Our Beloved Nabi صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
إنّ المستشار مؤتمن
"Verily the one from whom counsel is sought is (considered to be) trustworthy."
(Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه - Tirmidhi - Zuhd)
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"Is Maama (uncle) home?" Ahmed asked his aunt nervousness coating his voice.
"No, dear. He went to the masjid for 'Asr a few hours back. He said he has some other work after which he will return. In shaa Allah!" Yumna explained.
"Oh.. Ok Maami! And Yaasir?"
"That child of mine has gone to attend one of his friend's wedding, son."
"I see.." said Ahmed feeling slightly relieved.
Now, it would be more comfortable for him to speak to his aunt. It's not that he didn't want his uncle to be here but speaking to his aunt and grandma first would be better. After all, Ahmed had made Mashwarah (discussion with a person or a group of people about something) with his father regarding this and he had been pleased and happy about this. How Ahmed wished his father had been there with him at that moment, rather than a continent away. It was all Allah's plans after all. There had to be some khair in it.
"Ahmed.. Is everything alright?" He snapped back to reality at his grandma's kind voice.
"Yes, Waapumma." He said with a sigh. How he wished he didn't have to do this. His daughter was still quite young.
"Are you sure, my dear? You were in deep thought. Is something troubling you?" His grandma's voice was so soft and soothing that all his previous nervousness had vanished.
"Um... Actually, Waapumma. I came here with a proposal. "
Yumna had gone to the kitchen to make Ahmed some tea, entered the room from the other door at this moment, carrying a tray with three cups of tea and some snacks. There were two doors for this particular room and that is how she didn't see Yusra standing by the other door.
"Proposal? For whom, son?" Yumna asked confusion etched on her face.
"I spoke to Dada about this and he was very happy and he was also positive you all would agree." Ahmed told his aunt.
Yusra, who had been standing near the room door which was opposite the hall all this while, was getting quite bored. Just as she was about to go back to her room, she heard her elder cousin mention the word 'proposal' and this caught her attention at once. She was getting curious by the second.
"Proposal for whom?" She thought.
Yumna was breaking her head trying to think about whom her nephew was speaking about. She could see her nephew was nervous in whatever he was going to say, but what was it? "Ahmed, you never told us for whom the proposal is." She stated as calmly as possible while serving him the snacks.
His grandma took his large hand in her frail, soft ones, rubbing his palm in circles. This encouraged him to tell them what had been running in his mind for weeks now. "For Yaasir." He said softly, if the house wasn't so quiet, they wouldn't have heard him.
"Yaasir?" Yumna questioned to make sure she had heard him right. Ahmed gave a slight nod, glancing at his aunt's face to gauge her reaction.
"A proposal for Yaasir naana?" Yusra whispered to herself. She couldn't believe her ears. "But he is only 22!"
"Who is the girl, Ahmed?" Yumna asked again. This man who was her nephew wasn't one to pour out his thoughts so easily and Yumna knew this very well. That is why she kept asking him, for if she didn't he would just keep quiet expecting them to figure out things themselves.
"My daughter.. Khaleesah!" He stated clearly.
Yumna was dumbstruck. She was completely at a loss for words. Her nephew here was asking for her son's hand in marriage for his daughter. "Is he serious? Is this all a funny dream?" She wondered.
"But why, Yaasir?" She asked after five long minutes of pin-drop silence. Even her mother didn't utter a word even though she was very impressed with her grandson's decision she was waiting to see what Yumna would say.
"Why not, Maami? He is an amazing boy. Masha Allah! He is your son, Maami. And I trust him with my daughter, as much as I trust you and Maama. I know you all will keep my daughter happy. I know she will never be hurt on purpose. That's why." Ahmed explained in one breath.
"Are you sure, son?" Yumna asked gently while giving him his cup of tea. "You know, we live in a village and you live in Colombo. Your daughter is accustomed to the life there, son. Will she be comfortable here?" She inquired again gesturing around her with her left hand while she held her tea cup in her right hand.
Yumna was having doubts about this proposal, not for her own reasons. She was thinking about Khaleesah. "How was the child going to live in their village after being used to the city life?" She wondered.
On the other hand, Yusra was excited. She was going to have a sister. Finally! She was so happy, she didn't think listening to the conversation anymore would be of any use to her and returned to her room.
Yusra was in cloud nine thinking how awesome it would be to have Khaleesah as her sister-in-law. No. Khaleesah would be more like her sister. Her own sister! She was certain.
"Ya Allah! Please make everything go right. If Yaasir naana is the one for her, please make everyone agree to it and please make her a part of our family." She supplicated raising her hands towards The Lord of The Universe. The Most Merciful. Allah.
Back in the room, the ladies and Ahmed were still in deep discussion. Yumna feared this was a dream, that she kept giving Ahmed different reasons as to why they wouldn't be good enough for his daughter; the sweet girl Khaleesah.
"Maami, I have prayed Isthikhaara regarding this and I feel very positive. Alhamdulillah. I'm sure Khaleesah will be completely fine with your family. After all, she really likes Yusra. They will get along well. I know my daughter will be kept happy, Maami." Ahmed said with a firm voice his tone laced with positivity.
"Is Salma fine with this, Ahmed?" She quizzed him. "Did you speak to her about this?"
"Yes..I did, Maami. And Alhamdulillah she is happy with this too."
"Alhamdulillah then!" Yumna said with a small smile. "Your daughter is quite young, right Ahmed? Younger than Yusra."
"Yes, Maami. She is just fifteen. And I know Yaasir is quite young to get married right now."
"Yes, he is. He isn't mature enough to take such responsibility, son. Let alone taking care of your daughter completely. And he is also very ambitious. He has completed his aat course and is now training in an office."
"Yes, Maami. Yaasir told me when I visited the last time."
"He will need a few years until he is ready, Ahmed."
"Even Khaleesah is still studying. I just wanted to finalise something for her so that I wouldn't have the responsibility of finding a spouse for her anymore. She will be doing her O/L's on 2014. In shaa Allah."
"In shaa Allah. I will speak to Yaasir and your Maama about this and let you know, Ahmed." Yumna told him.
"Maami? Do you accept my daughter?" Ahmed asked with anticipation.
"How could I not, son? Masha Allah, your daughter is a good, beautiful girl. It would be an honour to have her in my family." Yumna stated with a smile.
Ahmed's grandma was quiet all this while spoke up. "Ahmed." She called softly. He looked at her blessed face to see her eyes filled with tears. They were happy tears. He was going to ask her, her opinion of this but he didn't have to. Because she smiled so wide that her toothless jaw was visible. Her face was filled with so much Noor and joy that he didn't have to ask her. He knew she was happy with this. Not just happy. But very happy!
She then took his hands placing her lips on them, she said, "I wish I would live to see them together, my dear. You have no idea how happy you have made me. May Allah be pleased with your actions, son." She said stroking his cheek softly. "May Allah shower this union with his endless mercy and blessings!"
"Aameen!" Ahmed and Yumna said together was a smile. A smile which showed that they both knew this union would be a blessing to both families. In shaa Allah!
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A/N - I enjoyed writing this chapter a lot. Hope you enjoyed reading it too... ♥
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Saa Naleem ❤