Chapter 35: A Letter and A Rose.

*

"It felt like eternity.

When it were a few days.

Oh Allah, grant me Sabr,

To wait for his return

for You know,

that my heart needs it the most"

-2am-

*

Thursday morning, Yazdan was discharged. He was heading home. Australia home. Their flight was at 1pm via the Zaeef Jet and Yahyah was leaving with them. This was because Yahyah had work in Adelaide, where he resided before shifting to Middleton to his mother. Of course, Yahyah Rashad would do anything to escape Middleton.

"You alright?" Yazdan asked Yahyah as the two set in the jet which was ready for takeoff.

"Yeah" he replied and plugged in his headphones into his ears. Yazdan looked at him briefly before turning to his phone. He had told Yahyah about his talk with Aanabia the night before and Yahyah was happy for him. But Yazdan knew something was bothering his best friend. Let him be. When the time is right, he would speak.

He plugged in his own headphones before closing his eyes and going into a slumber.

-

Aanabia stared at the closed letter in front of her. It was a blue envelope with a single rose attached to it. Her name was written in a beautiful calibri on the front of it. She had opened it to reveal a blue and white paper. She had read it and re read it at least a hundred times. He was gone. He left for Australia.

'Dear Aanabia.

I am sorry I have to leave like this but I guess this was evident. Mom and dad would never leave me there alone nor would Kayan bhai.

Thank you so much for these roses.

Thank you so much for your prayers, you could say Alhamdulillah because they worked and I am absolutely fine.

I am sorry if I took you off guard yesterday.

But.

Thank you for accepting me as me.

I shall see you when I do.

Till then,

Take care.

Pray on time.

Stay healthy? I am not sure how to end a letter. Google did not provide me that. Sorry.

But. Yeah. Bye. Allah Hafiz.

-Yazdan Zaeef.' She saw a small heart being crossed out after Allah Hafiz and scribbled upon. She let out a small laugh. She would miss him.

She set on the balcony window and stared at the house next door. It felt empty and somehow that brought sadness to her soul. I need to write. And with that, she set there and began writing in her journal.

'Is this love?

I would not know.

Is this love?

It feels amazing.

Is this love?

I feel happy.

Is this love?

My soul feels at peace.'

She randomly wrote her thoughts and re-read it with a frown. Why are there so much of Is this love? Oh well. What's written is written.

"Aanabia?" she turned to see her mother at her door. She grinned at her.

"As salaam alaikum, momma bear. What is it?" she asked her and Hifzah let out a small laugh. Her daughters have been surprising her a lot lately with their new, good changes.

"Wa alaikum mus salaam, my baby. Dinner is up. You should eat"

"Sure" she placed the journal on the window seat and hopped off before walking out after her mother. She set on the table and waited for Nahal. When Nahal walked in, she knew something was wrong. Her usually chirpy sister was quiet and worn out today.

"What happened?" she asked her as she picked up her plate. Their mother went to the kitchen to grab water.

"Nothing"

"You miss Yahyah?" she whispered and Nahal's head snapped to her. Aanabia held her hands up in surrender when she saw the daggers her sister was throwing at her through her eyes.

"What happened between you two?"

"Nothing"

"We will talk about it tonight and that's final" Aanabia, for the first time ever, used her older sister tone with Nahal and that surprised her. This matter was serious.

Hifzah set on the dining table and grinned at her daughters.

"You won a case?"

"Yes. But that's besides the point"

"What is your point then?"

"Coming Monday will be the third week of Ramadhan and only two weeks before Eid. Shouldn't we begin making sweets?" Hifzah's question caught the girls off guard. Amongst all of the hassle, they had forgotten about sweets and the Eid preparation they had to do.

"Ah right. So we need to go shopping?" said Aanabia and Hifzah nodded excitedly. The woman loved festive seasons.

"I guess we can make a list of things for the sweets now and we could shop tomorrow?" suggested Hifzah and Aanabia nodded, chewing on her rice and Beef. She loved beef.

"Ah Nahal. Will you be free tomorrow afternoon?" This snapped Nahal out of her trance and she turned to her mother with a small smile. Forced. Noted Aanabia. She nodded at her before going back to the food that she had barely eaten. Aanabia sighed and turned to her mother.

"So what sweets do you have in mind?"

-

Yazdan lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling. He wanted to leave with Yahyah but he knew his mother will not allow it. She was concerned that he would not take care of himself and relapse.

"Hey?"

"Hey" he turned to see Kayan standing at the doorway.

"Everyone is in the living room. You should come too"

"Now?" whined Yazdan and Kayan let out a small laugh.

"You have slept enough. Come on" he proceeded to pull Yazdan's legs and drag him off the bed. Yazdan whined but Kayan laughed it off.

"Fine" he muttered before following his brother outside.

"Ah. I heard from Safwah about the roses" Yazdan stopped dead on his tracks, while Kayan turned to face him with a smirk. "And he was right. You know who she is"

"I don't" Yazdan replied, all too quickly. Bad move. He is Kayan Zaeef, The CEO! He reads people at the back of his hands and you are his sibling. Obviously he can read you.

"And Sahl said it was accompanied by some song?" Poetry, brother.

"Y-yeah" The blush gave away that Kayan was right. Yazdan knew who she was but denied her identity. He smiled at his brother before throwing his arms around Yazdan's shoulders.

"Don't worry. Tell me when you are ready"

Yazdan merely nodded. I guess I will have to do.

*****

As salaam lovelies. Update. :)

| R - C - V |

xoxx,

-aalihha.