EP__________2️⃣1️⃣

Appa was on the phone with the Commissioner of Police discussing Faryal's disappearance when he looked up he saw Maama entering with Faryal in tow, dragging her across the floor and practically throwing her down. 

"Amm ranka ya dade, I'll get back to you," he said before hanging up. He stood up, looking at them with an inquiring gaze and finally spoke up, "Sharmila where did you find Faryal?" 

Faryal crawled to him, clinging his leg, her face streaked with tears.

"From Hamrah's house can you imagine? After all the trouble we've gone through searching for Faryal, she's been at Hamrah's house all along, she hid her ko nace ma ta bata mafaka."

"Alhamdulillah, alhamdulillah all praises be to Allah, no one deserves thanks except our Lord. Haba daughter, why did you take this matter so hard?" Appa said as he helped Faryal stand and sit down on the sofa.

"Hafiz, I don't understand... Alhamdulillah, alhamdulillah?"

"To Sharmila, Allah ai shine abun godia, to be honest hamrah deserves compliments. If something bad had happened to Faryal I would never forgive myself."

"Hafiz, what are you saying?"

"Let's not worry about this now sharmila, today is a special day sai muyi murna da bayyanar ta."

Daadee emerged from her room with Hadiyyah, who exclaimed upon seeing Faryal, "Faryalll!" Daadee's eyes also fell on Faryal and she said, "All praises be to allah, Hafiz Where did you find her?"

"Just now Daadee, we don't even know that she ended up at Hamrah's house after all the searching."

Daadee sat down, saying, "Masha Allah ma..." Her words trailed off as her phone rang. She pulled it out from her pocket and answered but within minutes, her mood shifted dramatically, she hung up abruptly without a word.

Daadee stood up and unexpectedly a loud slap echoed through the room causing Faryal and Hadiyyah to cling to each other in fear. Appa rose confused, looking at Daadee who had slapped Maama his mouth agape in shock.

"I never knew you were senseless sharmila," Daadee said. "Don't you know what's fair? So Your foolishness has reached this level, do you think you did the right thing? Instead of thanking God and thanking her, if she hadn't taken faryal in, she'd be lost by now and who'd regret it? You would,  tho kin kyauta but I won't let this slide, you must go and apologize to her, you foolish and thoughtless woman, Ke go and bring me my veil."

Hadiyyah quickly stood up to retrieve the veil while Appa asked in panic, "Daadee, what's happening?"

"Your wife is senseless Hafiz, it's just a size but her head is empty, she just went an ......., Daadee explained everything Manira had told her, ended collecting her veil and headed out, saying, "I'm waiting for you outside."

Appa felt bad about what happened and said, "Follow her sharmila If you come back we'll talk." Maama left without a word, her face reflecting her emotional exhaustion."

Appa turned to sit down but then decided against it, so he turned around and left the house.

Hadiyyah sat beside Faryal, who had stopped crying outwardly but her inner turmoil remained her heart still weeping. 

"Hadiyyah, all these things that never happened before are now happening because of me, I feel guilty, I feel like I've caused too much harm, I've  made my family fight and now I'm torn between sisters, between mother and daughter. Hadiyyah What did I know would happen? I'll accept this marriage even though I don't like it but I don't have a choice, I believe this marriage is written in my destiny."

"If you accept this marriage, it'll render all the hardships you've endured meaningless."

Faryal shook her head and said "This marriage is destined hadiyyah even if I try to escape it, nothing will change except the problems that will arise within my family I regret what I did before, I wish I had accepted it sooner and understood that I couldn't run or change my destiny. I pray to Allah to make it good for me."

Since they entered the car, Daadee lectured Maahma about her unfair actions, while Maahma looked emotionally drained, clearly regretting what she had done. 

"Anyone who takes action in anger will end up regretting sharmila, you have to be stronger than your anger." Daadee said.

When they reached ammi's house, Maahma felt embarrassed to step inside until Daadee talked to her.

Ammi was sitting, deep in thought about what had happened since maama left with faryal. When she heard their salam she looked up, stood up quickly saying, "Daadee was it you?"

Daadee sat down, saying, "I'm the one Hamrah." 

Maahma approached Ammi looking emotional , her eyes welling up with tears and  locked gazes with her before pulling her into a tight hug, struggling to hold back tears. "I'm sorry Hamrah, I'm sorry for the words I have said to you, I don't know why I lose control of myself."

Ammi hugged her back, saying, "I'm sorry too, Sharmila, I know I offended you by hiding Faryal, I didn't think about the pain you'd feel as a mother I acted in anger because of what you and Hafiz did."

"Whl we've regretted it hamrah since faryal left we have been worried day and night....."

"You all come and sit." Daadee said without looking at them.

She lectured them about life, patience, and controlling anger in every situation until they were emotionally broken by her words before she said, "sharmila we should get going magrib is approaching."

They come out together, acting as if nothing happen had happened as manira's siblings returned from memorization school, daadee started provoking them as usual, meanwhile warda clung to maahma, insisting on following her. Ammi had a hard time persuading warda to leave maahma and eventually convinced her with a promise that she would take her there on weekends.

***        ***       ***

It was maahma and Appa sitting on a two seater while faryal sat on the rug In front of them, Appa lectured her at length about what she had done, adding words of caution about the current insecurity in the country, before calming his voice and said, "faryal now I don't have the authority to force you that's why I'm giving you the meat and the knife the choice is yours now, if you feel aryan still doesn't meets your needs, then I will pray for Allah to reunite everyone with their righteous spouse. But if you see that you can agree and marry him then I will be happier than anyone."

Faryal looked up and locked eyes with her father who was also gazing at her , her heart started racing as she felt a pang of guilt. why couldn't she make her father happy? since she had grown up never asking for something and not getting it Why now when he requested something she had the ability to do, would she refuse, if she did this would she be the daughter her parents would be proud of? A conflicting thought crossed her mind, what about her future ? Had she sacrifice it ? she quickly dismissed the thought and calmly said, " Appa I consent to and approve the marriage."

Maahma quickly said, "no Faryal you should haven't done this after all you have gone through, don't say you will accept because of us if your mind doesn't like it no one will force you."

"No maahma I accept it from the bottom of my heart as long as it brings you joy and tranquility."

"Alhamdulillah, faryal may Allah look into your affairs, bless you and grant you righteous offspring who will obey you just as you strive to obey your parents."

"Ameen ya Allah Appa," she answered her head lowered, trying to hold back her tears.

"You can go now, blessed girl, your role in the company will be reinstated."

"Thank you Appa," she answered, standing up and leaving. She went to their room, leaned on the door for minutes before going to the bathroom to perform ablution.

She prayed shafa'i and witr, made a lot of dua and then prayed istikhara, seeking Allah's choice, if the marriage is good for her may Allah calm her heart and bless it, and if it's not good may Allah stop it from happening peacefully.

The next day, Maahma doesn't allow her to go anywhere, she's just treating her like a newborn baby. She tried to act cheerful but deep down only God knows how she's burning.

That's how life continues evolving when the weekend reached, like Ammi said, around 1 pm, Manira and all her siblings came to them and that's what reduced Faryal's worries. 

When Manira heard that Faryal accepted the marriage, she felt like hitting her because of anger, how could she accept after she got the right to reject it? But she didn't have anything to do, so she followed them with good wishes and changed the topic of discussion.

They were sitting in Daadee's room her, Hadiyyah, Manira, Kainat, and Daadee while the rest were outside playing. 

Beta came in and said, "Bhana Manira, Appa is calling you."

Manira looked at them before looking at Beta and said, "Beta, did you hear it correctly? Is it me Appa is calling or Faryal?"

"No, he said you." 

"Okay, I'm coming." She said standing up and went out.

After some minutes, she came back and joined them without telling them about Appa's calling.

Aryan from dubai had gone to Bangkok, enjoying his life without any worries. 

As she came back from work, she parked her car and looked at the latest range rover parked in their parking space. She started listing the interior dimensions cox Faryal is one of the girls obsessed with cars. She yawned, exhausted from work due to her absence for weeks.

She stepped out, dressed in a long, onion-colored jilbab and walked toward their building.

She offered salam and entered the parlour. She was about to open her mouth and start calling Maahma when her eyes fell on Appa, who was meeting with a guest. She completed her entry and bent down for a respectful greetings.

As she stood to leave, Appa stopped her saying, "Faryal, you didn't recognize him, right? He's Alhaji Sarakee." 

Faryal's heart skipped a beat she tried to compose herself before turning and saying, "Barka da zuwa."

"Yww Faryal, how's your work?" 

Appa answered with, "You see Faryal, even a clock won't show her working she's very hardworking no matter how much work there is, as long as she puts her hand on it, she won't leave it until she finishes." 

"Do you see her fault, Alhaji Hafiz? Ni whl she impressed me, that's how I want to see a daughter. We are proud of you daughter, Keep the good work may Allah continue to bless you abundantly." 

"Ameen ya Allah, thank you." She answered with a subdued tone, left the living room and went inside. She totally lost her composure since Appa mentioned Alhaji Sarakee's name. Why did he come to their house? She's totally not at peace about this coming of Alhaji Sarakee.

After Faryal left, Dad adjusted his sitting position, cleared his throat, and said, "Alhaji Hafiz, I think since those kids understand each other, why can't you fix a day for us?"

Appa smiled and said, "No problem, Alhaji Sarakee I will speak with her uncles in Sha Allah, everything we talk about I will inform you on the phone." 

"That's okay, tho Alhaji I should get going because I was somewhere and said I would come and pay you a visit."

Appa, who stood up along with Alhaji Sarakee, said, "Ai kuwa ka kyauta sosai, you take all the rewards, but nima zan rama in Sha Allah." 

"Tho may Allah give you the ability to do so." 

Appa met Maahma and discussed things with her before called Uncle Junaid and told him and uncle Junaid suggested Sunday which Appa agreed to. He called Manira's father too and told him before turning the call to his family. He informed his siblings that were the same father before calling Kamal and telling him too, who answered like someone forced him.

It was Yaya Turai who Appa called at the end, as she picked up, she didn't listen to what Appa said she started talking, "Hafiz, I heard message, I heard that you chose a stranger instead of your blood and I want to tell you that even if there's no girl in the world, we won't build a marriage bond with Sharmila's blood ba dai aure bane tho tayi mu gani, kai kuma tunda Ka zama shanyayye mun yafe mata kai." She abruptly ended the call without listening to Appa's response.

Appa looked at Maahma, who was pressing her phone like she didn't hear what was happening between Appa and Yaya Turai. Appa sigh, echoed yaya turai's words. 

Maahma finally looked up after a moment of silence and said, "Hafiz, I think you shouldn't put the marriage date too long and I want you to stop Faryal from going anywhere from today."

"Why do you say that, Sharmila?" 

"Their son shows interest in Faryal and you know he's not a good boy besides you heard what Yaya Turai just said, my mind won't be at peace until I see Faryal shift to her husband's house without anything happening."

"You need to rethink your perspective Sharmila or do you forget that Yaya Turai is our elder sister and Jabeer is the son of my brother I'm not doing this because I hate them I also love my family." 

Maama smiled and said, "I'm sorry if you misunderstood me but Faryal is not going anywhere as of today." She stood up and left the room.

She went to Faryal's room, where Faryal and Hadiyyah were watching Netflix. Faryal quickly stood up, expecting something since she saw Alhaji Sarakee at their house in the evening. Maama sat on their bed and asked, "Are you guys watching?"

"Yes, Maama we're about to fall asleep, we're almost finished with the movie," Hadiyyah replied, yawning.

Maama turned to Faryal, who was looking at her without blinking. "Faryal, I want you to stay at home and run everything from here starting today." 

"What happened, Maama? Did I do something again?"

"No, you didn't do anything Alhaji Sarakee and his family will come to ask for your hand in marriage on Sunday and there's been a conflict with Yaya Turai and you know how Jabeer is, They have a deep grudge against us now and they can do anything that's why I said this."

Faryal's blood ran cold as Maama mentioned Alhaji Sarakee's family she looked up and said, "Maama, I won't disregard what you said, but they will come to ask for my hand in marriage not the marriage how long will I stay at home?" 

"The marriage will be fixed soon and you can run everything at home before everything settles." 

"But Maama, what if there's something important?" 

"Tell me and I'll know what to do, you should sleep and rest ." Maama said as she bid them goodnight and left.

Faryal covered her face with her palms, feeling tense. There's nothing that scared her more than this marriage now how will she end up there? Aryan's words started echoing in her ears.