It's seriously a task to write with your toddler around.

#happy Reading!

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If it's a mystery, it's meant to confuse you!

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“Allah has created death and life to test which one of you is best in deeds.” ―Quran 67:2. 

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When you are too disturbed and frustrated to the level of infinity you don't seem to understand what's happening around you. The same was the case with Safina. She was lost in her myriad of thoughts as she woke up that day recalling her conversation with Rihab. She didn't know how to react or behave around him. Like an automated robot; she prayed, had breakfast, and just lost in her thoughts, she had gone to take a bath forgetting to take her clothes with her. 

And then when she saw him as she came out of the washroom she didn't want anything but the floor to swallow her whole being because of the embarrassment.
And then again her hair got messed up in the dryer that she felt so helpless and unwillingly she had to get his help. 

Safina closed her eyes, shaking her head in annoyance as she inhaled deeply, trying to calm herself.
And to top it all, she had hugged him back, much to her dismay.
She slumped on the two-seater sofa, clutching her head with both her hands as a lone tear escaped her eyes. 

"What's wrong with me? Why am I crying over silly things!?" She pondered as she wiped it off and straightened up in her seat.

"You weren't a crybaby Ms.Safina Mehek!" She said to herself as she walked over to the dresser and smiled at the person staring back at her. Her self. She looked at herself with a combination of pity and contempt.

"You were always your savior," she mumbled as she took out her comb and gently brushed her locks. 

"And you still are! You used to be my hero, you are the most optimistic person I had ever met in my life." She smiled a tight smile before turning on her heels to her almirah and took out another hairdryer and plugging it in, she dried her charcoal black waves.

"It's high time you get back to being normal, Safina Mehek" looking back at herself she stated as she forced the tears to retreat "And as your name says, be the pearl of fragrance and spread happiness!" She said as she took the scissor and did what she had never done before.

Finally, after a long time, she willingly smiled, promising to forget about all the mishaps and take it on her stride as life moves on.

With the thought of a new beginning, she gave herself a new look, for she knew it was time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings because every end is a new beginning.

With one last glance at herself after getting ready, she walked out of the room, and Rashiya'a who was just coming out of her room stumbled on her steps as she took in Safina's appearance.

"Did you... what?" Rashiya'a asked and stopped short in her sentence as she tucked back Safina's loose strand behind her ear.

Safina nodded with a calculating gaze as she asked, "How do I look?"

"Masha Allah, great job!" They both turned toward the source of the voice as it echoed in the hallway.

"Yes safi, you look so darn beautiful, I am sure... " Rashiya'a stopped short as she remembered she couldn't tease her the way she used to tease her as the circumstances didn't support it.

"You are sure that my husband will be head over heels for my new look?!" Safina's stance was bold as she completed Rashiya'a unfinished dialogue taking both the Yunus sibling with a surprise.

"Close your mouth Rashi," Safina laughed before holding her hand walked down the stairs leaving a speechless Rihab behind.

___

The whole Yunus family were all praises for Safina upon knowing the incident with the hairdryer as it made her stand out. Rihab's gaze took hold of his wife as he spooned a mouthful of a biryani. 

She was pretty in a flawed way. She wasn't the kind to stop the party with her looks, but you’d like to get to know her. Her vulnerable quality masks a strength behind her controlled emotions. Her dark black waves which used to cascade to her hips and swayed as she walked but now danced near her shoulder.  

She's elegant and beautiful, but if you look closely behind her eyes in a quiet moment, you’ll notice something else. Hiding her scattered emotion behind that confident smile. Rihab Yunus could read that as their gazes met and cheers erupted as Fiza and other cousins teased them.

"Bhaiya, I hope you are not working this weekend as we all have planned a trip to ECR!" Fiza, his sister informed him.

"Yaar, I just came back and I feel homesick!" 

"Beta, Family outings will make you forget work pressure and you won't feel homesick as your whole family will be with you na!" Rihab's father, Yunus assured him and he couldn't deny them for he knew it was all planned so that Safina could feel better.

"Okay Abba, In sha Allah!" He said while taking another glance at Safina who was busy talking with his cousin's wife, Iram.

The lady he saw crying a while ago who looked so fragile and broken was long gone and he could sense a confident and strong aura.
He smiled thinking Safina Mehek was also a surprise and shock for her. 

"This long journey of life with her will be full of surprises!" pondered Rihab as he got up from his seat and meeting his Sister's gaze, gestured for her to come with him. 

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"I am sorry Rashipie, life has taken a back seat for you, and it's not like I am not worried about you but I had things to handle and …"

"Bhai, please stop. When did I ever question you?" Rashiya smiled and Rihab ruffled her neatly combed hair causing a groan from her. 

"Jazakillah Khair my dear, I never knew I could share my tension with my little sister, who used to always talk about foods and books!" Rihab joked.

"Those are still my priorities brother!" Rashiya'a feigned an arrogant smile.

"So, I assume Adeel knows about it!" Teased Rihab.

"NAH," Rashiya'a shrugged, "As you already know, we don't chat at all!" She said referring to the WhatsApp group where Rihab had instructed them to chat in his presence. 

"I know Rashi, but if you want we can get you married tomorrow as well, you look so impatient and sad!" Rihab teased making her cheeks go crimson.

"I would like to get married on my destined DATE unlike yours!" Rashiya'a wasn't the one to keep blushing and stay silent.

"Unplanned but strategized!" Murmured Rihab and Rashiya'a frowned for she didn't get him.

"What did you say?"

"Can you please ask your friend why she despises me so much?" Rihab ignored her question with a shrug before he asked her.

"Bhai, isn't it very obvious?"

"What is so obvious Rashi? I know she was engaged but.." Rihab stopped short in his sentence as his phone beeped and he saw a message from Safina.

Can we talk?

Okay- he replied with a soft smile.

I am on the terrace. 

"Rashi, you can tell me if you want your wedding to be preponed!" With that, he left her room leaving a blushing Rashiya'a behind.

____

A thin layer of clouds masked the full moon, filling the terrace with blue light. A wave of breeze whispered around and she couldn't help but tighten her grey shrug around her as she rubbed her arms. She still couldn't enjoy the windy climate of Bangalore
Because she was accustomed to the warm temperature of Chennai.
She turned around hearing footsteps approaching her. 

"I want to go home!" She said as soon as their gazes met.

Rihab looked taken aback but managed to give a soft smile and nodded. 

"Can I ask you something?" He asked after a moment of silence.

"Hmm… " She nodded whilst gazing at the star.

"Why do you dislike me? I know we got married all of a sudden but I see some emotion in your eyes which is neither love nor hate!" He breathed heavily anticipating her reply.

There was a moment of silence before she said,
"You knew something was going to happen to me or Rashi. you let it happen because you wanted them to catch red-handed to prove their crime in court. You used me…"

"But Mehek," Rihab started but she didn't let him continue as she said, 

"From my point of view, you could have got them arrested before that tragic night…" Safina inhaled sharply as she blinked back the tears for she had promised herself that she will not cry again. 

 "To be honest, I did not anticipate that they will…" he started but was interrupted again.

"But Rihab, I was kidnapped and they kept me captivated for a whole night and the thought of what those kidnappers might have done..." Safina dabbed at her tears for she finally gave words to her thoughts which were always in her heart.

"I wouldn't have let anything happen to you," Rihab answered as he stared at nothing but space lost in his myriad of thoughts.

"It's all a messed up scenario Gudi, I had asked my friend Taha to keep track and trace yours and all of your friend's phones. Because I knew all those connected to me were at risk and Rashi said that you were being followed, but Allah had some other plan, that night your cell phone was off and that's why It took the team some time to track you down. You do not know how I feel when I recall that night." He inhaled deeply as he continued,  "But I am pushing it away and not giving it any space to ponder in my mind." He trailed off with a sigh and turned to look at her,

"I am sorry, I tried my best to save you; I feel numb. I have no justification. I was late that night as I was at the airport when I got a call from Adeel bhaijaan, Please Forgive me because you had to go through all these just because they saw me with you and thought of taking revenge on me by hurting you." Rihab didn't realize tears welling up in his eyes until a small drop escaped his eyes and he quickly wiped it off, turning away. 

The couple stood in companionable silence as the wind grew strong again;  that which ruffled his tousled hair and her dupatta flew to and fro. Gusting a chorus in the trees and leaves. She didn't know what to say so she simply changed the topic.

"There are times I feel it within, that push and swirl, that stirring buzz of the wind used to calm me down for some reason," Safina said as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"I'm okay with it; I am. But I wish it doesn't start pouring now."

"Are you, perhaps, afraid of the rain?" His voice was formal, yet there was a touch of something so promising.

Safina mehek merely nodded.

"I am sorry, I have nothing to say but apologize. I know you loved the rain and everything about it. I had seen you enjoying it before." 

"You are right, but now it shudders me when it starts raining but this fear won't last long." 

"I know it's of no concern to you but I hope it makes you feel better that I too used to love rainy weather and we all would enjoy the first rain of the season but now it brings back some buried memories." 

"Is it?" 

"Yes. It was pouring down heavily when we were driving back home that evening!"

"I know you blame yourself for that incident, Rashi had." Safina started but Rihab interjected her.

"I have caused pain to so many lives and again I am to be blamed for hurting you, will you forgive me?" He asked with a gleam of hope in his dark brown eyes.

"I may appear strong and carefree, yet I need some time. I decided to go back home and just forget all these and move on." 

"You will not come back!?" Safina could sense hurt in his voice.

"I will be back after I finish my semester." She said and turned on her heels to leave when he caught hold of her wrist and stopped her.

"Do you still dislike me? Even after knowing the truth?" 

"No!" Safina whispered which was barely audible.

Rihab took a step forward and at that moment they were quite close that she noticed a small scar on his chin which was barely visible because of his growing beard. 

"Thank you." He murmured ever so slowly as his left cheek dimpled which was also the first time she noticed it.

"Can I ask you something?" Safina took a step back but Rihab was quick in his steps to bridge the gap as he nodded.

"You married me to overcome the guilt, is it? To justify your…."

Rihab didn't let her complete as he shook his head.

"I did tell you the reason when you asked me before the wedding day!" His eyes twinkled with hope as he said, "I will say those words again only when you believe me and only when I am sure that I have succeeded in making you mine."

At his words, Safina could feel the heat rising to her cheeks and it was after a very long time that she felt herself blushing, her heartbeat thudding loudly. 

"I will drop you home." With that Rihab Yunus and Safina Mehek walked down to their room with the hope of a new beginning. Safina felt peace and tranquility and though Rihab was ecstatic; deep down he had another guilt nagging him down for betraying her and he vowed to himself that it will always be with him and he can't let her know about it. 

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Assalam Alaikum everyone.

How are you all?

I hope this chapter clears all the doubt.

Can you guess what is that another guilt that Rihab is trying to hide from her??

Also, how was their conversation?

Any of you got a short haircut after having kept long hair for years?

So, what's going to happen next?

Also anybody here waiting for #AdiRa's love story?

Should I write another book for them??? Coz I miss writing about Adeel and Rashiya'a.

Let me know ur views..

#cya all soon.

#stayAwesome #stayexcited.