"But they plan, and Allah plans.
And Allah is the best of planners."
Al- Quraan (8:30)
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Almost a month had gone by after the trip to Dambulla. Khaleesah was busy studying for her year end exams which were beginning the next day. She was sitting by her room window which faced the busy, noisy road. Her house was a three-storied building in which her room was situated in the second floor.
Khaleesah winced slightly as she heard the loud toots of the buses which had stopped at the bus stand. The bus stand was in her peripheral vision and she could see commuters hurriedly getting onto the buses lined up. It was the last few buses for the day, and they were rushing towards it in hope of somehow getting home. She sighed deeply and tried to bring her concentration back to the geography book placed on the wooden desk in front of her.
Khaleesah liked studying at night as the noisy environment of Galle Road was lesser than what it was at the day time. She hated the bustling, noisy and busy environment of Colombo which was polluted by the loud toots of vehicles and also by the poisonous smoke they emit. Since her house was so close to the main road, the members of her family were often found sniffing or sneezing due to a bad cold, because of the very dusty roads.
She was quite stressed by now, as she always studied only the previous day before the exam. She could never study early and relax the days before the exam like some of her friends could. This had become a habit of hers and she couldn't get rid of it, how ever much her mother or teachers warned her that one day everything might get piled up and she might not be able to study all she has to. But, all these didn't matter to Khaleesah as she was always a top ranker in class. Her rank never went below third and she was truly grateful to Allah for it. Her father would always say he would like to see her become something other than the top ranks. He only felt this way because he was scared for his daughter. He feared the evil eyes of people or the evil of pride which might enter her pure heart, and in turn destroy all the beauty of her character. Like all other parents he was very happy that his beloved daughter was always at the top, but because he feared about her Akhlaaq (conduct, character being tarnished he told her otherwise. However, Khaleesah would always keep chanting 'Laa hawla walaa quwwatha illa billah' (There is no might or power, except with Allah) , when anyone spoke about her rank in class or any form of praise, for the fear that pride might enter her heart and that it might result in her fall one day. Her firm belief and trust in her Rabb made her studies easy for her.
Our Beloved Nabi صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
"Verily, Allah does not look at your appearance or wealth, rather he looks at your heart and your actions."
(Muslim)
But even as Khaleesah studied, there were moments when suddenly her thoughts would drift to him. She didn't understand why. With much difficulty she diverted her attention to the world map she was studying; the important cities, rivers, gulfs and more.
Khaleesah had prepared a small flask of tea for her from which she poured to her ceramic white mug printed with red hearts. She kept taking small sips from it, making sure it wasn't too hot.
Two hours later, she was exhausted and her eyes were stinging. But she had more to study. She glanced at the digital clock above her double bed, it read 11:17 PM. She decided she could take a ten minute break and continue till half past twelve afterwards. She wasn't sleepy since she had slept in the evening but her limbs ached due to sitting in one position for so long.
Exactly ten minutes later, Khaleesah was back to studying but this time many thoughts kept running in her mind. Thoughts which weren't relevant to the subject she was studying at that moment. Thoughts she had control of.
"Will I marry someone who will be able to tolerate my quick temper?"
"Will he keep me happy?"
"What is that I need in a husband?"
Then she realised, it was useless wasting her precious time which she could have been studying with these unnecessary thoughts. She realised that whoever she married would be perfect for her. For Allah is The Best Planner and He NEVER makes mistakes. Her Rabb knew what's best for her, and she trusted Him completely. Allah knew what she needed and He would give it to her at the time He thought was best.
Khaleesah didn't know what she needed and she simply placed her trust in Him. Her beloved Rabb. The Lord of The Universe. The Best of Planners.
The One who had already sealed her fate before she was even in the womb of her mother.
With these thoughts running in her mind, Khaleesah had fallen asleep on her books and pens; her spectacles on her nose. The room light hadn't even been switched off. This was how Salma found her the next morning when she entered her daughter's room to wake her up for Tahajjud.
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While Khaleesah was busy with her exams and studies, Ahmed was busy with something else; something related to his beloved daughter's future. Ahmed had come to Dambulla to visit his aunt Yumna again. But this time his reason wasn't to only see his grandma. This time his visit was for a completely different purpose.
Ahmed had arrived at his destination almost an hour now. He still hadn't got out of his car. He sat there thinking how he was going to ask his most favourite aunt what he wanted. He kept glancing at the closed door of his aunt's house from time to time, absentmindedly drumming on the steering wheel with his long fingers.
Finally, gathering all his courage he got out and locked his car door, making his way towards the small gate by the side. He pushed it open with a creak and walked towards the front door, his feet making hardly any noise on the gravel floor. As soon as he got to the door, he rang the doorbell without hesitating even for a second, for he feared he would go back to Colombo without completing his task if he did so. He had to do this for his beloved daughter. He had to secure her future.
He kept looking around him; the garden which had many different flowers and trees and observing the tiled floor of the veranda he was standing in.
After almost a minute had gone he heard the door being unlocked. His nervousness returned making his take a big gulp of air.
Ahmed was a tall stout man, almost forty years of age. He had a thick beard which was a fist length on his round face. He was wearing a casual t-shirt with a collar and three quarter pants to match. He was quite chubby and tan. He also had deep dimples which appeared when he smiled. Khaleesah had inherited her height and the dimples which made her look cute from her father. While her father was 6'2" in height, she was 5'7", the tallest student in her school. Khadijah, her sister, was a photocopy of Ahmed; from the round chubby face to the broad physique.
"Ahmed?"
He saw his aunt by the door with a welcoming smile. He also saw a questioning look in her expression.
"Assalaamu Alaikum warahmathullahi wabarakaathuhu, Maami." Ahmed greeted her with a nervous smile.
After replying to his Salaam which reached her eyes and ushering her nephew inside, Yumna asked softly, "What brings you here, my son?"
"I just came to see you all, Maami." Ahmed answered. " Where is Waapumma (paternal grandmother)?"
"You should have informed me and come for lunch, no?"
"I'm sorry, Maami. I honestly didn't want to cause you any trouble."
"As if it would have been any trouble, Ahmed! We would have been glad to have you." She said with a smile while walking towards her mother's room. "Umma is in her room. Come."
Yusra had just finished praying 'Asr. She was sitting on her musallah making du'aa when she heard the door bell ring and then Ahmed's voice. A smile appeared on her beautiful face. She thought her cousin had come with his family. After she was done with her prayers, she folded her musallah neatly placing it on the rack next to her single bed. She then went to the hall hoping to meet Khaleesah, only to find it empty.
As she walked further into the hall she could hear her mother and grandma speaking to Ahmed in the room on her right; her grandma's room. She moved towards the door cautiously, he feet making no sound on the red polished floor. She stood by the door listening to the conversation taking place.
Yusra wasn't one to eavesdrop. It's just that she didn't go in front of non-mahram men, she avoided it as much as possible since she wasn't wearing the Niqab. Being in the presence of non-mahrams made her feel uncomfortable.
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A/N - I hope you all liked this chapter!
Please don't forget to vote and comment. I would love to know your thoughts.
Loads of love & Du'aas,
Saa Naleem ❤