Surah Az-Zumar, Verse 46:
قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ فَاطِرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ عَالِمَ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ أَنتَ تَحْكُمُ بَيْنَ عِبَادِكَ فِي مَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ

Say: O Allah! Originator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the seen! Thou (only) judgest between Thy servants as to that wherein they differ.

Navid

I came out of dad's so exasperated and disoriented at the way things are taking a turn and my emotions as jumbled as a hay wire and as my mind was hazed by rage while I walked out of dad's, I almost practically collided with a lady who came off the staircase coinciding with me reaching the spot and just on reflex I looked upon her skeptically only to realise she's one of the two ladies whose specific identity I can't say___could she be the zaitun;my nightmare, and then came a squeaky voice dismissing any effort of apology from me which is quite a shock cause I was anticipating a dramatic reaction which is typical of girls and come to think of it she was the same girl that kept trying to familiarize with me at the party which was quite irritating.

"No please don't apologize, stuff like that do happen, am totally fine, not hurt at all"

She ramble out smiling widely showing all her dentition which seems to be the only thing free from the excessive layers of makeup deck up on face which is quite unappealing and to the state at hand I couldn't help but chuckle humorlessly at her illusion of thinking I would ever apologize_as if.

I immediately made a move to walk away without as much as a word to her when a crunching sound came beneath my feet and it sure isn't something gladdening from the shock coated on her face,  prompting me to look down to the designer sunglasses I just happen to reduce to pieces and I beat her to it when I noticed she was about to start blabbering.

"I will get you another" I said curtly after sparing a glance at the brand it is and walked away leaving her words faint to my hearing.

"No need for......and the rest went to the
background as I dashed to see Mami for confirmation of what I've just heard.

" Assalamu alaikum" I said walking into Mami's room

"Wa alaikas salam"

I heard in unison and it was when I entered the room fully that I took in the other figure in the room with Mami whose back was to my view as I noticed she was pulling out clothes from mami's drawer.

"Mami I want to talk.....

"Zaitun take this and put it in there as well"

Mami said to the lady silencing my words and making me whip my head to take in the infamous Zaitun who has now become my nightmare and as odd as it sound I found it less surprising as I stared into a peculiar shade of brown eyes which I couldn't forget easily but instead of the daring look it had earlier, her eyes were now looking so serene and alluring complementing her looks and a light bulb immediately ticked in my head reminding me that this is the exact girl who my parent are trying to hook up with me despite knowing of my dream girl who I will never trade with anyone, yet here was a stupid part of me sparing my time appreciating the beauty and calmness of the Zaitun who for some odd reason I found it disappointing that she never did spare me a glance...well not that I fancy getting anyone's attention but then why...

"Navid..

"I will come back later Mami..I manage to utter and walked out since what is the need of trying to reason out with Mami when it is clearly a lost case.

Exiting the room I dipped my hand in my denim trouser pulling out my phone which has being vibrating ever since I went into mami's room and i went stilled as i took in the number calling____My Meera.

I watched unwavering as her calls kept coming with each succeeding the former and with no effort and confidence on my side to glide over the answer button because I was in no effing way ready to break out this tornado upon her when we both thought the storm is conquered_only if. I was only brought back to reality from a creaking sound behind me to which I instinctively turned only to stare squarely at the infamous Zaitun who looked unperturbed exiting Mami's room with a lingering smile still etched on her lips accentuating her serene looking feature making me clench my fist aggravatingly at her for looking so innocent with no care whatsoever when she's literally gnawing on my sanity__how dare she and I couldn't help but direct upon her a spiteful look hauling out my bundled emotions as I passed by her treading direly on my self restraint.

********************

"Please calm down!

"No don't you dare tell me that..

"Wallahi I promise to try everything...

"Just stop..you know what, don't call me ever until you've sorted out everything and I mean it and just maybe this is the end for us" Meera fired out crying over the phone

"Please Meera don't... And the rest of my words were left to me as she disconnected the call and she really meant her words for her line went switched off after the call.

Ya Allah! That went way worse than I had anticipated and I couldn't help smashing my vase next to me across the wall in the heat of frustration and I watched solemnly as it went down shattering into bits and pieces depicting my current state.....SHATTERED.

It had been almost 21356 times I've tossed on and over my bed unable to catch a wink of sleep as the events of the previous day kept replaying itself to me as if making a mockery of me. I jerked my head up glancing over the wall clock which reads 1:30pm depicting a new day had just set out and still too young to give rise to daylight made me groan out in agony.

Finally finding a solution to my state, I came off the bed languidly walking to the restroom and after performing ablution I walked out splaying out the prayer mat and began offering nawafil(obligatory) prayers to which I took out my time in my last sujood pouring out my sorrows, pain and problems to my lord for he said to us his servants "call unto me and I will answer", and he greatly loves his servants who call out to him in pain or happiness, joy or misery and acknowledging turning back to him is our only solution and solace. I couldn't describe the tranquil feeling that flowed through me after I poured out my hearts and unveiled my situation to my lord who already knows all I will ever feel long before voicing out.

"Auzubillahi minash shaytanir rajim" (oh Allah I seek your refuge from Satan the accursed) I muttered yawning as I steadied myself from the uncomfortable position I rose from, off my prayer mat on which sleep overtook me after fajr sallah. I stretched my hand to grab my phone whose ring was what woke me up and the caller ID cleared out any lingering sleep in my visuals

"Are you sure? I asked again beaming for the umpteenth time

"Would you rather I change my mind" Meera said chuckling

"Okay,no am sorry, its just that with the way you sounded yesterday it seemed almost impossible for you to have a change of heart, it scared the life out of me"

"Well you can't blame me for the things I said cause I was so clouded by anger but we are cool now and I will like you to also grant my request ASAP which you just promised.

"Of course yes, in fact let me get on with it right now, will call you later dear....bye"

"Bye my love" she said sweetly and I exhaled inwardly exalting my lord before hanging the call. I grab on the first shirt I spotted in my walk in closet pairing it with my black sweatpants and stride out of my room to execute my plan.

"Assalamu alaikum" I uttered walking in on my parents who seemed to be deep in a conversation in my dad's sitting room

"Wa alaikumus salam" they answered as I walked in fully greeting them and took a seat on the couch beside Mami but I couldn't help the twinge in my heart when I took in how dull and tired her eyes seemed in contrast to their bubbly look,  which she kept alternating between me and my dad because the tension in the room was so thick that it could be cut through with a knife.

"Speak" my dad said with a distant voice ending the transpiring silence lingering in the room.

"I....I will marry the girl you said " I uttered with hesitations making them all whip their heads towards me with a bewildered look full of hope only to see a fall of their faces at my next word

"But only on one condition" I added

"Which is? My dad questioned incredulously

"The wedding should be fixed in a month's time and I get to marry Meera after a year of the marriage" I uttered with great resolve

"Navid! What is wrong with you? Or are you possessed...do you even know what you are saying? My mom fired quite infuriated

"Alhaji what do we......

"I got this" dad said halting her

"Is that all your demands" dad said calmly

"Yes! I answered unabashedly

"Then consider it done.

Wheew quite long I must say😁 no see!