The crescent of hope

Sibling interference

"That's how the universe works: it gives you the one thing you said you'd never want."
                                 - Ella Maise, Marriage for one.
ITS LITERALLY MY FAVOURITE WORDS CANT DESCRIBE HOW MUCH I LOVE JACK AND ROSE AND EVERYTHING ABT THIS BOOK AHAHAHA

After what felt like an hour, Daneen and Hania finally arrived at the cafe. As they entered, Hania spotted Eizzah and they made their way towards her, greeting her with "Assalam alaikum Eizzah." However, Eizzah responded with a glare. "Walekum assalam, itni jaldi kyun aagye? Mujhe tou sirf wait karay 30 minute hue hain," she said, pretending to be angry. "Acha na sorry, Hammad bhai Hania ko jaane hi nai de rhe the," Hammad Amir Khan, the second eldest son of the Khan family, was happily married to Hania, their best friend. They had secretly crushed on each other for a long time, and when the right moment came, Hammad talked to his parents and sent them to Hania's place for a rishta. Now, after 3 months of their nikkah (marriage), they seemed incredibly happy together, Mashallah. "Haw, jhooti," Hania said shyly.

"Daneen, Shehryar saamne bethe hue hain, mil lo unse bhi, zaruri kaam hoga" Eizzah said contemplating that it must be something important as Shehryar, has never made a conversation with her. Not that she wanted it to happen. Daneen nodded and walked over to her brother, who had always been her support and cheerleader. To the world he was the biggest grumpy, but according to his family, it made him unique and made them feel special everytime he talked to them freely, as, for a fact, he is never a conversation-starter. She knew he had gone through something he could never forget – losing his beloved right in front of him. She felt sorry for her brother, and now she wanted him to move on and trust in Allah.

"Assalam alaikum, bhai," Daneen greeted with a warm smile as she sat in front of her older brother, Shehryar.

"Walekum assalam," he replied curtly, his disappointment evident in his tone.

"Naraz hain?" Daneen asked, concerned.

"Iska behtar andaza tou tumhe hona chahiye na? Meri zindagi ke faasle mere jagah tumne jo lena shuru kardiya hai? Meri ehsasat ka bhi sahi andaza hoga na phir?" he replied, his disappointment deepening.

Daneen, six years younger than Shehryar, had always been treated by him like an ideal brother should treat his sister. Despite the age gap, they were always very close. However, Daneen couldn't bear to see her brother leading a life devoid of genuine anticipation, and she wanted him to move on. Without a second thought, she had urged their parents to help her find a suitable match for Shehryar. A few days ago, Daneen had invited a family over to meet Shehryar, keeping him in the dark. It was supposed to be a surprise for him, but it turned out to be an annoying one. Shehryar clearly expressed to the visiting family that he hadn't moved on yet and had no plans to do so anytime soon. He apologized for the inconvenience caused and, upon learning that Daneen was behind this, he gave her a disappointed look before retreating to his apartment. Although their mother wanted to stop him from leaving, she knew he needed space because they had hurt him.

"Bhai, I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have interfered so much, but my intentions weren't bad. I genuinely want the best for you because you have always supported me and shielded me from the wrongs of the world. You have done so much for me, fulfilling all my wishes, taking blame for my silly mistakes, helping me get closer to our faith, and bringing me quirky accessories from everywhere you go. I am truly grateful to Allah for you. I just want you to be happy," Daneen explained, her voice filled with guilt.

"Daneen, if you truly want me to be happy, then stop trying to set me up with a random girl. I am content with who I am and what I have right now. If I decide to get married, I will ask Ammi to look for suitable matches," Shehryar responded in a flat tone, causing Daneen to nod with remorse.

"Mere nikkah ka choro, apne nikkah ke baare mai kya khayal hai?" Shehryar said, attempting to lighten the mood.

"Khabardar jo mere nikkah ka zikad bhi kiya tou. Main kahin nahi jaa rhi hoon ammi abbu ko chor ke" Daneen replied dramatically, and Shehryar laughed.

Oh, how much she missed her brother.

"Alright, bhai, I'm going now to meet Eizzah, my date. I've made her wait long enough, and if I make her wait any longer, she might just kill me," Daneen said, getting up from her chair.

"Aur Hania? Woh kon hai? Kya kar rahi hai tumhare date pe?" Shehryar asked jokingly.

"Third wheeling. Okay I love you. I will stop the bhabhi hunt today itself. Allah hafiz," Daneen said, sticking out her tongue playfully at him before returning to their table.

"Why don't you pick up your brother's call? It can make him anxious," Eizzah said.

"You seem to care a lot about my brother's worries, madam," Daneen said, wiggling her eyebrows with a mischievous expression. Hania couldn't help but laugh.

"I was just speaking generally," Eizzah replied nonchalantly.

"Oh really? Then why do your eyes keep wandering towards my husband's brother every two minutes?" Hania asked, chuckling.

"Because, Baaji, he's reading 'Marriage for one' , my favorite book," Eizzah replied, rolling her eyes but secretly feeling butterflies inside.

"That's also my brother's favorite book," Daneen interjected, stopping the colourful thoughts coming to her mind.

Shehryar couldn't help but reflect on the strong bond they shared. Despite their differences, he realized how much he valued his sister's love and concern. He hoped that in time, Daneen would understand his need for autonomy and allow him to make his own decisions about his life.

Days turned into weeks, and Shehryar gradually started to appreciate Daneen's intentions. He understood that she only wanted him to find the same happiness he had brought into her life. Although he wasn't ready for marriage just yet, Shehryar began contemplating his future and what he truly desired.

Assalam alaikum yall, how is it going? What are your views on the chapter? Is it too fast paced? Im actually planning on writing a slow burn, so please share your thoughts accordingly.
Dont forget to vote please.
Until next time, allah hafiz. 🤍