"Stay away from hurting others.The hurt you caused and the pain it inflicted will come back to harm you in a different way" - Mufti Menk.

SHIRAZ's POV

There was no possibility of taking a walk that day.The wind brought with it clouds so sombre, and a rain so penetrating, that going outdoor was out of question.I sat down and endeavoured to read.I could make no sense of the subject; my own thoughts swam always between me and the page I'd been on.

I opened the glass window in the study room; the shrubbery was quite still; the rain reigned , unbroken by the breeze, through the ground.I found no pleasure in the silent trees,the russet leaves, swept by past winds in heaps.I leaned against the window pane and looked towards the opaque sky.It was a very gray day.I stood, a wretched soul enough, whispering to myself over and over again,'Ya Allah help me! I need to stay calm'.

My eyes darted off to the Qur'an which was lying in the mahogany shelf.I took it out meticulously and began to read.An ayah came with a wonderful message from Allah.

Surah Al-Baqara, Verse 286:

لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا اكْتَسَبَتْ َ

Allah does not impose upon any soul a duty but to the extent of its ability; for it is (the benefit of) what it has earned and upon it (the evil of) what it has wrought.

That moment I understood that I had to trust him and be patient.

After completing my daily recitation, I rested myself  on the cushioned chair.All at once I heard a clear voice call,

"Shiraz where are you? Come down for dinner!"

It was Masarrath, I knew well enough; but I did not stir.Her light steps came tripping down the room.

" You're not a kid anymore! " She said,"Why don't you come when you are called?"

Masarrath' s presence, compared with the thoughts which I had been brooding, seemed cheerful; even though as usual, she tried to irritate me by closing the page I'd been on for the past twenty minutes.

What had passed a week back; What Yumna had said corncerning me to mom; the whole tenor of their conversation, was recent, raw and stinging in my mind.I had felt every word as acutely, as I had heard it plainly; and a passion of worthlessness fermented now within me.

It was during the dinner Aunt Nelofer had planned after grandpa's angioplasty.Though we'd to replied her invitation with a soft no as grandpa needed rest she insisted that we come.Quite frankly, I didn't know that it was planned by mom and Aunt Nelofer together.And granny decided that we should go as she was mom's cousin and she might feel bad if we called it off.Everything was good until Yumna entered and the whole talk began deviating to something else. The reason for the dinner was revealed when Yumna who was heavily dressed up sat to my right and mom kept looking between me and her.She had once asked me if Yumna was a nice girl.I'd replied to her in positive thinking it to be a general question.Anticipating what was to come ,I excused myself on grounds of prayer.When I had returned,my grandparents were in the lawn with dad and my mom indoor.

" I'd liked him earlier.But now he's changed.He avoids me all the time.And he dislikes my hanging out with guys," Yumna said,flinging herself on the couch.I hid myself behind the crimson drapes.I didn't wanted to interrupt the conversation she was having with my mom.

"He behaves like those orthodox, conservative muslims who don't enjoy their lives and stop others from doing it too.I am sorry I can't marry someone who'd be uncomfortable with my fashionable dressing or who'd dictate my lifestyle."

Her statement were my own thoughts back then when I never tried to understand the true Islam.Mom tried to convince her by the idea of changing me after marriage.But she was persistent.

" I don't think he'd ever get someone like me,a gorgeous doctor wife.I guess you'll have to find him some super religious niqabi or a school dropout who'd be home all the time,like his personal maid obeying his commands without queries."
I left without listening the climax of their conversation.

The tag of an undesirable guy was bracing me with its bitter vigour.It was not like I was living for her acceptance and her rejection shouldn't hurt me.But I proved to be a human.

The difficulties I had endured to better myself, my mom's aversion to my beard, Yumna's harsh remarks, turned up in my disturbed mind like a dark deposit in a turbid well.

Why was I condemned by my own mother for becoming a better Muslim?
Why could loving Allah more than others never please some?
Why there exists a wrong notion that religious people don't enjoy life?

My own mother couldn't notice that my spoiled temper was long gone.The swearing and trouble I gave to the house helpers was now reduced to nil.She didn't notice that now I respected women, potentially her and my sister more than I ever did.The time I wasted on clubbing and movies was now indulged in charity work and attending Islamic lectures.Getting to learn the real meaning of Islam and the very purpose of life had beautified mine like never before.

" Shiraz? Why aren't you eating anything? " Granny asked.For the past few minutes I was fiddling with my fork.

" Ehhh.It's just that I am not hungry," I replied nonchalantly.Granny didn't buy my excuse and squinted her eyes, trying to read the grief behind the nonchalant answer.

"Come here khidr! We all need to talk, " Granny said,thwarting dad who was about to leave.

"I know it's not time still but I've been thinking of Shiraz's marriage.I have a very nice girl in my mind," granny gushed,with a toothy grin.

" Is that so? Who is the lucky girl?" Dad asked, raising brows at her revelation.

" I've been best friends with her grandmother.I know her mother too," she continued joyfully.I wasn't listening vigilantly,thinking it to be some stranger.

" And she's your late friend Atif's neice," granny revealed, her wrinkled face looking towards dad.To say that I was surprised would be an understatement for what I felt that moment.I blinked twice, pinched myself and asked grandma to say clearly who she was talking about.

"It is Sanam, you dummy! Don't tell me you couldn't guess that," Masarrath chirped.

It was an overwhelming news for me.Marriage was surely not on my mind and granny's proposal was totally unexpected.

" I'll speak with her mom if you are okay with it.It's not that you're going to get married tomorrow.You'll have a lot of time on hand, " granny said,looking over me for an answer.

" Why are you even asking him maama? I think it's a great proposal.You should talk to her mom," Dad interrupted.He looked unusually happy and contented that day.I was afraid to take it away for some silly reason of mine.Granny dialled Sanam's mom and spoke to her.Mom was not much happy about it but she didn't reject it either.I strode back to my room.

It was not like I despised the idea.But I was thinking how she would take it.I was hoping she wouldn't drop the proposal.It was the question of granny's feelings.

Or perhaps it would hurt your ego!

I have know her for the past four and a half year.I'd witnessed her bitter, arrogant yet caring and emotional shades of her character.She was a perfect recluse; and apparently, perfectly contented.For a fact, she was an unprecedented girl.The likes of which I'd never met before.The animosity and resentment I held towards her was long transformed into a soft corner.I respected her with all my heart.

"Thinking of her?" Masarrath enquired, seating herself on the chair opposite me.

"Astaghfirullah! Why would I think of her when we're not even engaged," I retorted.She snickered and kept giving me wierd looks.

"You are considering the proposal.Aren't you? "

"Hmmm.Yeah! I'll think about it."

"You must be knowing her already.She goes to the same medical school as you, " Masarrath said, playing with a pen on the table.

"Yup! I know her quite well, " I replied,chewing the pencil I was holding.

"Tell me about her nature.I wanna learn a little about my future sister in law," Masarrath demanded.I stared blankly into the space, trying to frame a sentence which would describe her best.

"She is a like a life bringing rain but the one with its share of thunder and lightning."

"Wow! That was intense.I've never heard anyone describe a girl like that," Masarrath remarked.I chuckled at her reply, pinching her snowy cheeks.

" Do you love her or something?" Masarrath asked,her voice modulating into a grave one.

"What? No! I don't love her!" I replied.

" Really? I thought otherwise," Masarrath grinned.

" I don't know if I like her.But I don't dislike her either.She's good.Actually someone who'd nearly fulfil my criteria for a life partner, " I replied.

" Ohhhh! That means you must really like her," Masarrath teased.I tried to retaliate by deviating her from the subject.

" I"ll tell you a hadith I read this afternoon."

The Prophet Mohammed ( Sallallahu alaihi wassallam ) said :
The souls are like an army joined in the world of spirits, whichever souls knew each other in that world are attracted towards each other in this world and which ever remained distant and indifferent they are disinterested towards each other in this world.
(SAHIH AL BUKHARI )

"Subhanallah! That means our friends are the people to whom our soul is attracted to." I nodded in affirmative and recited another hadith I've memorised.

Ibn Masud (R.A) reported:
I asked Prophet Mohammed ( Sallallahu alaihi wassallam ) "Which action is dearest to Allah?"
He (Sallallahu alaihi wassallam ) replied," Performing salah at its early fixed time.
(SAHIH AL BUKHARI and MUSLIM )

" Let's get ready for the isha prayer then.Iam gonna pray with you, " Masarrath said.I smiled tenderly at my younger sister and walked with her to the prayer room.

******

A week had passed since that night.I didn't quite realise how time flew by.But there were no calls from Sanam's mother.Granny told me that they demanded a week's time before answering.And she was certain they'd agree on this proposal.I was not very sure of her answer.She was as unpredictable as the weather these days.

Though I had her contact number, I refrained from talking to her.I knew ere long that she despised the idea of talking on phone with a guy when it was unnecessary.She had never talked to me on phone for the past four and a half years and she wouldn't do it now.This whole week,Masarrath attempted thrice to convince me for a single call yet I never gave in.I left everything to Allah.If things were meant to fall in place, they would with or without our endeavours.And if she is meant to be mine nothing on earth could stop it.

Today I saw her in the exam hall.She was too busy to notice me.Her deep black eyes looked too tired.I didn't try to make myself apparent either.She was two seats ahead of me.But I could feel my heart thumping in my chest.

Was this how it felt if you're around your to-be fiancee?

I muttered Astaghfirullah, averting my gaze to the answer book.I didn't wanted to indulge myself in haraam acts.I was trying hard to keep it as much halaal as possible.

If she answered in positive, it would become quite awkward for both of us.But I've planned on doing my internship from a different hospital.And there were hardly any chances of we crossing paths after the exams if I weren't in the same hospital.

I came back home during the noon.Too tired to change my clothes, I slept in my white shirt and blue jeans.

"I am sorry Sanam.Give me one last chance. "

"Chance granted me lord! Now get off your bed.It's almost asr."

It was Masarrath's voice which woke me up.She was standing beside my king size bed, holding a glass in her hands.

" I was going to empty this on you if you hadn't woken up after this," Masarrath said, pointing her index towards the glass of icy water.

"By the way,why were you apologising to Sanam? " She enquired, curiously.

" It was just one of my wierd dream, " I retorted.

" I think your brown orbs have fallen hard for those pair of black eyes," She replied, opening the window latch.I shook my head and behaved as if her words never affected me.But in reality,they were echoing in some petty corner of my brain.

Enchanting eyes they are!!

*****

I have realised that bowing to your creator is a wonderful feeling in itself.We implore to him in our prayers and he replies us through the Qur'an.With time,I have learnt to seek solace from Qur'an.And my favourite surah was Surah Rahman.

The sun had not met the horizon and the sky looked a bright shade of orange.Birds were flying back to their nests, as were humans getting back to their homes.I was rambling on my roof top, appreciating the beauty of the dusk.

Surah Al-Rahman
خَلَقَ الْإِنسَانَ

He created man
عَلَّمَهُ الْبَيَانَ

Taught him the mode of expression.

الشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ بِحُسْبَانٍ

The sun and the moon follow a reckoning.

وَالنَّجْمُ وَالشَّجَرُ يَسْجُدَانِ

And the stars and the trees do prostrate (to Him).

وَالسَّمَاءَ رَفَعَهَا وَوَضَعَ الْمِيزَانَ

And the heaven, He raised it high, and He made the balance

" Sir, your dad wants you in the living room," reported Zamaan,the laundry guy.

I ambled to the living room where my dad was enjoying his evening coffee with grandma.

" Shiraz,now that you are here I wanted to reveal some good news, " granny beamed.She gestured for me to sit beside her.

"Huma called me few minutes ago.Sanam has agreed to the proposal," granny chanted gleefully.Dad clapped my back and engulfed me in a hug while I stood still, trying to take in her words.

"We've mutually consented on keeping the engagement after your exams.And she wants to keep it a low affair, " grandma continued.

" That's great maama dear.I will make arrangements for all the gifts and Shiraz can select the ring, " dad commenced.

" The wedding shall take place whenever you both would deem it the right time," Grandma stated.

"Congratulations bro! You are now kinda engaged to that girl with beautiful black eyes." Masarrath whispered, grinning at me.

" Huh? Iam engaged to Sanam?"

*******

A / N
Assalamualaikum guys!
How was the chapter?
Which were your best lines?
I'm sorry for a day's delay in the update.I was caught up with my result, the congratulatory calls
and the celebrations.Alhamdulillah!I'm so excited to start my internship :p

Anyways, if you liked it do vote and comment!
Please please please :D