"Good intentions are the most beautiful of secrets" - Hazrath Ali ( R.A ).

SANAM'S POV.

Flowers bloomed scarlet on the summit of the thorny rose trees, shadowing the ground.I gazed around for a means of diverting my thoughts.On one side of my balcony rose a stunted oak, the strong wind blew it nearly horizontal.On my right I could see the breeze rocking swing.When I was a toddler, I used to lie on it, watching birds with dad and singing nursery rhymes,happier than words can express.And here I was today half thinking, half dreaming in a heavily embroidered bridal gown.

Things have changed drastically, perhaps for better .But I'd still love to be the four year old Sanam who was cradled by her father.I'd be happy musing by myself among pebbles, on the green mound unaware of what life holds tomorrow.

" MashaAllah! You look beautiful than words can express.May Allah protect you from evil eyes," mom said, caressing my cheeks.She turned a few degrees as if looking at our family pic by the bed side.From the side of my eye, I could detest her raising a hand and brushing tears off her cheek.

"You will never feel alone dear daughter.My blessings are with you.And you have Allah in your life."

Surah Al-Baqara, Verse 152:

فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِي وَلَا تَكْفُرُونِ

Therefore remember Me, I will remember you, and be thankful to Me, and do not be ungrateful to Me.

Listening to her recitation, a wave of relief passed over me.I was leaving her but I knew that Allah is watching over me always.

"Come on.We need to start for the mosque," mom said, taking me by the arm and half forcing me towards the door as I lingered, viewing with teary eyes the place I called home.I was leaving my treasure, her words would be an aid that could bequeath to guide me.

I had no idea how life would change, how dreary my world would be when I'd be away from my family.I had at length broken my resolution of never getting married.I didn't mean to anticipate worse but I had my own insecurities.I've tried being optimistic about today but shaitaan kept barging in my thoughts.Astaghfirullah!

Mikael drove us to the mosque where Shiraz and his family were waiting for the nikaah.On my way I stared at road side rough banks where hazels and wild blossoms looked melancholy like never before.I had prayed often for the approach of what is coming and now I began to shrink and fear it.

The mosque was a few miles away from home.I went in along with my sisters and mom followed by.I had wished Mikael to read my nikaah and he obliged with immense pleasure.

"Do you,Miss Sanam Akram,daughter of Hashim Akram accept your nikaah with Shiraz Haroon,son of Khidr Haroon under islamic laws with the agreed mahr?"

The question brought me back to my senses.I tightened my grip on the green and maroon gown I wore.

"Do you accept?" The question was repeated by Mikael.Mom passed me a worried look and Shaila held my hand.

"I do."

My voice was no less than a whisper.My approval was celebrated with exchange of hugs between my siblings and Shiraz's family.Masarrath was very happy but Mrs.Heena didn't show much excitement.Granny embraced mom for the longest.Mom got teary eyed but they seemed more like tears of pure happiness.

"Mabrook! You are a married woman now.I just can't believe it! " Urwa chanted.

Mikael made me sign a few papers and silently left for getting the car out of the parking.He wanted to drive me directly to the marriage hall.I could feel the gloom in his silence.He has never confessed how much he loved me as a brother but his face said it all.

The moonlight added immense beauty to the night.My heart wept in silence but in some tiny corner I could feel the light penetrating.The hope of a blessed married life.The happiness of completing half of my deen.

We reached the marriage hall in a few minutes. Mom had booked it in advance last month.Though we wanted to keep it a small affair, we had to go for the hall as Shiraz had many uncles and quite a large family with cousins from his maternal and paternal side.Granny wished to have her whole family to celebrate the wedding of his grandson.Mom obliged happily but everything else was simple.

"Assalamualaikum Sanam habeebti! Congratulations! May Almighty bless your union " beamed Naila.I replied to her greeting with a hug and salaam.

"I wish I could come during the nikaah.But you know Inaayah had an appointment with the paediatrician."

"I totally understand.Now let me spend time with my little angel, " I replied,taking the sleeping baby into my arms.

"Awww! The bride looks so cute with little Inaayah!" Urwa gushed,clicking a pic in her cam.I spoke to Naila about her life post baby and her plans of rejoining the internship.

Dinner was served at nine when guests started pouring in.It was basically Asian cuisine with kebabs as starters and biryani,haleem as the main course.The dessert,chocolate pudding and vanila ice cream was of my choice.All the food and guests seating arrangements were taken care of by Mikael.Though he had turned up on the morning of my marriage,he had spoken to the caterers and arranged the sumptuous dinner.

After the dinner was the session of photoshoot with my siblings and Shiraz's family.We didn't hire a professional photographer but his cousins did the job nonetheless.Mom and my sisters donned their veils over their head as Shiraz and his father were coming over.I was left in seclusion for a few minutes as everyone went backstage.

"Hi Sanam! Congratulations, " Yumna said with a smile which looked more like a forced one.

"Assalamualaikum! Thanks."

"I see you have succeeded in your plan.How cleverly you've manipulated him and made him fall for you.I never knew you were so cunning," Yumna spat.

"Sorry? I don't understand what made you think so."

"Don't act innocent.He started praying regularly after watching you in the prayer room.He had become a religious nerd with the help of your so called brother.And you say you don't understand?" She replied venomously.

"Make way for the groom.Yumna can you move to her left?" Granny said.She was disturbed before she could carry on her ugly conversatiom.I was partly shaken by the charges she had levied on me.But I didn't wanted few false words to spoil the day of my life.The day every girl dreams of.

"MashaAllah! You both make a perfect couple," granny remarked.I could feel my body go tense as he sat to my right,few inches away from me.My heart galloped in my ribcage and the henna laden hands froze in their spot.

"Assalamualaikum!" He greeted.

"Walaikumsalam! " I whispered.

"SubhanAllah! I feel blessed today," he said.I didn't reply.Instead I smiled.Perhaps it the first one that day.And I felt all those negative vibes vanishing into air.In my silent mind, I thanked Allah for giving me someone who felt I was a blessing in his life.

"You guys can talk later.You have a whole lifetime for that," Masarrath said,landing on the seat beside her brother.She captured innumerable selfies with me and Shiraz.I wasn't a fan of selfies but I didn't wanted to kill her joy so I obliged.Sometimes we do things we don't like.Not because we have no other choice.We do it for others happiness.It is where the happiness of a selfless person lies.

Granny gifted me a pair of gold bangles studded with rubies,emeralds and diamonds.It was a legacy,which was passed on from generations.I realised how much I mattered to her and optimism filled my mind.I couldn't thank her verbally for tears clouded my eyes and I was tongue tied.The whole atmosphere was so cheerful.It was like angels have descended and turned our worlds into a celebration.

As the time for my departure was nearing,I could see all the friends and relatives taking leave and only the immediate family remained.And the final call to leave the hall was given my Shiraz's dad.Mom held my hand and kissed my forehead.

"Please take good care of her.She is very delicate.I hope you won't disappoint a mother whose daughter means the world to her," mom said, looking towards Shiraz with her misty eyes.That moment, all the tears I had been holding gave away.As much as I didn't wanted to cry on my wedding day I couldn't help stopping the salty water trickle down my cheeks.

"Hush dear! You shouldn't cry.You wouldn't want your kohl to smear your eye.Would you?" Naila joked.She hugged me tightly and wished me luck for my new life.

"Iam going to miss you.But I am really happy with you starting a new phase of your life.May Allah bless your marriage, " Shaila said, wiping away her tears.Urwa hugged me with a heavy heart and walked me to his car.Shiraz held my hand all through.

"I guess am the last person to bid my sis goodbye," Mikael piped in.He slung his hands around Shiraz's broad shoulders.

"I trust you enough to let go without a warning.But don't ever hurt my sister!" Mikael warned, opening the car door for us to sit.

"Don't worry bro! She's my better half now.Wallahi! I shall try my best to keep her happy," he replied.Mikael looked between me and Shiraz.

"Fee amanillah! " he said, giving an assuring smile and motioning the driver to start the engine.

Throughout our way to his home, I couldn't control drops of tears from falling off my eyes.It stung, everytime my eyes reminisced those little moments with my mother.Shiraz kept looking at me with a worried expression.He grasped my hand and gave it a squeeze to comfort me.I thought he would break the silence in the car but he granted me my space.He wiped my tears with his handkerchief and comforted me with one of his signature smile.It was not a first glimpse, I had seen him already yet that moment he seemed different.Perhaps I had never observed him so closely.His brown orbs kept staring at my black ones, trying to pour his heart to me and I felt weirdly soothing.

"We all Welcome you to your new home, Sanam!" Uncle Khidr greeted as we strolled towards the front door.I wished him with a salaam and he replied with a smile, a tender heartfelt one.Shiraz got a call from one of his friend so he excused himself to answer it.

"Masarrath take Sanam to her room," granny demanded.Masarrath pushed her hair to a side and obliged.She was wearing a peach gown and looked elegant.I followed her, passing through the long corridors, walking over the velvety carpet.

"This way, " she motioned as we neared our destination.She made me sit on the rosy bed.Having given some further directions and information about my belongings, she departed.I loosened my head cover and relaxed on the white bed, ocassionally turning a fascinating eye towards the dimly gleaming room.

I felt it to be one of the largest room in the mansion.The bed was supported on the massive pillars of mahogany, hung with curtains of deep red damask.The two large windows were shrouded in festoons and falls of similar drapery; the carpet was red; the table at the foot end was covered with a crimson cloth; the walls were ivory white.The room was chill and silent, because it was remote from the kitchen and living room.

I got up and moved towards the looking-glass; my glance explored the depth it revealed.What a consternation of soul was mine that moment.All my brain was in tumult and my heart wrenched in confused emotions.

"Ahem ahem!"

I turned around to the attention seeker.It was Shiraz, walking hesitatingly towards me.Though my heart beat a hundred times faster, I endeavoured to be firm.Sweeping away a bang of hair from my eyes, he lifted my head and tried to scrutinise my face.

"My heart is beating faster than yours, " he said, placing my hand on his chest.

"Why are you so cold? You aren't any vampire? Are you? " he joked, pressing my hands into his.

"They freeze whenever I get nervous, " I replied, looking at the bed lamp.

"You can look at me in the eyes.It's all halaal now," he said, coming closer to me.My body went rigid and my breath hitched in my throat.I didn't knew what was coming but as if he sensed my discomfort, he moved away and walked me towards the window.I felt an inexpressible relief, a soothing convection of protection and respect, when I knew he wouldn't do anything against my will.His lips were half asunder as if he meant to speak and he drew a breath, but it escaped in a sigh instead of a sentence.

"I don't wanna make promises I can't keep.But inshaAllah I'll walk beside you at every step, through every hilly path.I shall try always that I never be a reason for your grief." He kept his gaze on the crescent moon which lite the dark sky.

"I don't know how it is to fall in love.But if thinking of someone more than yourself, wanting someone more than your own company and vying for them to be yours and only yours is love.Then Iam actually in love with you," he confessed.

I didn't know what was more beautiful - the moonlit sky or his cheesy words.But I blushed and hid my face in my palms.

"I realised how much I liked you when I was away from you for the past six months.Everything about you makes me feel closer to Him.I love you for the sake of Allah. "

He shoved my hands off my face and took them in his.I couldn't frame a reply to his confession.I couldn't comprehend my feelings to him and myself.

"I have come to learn that you love the moon and the stars.So I decided to confess my feelings right here," he said,opening the window latch even wider.

"I know you don't like me as much as I do.But I don't expect anything in return now.I have you as mine.You have completed half of my deen today and I feel more happier than those sparkling stars," he said, pointing towards the one nearest to the moon.

I began by clearing my throat and looking into his orbs.

"Surah Ar-Room, Verse 21:

وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا لِّتَسْكُنُوا إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُم مَّوَدَّةً وَرَحْمَةً إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ

And one of His signs is that He created mates for you from yourselves that you may find rest in them, and He put between you love and compassion; most surely there are signs in this for a people who reflect."

I didn't understand the meaning of this ayah in the past.But today when I read it out to him, I started believing in one of many miracles of Allah.

"All this is so wierd.I mean I never thought destiny would turn a foe into  family," I commenced.He brushed his hands through his thick hair and grinned at me.

"But I want to put the past behind.I want to start afresh with you.It is Allah who has put you in my life and I shall strive to keep you happy if I want to please Him," I continued.He caressed my cheeks and looked deep into my eyes.

"Today I feel like the richest man alive!" He made me sit on the cofee table beside his window.

"Prophet Mohammed ( Sallallahu alaihi wassallam ) said : A righteous wife who will help you in religious and wordly affairs is better than all the treasures the people have collected." ( Ahmad 5/282)

"I have liked you not because you're beautiful, but because you remind me of Allah.Because you love Him more than anything else.We may be different as frost and fire but we had been written for each other.We were meant to be together.Our souls were created to be entwined in His love."

I didn't know what got into me at that moment but I hugged him.He was taken aback but he hugged me back.And everything else looked blur.I couldn't thank Allah enough for placing him in my life.

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A / N
Assalamualaikum guys!
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I felt like I have never written a cheesier chapter before ;)
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