I am so sorry for not updating immediately after Eid.
I got busy with a family wedding but I am back now and better. This chapter is going to stir up some excitement 🤭 It took a lot of time and doubt but it's finally here.
Make sure you VOTE , COMMENT, SHARE and FOLLOW MAYAAWRITES on ig for more updates!
Happy reading❤️

"So when are you coming back?" Jadwa plumped into the sofa, the phone pressed against her ear.

"Babe, I'll try and come back this week, things have been hectic here," Abdulhakeem said, stress dripping from his voice.

"It's alright, you can take your time. I just miss you" Jadwa sighed, a pout forming on her lips.
She spoke switching into the video call, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she saw his face on the screen.

"I miss you too," he smiled, his voice softer now.

But a flicker of concern crossed Jadwa's eyes. She caught the strain in his voice and the way his shoulders slumped slightly.

"Is everything okay, Abdul?" she asked, her voice laced with concern. It was unusual for him to seem so drained.

"Yeah, why?" he masked it with a wider smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.

"You just seem a bit distracted" she frowned.

"You know how I've been extremely busy lately, but it's fine" he reassured her, his voice strained.

Jadwa nodded, relief washing over her. She subconsciously counted her lucky stars to have a sweetheart like Abdulhakeem. They spoke for hours, Jadwa filling him in on her day, her plans for her master's program, her cravings for a specific brand of ice cream, the new sunglasses she got and everything they could talk about.

With Abdul, everything felt comfortable, easy. They rarely argued, only having friendly debates on topics where their opinions differed. Their relationship was a haven of simplicity and love, something Jadwa sincerely appreciated. She knew finding a love like this was nearly impossible with the type of life everyone lives and how useless love had become.
The call ended, and a yawn escaped Jadwa's lips. Exhaustion finally hit her, and she drifted off to sleep.

The insistent ringing of her phone tore her from a peaceful dream. She fumbled for it, squinting at the screen. It was Ya Ahmad. With a sigh, she answered.

"Hello?" she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep.

"Hello, Jadwa! Don't you think it's already time to get up and start your registration?" Ya Ahmad's booming voice filled the room.

Jadwa shot upright, panic momentarily replacing sleepiness. "Oh my gosh, you're right! It's today!" she exclaimed, mentally kicking herself for oversleeping.

"Yeah, it definitely wasn't yesterday" he remarked with a chuckle that Jadwa could hear through the phone. She rolled her eyes playfully.

"I'm awake now" she mumbled, promising to call him back later.

She scrambled out of bed, as she showered, brushed her hair, powdered her face and changed, it was way past breakfast so she prayed and got out of the room.

Everyone had left the house except Ammi, she barged into her room and gave her a warm hug.

"Ammi, I'm going to the school now please can I use your car?" She asked politely.

"MashaAllah habibty! I think I left the keys downstairs, grab them on your way Jadu" she answered with a big smile.

Texting her sisters in their group chat to let them  know she was leaving and to tell her if they needed anything on her way back, Jadwa hurried out the door and into her car.

The scorching sun beat down on her as she navigated the unfamiliar streets of the university campus. Enrolling and registering for her courses took longer than she'd anticipated, but she found a rhythm, navigating the process with a quiet determination. Ya Ahmad had offered to accompany her, but Jadwa, fiercely independent, had politely declined. She'd always thrived on figuring things out on her own and she thought it would be embarrassing to have her big brother accompany when she's starting a masters.

Lost in thought, she bumped into a group of girls chatting. They looked up, their faces friendly and welcoming.

"Excuse me," Jadwa began, a hesitant smile on her face. "I'm new here, and I was wondering if you could point me in the direction of the mosque?"

One of the girls, a girl with bright eyes and a warm smile, stepped forward. "Of course! It's not far from here. Let me show you."

Jadwa followed her new acquaintance, grateful for the kindness. They chatted as they walked, and Jadwa learned that the girl's name was Summayya. They discovered they had a few classes in common, and Jadwa felt a lot more comfortable and excited.

After performing her ablution, Jadwa entered the cool, calming space of the mosque. Her feet felt the soft carpet before she prayed Asr. As she finished, she sat for a moment, scrolling through her phone to check the time.

A gentle tap on her shoulder startled her. She looked up, expecting a stranger, but her breath hitched in her throat as her eyes met familiar ones.

"Anaya! Or should I say Lily?" she exclaimed, a wide smile spreading across her face.

They'd connected online after Eid, but this was their first time meeting in person. Jadwa pulled Anaya into a warm hug, the joy of seeing a familiar face unexpected.

"Just call me Lily now" Anaya chuckled as they pulled away.

They chatted for a while, catching up on each other's lives. Anaya confided in Jadwa about her struggles adjusting to a new school, and Jadwa offered words of encouragement and support.

Suddenly, Lily's phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen, her smile faltering slightly. "Looks like
it's time for my class" she said, a hint of disappointment in her voice.

"Oh, that's a shame" Jadwa replied. "Maybe we can catch up some other time?"

Lily's smile returned, brighter this time. "Definitely! Here's my number" They exchanged contact information, promising to connect soon.

Jadwa stood outside the mosque, a warm feeling settling in her chest. She'd had a productive day, met a new friend, and most importantly, felt a renewed sense of purpose with starting her master's program.

As she got into her car, a pang of guilt hit her. She hadn't spoken to Abdul all day. She dialed his number, hoping he wasn't too busy. The phone rang, then went to voicemail. Disappointment washed over her, but she pushed it aside, figuring he was probably caught up with his family.

She drove home, the setting sun painting the sky in vibrant hues of orange and pink. Stopping by a cafe, she picked up a few iced drinks and pastries for herself and her sisters.
As she sat in the car she noticed a series of messages from an unknown number.
She kept the pastries in the passenger's seat and checked the messages.

"How are you?"

"Jadwa I know you don't know me but I want to talk to you"

"Do you have a minute to spare for me?"

"Why are you not responding when I know you are online"

"I just saw you"

The messages shocked Jadwa but she decided to shrug it off and block the number.
Immediately she did, she sighed with relief and dialled Abdul's number again.

This time he picked but she could pick the noise around.

"Guess what babe" she heard his voice excitingly.
That voice alone made all her worries disappear.

"What?" She laughed, his excitement rubbing off on her.

"I'm coming back tomorrow!"

"Oh my Goodness! Are you? " Jadwa screamed into the phone doing a mini dance.

"Yes darling, do you want to see me?"

"Of course I would love to see you" she rolled her eyes as she drove into the driveway of the house.

"I'll come and see you straight from the airport then"

"You really don't have to" she pouted happiness surging through her.

She spoke to him until she reached home.

She hadn't eaten anything all day, and her stomach was starting to grumble.
Back at home, the sounds of laughter and bickering greeted her as she entered the house. Her sisters, Hanan and Zara, were arguing playfully over the flavors of the pastries. Despite their occasional squabbles, she cherished the closeness she shared with them.

"What flavors are here?" Hanan asked, scrunching her nose in mock disgust.

"You know I hate blueberries, right?" Zara whined, looking pointedly at Jadwa.

Jadwa chuckled, knowing full well Zara secretly enjoyed the occasional blueberry muffin. "Looks like you'll have to share the chocolate chip with Hanan this time."

Hanan, seizing the opportunity, clutched the box tighter. "Absolutely not! These muffins are calling my name, and I refuse to share this chocolatey goodness."

Knowing Zara wouldn't back down easily, Jadwa intervened. "Alright, alright, you two. Let's not fight. How about we split the box evenly?"

A momentary silence followed, then both Hanan and Zara hesitantly agreed. Laughter filled the room again as they meticulously divided the pastries, each ensuring they received a fair share of their preferred flavors.

Just as they settled down to enjoy their treats, a notification buzzed on Jadwa's phone. A frown creased her brow as she saw a string of messages from an unknown number. Intrigued, she opened the message history.

"Is this person okay at all?" she muttered, reading the frantic messages. A knot of unease tightened in her stomach as she scrolled through.

The messages were unsettling, laced with a desperate urgency. But before Jadwa could delve deeper, another notification popped up.

Jadwa's fingers hovered over the phone, a scathing reply forming on the screen. The audacity of the unknown sender sending a string of threatening messages, culminating in "if you block me again you'll regret it. now talk to me pretty-" was enough to make her blood boil. Just as she was about to unleash a torrent of anger, a notification popped up – a picture message.

With a deep breath, she tapped it open, bracing herself for another generic threat. But the image that materialized on the screen sent a jolt of terror so profound, it stole the air from her lungs. It was a picture of her. At first it felt like it was a bad dream, she couldn't believe her eyes and she sat numb for a few minutes. The voices of her sisters had completely become silent in her head.
With shaky hands and a shaky breath she got up and entered the bathroom, turned on the shower and leaned by the sink. She looked at the picture and the image stole the breath from her lungs making her squat, her legs felt too weak to hold her weight. A primal scream clawed its way up her throat but she couldn't, chocked back only by the iron grip she clamped on her jaw. Blood turned to ice in her veins, replaced by a suffocating wave of panic.