I haven't updated this story since what seems like forever! I apologize for that :(

Galad

"So I was thinking of wearing the white dress that I bought along with my eid one. But it's too fancy, right? But mama says it's okay to wear fancy. 'What if they love fancy?' She had asked. And I accidently said it's not his family that matter, it's him. And after that mama hasn't stopped teasing me. And she even told Baba. If she tells Ishaaq then---"

"Nikhat! Stop," I finally interrupted. "You have been rambling without a stop since we descended the bus."

"Now, if I won't tell you all of this, who will?"

"Really?" I asked in disbelief. "Are you one hundered percent sure you are only rambling because you want me to know the details? You can tell that truth, you are extremly nervous," I crossed my hands, eyeing her.

"Naura! How do you always see through me?" She whined.

"Just one of my many talents," I blowed my nails dramatically. "And if you are so nervous, why did you even come to college? You could have skipped."

The two of us were walking towards our college after getting down the bus.

"Apparently, if I stay at home I will eat mama's brain with my incessant talks and she won't be able to complete any of the chores. So here I am."

"Aunty clearly did the right thing," I shook my head slowly, a small smile dancing on my features. Entering the college premises, I looked around at the familiar faces and finally my eyes landed on that one person. I was about to avert eyes back to Nikhat when he took note of my sight.

Oh no! He might think I am checking him out.

Quick, pretend you don't know him Nau.

But clearly it was too late because he made his way towards us while I was pretending to be interested in Nikhat's pointless talks.

"Your friend is coming," I mumbled to Nikhat.

"Umm..." She looked confused and finally her eyes fell on him and her mouth fell into an 'o'.

"Assalamu Alaikum ladies," he said while stuffing his hands in his pockets.

We greeted back while my mind tried to work out how to run for the entrance without looking idiotic.

Surprisingly, Nikhat politely said to him, "We should be in our classes. So see you around."

Daniyal looked more taken back than I was in that instant. Nikhat grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the doors but his voice stopped us, "Wait!"

We turned around and he continued, "You have not accepted my apology."

I know that.

"Just wanted to apologize again seeing as though I did something really bad to make you hate me."

"I don't hate you," My words came out defensive, unintentionally.

It was hard for me to hate anybody. Even if someone did something that flipped my world upside down, it would take the last straw for me to hate them. I just dislike most people.

Daniyal looked taken aback for the second time and then I thought of the possible ways, my words would have registered in his mind.

"I mean," I cleared my throat, "The grudge I hold against you isn't that huge because I am not fond of holding such feelings against people. It's just I am not interested in any sort of friendships with anyone right now...." I trailed off not knowing how to finish the sentence.

"I get it," He smiled, with a look of remorse on his face. The kind of smile you do when you want to conceal your true feelings. "I know you have a lot going on for you. I just wanted to say sorry if I made things worse for you. I didn't mean to make anything hard for you. So I am really sorry. I sincerely apologize from the bottom of my---"

"Daniyal stop!" I sighed. "You are apologizing too much and you didn't even do anything that huge."

A smile that brought out the dimples on his cheeks appeared. "And I didn't even think much about you or whatever you said. They were not even at the back of my mind at the end of the day."

Why did his smile seem to fall at that?"

He composed his slightly slumped posture and without meeting my eyes, replied. "Yeah I thought so," and breathed in before looking straight in my eyes. "Anyway, you lost a chocolate cupcake."

The smile and playful vibe he held was back. I was about to open my mouth to respond before Nikhat cleared her throat. "If you guys are done flirting, can we go?"

Why do I even have her around?

"We weren't flirting!" I justifed myself quickly sending a death glare in her direction. She winked at me, smirking at my embarassment.

"Talk for yourself and as for me...." He trailed off, shrugging and then left, "See you around ladies."

Again, my eyes widened at what he said and this time I grabbed Nikhat's arm going towards the college. "Remind me to throw you in that dustbin near the bus stop while going home."

"What did I do?" Nikhat was playing the innocent card now.

"Nothing my innocent friend," I matched her tone. "You are a traitor, you know that?"

"It was really fun. You were so flustered and the redness in your cheeks, they are still there. As for Daniyal, thanks to me, now we know that he has a crush on you."

I adjusted my hijab and again said, "Shut up Nikhat. No, he doesn't. And he flirts with every girl in the college. And what happened there was clearly not flirting. He was just acting that way."

"Naura, Naura, Naura," She sing-songed "Oh my delusional Naura! If only you saw the way he looks at you."

"And how is that?" My heart leaped a bit. But why?

"As if you hung the stars and the moon in the sky."

"Get out of your fictional world Nikhat," I shook her shoulders. "This is real life and Daniyal Ahmed and I am polar opposites."

"Opposites attract."

"Goodbye."

I walked off to my class without waiting for her reply.

The girl and her theories were messed up.

Daniyal has a crush on me?

Of course he doesn't.

"Are you sure Naura?" My subconscious asked me.

"Shut up!" I mumble making sure no one heard so that they don't think I am a freak who talks to myself.

_____

Nikhat was nervous.

No, nervous would be understatement. She was hyperventilating and barely sitting in her seat. She was overthinking and made a mental list of all the possible reasons why Haitham's family would reject her.

She didn't stop blabbering even when I was applying lip gloss on her. Eventually, her lips looked like she ate glitter. I had the pleasure of making fun of her.

She inturn called me useless about a hundred times. Seeing her like this, I forgot most of the things that worried me.

Now, we were sat in her room waiting to be called downstairs. Haitham's family had arrived a couple of minutes ago and the loud chatter of the elders downstairs resonated.

I looked at Nikhat who was clad in a beautiful and elegant navy blue dress. She paired it up with a matching Hijab and was glowing. Her plump features and dusky face was a sight to behold. She paced back and forth from her seat, with eyes closed and hands clasped infront of her while chanting some dhikrs to ease the nervousness.

Her eyebrows were furrowed in concentration. I wanted to say something but decided not to interrupt. Sighing, I looked at my long brown skirt and beige shirt. It was pretty simple and basic, just like I am.

After a few more minutes, someone knocked on the door. Our heads turned to it abruptly. Ishaaq, Nikhat's brother opened the door and pocked his head in.

"Girls, it's showtime," He went down without waiting for a reply.

I was about to turn my head back to my best friend when she started saying nervously, "No, no , no," she was beside me in the blink of an eye and held by hands, shaking it. "I can't do this Naura. Please tell them to go. This is so nerve wrecking. Marriage is so scary. Why did I even agree? It is not too late to---"

"Breathe Nikh," I said sternly, shaking my head. "I knew you would do this. And I don't think we have time for that. So let's go habibti. You will do well. You are the most confident person out there."

"No I am not. I can't do these things well."

I stood up and looked at myself in the mirror, patting my skirt to flatten the creased parts. "Well, the only thing you do well is embarassing me. Especially in front of Daniyal."

"Are you really talking about him now?"

"If you don't want to see the man of this hour aka Haitham, then we can talk about Daniyal."

She groaned and said "Let's go. I hope I have not forgotten any of the questions I want to ask him."

"You will do great. In sha Allah. Come on now, Shahida Aunty will be worried."

We set out to the living room. My heart started thudding, obviously not as much as Nikhat. Why did my socially awkward and extremely nervous self agree to do this?

We reached the living room and I ungrasped Nikhat's sweaty and trembling hands that gripped mine after hearing the people near us.

"Assalamu Alaikum," The both of us greeted the others, eyes downcast. I could see a number of people in the living room, but couldn't bring myself to look at any.

The other's greeted back and two women from the family came forward to us.

We introduced ourselves and then the both of us moved towards where almost everyone sat. Should I take a peek at my possible jeeju?

Before we were about to sit a man who was probably in his late 40's and could be Haitham's father said to Nikhat, "It's best if you guys get to talking now. You can talk to the rest of us later."

I straightened my posture and followed Nikhat. Ishaaq led the way and let us sit in the lawn. Haitham and his sister who was probably our age sat in the seats in front of us. Ishaaq left us and I was nervous with anticipation.

I didn't dare look at them. Haitham cleared his throat and started, "Hello, I am Haitham."

"Wa Alaikumassalam, I am Nikhat," she said, her voice trembling.

REALLY?

She replied to a salam that wasn't there in the first place.

I maintained my monotonous expression, controlling my reaction, knowing full well that I would worsen Nikhat's embarrassment if I did something.

Haitham's sister, whose name I still had to learn, chuckled slightly. I peeked at Nikhat, she looked like she secretly wished to disappear.

Poor her.

_____

"How was the meeting?" Mama asked while I entered the living room. She sat on the couch, a dupatta over her head. With a tasbeeh in her hand, dhikrs left her mouth.

"It was really good," I sat on the opposite couch and unpinned my hijab. "Nikhat seemed to be happy at last, eventhough initially she was extremely nervous. The family seemed like nice people. I don't know much about these proposal related stuff so I am not commenting more. Also, I left early because it was getting late. Nikhat and Ishaaq dropped me here. We didn't talk about it because Ishaaq wil start teasing her for no reason."

I was untying my mess of hair when mama said, "One day you will also experience it. In sha Allah."

"That day seems to be very far."

"We never know the plans of Allah though."

I cleared my throat, not very fond of this conversation. "I wanted to talk about something rather serious."

"Go on," She looked at me attentively.

"I am going to start the tuition lessons very soon," Mama nodded. "But the money won't still be sufficient. So I was thinking of taking up two jobs."

"Naura!" Mama her eyes widened. "Why are you taking all the matters in your hands beta? I don't mean it in a discouraging way. But at such a small age you are going to be burdened by all these."

I was about to interject when she continued talking "Don't you forget that you will still need time for your studies. How will you manage it?"

"Mama, I will find a way."

"You have always dreamt of studying as much as possible. And now it feels like you are giving up on these dreams. I don't want that. I want you to be happy and enjoy your young days when you can. I don't want all this stress on you now."

My mind turned into a haze. What else am I supposed to do when all my paths are shut? I didn't know whether to cry over my misery or be angry at my mother's demotivating words.

"Right now the priority is money and so studies can wait," I said.

"No they can't. Study as much as you can at this age. In the future, you will have many other responsibilities," Mama closed her eyes in frustration and continued, "You will be worn out."

"What other solution do you have, huh?" My words came out harsher than intended and I regretted it almost instantly.

"I know that right now I am very incompetent. But it's only for a few months. We can pull up some strings till then."

"Maa, I understand you are saying this because you care about me. But I want you to know that I don't mind at all. I am doing this because I want to do this. I want to take up this responsibility. My family is not a burden for me, ever. A little motivation and encouragment will be of great help now. And it will take some time for whatever I will be doing to be stable. Till then, please believe in me all right? I would hate to do this if you aren't happy with it."

"I apologize," Mama said with a reassuring look in her eyes. "My intention was not to demotivate you. It's just that I am always worried for you now."

Again tears took their place infront of my sight. "Don't apologize maa. I understand every bit of it. Your worries are justified. And I apologize for being rude, I didn't mean to. Somehow the pent up frustration came out on you."

"It is okay. Please don't ruin your mood. Back to the topic, how will you find another job that is adjustable to this busy schedule?"

I cleared my throat, realizing that I didn't think about it thoroughly. "The job is at the library. You know Anne right? The woman who runs it." Mama nodded. "She offered it to me. They are looking for someone to look after the shop during evenings. So my shift would be after college."

"And the tuition classes are in the morning?" She asked for confirmation. I hummed in response.

"You are going to be out for most part now."

"Mama," I called reassuringly, not knowing what to say. "Let's not focus on that. I really need to sort my schedule out. I am not really prepared for the tution classes. I am really freaking out. If it is not done then--"

"Relax Nau, breathe," Mama chuckled. "Organising things and bossing around people are things I master at. So come on, give me a book and a pen. Let's discuss this through."

Excitedly, I stood, climbing the stairs two at a time, hurriedly entering my bedroom. I took a notebook and a pen and went downstairs in the same manner.

We were definitely going to get through this.

In sha Allah.

Galad: (n.) Light

_____

Also, Fading Paths won the best muslim teen fiction category in THE RAHMA AWARDS 2020. This came out as a huge shock and made me so happy. So, to my readers, thank you so much. Your constant support is what motivates me to write more and I owe this to you. I love you all!