"Islam is a broad-minded religion which allows men and women to like and propose to each other. It has certain limitations in it, but does not restrict it."  

It was aunty Maryam's drawing room and all the girls were sitting there with their Qurans in their hands. 

"It wants you to approach the person you like and express your feelings. If he or she likes you, you should approach the parents and tell them about your feelings. That's it! This is how love marriages should take place in Islamic society. It is wrong for parents to oppose this idea, and it is wrong for youth to do something beyond this limit. The concept of boyfriend and girlfriend is wrong, because in it, they cross a lot of limits." 

Saba was listening to these words while her mind was replaying the scene of Sahir with the university's couple. His hateful gaze came in front of her eyes and a shiver ran down her spine.

"But Aunty, it is becoming difficult to avoid this relationship in this era. A lot of people think of us as backward." A girl said at which a smile came on Aunty's face.

"My daughter, Jannah can't be earned at a cheap price. It is a highly valuable asset which can be earned after a lot of trials." 

"This era is a difficult one for people who want to follow Islamic teachings." Another girl said.

"This era is blissful for pious people. Because in this era, your small act of kindness can raise your ranks as of Sahaba's. Allah's criteria for getting Jannah is so easy these days." Aunty Maryam replied with a glint in her orbs. 

"You just have to be determined and following Islam will start becoming easy for you." Aunty Maryam said with a smile, and looked at the Quran to read Ayahs from there.

…………………..

He opened the lock of his freelance office and stepped into it. Gardeners have started working in the garden, and started giving a vibrant look to it.

He sat on the chair and took a deep sigh to calm his nerves. Today was a tough day in University. His mind kept on boiling there whenever his orbs landed on Saba. Also, there was a fear in his inner being that his colleagues will know about his marriage and will taunt him. 

"Uff!" He said while holding his head in between his hands. The fear and anger was messing with his mind, causing him to become short-tempered. 

Shooking away all the thoughts from his mind, he tried to focus on his freelance work. His Facebook group was going great and he was getting famous among fiction lovers. 

He opened Instagram, and as usual, his inbox was full of messages. Some were praisings, some were questions and some were promotional ones. He opened a promotional message which wants him to have an exclusive contract with their website in which he will be able to earn hundreds of dollars in a month.

A smirk was on his face while reading the message and he clicked the link of the website. As it was expected, teen and romantic fiction were dominant on the website. 

This website is paying hundreds of dollars because it wants the writers to write erotic romance. Any other theme will never sell here. Unfortunately, readers of quality fiction are limited in the world. And you can't find any such decent audience on these websites.

He deleted the message and focused on answering the questions of his decent and loyal audience.

As always, fiction diverted his attention from the worries of real life. And this is all what he wants at this moment.

………………….

One week flew by in which Saba faced the cold reaction of Sahir. This thing was making her frustrated now, and many "what ifs" were lurking in her mind now. Families had started preparing for the marriage ceremony, and excitement was in the atmosphere of both houses.

"We have bought this watch for Sahir to give him. Isn't it beautiful?" Mrs. Saima was sitting with her on the couch and was showing her the watch. A forced smile etched on her face and anxiety rippled in her blood.

"Is everything alright, Saba?" Her mother asked while putting a hand on her shoulder.

"I am getting anxious with all this marriage scene." She murmured while gazing at the watch. Tears were gathering in her orbs and an urge to weep hit her.

Mrs. Saima rested her daughter's head on her chest. 

"It's okay, dear. It is common for girls to get anxious. I know everything is going in a weird way. But, remain calm. Everything will be okay." She said while hugging her tightly. Some tears escaped from her orbs.

The fear was dominating now, but she was unable to express it.

On the other side of the city, Sahir was also sitting in the lounge with his family

"Look at this maxi. Isn't it beautiful?" His mother asked while putting a maxi in front of him. It was of fawn color and in a V shape with a long tail. Pearls were there on the whole body which made it heavy. 

"It is Saba's walima dress. How is it?" Mrs. Amna asked with enthusiasm in her tone.

"It is beautiful." 

He replied with a forced smile while gazing at the maxi. Instantly, his mind imagined her clad in this dress with her long curly hair resting on both shoulders. 

A genuine smile etched on his face and excitement pumped in his body. But instantly, the words of Asma echoed in his ears at which his smile dropped. 

"Amma, I am in my room, doing some work." He said and stood from his place.

Frustration had consumed his whole body and everything related to Saba was irritating him now.

Coming into the room, he switched off his laptop and mobile and decided to have some sleep now.

…………………..

"Sir Sahir is getting cold with you now. What is the reason?" Nimra asked her while sitting on the grass of the university garden. Her heart skipped a beat at this question.

"No, there is nothing. I think I am unable to concentrate on his lectures. And you know how much this thing irritates him." She replied with a shrug, but her heart was getting anxious at seeing the thoughtful expressions of Nimra.

"There is no class today." Iqra said while coming near them with a tray of four soup bowls in her hands. 

"You have seen the email?" Saba asked while taking her soup bowl. 

"Yes. Fiza has gone to the washroom, when she comes we will plan an outing today." Iqra said while sitting near them. 

"That's great!" Relief and happiness flooded in Saba's nerves at this. She was in a desperate need of a break.

After an hour, the four girls were sitting in the "Second Cup" Cafe and were giving their order. Saba was casually looking around after giving her order.

Instantly her gaze stopped at a table and it widened with shock.

"Sir Sahir is here." Nimra whispered near her at which she nodded her head with partly opened lips.

She averted her gaze from there and focused on her friends.

"How is your freelancing going on?" Iqra asked her at which her mind averted toward her miserable condition in freelancing. Marriage preparations, university stress and new life's fear was affecting her creativity. 

"Good." She said with a sheepish smile and shrugged her shoulders. Inwardly, she was planning to resume her freelancing as soon as she reached home. And instantly, she also started regretting coming here and wasting the time.

"I should be at home, and doing digital marketing to get new leads." 

This was going into her mind and she was continuously fighting with her anger and irritation. 

"I also want to start this!" Nimra said while looking at her. She understood the underlying message and nodded her head.

"Nimra, go ahead. I will help you with it. But, you think you can do it?" 

"Why not? If you can manage time, I can also manage it!" Frown etched on Nimra's face at her question.

"It is not about time. There are a lot of freelancers who are managing their careers with their toddlers, house duties and even education. But, there are some people in the world too who can't manage this career even if they have nothing to do and their financial conditions are miserable." 

Saba said while looking at her friends who were now gazing at her with curiosity.

"Then?" Nimra asked.

"It is all about interest and passion. If you have a passion in yourself, you can do whatever you want in your life in every type of condition. But if you don't have any passion, you can't do it.

Freelancing is all about your passion and interest. In this field, you are your boss so you have to work harder and have to discipline yourself. You are a CEO and your clients are your duty. You have to satisfy them by working hard and disciplining yourself." 

She told them to which they hummed in response.

"I will think about it." Nimra now said with a chuckle at which Saba smiled at her. 

On the other side of the restaurant, Sahir was sitting and waiting for a publishing agency team. His novel is in its final stages and he has started contacting different publishing agencies for his novel. In Pakistan, it takes a lot of effort and time to find a suitable publishing agency. So Sahir has started his struggle now.

While waiting for the team, he gazed all around the restaurant and it stopped at a table. 

Saba's side pose was prominent from there. 

"Dude, not again." He murmured while frustration took over him. He had come here to escape reality, but it was again present here.

Averting his gaze from her, he started scrolling his mobile. 

"What a beautiful girl!" A boy's comment and his loud laughter reached his ears and he raised his gaze to see her. 

There were three to four boys near their table and were commenting on them with laughter. There were frowns on girls' faces and they were shooting daggers at boys.

"GO AWAY!" Iqra said in a loud voice which averted the attention of a lot of people. Sahir  stood from his place to go to their table. 

One of the boys tug on the scarf of Saba, causing it to loose up. Anger painted on her face and she stood from her place to slap the boy.

A sharp voice of slap echoed into the restaurant where people were sitting and enjoying the scene. 

Sahir came forward and took Saba from her arm to move her away from the boys. 

She was taking deep breaths and was shaking furiously. 

"You bitch! How dare you do it!" The boy bellowed with a red face at which Saba's heart skipped a beat.

"Behave yourself! It is not a way to speak!" Sahir also bellowed with furious expressions. 

Feeling the shivering of Saba's body, anger was building in him.

"Sir, please leave it." The restaurant's manager stepped forward and intervened.

At his pleading tone, Sahir came to know that the boys are from a rich family. Manager was pleading them to leave, at which bitterness filled his being. 

"I will never forget this slap! You will pay heavily for it." The boy said with an accusing finger and went away with red shot eyes.

After the group left, he turned around to see her, who had tears in her orbs and face was pale. Her hijab was slipping from her head now, revealing some of her hair.

"Go and tighten your hijab now."  He said while leaving her arm. She unconsciously covered her head properly and went toward the washroom with shivering legs. 

"Thank you so much sir for our help." Iqra said with a smile at which he nodded his head and murmured, "No problem." 

"I have made a whole video of this incident. I will post it on social media so that the boy avoids hurting the girl." One of the men said at which relief flooded in Sahir's veins.

He was fearing that the rich boy would take his revenge in a gruesome way. But thank God, the power of social media will scare him.

"Thank you!" He called out to the man who nodded and started uploading videos with enthusiastic expressions.

"I also have made a video! Let me post too." Another man said, at which a smirk etched on Sahir's face.

All of them were unwilling to step forward and save the girls because the opponent was a rich man. But, they all were willing to fight with him behind the screen of social media.

And oh, this video will give them fame too. 

Shooking his head and smirking at the people, he stepped toward his table when Saba came from the other side. Her eyes were swollen and face was pale. 

"Thank you." She stood near him and said in a  whisper. 

"Always welcome, Saba." He said while sitting on his chair, avoiding her gaze.

She nodded her head and went toward her friends who were now getting ready to leave.

"Are you going to university?" He called out to them at which they nodded their heads.

"Let me drop you." He said and again stood from his place. 

"Thank you sir but we can manage." Iqra said with a smile.

"My guests will still take fifteen minutes. Within this time, I can drop you. Also, it is not safe at this moment to go alone." He said at which they nodded their heads.

While driving, his gaze fell upon Saba who was gazing outside the window with melancholic expressions. She was doing her best to avoid his gaze, and he also wanted this thing.

Instantly, music rang in the car.

"Well, I found a woman 

stronger than anyone I know.

She shares my dreams;

 I hope that someday I'll share her home."

Involuntarily, Saba's gaze averted toward him and he also raised his orbs to see her through the back mirror. Their gazes clashed and he swiftly broke it and focused it on the road.

Ed Sheeran's song "Perfect" came out from Fiza's mobile at which her eyes widened, and she swiftly cut the call. It was her call tune. A sheepish smile came on her face and she glanced at the people around her.

Saba again turned her gaze toward the road, desperately praying for the ending of this journey.

Her first journey with Sahir was a consequence of an awkward situation and was full of awkward silence.

Car stopped in front of the university and they hurriedly came out of the car while murmuring thank you.

Later on, when night fell down on the city, swallowing all the lights of it, Sahir was standing in front of the dressing table, putting his watch on it. 

His mind and heart was in the restaurant where fearful and weeping Saba was present. He felt a silky feeling in his hand and he stared at it. This was the hand with which he held her arm. A smile etched on his face and heart bloomed. 

All the fears and bitterness slept away, and two teary orbs were only present in front of him. 

While smiling, he raised his gaze to see a reflection of a girl standing beside him. His smile dropped and eyes widened.

Zahra's reflection was present there who was gazing at him with a smirk.

"So Sahir, are you ready for another heartbreak?" 

His heart skipped a beat and whole body became numb. 

"Ready to be rejected? She is marrying you because she has no other choice at this moment. You are only her young age fantasy! A bubble which will burst as soon as she comes into your ugly life. Maybe then, she will want to get rid of you?" 

She was laughing and he stepped away from the mirror with wide eyes.

A past fear which was hidden deep into his heart surfaced, causing all of the hopes to vanish from his being.

He turned around to find no one in the room. There was nothing, but his fear only!

He stepped away from the mirror and sat on the bed with head in between his hands. 

A tear escaped his eyes and fell on his pants. 

Past fears and pains were going to keep him anxious all night.

………………….