Yasmin waited for the complex gate to open when the guard,Thando came to give her something.

"Good afternoon Ma'am.Someone dropped this off for you."

"Thank you Thando." Yasmin smiled at him taking the envelope and she drove to her flat block.

Yasmin was glad that it was finally the holidays and she could stay home all day,doing nothing.

Yasmin entered the flat and after kicking off her shoes she brought the envelope closer.

There was no address,just To Yasmin written on the front.

Wonder who it's from,she though to herself as she begun to open it.Once it was open,Yasmin begun to read it.

As salaam mu alaykum Yasmin
Jeez,in the time of Whatsapp,Facebook,Twitter and email I'm writing a letter.Well you not on those so it was my last choice.Now you probably wondering who's this ass writing a letter to you,it's Zahraa.Your best friend.
I'm not angry at you for cutting all contact with us cause I knew you needed space but now,now I need you.
My nikaah has been fixed,we had a small sherbet and everything's decided.But I can't get married without my best friend next to me.Please.
I'm writing my number at the bottom with a lot of hope that you will decide to attend.
And if you feel like you can't attend my nikaah then in two days which is Sunday im getting the gang together along with my fiance and a few of his friends.
Btw I'm engaged and Sameeha is on her way to her engagement.Farzana is waiting to finish her degree.
So on Sunday we meeting at Mugg & Bean in Sandton City the one on the Cnr Rivonia & Sandton Dr,at 1 o'clock but you can come according to Indian time.It's finally halal like wow can you believe it.
I really hope to see you and introduce you to Farooq.Now we getting together and I want you there....Pleaseeeeeeee.
I love you loads and hope to see you
Here's my number:0841234567
In Sha Allah you will attend but if you don't want to no stress.Just know I'll just come to your flat whether you want me there or not and annoy the living hell out of you just so that you talk to me.
Love Zahraa.

Yasmin set the letter on the couch and she took a deep breath.

Zahraa had finally contacted her and she was getting married.Wow,where had the time gone?

Yasmin glanced at the letter and she smiled.Her Zazu was getting married and she had not known a thing.Her smile slipped away and Yasmin did not know what to think.

After Muhammed passed away she had cut each and every contact with her friends.She had deactivated her Instagram account and changed her number.Her parents had known not to give anyone her number and she was fine with her life being this way.

Alone.

The doorbell rang and Yasmin quickly got up.She checked from the peephole only to see Maryam and Yacoob,she opened the door.

"As salaam mu alaykum ma,papa.Come in." She said after opening the gate and they stepped in,greeting.

"Give me the pot ma." Yasmin took the pot and put it on the counter while ma and papa took a seat.Yasmin moved to take out cutlery while talking to Yacoob about her day and the holidays.

Maryam's eyes fell on the paper on the couch and she picked it up.As she read through it,she felt her heart thump.This was her chance to get Yasmin to break her shell.This was her chance to give her daughter-in-law a second chance at life.

"Ma,papa do you'll want to have supper now or after magrib?" Maryam glanced at her daughter-in-law with a smile.

"After magrib is fine.Come sit here with us." Yasmin nodded and laughed when Yacoob took the TV remote only for Maryam to whack his arm.

"If you wanted to watch cricket you could have done so at home.Why did you come here?"

Yacoob glanced at her with a smile,"Well,you wouldn't have let me stay at home and I want to watch the test match.So,talk to Yasmin while I do that."

Maryam rolled her eyes glancing at Yasmin who was having a good chuckle.Maryam decided to bring up the letter.

"Ahh Yasu?"

"Jee ma?"

Maryam guiltily lifted the paper up,"I read this."

Yasmin's smile faltered but she shook her head,"No problem ma.Anyway it's nothing confidential."

"Will you go?" Yasmin heard the hope in Maryam's voice and she bit her lip.

Maryam saw the indecision on Yasmin's face and she reached forward to hold her hands,"Yasmin,please go.I know that you don't want to but it will be nice for you to go out and have some fun.You have dedicated yourself to us and your work,but I think it's finally time for you to dedicate some time to yourself.Please go."

I could go and see everyone.Plus Zazu is taking the initiative so maybe to keep her heart I should go,Yasmin thought to herself.

"Okay,I'll go."

Maryam got a huge smile on her face and she stood up,"Come let's see what you can wear to this and no,you are definitely not wearing black.I hate seeing you in that color but now time for some bright colors."

Yasmin gave a panicked look to Yacoob who had turned to watch them with an amused look and he shook his head,before looking at the TV.

"Sorry Yasu,I got to watch the match."

Yasmin shook her head at him,"Betrayal at it's finest." She said as Maryam made her sit on her bed,but she watched with a smile as Maryam looked at her before looking at the cupboard.

"Can I open your cupboard?"

Yasmin nodded her head sighing dramatically,"Now ma,you pulled me here so I think you can.Plus it's not like you've ever opened my cupboard without my permission,ma."

Maryam smiled at her and turned to the cupboard.Yasmin watched and she saw a happiness on Maryam'a face that she had rarely seen since Muhammed's passing away.If this is what it took to make Maryam happy then Yasmin would definitely do this again.

Maybe she should let Maryam help her choose a dress to wear to Zahraa's wedding.Thaf would be a great idea to get Maryam out of the house.

"Here you go." Maryam turned around with a white dress and nude throwover,which had white flowers all over.

"Wow ma,this is cute.I'll probably pair it with my nude heels and a nude scarf."

Maryam glanced over her cupboard and her eyes fell on a bag that she knew very well.It was Muhammed's first gift to Yasmin and he had brought it over to show Maryam.He had been so excited and she had laughed at his face.

Ma,you know how much she means to me.It's my first gift for her and I want it to be the best gift.I just want her to be happy.Don't laugh ma.

Yasmin looked at Maryam when she went silent and her eyes followed where she was looking.It was a peach bag,her first gift from Muhammed.She knew what was going through Maryam's mind.He had shown it to Maryam first and once Maryam knew he had given it to Yasmin,she had phoned her to have a laugh at her son's face when he showed it to her.

Yasmin stood up and she stood next to Maryam,wrapping an arm around her.

"He would want you to be happy.I wish that we could just keep you happy."

"I am happy,ma.You are my happiness,ma and papa."

Maryam turned to face her,"Promise me you'll try to take baby steps,towards your new happiness.You won't refuse any happiness that comes to your door.For his sake."

Yasmin froze,she knew that Muhammed would have been happy if she was happy.He would have laughed at her distancing herself from everyone and everything,calling a stupid bookworm.He would have wanted her to lmove forward.She had been so lost in her grief that she had forgotten just how much her happiness had meant to him.

This was her realization and with a slow nod of her head,she agreed,"Okay ma,I promise."

On Sunday morning,Yasmin woke up at around 9 o'clock and after brushing her teeth,she decided to go on the treadmill that was in the lounge.Yasmin watched outside as the birds flew and the cars went past.At 10 o'clock she went to have breakfast.

She was excited to be seeing her friends after so long and she could not wait.Two years was a long time not to meet your friends and she knew they would be as excited as she was.

Yasmin hurried to go bath and change.She slipped her wallet into her nude bag,the one Muhammed had bought for her and she put her phone in it also.After cleaning up,she grabbed her car keys and house keys.

Yasmin sat in her white Golf 7 GTI and reached for her phone,turning on Waze to type in her destination.After slipping a Ahmed Raza Qadri naat CD into the player and once Dar E Nabi begin playing she started to drive out.

The soothing naat,was soft on her ears and Yasmin smiled as the lyrics played out.She loved listening to naats.Being bilingual was great.The greatest pleasure was knowing Urdu which was so beautiful.

In one hour,Yasmin begun to look for parking space at the Mugg and Bean that Zahraa had told her to reach.She was 15 minutes late due to an accident on the highway.

After parking the car,Yasmin reached for her bag and after slinging it on her shoulder she got off the.Yasmin locked the car and slid her keys into her bag,taking a deep breath as she began to walk towards it.

Her heart was beating extremely fats and Yasmin actually had to stop walking,so that she could take a few deep breaths to slow her heart down.

As Yasmin stood at the entrance she glanced around to see,if she could spot one of her friends.

"Hi,can I show you to a table?"

Yasmin looked at the waiter and shook her head,"Uhmm,no I just need to find my friends.They already seated."

"Oh,are you here with the group of girls in scarf?" Yasmin nodded and the waiter smiled.

"They at the last table at the end." He pointed out and Yasmin saw the familiar backs of her friends.

"Thank you." Yasmin took a deep breath again and begun to walk towards the table.Her blood rushed in her ears and she felt a ringing sensation but took a deep breath to pull herself back into control.

Yasmin could hear Zahraa troubling Sameeha about finding a guy and then she heard Farzana ask Zahraa if she thought Yasmin was coming.

"I wish and hope."

"Well,wish and hope no more Zazu.Congrats by the way." Before Yasmin was done,Zahraa was out of the chair and crashing into Yasmin.

Yasmin wrapped her arms around Zahraa as tightly as she did.She felt a second and third pair of arms around her and Yasmin blinked back tears.

The friends pulled away and they all smiled at one another.Sameeha and Farzana were sniffling while Zahraa had a few tears dropping down her face.

"Oh no Zazu.Please don't cry." Yasmin said as she took a tissue out her bag and handed it to Zahraa who wiped away her tears.

"How can I not cry?I'm seeing my best friend after two years,that's a bloody long time.Sue me."

Yasmin laughed,"Well,you did threaten to camp outside my flat so how could I not come?I definitely wasn't going to feed your ever hungry bum."

"Oh thank the Lord you here now Yasu.Zazu was getting so out of hand now you can handle her fat bum." Zahraa playfully glared at Farzana who laughed with the other girls.

"Farzana is right.Gosh,it was a mission dealing with ever hyper,ever crazy Zazu.Now you back so mubarak.Now we are free."

"Hahaha,not funny guys.Isn't I wasn't that bad Yasmin?"

Yasmin's eyes went wide and she looked down at the so interesting floor,Zahraa gasped.

"Traitor."

Yasmin gave her a cheeky smile,"You know you love me."

Zahraa rolled her eyes,"Unfortunately that is very true."

They laughed again and someone clearing their throat brought the girls out of their small bubble,"Care to introduce us?"

Zahraa turned around with an apologetic face,"Sorry,I kind of get excited to see this girl.Anyway."

Yasmin looked at Zahraa who hooked her arm into Yasmin's elbow,"This is Yasmin,my best friend and Yasmin this is Farooq,my going to be husband."

Yasmin gave a small smiled,"It's great to finally meet Zahraa's other half.I've heard a lot about you."

Yasmin threw Zahraa a glance,"I hope all good things."

Zahraa rolled her eyes,"Duh.Oh and this is his best friends.Zayaan,Luqmaan and Huzaifa."

Yasmin only nodded at the other men before looking down,"Can we sit or are we going to get this whole thing going while we standing?"

They sat down and as the conversation went forward,Yasmin sat unaware of the glances that were thrown at her.These glances were short but questioning.They wondered what laid in the personality of this quiet yet sincere answer person.What secrets kept her eyes hooded and what made her tick.This was the beginning of many more glances and a few more torturing months,before this would turn into something beautiful.

Something halal.
_______________________________________
As salaam mu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa brakatu

So our male lead has finally made an entrance 💃💃💃💃

So how was it people?

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter.

I can't wait to write the upcoming chapters 😁😁😁

Keep well
Take care
Fi Amanilah