"And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent (like both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer palms of hands or one eye or dress like veil, gloves, headcover, apron), and to draw their veils all over Juyoobihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms)..."-
Al-Noor 24:31, Qur'an.

____

Safina couldn't understand or read her brother's face. After enquiring Rihab, on what he was doing at his door step that too when his sister was alone at home, Adeel walked in the home and was giving her a silent treatment.

"Bhaiya.. "Safina started but he stopped her, showing his Palm.

"Do you know where your friend is?" He asked, his forehead creased. He knew how Rihab would be feeling knowing that his sister is missing.

Safina nodded and showed him the note which Rashiya'a had sent while Adeel looked confused.

"Rashiya'a has written where she is!" Safina informed, pointing to the note where something was sribbled and Adeel noticed only one word. it was a name of the shopping mall.

For the life of him, Adeel couldn't understand what was going on.

"I will explain all that later,"Safina said as she walked back to her room to get the Abaya. "go tell him Rashi is in the shopping Mall."

Adeel shaked his head. His sister and her friend were totally weird.
Just made for eachother besties.

"Your sister is enjoying in the Mall!" Adeel said, while Rihab raised his eyebrows.

How careless of that girl to go on shopping without informing anyone.

"What?" Rihab asked.

"You heard me!" Adeel retorted, his hands in his jeans pocket.

Rihab nodded and thanked him and turned to leave when he heard Safina's voice and stopped.

"let's go, bhaiya." Safina came rushing, clad in her black abaya and veil.

"Where?" Adeel almost groaned. He was tired after playing football and he wanted nothing but to take a hot shower and nap.

"To find Rashiya'a." Safina said, pleading with her eyes.

Adeel thought for a while and nodded, because he knew his sister was as stubborn as chewing gum getting stuck in a dress. (lol)

After texting his parents that he and Safina are going out for a while, Adeel locked the gate and as he walked towards his two wheeler, Honda, he noticed Rihab looking at it in a trance. He was lost in deep thoughts.

Was it tears that he saw in his eyes? Rihab blinked back his tears, putting on his goggles and walked over to his car.

Adeel knew that look, as if something was haunting and disturbing him.

Maybe something horrific was related to it!

What was it?

What was wrong?

____

Everything was moving fast in front of her. People were glaring and pushing past her while she tried not to come in contact with any of them, taking a step back. For the tenth time, she took a deep breathe taking a step forward to climb the escalator, her palms sweating profusely and her cheeks and forehead started to sweat behind her niqab. Safina exhaled taking few steps back looking around.

After reaching the Mall, Rihab called Rashiya'a but it was switched off. So he went on his own to find her, while Adeel was engaged in a conversation with his long last friend.

Rashiya'a was no where in the ground floor. Sighing she tried to open the knot of the Niqaab to wipe the beads of sweat on her face. Safina wasn't used to Niqaab but she was trying her best to practice it after learning the hadith which says,
"Narrated Safiya bint Shaiba:

'Aisha radhiyallah anha used to say: "When (the Verse): "They should draw their veils over their necks and bosoms," was revealed, (the ladies) cut their waist sheets at the edges and covered their faces with the cut pieces."
Volume 6, Book 60, Number 282: (Sahih Bukhari)

Earlier, she used to believe that Niqaab wasn't fard(Obligatory) but when she got to know the above Verse and hadith, she couldn't help but feel guilty and sad. Nevertheless, she thanked Allah subhana wa ta'ala, a million times for letting her know the right and wrong. Indeed, it is HE, who chooses to guide us.

Different people has different opinions on it, but she liked to believe what was clear in front of her with the Authentic hadith.

Now, when she went out wearing Niqaab, she felt different and unique. Nobody stared at her as they used to do. Earlier, Men used to stare and even smirk and glare at her, now with the Niqaab, no one pate attention to her when she went out.

It was so true, that 'Behind everything Allah has ordered for us, there is our OWN benefit in it.'
Safina stood rooted to her spot after tying the Niqaab securely and walked towards the escalator.She had to do this for her friend, Rashiya'a.

As she took a step forward,she heard someone calling her.

"Safi, here you are!" Adeel heaved a sigh of relief as his sister came in view.

"Iam sorry,I left you alone!"

"It's okay bhaiya," Safina smiled as Adeel took hold of her hand and they stepped up the escalator.
No matter how many times, Safina tried to muster up the courage she couldn't, for the life of her, get on the escalator without holding someone's hand after that incident in her childhood.

____

"Do you know what colour was she wearing?" Rihab asked as they met on the first floor and Safina nodded, not making any eye contact.

"What is it?" Adeel asked, not wanting his sister to speak to a stranger.

"Recently she had grown a liking to her maroon coloured hijab,so let's find for a maroon hijab."Safina said in whisper which only Adeel could hear, as he was standing near her.

"Maroon hijab." Adeel said to Rihab and after exchanging their numbers, so that whoever finds Rashiya'a can inform each other, they parted their ways.

Rashiya'a was nowhere to be seen in the first floor, and Safina was waiting for Adeel to go to the second floor, when Rihab walked towards her.

"Should I thank her?" Rihab pondered but dismissed the thoughts knowing it wasn't appropriate and went ahead to the second floor.

Safina was feeling awkward thinking what would Rihab think of her that she was scared to go alone on escalator.

"She is nowhere?" Adeel said breaking her chain of thoughts.

"Why would she do anything like that? Is she a child?" Adeel was frustrated and annoyed. "Atleast she should switch on her phone."

"You don't know her situation, her engagement is cancelled bhaiya, " Safina tried to reason out.

"Anyways, where is Rihab?" And when Safina told him that he went upstairs, Adeel glared at her, his protective side coming out while Safina chuckled holding his hand.

___

Adeel had seen every nook and corner of the women's section, and as he was passing through Mens section, his eyes caught attention of a marron coloured hijab and in no time his anger flared up.

He Strode towards her in long steps, cautiously, while the salesman stared at him because he thought Adeel was stalking the woman.

"Don't you have a Brown coloured wallet?" She was asking while examining the black one.

"Excuse me Rashiya'a?" Adeel called after clearing his throat and as she turned towards Adeel, He was awestruck.

He had seen many girls in his life, but the one standing in front of him was..

Was...

Adeel quickly overcome his thoughts and said,

"Do you know we have been looking for you.. for " He looked at his Bremont watch and continued "More than an hour."

"Huh?" Rashiya'a was confused but after a moment, she realised who he was. His face resembled her friends.

"Why is your cellphone switched off?" Adeel asked.

"Erm..  my battery was low so I left it home."

Rashiya'a quickly averted her eyes and looked at her hands.

"Rihab and Safi have been searching for you and here you are... "Adeel's voice rose momentarily in anger but he cut it down.

"You aren't a child any more
Ms.Yunus, stop behaving like one."

"Come." He ordered taking out his cellphone and dailed Rihab's number as they walked out of the store, while Rashiya'a joined him, handling the shopping bags, not utter a word noticing the anger in his eyes.

____

"She's with Adeel!" Rihab saw Safina coming out of the Jewelry section and informed her, not meeting her eyes.

He knew it was wrong to glance at her, when Everytime his heart skipped a beat looking at them.

That was totally haraam.

Safina was stunned for a minute but nodded after a second and walked behind him.

On the other hand, a little far away Rashiya'a was walking with Adeel and when she neared her brother, she ran towards him.

"Bhai.."

"Let's go home." Even though, he wanted to scold her but he was relieved that she was safe and sound.

"I'm sorry, everybody were sulking at home after my engagement broke and it was so boring, so I decided to get everyone gifts with my pocket money." Rashiya'a beamed showing him the shopping bags while Rihab nodded walking towards Adeel to thank him, who was looking afar, ignoring them.

He owed him a lot. And he would do anything to repay him. If needed.

"Safiii.. "Rashiya'a hugged her, squealing.

"Don't Safi me, Rashiya'a." Safina said in a stern voice. "Why would you do anything like that?"

"Oh ho.. my Safi can get angry, haan!" Rashiya'a teased her to lighten the mood "And here is what I got for you!" Rashiya'a' fished inside one of the so many bags and took out a box and handed Safina.

Even though Rashiya'a was being all happy happy, she knew the pain and sadness in her glistening eyes. After all she was her bestie.

"What's this?" Safina enquired, still glaring at her bestie.

"See for yourself." Rashiya'a smiled.

Safina's lips curved up in a smile as she opened the box and took out a coffee mug in which there was a red heart design with a "besties till Jannah" printed on it in dark black letters.

"Awww.. Thanks Rashi jaan!" Safina hugged her tightly.

"People are gonna get wrong message, Safi." Rashiya'a teased.

"Stop talking shit." Safina moved away and smacked her and as they turned towards their brother, it was a shocking sight.

Both the men where laughing and high-fiving!

Wow.

"Seems like they will be like us in future!" Rashiya'a smiled smugly and Safina nodded, chuckling as both of them walked towards their respective brothers and parted their ways

It was a long day and it sure was the beginning of so many beautiful days to come.

____

Assalam alaikum everyone.

How are y'all?

If u are following me, you'd know the reason for my late update. I'm sorry if i kept u, waiting.

Anyways how was the chapter?

Rashiya'a is one of a kind! Isn't she?

And Rihab got to spend few moments with Safina.

what do u all think about Adeel's reaction?

Next chapter, we will get to their families.. eeekss. What do you think will happen?

And about the update, I can't tell when it will be. Sometimes I am too busy and sometimes wattpad is too busy messing up with me. :/ but I 'll try to update every alternate days now. In sha allah.

And do remember me in your dua's.