The bright blue sky with pearl white clouds, the tall strong trees with lush green grass, the chirping of colorful birds and the sweet whistling of air, the nature seemed more beautiful in the blessed month of Ramadan than it used to. Maybe because our inner souls were being washed and were now sparkling too making the outer world seemed more beautiful.

It was past mid day and I was waiting impatiently for Bilquis and Fatima to come already. My exams had just ended yesterday so we had planned to do a meet up at my place if we can't go anywhere else. The doorbell rang signalling the arrival of someone. Picking up my scarf I hurried outside to see who it is and there,

"Fatooo!!!!!" I hugged her tightly making her chuckle. Oh the happiness of meeting your best friend!

"Yeah yeah I miss you too Haya darling. Now release me I'm getting suffocated." She laughed and I stepped aside welcoming her in my room.

"Billi hasn't come yet??" She frowned and I nodded.

"Yeah she hasn't. She's living just beside my house and is never on time!!!" I fumed and she laughed. "Typical Bilquis huh!"

We settled on my bed with the cushions and started telling each other what we had missed. Half hour passed and still there was no sign of Bilquis.

"Let's go over at her place. What say?? I haven't seen aunty and Farah since long." Fatima suggested and I agreed.

So after telling mama we went to her home and immediately weird butterflies started their dance in my stomach knowing he may be there too. I was almost disappointed to see Farah opening the door for us. And I shook my head.

I wasn't expecting him to open it anyways. I told myself.
Yeah right! My inner self mocked.

"... And now she's sitting there in her room all red." Talking to myself I missed what Farah was telling about Billi and I smacked myself inwardly. Turned out Bilquis in her hassle to come over had burnt aunty shameem's favorite shirt and she had scolded her so much. As she was not used to scoldings she was sitting in her room upset from everyone.

This girl is such a kid!!

So we went to her room and my heart much to my horror did a mini dance seeing Zuhaib sitting with her and cajoling her. Looking at us his expression brightened and after saying salaam he left us with her but not before saying a hello to me when he walked past me. Alhamdulillah none of them noticed it and after much persuading she came with us.

The day was spent in our laughter like always and they left after iftar. It was after namaz that I decided to finally discuss the matter which had been on my mind since last few days with mama. Knocking on her door I peeked inside and saw her reading a book. Smiling I came inside and she closed the book putting it on the shelf.

"How can I help you today?" She asked sitting beside me on the bed making me giggle but soon I became sober remembering why I was here.

"I wanted to ask you something Mama. You see shameem aunty had talked about my marriage before my exams. So I was thinking of.." I took a breath and looked at her and she nodded encouragingly.

"So well I was thinking of doing istikhara. You see no one had done it at the time of engagement or whenever you all had agreed to it. I don't even remember when you people had agreed." I said and she nodded thoughtfully.

"Yeah you are right beta. And frankly it was never asked or agreed properly before your engagement. Shameem Aapi had just always said not to worry for your proposal or anything and that she will take you as her daughter in law and before your engagement they had come and we had agreed to make it official." She said and added as an afterthought.

"Even I wanted to do istikhara but I kept delaying it thinking it's so soon. Any thought of you getting married makes me emotional." She said with misty eyes and I stifled my laughter.

"Oh come on ammi jee. You are acting like an emotional teenager. Compared to you I'm feeling all old talking about my marriage." I laughed and she smacked me smiling herself.

"Anyways, okay then. It's better for you to do it for yourself. How about you do it tonight only?. You do know the Dua and how to do it right??" She asked and I rolled my eyes.

"Ofcourse I know and okay." I said happily.

"Someone is excited already I see. In our times girls would turn red at the slightest mention of their wedding and here are this generation girls. Happy on even asking Allah for suggestions for it." She said dramatically.

"Oh so are you agreeing that you and your time is old now??" I asked innocently and she stared at me making me laugh.

So that night after Isha I offered the two rakats and started doing istikhara for the most important decision of my life. And as the days passed by I realized I should have done this ages ago.

"No mama if I'll see one I'll tell you of course. And no one has to see a dream precisely!! My decision can be changed or strengthen without seeing one too!!!" I repeated the same words for the sixth time when again mama asked me if I saw any dream yet.

Today was the night of 27th Ramadan and after I was done with my adhkar I got ready to sleep for a couple hours before waking up for suhor.

The place was humming with peace like a soothing mat has been spread over the scene.

It was white. Totally white everywhere. White and calm. The place itself demanded respect and looked divine. I roamed around the place in awe wondering where I might be and where are the others.

Turning around the corner my breath hitched in my throat. Standing before me was The Holy Ka'ba in all of its magnificence and glory. I was speechless!! So completely and utterly speechless!! Nothing could have prepared me for the feelings I got looking at my Lord's house. No word could have described its beauty or my emotions then. SubhanAllah and Alhamdulillah kept leaving my lips while all other senses of mine were numbed.

From the back of my mind I heard a faint whisper like someone was beckoning me towards it and my feet moved towards it on their own accord. Reaching the place I looked over at myself and people around me properly. I was standing in front of the Holy Ka'ba and the scene around me made me speechless again.

I was in a long abaya and hijab and sitting before me was none other than my favourite sheikh and qari Sudais ready to read someone's khutba. Not someone's but mine!!

Then I saw my dad standing beside me asking for my consent. I was too speechless to think of anything and hastily gave the consent. I turned my head to look over the person I was going in nikah with but before I could see his face properly the scene started vanishing and I woke up with a start in my bedroom.

I was still in a trance when I heard the first adhan for suhor being called off, was still in a trance when I stood up to make wudhu and stand in front of my Lord. It broke off when I went in sujood and then there was a flood of tears. I didn't know why I was crying but my tears didn't cease during whole namaz. After I was done I raised my hands in front of my Lord and said the only thing that was playing in my mind,

"Oh Allah I put my trust, my faith, my decision, my whole being in Your hands. Oh Lord of the worlds please guide me and make this easy for me. Indeed You know everything."

For I knew I had heard the name of the man and I was equally confused and scared.

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu. Um okay so there's the seventh part finally. My long exams are starting from 1st March sweethearts and they'll stretch till mid June I guess. Yeah till mid June for me to completely get exam free.. for a short time that is! I try my very best to write whenever I get time so excuse my lack of updates and remember me n my exams in your prayers too. Jazakillahu kheir.
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Take care! 😘😘