Surah Aal-e-Imran, Verse 54:
وَمَكَرُوا وَمَكَرَ اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ خَيْرُ الْمَاكِرِينَ

And they planned and Allah (also) planned, and Allah is the best of planners.

Dedicated this chapter to a sweet angel @sanihussainaa a great motivator👍 and not to forget @el- habeeb     Gracias

Navid

I feel so exhausted rummaging through my closet for almost an hour and still coming up with nothing that suit my taste for the anticipated meeting I have with the one who has being giving me conflicting thoughts for quite a while.

Finally settling for a denim colored button up shirt with jeans trouser I complemented it with a Rolex watch, a Gucci slippers and sprayed cologne all over then took up my wallet filling in the essentials.

Feeling satisfied with my looks from the view in the mirror I dashed for the door only to take a turn for the mirror again to be sure everything on me screams perfect and when I did ascertain that fact I exited the room rushing downstairs praying internally I don't see mami or worse Hany who has a manipulative way of making me spill my intent and its a sure of them raining questions on me about my outing to which I plan on telling no one of my intentions till it works out.

I walked gracefully feeling triumphant as I strided in the hallway which was eerily silent devoid of anyone not even the maids who might have being busy with chores or taking rest but alas! she had to appear.

"Hello son whats the occasion for this hurry" mami said walking out of from the other wing of the mansion approaching me with a befuddled gesture masked on her face.

"I can see the urgency from your stance as I was descending,hope we are safe".
Mami finished squinting her face scrutinising me.

" Yes of course"

"Just need to attend to something that's all"

I answered hurriedly avoiding her gaze so I won't falter.

"O-okay" she said with hints of questions lingering and laced on her tongue.

"Bye"

I said hurriedly before she could stop me again almost missing a step due to my pace which I care less compared to the marathon in my heart. Descending the patio I walked swiftly aiming for my baby my Benz 2017 model which I just owned recently partly because I desire owning it and also because I gave up my Mercedes Benz 2013 for Ameera.

Settling inside and adjusting my seat belt,I reverberated the engine roaring it to life and driving out the driveway and the colossal elegant mansion, a masterpiece someone had called it and that I can ascertain from the impressed and bewildered reactions marred on faces of  some of our guest.

Maher zains nasheed playing in the background was faint to my hearing and the thought of almost approaching Meera was what envisaged me which took me back into time to how we actually met.

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

It was on a fateful Sunday to which I woke up feeling energetic and full of life unlike my usual Sunday's which I always awoke to sluggish and lazy feelings.

With  that vibe still in me after being back from my usual morning workout, I took a shower fitting into casual tee with a faded-coloured jeans with the ESSENTIALS and sunglasses against the scorching sun. Finally wrapping it up with a Cologne and glancing at myself from the mirror I smirked feeling satisfied and drove out to meet up with Faruk and our other buddies umar and Habib at a gallery for an art exhibition of umar's sister to which I only tagged along for umar's sake for I'd rather be anywhere in the world than there cause I have no interest and understand nothing of that sort.

Walking absentmindedly down the hallway away from the exhibition  because i felt suffocated back there as they kept on rambling on and about pieces of art that I have no interest in and being so engrossed in my phone as i walk scrolling through my social medias my mind far away from the current surrounding.

Hearing a voice so close I raised up my head off the phone only to realise it too late due to the collision between I and a lady with both of us having no knowledge of the presence of the other earlier resulting in all content in our hands flying about.

"I am so sorry"

We said in sync and both chuckled at the act picking up our spilled items off the marbled floor and thankfully no damage on both parties from the impact and apologizing to each other once more even though no one in particular was at fault we parted ways with me left in awe of the lady's simplicity and lightheartedness unlike some ladies who would have created a scene of the situation even if they were at fault.

Searching frantically through my items making a mess of my room rummaging through all nooks and cranies, knocking off accidentally my bed side lamp shattering it to pieces creating more of a mess,I laid sulk up on the milk-coloured  leathered couch adjacent to my bed with streak of light emanating from the glass wall of the west compartment of the room settling on me signalling I've just got an hour with maybe some couple of minutes to my doom.

Which all took cause from me being unable to find Mr Nazif's flash which he had given me two days earlier following my request to help him out with some finance report compilation after seeing his worn-out and tired state when I went to deliver him some message from the director at that day to which after his deliberation and insistence from me he had gladly accepted my offer for I'd do lot more favor all for him owing to all the help and guide he did render to me since my start as an intern in that corporation and afterwards handing me his flash to transfer the compilation which he had informed me he would present before the board meeting scheduled this morning and you can now understand the reason for my turmoil.

A ring of my phone was what brought me back and I reluctantly slided over the answer button scrutinizing the number on display as it was new and a female voice was what I had received on the other end asking if I was Navid Umar Mafa to which I affirmed nonchalantly afterwhich the piece of information that turned me into a state of euphoria ensuite about the fact of the flash and my identity card being in the lady's possession to which I had outright sought of her location going there almost immediately the details of how it got to her the least of my concern to which was answered after I met up with her finding out she was the same lady I had stumbled upon at the art exhibition to which after our bump back then we had unknowingly exchanged contents for my identity card as well as the flash were in my wallet which I had drop that day and me being a klutz never noticed that the I D card I had clipped on me for work that morning  was of that lady to which she only took notice that morning hence her call and thanking her immeasurably I left at once to deliver the flash.

On another cloudy day the sky heavily pregnant, it's hue almost completely the shade of black,  the streets I was passing being deserted contrary to its bustling state as I zoom with full speed back from Faruk's to get home before the sky grace us with a heavy downpour and going down a shorter lane just on cue turning my view sidewards I noticed a guy dragging a lady's hand bag whose face wasn't to my view turned in the guy's direction but I could tell she was quivering from her shaking form and that was all it took for me to abruptly stop my car making a dash outside to them.

The unfortunate fortunate guy I must say upon noticing me approaching them made a run and to my dismay I lost him after running after him afterwhich I came back to check upon the lady and  I picked up her silver coloured bag dusting it and outstretching it towards her only to still find my hand left outstretched with no receival from her.

Turning fully towards her I noticed she was crouched down weeping profusely so I deliberated on what to do how do I console her.

Finally coming up with nothing I squatted down keeping some reasonable space between us and the first thing embarrassingly I could ask her was should I get you ice cream and upon hearing that she had burst out laughing raising up her gaze to meet my view and much to both of our surprise she was that same lady who had found my flash.

Upon hearing her plight I felt so frustated and agitated wishing for nothing but to instill sense to those fools and cowards who think they should live a reckless life as they so please.

She's always in fear of coming home from school in the evening when the crew of guys line up the street along the pathway to her house wolf whistling and making snarky comment to innocent passersby Ameera inclusive her name as I've just learned.

Their despicable act had escalated for the guy I'd seen earlier dragging her bag had walked to her for her phone contact and upon her refusal went further to take hold of her bag for she just had to yield to him with that in his possession and luckily that was when I cut up with them.

Taking her home afterwards and making sure she was safe I had tried to seek audience with her parent to notify them of the threat to their daughter's safety in the neighborhood as well as to assist them in devising a means to ensure that for I felt so obliged to protect her thinking I also have a sister who I would give up my life to protect.

With a gloomy and somber feeling, heart clogged with pity towards Ameera I had drove back home her exact teary words towards my request on meeting up with her aunt and uncle her guardians as well as her only brother's after her parent's demise reverberating through me.

"Please don't, for doing so will subject me and my brother to a new torture for they'd say I've accused them of negligence and I did complain of those Guy's act to them but they laughed it off saying its a natural thing for young boys to look at girls upon their passing and I was just hyping unnecessarily"

On her narration all they are eagerly after is for her to quickly finish up the one year left for her at the university to claim her awaiting job awarded to her at a prestigious company who are still her sponsorer's at the university following her outstanding performance in her secondary school days emerging the best nationwide in a quiz competition so she could pay their favor upon them.

"If you think you can  handle the liability what's our concern" were Ameera's guardian exact non chalant words which was disgusting to hearing when I requested on taking her to school and bringing her back and from that day onwards I took up that responsibility picking her up with her brother dropping them off at their respective schools before heading for work and doing same when work close off.

No member of my house knew of this act and when I noticed my schedules were getting tight and hectic I gave up my car to Ameera which contrary to my thought there was no objection from her guardian but glee.

I couldn't pinpoint when and what made me develop an immense feeling towards Ameera,  was it during my routine of picking her up, our little banter like siblings in the car, her carefree attitude, demeanour or what I don't even know and to be honest that was the main reason I opted giving her my car for her conveyance to clear my head off such thought and to prevent any idea of a haraam relationship.

But it didn't help either for Ameera will always call upon me on any occurrence for by her words in me she found an elder brother and in all scenario with her unintentional act it made me fall harder for her unable to tame my feelings.

------------------------------------------

Tapping my foot nervously trying to feel composed as I await her to come out after ringing her a call informing her i'm outside their house and almost immediately she made a dash outside and looking at her smiling ever so brightly radiating her beauty I knew then and there that I couldn't live without her.

"Bro you are awfully quiet today, what's wrong" asked Ameera scrutinizing my face as I lean on my car hands crossed

"Or did I offend you" she asked further sounding worried as she sat on a bench adjacent to me.

If only you know my worry Ameera I said internally, all my tension is how she will respond to my proposal for I vividly remember her words of how she hate the concept of love and the ties she had cut with a once good friend of hers after he pronounced his feelings for her, so I fear facing the same fate and want to be sure she's mine before leaving for 6 month is a long way to go and who knows what might happen within that time.

"I will be leaving for canada tomorrow for studies and will only be back when I'm over with it" I had uttered.

"What!!, Navid please don't leave, please do the studies here, how will I cope without you, who will I run to when I have problems,why" finished Ameera in one go looking at me with a pleading gaze.

"Please don't I will miss you so much" Ameera continued as she stood from her position her eyes glistening.

"I will miss you too" I croaked but I just have to go"

"You won't understand" she had continued taking baby strides towards me fiddling with her lilac-coloured hijab strap.

And that was all it took for me to loose it for I was the one suffering here without she knowing my own condition.

"I totally understand how it feels Ameera!" Do you know how it feels to leave that who lightens your life, who bring smile to your face, whose presence gladdens the heart, who you always want by your side"

" Do you" I finished heaving, and as I look upon Ameera her face was coated with a horror-striken appearance

"Navi-id"

"I lo-ove you Ameera" I said it out and if eyes could pop out of their socket from widening then her's would have as I said those words.

She began taking strides backwards to the bench sitting on it and lowering her head holding it between her hands as she sobbed silently.

"Ameera" I said slowly going closer to her.

"I am so sorry, I couldn't hold it in, I couldn't" I said soberly  voice thick with emotion.

"But forget I said so" I finally accepted my fate

"I am so sorry, please forgive me, but please this shouldn't affect our friendship" I muttered

And upon her silence the serene atmosphere  filled only with her sobs. I retreated for my car.

"Bye" I croaked"

"Navid she had finally said but I couldn't turn to meet her view and had unlocked the car when she said the words which rooted me.

" l love you too and I never expected you'd also feel the same because you only look upon me as a sister.

"I love you so much that it hurts Naviiid she had shouted out making me smile as though my mouth will tear out.

And even know as I was sitted in the plane I was still smiling like a love stricken fool after my farewell with my family with a teary-eyed mami and Hany.

And as I plugged in an earpiece it didn't stop the heart warming words of Ameera from reverberating through my ears.

" Go and finish it up fast Navid and I will be here waiting for you having also finish my own studies then and waiting only for you to come claim me as your wife"

Wooah! Hurdlians😀

Its been really long and I miss you all too😍

And not to forget your lovely votes and comments😁

Allahumma baligna ramadan, happy Ramadan in advance to my fellow Muslims!

So excited, may Allah(S WA) make it a way for us  to earn his divine mercy and mold us into better Muslims.Amin!

Naf-Naf😘