The truth is, no one knows how someone really feel when calamity strikes, you can't say ' I know how you feel' simply because you've gone through the same thing but rather, you can only say you understand. Rufaidah's life came crashing down yet again in a matter of seconds and this time she has a reason other than her own selfish interest to fight and she's super ready for just that.

The next day, after saying her Subh sallah, she cleaned her room before going back to bed to pay back the sleep she didn't get a wink of the other night. She texted Yaya Shams to wake her 30minutes before time for work as she drifted into a tired slumber.

She woke up with a start around 11am only to find a text from Shams saying she should rest for the day. She scoffed at the message and leapt up from the bed to get ready. She found her breakfast on the small table and delved in, thinking of ways to confront her parents with her final verdict on the issue.

After getting ready, she went to Mommy's room, greeted her like they have a normal mother_daughter  relationship. Hajiya Aisha was surprised but didn't utter a word about it.

"Is daddy around?" Rufaidah asked and her mother said yes.

"Can you please accompany me to his room? I want to discuss something important with both of you" She didn't wait for her mother's reply as she sauntered out heart beating loud.

Daddy didn't glance her way when she made her presence known with a salam with mommy trailing behind her like a tail .

"Good morning Daddy! Hope you had a great night?" She managed to speak up.

He just nodded his attention on the newspaper he's flipping through.

"I know you're my father and Allah gave you the right to choose a spouse for me but despite that fact Islam forbade parents from forcing their children into marriage especially the kind you want to get me into. I know that I haven't been the best daughter to both of you but it is all your fault and I forgive you for it. My life was meaningless before now until my eyes are opened to the truth.

I remember everything that happened Daddy, I remember all the good and bad days and I know that you don't have any excuse to treat us the way you did. I remember all those nights that I will stay up late waiting for you to come home only for me to be forced to sleep by my nanny because you never come back !" She took a deep breath, wiped her eyes and continued.

"The point is that you have never been a good father or husband and this is your chance at redemption daddy, don't make me marry a stranger whose sole aim in life is to make money, who am sure you don't even know if he observes salah. I am sorry for all my misdeeds the past years but please don't subject me to a life time of torture. Don't break me more, allow me to earn Allah's rahma with someone who knows my worth and is willing to marry me for who I am not what I have or what you can offer. This guy will never respect me because I will always be  a business deal to him. I am giving you the chance to think about what you're going to do to my life. For Allah's sake, for the love of a father to his child if you have even an iota in your heart for me. Let me marry the man I love. Just say the words and he will bring his family to come see you, he is a good guy" She sobbed as a pin drop silence ensued in the room.

After what feels like forever, Daddy banged his head on the center table, hissed long and hard then left the room banging his bedroom door so hard the hinges got off.

"Shhh, don't cry okay? He will come around. I will pacify him. Go back to your room" Mommy shushed her, visibly shaken by her husband's reaction.

"I am going to work. See you when I come back" Rufaidah sniffle, wiped her face and stormed out of the house.

Mommy went into Daddy's room. He was pacing the length of the room seething with a kind of rage she has never seen before.

"I think Rufaidah is right. We have hurt these kids but we hurt her the most and she's a girl making her more vulnerable than the others. Imagine the kind of life our other kids are living abroad. It broke my heart seeing them and knowing that it is our fault my dear, we did that to them and I feel ashamed to call myself a mother. All these years we've been blinded with money, the temporary glitters of this world forgetting the amanah given to us by Allah, forgetting ourselves, our faith and even our family and loved ones.

Imagine how Shams and Rufaidah would've turned out if not because of your brother and Faridah's parents. I have always stood by you when you're right and when you're wrong but this time around I will fight for my daughter." Mommy said, as she sat on one of the love seats in the room her eyes following the movements of her husband who is still pacing the room.

"Are you sure you're willing to give out our daughter in marriage to a heartless business man who stops at nothing to get what he wants or you will allow her to choose the man she loves and pray that it's khair for her ?" She posed the question and left the room,surprised at her husband's nonchalance.

Their trip was enjoyable at first until they saw the news on TV one faithful afternoon. Their son was involved in a crime and he has been arrested. They didn't even know that he is at Dublin so they hastily went to the station to bail him out which took them weeks to pull off. Mas'ud pretended to not know them. He has no regards for them and told them to stay out of his life, he don't need them. They went to the US to meet their eldest son Ibrahim who is surprisingly doing okay with his cute family and promised to come visit them soon with his brother Mas'ud if he's able to pacify him and the other one who has gone MIA.

She knew deep down that what they have  done and are doing is all shades of wrong. Faridah's death was a shocker to her also because she had a soft spot in her heart for the lady who kept her daughter company and tried her best to keep her in check. She will forever be indebted to Mama and she doesn't even know how to start apologizing for all the things she has done to the most loyal person on earth.

I'll text her to see if she's free. I will drop my ego and apologize then ask her for help on how to make my husband see reason as to why marrying Rufaidah off is all shades of wrong on many levels. She thought as she walks back to her room.

She picked her phone which is lying on the console with the intention of texting Mama only to find Mama's two missed calls. She thanked her lucky stars and called back.

"Assalamu alaikum" Mama greeted, sounding reserved unlike those days that they start talking in a light note with a teasing tone.

"Waalaikissalam, how are you and everything ? Am sorry I wasn't close to the phone when you called."Hajiya Aisha replied, mulling in her mind on how to approach Mama with her problem.

"All good Alhamdulillah and welcome back. I actually called to ask for your permission to come over because there is something very important that I want to discuss with you if you don't mind"  Mommy felt like jumping up and down with glee. She muttered a silent 'yes' excitedly before clearing her voice.

"I actually want to see you too. Why don't I drive over to your house since I haven't been there in a while so that we will discuss?" She suggested.

"Fine by me. I will be expecting you soon" Mama said and the clicked off the call.

What Hajiya Aisha didn't expect is a grand welcome with her favorite local delicacies neatly laid out on the floor of Mama's room as she stepped in. A small tear dropped down her cheeks as she quickly wiped it off. It's indeed true that those who genuinely care about you for the sake of Allah will never forsake you no matter how badly you treat them or take them for granted.

"Why are you standing by the door like a statue? Come inside" Mama brought her out of trance. They exchanged some pleasantries beating around the bush as they delved into the food reminiscing on their childhood days.

"I actually called to ask you a favor " Mama finally took a deep sigh and started getting Mommy's undivided attention .

"Whatever it is, consider it done in shaa Allah"

"It is actually about your daughter Rufaidah and my son Al'amin. That boy has been in love with her all his life. From the time when he doesn't even know what love is and I've observed him closely praying fervently to Allah to interfere in the issue and make it khair for both of them. After everything that happened to Rufaidah from her rebellion days to her redemption, he loves her through them all and I have never been proud of him.

You have a very good child Aisha. Shams and Rufaidah are amazing humans and by Allah I love them as much as I love my kids especially Rufaidah who I feel is a replacement of Reedah. I know your husband has the final say and what not but please consider the mental well being of your child and talk to your husband. Make him understand that Rufaidah have had enough and is on the verge of breaking " Mommy listened with keen attention dancing happily in her mind that Allah has made everything easy for her. When Rufaidah said she is in love with someone, she never thought that it will be Al'amin. Even though her arrogance didn't let the know the guy well, she knows that he's good and very close to Shams.

"First off, let me apologize for all the wrongs I've done to you my dearest friend. I know that my apology is long over due and i don't even deserve your empathy neither your forgiveness but for the sake of one whose sake you stood by me all these years I beg that you find a place in your pure heart to forgive me Aminah" her voice shook and with trembling hands she took Mama's hands in hers.

"I fully support this union between my daughter and your son because even if I die today, I know that she is in good hands and you will never hurt her. How can you hurt her when you have been there for her more than me, you took care of her when I neglected her and I will forever be thankful for that. May Allah azza wa jaal bless this union between them and I won't stop fighting until I have nothing more in me to fight, until Sa'ad removed the blind fold he has on his eyes and finally face the truth and do the right thing" she avowed.

They catch up on what they have missed in each other's life especially how Rufaidah has been holding up. Hajiya Aisha kept apologizing for her misdeeds telling her friend that she needs help to become a better person and a mother.

Rufaidah came back from work physically and mentally exhausted thinking of nothing but her bed to lay on and rest her aching limbs.She made her presence known with a salaam and went directly to her room not wanting to have any contact with the people she is trying so hard not to hate. She rejected all Al'amin's uncountable calls and ignored his messages that are threatening to blast up her phone. she doesn't want to give him false hope. She love him enough to not want to hurt him more.

She flopped down on bed removing her sandals when Ummi came in with a huge smile on her face.

"Aunty Rufaidah welcome back. How was work today?" She asked and Rufaidah smiled at her telling her it was fine but hectic.

"Am sorry you have to rest later because your maigida is outside waiting for you. He also said if you refuse to come out he is coming up to your room" She relayed the message with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Rufaidah face palmed and hissed before putting back on her hijab storming out of the room.

"You know fully well that you're not supposed to be here right ? I don't want any trouble...." Her rant was cut off after seeing the shambled appearance of Al'amin. Her heart beat loudly in her chest.

"Subhanallah! What happened? What is wrong with you?" She panicked bulging her eyes out in fright.

"You happened Noor ! Why didn't you pick my calls? I want to make sure you're okay, that you won't agree to that alliance and that you still have hope in us. I couldn't sleep, I was useless at work today and filled with worry. Why are you punishing me?" He rambled in frustration .

"Am sorry ! Calm down okay? Take a seat let me bring something for you to drink. I am sorry" She ran to the kitchen and came out with a tray filled with drinks and some munchies. She met Al'amin the way she left him still pacing the room.

"I didn't pick your call not because I have given up on us but because I am not sure whether my dad is going to listen to my plea and call whatever this is off. I just don't want to raise your hope up and then disappoint and hurt you at the end. Am really sorry." She handed him a tumbler filled with chilled orange juice.

He finally sighed and sat on the edge of the couch. Rufaidah on the other hand put her hands on chin staring at him as his love flows through every vein in her being.

I love you  she thought.

"I love you too" she voiced out loud making him jerk his head up as if he has been electrocuted.

"What did you just say?" He asked, finding it heard to believe what he just heard.

"I said I love you too Yaya Al'amin and I want to spend the rest of my life with you too if you're willing to have me" she repeated. Al'amin felt like shouting on top of his voice to let the world know that his dreams have come true. What he has spent years wishing for and imagining is happening. He said Alhamdulillah unable to form coherent words to let Rufaidah know how much those simple words that hold so much weight means to him.

"I don't know what to say Noor. Thank you! Thank you so much my love. May Allah grant you a home in jannah"

she forced him to eat lunch prepared by Hajja as he kept thanking her over and over again for loving him back.

"What the hell is he doing in my house?" Daddy's angry voice startled them as they turn towards where the sounds of his footsteps is coming from.

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Dan Dan Dan .... Your thoughts please.

Shukran Jazeel.