Chapter 25.

قَوْلٌ مَّعْرُوفٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِّن صَدَقَةٍ يَتْبَعُهَآ أَذًى ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَنِىٌّ حَلِيمٌ

"Kind words and the covering of faults are better than charity followed by injury. Allah is free of all wants, and He is Most-Forbearing.

(Aaya 263, Sura Al Baqara)

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Zaheer parked the car in the driveway of the neighbours house.

The two girls followed him as he walked towards the porch of the double story house and rang the bell.

A young boy opened the door, smiling brightly at Zaheer.

He motioned  for them to enter.

"Assalamualaykum. How are you Uncle Zaheer?"

"I'm well Alhamdulillah,how are you Muaaz?"

"Good good Alhamdulillah."

"How's your father feeling?"

Muaaz's face well.

" He hasn't been well lately."

Zaheer held his shoulder.

"Don't worry my boy, he will be okay in Sha Allah. Is he resting or can I see him?"

Muaz shook his head.

"No he's awake, you can come upstairs."

He glanced at the girls, his eyes lingering on Asma a little longer.

"My sisters are also at home. Asma you know the way to Taeeba's room."

Asma's cheeks coloured with a tinge of pink.

She nodded, waiting for them to go, she then ascended the stairs.

Yusaira nudged her, wiggling her eyebrows.

"What was that about?"

She teased.

"What was what about?"

Amsa feigned ignorance.

"Why were you blushing like that?"

Asma huffed.

"Because he was staring at me like that, he always does that. That's why I hate visiting when he's home."

Yusaira giggled.

"I'm happy you're not into boys, you are abit too young for that."

Yusaira was actually relieved, it was so difficult to find girls her age, who acted their age. Girls nowadays, knew more than she did when she was sixteen! She was still playing with freaking dolls when she was their age, they already had phones and boyfriends at the age of twelve now.

She snorted.

"No ways! Eww. Its haraam anyways."

Asma knocked on Taeebas room door, the door swung open.

Taeeba looked at her startled.

"Asma! I didn't know you were here."

Asma smiled.

"I just got here."

They entered the room, and noticed Zahra seated on the bed.

"Zahra!!"

Amsa squealed, pouncing on her, she sqeaueld.

She hadn't seen Zahra in a long time.

"Hey! Asslamulaykm. How are you?"

Zahra laughed as she enveloped her in a warm hug.

Yusaira stood awkwardly, not knowing what to do.

She hated awkward moments and it seemed like her half sister had forgotten she was here as well.

"Oh, how rude of me!"

Asma stood up, dragging Yusaira towards the bed.

"This is Yusaira, my sister. "

Zahra and Taeeba looked startled for a while.

They didn't know she had an elder sister, not wanting to seem rude, they nodded unsurely, smiling at her.

Recognition dawned upon Taeeba, her eyes widened.

"Hey! I know you! Aren't you Laeeq's twin sister?"

Ysuaira nodded.

"Yeah, I have alot of siblings and double parents. I thought you wouldn't recognise me!"

Taeeba smiled.

" I did, but I was unsure at first. Thought you were Yusaira's look alike."

Yusaira laughed.

She wished her life could just be simple, she didn't have to meet this woman, she didn't know what happened to her sometimes, but when it came to her mother, she got very riled up. If Raaniya had to be a little bit kind or atleast not speak at all, that wouldn't happen, but the woman was on her case since she walked into the house. She made it clear that she disliked her.

She sat on the bed, conversing with the girls.

She really liked them, their ways and thinking were very alike, and they were brought up in a similar manner.

She made sure to add their numbers to her contact list, if she ever came to visit again, she wouldn't mind spending most of her time here than at her fathers house.

"I have a brother a year older than you!"

Taeeba suddenly said.

"Oh okay."

Ysuaira replied, unsurely.

Why was she telling her this?

"I'm sure you know him, he was at the same school as well."

Ysuaira shook her head.

"I never kept tabs on the boys, especially not the odler ones."

Taeeba laughed.

"His name is Suhaib, you must have heard about him."

Yusaira nodded.

"Oh yeah, Laeeq used to speak about him alot. He used to always say he's the good boy who always tries to influence his bad friends."

Zahra shifted uneasily on hearing that and the two sisters shared a look.

If only they knew what had become of their once admired brother.

Yusaira noticed their expressions, but chose not to probe.

They heard a knock on the door.

"Asma your father is leaving."

Asma rolled her eyes, while the girls giggled.

Taeeba as well as Zahra hugged the girls.

"I'm convinced my brother has a thing for you!"

She laughed at Asma's disgusted face.

They stepped out of the room, coming face to face with a grinning Muaaz.

Asma scurried away, while Ysuaira laughed.

Muaaz smiled at her, his dimple visible.

"And you must be?"

"Yusaira, Asma's sister."

"A beautiful name for a beautiful lady."

Ysuaira laughed.

"You're quite handsome yourself. "

He gave her a dimpled smile.

"Why thank you. The most good looking from the family too."

"Oh wow, I don't doubt it. "

Yusaira played along.

"Please do come and visit again"

"Yes I shall, in Sha Allah."

"Asslamualaykm. Have a good day."

"Waalaykumusalam."

She waved as she jumped beside Asma in the back seat.

"Such a charmer!"

Ysuaira commented.

"Such a nuisance!"

Asma disgareed.

"I hope he stays that way, such a gentleman. If he's like that when he's older as well, I will be the first to ship you both!"

Asma shook her head.

"Sorry my dear sister. I'm afraid your ship is going to sink, because I am going to marry a book character."

Ysuaira rose her eyebrows.

"Oh really and who might that be?"

She sighed dreamily.

"Rayaan from eleven days of halaal dating, or Bilaal from Winged Dreams, or Aryan from A Dil For You."

Yusaira shook her head.

"You are a hopeless romantic. News flash, boys like those don't exisit in reality."

Asma clutched her heart.

"How dare you just destroy a girls dreams and hopes."

Their little banter continued in silent whispers, as Zaheer drove to her mothers house.

Both enjoyed each others company and didn't wish to separate, but they knew their time was limited, so saying their goodbyes they parted their own ways, hoping that in the future they would meet again.

It had been a week since his father passed away, yet reality still didn't sink in. He felt as if he would walk into the lounge any moment, while limping, leaning on his walker or walking stick for support, but he was gone, he was gone forever and he was never to return.

The time that he lived, he cried, begged and pleaded with his son to spend some time with him, to talk to him, to share his pain with him, but he never did and now it was too late.

Talha never realised that his father was hurting too and instead of being pushed away, he needed his son to bring him closer. They needed to be there to support one another, share their pain and console one another, but Talha resorted to drugs, while his father resorted to solitude.

Even though he blamed his father for his mothers death, in his heart he knew his father was not at fault. It was taqdeer, his mother was destined to pass away, whether his father was present or not.

His mother had suddenly fallen unconscious one day, he had immediately phoned his father, who rushed from work that instant, but due to traffic he never made it on time. As he entered the house she breathed her last.

Talha blamed him for taking too long and his father actually believed he was at fault, but they both knew no matter what, one way or another the angel of death would extract her soul.

He rested on his bed, with a cigarette between his lips, he watched as the smoke swirled around in the room. That's all he ever knew, to smoke his worries away, drink his sorrows away or take drugs when he was in a depressing situation.

He had become so addicted to drugs, that the drug lord had told him that if he proved himself, when he died, Talha would be appointed as the next drug lord, but for that he had to start his own little illegal business from home, which didn't only involve drugs.

He hadn't given it thought, as he didn't want to hurt his father any more, but now that he had the house to himself, he was actually considering it.

How else would he have an income, his father owned houses that he would collect rent from, but he was sure his fathers will probably didn't even have his name anywhere on it. He would think about it, maybe he needed to have a chat with Davis, the drug lord.

His thoughts then drifted to his cousin Nazrana.

She was looking at him so intensely in the hospital, like she was trying to convey some silent message. He didn't know if she was concerned as a cousin or if it was something more, he would the happiest man if it was something more. She was beautiful, outgoing, lively and bubbly, and even though it made his blood boil, he knew she had two or three boyfriends in the past, so he wouldn't have to worry about his tarnished reputation.

He sighed.

He was getting ahead of himself now, she was probably just concerned as a cousin. Who wanted a drugee and a drunkard husband anyway! Even if she had boyfriends and wasn't the innocent and homely type of girl, it didn't mean she wanted a drug addict and drunkard husband.

If only he could change, but he could never, he was too far gone. He was way too sinful, he didn't even know if his repentance would be accepted.

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