Chapter One

-Accordingly, Raza was called to court for a similar crime five years ago, but the court declared him innocent despite obvious proof. This time- again, there is clear proof but the hearing is taking too long. The question thus arises: will history repeat itself? Will Shahid Raza, a politician, charged with murder, not once, but twice- be declared 'innocent' again?

The victim's family mourns for justice. 

Justice. Is that a word that has been lost from our dictionaries?

Our country's judiciary system has failed us for years. Concepts like bribery and threats have become so common that lawyers don't look for witnesses or proofs anymore because any person with money or any sort of power is sure to win. This-

"The lack of justice... ah, you're writing again?"

Amal jumped, the laptop nearly falling from her lap. She managed to balance it, raising a hand to her chest. "Ya Allah," she muttered, trying to calm her racing heart as she turned around. "Baba!"

Hussain, a man in his sixties with greying hair and gentle features blinked back at her. "Assalamualaikum," he grinned. Amal's grumpy look evaporated into a smile, and she let out a low chuckle, putting her laptop aside and walking over to her father to give him a hug.

"Waalaikumassalam," she said, taking her father's suitcase from him and helping him with his coat. "You scared me."

"I clearly said my salaams when I walked in," Hussain shrugged, "You were so lost in your writing- it's not my fault you didn't hear me."

Amal grinned sheepishly, following Hussain as he made his way towards the kitchen. "It's because I was so very passionate, I couldn't focus on anything else. Did you hear about the Shahid Raza case?" She let out a sigh, dropping down on the kitchen stool. "It's bad, isn't it? I don't think they're going to do anything about it this time either."

Hussain nodded in agreement, frowning slightly as he poured himself a glass of water. "True. It does not look too hopeful but Allah-u-Alam. Does anyone even read the stuff you write?"

Amal's eyes widened and she raised a hand to her heart in disbelief. "Of course! A lot of people read my work- well, not a great deal a lot but enough a lot, if you get what I mean."

Hussain blinked, smiling sweetly, "No."

Amal was about to respond when someone beat her to it. "Yep, nobody ever does, dear." A young man with disheveled hair and a loose fitted t-shirt walked into the kitchen, stretching his arms, "Assalamualaikum, Baba."

Amal went on as if she did not hear either her father or Usman, "I get at least a thousand reads, sometimes less. The important thing is that I'm at least trying to raise some awareness, right? No news anchors are speaking about it the way it's supposed to be spoken about." She leaned forward on the kitchen counter, frowning, "Raza has power though, I doubt raising awareness will do anything."

It was true, wasn't it? This world was far too flawed.

"That's where you're wrong. The smallest of steps can make the largest of differences," Hussain said- giving her a smile before he turned to face Usman. "Don't tell me you just got out of bed?"

"Afternoon nap, Baba. I'm waking early nowadays," Usman yawned, chugging down a glass of water. Amal shook her head as she shot him a glance.

"Look at your state, Bhai*- ever since Bhabi* left, you've been like that. Baba, let's go bring Bhabi back- Bhai can't function without her."

The next second- Amal was dodging the napkin Usman threw her way, while Hussain laughed, "Stop fighting, kids. Now- where's your mother?"

As if on cue, the bell rang and Amal stood up, grinning. "She's here now."

~~~

"How did your committee party go?" Hussain asked. The whole family had settled down on the dinner table. Amal sat cross-legged in her seat and shared the pizza with Usman and Hussain. Sana however, sat back, not eating anything.

"It went well, Alhamdullilah. Mrs. Ahmed prepared loads of food and you know how her cooking is, I ate too much."

"You came back late, though," Amal noted and her mother nodded.

"I stayed back with Mrs.Ahmed for a bit. We talked for an hour or so." Here, Sana paused, her brows creased and a frown on her face. Amal raised an eyebrow and was about to point it out, but her mother went on, "She gave me some brownies to bring home as well, said that they were for the kids."

Amal and Usman both straightened up. They shared looks before they jumped for their mother's bag. As the two of them wrestled for the bag, they missed the knowing look their parents shared- Sana trying to convey something to her husband through her eyes but when Amal came back with the brownies, triumphant, they both straightened up.

Amal had only just opened the box when Usman snatched it from her hands, and for the next ten minutes or so, they both wrestled after the brownies while their parents talked peacefully on the table as if they were deaf to the argument that went something like:

"Mama said kids- that's plural. And, I'm older."

"Exactly! You are twenty-seven! Too old to be considered a 'kid'."

Once the case had been settled somehow between the two of them and they had maintained their position at the table again, Usman spoke up. "These are so good." 

Amal nodded in agreement, sighing in pleasure as she bit into the brownie. "Anyways, Mama," she said, "Did you hear about the Shahid Raza case?"

"Who didn't? It's what everyone talked about at the party," Sana leaned over and helped herself to some brownies as well.

"She has been talking about it all day," Usman clicked his tongue.

"She's already written a blog about it," Hussain added.

"Writing. That's all she does nowadays," Sana sighed, shaking her head.

Hussain and Usman nodded in agreement. Hussain's head tilted, "I know right. I was in favor of her doing her Masters straight away-"

"You three are talking as if I'm not here," Amal deadpanned but the three of them went on- as if she wasn't there.

Once dinner was over and done with and the table cleared, Amal lounged on the sofa, her laptop in her lap while Usman sat across her. Every few seconds or so, his phone would buzz and Amal finally looked up at him, her brows arched.

"Is that Bhabi?"

Usman nodded, not even bothering to raise his head, and Amal straightened up, putting her laptop aside, "When is she coming home?"

"I'll go pick her up on Friday Insha'Allah," Usman said.

"I miss her. The house feels so vacant without her," she noted, resting back on the sofa. A sigh escaped her lips and she pulled up her legs- her thoughts revolving around the Shahid Raza case, something that had been troubling her ever since she had heard the news. Lately, the lack of justice in the country was becoming more and more prominent. Politicians were gaining power and were getting bolder, doing whatever they wanted, with no one to stop them. The worst part was, either due to the bribery or in fear of the power they held, nobody was standing up against them either.

"Mama just texted. She's calling you," Usman's voice snapped Amal out of her chain of thoughts and she looked up, nodding.

Getting up to her feet, Amal made her way towards her parent's room. As she opened the door, she expected to see the usual, carefree atmosphere, but to her surprise- she found her parents seated on the sofa, their expressions solemn.

Amal blinked, confused as to what was going on as she muttered her salam, walking in and slowly closing the door behind her. "Yes?" she said hesitantly.

"Sit down, Amal," Sana cleared her throat.

Amal blinked, her guard rising as her gaze moved from her father to her mother- the seriousness in their expressions scaring her. "Did I do something wrong?" she asked, taking a seat on the edge of the bed, "I don't remember causing trouble-"

"No, Amal, you did not do anything wrong," Sana said, her tone soft, though there was a hint of formality in her voice, a slight hesitance.

"Oh-kay..." Amal's made note that her father who usually looked calm, and was almost always smiling, wore a grave expression as well, "You're scaring me now. Did something bad happen?"

Hussain shook his head, sharing a look with his wife as he locked his hands together, "You see, Amal, we wanted to discuss something with you," he said slowly, and Amal nodded, her eyebrows knitting together.

Sana cleared her throat again, leaning forward in her seat. She hesitated for a bit but finally met Amal's gaze. "Somebody," she spoke slowly, "-suggested a proposal... for you."

Amal's brows arched. "Okay... what kind of a proposal? Some kind of job? Or is it related to the masjid work?"

Sana blinked- twice. 

 "Amal it's a...marriage proposal." 

*Bhai:  brother
*Bhabi : brother's wife

Assalamualaykum to thee who hath accidentally come across this book. 

Now that you're here- I do hope you give this a try. Please let me know what you think, and don't forget to vote and comment! 

Jazakillah :)