02:

Oh mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).

So, verily, with every difficulty, there is relief. [94:5] 

Or do ye think that ye shall enter the Garden (of bliss) without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They encountered suffering and adversity and were so shaken in spirit that even the Apostle and those of faith who were with him cried: 

"When (will come) the help of Allah?" 

Ah! Verily, the help of Allah is (always) near! 

Narrated by Ibn 'Abbas Radhiyallahu Anh: The Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam sent Mu'adh Radhiyallahu Anh to Yemen and said, "Be afraid from the Du'aa of the oppressed as there is no screen between his supplication and Allah." (Bukhari)

Chapter 2:

Dihya's POV:

The nurse helped Mardiyyah onto a clean bed. She had taken her to the bathroom and changed her bloodied clothes and bed sheets.

Alhumdulillah, what had happened wasn't very serious. The nurse who had put on Mardiyyah's drip couldn't find a vein in her arm or foot, so she put the needle into her neck. Mardiyyah had moved at an awkward angle and because of the way the needle was poked, it had come out. She now had a small hole in her neck and the nurse said that if it wasn't covered properly, it would continue bleeding, which would be dangerous. But Shukr, Alhumdulillah, if it was looked after carefully, after a month the wound would be healed.

Mardiyyah's father still hadn't contacted me and I was getting a little bit worried. She was going to ask where he was, and if I said that he ignored my calls, messages and refused to call me back, she'd become even more upset.

I watched Mardiyyah's face scrunch up in pain, as the nurse roughly poked the drip into a vein in her left arm. A tear trickled down her cheek, but she quickly wiped it away.

The nurse that was helping her was absolutely unfriendly and was hurting her more than helping. The urge to walk over and punch her got stronger with every passing second. But, I had to keep my calm and stand in this corner, or else I'd be kicked out, and I couldn't have that. No, not at all! My love needed me...

Mardiyyah's POV:

She was handling me as if I was a rag doll. My side was hurting even more as I got on to the bed.

Dihya...

The only thing-or person- on my mind, since I had woken up, was Dihya. Even though he was there, I was not allowed to see him at that moment. And that, was absolutely heartbreaking. I didn't have any idea where he was then.

The nurse glared at me AGAIN as I hissed in pain. Was it my fault that she was gripping my chest with her claw-like nails? I wished Dihya was there to punch her in the gut. I managed to finally get onto the bed, with only a mountain load of pain.

'You better stay there now, and don't move. I'm not coming and cleaning up after you again. Make me work so d*** much,' she barked.

The only reply that I could form was vulgar, so I remained silent.

'No comeback...? I knew that you were a pathetic retard—-'

'Excuse me, I'm going to interrupt and tell you to leave my wife alone. Talk to her like that one more time and I swear, I'll kill you. Not hurt you, KILL you,' Dihya said through clenched teeth as he stepped out of the shadows. My heart swelled with joy at seeing him.

'Zawyj, leave it. Remember that Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam said that the Du'aa of the oppressed is accepted by Allah Ta'alah. So, thanks to her, we'll walk into the Gardens of Jannah together, forever.'

He stared at me with a small smile, and then turned his attention back to the nurse.

'Leave now, please. My wife may have forgiven you, but I still have the insane urge to... nevermind. For your own safety, please, leave the room...'

The nurse nodded, put her head down and then left the room. She looked scared out of her wits. I laughed a little, but a sharp pain shot through my chest.

'Ah...' I took in a gulp of air, then turned to look at Dihya sitting next to me, the anger gone, and replaced by worry. I took his hand in mine and kissed it.

'Don't worry. I'm going to be fine, In Shaa Allah.'

'In Shaa Allah, Aameen... Now, tell me how much you love me,' he said teasingly, with a mischievous grin.

'Who said I love you at all?' I asked with an equally mischievous smile.

'I can prove that you do,' he said confidently, moving closer to me.

'I dare you.'

He moved closer and tangled his long fingers in my hair. Sadly, the nurses had taken my jilbaab and scarf and kept them in the corner of the room, only for me to wear when I left the secluded room.

'Challenge accepted,' he whispered, before kissing my eyelids and then my lips softly, taking my breath away. Like, thank you dude. I was struggling to breathe already!

He pulled away and smirked triumphantly.

'Do you love me Dhul Hun?' he asked softly.

'More than you'll ever know,' I said before closing my eyes and lying down completely.

'I think I have a pretty good idea, my darling,' he whispered and kissed my forehead lovingly.

I opened my eyes and found his beautiful face inches away from mine. Yes, he had a beautiful face, always lit up with noor.

'I'm cold,' I told him snuggling into the blankets. Eh, who was I kidding? They were hardly warm.

He stood up, over me, and rubbed his large hands up and down my arms. That was so much better.

'Better?' he asked quietly.

I nodded and closed my eyes, enjoying the peace.

'I'm tired Zawyj,' I said softly.

He threaded his fingers through my hair and pulled me closer.

'Go to sleep then, Dhul Hun. I'll be right here when you wake up.'

'Promise?' I murmured, already half asleep.

'Wallahy.'

'Hmm,' I said, a small smile on my face. I was tired. So, so tired.

'Uhhibbuki fee Sabeelillah Dhul Hun,' he whispered and kissed my forehead lightly.

'Love you too...' I whispered, right before falling into a deep, dark abyss full of bright green birds.

Dihya's POV:

I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I took it out and found that Mardiyyah's father was finally calling me back. Getting up, I quickly made my way over to the corner of the room and then answered.

'Assalaamu Alaykum Dihya,' he said in his business-like voice. I swear, this man can never smile or even talk kindly to me.

'Wa Alaykum Salaam Wa Rahmahtullah, Abbi. How are you?'

'I'm well, how are you?'

'Good, Alhumdulillah. Actually, horrible. Mardiyyah's in hospital Abbi...'

'What!? What did you do to my daughter!!!???? I swear, if you—-' I could hear his fast footsteps, followed by his car starting.

'No, no, I didn't do anything! She has...she has cancer... She's in Pinewood hospital in—-'

'What!?'

That was the last thing he said, before he ended the call. Ugh, what was wrong with that man?

There was a knock at the door of Mardiyyah's room. Quickly pulling her scarf from the side, I wrapped it loosely around her head before telling the person to come in.

Dr.Tahmid walked in.

'Assalaamu Alaykum,' she said softly when she saw that Mardiyyah was sleeping.

'Wa Alaykum Salaam Wa Rahmahtullah..'

I didn't bother lowering my voice, since my wife slept like the dead.

'How long ago did our darling sleep away?' she asked, walking over to the other side of the bed, and fiddling with the drip.

'Not too long ago. Maybe an hour,' I said in a weird voice as she fiddled with some other apparatus attached to Mardiyyah. I couldn't stand seeing her attached to all those machines.

Dr.Tahmid frowned before looking up at me.

'Has she been really tired since she's woken up?'

'Yeah, I guess so...'

'Out of breath?'

'Yup...'

Her frown grew even deeper.

'Excuse me, Mr.Hassan. I'll be back in a little while. As Salaam,' she said hurriedly before walking out of the room, the deep frown not leaving her face.

Ya Allah, please don't let it be serious. I looked at my watch. 15:15... Where did the time fly to? Dhuhr time was almost over.

I got up, made wudhu and lay my musallah on the floor. After I finished my salaah, I sat and made Du'aa to Allah Ta'alah, asking him to guide me in this difficult situation as well as ease it.

Looking toward Mardiyyah, I thought of my mother. When will she be here?

As if on cue, I heard her yelling at the nurses. Ya Allah, this mother of mine. I was embarrassed even though I wasn't with her. My poor brother and sister. After a while, I heard my mother's angry footsteps, and my brother Faheem apologising to the nurses. I quickly wrapped the scarf tighter around Mardiyyah's head and used a corner of it to cover her face.

They knocked on the door and walked in, my mother still muttering under her breath.

'Dihya! Assalaamu Alaykum brother!' my brother Faheem said, walking straight to the corner I sat in. His face was full of mischief and even at 19, he had a playful glint in his eyes.

'Faheemah! Wa Alaykum As Salaam sister,' I said with a grin.

He scowled and said:

'I try to be nice to you, but you just find a way to piss me off every time!'

'That's what big brothers are for, Faheemah,' I teased.

I looked around the room for my sister, Maryam. She was holding Mardiyyah's hand in her own, trying not to cry. Faheem pulled me back into the corner of the room.

'How is she?' he asked me.

'Mardiyyah?'

'No... the other sick person! Of course I'm talking about Mardiyyah,' he said like I was stupid.

'She's... I don't know Faheem. I'm just...frustrated! Every time I get close to someone, they're pulled away from me. I don't know what to do anymore...'

I bit my knuckle and crossed my other arm over my chest. A dumb habit I have when I try to stop myself from crying.

'Uhm... Bhai? I have something to tell you... I know that this isn't the best time, but...'

'Cut it Faheem. What is it?'

Faheem had a habit of delaying things when he was nervous.

'Ok... do you know my friend Ihsaan?'

'Yeah... The 20 year old aalim, haafidh, qaari and in the process of becoming an engineer?' I asked with a grin.

'That's the one!' Faheem said chuckling.

'Uhm... He wants to get married... And he's interested in Maryam...'

My eyes opened wide and I grinned.

'That's great, Alhumdulillah.'

Ihsaan was an amazing boy and one of the only people I wouldn't mind marrying my sister to.

'There's a catch...' Faheem said.

'What's that?'

'He wants to get married in the next two weeks!'

'Ok...errr...That's...Wow. Two weeks?'

Faheem nodded and I thought about it for a while.

'It's actually not a bad idea. Nabi Sallahu Alayhi Wassallam said that we should hasten in making nikaah, right? I say, if Maryam agrees, we get them married, In Shaa Allah.'

'I hope she does. Actually, I'm sure she will,' Faheem said with a naughty grin.

'And why's that?'

'I think—-'

'FAHEEM AND DIHYA! GET OVER HERE NOW!!! BLOODY GOSSIP GIRLS,' my mother yelled.

Faheem and I nodded and quickly walked over to them, where my mother twisted both of our ears.

Mardiyyah was awake and she and Maryam were talking about some nonsense. She smiled at me through her niqaab, now properly on with her scarf.

I smiled at her and she called me to sit next to her. I walked over and kissed my sister on her head before sitting down.

'Ah, my dearest sister. How would you be?'

'Alhumdulillah, well. And you?

'Good, good...'

'So darling,' my mother said to Mardiyyah, 'when will you be discharged?'

Before she could say anything, Dr.Tahmid walked in.

'Tonight, In Shaa Allah,' she said to my mother.

My mother looked like she was going to burst from happiness, my siblings were grinning like idiots and I'm sure I was too. Only Mardiyyah didn't look happy.

'But...?' she asked the doctor.

Dr Tahmid smiled at her sadly. All of our grins disappeared, replaced by worry.

'I'm afraid the cancer has spread. It's at stage 4 and has spread to your other lung as well. The only thing that will help at this point is Du'aa. I'm sorry, but things aren't looking too good right now. It would be best to go home and spend your time with your husband and family. Unless you want to do treatment...?' The doctor asked.

Mardiyyah shook her head, with a sad smile on her face.

'I'd rather pass away on my own bed,' she said.

'No,' I choked out.

'You're going to get better 'Diya',' Maryam said, but she was crying.

'Do you want to do the treatment?' Dr. Tahmid asked again. 

Mardiyyah shook her head.

'Of course she wants to!' 

We all turned to look at the person standing in the doorway. 

'Abbi!' Mardiyyah said happily.

'Salaam Habibti,' he said with absolutely no expression on his face. He sauntered into the room as if he owned the place.

My grip on Mardiyyah's waist tightened.

Her father's eye landed on mine, and I saw his face change colour.

'Mardiyyah, I want you away from that boy!' he said.

She looked at him, shocked.

'What...Wh...Wh...Why?' she stuttered.

'He's bad luck! Get away from him! He's the one that brought the cancer to you!' Her father screamed.

My eyes opened wide, and I saw Faheem's eyebrows shoot up. Dramatic much?

'Abbi,' I said softly, and took a deep breath before continuing, 'I'd never do anything to Mardiyyah. I love her. And as Muslims, we shouldn't believe that our fellow brothers/sisters are 'bad luck.' In fact, there's no such thing as luck in Islaam,' I said in a calm voice. The calm before the storm.

'I don't care about all your nonsense, give me back my daughter. I refuse to let her go home with you. Her home is with me,' He snarled.

'Abbi, please don't do this,' Mardiyyah begged.

We all argued with him and I wiped Mardiyyah's tears away as she clung on to me. Couldn't he see that he was hurting her by doing this?

'Enough!' Her father yelled.

'She's leaving with me, and that's final! And don't try anything funny. I promise you that you will regret it,' he said, and then walked out.

My mother came to Mardiyyah and held her face in her hands.

'Don't worry darling. Allahu Aa'lam!' 

Maryam held onto Mardiyyah's hand tighter, and bit her lip as tears streamed down her face.

Mardiyyah let go of me and gave Maryam a hug.

'Faheem, Maryam, let's go. We'll be back just now,' my mother said and walked out, pulling my brother and sister with her.

As soon as they closed the door behind them, Mardiyyah buried her head in my neck and cried, her niqaab falling into my lap. I held her to me and ran my hand over her head and back, and kissed her temple over and over again, my own tears falling.

'I can't survive without you,' she choked out into my neck.

I wiped the tears falling down her cheeks while she played with my beard and snuggled into my chest.

'I can't survive without you Dihya,' she repeated.

'Don't talk like that Dhul Hun. You can and you will.'

She started to shake her head in protest but I stopped her.

'Your father is just in shock and he's angry. That's why he's blaming me. Don't worry though. We'll make it work. You'll see. Allah has given you to me, and you're mine forever now. Temporary separation doesn't mean anything, my love.'

She tightened her arms around me and curled her body into mine.

'We fit together like we're two pieces of one puzzle,' she whispered into my ear.

'That's because Allah created me for you before the Earth was created. You were mine before the seas were known of and you'll be mine even when the seas are no more. I'm never letting you go.' I whispered back.

I felt more warm tears on my neck.

'Don't cry,' I said. She didn't listen.

'Please don't cry Dhul Hun,' I pleaded with her.

She looked up at me with puffy eyes. 

'How can I not? My father is taking me away from you,' she choked out. 

'First of all, drink some water.'

 I held a glass of water to her lips and she took a few sips. 

'Right. Now, where were we? Oh yes. You can't cry now because it's wasting the time that we have. Don't you think that we should rather spend our time happy now than sad because of what's to happen. Time is precious, darling, let's use ours wisely.'

She looked up at me smiling so brightly, the sun was put to shame.

'Ok. This is just one of Allah's tests that we have to pass, right? After all, Allah loves those whom he tests...'

'Yes. But wasn't it the other way around? Allah tests those whom he loves?'

'Shut up Dihya. Don't get technical with me. Now...what shall we do until my father comes to take me?' she asked with a small frown on her face.

I grinned at her.

'How does a boat ride sound, Dhul Hun?' I replied, smoothing the frown out, on her forehead.