The drizzles from the sky gushing down ponderously in the form of rain. The clatter of the water droplets prompted to emit copiously, the trees and rooftops resulted to clamour the raindrops, inducing a beautiful harmony to the ears.

Thameem abruptly stirred up hearing this symmetry from the emitting rain. Gently nudging up from his slumber, he nonchalantly whispered the dua which should be recited when we wake up.

It rarely rained on Dubai and even a concise amount of rain caused to flood up the area undoubtedly. Indeed, the rain is a blessing from Allah SWT. But it can be both good and bad. It is also the best time to make dua while it rains which is accepted soon and never neglected.

Raising his hands together, he first recited the dua while it rains and prayed for him, his family and the entire ummah.

اللَّهُمَّ صَيِّبًا نَافِعًا

Allahumma sayyiban naafi'aa

O Allah, make it beneficial rain.

Before freshening up to Pray, he strolled towards his sister's room to wake them up. Sabah roused up instantly when he tapped on her shoulders but Sheha kept on saying, 'Five more minutes.'

"Okay, as you say," Thameem replied with a nod and exchanged a mischievous grin with Sabah. Understanding her brother's plan, she went towards the washroom, filled up two mugs and handed over one to him.

Slowly whispering, "One, two and now!" They both splashed water all over her body.

"WHAT THE HECK!" Sheha jerked up, quivering on the coldness of the water.

"Oops sorry, I thought you asked for a mug of water," Sabah replied feigning sadness.

"YOU BOTH WILL PAY FOR THIS!" She got up to change her dress and pray, getting pestered by her sibling's presence.

Thameem laughed seeing his sister's reaction and missed doing this with them as waking up in this method was a sibling's rule. The only girls in his life with whom he laughed and had fun were his sisters. He always lowered his gaze near non-mahrams and talked to them only when it was inevitable.

Leaving the girls behind, he left to Masjid for his prayers, grabbing an umbrella as it was still pouring down. Sitting on the prayer mat, he retrieved the conversation he had with Mr Abraham the previous day. How the colleague he entrusted to handle accounts of the cafe ran away with the money. He wasn't angry with her or was blaming her. Instead, he blamed himself and his lack of responsibility. But moreover, he believed that it was meant to happen as per Allah SWT plans and reassured himself saying there must be a reason to what happened.

"Bhai, please make us a cup of your special coffee." The girls jumped on him and requested as soon as he entered the flat.

"Lemme think about it." He haughtily replied.

"What bro! You always make thousands of coffee to unknown people and can't even make some for your lovely sisters?" Sheha asked making a sad grimace and wiping her fake tears.

"I'll make it! Don't be so dramatic." He rejoined and marched towards the kitchen.

According to him, the kitchen was not a place meant only for girls. He despised the label of 'a kitchen is meant for girls and not for boys'. He grew up seeing his father, Mr Alam, making tea for him and his sibling in the morning, his father sometimes even does the laundry, cleans the dishes and almost every household chores. His father always loved helping his wife on the household chores and believed that man can also do these things instead of putting all the work on women.

Thameem was blessed to get a father like him, who he adored so much and became his role model but more than anything he missed him so much.

Taking the subway, he progressed towards his cafe, to meet his Boss and get an ear full of preaching. To his surprise, his Boss was not present at the cafe like he expected him to be. He saw Mr Abraham, the manager standing near the counter with a frown on his face, tapping the fingers on the cabinet.

"Why is the Boss not here? Didn't he hear about the money that got stolen?" Thameem inquired, scratching his temples.

"Yes, he knows."

"And what did he say?" He was curious to know as this was a mistake from his side.

"He said that the money stolen should be paid back to him and-"

"Yes, I'll pay for the loss," Thameem instantly responded without listening to the whole sentence.

"No Thameem. That's where the problem lays. He doesn't want you to pay back although it was your fault. He wants his money back from the person who took it and has ordered you to find that girl, and to bring her in front of Boss."

"What? How will I find her? And who knows maybe she has already spent the money." He sought to explain the facts.

"No excuses and you can't work here until you bring her back."

"But Abraham, let's try to understand from her perspective. Maybe she did this in urgent need of money. We never know what struggles she went through. I'll pay back the money." He tried to resonate but everything went in vain.

"Okay. How and at what time did this exactly happen?" Thameem inquired and gave up supporting her.

"Around quarter past ten."

"Let's check the CCTV footage."

They started to watch the video from where all the employees left from work, leaving her and Mr Abraham behind. Thameem zoomed the video when she told the manager to check something on the kitchen. This was the time where she took out all the money from the cashier and hide it inside her long brown cardigan. After securely shoving all the money, she looked at the camera, grinned an evil yet mischievous smile, stuck out her tongue, showed middle finger and ran away.

They both were beyond horrified to witness what she did at the end after stealing all the money. Exchanging weird glances to each other, they paused the video and sat for a moment to digest the things which they discerned.

"Now I don't think she was in urgent need of money and it is evident in her acts." Abraham voiced the thoughts which crossed on Thameem's mind.

"That smirk, it-it's so weird and held some unknown motive," Thameem spoke his thoughts. "Give me her employee profile for details. I'll find and bring her back with the money." He added saying.

Holding the details of Thanaz's profile, he came to know from her resume that she had no prior experience of working, their cafe being her first place to work and it was also written that she lives alone. So, he decided to go to his flat for his sisters to accompany him as he didn't feel good to meet a girl at her house alone.

"What? We are going to find a girl?" Sabah asked, confused and astounded.

"Is she our soon to be bhabhi?" Sheha teased, getting excited as the mention of a girl from their brother was something unexpected.

"NO-NO! I'll tell you the details on the way. For now, go get ready and I'm sorry for not taking you out to show around Dubai." He said, feeling melancholy for dragging his sister's to find a girl who is both unknown to him and his sister's.

"It's okay Bhai. We know it must be something important. So, you are forgiven this time." Sheha winked.

"I promise to take you both for sightseeing as soon as we find this girl." Saying this they started their journey to find the unknown girl, Thanaz, not knowing where destiny leads him.

•••

ASSALAMU ALAIKUM/HEY

How was the chapter? I know nothing exciting was there but still-

Also, who liked the character of Thameem's father? Practically he was inspired by my father 🙈

Yes, my father is like that and even this morning, while I was writing this chapter he asked me whether I want tea, as I don't know how to make hehe. Ma Sha Allah, Alhamdulillah.