Chapter 25: The Answer.

*

"You became the reason, 

of my stay.

As

You became my attachment,

with each passing day."

-2am-

*

The night of Shab-e-Barat rolled on. It was a beautiful and calm night. Yahyah, Yazdan and Zul offered their Isha prayers at the mosque, bid Raeef and a few others they had come to know, a good night before walking back home. Rain had subsided and the sky was clear. The stars glimmered and Yazdan found himself content. He had called his mother that afternoon and talked to her for a good hour. She missed him and so did he. But they knew that Yahyah needed Yazdan with him right now. Perhaps something else toO but he didn't dare state that.

As he set in his room on the dark purple and lavender prayer mat of his, his mind wandered to his decision. Should I do it? He wanted answers but at the same time, he was afraid of the answers. And what if the answers were something he didn't wish? But Allah (S.W.T) is the best of planners! If it is His will, then nothing can stop it and if it isn't, nothing can make it happen. Okay save for Dua.

"Let's do this, Yaz. Now or never" he muttered before he stood up for his Istikhara prayer. He had been delaying it a lot lately and now, he cannot do so anymore. He prayed a two rakaa Istikhara prayer before making Dua.

Oh Allah, please guide me.

Oh Allah, my Imaan is low, please help me.

Oh Allah, you have always been there for me.

Oh Allah, do not let me go astray.

Oh Allah, please tell me if Aanabia is the one. The last one was the whole reason why he was in this position. Supplicating and praying that his lord helps him through this.

Allah, I see her and things go wild in me. It is something..... different. Different and beautiful. I like the feeling. But oh Allah, what would I do if she is not meant to be mine? What if my heart gets attached to what is not meant to be mine? Oh Allah, this is what I pray and ask you, please, please do not let my heart be attached to something that I cannot have.

With a few supplications, he ended his duaa. He smiled into his hands as he felt hot tears running down his face. He didn't even know why he was crying!

"Time to pray for my family" he whispered to himself before standing up to pray Nafil prayers. He hoped he would get an answer soon.

-

Monday was a beautiful day. Yazdan woke up at around 10am, after having gone to sleep at around 5am after Fajr. He had read Quraan, specifically Surah Rahman and Khaf. He loved the two surah's a lot. He used to read them back at home a lot.

"As salaam alaikum" he smiled at the familiar faces at the breakfast table. By the looks of it, they had woken up just now too. Zul didn't look happy to be up so early though.

"What do you boys want?" said Zaiha, putting the dishes on the table.

"I want sleep. Can I go sleep please?" Zul whined and Zaiha sighed.

"Have breakfast before going back to sleep Zul." She reprimanded him and he let out a sigh.

"Alright mom" he muttered before picking up his tea and sipping on it.

Yahyah eyed Yazdan with a suspicious look in his eyes.

"What?"asked an irritated Yazdan. Yahyah sipped tea.

"You were supposed to tell me something today?"

"For heaven's sake, Yaha. I just woke up! Show some mercy on me" muttered Yazdan, biting onto the bread he picked. Yahyah let out a small laugh.

"Alright. After breakfast, we head to the market to get mum some things. You can tell me then" he said and Yazdan nodded, absentmindedly eating. How am I supposed to tell this human?

The boys finished up breakfast and Yazdan decided to change his clothes before heading out with Yahyah. He pulled on a black sweatpants and white t-shirt that said 'Just Do It' in dark blue. He picked up his navy blue, black and gray flannel, along with his wallet and phone before he walked out of the room.

"Mom! What things do you want from the market?" called out Yahyah descending the stairs, as Yazdan walked behind him. Yahyah was dressed in gray sweats, white t-shirt and a maroon cardigan hung over his shoulder.

"Come here, I have a list" Yazdan let out a small laugh when he heard Zaiha say that. The two boys walked into the kitchen to see Zaiha jotting down things on a white notepad. She finally ripped it off and handed it to them.

"Buy all of them. Make sure they are fresh." She said and Yahyah nodded, reading it. Yazdan went over the list from over Yahyah's shoulder.

"Mom, why do we need watermelons and grapes and what will you do with Broccoli?" questioned Yahyah, looking up at his mother. Zaiha grinned.

"I want to eat! That's why. Now go! And make sure, they are fresh!" she stated, pushing the boys out of the kitchen. The two shrugged before walking out of the house.

"Zul, you wanna come?" asked Yazdan as he exited the living room.

"Nope. I have homework" he called out. Yazdan shrugged and walked out of the house behind Yahyah. He wore the Nike slides of his before walking towards the garage where Yahyah was.

"Doesn't Zul have spring break?" asked Yazdan when he neared Yahyah and the other one nodded. "So why didn't he come?"

"It is his choice. I have a feeling he doesn't want to waste the two weeks he is given to stay free" laughed Yahyah and the other one nodded, before they got into the white Mercedes Coupe. Yahyah pulled out of the house garage while Yazdan plugged in the AUX before going on his spotify to play music. He browsed through it, stopping once they exited the compound of the Rashad house. He looked up to the house opposite to theirs and saw no sign of the one he was searching for. Perhaps it was for the best.

Sighing he went back to his playlist. Of course there was a Michael Jackson playlist. He grinned when he saw They don't care about us and tapped it play.

"Oh not again!" whined Yahyah causing Yazdan to let out a laugh. "I am so done with your MJ obsession. No, let me rephrase that. I am so done with your classic old style playlists!"

"Do not call MJ, Backstreet Boys, Westlife, Pierce The Veil and Blue such words! They are amazing bands okay!"

"MJ is no band"

"Excuse him. He was a good man"

"Oh god"

"Shhh! This is the best part"

Soon, Yahyah found himself jamming to Backstreet Boys I want it that way with Yazdan on their way to the market.

Some things never get old.

-

The produce market was roughly half an hour away from their place. It was a wholesale market which catered for most of the vegetable and fruits.

"This place is huge" muttered Yazdan, walking into the large barn. It was not a barn on the inside, rather it was a fully furnished and air conditioned market that had every kinds of vegetable and fruits one could see.

"Alright. Lets get it" muttered Yahyah, pulling out the list Zaiha gave him. It had roughly around 20 items and Yahyah was glad it wasn't her usual list.

"Okay. First up-"

"Let's start from one side. You take the vegetable part and I will do the fruits. We meet here once we are done?" asked Yazdan and Yahyah nodded. Yazdan took a picture of the list before walking towards the fruits side. He browsed through the place, picking up the watermelons, papaya and oranges from the various shelves and putting it in the cart.

"You've got to be kidding me" he muttered, bending down to pick up the grapes from the large fridge like thing.

"Fancy seeing you here" his head hit the shelf above and he winced.

"Crap, are you okay?" said Aanabia, looking over to him with a concerned look.

"Yeah." Muttered Yazdan, rubbing his head. His cheeks were flushed and his heart rate was above normal. What is she doing here?

"Shopping I see. I am here with Nahal to get a few things for the mosque dinner today" Ah that's why Zaiha mom wants this much things.

"Oh-okay" he replied, putting the graped in the cart and not daring to look at the girl in front of him.

"Are you sick, Yazdan?"

"No"

"You are red. I think you have fever" she said, leaping up and placing a hand on his forehead. He flinched and pulled away causing her to sport a frown.

"You are burning"

"I am fine. I- I have to go. Time" he muttered before pushing the cart and walking away.

The encounter left him breathless, hypertensive and he felt his sugar drop low. Sugar drop low. Crap!

He looked at his palms and they were sweaty. It is not from sugar low Yazdan. It is from seeing her. When will you tell Yahyah anyway? The real question, however, was how will he tell Yahyah.

"You done?" he looked over to see Yahyah walking over to him. He nodded at him.

"Great. Lets cash out and head home" he muttered before the two walked to the cashing counter. The man smiled at them before cashing out the things. Yazdan stood by the end of the counter, his aviators hanging from his t-shirt and his eyes trained on his phone. His siblings were spamming his viber.

"Ah you guys done too?" He looked over to see Nahal and Aanabia nod at his ebst friend.

"How are you guys heading home?" asked Yahyah.

"Bus." Shrugged Aanabia and Yahyah looked at Nahal with a questioning glance. The said girl shrugged back at him.

"You guys can come with us. We are heading home anyway"

Oh god No! Yahyah looked over to Yazdan who gave him a tight lipped smile. Guess the plan to tell him was going to have to wait.

"Come on." He said, as he pulled out his wallet and turned to the cashier. "Amex?"

The cashier shook his head and Yahyah pulled out his ANZ Mastercard before swiping. Yazdan watched with fascination as Nahal's eyes grew wide before it turned into a full blown glare at his best friend. He took it that Yahyah forgot to mention to Nahal how rich he was? His gave turned to Aanabia and met hers. She grinned at him and he looked back to his phone, willing his heart to calm down.

"We are outside" Yahyah told the girls and requested someone to take the bags of fruits and vegetables to the car. The two boys walked to the Mercedes and Yazdan opened the trunk, placing the bags he had into it. Yahyah loaded the rest before letting it shut. Then he remembered that the girls would have to put their bags in there too and heaved a sigh.

The two leaned onto the car as they waited for the girls. The sun was shining right to them so they wore their aviators with a laugh.

"What was it that you had to tell me?" Yahyah asked Yazdan and the latter looked up to the barn. It would take them at least 5 minutes to finish.

"I did Istikhara yesterday" he said and Yahyah took off his aviators and stared at him in shock. He didn't expect his best friend to do that.

"For what exactly?" he questioned and by the rush of blood to his cheeks and the rubbing of his neck, Yahyah knew the answer.

"Her"

"And?"

"It was a complicated one. I mean I met her. It was a dream. I met her, she was..... in a hijab which is weird because she doesn't wear one. And she had a ring in her finger, similar to what was around mine. And we were happy I guess" All the while, Yazdan avoided his best friends eyes. His heart was racing and his palms were sweaty.

"So it was a yes?"

"I guess so?"

"You CAN'T GUESS!"

"Well that is what it seemed like"

"You saw her. It was her right?"

"Of course Yahyah. It was her!"

Yahyah grinned and leaned onto his best friends shoulder, almost pushing him off.

"If Allah says it true, who are you to deny?" he jested and Yazdan pushed him off and proceeded to hit his head.

"That is not the point. How am I supposed to tell my family!"

"Aha! You want to tell them now?"

"I don't know!"

"Oh god. You need to know!"

"This is frustrating"

"Relax. We got this"

"She doesn't know anything about me!" replied Yazdan and Yahyah thought for a moment.

"Then tell her. If you really want her in your life, you have to tell her" Yahyah told him and Yazdan nodded.

The girls managed to arrive just in time and the boys shut out their conversation.

"Let go" Yahyah threw a sly grin to Yazdan who glared at him from behind his aviators. He got in and immediate plugged his phone to the AUX before putting on his seatbelt. Yahyah got in and so did the girls. Aanabia set behind him while Nahal was behind Yahyah.

Yazdan shuffled through his phone until he settled on Jay Sean songs.

"Oh you've got to be kidding me!" said Yahyah, pulling out of the parking lot. "Change it Yazdan! Or else I swear I am unplugging your phone"

Yazdan let out a small laugh.

"Try me" he warned before playing it. In a swift moment, the AUX was out and pushed towards the back seat. Yazdan turned to Yahyah to take it back but by then it was with the girls.

"For the love of god, play something nice. This man has old hits in his playlist"

"Okay!" grinned Aanabia pulling the cord to herself and plugging it in her phone. Nahal said nothing and tried her best to avoid the gaze of the CEO.

Soon the car was filled with a hindi song that Yazdan did not know. Aanabia threw a grin at her sister before leaning onto the window and shutting her eyes. Yazdan put the windows down and nodded along with the song. It was slow. He liked it. He shazamed it and found it to be Duniya from the movie Lukka Chuppi. He didn't even know such a movie existed, let alone the song.

It was a beautiful one though.

'Hai Mera Sab Kuch Tera Tu Samajh Le

[Know that everything of mine is yours]

Tu Chahe Mere Haq Ki Zameen Rakh Le

[If you want, you can keep the land with my rights]

Tu Saason Pe Bhi Naam Tera Likh De

[Your name is etched to even my breaths]

Main Jiyu Jab Jab Tera Dil Dhadke

[I live when your heart beats]

Tujhse Mera Ye Jee Nahi Bharta

[I don't ever get tired of you]

Kuch Bhi Nahi Asar Ab Karta

[Nothing works (on me) now]

Meri Raah Tujhi Se Meri Chaah Tujhi Se

[My way is you, My love is yours]

Mujhe Bas Yahi Reh Jana

[I just want to stay here]'

Yazdan looked out to the mirror and caught her gaze on him. He didn't know why it reminded him of her. The song reminded him of her. Being a fluent hindi speaker, he understood exactly what the song was saying. Did she do it on purpose?

"Nice song, Aanabia" complimented Yahyah and Yazdan frowned. Don't compliment my wom- okay you know what, forget that. His mind was on overdrive and this situation did not help.

"How long?" questioned Nahal anxiously and this made Yazdan question.

What exact occurred between the two that caused them to be this way?

****

I have exams. haha.

EID MUBARAK FAMILY!

Update. I tried my best to translate the song for you guys. If you can translate better, do so in the comments. I love helpful fans! ❤

THIS BOOK HAS ENTERED WATTY'S 2019! Watty's is the awards that Wattpad holds each year for the books on their platform and this year, I was like, Hey why not. :) So do read, share and support this book. We can make it through. If not, oh well. I still have you guys!!❤

Thank You so much for the comments!! I love them! :) 

| R - C - V |

xx,

-aalihha.