RAMADAN MUBARAK, DEAR ANGELS!! ENJOY THE QUADRUPLE UPDATE.

Relief washed over after talking to her dad. She knew, whatever his decision, he wouldn't force her into marriage. Talking to Abdul wasn't the issue he'd reassured her countless times. But broaching the topic was like navigating a minefield.

She paced her room, the plush rug cool against her bare feet. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting dancing patterns on the wall, a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing within her. Picking up her phone, she scrolled through their recent messages with Abdul. Each playful text, each sweet emoji, seemed to mock her current predicament.

Finally, she made a decision. Hanan, her wise and insightful sister, was her only hope. She drafted a quick text, her fingers trembling slightly

"Ya Hanan, please can you spare some time when you're back? I really need to talk to you."

Clicking send, she threw herself onto the bed, the weight of everything pressing down on her. She scrolled through social media, but the cheerful posts and funny memes failed to distract her. Hours melted away as she waited for Hanan's reply.

Just as despair threatened to engulf her, a notification chimed on her phone. Hanan's quick response, "Of course, Jadu. I'll come to your room when I'm back" filled Jadwa with a flicker of hope.

Jadwa messaged her Friend Maryam out of boredom. Jadwa confided in Maryam about her growing relationship with Abdul, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders. Unknowingly, she drifted off to sleep.
**

"Jadwa! Jadwa! Wake up! It's past Isha, and you haven't even broken your fast!" Hanan's voice, accompanied by gentle taps on her legs, roused her from sleep.

"What?" Jadwa stammered, confused.

Hanan snapped her fingers. "Have you not been getting enough sleep? I said it's past Isha." She folded her arms.

"Oh, I swear I didn't realize I fell asleep," Jadwa mumbled, rubbing her eyes. "I just got home. There was horrible traffic."

"I'll bring our iftar here. Freshen up and pray before I return" Hanan instructed, exiting the room.

Jadwa sluggishly complied, waiting for Hanan to reappear with two maids carrying a variety of food and drinks.

"Come, let's eat," Hanan said, serving them from the same tray.

They ate in comfortable silence until Hanan spoke. "So, what's up, Jadwa? Is it about Baba? Or is Uncle Nura still bothering you?" she asked, sipping her hot rice pudding.

"No, I actually apologized to Baba yesterday, and it went well. He still implied it would be better if I married early, though" Jadwa sighed.

"He's not entirely wrong, Jadwa. But you were absolutely right to apologize" Hanan countered.

"I know, Ya Hanan. I'm trying trying to move on, but the regret is eating me up."

"It should. In all this, I don't hear you or anyone mentioning AbdulHakeem" Hanan said, raising an eyebrow.

"That's exactly why I needed you. He has no idea what happened. I didn't even tell him I saw Uncle Nura at the restaurant."

"Well, that wasn't the smartest thing to do. He should know and be held accountable for his actions," Hanan murmured, leaning back on the bed to face Jadwa.

"I just think it would be awkward to tell him everything and practically force him to talk to Baba," Jadwa reasoned honestly.

"I understand your hesitation, but you should talk to him. At least he can speak to Ya Ahmad, and he'll know how to proceed. There's nothing embarrassing if he truly loves you."

"What should I say? How should I approach it?"

"Tell him the truth. You don't need to disclose every detail, but let him know that he should talk to your brother about meeting Baba. It doesn't have to be immediate."

"Wouldn't that make me seem desperate?"

"Why? Aren't you dating with the intention of marriage? Or has he ever suggested he's not ready?"

"No, not at all. I know he's ready he's mentioned it a couple of times" Jadwa replied.

"There you have it. Just talk to him. I know he treats you well and seems genuinely fond of you" Hanan said with a smile. "Throw those anxieties out the window, Jadu."

"Thank you so much, you're a lifesaver! I was honestly losing my mind this past week" Jadwa said dramatically, palming her face.

They chatted a bit about Hanan's own budding romance with a coworker. Hanan's relationship seemed serious, and Jadwa silently wished her the happiness she deserved.

It was past nine in the evening when Abdul's video call came in.

Jadwa, engrossed in a book and sipping hot ginger lemon tea, answered with a playful frown, feigning offense."Hello, what are you doing darling?" he asked his face beaming.

"Nothing much, just reading because my boyfriend somehow managed to disappear" she replied, the playful frown still lingering on her lips.

He chuckled heartily. "If you missed me so much, why didn't you call me, huh?" he teased.

"Oh, please don't start. I never said I missed you" she countered with a laugh, her eyes sparkling.

After exchanging pleasantries, the weight on Jadwa's chest grew heavier with each passing minute. She knew it was time to address the elephant in the room.

"Do you have some free time tomorrow, Abdul?" she inquired, her voice lower than usual.

"Of course! Who wouldn't want to see this beautiful face?" he replied dramatically, making her burst into laughter. "If you asked me to come now, I'd fly" he added, further enhancing her amusement.

The following day, around 8 PM, Abdul's phone call informed her of his arrival. Dressed in a stylish black jeans and a pretty pale yellow top with her veil framing her face, Jadwa enlisted Zara's help.

"Promise me you'll cover for me if anyone asks," she whispered, her voice laced with a hint of nervousness.

Zara, ever the loyal confidante, readily agreed. Upon entering the car, she greeted Abdul and asked him to park a few streets away from her home, wanting to maintain a sense of discretion.

"Why are you looking at me like this" Jadwa commented playfully, initiating conversation to ease the tension that hung in the air.

"Why did you ask us to drive here, madam? Are you scared your other boyfriends might catch you?" he teased, playfully folding his arms.

Their relationship, built on a foundation of mutual respect and lighthearted banter, provided a much-needed respite from the seriousness of the situation.

"You're such a drama king, Abdul! No!" she laughed, brushing off his playful accusation, her heart still pounding in her chest.

"So, what's going on?" he asked, his genuine concern evident in his voice.

Taking a deep breath, Jadwa began to recount the events, starting from the awkward encounter with Uncle Nura at the restaurant to her heartfelt apology to her father and his unwavering stance on marriage. Abdul listened intently, his gaze fixed on her as she spoke. He found her captivating, not just for her beauty, but for her honesty and vulnerability.

Though a flicker of anger ignited within him at the thought of Uncle Nura's unwelcome advances, he understood her predicament and held back from expressing it.

After she finished, he paused thoughtfully. "It's okay, baby. I understand, and you don't need to worry, alright?" he reassured her gently. "I'll speak to my parents first, and then, inshallah, everything will be done properly. I hate seeing you stressed like this."

Jadwa's heart swelled with gratitude for Abdul's understanding and support. "I was so scared," she confessed, her voice cracking. "I didn't know how to talk to you about it."

He gently turned her face towards him. "Look at me," he says. "I apologize for the delay. I should have addressed this earlier. Since Eid is approaching, and I'll be traveling to Adamawa, I'll take that opportunity to speak to my parents." He brushed away a tear that escaped her eye, glistening with kohl.

"It should be a sin to let such beautiful eyes shed tears," he whispered, his voice filled with tenderness.

"I love you so much, Abdul, thank you," Jadwa expressed, her voice thick with emotion. His words and actions solidified her feelings for him.

"I love you more" he replied with a loving smile.

"Let's head back" he suggested, concerned about the late hour. "It's not safe for you to be out alone, especially now."

He started the car, handing her a paper bag and a large box of cupcakes.

Initially hesitant, Jadwa accepted the gifts under his encouraging gaze. "Thank you, babe. Call me when you reach home," she said, closing the car door and heading inside, a flicker of hope igniting in her heart.

Immediately upon entering, she rushed to her mother's room, where everyone, including Ameerah who had dropped off Ammi's Eid clothes, was gathered.

"Where are you coming from?" Ammi inquired in a stern voice.

Jadwa met Zara's apologetic eyes and decided to be honest. "Ammi, I went to meet Abdul to talk to him" she replied, placing the gifts on the table.

After a barrage of questions, she opened up about the situation, including Uncle Nura's actions.

Hanan and Zara, thrilled with the news of Abdul's potential involvement, jumped up and danced in celebration.

"You should thank God you're not marrying an old man" Zara joked, earning a playful slap from Ammi.

As they laughed together, a sense of warmth spread through Jadwa. Although the path to marriage held uncertainties, she found solace in the support of her family and the love of Abdul

Since we're collecting our Eid clothes, I might as well steal this new green Kaftan you got Ammi" she announced, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

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