Chapter 21: Single Rose. 

*

"We both knew 

the outcome of this love, 

Yet we fell 

hard and deep, 

into the sweet nothings, 

despite the callings of the world,

We crashed and burnt. 

Except you walked out safe, 

and It was I who came out scalded"

-2am-

*

Yazdan stared at the single rose in his hands. It was beautiful, no doubt. Sticking out from the green stem were a few green leaves and a note which was attached to it via a string. He tilted the note and read it.

"How beautiful would it be,

If you could see yourself

Through my eyes"

He stared at the note for a good few seconds. It doesn't make sense. He thought with a frown. Why would someone address a rose to him with such a note? He checked the time and realized it was past Magrib. I will dwell on this later. Maybe ask Yahyah.

He did just that. He prayed Magrib and walked back to his room, waiting for Yahyah to come. He realized that the Easter weekend was this week and that Shab-e-Barat would be soon. He grinned. He always liked the night of power. It was something he looked forward to. He found, praying on that night satisfactory.

"You were looking for me?" he looked up to see Yahyah in his work clothes, standing by the doors.

"Yeah. You just returned?" he asked and Yahyah nodded, walking inside the room.

"What happened?" the best friend asked, lying on the bed. Yazdan turned to him and eyed him with suspicion.

"What did you do?" he asked and Yahyah chuckled, putting a hand over his head.

"What makes you think I did something?"

"Your face is flushed and you immediately lied on the bed without eye contact. What is going on?" Something is wrong.

"You know-" said Yahyah, sitting up and facing Yazdan with a confused expression. "-I do not understand how you are so observant with others but when it comes to Aanabia, you are plain lost"

Yazdan frowned. Lost when it comes to Aanabia? What does she have to do anything with this?

"See- this is exactly what I mean!" Yahyah's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. He frowned even more.

"I do not get it"

"The woman likes you, Yazdan. How much more indications do you need?" he snapped at him and Yazdan's eyes widened. The rose and note. Of course! Poetry. A slow smile spread on his lips before he caught himself. But I do not like her. How can she like me without knowing me?

A slap landed on his shoulder and he winced, turning and glaring at Yahyah.

"You need to snap out of your bubble and see things more clearly brother" said Yahyah before letting out a small laugh.

"But she doesn't know me" replied Yazdan and Yahyah rolled his eyes. I do not see how this was stupid for him to roll his eyes.

"Ah, that is where you are wrong" Yahyah was confusing Yazdan more. To Yazdan, Aanabia was someone he couldn't picture himself with. Not that he ever tried to, but come to think of it, it wasn't something....realistic.

"Forget that, tell me what you did today?" questioned Yazdan, shifting on the bed to completely face his best friend.

"I......... kinda told Nahal?" Yazdan stared at Yahyah for a few seconds. Told Nahal? Told her what exactly? Oooohh. OHHHHHH.

Yazdan's eyes widened and he raised an eyebrow at Yahyah.

"How did you even know?!" he questioned at the incredulousness of the situation. Yahyah shrugged, lying back down and placing his hands behind his head.

"It is.... Okay so I prayed. Simple as that" he replied and Yazdan frowned.

"Prayed? How does that even work?"

"Oh Allah. Istikhaara, Yaz!" Ahhh. Istikhaarah. The prayer done to find answers.

"So you basically prayed? For her?"

"Exactly"

"Maybe I should too"

"For Aanabia?" Yazdan turned to his best friend and glared daggers. I do not like the girl, jeez. I would pray for Allah to guide me and show me the one for me.

"So how did she react?" questioned Yazdan and Yahyah looked down at his entwined hands. He was silent for a while before he spoke in a soft voice. 

"Nothing. She told me she trusted me about the phone conversation-"

"What phone conversation?" And in that moment, Yahyah Rashad knew he was in deep trouble. 

"Nothing about that. Something with mom and stuff. Anyway, I told her about the whole abba thing and she listened." 

He told someone about Uncle M? Thats........ new. Yazdan felt a pang of sadness hit him. He wasn't used to Yahyah sharing things about himself to anyone else apart from Yazdan and that caused him to be possessive of his best friend. 

"And?" 

"Nothing. She walked out on me. I literally, on her face told her I liked her. How hard is it to like someone like me?" questioned Yahyah and Yazdan shrugged, looking at his nails in fascination (like the diva's do, actually) 

"Pretty hard actually. Considering everything you are-" Yahyah slammed the nearest cushion on his head and Yazdan let out a series of laughs, standing up and skipping away from the dude. Yahyah continued throwing cushions at him though. The two finally subsided and took seat at the couch, leaning back onto it. 

"Jokes aside. You sure about this girl?"

"I guess. I mean I told her about Abba, that is a big thing." Yazdan smiled at his best friend. 

"Then, I am happy for you. She better not hurt you else she would face the wrath of the Zaeef's and everyone knows, not to mess with The Zaeef's." stated Yazdan and Yahyah grinned. 

"Ah right-" He tilted his head towards Yahyah. "-Mom said Saher and the family are coming over for dinner today. Get ready"

Yazdan let out a whine.

"Can we skip it?"

"No"

"Why not?"

"Because mom said so"

"Fine"

"Fine"

"Stop imitating me"

"Stop imitating me"

"Allah!"

"Allah!"Yahyah copied the exact manner Yazdan said Allah, with his hands in the air and his head tilted towards the ceiling, as if asking the Almighty to help him.

"Out" Yazdan pushed Yahyah out of the room and shut the door.

He leaned onto it and slid down on the rugged floor. Placing his head on his bent knees, he closed his eyes.

I miss you, Kayan bhai. If only you were here, you would solve this for me.

-

Aanabia set by the window of her room with her leather journal and a calligraphy pen. With a smile, she began writing.

"The air feels different,

The scent of his lingers around

It is something

That I know about.

My heart is complete

Finally.

My heart is complete!

Its satisfactory."

"What are you writing?" Aanabia jumped from her place on the window and hid the book behind her back with a grin.

"Nothing. How come you are late today?" questioned Aanabia and watched Nahal flush a deep red.

"Work. Work had piled up and with the easter weekend coming up, I wanted to be done with most of it so that I am free to sleep and go out." Nahal had managed to regain herself but Aanabia knew something was wrong.

"What happened?" she asked her gently. If I ask her this way, maybe she would tell me?

"You tell me, Aapa"

Aanabia was taken back with her question.

"What do you mean?"

"Something is going on and you are not telling me"

Aanabia raised an eyebrow at her sister's question. Nahal never asked her about these things. She knew to leave Aanabia alone.

"Nothing. It was just hormonal. Guess my uterus saw this as the perfect timing to break out. Why?" was Aanabia's smart reply. Nahal rolled her eyes. First days were the worst. But it brought out the inner poet of mine so..... yeah.

"Never mind, Aapa. I am going to shower and sleep, okay?" she said, before giving one last smile and walking away. Aanabia watched her sister walk out of the room with a small smile. I could tell you, Nahal. But I am afraid I have no words to explain what I feel. How could I like someone I barely know? Even I don't have an answer to that.

She heaved a sigh and took a seat back on her window, staring out to the stars. The rain was no longer coming down on them and the stars were visible tonight. It reminded her of the song, Rewrite the stars of The Greatest Showman. It was a beautiful movie, she thought with a smile. Just then, she caught lights at the opposite house. The Rashad House. She tilted her head and saw Saher, walking up to their front door and watched as Zaiha enveloped her in her arms. The rest were blurry in the night but that was when Aanabia realized it wasn't the night that was blurry, it was her eyes. She was crying. Curse period hormones for making me feel this way.

Maybe deep in her heart, she knew what was the outcome of her feelings.

She knew that it was somewhat impossible for someone like Yazdan to like someone like her. But she hoped it would happen. And that was when it clicked her.

The power of dua can change your destiny. Ruqayyah's final words before the two parted last Sunday was exactly that. And in that moment, Aanabia regretted not being able to pray.

She needed Allah (S.W.T) to guide her through this mess and nothing more. Just that.

Ah, how I wish I had known this sooner.

You knew, you just chose to ignore it until today when you realized that only Allah holds the power to change your destiny. If you could rewrite your destiny, it would be by no means than praying to Allah. And what better way to do it other than prayer and heartfelt dua. Okay. Since when did my mind become so bright? Ah. This is a moment of realization.

Aanabia wiped away the stray tears with the back of her hand and stood up straight with a small smile. If Yazdan Rashad doesn't like me, I will prove to him that I am worth it and much more.

-

The Rashad house was filled with chats and laughter. Saher was the daughter of a businessman, Khiran and his partner, Sanam. The two worked hard for the success of their small shop, Saher Sweets in Middleton while Saher's younger brother was in college, studying law much like his sister. Zaiha and Saher got along well for the two were lawyers. Khiran was not able to make it for dinner since he had a commitment somewhere else. Sanam also got along with Zaiha really well.

"You are so lucky to have such a beautiful daughter" complimented Zaiha, smiling at Saher who was seated beside her on the three's couch. Saher let out a small laugh along with her mother.

"You have no idea how much of a handful this girl is" replied her mother and Saher blushed. Yazdan watched them talk and laugh from the dining table where he, Zul and Yahyah set. Yahyah was working while he was sketching and Zul was studying. They could have worked in their rooms but Zaiha deemed it to be rude if they neglected their guests. Saher's brother, Khizar was also seated with them.

Yazdan was drawing when his phone buzzed with a message. He opened it with a small smile. It was Safwah.

From: Safwah.

Time Received: 8:03pm.

Message: Salaam bhaiyu. I am in Manchester for about a few days. Lemme know when you free. We can meet up or something. Mom sends her regards btw. K bye. Allah Hafiz.

He let out a small laugh by the end of the message. His brother was in Manchester, which meant he was working.

"Something special?" he looked up to see Khizar staring at him with a smirk. Isn't he too young to be butting into my business? Or rather, too much of a stranger to do that? He looked over to Yahyah and realized he thought the same.

"Ah nothing." He replied and went back to his phone. Quickly tapping his reply, he waited for Safwah to reply. Instantly the said boy saw the message and replied affirmative. Yazdan swapped chats to Yahyah and asked him if he was free the following day. Yahyah looked up and raised an eyebrow at Yazdan, probably questioning why he was texting rather than speaking. Yazdan looked at him and then Khizar. Take the hint, idiot. Yahyah's eyes widened in realization and he nodded, tapping back a reply. This went on for a while before the boys were called for dinner. Well, to clear the table so that they could set up dinner.

Dinner went on and on, with Yazdan trying to avoid conversation with Saher and Yahyah enjoying seeing his best friend in distress. Zul was bored already and was the first one to excuse himself saying he had homework, which basically meant sleeping. When Yahyah had had enough of Yazdan's torture, he told his mother that the two of them had an early day tomorrow and excused themselves. Zaiha saw off the guests before closing the door behind her.

"These boys will be the end of me one day" she muttered to herself, clearly embarrassed by her sons behavior. 

******

I wasn't going to update. But then, I saw the comments in the previous chapter and I was like..... hey, let's not make these beautiful people wait long for the Yahal Reply. So here it is. Not much, but I wrote it for you all when I was supposed to be studying. In return, PRAY I PASS MY PAPERS. 😂😂😂😂

I saw new commenters on the previous chapter (other than my usuals, y'all know who you are😉) and I just wanna say, I am glad you guys decided to comment. Welcome to my TBHH comments family. 💜

Expect the next update whenever it comes. Hahahahahaha. Because I would be busy with school and with Ramadan coming up, it will be even more hard. Hope my lovelies understand. 😘❤

[EDIT: Hey guys. Sorry there was an error in this chapter. It was supposed to be Shab-e-Barat and I wrote Lailat-ul-Qadr. Apologies my loves.]

| R - C - V |

xx, 

-aalihha.