"sometimes the words flew
and sometimes they grew
parts of her nestled beneath
and parts of her led to a spree.
in all those matters
nothing concerned her
for all she knew
she was a blooming bustle - sarah."
Afra nervously smiled back and forth between her friends who were sitting opposite to her and Sulaaymaan who was right by her side.
It had been hardly a few minutes since Abdullah and AbuBakr arrived and they were already beginning to squirm in their seats under Sulaaymaan's fixed gaze.
Idiot.
She slapped his knee a little indicatively and turned to face her friends.
"So you guys, this is my husband like I've mentioned."
Abdullah snorted from his seat and turned to face the other way. Afra was not happy with how this was progressing. Abdullah was a very monotonous man. His face was always in a single expression and his eyes always had a reluctant breeze in them.
Despite the way he was, he had a natural charm in his actions that attracted a whole crowd of females. He wouldn't even care though, the only person he ever even accepted was her. Which she mostly considered was because of AbuBakr's constant pleas.
It was a forced connection but he never once raised his voice it hurled her away as was his personality. He was tall and well built, his muscles poking through his shirt everytime. Deep blue eyes set everyone on a raging fire, short hair and thick beard resulted as an added bonus and those rare times he smiled, he would be surrounded by a great number of people.
"It has been an honour to meet you Prince Sulaaymaan!"
She focused her eyes on AbuBakr who was now on his way towards Sulaaymaan. And before either of them could even process what was going to occur, he fell on to the floor and clutched Sulaaymaan's shoes as his neck strained up to meet their eyes. Afra watched in an open mouthed horror that was entire body was lain against the floor.
She took to her feet and motioned him to get back up.
"Oh my gosh you're actually a Prince. When Afra told us, I thought she was kidding. Please forgive me your highness. I did not mean any harm. I'm just a fellow citizen."
Afra watched Sulaaymaan keep trying to convince him and help him up but AbuBakr only kept pleading for mercy.
It was no wonder.
AbuBakr â unlike his handsome cousin â was a polar opposite. He was a little short and was a little lower than Afra's height. He had a chubby round face and she never spared a chance at pulling them. His hair was quite the appropriate material for styling and his hairflips attracted a large audience.
Often times he let her play with his hair and practise certain styles. She very much did improve and mastered a dozen already.
"No no you need to relax. I'm not going to get you killed! You're being paranoid."
She heard Sulaaymaan struggle while bending over his knees to help up Abubakr.
Five minutes passed and both Abdullah and her had to get the guy stabilised from the shock of witnessing a real life prince.
"Erm...I hope you are alright. Abubakr is it?"
His worried face soon lit up and he nodded with a fresh smile.
"Yes yes sir. I'm AbuBakr." He then whisper squealed in Abdullah's ear. "The Prince knows my name!"
Sulaaymaan turned to her with his widened eyes and she shrugged while stifling back a smile.
For a few minutes they all ended up remaining quiet. The only person who even seemed to be enjoying the meeting was AbuBakr who kept gazing at Sulaaymaan with his chin propped on his palms with a silly grin.
"Hmm.....would you guys like to know each other?"
Abdullah huffed and Afra smiled at him.
"How about we start with you?"
Sulaaymaan narrowed his eyes and Abdullah crossed his legs, their eyes not once shifting.
"Name's Abdullah. There's no use knowing my second name. Height five foot ten inches. Major aeronautical engineering. An only child and an orphan. Got a huge family and blessed by the almighty."
Sulaaymaan shifted a little and leaned over his knees.
"I see. I've heard that you are moving to America the following year?"
Abdullah gave a curt nod.
"In Shaa Allah. Our families are settled there and we wish to support them than just stay here."
Sulaaymaan's lips twitched with an unnoticeable smile.
"That's considerate Ma shaa Allah."
Abdullah nodded and they both fell silent.
"How about we talk about AbuBakr?"
Afra suggested and in no time, AbuBakr began jumping in his seat with one of his arms outstretched in the air.
"Oh oh oh oh! May I please?"
Sulaaymaan raised his brows and turned to her with a nervous look. Frankly she didn't mind AbuBakr's simple and easy personally but many did and sure enough Sulaaymaan was one among them.
He sat straighter in his seat and cleared his throat before keeping his palms over his knees.
"Myself AbuBakr bin Al Mahmood. Well there are a few other names that need to be told but I don't think you would want to know that. My parents are Abdullah's aunt and uncle. My mother is a dentist Alhumdulillah and my father is a plumber. Alhumdulillah again. I have two sisters after me and one of them is married to one of our other cousins. You see our family is really vast and endless. Alhumdulillah she's blessed with this girl â Aasiya â who resembles Abdullah quite a lot if you ask me. I can show you pictures that mama keeps sending us always. I plan to major in aeronautical engineering as well but there is a slight deviation in pla â "
"AbuBakr.....I think that's enough buddy."
Abdullah patted his back which caused AbuBakr to jerk to silence and smile at Sulaaymaan.
Afra watched them fall to silence again and she pressed her palms together as an idea struck her.
"So we all know that Abdullah has a crush on his cousin Asma."
She watched with a smirk how Abdullah snapped his head at her.
"Hey, not that again Afra. We all know that it's a stupid theory both you and AbuBakr made up!"
Afra shrugged and fumbled with her fingers.
"Theory that's true. But stupid? Nah, it's definitely not."
AbuBakr added while shaking his head.
"Exactly! We all know how much he speaks about her."
Abdullah groaned while pinching the middle of his brows.
"I've said this a million times. She's my enemy. God knows how AbuBakr thought I'd ever like her or how that thought even crossed his mind."
"You means she's your frenemy?"
Afra reasoned while giving Sulaaymaan a glance. He was seated with his back against the couch while his eyes were drifting among everyone conversing.
"I think they're right. Some part of you is hesitating with debating against the idea and you certainly seem to have a tint of colour in your cheeks."
Sulaaymaan added and Afra burst out into a fit of agreement.
"YESSSS! My husband's got it right!"
Abdullah reclined back in his seat before shutting his eyes.
"We all know that's not the case."
He mumbled before turning back to look at everyone.
"Looks like you'll not understand until I put it down. Asma and I have been the worsest cousin pair. We have done terrible things to each ever since we were five years old. I remember this one time I broke her doll and she went ahead and broke my leg. That's not seriously we loathe each other."
She didn't buy the story of course. He may have suffered a broken leg but now he was going to have a broken heart if he didn't confess.
Some people never realized what they meant to each other because of their proximity but once the distance starts to take effect, a lot can be lost.
"Yeah yeah, we'll see about that. Frenemies do that to each other all the time."
Abdullah chuckled.
"Are you kidding me right now? She broke my leg!"
"That's what I am telling you. Go confess before you both break each others' hearts."
He blinked and she kept her gaze locked with his. Maybe it was what she imagined but there was a pretty evident shift in his eyes that was nothing like him. Like a side, a secret, that had surfaced just for a second.
"I'd die than have her as a wife."
He muttered, turning his face to the other side and crossing his arms this time.
"I'll wait for the invitation card Abdullah. Just let that day come and we'll see who wins in Shaa Allah."
She spoke and Sulaaymaan nodded interwining his fingers with hers.
It was late in the evening when Sulaaymaan returned home. After supper immediately, he had left for the official prisons located towards a remote desert area.
For a month now he had not been able to build up the courage to confront his uncle of the massive damage he caused.
But when Sulaaymaan was notified about his case being handled in a week, he knew it was now or never and that time was slipping out of hand.
However much to his disappointment, things did not go as anticipated. Definitely he was not looking forward to a confession or remorseful talk, nonetheless he wished that was the case. Hearing those incoherent words, spiteful remarks and hateful language brought him to discern how insane money could drive a human.
He had killed so many innocent lives and yet remained unwavered.
He was not feeling too good. The case was to be handled in a week's time and the court would come up with a decision.
As he swung open the doors to his bedroom, he found Afra look up from where she was lying down. A blanket wrapped around her with a book in her hands and glasses perched on her nose.
"Assalaamualaikum."
She greeted keeping her book on the bedside drawer and sitting up against the pillow.
"Walaikumusslaaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu."
He swung the doors close and trudged his way towards her. She smiled and patted the seat by her side as he quickly cuddled in and rested his head on her stomach.
She pushed her fingers through his head, massaging and playing with his hair. Although she was aware since his tears were soaking her nightgown, she didn't disturb him and let him weep his heart out. By now she understood how comforting he found it when she massaged his sore head.
And for another few minutes it continued. She didn't speak and he weeped.
"Afra?"
"Yes Sulaaymaan?"
"Why aren't you asking how it went?'
"I already got my answer through your tears."
He sniffed and got up with Afra loosening her hold from his head.
"Afra....do you know how horrible of a man he is? He killed people. Innocent people. He made us believe things. He made me fall into his sheer illusions. He trapped me in this game. He killed my feelings for a while. He killed my family's peace."
She nodded gently and gave him a few smiled every now and then.
"And do you believe that he was laughing? Laughing like it didn't matter. Laughing like it didn't concern him one bit. Laughing like he wasn't affected at all."
"But then again Sulaaymaan wasn't he a monster anyway?"
He agreed. She was right. He didn't even understand why he wanted to see even the tiniest bit of regret in him. He didn't know why he was so hurt about he was.
"And Afra.....you know what? I asked him. Asked him why he used Waasay? Why he pulled him into this mess? You know what he answered back?"
Afra innocently shook her head.
"He told me that Waasay was stupid. And that he was meant to die one day anyway. He was the easiest bait to catch and use for all the little mischief he meant to cause. And poor Waasay......he.....he......"
He couldn't take it anymore. Just the thought brought back clashes of memories through his head. His laugh, his smile, his eyes, his dreams, his aspirations.
Afra probably could take the hint as she stood up on her knees and pulled him closer as he sobbed loudly in her chest. What was pain after all? It was just that one emotion that never ended.
He had been going through this menace and game for years now. When everyone thinks it has come to an end, to him it was only a rough beginning. A start to something new without certain faces in his life. Without their presence. Where holes would be left. And space would be kept.
They'd forever remain empty.
And he had to learn to without them.
"Hey hey, now that's okay. Relax Sulaaymaan. You are going to get sick Habibi. Relax."
He sniffed and pulled away from her as she dabbed at his face with her pulled sleeve and wiped his tears.
"Afra?"
"Yes Habibi?"
"You know what else he said?"
Afra stopped wiping his face and looking into his eyes.
"He said.....that Baba loved me a lot. That Baba didn't want me to get hurt so he beat me so I could stay away from him. He scared me so I would stay away from him. Glared at me so I wouldn't get attached to him. He said......that Baba had begged him to leave me alive and had said that he would go die instead. He had begged for me and my sisters. Yusra's death was enough of a downfall for him. Baba.....wasn't bad Afra. Baba wasn't bad.....he acted like he was. All the w....wh....w... while â"
He was tired. So exhausted with all the pain he was going through. Every day those memories surfaced. Everyday those new faces reappeared. Every time â asleep or awake â those moments haunted him. Nothing was ever under his control but maybe if he had figured things out earlier, their lives could be saved.
"Sulaaymaan.....please please stay strong. You're never alone right? I'm always by your side. What happened all these days wasn't and will never be your fault. You're a human you can't take control of fate. What's meant to happen is bound to happen anyway. Besides, don't you think it's better that they are with Allah? He's going to keep them happy, he is going to make sure they are served justice. He is going to make all that possible for them. And you know what?"
She smiled the one that melted his worries. The one that reminded him of hope. The one that inculcated within him a growth. The one that sparked him with energy. The one that wasn't even perfect, but was the only thing that affected him.
"Sulaaymaan, you need to hear me out. All your pain, struggles, depression and hardwork will be rewarded. Whatever you are going through, you're blessed. You have a roof, you have food, you have a mother and you have sisters. You have fresh air to breathe and you rise up with the sun that beams. You're blessed Sulaaymaan. Atleast you're not living the life of Syria or Palestine or Afghanistan. You don't have to worry about major life problems. You've been provided well. Be thankful ya zawji. For the one who's thankful in all situations is the true believer. He believes that whatever bad or good Allah inflicts him with, there shall be a reward of a greater benefit. He has taken care of everything for you, so why don't you trust him and leave things in his favour?"
Sulaaymaan did understand that. He wasn't in a position to worry. He shouldn't be stressing out. Whatever was happening was for the best. Good or bad never really mattered. In the end it all lead to just one road of success and mercy.
"You're right.....I'm so sorry."
She smiled again, this time a lock of her hair grazing against the skin of her cheek as she shook her head.
"Don't apologize. You have the right to rant and express your frustration. All I'm saying is don't give up hope or don't underestimate Allah's decisions and aims for you. He knows what you don't."
Sulaaymaan watched her in awe. Those large eyes. That grin. Those acne coveted skin. No she wasn't perfect. His Queen wasn't. But he sure did make him feel like so.
"Afra?"
Her brows raised a little.
"Yeah?"
"What would I do without you? Where would I have been? I knew it from the moment I laid my eyes on you. Something about you spoke gracefulness, patience and endurance. I knew from that moment that I was no longer meant to be alone. My life was with you. You fit into me hayaati. Your insecurities, your flaws, your imperfection â the ones that you consider to be your biggest fears â they fit into me as cure. You don't understand what you've done to me. You're my divine strength."
She had started to divert her gaze by this time, a dark red illuminating against the apples of her cheeks.
"Hey look at me."
He cupped her cheeks and forced her look at him and as they did, their heartbeats melted into one another's.
"We're spouses. You're my strength and you're the only courage I'll ever have. Dark days might come but unless you're by my side, no light can ever shine. I might breathe and be alive but without you there's no reason to smile."
Her eyes welled up and a tear dropped onto his hand.
"I don't know Sulaaymaan.....I don't know how I fell for you too. You know how much I used to loathe you? But look at how times change. How fate plays it's game. And how Allah turns hearts. I don't know why or how I am deserving of someone as pure as you."
He smiled and ran his fingers through her hair. She leaned into his touch and smiled despite the tears.
"Whatever the case, we'll never be displaced."
She smiled.
"For Allah is now our protector. The one who guided us and helped us grow together."
« Assalaamualaikum Princesses â¤
I'm sorry....is it weird that I'm crying?
This chapter officially marks the end of this book.
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I'm so overwhelmed at the moment and I know I cannot type down all pieces of my heart right now. But I'll do so soon in Shaa ALLAH.
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A quick note that I'm beyond blessed to have you all as my family. Please continue being my sisters. I wouldn't be able to move anywhere in life without you all.
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And another would be that.....I've written a short story by the title MELODY. I randomly started it but came up till the end. It takes literally seconds to read. Could you all please be kind enough and let me know what you think please? It'd mean a lot since that area of writing is out of my comfort zone. â¤â¤â¤
Jazak'ALLAHU QAIRAN KATHEERAN and a HEARTY thank you to everyone.
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Much love,