Yasmin tied her scarf around her head and she pinned it down.Standing up,she looked at herself in the mirror,she wiped away at the nonexistent wrinkles on her dress,with shaking hands.She had decided to wear a baby blue dress which she paired with a nude scarf and a nude pair of heels.

She heard a hoot at the gate and she made her way out of the room that she once called her own.She heard her parents walk out along with her grandparents and Yasmin felt her legs shake.She was a nervous wreck and she hopped no one realized that.

Memories were flashing through her mind of a day so similar to this one.The sky had been gloomy and the smell of fresh soil had filled through the house.She could remember every smell and every thought.

Ya Allah,help me to not compare Huzaifa with Muhammed.Ya Allah,give me my strength to do this.

Yasmin walked into the dinning room which connected to the main lounge a.k.a the guest lounge.Taking deep breaths she heard her parents talk to someone and then footsteps coming closer to the house main door.

Yasmin heard her mother tell someone that the ladies would sit on the dinning table and the men would sit in the lounge.

Yasmin’s stomach twisted and she thanked Allah for having the foresight of not eating that morning.

A very beautiful woman who may have been in her forties entering her fifty’s was the first to come in front of Yasmin.The woman smiled at her as Yasmin stepped forward to greet her.

“As salaam mu alaykum.”

“Wa alaykum mu salaam.” The two woman hugged and the elder woman was the first to pull away.

“MashaAllah,you are even more beautiful now that I can see you properly.My idiot of a son is lucky to have found a woman like you.My name is Asmaa.”

Yasmin felt her cheeks heat up,”Jazakallah aunty Asmaa.”

“Let's hope we can change the aunty to mum.In Sha Allah.”

Yasmin put her hand forward to greet a woman who seemed to be in her early thirty’s.

“As salaam mu alaykum Yasmin.I am Husna,his sister.”

“Wa alaykum mu salaam.” They greeted one another with a hug and a kiss to the cheek.

“MashaAllah my brother has good choice.I must say it's his luck.” Yasmin held back a giggle at the wink that Husna sent her.

The third woman to hug her gave Yasmin a huge smile when she pulled away,”As salaam mu alaykum Yasmin.I’m Fatima,Huzaifa’s sister-in-law.”

“Wa alaykum mu salaam.”

“Please sit.” Ayesha said and they all sat down including Yasmin.

Huzaifa sat nervously in front of Yasmin’s grandfather and father.He was nervous as hell and when he glanced at Yasmin he was greatful to see her hand shaking,a sign that she was nervous as well.

“So Huzaifa,where do you work?”

Huzaifa looked at Yasmin’s grandfather,”I work at an accounting firm in Sandton,Byson and Son's.”

“Why do you want to marry our child?Who might I remind you is a widow.Why are you willingly going to let society laugh at your family for marrying a widow?Do you want to prove to the world that you are great?If you plan on playing any tricks with her or this is a prank,I can tell you one thing.I will have you in jail in no time.”

Huzaifa cleared his throat nervously and he shook his head as he lifted his chin,”I have no such intentions and trust me,I haven't forgotten that Yasmin is a widow.I know just how sensitive this is because Yasmin is a widow.Yet I stand in front of all of you and I'm asking for hand,not because I pity her or this is a prank.When a young man looks for a wife,we are told that Deen come first because looks can fade and money can go.MashaAllah,from what I have seen Yasmin’s Deen is perfect in it's own way.Her looks are a bonus and her money,is hers and hers alone.Alhumdullilah,Allah has blessed me with a lot of money that will In Sha Allah set us financial.The sunnah of marrying a widow is something that our society has forgotten and they have put in this dumb rule of widow wed widow,divorcee marry divorcee.When it is heard that a man or woman who has not been married before wants to marry someone who once had a spouse,tongues wag but those tongues don't see what we do.I don't care about society,never have cared and I never will care.People will talk,yes I know but them talking can't ruin the life I want to live.A life that I want to live with Yasmin.In Sha Allah.”

Huzaifa’s heart thumped hard against his chest and he felt as if he would faint at any moment until Ishaaq spoke.

“MashaAllah young man.Your thoughts are impressive.You seem to be really knowledgeable.Are you hafiz-up-Qur'aan?”

Huzaifa nodded his head,”Jee,I became hafiz six years ago.”

“Why haven't you got married up until now?” This question came from Yasmin’s dad,Uzair.

“At first I was busy studying and then I got busy in my work.I wanted to wait until I was settled enough to get married.”

“Not even an engagement before that?”

“No,nothing at all.”

“Hmm.Will you and Yasmin be living with your family after marriage,or will you'll move to another house?”

At this Huzaifa’s father,Yaseen spoke,”No,they won't be living with us.We prefer if our son's and daughter-in-law's be on their own after their nikkah.Today,living in a joint family is not a good idea.Too many problems.”

At the women's table,nani turned to Fatima,”Did you ever live with your in-law's?”

Fatima shook her head,”Never.The minute I came back from honeymoon,I was in my own furnished home.”

Uzair and Ishaaq stood up only to tell Huzaifa and his family that they wanted to talk.Yasmin had stood up to make the tea when her parents and grandparents came into the into the kitchen.

Yasmin focused on the tea as they spoke quietly amongst themselves and they soon walked out.Yasmin poured the tea and after setting two trays,she took them one at a time.Onve everyone had tea,they all sat down.

“Ayeaha,Hajira bring the women here.Yasmin you come here as well.”

They all walked to the longe and Huzaifa stood up so his mum could sit down.Hjs brother and brother-in-law stood up so Yasmin,Husna and Fatima could sit down.

“Our daughter has already told us that she agreed to marry you,Huzaifa.” Ishaaq looked at Huzaifa then at Yaseen.

“We happy with your son.We have agreed that he can marry our daughter.”

Huzaifa smiled and he thanked Allah for allowing this to happen.He was extremely happy and he looked at Yasmin who was being hugged by his sister and sister-in-law.

“Congrats Huzaifa.” His brother,Nizam said as they stood up and bro hugged one another.

“Thanks bro.”

“Congrats brother.” He turned to hug his brother-in-law,Ali.

“Thanks.”

Huzaifa turned to go hug Uzair,”Mubarak son.”

“Jazakallah.”

After everyone congratulated one another,the parents sent Huzaifa to talk to Yasmin alone.Yasmin walked him to her room.

Huzaifa looked around as Yasmin sat on the far end of her bed.He glanced around and saw an empty bookcase near the curtains.The queen sized bed had a blue comforter on it.

“Nice room.”

Yasmin glanced around,”It used to look better.You can sit on the chair.”

Huzaifa sat down and he gazed at Yasmin who looked down,fiddling with her watch.

“Hey.You okay with how fast this is going?”

Yasmin looked at Huzaifa and she sighed at the concern in his eyes.

“Yep.I'm fine with it.It’s just that I'm planning things out in my mind,figuring things out.”

“Such as?”

“Weddings are a lot of planning.Trust me,I know.” Yasmin but her lip,her eyes lowered,”Sorry,I didn't mean to put it like that.”

“You don't have to worry when you say something regarding your previous marriage.You were married,that's a truth that we can't deny nor run away from.”

Yasmin looked at him,”How's the cold feet?”

Huzaifa smiled at him,”None right now but if I do get I'll let you know.How about you?How are you taking this?”

Yasmin smiled at his concern,”I'm okay,taking it step-by-step.I mean I can't just erase the memories in my mind but I can try to make new one's keeping in mind that those memories will always be the same.”

“And I always want you to keep those memories.Yasmin,you still live Muhammed?”

Yasmin nodded her head and Huzaifa spoke,”So can we start this relationship on the base of friendship?They say any relationship that starts with friendship lasts a long time.”

“I don't mind.”

“Oh well,now you stuck with me.”

“Eish,is there no return slip here?”

Huzaifa laughed and smirked at Yasmin,”Nope,you stuck with me until we in Jannah.Forever.”

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As salaam mu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa brakatu everyone

Soo I'm on a three day holiday out at this resort and yoh I needed it

Hope you guys liked this

Welcome to the beginning

Love you all

Take care

Fi Amanilah