Zuhaiba sat down on one of the chairs kept outside and watched as her father along with her brother-in-law walked towards the tent where her father usually held his meetings.Something was not right,she could just feel it in her bones.Her sister had not come with her brother-in-law and that was just strange.

Sheikh Zuhaib sat down,opposite his father-in-law,Waleed or Abi Yahya as he was better know,who right now was smiling at him.Unfortunately what I am about to tell him will wipe his smile off,Zuhaib thought with a grimace.

“To what do I own the pleasure of seeing you,Zuhaib?”

Zuhaib clenched his fist,“I haven’t brought really good news though,”

Abi Yahya’s smile faded,“Has my daughter done something?”

Zuhaib nodded his head before dropping the bomb which was a burden on his heart,“Aqeelah has run away with her lover.”

Abi Yahya’s face paled and then grew red with anger as Zuhaib’s words registered.

“Ya Allah,that child has dishonoured me.” Abi Yahya struck his hand out to hit the cup off the table in front of him and he looked at the guard who stood near the door,“Get Zuhaiba.”

The guard left the tent and he surveyed the grounds before him,trying to find Zuhaiba.He saw her with the tribe children,laughing at their sword fighting.He walked towards her and called her name,Zuhaiba looked up at him.

“Yes?”

“You father has called you to the meeting tent.”

Zuhaiba stood up and walked behind the guard towards the meeting tent.Thoughts were swirling through her mind at what could have happened that she had to be called while Zuhaib was still there.Something was wrong and she was about to find out just what it was.She entered the tent and she glanced at her father,his red face and clenched fists told her enough.As soon as she was a few feet away from him,she called out.

“Abu?”

Abi Yahya looked up at one of his eldest children,his most beloved daughter and his most wisest child.She was the apple of his eye and the pride of his tirbe.He held out a hand beaconing her to come nearer to him.

Zuhaiba took her father’s hand and sat down in front of him.

“Abu,has something happened to Aqeelah?”

Abi Yahya shook his head,“Nothing has happened to her but she has put me and our tribe to shame.She has run away with her lover.”

Zuhaiba gasped,putting a hand to her chest,“But she wanted nothing more then to be married to Sheikh Zuhaib then why would she run away?”

“Because she is the daughter of a shameless mother,what else could we expect of her.”

Zuhaiba looked at her father with wide eyes,“Ya Abu,don’t say that about ummi.”

Abi Yahya shook his head,“What I am saying is true.Aqeelah is not my daughter,she is her mother’s illegitimate child who I took in because she born to her while her mother was married to me.”

Zuhaiba could not believe her ears and she gazed at Zuhaib who looked equally shocked before squeezing her father’s hand.

“Now what?”

Waleed gazed at her with anger filled eyes,“Go and get your mothers and brothers.Then we will see what steps we should take.”

“Nam Abu.”

Zuhaiba walked out of the tent and she made her way to her favrouite mother,Umme Zuhaiba’s tent.Who despite not being Zuahiba’s blood mother was given her name.This was because she had raised Zuhaiba after Zuhaiba’s mother,Raeesa had passed on.Umme Zuhaiba had been Raeesa’s best friend who had lost her husband a couple of years before Raeesa passed away.One of Raeesa’s dying wished were for Umme Zuhaiba to wed Waleed so that Zuhaiba could have a mother figure.

Zuhaiba entered the tent where Umme Zuhaiba along with Umme Yusuf and Umme Aazar,Waleed’s other wives sat and spoke.

“What is it,my child?”

“Abu has called all three of you to the meeting tent,Ummi.”

The women stood up and Zuhaiba walked to her eldest brother’s tent where she knew she would find all her other brothers.She was right when she spotted them,playing carom.They all looked up at when she cleared her throat and her brother Yahya stood up.

“Come sit Zuhaiba.”

Zuhaiba shook her head,“Abu has called us to the meeting tent,there is an urgent issue.”

All her brothers stood up and they went to the meeting tent where they saw their mother’s as well.Now they were sure that whatever this matter was,it was serious.

“Why have you called us here,Abu Yahya?” Umme Zuhaiba questioned and Zuhaiba moved to her father’s side as he stood up,so he could look at his entire family.

“Today there is a truth that needs to be told and my reasoning is tough enough to do so.Aqeelah who is Umme Yusuf’s daughter is not my daughter,she is her illegitimate child who I took in.” Gasps went around and Umme Yusuf took a step forward,her face red in anger.

“How could you do this,Waleed?Why have you told them this?”

Ab Yahya glared at her and she immediately looked down,“Because your daughter has run away with her lover,shaming me in front of the Royal family.” Abi Yahya took a threating step towards her,“You wanted her to marry Sheikh Zuhaib because Zuhaiba was going to marry him and see where that has brought us.My daughter’s heart is still broken while your daughter has shamed me Umme Yusuf!If and when she does come back I will have nothing to do with her.This will be told to the tribe whether they look down upon you or decide on another cause.Yusuf,call the tribe to meet us outside now.”

“Nam abu.” Yusuf left and Zuhaiba handed her father a glass of water.

“La Waleed.You can’t do this to me,to my daughter.” Momina latched onto his robes and Abi Yahya angerly moved back,causing her to fall down.

“Your daughter has brought this on herself.She should have thought about her actions before running my honour.” Abi Yahya turned away from the crying women who was being comforted by Umme Aazar and Ummi Zuhaiba.

Ten minutes later they all walked out of the tent to see everyone gathered near the podium set up e few feet away.Abi Yahya climbed up with the help of Yahya and he looked at the tribe.

“My dearest tribe,Aqeelah is not my daughter.She is the illegitimate child of Umme Yusuf who I took in.She has run away with her lover shaming me in front of all of you.We all know her sentencing but until she isn’t found we won’t be able to do anything.Umme Yusuf already got her sentencing years ago so she will not be liable for any more sentencing.” He looked around at the gathering,“Aqeelah is now an outcast.If she attempts to come back,she has no place here.”

Yahya helped Waleed off the podium and into the tent.Zuhaiba’s heart clenched at the sight of Umme Yusuf as she sat where they had left her.

Everyone took a seat and Zuhaiba stood behind her father,her hand on his shoulder.She could feel a scorching gaze on her but she refused to meet it.She knew that glance well enough to know that it held a lot of questions,answers to which she had but refused to answer.

“Oh King of our Kingdom,how are we to repair the relations that,that shameless woman has all but destroyed?”

Zuhaib thought carefully before talking as he moved his gaze from the woman behind Abi Yahya,“Before I discuss that,tell me why wasn’t I married to Zuhaiba?”

Zuhaiba froze,her blood ran cold and she dropped her hand from her father’s shoulder.

Ya Allah why was the Sheikh asking this?What was he thinking?

Abi Yahya glanced over his shoulder at Zuhaiba before looking at Zuhaib,“My daughter wanted to give Aqeelah and Ummi Yusuf their happiness which they thought laid in Aqeelah marrying you.This is why two nights before the nikaah your bride was changed.”

Zuhaib nodded before looking at Ummi Yusuf who cried silently,“Ummi Yusuf,I am well aware that you might be in contact with your daughter.Please inform her that I have given her my talaaq’s.” Ummi Yusuf looked at Zuhaib in shock but he only looked at Abi Yahya,“If you are unaware let me tell you that two weeks into our marriage Aqeelah and I had a tiff during which my anger took over and I gave her,her first talaaq.Yet I took her back.I gave her a second talaaq three years into our wedding as she had an affair and I again took her back as is the rules of shariah,to do so by nikaah.You are well aware of this Abi Yahya.Yesterday morning when I found out that she has run away,I gave out my last talaaq in the audience of the Head Mufti of Qalbi.I want Ummi Yusuf to inform her daughter of this.Now the matter that we have on our hands is quiet sensitive but the solution is easy.”

“No.” Ummi Yusuf’s whimper sounded but Abi Yahya did not pay her any attention.

Abi Yahya sat forward in his chair at this and nodded,“Which is Sheikh?”

Zuhaib looked at Zuhaiba as he spoke,“I want to marry Zuhaiba and repair our ties.”

Zuhaiba’s body shook at Zuhaib’s words and she was sure that her heartbeats could be heard by everyone in the room.The silence that ensured after Zuhaib’s words were almost deafening.

“Ya Sheikh,without my daughter’s consent I can’t agree with you.”

Zuhaiba nodded as he stood up and everyone followed suit,“That is fine.Tonight there is a dust storm so I will be staying here until it settles.I want an answer within three days or if I do return to the capital of Qalbi,within a week.”

Abi Yahya nodded his head,“As you wish.Sons take the King to one of our guest tents.Everyone leave my daughter and I alone.”

Everyone went out of the tent and Abi Yahya held Zuhaiba’s hand,leading her to sit on his chair.Zuhaiba kept he gaze lowered as Abi Yahya brought a chair closer to her and did not lift her head until her father nudged her chin up.

“Binti.What are you thinking?”

Zuhaiba bit her lip before speaking,“I can’t.I left him the first time and now he wants me back.The circumstances are different and somewhat difficult.”

Abi Yahya took a deep breath before grabbing a hold of her hands,“Binti,we have our past so that we are able to avoid making the same mistakes in the future.Your mistake was to think about Aqeelah and Ummi Yusuf rather than yourself.Yes,that is how you are but binti you now have to think about yourself.You have an opportunity to build your foundation once again.My advice to you would be,marry him.You know his family,his lineage and most importantly him.Take your time,make your istikhaara and then tell me your decision.”

Zuhaiba nodded and Abi Yahya kissed her forehead,“Whatever you decide on,we shall follow that habib.You may leave.”

Zuhaiba left the meeting tent and made her way towards her residence tent.Just as she entered the Asr azaan sounded.Zuhaiba performed her wudhu by the sink and proceeded to offer her Asr salaah.

Ummi Zuhaiba had Zuhaiba’s food delivered to her tent and by the time her Isha salaah was over.Zuhaiba sat contemplating her options as she sat on the prayer mat.She knew that she would not be able to offer the Istikhara salah if she would already have a decision ready.

Zuhaiba took a deep breath and peeked into her own thoughts.

Zuhaib.

He was not just her first proposal.No.He was also someone who’s good character and mannerisms had stolen her heart.He was the one who she had perceived would be her future husband and had seen the dreams they had woven together.He was her almost first love,someone who she had promised to give her heart to after marriage.

The next day after Zuhur salaah,Zuhaiba offered two rakaats Salat-ul-Hajat and then walked to find her father.She found him at the stables,cleaning Burhan.Her mother’s horse,that was given to her as mehr by her father.Zuhaiba had been lucky enough to be the only one other then her mother and father to ride Burhan.

“As salaam mu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu Abi.”

Abi Yahya turned to face Zuhaiba with a smile and he opened her arms,“Wa alaykum mu salam my child.Come here my child.”

Zuhaiba hugged Abi Yahya and as she pulled away he kissed her forehead,“How are you abi?”

“I’m feeling much better now that I have that burden off my chest.How are you?”

“Alhumdulilah I am well.” Zuhaiba looked down at her shoes as she fidgeted with the end of her jacket.

Abi Yahya took her hands in his and when she looked up at him,he nodded,“And?”

“I will marry Zuhaib.”

Abi Yahya’s smile broadened and he embraced his daughter,“Shukar alhumdulilah.I am proud of you my child.I am proud.”

Zuhaiba felt tears roll out of her eyes and she hugged her father tighter,as she made a dua in her heart.

Ya Allah I am putting my trust in you and going ahead with this.You bless this if it is good for me or lead me way from it if it is not good.
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As salaam mu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa brakatu everyone

This is an edited chapter which means majority chapters after this won't make sense! It's a completely new take on Being The Sheikh's Substitute Bride

Since there were many mistakes and people jumping my throat I will try to fix all those mistakes 😊 there will be slow updates for this story so please bare with me please 😊

Take care

Fi Amanilah