Khadeeja's PoV

Rumi asking to marry Charlie has took my sleep away,so does of rest of them. Where did she find the strength to have speak of this so easily. Is she out of her senses.

I took out my phone,no text.

I felt such embarrassment from all that happened yesterday that when today I left home; I informed no one. Well I informed only mum. I wonder if she heard me,I spoke softly as I was scared to my bones.

I haven't spoken to Qahtan since the incident. I feel ashamed of it all. All was my mistake. 

I look over,my sisters. My heart warms with the sight. I love them. Raidah looks so cute with her chubby face. I think she's asleep. Aww she sleeping. She looks tired though.

I look at Jana,she looks worried. Ofcourse she'd be worried Rumi has blasted our heads. I should talk to mum.

I do not know when I slept. The morning came very early. Raidah prayed and slept again.

While I saw Jana sitting on the prayer mat making dua'a with all her
Force. Wow. Oh Jana,I smiled.

I see a different Rumi. She isn't anxious or nervous not even a bit scared. Like nothing has happened.
She does not look even the slightest worried. Hence I questioned " do you love him Rumi?"

"with all my heart" she replied.

It startled me. Does she understand the situation?!

Being home is comfort in the best meaning. I love being home. Everybody loves each another and everybody is lazying around and yet the work is done,even if it's not, It's not my problem it is mum's: by rule.

I chew on some cashews that mum had bought for Raidah.

"does it feel tiring?"  I asked Raidah.

"I don't really feel anything.  Alhamdullilah my kids are nice to me"she smiled to herself.

"kids? Like you're carrying of them" Jana came cutting in.

Raidah sat upright looking guilty.

"I'm sorry I forgot to tell you Jana. I'm expecting twins" Raidah spoke.

We both spit out the cashews!!

"What!!" we both exclaimed!

"I told mum!...I just was as surprised when the doctor told me last month. I did not knew I was carrying two" she said covering her face with the pillow.

"such an important news and you say you forgot!!!" Jana threw all the pillows on her.

"I'm sorry"  she apologized again and again.

Woah,two babies. I'd love to have twins too. But one would do too. When can I have one Allah? I want a child.

"that is why you have such a big tummy" Jana mumbled.

"Say mashallah!"  she grunted.

Afternoon when mum had gone to my brother's house to see my brother's wife because she was ill. We had our alone time. Dad went to work and the house was like it was before.

All of us together. Lazy and happy.

Nobody looks like they ever want to return to their houses.

I worry every  alternative hour about Qahtan and then I worry about Rumi but mostly I have this calming breath freshly wiping my worries and there is content in this house. I don't feel like I'm being judged or watched or I don't feel like I'm not loved. I'm plenty loved here.

I keep changing positions on my bed. Only my bed. Not us. Mine.

Aaaah it feels good.

I did not even change clothes. Still in my comfy pyjamas.

Suddenly the door bell rang.

"it must be Mum" Jana pushed Rumi to attend.

"No it's Charlie" she said without hesitation and opened the door.

Have some jin possessed her?

Raidah seemed to have had much of it she bolted out in anger.

"is this some kind of petty joke Charlie! Have I not told you to be away from us!"

"I called him. Please atleast listen to him!" Rumi interjected.

"let him speak"  I said.

He greeted us,I greeted him back.

"what is it that you want? You wanted to marry Raidah now you want to marry Rumi. If we have rejected your proposal for Raidah then it must be clear to you that we won't accept it for Rumi"  I stated confidently.

"I may seem a road side romeo but I'm not. I apologize if I come as blunt but I have no choice. You see I have embraced Islam and now I am praying regularly and I pay zakat too. I protect my chasity and want to marry someone who can help me on the journey to Jannah from this duniya. I accept that what I had for Raidah was mixed feelings of wanting her for piety with a little infatuation but what I have for Rumi is different. Ilove her for her piety and righteousness.  I feel we would compliment each other well. I'm sure you know that if you neglect a proposal by someone who practise the deen you'd be punished by Allah. Don't take my words as a threat. I do not mean so. I just want to marry her."
He explained desperately.

"then you should've talked to my father. You shouldn't have construct your way from Rumi. That is not a right thing" Raidah spoke strongly.

"Rumi asked me to talk to y'all first" he uttered.

The door bell rang and now a little fear has covered Rumi's face.

We all were in trouble. It was mum.

A long conversation took place between mum and Charlie,mum knew him.

He said no practising Muslim was giving their daughter's hand in her. He found mum to be really comforting the last time he had sent the proposal.so also he liked Rumi. He said he loved our family as whole. He liked us for the deen. To be honest we are nothing exclusive.  We're just doing our very little. The world at large outside are not even practising the very basic and hence to him we look extremely pious.

Mum agreed to him and assured him that she would take his proposal to dad and everything would be done for him to be considered as eligible as other proposal of the community are.

When mum did so,we too opened our hearts. Rumi smiled. There was content on her face. A part I know comes from Tawakkul.

She believes in the Almighty strongly.

The essence I think I lost.....

At the night we all gathered after dinner. Our brothers left. Till now we all have received a text from our respective houses to return.

"thank you Mum for taking it so well. I wasn't doing anything would be displeased to know.  I did not talk to him much. He only emailed twice or so" Rumi thanked mum.

Mum silently nodded.

"why did you listen to him. Why are you agreeing to this in the first place" suddenly Jana seems angry.

"because he seems like a good guy. All you see piety--" before mum could finish Jana spoke in angst "then why did you marry me to Ibrahim! Why didn't you check him? Or is it that you didn't care about piety for me"

"watch your tone Jana!" I stepped.

"she didn't even once look! A kufr who is now at deen is said yes and she married me to a kufr like guy!"
She screamed.

"what is wrong with you! Do you think she would ever do something like that!" I defended.

"she did!" Jana cried.

"stop talking to mum like that!" I stated.

"how do you suddenly come with such pity for mum. Where are you all the time when she's ill.  You don't even come to see her. You live nearby you don't even drop your shadow for any assistance!"  she hissed.

"shut up!" mum slammed.

We got quite.

She took her Abaya and ran out of the house,immediately my phone rang.

I silently left.

My heart was pumping faster. I saw Ibrahim at the side and Jana in her embrace. I was relived. All is fine. We all know Jana is extreme.

I walked at a distance and there Qahtan. Oh well I forgot I had to face him. He greeted. I sat with my head down.

What is happening?

We were so happy.

I sat in my room. Qahtan was with mum. I cried and cried.

What should I do?
I then slipped into the comfort of the night. I felt a calming breeze wrapping me. I lightly breathed the scent. I could smell the rain.

My eyes slightly opened and Qahtan had just offered his prayer.  I saw the clock 2:39 am. Tahhjud.

He came to me and sat beside.
Your aura is beautiful Qahtan.
I kept my head on his lap. He ran his finger in my hair. He looked sad.

After a long silence,he spoke
"I feel so ashamed. What happened should not have happened. I am extremely sorry Khadeeja"

I was shocked. I stood up close to him.
His eyes were sparkling with tears.

"do not embarrass me Qahtan that was only my fault!" I spoke with  hesitation

"I shouldn't have blamed you. I did not know mum has such-and-such kind of feelings for you. I mean you're mine but you were insulted right in front of me and I realised that there might be instances when I'm not around and then too you never speak about what they say to you" he spoke softly.

"No... I-" I couldn't speak he continued.

"mum never liked you,it is only Samara too would follow the same. It is my fault. I should've taken care of the matter. Do you want to live with me alone?"

My breath stopped. I immediately answered "No,I have never loved the prospect ever of living alone" to that he smiled.

"It is not their fault alone Khadeeja,I wonder if you understand"

"I do. Tell me" I placed my head on his lap again.

"why did you not tell me of this before. I almost believed what mum said. She accused you to be unhappy of this marriage, Khadeeja I almost believed her"he said with utmost fear that the him believing that I was unhappy of the marriage was the worst thing to him int he world.

"I did not want to dissappointed you"

"but you did dissappointed yourself. Khadeeja stop thinking your unworthy if you do a mistake. We all make mistakes. You worth every single smile with my every single bone. You are precious to me. Stop trusting doubt start trusting yourself" he stressed on me.

Then he resumed with a smile.
"It is not mum's fault to treat you suchlike for someone to make love to someone they do not like is inevitable.  She nice you just need to try different routes to get to her. You will find her,indefinitely. And for Samara, she a young soul. The younger,the fiercer. So if she more harsh you know she's been through a bad day. See Khadeeja, you do not have to try if you don't want to. You can just ask us to leave. There is nothing wrong with living in a different home. Nobody is a bad person here. It's just tests"

"I want to try" I said with a little fear.

"they all love you. The key is to smile Khadeeja. Once you smile you solve half things trust me. Because half of the complaints are started within the accusation of you having a bad face" he laughed.

I punched his shoulder.

"you look scary when you don't laugh" he said laughing.

I punched him again.

He kissed me and then caught my pendant. The one he gave me on our wedding night.

"this diamond is to come soon Khadeeja. These elders and my sibling are going take the perfect home.for them. If you see this in a way,you are working and making a home for your child,with the best care and protection and love if we live with them. A Love that if joint and shower all wouldn't compare to my mum's alone.  This si my responsibility but this is your choice and I'm sure you're making the best one. For our kids to come and grow up here,you wouldn't regret a bit. There is nothing as blessed as a home with elders"

I smiled.

I should never ever stop talking to him.

"you're a gem Qahtan"  I said kissing his lips.

"smile Khadeeja.  You're more precious for me than I am for you" he said.

"and please go to the salon and do something to yourself.  You look a frankestien or someshing honestly"  he said making a face.

I punched him again.

"No please. Seriously.  Also why don't you wear your dresses I got you. And that lipstick that you use to wear when you use to be a little... You know what I mean right"
He said raising his eyebrows.

I flushed.

"My Chanel Rogue Pirate!i've stopped because you've stopped wearing your green shirt" I remarked.

"No problem. I'd wear it tomorrow but only if I am promised to get a treat in the night" he smirked.

"anything that you like"  I blushed.

And we both slept in each other hold.  Happily and soundly.

"you really do look horrible when you don't smile" he muttered.

I pushed my elbow on his chest.