

I smiled cheekily. Yes. It is indeed.

****

I unlocked my room's window feeling the cool breeze. It felt like it would rain that day.  It was probably one the best days of my life. I was feeling so happy and could still feel my adrenaline rush each time I thought of the dream I had.

I dreamt of her. She looked so beautiful. I can't get the sight of her out of my brain. That vision of her was just so beautiful.

I was dressed in a dark blue tuxedo. Needless to mention that being her favorite color. And I was seated on a sofa and I was talking to her dad who was wearing a black tuxedo, he was sitting beside me and he was asking me to keep his princess like a queen. And I assured him by saying that she was living like a princess in his kingdom but for me, she was my whole kingdom. Not just my queen.

She was brought into this room where we were sitting she was wearing a peach colour gown and a hijab well framed above her head. The moment she sat in front of me and our eyes met, I swear I felt my heart skip a beat.She blushed so prettily. And the only word that left my mouth when I saw her was "Ma Sha Allah" for I had to thank god for answering my prayers. For giving her to me. For making her my wife. For, she was everything I had been praying for.

I knew I was blushing really hard. Possibly from all the excitement that I was feeling after having finally met her and to be able to be the one to call her my wife. I felt like I was falling like I have let go of my arms and my body and given myself to the gravity of the earth only that feeling turned out to be real because as soon as my body hit the floor, I realised it was all nothing but just a dream. I got up and checked the time. It was 30 mins for Fajr. Perfect time for Tahajjud.

Even if it was just a dream, she was actually the reason I was up for Tahajjud. I didn't know how long would I have to go on with the hope of having my dreams, one day, come true. 

The sun rose above in the sky and I couldn't get over the thought of getting to see her after all these  years and whether she'd agree to marry me.

Why does some dreams have to be so beautiful that the possibility of them turning out to be true seems far fetched? Beautiful dreams were like reading a romantic fictional story, you know nothing about it is real but you still feel giddy about it anyway.

Removing myself from this agony of longing and yearning, I decided to head to the restaurant to accomplish my tasks. Almost everyone knew me in the restaurant by now and that hospitality I received always made me feel good. It wasn't just because I was the son of their boss but because I helped them around and not sat in an office and gave orders. When I announced they could have their choice of meal for free that day and every other day each month, the whole staff split in cheers.

"Alhamdulilah!" I thanked Allah for blessing me with the capability of doing something with the blessings he had given me. I felt like my chest would swell up with gratitude to Allah. 

I was sitting on the counter and talking to one of dad's colleagues who works with the other branches. He told me that he could look after the branches in Riyadh. And since we had recently done partnership with one of the restaurants in Bahrain, He was asking me if I would like to give the staff in Bahrain the same offer. I told him I had to discuss it with dad. He was the boss after all. Later, when I came home, I discussed it with Dad. He told it was necessary for someone to be there to visit and check on them. But because I was stuck with school. He couldn't send me. I really wished I could go Bahrain. The beauty of that island had been the talk of town forever. I have not known any person living in Saudi, who hadn't paid a visit to Bahrain. It was a mini-getaway to people in Saudi. I hoped for a day to come when I'd be boarding the plane to Kuwait, to get the love of my life.

I remembered something as I grabbed my phone and dialled Talha.

"The number you are trying to reach is busy"  I dialled another time. I didn't care. My concern should be his priority now. Sarcasm intended. 

"Hey Man! what's is it? I was talking to Aisha. I have kept her on hold. Can you call me after an hour or so?"

"NO! NO! NO! " I shook my head as if he could see me, "It's urgent! listen, listen, tell Aisha to ask Zukroof if she has read my letter and if she has then ask her how did she feel. Tell her to ask please! I'll cut the call now, okay? Please give me a missed call after that" I added as I cut the call.

I waited patiently for 15 mins. Then got impatient the 16th minute. I took deep breaths in and out. Counted till 10 and then called him again.

"Hello?" He answered.

"Son of hello! I asked you to give me a missed call!"

"Oh yeah! Sorry man, I forgot, yeah she conveyed, that..........." He stretched the word 'that' and took an overly dramatic pause keeping me on my toes.

"That?" I asked impatiently. I bet my agitation was clear in my voice.

"Thaaaaaat," he chuckled, he was clearly having fun at the expense of my misery. 

"I swear I'm going to book a flight and come to your place and punch your handsome face down TALHA if you don't tell me right away!" 

He chuckled, "She conveyed that she is missing her Yazani" His voice broke into laughter.

"Yazani huh? Remember how much you hated Rosie when she called you that?" 

Rosie was our classmate in 8th and she had an insane amount of crush on me, she had this weird accent in which she called me Yazani, because of that I hated anyone calling me Yazani.

"Zukroof is the only exception" I smiled involuntarily. "But, did she really say that?" I asked, I couldn't be too sure when it came to Talha and his little pranks. 

"Yes, and she also mentioned that it was so beautiful that it touched her heart and she is living with the regret of having let her friend go because of a stupid misunderstanding" He sighed.

I sighed as well. "I miss her too, man," I admitted.

"Why don't you talk to her?" He asked.

"I don't want to"

"But, why?"

"I don't want to invest my feelings anymore than I have already done for temporary happiness. I aim to have her forever"

"Oh In sha Allah," 

"In sha Allah" I smiled.

"How's college?" I asked.

"It's AH-MAZING!" He said cheerfully.

"Nice!" I replied.

"We would have had great fun if you were here. You know Aisha, Noor and Faisal, and I are all in one college."

"I see.... I joined school a week before. Everything is as it was. Teachers have been asking where is your partner?" I chuckled.

He laughed. "Oh, Man! Didn't see that coming!"

"Me neither, I've never imagined I'd have to start a life without you. Come soon in summers. Will visit Bahrain together" I suggested. 

"MAAAAN! Brilliant IIIIDDDDEEEEEEAAAA!" He seemed cheery through the phone. Whether he was really excited or not, I couldn't tell. 

I laughed, "okay take care, good night man!" I said.

"Goodbye"

"Goodbye"