Dear readers, if you are delaying your prayer/salah or reading Qur'an, please don't proceed with this chapter, before completing it. Prayer will be the first thing we will be asked about in the hereafter.

Thank you so much for waiting,beautifully.
I'm really touched with all your feedbacks and messages.

Check out my interview done by the talented NaeemNaufer
I have posted the book in my message board.

This might be the last update before ramdan. Do remember me in your dua's and Happy ramdan.^_^

Long chapter ahead!
Happy reading!!=

__

"Will you stop doing that?" Taha,his friend scolded him for the millionth time and Rihab scrunched his nose and kept his reynolds pen in the pen-stand after playing 'pull and push' for about an hour.

"Nothing irritates me more than that tick tick sound." Taha was obviously irritated to the core and Rihab shrugged as he rubbed his temple.

"If you didn't want to talk, why did you call me?" Taha snapped.

Rihab had called Taha as soon as he and Rashiya'a reached home, to discuss the matter
As Taha was a police officer.

"Taha!"

"Rihab.." Taha copied him stretching his name.

"You are not letting me concentrate!" Rihab grimaced and Taha frowned.

"You think I don't have any work? I'm not a lazy fellow like you."

"Then get lost, you are of no help."

"Okay!" Taha stood up pursing his lips as he controlled his smile as Rihab gave his don't you dare look.

"How am I supposed to walk out of here, if you give me death glares like that?"

Rihab laughed. "You are the police officer, you should be the one giving me deathly glares, nay?"

"Yeah, but Iam a kind hearted gentleman, I dont scare away people, beacuse 78 percentage of Indians are scared to talk to policeman."

"That means Indian officers are not of good help!" Rihab joked and Taha rolled his eyes, taking back his seat.

"Listen," Taha started turning all serious. "Ask your sister to not go anywhere o.."

"I can't keep her caged in because of me." Rihab interjected him.

"First listen to me." Taha snapped as he was getting late for work and here hus friend was not paying attention.

"She can go to the university and return home directly, no going on outings with friends or shopping mall or anywhere."

"Okay!"

"I will appoint a bodyguard.."

"No no.." Rihab said cutting him off. "I don't want her to panic and she won't agree and I don't want abba to find out. You understand what I mean?"

"But,"

"Let Allah be her care taker, we just need to be more cautious till we find who is the stalker."

"Hmm, but if anything happens just inform me sooner,ok? shall I leave then?"

Rihab nodded.

"Thank you, your majesty." Taha laughed and walked out of his study room.

Rihab was lost in his thoughts as he recalled those mails and even the incident with saquib, thinking who could be stalking them, when Rashiya'a came in.

"I forget to tell you, there was someone following Safina."

"He could be following you, but you two are always together.."

"No, even when Safina was alone, someone was following her in thw hospital. I wasn't with her."

"Why didn't you tell me that earlier?" Rihab asked, his brows drawn together.

"It ..it just slipped out of my mind. Sorry."

"Just be careful, Rashipie. Don't go anywhere without informing me, okay ?" Rihab askes his voice laced with concern and Rashiya'a nodded.

"Keep my and abba's number in speed dial, even Adeel's numbee in case of emergency. Here, take Taha's number too and ask your friend too do the same." Rashiya'a agreed as she saved Taha's number and put it on speed dial.

"Don't worry bhai," Rashiya'a couldn't help but say as Rihab was lost in his thoughts, again.

"Please rashi, be cautious till I find out him and until I gather proof enough to get him locked up."

"Okay, I promise."

"Now make me a strong cup of coffee!" Rihab smiled ruffling her hair and this time Rashiya'a didn't protest as it had been long since her brother ruffled her hair.

"Hey rashi.." As Rashiya'a was walking out, Rihab called her.

"You okay?"

Rashiya'a nodded and asked, "why?"

Rihab shrugged giving her a soft smile and returned back to his desk.

__

"Iam not supposed to go anywhere, how is that possible?" Safina asked as if that was the million dollar question.

"Simple. You just need to keep your legs in one place. Don't make them walk." Rashiya'a said keeping a straight face whilst her three bestie's stared at her before bursting into fits of laughter and Rashiya'a too joined them.

"That was my bhaiya's answer when I told him Safina would not agree and her question would be the same."

"Aren't the two quite similar in their sense of humor and sarcasm?" Zikra teased, meaningfully while Naushin and Rashiya'a cooed.

"Girls." Safina huffed raising her hands. "I don't understand why you are teasing us!" Safina said with a shake of her head.

"Us!" The three friends said in unison as the stretched the Us and teased their bestie, who was fuming and sometimes blushing.

"Just answer my question, do you think it will be Saquib?" Safina asked changing the topic.

"Maybe, then it might be Rashiya'a's ex-fiance too?!" Naushin asked as silence consumed them.

"Our life is a mess!" Safina mumbled rubbing her temples.

"Maybe we are not understanding Allah's plan. Through this suffering HE is making our journey to JANNAH, easy." Rashiya'a said and the girls agreed but still it was hard to always think good when one is faced with so many troubles and trials. After all we are human beings.

"Sometimes when we are afflicted with hardships, we are trapped in shaytaan's whispers and we are bound to think bad of the situation but behind everything there is ALLAH'S divine wisdom and what ever happens is for our own good.Maybe Jannah is made easier through this struggle."

Rashiya'a nodded.

"When you are so full of wise words then why do you feel sad?" Asked zikra.

"That happens!" Naushin said and Safina nodded.

"Just to divert my attention, I have planned to attend the ijtimah(congregation) this evening. I need something spiritual to keep up with my faith and hopes. You wanna join?" Safina asked tucking back the loose strand of lock behind her ear.

____

Safina malak sat in her room, her knees drawn towards her chest, as her mind kept playing back those words that she had heard in the ijtimah from an elderly lady, who was so full of love for allah subhana wa ta'ala.

When was the last time you cried? Not a few drops of salty water from your eyes, or the odd tear that slipped down your face while watching a tragic event.

I'm talking about warm tears of the heart. Tears that sting your face because they've been there so long, their bitter saltiness hurts your skin

When was the last time you cried like a baby?

Ayesha (r.a) may Allah be pleased with our mother, relates that: In the last ten of Ramadan, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to tighten his waist belt, pray all night, and wake up his family for the night prayers (Bukhari and Muslim).

Ramdan is gonna begin in a few days. We powerless people will soon be looking for the Night of Power (Laylatul Qadr), which we are advised to seek in these last ten nights of Ramadan.

Ayesha(R.A) related that the Prophet(Peace be upon him) said: Look for Laylatul Qadr on an odd-numbered night during the last ten nights of Ramadan (Bukhari).

We can't afford not to be crying in front of Allah, the Merciful, All-Aware.

Tears flow when we remember how much Allah has blessed us with and how much we disobey Him. We can never repay Allah for everything we have, yet we still blatantly commit sins both big and small: whether it's backbiting, hurting other human beings, not standing up for the truth, treating our family badly, lying, doing good deeds to show off, cheating, etc.

Allah opens ways out of problems for us, easing our burdens. Yet, we still disobey Him and take His Mercy for granted.

Abdullah ibn Umar(R.A), may Allah be pleased with him, said he would rather shed two tears from the fear of Allah than give a thousand dinars in charity.

And the most telling example of a man who few would think would cry because of Allah is Umar, may Allah be pleased with him. He was known for being strong, fearless, and uncompromising when it came to matters of faith. Yet, Abdullah ibn Isa said that Umar(R.A) had two black streaks on his face because of constant weeping.

He feared Allah so much that he once said, "If someone announced from the heavens that everybody will enter Paradise except one person, I would fear that that person would be me."

Umar R.A was one of the strongest believers. Yet he cried and feared Allah. And Abu Bakr R.A, he was simply known for his crying. These people loved to serve human beings in the day and spent time begging God to save humanity at night. May Allah be pleased with them.

Let's be more contemplative and pray for an awareness of and forgiveness for our sins, as well as softness in our hearts. If Umar (may allah be pleased with him) the brave and pious did it, we have even more need and urgency to do it.

Human beings are in turmoil. Connecting with ALLAH with our hearts and begging for His Mercy for His Creation will bring us Closer to Him and human beings.

Safina decided to not waste precious time during ramadan and the first thing to do was not getting her mobile data recharged. 'Coz no matter how much she tried to keep away from whatsapp or instagram and other social media apps, if she had access to it, that becomes so difficult to keep herself away from it. Which in turn leads her to waste time staring at the mobile screen scrolling.. scrolling and scrolling.

Not chatting with her friends was kind of difficult for they were used to chat daily in whatsapp group but still she decided to not recharge her internet as it was the main culprit.

She was taking baby steps towards her faith and Iman and she felt that Allah subhana wa ta'ala had chosen her to guide.

May Allah subhana wa ta'ala guide us all and fulfill all our permissible wishes and make this ramadan easy on us.

Aameen summa aameen.

____

"We are home alone!" Safina squealed clapping her hands and slumped on the black leather sofa that felt warm.

"We are four of us here!" Rashiya'a retorded.

"I mean there is no elder and we can do whatever we want."

"Yeah, lets play something?"Suggested Zikra.

Rashiya'a's parents and Fiza had gone out for eid shopping and Rashiya'a being her usual self refused to accompany them and since she was staying alone at home, she invited her three besties.

"How about business?" Safina asked.

"No." Rashiya'a scrunched her nose.. "As much as Bhaiya loves that game, I hate it to the core."

"Ooh!" Zikra and Naushin teased.

Safina raised her hand." Its not me who is engaged. Its Rashiya'a so we better tease her rather than wasting our time in pointless teasing."

Safina inhaled sharply after she stopped her rant and eyes her friends.

"Okay!" Zikra and Naushin nodded like a good school-girl.

"Good." Safina grinned.

"Then lets make it a good umm
..point-full!?" Rashiya'a provided.

"Thats not even a word!" Safina smacked her.

"Whatever!"

"Girls stop arguing!" Zikra and Naushin said in unison.

"Okay!" Both the girls shrugged.

"Now lets decide the game! Shall we?" Asked Zikra.

"How about ludo?" Naushin said.

"No, it should be something adventurous!" Safina said, as she thought hard on what to play.

"Treasure hunt?" Rashiya'a said.

"Yes!" Safina said and Zikra and Naushin agreed saying that would be amazing.

So they were split into two teams. Safina and Zikra in one and Rashiya'a and Naushin in other.

It took them almost one hour to write the clue and hide it.

It's a game in which each person or team attempts to be first in finding something that has been hidden by the opponent team, using written directions or clues.

___

Rashiya'a and Naushin had hunted four clue's whereas Safina and Zikra were still in second. She read out her clue again and again while Zikrq searched in the drawer where all of Rashiya'a'a cosmetics were kept.

I protect you from sun.

The clue seemed easy but. . they had wasted half an hour searching for the sun screen.

"I got it, I got it Zee. Its the curtain. See." Safina pointed towards the curtain and Zikra jumped to her feet gazing at the curtain which was showcasing orangish hues because of the sunrays.

Safina moved the curtains to and fro but nothing came out.

No clues.

"Let's check it out in all the rooms!" Zikra said dashing out of the room.

Time was of essence.

Safina and Zikra searched in different rooms and now safina stood in front of Rihab's study contemplating whether to step in or not.

But Rashiya'a' said the clue was hidden all over the house and Rihab's study does includes in the same.

She needed to rush.

Sighing she stepped in and was welcomed by a cool air and smell of books and other scent.

Something different...

Something unique...

It seemed like someone had just turned off the Air condition and hence the cool and calm room.

On one corner Few files were scattered on the Dark brown wooden desk along with a laptop and on the alternate side two browm velvet sofa were placed.

Black bookshelf and file cabinet; leather turn-around chair. Brown frames hanging on one side of the wall, beautifully calligraphed
ayat-ul-kursi; surah ikhlas and ninety-nine names of Allah subhana wa ta'ala.

Sophisticated much!?

Inhaling sharply, Safina Mehek strode towards the dark brown and gold satin curtains and shrugged it but no paper chit were found.

Looking around the room, Safina pulled a chair and stood on it to search in the curtain rod, when there was footsteps echoing along the hallway.

Her hands came to a stop as she took the small white paper that was hidden in the curtains rod and that was when someone cleared their throat.

Surely, That was not Zikra.

And

Not Rashiya'a.

Safina grew rigid. She didn't know whether to turn around or just wish the earth to swallow her along with the chair she was standing in.

"Rashi?" Came a voice from behind her and this time closer and the room was illuminated by the light which she had not bothered to switch on, overcoming the dull yellowish rays of the sun.

You know that moment when you are supposed to act fast but then you are in shock and you can't do anything but stand still.

Safina mehek had no other choice but to turn around to face him.

As soon as his gaze landed on her, a soft gasp escaped his lips and soon was plastered with a smirk.

Rihab was stood against the door, his arms folded against his chest and he raised an eyebrow in question.

"Oh... that.. sun..erm-- I" Safina stammered and realising the same, she pursed her lips.

It all happened in a swift motion. She got down as fast as possible in the speed of the light and rushed past him, her cheeks tainted scarlet, leaving him with an amused smile.

Safina rushed to Rashiya'a's room brusquely, calming her heart beats.

Didn't Rashiya'a say he wasn't home!?

"Where were you? Got the clue?" Zikra asked and she merely nodded handing her the clue.

She didn't even bother to read the clue for another hunt.

"Are you okay? You are sweating profusely!" Zikra asked, her tone laced with concern.

Safina nodded pouring the water from the jug and gulped down in one breathe.

If she tell her friends about their encounter, they would surely tease her to the moon and back.

She wasn't going to give them that chance. HA!

And she prayed He wouldn't tell his sister, either.

____

Finally, Rihab Yunus got a face to those beautiful deep black eyes.

She wasn't the kind where one can see and mutter beautiful in just a second.

But Rihab Yunus was surely attracted to her and he didn't know why was that.

Raking his long fingers in his raven black hair,he strode towards his leather chair and slumped on it. His mind replaying the scene that had just unfolded.

He was absolutely amused and confused as he looked at the blind folds to why was she standing on the chair and looking at his curtain.

"You are home?" Rashiya'a was passing by his study room, stopped short at his door step.

"Bhaiya?!" Rihab was broken from his reverie.

"Huh?"

"What are you smiling at?"

Rihab nodded, his smile reaching his eyes.

"Are you okay?" Rashiya'a was confused seeing her brother smiling broadly for no apparent reason.

"Very much!" Came his reply.

Rashiya'a shaked her head and asked. "Anyways, why did you return so early when you were supposed to come later?"

"I-- wait! This is my home, I can come and go whenever I want."

"But not when my friends are here!" Rashiya'a retorded.

Rihab smiled instead of answering.

"I had hidden a clue here!" Rashiya'a said, annoyed and looked at the curtain. "Now, I have to replace it."

"Clue?"

"We were playing treasure hunt!" Rashiya'a said searching for the piece of paper.

"I guess your friend found it!"

Rashiya'a stopped short and turned towards him.
"You mean..." Rashiya'a grinned and Rihab nodded. "Don't start again!"

But this was just the beginning.

Isn't it?

___

Assalam alaikum!

So, there you girls go!Guys, if any. ;)

How was their face -off? the most awaited one.

Loved it?

Nay?

And and how many of u play treasure hunt with ur cousins and friends?
It's fun, isn't it?

What do you say about the four besties? Are they relatable?

Happy ramdan once again!^_^

Also, if you have any queries/questions. Do comment here. I will answer them.

Don't forget to check out the interview 😄

Till next time,

Allah Hafiz.

#staycurious&excited