sitāroñ se aage jahāñ aur bhī haiñ
abhī ishq ke imtihāñ aur bhī haiñ
tū shāhīñ hai parvāz hai kaam terā
tere sāmne āsmāñ aur bhī haiñ

(There is a world beyond the stars
There are gonna be more tests of love
You are a falcon, your work is to fly
There are more skies to conquer for you)

His family was enjoying a function of Mehendi in their home, while he was sitting on the terrace and watching his cell phone fixedly. The screen showed a picture of two girls. Both of them were similar looking. They had hands around each other and were smiling at the person who took the photo. How he got the picture was anyone's guess. He wanted the picture of the third sister too but he couldn't get one. They were the Shams twins; Zinneera Neha Shams and Asweera Nawal Shams, best friends to each other.

He had to decide which sister to target first. He had to show their family the definition of grief and he still didn't have any plan. The twins were in Dubai right now along with their elder sister and he was going to start his circle of revenge very soon. He wanted them to feel the fire that flew in his veins. They had poisoned him with their deeds and now he was going to make them taste that poison. And it was going to begin with one of the twins.

"Why are you sitting here?" He heard someone ask behind him and smiled.

"I didn't feel like joining downstairs with all of them! It felt suffocating!" He turned as he answered. Standing before him was his beloved cousin Iqra Afandi. She was in a very stylish Pakistani gharara and was standing in a model like pose, demanding answers from him. 'Nazakat nazneenon ke banane se nahin banti, khuda jab husn deta hai nazakat aa hi jati hai...' (A woman doesn't become delicate on trying, when Allah gives beauty then a woman become delicate without trying).His mind whispered to him. And it was true, she was very beautiful.

"Then you are gonna stay here and do what?" Iqra asked.

'Plot!' His mind replied. He stayed silent though. He knew Iqra liked him. He liked her too and soon his mother was going to ask his permission to take the proposal to his Uncle, for Iqra's hand. And he wasn't going to refuse.

Ma'arij owned a chain of successful hotels in Emirates. His grandfather and father were the ones who laid the roots of this chain and now it was at it's height due to him. He was a tough taskmaster and very hardworking. His whole day was filled with meetings and works. He was expanding their business and was quite good at it.

"Come on! You are usually too busy to socialize with the family... At least today when you have been forced to take a leave by Phoophu (aunt), you can come join us downstairs!" Iqra said and he smiled at her softly. "Sometimes I can't understand how a person can stay in the same house with his family and not meet them for days!" Iqra said and crossed her hands across her chest and turned away from him, indicating that she was angry with him. He finally left his perch and jumped down, walking towards her in a relaxed way. He liked her, true... but never in his life had anyone's anger ever affected him. He didn't allow anyone that power over him. He stood right in front of Iqra and lifted his eyebrows.

"Iqra Afandi bekaar ke naqre chodiye aur chaliye! (Iqra Afandi stop these unnecessary tantrums and come on)." He said sweetly. Iqra stared at him in shock for a while and then angrily shook her head and walked inside, with Ma'arij following her closely, a smile on his face.

"Arre Baji woh Mehendi ki thal(plate) to de dein! (Sister please give the henna plate)" Someone shouted across the hall. He furrowed his brows as he saw his whole family accumulated in the hall. It was going to be a long night.

******

"Psst!" Rubdha heard someone whisper. She frowned as she looked around herself. The whole hallway was dark and she really had no idea who was whispering. She shrugged and went towards her room. Just as she neared the door of the next room, someone opened the door and pulled her inside unceremoniously. She was about to shriek but someone covered her mouth and whispered a "Hush!" urgently.

"Zinneera? Asweera? What are you guys doing?" Rubdha whisper shouted, as her eyes landed on the twins. They had identical grins on their faces and were holding bowls in their hands.

"Want ice cream Ruby?" Asweera asked, as she forwarded the bowl in her hand, towards Rubdha. They had started calling Rubdha as Ruby, during the start of the week and now refused to let that go. It was all Umar's fault. He had been calling her endearments in Arabic and they heard his whispered "Lulu Wa Al Marjaan!(names of gems-rubies)", and began calling her Ruby since then.

She caught the bowl and began cleaning it in record time. Asweera tried to pull the bowl away but Rubdha turned and increased her speed.

"Oh come on you should have thought of that before offering this to me!" Rubdha said as she handed her the empty bowl. "My baby demanded me to eat it!" She shrugged innocently and Asweera's frown melted away. She smiled at her elder sister. "What's going on by the way?"

"Just wait for a while!" Zinneera said and smiled, all conspirational. Suddenly there was a gentle knock on the door and they rushed to open it. Asmina and Shamaila entered the room. Asmina had a laptop in her hand and she was grinning like a Cheshire cat.

"We are having a pyjama partyyyyyy!" Zinneera hollered along with Asweera.

"Whoa! Am sorry but I can't party in this state!" Rubdha said pointing to her tummy. "Anyways you guys enjoy! Umar might be waiting!" She laughed as her girls sighed and batted their eyes at her. Umar was Rubdha's life. He had changed her back to her cheery self, but underneath everything she was still an Abdia, in love with Allah. Her laughter and mischiefs were back but her worship and steadfastness stayed. Her life was complete. Umar never allowed her to go on any trip alone after the incident with Zain. He made sure she was safe.

"Ya ya go to your Umar leaving us! Jeeju snatched our Ruby away!" Asweera said dramatically. Rubdha smiled at her and hit her head fondly.

"When you get your prince charming, I will see how you behave!" Rubdha said.

"Prince Charming?" Asweera said and laughed. "Sorry di! But I think Umar is one and only unique piece!" She said mischievously. "Maine aaj tak kisi ko kisi se itni muhabbat Karte hue nahin Dekha jitni jeeju aapse Karte hain! Koi aise kisi ko chaah hi nahin sakta!( I have never seen anyone love someone so much like Umar loves you! Nobody can love anyone like this!) " Asweera said seriously. "And anyways I believe all these Prince charming non sense is just not at all sensible... Fairy tales feeding rubbish to youngsters' head!" Asweera said and shook her head.

"Oye! As if you know! Rahil loves me a lot too ok!" Asmina said. Shamaila and Zinneera just watched amusedly.

"Asmina is right Aswee! Am sure most of the husbands treat their wives like Queens! There is no way Umar is the only one! You have just noticed his love for me!" Rubdha said. "And haan you are right about one fact! Umar is one and only unique piece... But he is custom made for me! Am sure Allah have custom made someone for you too and he will be your one and only unique piece!" Rubdha smiled at her.

Asweera shook her head in disagreement but as she watched her sister leave the room, she hoped that Rubdha was right. She was a hopeless romantic hiding in a closet. She wanted the fairytale romance in her wedding and she wanted someone to love her so much that their day be incomplete without seeing her face. She wanted such love from her husband and she prayed for it almost constantly.

******

Ma'arij slowly crept out of the vast hall and made his way towards his room. Allah! It was a long night alright! His countless number of relatives making small chat with him. His far off cousins trying to get a job by buttering him and his aunt's pestering him to get married. Everyone were grating on his nerves.

He was going to marry. But his marriage was going to be based on a mutual like and maybe respect. Not love! Never love! Love was far away and he was not so weak to fall in love! He had seen what love could reap and it reaped only destruction, abyss and chaos. He wouldn't want that in his life. He was going to keep his wits about him, thank you very much! And falling in love was problematic to his sensible plans. He changed his clothes and fell on his bed as he closed his eyes. The last thing he saw in his mind was a smiling face standing with her sister beside her. Then he reached his peaceful place.

******

Rubdha got up scared and rushed out of the bed, just as Umar sat up.

"Hayati! What happened?" He asked alarmed. She looked at him and gestured him for two minutes before moving towards the door. Umar had followed her. She exited her room and entered her sisters' room, while Umar waited patiently at their door.

Rubdha walked towards the bed where her sisters were slumped and placed her hand on Asweera's cheeks before kissing her forehead. Asweera smiled in her sleep, making her smile too.

When she came back to her husband, he took her in his arms and led her back towards the bed. He made her sit and handed her the glass of water before he sat in front of her and took her hand in between his hands.

"Tell me what the matter is Rubdha!" Umar said seriously.

"I... I saw Asweera, angrily standing in a room on fire and she wasn't moving! I wanted to save her, ask her to run but she was adamantly ignoring me and watching someone angrily! Umar I am scared!"

"Ask Allah for protection and give sadaqah! Do not dwell on this dream! What's written will surely come to pass but, prayers can change the course of fate!" Umar gently told her. She hugged him and sobbed slowly.

Life had handed her a battle and she had fought it. Life may handle a battle to her sister and it would be her own to fight and Rubdha surely couldn't fight it for her. She just hoped it was easier for her sister and she wouldn't have to burn in fire...

But they say when you burn in the fire of problems is when you turn into human gems...

______________
Assalamualaikum... Back with a new book and I do hope you like it. Please read and tell me how it is! And please pray for me and family. And English meanings are added ok so sister who requested it I hope u like t!