The twins are definitely going to be the death of me.Aara thought as she stooped to take a better look at the intruder of her personal spot.And,when she finally saw that the guy was not one of the twins,her cheeks turned the brightest shade of red from embarassment.She jerked herself up in a standing position but couldn't open her mouth to say anything.
Instead she lowered her head and mumbled, "I'm srr...sorrrry.I thought it was..it was someone else."
Dayyan,on the other hand found the entire situation thoroughly amusing.The way this girl went completely mad at him for taking her space without even realising who she was talking to made Dayyan chuckle involuntarily.When he first looked at her,her face shadowed by her hand,her eyes squinted because of the sun...his heart skipped a beat.The girl,he has never seen anyone this beautiful.
Aara was counting her seconds of embarassment when she heard him chuckling.She felt quite offended thinking that the man infront of her found her dishevelled state funny.So,without any second thoughts she jerked her head up and looking straight in his eyes,said-
"Excuse me?Are you laughing at me?Well,atleast I had the decency to apologise unlike some people who creeps into other's personal space without permission!"
Personal space?Dayyan was so caught up in the girl's beauty that he didn't even hear a single word she spoke.Now that he looked carefully,it seemed like the girl was angry at him for some reason.That's weird,I haven't even met her before!He cleared his throat and was surprised to find his voice as he asked-
"Sorry?What were you saying?I didn't quite-"
"Ya Allah!Are you thick or what?I have been yelling at you all these time and you didn't even care to listen!" Aara couldn't believe she is fighting with a non-mahram when she just met him for the first time.Oh Allah please forgive me.Wait,meeting for the first time?Omg,this man is new in town,of course he wouldn't know anything.How could I be this respectful to a visitor!Allah please,please forgive me.
While all those thoughts were running through Aara's mind,Dayyan felt awkward just standing infront of her.He didn't know why his heart was beating this fast but he knew one thing,he shouldn't just stare like this to any random girl.His religion does not allow him that.
As he was about to lower his gaze,Dayyan heard a beautiful voice talking.He looked up to see the girl infront of her saying something to him,nervousness etched on her face.
"I am so sorry for being this rude.I should have noticed that you are not a local.Please forgive my stupid attitude."
What Aara said went literally over Dayyan's head but somehow he managed to catch the last part.Forgive her?What she has even done?Dayyan would have pondered more if he had not noticed the girl looking at her expecting an answer.
"Umm..sure I forgive you,even though I don't know what you are apologising for." Dayyan replied sheepishly.
That made Aara smile.The guy looked older than her,maybe a year or two.His eyes,black as the night,seemed to her as an unsolved mystery.Aara had never seen anyone like him before,but then again she had never set foot out of Mystelwood.To say the man was handsome would be an understatement but Aara caught herself midway.She knew better than do such haraam thinking.Islam is her guideline and she promised herself and Allah that she would follow this guide the best she possibly can.
When Aara smiled,Dayyan sweared he was going crazy but this time he managed better.Allah,stay with me..don't let me do anything which you donot like.
"So why were you apologising exactly?"Dayyan pushed with a friendly smile.This is just an acquaintance,that's all.
"Oh,I thought you are one of those infuriating twins whose greatest aim in life is to annoy the hell out of me." Aara replied,being more at ease.Ah,stupid attractions!Thanks Allah for helping...
Now it was time for Dayyan being curious.
"Does by any chance one of those infuriating twins is named Harry?" Dayyan asked,feeling that he already knew the answer to the question.
"Yes, Harry!Harry and Henry freaking Castellan.They are the ones!But how-"
Dayyan cut her off when reality started to sink on him.That weird slash wicked smile on Harry's face,why he was so eager to tell him about the amazing part of the huge beach which only 'he discovered'.It all made sense now.
"Well,I met this Harry on the grocery store and he was overly friendly." Aara snorted at that but Dayyan continued."So,he said that the best view of the beach is from this place and that he found it recently."
"He found it?He found it!" Aara screeched. "I discovered this place when I first came here and that was years ago.Everyone in Mystelwood know how much I love spending time here so nobody really comes to my little sanctuary but those-"
Aara couldn't finish her mini story because she was interrupted by two insanely hideous sounds of laughter as two figures started rolling on the sand where she and Dayyan were standing.The guys were laughing so hard,that tears were pooling around their eyes and they couldn't even breathe properly.
Aara knew those sounds.She hated them with every fibre in her body.I hope you both choke on your laughter!Ya Allah,I'm sorry for wishing something like that!
She rolled her eyes and turned to Dayyan,trying her level best to control the anger that was coursing through her veins.Just ignore them,just pretend they don't exist.Aara kept chanting in her mind.
"Does any one of those lunatics looks familiar?" Aara asked Dayyan.
Dayyan was still trying to process the horrendous scene before him but answered nevertheless.
"Kind of hard to tell,whem I'm trying to figure out what species of animals they belong to." And this time,Aara and Dayyan burst into laughter.
Her laughter was music to his ears, while laughing with him drained away Aara's anger.They can't get her today,Aara decided with a newfound energy.
"Hey poopheads!The show is over.You can pack up now!"Aara shouted to the twins.
Dayyan shook his head,this time chuckling loud.Poopheads!Seriously?
It took nearly ten minutes before the twins stopped getting marinated with the beach sand and managed to walk to where the two decent spectators were standing.
They were still holding their stomachs as every now and then ridiculous sounds escape their lips.They found it so difficult to walk and maintain a straight face that Aara felt like slapping the shit out of them.Miraculously,after several more minutes the twins reached Aara and Dayyan.
"Omg Aara!Your face---"
"You looked bloody hilario---"
"If only this idiot Harry thought of bringing a camera--"
"Heey,don't call me an idiot!"
"Why not?Have you seen her red face?That bloody look was dam-"
"OH SHUT UP YOU FREAKSTERS!" Aara screamed at them,which finally silenced Harry and Henry.
"What will you gain by doing this,huh?How does annoying me benefits you?" Aara prompted,sick and tired of their irritating pranks.After a moment,Aara thought the twins learnt their lesson seeing the fury in Aara's eyes and hearing her angry voice.But oh boy!How wrong Aara was.
"What do we get by doing all these Henry?What do we get?" Harry asked his other half innocently.
"Mmm let me think." Henry said pretending to be deep in thought with his hand under his chin.
"Why,we get to see Aara's insanely hilarious face when she becomes angry!" And with that they both again started rolling with laughter.
But this time,they were joined by a third person.Even Dayyan couldn't stop cracking up seeing the meaningless banter among the three Mystelwoodians.It was a long time since Dayyan laughed so much and he felt his insides started to pain.He didn't really care that Harry used him in their prank on beautiful Aara.Aara,mashallah,the name was just as mersmerizing as its owner.
Talking with one another,laughing on pointless stuffs,bickering for no reason the four of them spent their first meeting and didn't even realise that the sun was already drowning on the horizon.Oh we are so going to be great friends.In sha allah,ofcourse.Dayyan couldn't help thinking.
On the crimson light of twilight,Dayyan introduced himself to Aara.
"So,it was very nice meeting you Aara.I am Dayyan.Dayyan Malik." However,Dayyan didn't draw his hand forward,knowing that Aara wouldn't shake.Her hijab said it all,her personality,her beliefs.Everything.
Aara was grateful of this little gesture from the man infront of her,which she now know is named Dayyan.
"It was nice meeting you too Dayyan,even though I was so rude in the beginning.I am sorry again." Aara smiled apologetically.
"No no its not your fault.Definitely not yours." Dayyan said and Aara started to go home bidding him goodbye.
"Oh Aara?" Dayyan suddenly stopped her.
"Yes?" Aara turned around halfway.
"As salam walaikum." Dayyan said and Aara's eyes widened.He is a muslim!
"Yes I am a muslim." Dayyan confirmed her thoughts.
Aara couldn't stop the smile that broke across her face.She gets ecstatic whenever she meets a muslim,which is very rare in Mystelwood.
"Walaikum assalam,Dayyan.Have a good stay." Saying that,Aara left a smiling Dayyan on the farthest corner of the beach,all along a similar smile playing on her lips.There was a lot of problems at home,where she was heading to.Countless challenges and pains were waiting for her,Aara knew that.
Still,she found a new hope to go on,to face her difficulties head on.Her mind was relaxed as Aara slowly trudged her way to what she calls home.Allah is with me,I know that.I believe that.In sha allah,everything will be okay,after all that's what my Creator planned for me.He will do what is best for me.And this I know for sure,more than any other thing.
Dayyan sat on the beach for a couple more hours,reliving the events of his first day in Mystelwood.The twins were long gone,even before Aara left.Apparantly,they had an important 'work' to do.Dayyan knew what they said must have an underlying meaning to it.They were crazy but that made Dayyan enjoy their company more.
Now,sitting by the seashore,not caring that he didn't eat anything since stepping in Mystelwood.Enveloped by the darkness of night,Dayyan felt peaceful.He was running wild,from one place to another,trying to calm his ruffled soul all these years.Who knew,he would find that one thing needful in this small beachside town.Allah has really been so merciful to me.Sure Allah took away my father,but I have learnt long ago that nothing is for forever.People will fade away,its our deeds in this world that will last for eternity,deciding our fate in the Hereafter.
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Salam readers...You all have no idea how much I enjoyed writing this chapter.I loved all four of them.The twins being my favourite..
I need feedbacks otherwise I wont know should I continue with this plot.Please people,do leave ur comnts below..And voting?that will be a bonus gift.
Love you all.My characters are flawed,but we all are.Its their journey to correct themselves,do stay by them.
Quotes of the day-
"There is a blessing hidden in every trial in life,but you have to be willing to open your heart to see them."
"Strive not to be a success,but rather to be of value."