New Beginnings.

ﻗُﻞ ﻟَّﻦ ﻳُﺼِﻴﺒَﻨَﺎٓ ﺇِﻻَّ ﻣَﺎ ﻛَﺘَﺐَ ٱﻟﻠَّﻪُ ﻟَﻨَﺎ ﻫُﻮَ ﻣَﻮْﻟَﻰٰﻧَﺎ ۚ ﻭَﻋَﻠَﻰ ٱﻟﻠَّﻪِ ﻓَﻠْﻴَﺘَﻮَﻛَّﻞِ ٱﻟْﻤُﺆْﻣِﻨُﻮﻥ
 
"Say: "Nothing will happen to us except what Allah has decreed for us: He is our protector": and on Allah let the Believers put their trust."
(Aaya 51)

The moon smiled down upon her , glistening in the velvet sky, the stars twinkled, rejoicing at her happiness, the soothing wind embraced her , comforting and assuring her to take the next step in life. She waited four years for Farhaad but, he was  a lost cause, a closed chapter in her life. It was time for her to open  and explore a new chapter of her life.

She stood against the railing of the balcony , her hands folded over the railing , the soothing breeze , caressed the scarf that was clumsily wound around her head. She spent the night , deep in thought ,and she came to the conclusion, that  she would make Istikhaara, she would go ahead and allow Hamza to meet her , if her Istikhaara was positive.

She performed Salaatul Istikhaara for three nights. On the fourth night she rung Tayyiba, calling her over to her house. A few moments later , Tayyiba arrived bubbling with excitement.

" please tell me it is a yes !" She held Shabana's hands , and gave her a hopeful look.

Shabana nodded , confirming that it was positive, and Tayyiba sqeuled , then locked Shabana in a tight embrace.

" okay I'm not staying any longer, I'm going to tell my husband to arrange a meeting for both of you tomorrow."

" Preferably if it could be earlier in the day , I don't want Raees to be home , he will be at school. I would appreciate it if we could meet before one. "

Tayyiba wiggled her brows .
"Just say that you eager to meet the guy !"

Shabana laughed at her craziness , she walked her to the door, then shut it , tomorrow was an early day. She  decided to jump into bed early, and not waste her tears like usual nights. She drifted off to sleep with a slight smile on her lips , with the hope that Insha Allah from tommorow , her life would be better .

Shabana awoke with the sound of the fajr Athaan echoing , and livening the silent night , inviting people to success, drawing people out of their warm , and cosy beds. She sat up , rubbing her sleepy eyes, it took her a few minutes to shake away her sleep. She recalled that today she would meet her supposed husband, her stomach began fluttering with nervousness. She pushed the thought aside and preformed her ablution,as well as her Salaah. She remained seated on the Musallah, a little while longer than normal, supplicating that all goes well.

She picked up her prayer mat, her Quraan from the shelf in the lounge, and opened the sliding doors that led to the balcony, allowing the fresh, morning breeze to kiss her cheeks.
She enjoyed sitting in the balcony after Fajr, reciting  the Quraan and then watching the sun rise.

She completed her recitation of Quraan, then headed inside to make herself a cup of coffee. She returned to the balcony, settled herself on the ground, sitting cross legged. She gazed at the sun, slowly rising up, the sight intrigued her, as she watched it stealthily peek up , dissapating all darkness, illuminating the dark sky , with a faint glow, as it moved higher and higher, the streaks of its light illuminated the horizon, awakening the world that slept, oblivious of the beauty of the rising sun.

She wached intently as the birds fledged their wings, then landed softly on the ground, searching for food. Her eyes followed a little sparrow that dawdled across the roof of the opposite tree, then watched amazed, as it cut off a piece of the palm tree , flying forward in order to cut it into a strip, then flew away.
SubhanAllah ! How beautiful is the system of Allah Ta'Allah. 

"Mummy , I'm hungry "
Raees's sleepy voice interupted her.

He walked towards her, still rubbing his eyes, she pecked his button nose , then setteled him on her lap.
"You want a sip of coffee ?"
He smiled and sipped on the coffee , giving his mother a cute grin .

"What would my little boy like for breakfast ?"

"Hmm " he tilted his head to the side.

" I think I liss for some yummy pancakes, with lots of golden syrup !" His eyes sparkled.

Shabana laughed. " Okay my honey bunch, now go and brush your teeth"
He complied and she made her way to the kitchen, fulfilling his request.

She bathed him, powdered him and combed his hair, slinging his bag on her shoulder, they both walked into the kitchen.

Raees jumped onto the counter , and grabbed a pancake , shoving it in his mouth. Shabana shook her head ,and lightly slapped his hand.
" Raees, read your dua before eating , and don't stuff your mouth!", she chastised. He gave her a sheepish look, and read his dua with the pancake still stufed in his mouth.

" Raees ! " Shabana hit a hand on her head.

" Not with your mouth full , first swallow your food , then read. "

After their messy breakfast, and reprimanding from his mother , he stood at the front door , his bag on his shoulders , while he waited for his mother to adorn her Niqaab etc. A glum look on his face , and a pout on his cute face.

Shabana grabbed the keys , giving her son an amused look, she walked out , Raees, dragged  his feet behind her.
They jumped into the car, Shabana buckled the seat belt around him, she  slid into the drivers seat, all the while she could sense someone watching her, she turned around but, didn't see anyone supicious, shaking away the strange feeling, she drove away.

" I don't want to go to school ! " Raees whined , as she pulled up in the school parking lot.

" Raees, not again! How are you going to help mummy out , and work when you grow up , if you don't go to school?"

He sighed and gave in, still not looking convinced. She patted his back, unbuckled the seat belt and pecked his forehead.

" Not in public mommy !, he wiped his hand over his forehead and looked around to see if anyone was looking.

Shabana laughed , her little boy never failed to amuse her. " You are not a big man, and I am your mother !"

"Assalmuayalkum mummy " Raees waved at her, then ran towards the school gate, where he spotted his little friend.

Half and hour later, Shabana scampered around the kitchen, preparing lunch. Her brother, her sister in law, Tayyiba, her husband , and obviously Hamza were all coming for lunch. Tayyiba was busy with teaching, so she could only offer to make the dessert and salad.

She heard the sound of the bell, quickly she wrapped her scarf around her head and opened the door for her brother and sister in law, clad in her flour sprinkled apron.

"Assalmuayalkum!" Her sister in law hugged her.
"We haven't seen you in ages !"
she complained.

Shabeer then engulfed her in a  hug, expressing how happy he was that she was finally moving on, after four years.

He headed to her room to take a nap, and his wife , followed Shabana , to assit her. Two hours later, the house as well as the kitchen , was sparkling clean, the food ready and garnished , and the tables set.

Shabana headed for a much needed shower, slipped on her kaftan ,and  walked out of the bathroom. Shabeer had woken up , and left his wife in the room. She found her sister in law inspecting her cupboard , various outfits were strewn on the bed.

"What are you looking for , I'm just going to wear an abaya "

" No you can wear a modest dress " she scolded, then pulled out one.

"Ahaa this is perfecto."

She pulled out a floral, blue and pink   skirt, matched it with a blue top  and pink scarf. She deposited  the rest of the outfits into the cupboard, then left the room, leaving no room for arguments and objections. Shabana sighed and slipped into the outfit , securing her scarf with a pin. She made her way to the living room , joining the couple, she plopped herself on the opposite couch.

" Are you nervous ?" Zahida , her sister in law questioned.

"Very! It feels like there's a hundred elephants stomping around in my tummy !"

Shabeer laughed at his sister's description. " Don't worry it will be okay , brother bear is here"

Shabana gave him an appreciative smile." JazakAllahu Khairan for coming".

"Where are these people ?",  Shabeer questioned, glancing at the clock that read, eleven thirty . As if on cue, they heard the bell. Shabana jumped up , to answer the door but, Shabeer preceeded her, ordering the two women to wait in the kitchen , while he had a chat with Hamza. He would call Shabana once he was complete.

The ladies scurried to the kitchen , Shabana's heart, in her throat. Zahida stood by the kitchen door, tilting her head to side, she tried to get a view of the guy. Shabana stifled a giggle, she pulled her by her arm, reprimanding her.
"Are you crazy , what if he sees you , he will think it's me and assume I'm so impatient. "

Zahida smirked at her.
"Well ...." she drawled, "I think you actually are very impatient !"

Shabana stuck her tongue out, she rubbed her cheeks roughly, trying  to take away the blush that creeped onto her cheeks.

"Awww Shabi is Miss Blushy now" , Zahida pinched her cheeks , causing them to stain a deeper colour of red .
Shabana swatted her hands away , and gave her a pleading look.

" I don't need to look like a tomatoe, please spare my beloved face. "

Zahida gave her a sweet smile, she was about to pull her cheeks once again, but Shabeer's laugh , prevented her from doing so. He gave them an amused look , then turned to Shabana. 

" You can come out in the balcony in five minutes, you two can speak there, while we will be seated in the living room. "
Shabana nodded , and Shabeer pecked her forehead, then left.

"Aww" Zahida cooed, and dabbed the little tears , that sprouted, seeing the brother and sister moment.

Tayyiba rushed in, holding the dessert in one hand, and the salad in the other . She looked out of breath , like she sprinted up the stairs .

"Assalamualaykum. Sorry I'm late , I got a bit delayed with my classes."
She hugged the two ladies , then gave Shabana's arm a slight squeeze .

" May Allah make it easy for you . I really hope this works out , I already ship you two Habaana! " she sqeuled.

They laughed at her craziness , then wished Shabana good luck. Shabana walked out , with wobbly knees , she could feel her stomach knot, due to nervousness, but at the same time a frisson of excitement ran down her spine. She wobbled  past the living room , she stood outside the sliding doors , gazing at the man's Kurta clad back. She felt like running away but, took a deep breath and carefully walked in.

"Assalamualaykum" .
Her soft greeting reached his ears ,  making him look up at her , he smiled at the mosdest, yet breathtakingly beautiful girl in front of him.

"Wa alaykumuslalam" he gestured for her to sit on the chair , opposite to him. She complied but, her gaze was still lowered. He wanted her to look up but, he understood that she must be really shy , so he let her be.

They had a few awkward moments of silence , until he broke the silence.
He scrathed the back of his neck...
" Um...I uh..I don't know your name" he blurted out.

Shabana wanted to laugh at his awkwardness. She smiled , still looking at her palms, she answered.
" Shabana".

" I'm Hamza."

"So what are you doing at the moment?"

" I work from home , as a beautician".

He nodded. " Do you enjoy your work?"

She shrugged. " Not really , I work for a living , not because I want to. If I had  a choice I would rather not work, and spend more time with my son , Raees".

Hamza smiled , he appreciated that she was opening up.
" In Sha Allah, if things work out, I will not let you work, you will live like a queen"

Shabana blushed at that .
" In sha Allah ", she whispered.

" Do you have anything to ask me ?" He glanced at her, she still didn't lift her gaze, not even once.

"Umm ..."she hesitated .

" Go ahead , feel free to ask me whatever you want. "

"Bismillah ", she took a deep breath , and calmed her heart down.

" I'm sure you know, I have a son , he's very close to me, I will not be able to live without him, if this works out In Sha Allah, I would like him to still live with us. He is not very close to his uncle, so he cannot live there and unfortunately I do not keep in contact with my parents, they haven't met my son, so that is out of the question."

He placed his hands on the table.
" Shabana, I already knew you had a son, even before I came to propose, as for him living with us, I really have no problem whatsoever. It would be really cruel of me to separate a mother and a son, for my own benefit."

Shabana smiled, this man was already ticking off all the right boxes.
"JazakAllahu Khairan . I wish more men could think the way you do. "

" No no , don't wish that, then a lot of men would come and see you , not just me."

Shabana covered her mouth , with her hand and giggled. He smiled at the way her eyes crinkled when she laughed.

"Did you make these ?" He pointed to the chilli bites, placed on the table.

" No , I made the food , my sister in law made those . Please don't eat that if you are not fond of extra chillies, it's really strong. "

He waved it off. " Nah , don't stress I will be okay "

Shabana remained silent, she hoped he was fond of extra chillies , for only those who tasted Zahidas chilli bites, knew how strong it was.

He bit into it , and chewed on it ,once the tinge of the chilli , struck his  tongue , he put the chilli bite down , and started fanning his mouth.
" Ya Allah ! This is really hot !!!"

Shabana now looked up , she met his teary gaze , and red face and broke into a fit of laughter. If his mouth wasn't on fire, he would be admiring the way she laughed. He downed two glasses but, still nothing soothed him. Shabana composed herself , she rushed to the kitchen , poured him a glass of milk and place it infront of him.

"Here , this will help".
he gupeld the milk down and sighed in relief.

"JazakAllahu Khairan "

They spoke for a few more moments , then all gathered for lunch, the women ate in the kitchen, and the men in the living room.

Hamza thanked them for everything, then they all left for Dhuhr Salaah.

Every saint had a past ,and every sinner has a future. Who is sincere , and who is not , we have no right to judge, for Allah is The Knower of the unseen, Allah knows the condition of the heart, Allah knows the intention of the souls, Allah alone knows the future of every human.

Shabana would have never dreamed that she would one day marry a religious Muslim, neither had she imagined herself to be inclined to Islaam , yet here she was adorned in her simple  white wedding gown , with silver working on the waist,  seated next to her religious husband , a new and transformed person.

She now stepped into her new life , with full faith  and reliance in Allah, she completed half her deen , prepared  to venture on a new journey, a new beginning!