Chapter 23

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ يَهْدِيهِمْ رَبُّهُم بِإِيمَٰنِهِمْ ۖ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهِمُ ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ فِى جَنَّٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ

" Those who believe, and work righteousness,- their Lord will guide them because of their faith: beneath them will flow rivers in gardens of bliss."

(Surah Yunus, aaya 9)

***

Suhaib embraced her as she cried on his shoulder.

The memories were still vivid in her mind. She had been all alone at home, neither her parents nor her brother and sisters were home.

She sat up, her hand still in Suhaibs.

"I was all alone at home, my parents, sisters and brother went to go and visit an aunty of mine that was ill. I had returned home from school with a terrible headache and I wasn't feeling very well so I had stayed home. Not long after they left I fell asleep. The constant ringing of the doorbell woke me up, I was scared to open the door, as I was all alone, but when I peeked from the window and saw that it was uncle Firaaz, my fathers close friend, I opened. He came in with a parcel, asking for my father. When I had told him my parents were not home, he enquired if anyone else was. After he heard that, he went over to the front door and locked it.
I told him I will be in my room if he needed anything and he said he will wait for my father in the living room."

She closed her eyes, it was so difficult to talk about that day, it was as if though she was living that miserable day all over again.

Suhaib squeezed her hand.

"You don't have to tell me it's okay."

She shook her head, she needed to tell him, she hadn't told anyone besides for her family and after witnessing her families reaction, she was too scared that people would judge her or treat her the same way.

"I was resting on my bed, about to fall asleep once again, when I heard my room door being closed and locked.
I jumped up in fear, when I saw him approaching me with a smirk on his face. I thought he was just playing a prank on me, but I was wrong. He....he pinned me down on the bed and he...he kissed me forcefully, he then touched me inappropriately and he took away my dignity. He was a big built, strong man ...no matter how much I cried and screamed, no matter how much I tried to escape him, my weak and thin body was no match for his large one. I was terrified, I was broken and right till this day, he haunts me in my dreams. After my parents abandoned me I was sure he would come back for me, so I had to tell my friend and when she told me to move in with her, I grabbed the opportunity."

Suhaib fisted his hands on his lap, if he found that man, he would beat him up till he learnt his lesson. How dare her parents blame her for an animalistic act committed by that barbarian!

She smiled at him, wiping away the rest of her tears.

"I find peace when I'm with you Suhaib and even though we don't know each other for a very long time I trust you. I know you are definitely different from the rest. I don't think you should be here, unlike the rest of us who turned to sins to ease our worries you've got no excuse, save yourself before it's too late Suhaib, you have a bright future ahead of you. Perhaps if I were your type or if you didn't mind having a wife like me, I would have married you any day, but that would be very selfish and unfair on my part, I can never do that to you."

She looked down, her heart shattered when she realised Suhaib could never be hers, they were two different people, with two different personalities, from two different backgrounds, two different worlds, never meant to fit in the same puzzle.

She was fire, dangerous and hot, only destroying everything that came her way, while he was water, cool, gentle, serene and admirable, he quenched those who were lost, and was admired by all. Even though water could generally put out fire, she was a wild fire that even water couldn't tame.

Even though she knew it wouldn't work, she needed to get this off of her chest, or perhaps their was a tiny flicker of hope in her heart, that maybe just maybe he would actually just consider her as his potential life partner. Perhaps the water could tame this fire, perhaps they could live together as a happy couple, even though she was intimate relationships before and he wasn't.

Her teary gaze met his concerned gaze.

She would never meet him again if she didn't interest him.

"Suhaib, I need to tell you something very important."

He nodded, giving her his full attention.

"I will listen, but let me tell you this first. It doesn't mean you had a bad past and you sinned then there's no hope for you Ameera, I'm not in the state to lecture you and I haven't been a practising muslim lately, but I know that Allah will never ever turn away from you. Allah loves those who repent, and He will surely forgive you. Let us both try and become better people, no sin is too big for Allah to forgive! He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy."

She smiled up at him, he was the only one who could give her hope like this.

"In Sha Allah, I will try Suhaib, but I need your help."

He smiled.

"Sure, but in Sha Allah when I'm back to being the old Suhaib, I probably won't speak to you."

She laughed.

"Ah yes, you were the typical shy and holy boy."

He looked at his lap.

"Ameera, I miss the old me. I don't know how it happened and when it happened, but I really went off track."

"You need to get rid of your company. Trust me your company affects you alot!"

He nodded.

"Yeah, I should have listened before.
Anyway what was the important thing you wanted to tell me?"

Ameera shook her head.

"Don't know, I forgot. "

She lied, she couldn't tell him or atleast not yet.

She needed his help to become a better person, if she told him, things would be very awkward between them. She would wait a little longer.

It had been two weeks since she met her father at the mall, her thoughts were conflicted and she also felt bad for the way she spoke to him. No matter how harsh or unfair he was to her mother, she shouldn't have spoken to him in such a rude manner, after all whether she liked it or not, he was her father.

She had just told her mother that she wanted to apologise and her mother had smiled at her and even suggested that she visit her father.

She had given it thought and Ruqayya had encouraged her to spend a day atleast with her father.

She didn't want to stay over and Ruqayya was fine with that, she had gotten too used to Yusaira around the house, even one night without her would feel very lonely.

Yusaira bounced her knee, as her mother waited for her father to pick up the phone.

Ruqayya hoped that he hadn't changed his number. After all these years she still remembered it.

Finally after five long rings, he picked up the call.

"Asslamualaykum."

He answered in his gruff voice.

Ruqayya's heart sped, even though he had hurt her so much, he still managed to have that effect on her.

"Wa alaykumsalam."

She replied softly.

"Whom am I speaking to?"

Her heart dropped, ofcourse he wouldn't remember her number.
She was never that important to him and it was a long time now.

She swallowed the lump in her throat.

"It's Ruqayya."

He tensed.

"Oh!"

Noticing his wife's gaze on him, he mouthed 'work', then left the kitchen, making his way into the garden.

"What can I do for you?"

He asked, once he closed the sliding door.

She cleared her throat.

" I need your address please."

His eyes rounded in shock.

"You ..what!?"

She cringed, that came out wrong.

"I mean, Yusaira wants to come and spend a day with you and also apologise for her rude behaviour, so I need your address."

A small smile graced his lips.

"Oh I see. That's good to hear.
Don't worry about my address, let me know when she wants to come and I will pick her up."

Ruqayya declined.

"No, it's okay really I will drop her off."

"Don't worry about it. I don't think it's safe for you to drive all the way here and back on your own."

"My well being should not be your concern anymore!"

She snapped.

"When you were supposed to be concerned you were not, so I don't need your fake concern."

I was a coward and a bad person and I always did worry about you, I just got carried away with a younger woman, who married me for money. If only you knew, I was happier with you!

He wanted to say, but he held back.

It was too late, the damage was already done.

Ruqayya composed herself, when she saw Yusaira giving her a worried glance.

"Anyway you can come tommorow. If you are free on a Sunday and have no plans, and my address is..."

"Okay, I know where you live."

He cut her off.

Her mouth dropped.

"You do!?"

Crap!

"Yeah, I uh saw you driving into your complex when I was in your area once."

He muttered quickly.

"Ookayy."

She knew he was lying, but she let it slip.

"Okay then, let me go."

"Ruqayya.."

He whispered, closing his eyes.

"Hmm."

Her heart began beating erratically, it was wrong for them to speak unecessarily.

"Take care of yourself."

Her heart melted.

"I always have been trying to.
Assalamualaykum."

"Wa alaykumsalam."

I love you!

He wanted to whisper, but when he had the chance he never did. He had been a complete fool, he had a diamond, a gem, a pearl, yet he still went searching for better, but he never realised he would never find better than his sweet Ruqayya, no one better than his loving Ruqayya, no one better than his brave and beautiful girl.

He quickly wiped away the tear that leaked from his eye.

Oh Ruqsi my girl, if only you know how much I miss you and how much I regret leaving you. At that time I never knew I loved you, only when I lost you I realised my love for you...I was so very foolish to let you go. You were a precious gem, no doubt!

* * *

Asslamulaykm beautiful readers.❤

I hope you all are in the best of health.
An early update to make up for the delayed ones.

Do you think Suhaib will really reform or was he just going through a 'holy moment'?

Do you think Ameera really wants to change?

What do you think she wanted to tell Suhaib?

Is Yusaira making the right choice by agreeing to meet her father?

Did you expect her father to secretly love Ruqayya?

Do you think it's too late for him to admit his love for her and take her back?

Count down for book to end:

13 more chapters to go.