I suggest u re-read from chapter 20 to get the hang of the story

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When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy. - Rumi

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Safina couldn't believe that she swiped right instead of left and attended his call. Taking in his appearance, his disheveled hair, unshaven beard, and dark circles around his eyes churned her stomach.

"How are you?" He asked.

"Alhamdulillah!" She couldn't gather the courage to ask him about his well-being because it was obvious so she stayed silent and just looked at the floral wall behind him.

"I will be leaving tomorrow." He stated as a matter of factly and she nodded.

"I was dreading this moment!" She replied after a moment of pause and felt bad when he furrowed his brows and looked down, hurt evident in his face.

"See you then," He said not looking at her as he ended the call.

Safina mehek took a deep breath before she tossed her mobile on the bed and laid back at the pillow as a million thoughts crossed her mind. What was she supposed to do with him in the same home and even in the same room?

How was she supposed to refer him? As her friend's brother or as her husband.

Or Maybe as a traitor.

Her thoughts were disturbed when she heard a knock on her door and as she sat up, she was welcomed with a pleasant surprise seeing her besties.

"Assalam Alaikum" they both greeted before they rushed in to hug her.

She felt her grief washing away as she sat with Zikra and Noushin after a long time and chatted about everything else except her life. This was the moment she needed. Something to away from her sadness.

"Let me call Rashiya'a," Safina said and she went downstairs unaware of the fact that Rashiya'a was avoiding her because she felt an unknown emotion and blamed herself for Safina's misery.

***

His eyes fluttered open at the sound of the alarm. Squinting and reaching to his side table, he swiped it off and fall back on the soft fluffy pillows. His dream was too good to be true. His lips curved up in a smile at the thought of going back home in a matter of hours.

Glancing at the wall clock, he pushed his soft duvet aside and rushed to make wudu as only a few minutes were left for fajr prayer.

He felt all these worries and tension washing away whenever he prayed. He made long dua after praying the four rakath as his parents always advises him to supplicate no matter how busy or lazy he felt because the closest a servant be to his Lord is when he is in sujood (prostration), so make dua frequently.

The Messenger (saw) was asked: which dua is heard most? He (saw) replied:

Dua in the middle of the night and at the end of the obligatory prayers.

"Assalam Alaikum Ammi, how are you?" After completing his supplication he called his mother.

"Wa Alaikum Assalam, are you okay?" He heard his mother's tensed-up voice and mentally scolded himself for calling up at this hour as it was Midnight in India.

"Alhamdulillah Ammi just wanted to inform you that I am leaving in a while."

"Okay dear, pray before leaving!"

"Jee ammi." He replied before hanging up.

He didn't realize how the next few hours flew by before he was standing in front of his wife, Safina mehek. He had been home for the past one hour and she was nowhere to be seen. So after talking with his family he came to his room and she had just come out of the washroom.

He was completely taken aback at the sight in front of him. Wrapped in a soft fluffy towel, she stood bewildered and shocked.

"I am sorry!" He said to no one in particular as she had dashed to the washroom in a flicker of seconds.

Rihab Yunus closed his eyes and inhaled deeply as a warm smile embraced his lips. He still couldn't believe that she was his wife. His better half, his soulmate. He hadn't imagined himself married to her. He didn't know the reason when he decided to marry her. But all he knew now was she was too precious to let go.

He knew she already despised him. And would even hate him when she gets to know the truth but all he wanted was to be with her. His heart craved her presence. He never knew he would be a lovesick Romeo just as he used to tease his friend Daniyal.

He was lost in his reverie as he sat on the couch when the door clicked open and she came out wearing a cotton salwar suit.

"I am sorry," he apologized looking anywhere but her because he didn't want her to feel embarrassed.

"It's okay, can you please behave like it never happened?" She asked as she removed the towel wrapped around her hair and started brushing it.

"Of course, don't worry about that," Rihab assured her as he made his way toward his closet and took out his clothes, feeling relieved when she replied to him in more than a few words and it was heartwarming to have some normal conversation with her.

Was it normal or he was just simply overjoyed?

"Ouch!!" He heard her Yelp in pain and rushed toward her where she sat in front of the dressing table holding the hairdryer close to her hair.

"Let me see," Rihab offered to help seeing her struggling to remove her locks of hair which got struck inside the dryer.

"It's okay, I can do it!" She insisted as she bend down and opened the drawer.

Rihab folded his arms and looked at her keenly as she searched for something whilst holding the dryer in one hand. Rihab could sense her go stiff as he bent forward and switched off the dryer, removing it from the socket.  The fresh floral scent from her hair evoked a sensation he had never known he was capable of feeling. He took in a deep breath before standing back straight as he met her gaze in the mirror, her cheeks had turned visibly scarlet and in the next second she looked down leaving an amused smile on Rihab's face.

Well, He had some kind of effect on her. Thought Rihab as he got hold of the hairdryer and her gently tried to remove her hair from the mechanical device. This time she didn't say a word and let Rihab help her.

"I am sorry but this gonna hurt!" Rihab said as he tried to tuck her hair out from the dryer but to no avail.

As he tried once again, he heard her gasp in pain and as their gazes met once again thru the mirror, he noticed tears welling up in her eyes.

"Hey, I am sorry, " He said gently caressing her head, "I think we have to cut it out." He waited for her response looking at her long dark brown cascade.

"Okay." She whispered fishing out the scissor from the drawer and handed him.

Rihab gave her a reassuring smile, "let me do my magic and you will be in awe of your new hairdresser!" He exclaimed no covalently and she smiled back at him for the first time as his wife.

"Wait.." Rihab stopped and gave her a questioning look.

"Mohtarma, my hand is aching with the heaviness of your long hair and the heavy hairdryer." Rihab feigned a painful look.

"I grew them so fondly and I don't think short hair will suit me!"

"But it's impossible to declutter your hair from this thing madame!" Rihab took a deep breath as he pointed towards her locks.

"But I won't look good and"

"No matter how long or short your hair is, you will always be beautiful!" Rihab interrupted her and as he realized what he had said and a shade of crimson spread across her face.

It was as if she had forgotten that she disliked him for whatever reason known to her heart. At least for a moment, they behaved like husband and wife who were just happily married.

Were they??

"Shall I do it now or are you waiting for some perfect timing?" He said as he laughed to lighten the awkwardness.

Safina mehek nodded.

"Bismillah!" Rihab said as he cut her hair and freed it from the hairdryer.

"Ya Allah!" Safina gaped in horror  as she stood up and faced him "That's too much hair!" Again tears started welling up in her eyes and she burst into tears.

"What?" Rihab threw the damn dryer on the bed and rushed toward her, "Listen, it's gonna grow back again," He didn't know what to do to console her.

"Ammi will scold me.." she hiccups as she wiped off her wet cheeks with the back of her hand "for not being careful and always being clumsy!" Her bottled-up emotions erupted once again as more tears found their way out.

"Everything bad is happening with me" she mumbled as she sniffed looking at her palm.

Rihab couldn't stop himself as he took a step forward closing the distance between them.

"Listen Mehek" His voice was laced with worry and love as he embraced her in his arms, his hand sliding behind her back as he patted her gently whilst she lay her head on his chest and cried silently. Rihab inhaled sharply, shushing her as she mumbled of life's unfair treatment and how everything was going wrong, and how she had no hope of going back to her happy self.

"I am sorry!" He didn't know what else to say

"Please calm down." He Cooed her softly caressing her disheveled wet hair and she simply cried her heart out as she encircled her slender arms around him whilst keeping another on his chest. Rihab stiffened for a second at her touch before relaxing and his chin rested on her head for what felt like hours.

"I would happily give you a bob cut, gudi!" Rihab teased and it was only then he felt her turn rigid on her pose before she jerked away from his embrace and took several steps back.

"It's okay!" Rihab reason raising his hands in defense. "I just felt helpless!" He reasoned shrugging his elegant shoulder before he turned and walked off to the washroom to give her some space.

As he locked the door behind him, he could feel the emptiness in her heart remembering the look in her eyes as she moved away from his closeness.. it was the first that they were in such proximity. For some moment He had forgotten that she didn't love him. Let alone him like him.

She dislikes me so much?

Or

Is she in love with Umar?

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  Authors note:

Assalam alaikum my lovely readers...

How are you all??

Missed me and Safina and Rihab?

Anybody waiting for Adeel and Rashiya??

And how many new readers are here?
Hii,
My new readers, tell me about yourself and how u find this book!!!

How was the risaf scenes?

Will safina let rihab Rule her heart? Or

will she keep pushing him away?