Assalam alaikum everyone.

Thanks for being patient and for all the messages. I couldn't get around to reply to them but I will do soon.
in sha allah.

happy reading!

P.S. NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE DEDICATED TO THE ONE WHO MOTIVATES ME with loads of inline comments.

"You may dislike something although it is good for you, or like something, although it is bad for you" - Qur'an (2:216)

Safina mehek woke up feeling all
overwhelmed and upset. Her emotions were haywire.

She searched for her dupatta on the bed but couldn't. She never knew how her dupatta gets misplaced from her shoulder when she sleeps.

Taking few deep breathe to calm her errotic heart beats, she tucked her messy locks behind her ears and sat cross legged on the bed, her chin resting on her wrist as she gazed at the full length mirror. In front of her was a girl staring back at her with no emotions in her eyes.
A girl whose dreams were so infinite like the stars but they were yet to shine.
A girl who was as care free as the bird which was chirping outside but sakina mehek, now she felt caged.

After what felt like hours,she finally looked beside her to see her husband sleeping peacefully with her dupatta.

Rolling her eyes, she tried to pull it from under his arms and he woke up startled.

"I was just about to fall into deep sleep and you woke me!" He said rubbing his eyes.

Safina waved her dupattain front of him before placing it on her head and shoulder.

"Slept after fajr?" She asked as she ambled over to her bag before looking at the wall clock which read eight past ten.

"Should have woken me up for fajr prayer, you do know it's our duty to call everybody around us to pray." This time she said that in low voice to herself but Rihab could make out that she wasn't happy on missing out her prayer and he regretted not waking her up.

"Iam sorry" He apologized when she
Turned toward him after picking up a simple anarkali from her suitcase.

"Not needed." She replied back haughtily and rushed into washroom.

Forgetting to take towel with her.

______

Rihab was going through his mails when he heard the knock on the door and looked up to find no one as the room door was already open. then it dawned on him that it was the knock from the washroom.

he stood on his heels and walked over as he asked," Yes mehek?" only to get silence in response.

"I haven't locked the washroom, why are you knocking from inside?" he asked, very much confused.

"come again?"Rihab asked after he hear safiya murmur something.

"towel please!" she said louder this time.

for some unknown reason, smile creeped on his lips as he took the towel from cupboard and knocked on the door saying,"here.. I will go out now, you can come and get dressed freely!"

"Thank you!" she whispered as she unlocked the door and put her palm out so that Rihab could give her the towel.

A wave of unknown feeling passed through him as his fingers gently came in touch with hers, even though momentarily as Safina grabbed it hastily and locked the door again.

Rihab walked off the room with a smile lingering on his lips and his heart beats a little haywire.

He was sure smitten by Ms.mehek. ain't he?

_____

"Ammi, please have something!" Adeel requested his mother for the millionth time but she wasn't in the state to hear him.

"If you don't eat, then I wont take my tablets!" Osman declared as he was listening to the mother and the son's conversation while going through the News paper.

"Okay," Fariha sighed. " I will eat for you!"

Fariha was worried for her daughter safina who was married to Rihab all of a sudden because of some not so good circumstances and the look on safina's eyes while leaving clenched her heart. she was silent, she didnt complain to fariha about it and that's what bothered her and she didn't felt like eating or doing anything.

"Ammi.. you are so romantic." Adeel joked as the three of them got up and walked over to the dining room and Fariha smacked him playfully as she replied " Save it, the teasing and jokes doesn't suit you unlike my baby safina!"

Adeel kept a hand on his chest feigning hurt and fariha laughed after a long time. " we need to bring home your dulhan(bride) very soon. you are now ready to be a husband material."

"Can't wait!" Adeel mumbled placing roti on his mom's plate and took one for himself.

"besharam!" Fariha glared at him but Adeel laughed it off asking about his sister Safina.

"Did she call?"

"Not yet!" Osman answered taking a sip of his coffee which had turned cold.

"let me call her then?" Adeel asked and the two nodded, guilt gnawing them for the decision they took for their daughter.

_____

Rihab Yunus was nowhere to be seen for the past two hours and that was a relief for her. seeing him every now and then gave her shocking realization that she was married to him.

And that was what she did not want.

In her mind she had made up a thought that she is just living in her friend's home for a while and that made it a bit easier for her to converse with all the relatives.

Even her bestie Rashiya'a looked kind of taken aback seeing her casual behavior with everyone. but truth to be told, she felt goosebumps and prickling feeling every time thinking of that drastic night that changed her life for lifetime. she was now zawjah Rihab(Mrs.Rihab) and she wasn't yet ready to accept that even though deep down she knew it was ALLAH'S plan.

All the relatives were having some fun conversations in the living area while safina too sat with them as a soft smile curved up on her lips.

"how was the night?"one of Rihab's cousins whispered in her ear making her uncomfortable but before she could say anything Iram came to her rescue as she said, "Isn't it time for Asar prayer?"

"Yeah, didn't even realize how the time flew, Safina bhabi is a good company!" Ayesha, Rihab's cousin said with a warm smile.

"That she is!" Safina mehek closed her eyes as it dawned on her that it was her husband's voice.

"Awww!" his cousin around them cooed in a teasing tone except for Iram and Rashiya'a, as they knew what she was going through.

"Ah,Bhabi is blushing!" said his other cousin as Safina wasn't looking up at him or anybody as she just stared at her palms noticing the mehendi patterns.

"where were you beta?" Rafiya, his mother asked as Rihab walked over and slumped on his favourite bean bag.

"work ammi!" He replied with a deep sigh raking his fingers on his disheveled hair.

"Who works just after a day of his Nikah!" His aunt reprimanded, "Your bride was missing you!"

"Is it?" this time he addressed her and she looked up as their gazes met just for a second before she stood up saying that she had to pray asar and everybody else too nodded as they dispersed to pray.

"You okay?" Rafiya asked her son who looked in deep thoughts.

"I have to go maa!"

"I asked you to delay it a bit beta!"

"I have already delayed a week.."

"But what will the relatives say!"

"let them say whatever they want to. I don't care about log kya sochenge!"

"but Rihab..."

"Iam sorry ammi.. please pack my bag!" Rihab cut her off as he concluded his final decision and strode off to his room.

____

Safina mehek stood in her room feeling all nostalgic as her mind went through flashbacks of the previous day.

taking few deep breaths to get rid of those thoughts she lazily let herself fall on the soft mattress of her bed, closing her eyes as a small tear made it's way teasing her long eyelashes. she gulped down the lump in her throat.

Safina mehek couldn't get herself to talk freely with her parents and siblings even after trying her best. She had forgiven them long ago for getting her married off to a random guy because of such drastic turn of not so good events.
But she couldn't forget all of these. after all that's human nature, right?

We forgive but its takes so much effort to forget.

The tears she was holding in, found its escape as she cried silently, still closing her eyes. her bottled up frustration finding its way out through her tears.

She opened her eyes startled when someone wiped her tears.
"Iam sorry!" he said.

She stared at him for a few seconds and as realization hit her that he was here, sitting next to her, she bolted up in the speed of lightning covering her head with her dupatta.

"Iam sorry, I startled you!"

"For how many things will you apologize?" She questioned trying hard not to cry in front of him but it was so hard for her to control her emotions right now.

"Why don't you vent out your pent up emotions, dear?" She heard him asking as she made her way to the washroom and she closed the door with a loud bang not bothering to give him a reply.

The girl she saw in the mirror was so unlike Safina mehek.
her nose were red and puffy and her eyes were telling a story of it's own..

Sighing she let her sob escape as more tears made their way and she cried all her heart out until she thought there wasn't any tear left and her eyes felt sore and itchy.

Safina mehek felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
after venting her heart out.

_____

"Iam leaving tomorrow!" Rihab informed when she came out of washroom after what felt like hours.

Safina Mehek gave him a look that said as if I care and Rihab could feel the pain in his heart, piercing through his soul, for his heart loved her dearly.

"Safina.." Rihab said as he took a step towards her but she stopped him saying, "please, don't call me that!"

After a few seconds of painful silence he took a deep breathe saying, "Okay, mehek!" Rihab gave her a tight lipped smiled. "I came here because of the guests in my home, I do not want them to think badly of us knowing we are not like a real.. couple!" he trailed of the last few words murmuring.

"Why the need to pretend? We are not a happy couple, neither are we
in love?!"

"But I do love you!" He proposed, his eyes speaking volume more than his lips, but only if she looked at his gaze, she would be drowned in his love.

"I can't believe you!" she whispered as she took out the prayer mat from her drawer and started praying her isha prayer.

Rihab gazed at her praying form for few minutes before ambling over to washroom, his heart bleeding in pain while she sobbed her heart out to The one whose throne is in the highest heavens, seeking peace for her heart.

____

Safina mehek knew ALLAH would guide her- He is Al Hadiy and Ar Rashid. she knew He loved people who were committed to Him. "God loves those who are steadfast" - Qur'an (3:146) She knew Allah (SWT) tests whom He loves and clearly He was testing her. The thing she hated, that pain that sorrow and darkness, lead her to be closer to him.

she wept her heart out seeking peace for her heart as she raised her hands in dua, unaware of the gaze of her husband who was waiting for her to complete the supplication.

when she felt relieved after what felt like eternity, she stood up folding the mat.

"I will leave if you are uncomfortable!"

she nodded without looking up at him as she loosened her scarf and few curls of her hair found it's way out.

"please stay," she whispered when Rihab was about to unlock the door.

"why?" He asked in mere whisper still holding the door knob.

"Just stay!" she said and walked over to the closet as she took out a blanket and threw it on the bed.

"Please switch off the light!" she said as she took her place on the bed and covered herself with her blanket.

After a few moment of silence, she felt the bed dip slightly when he came to sleep, she stiffened in her form clutching her soft purple pillow tightly and heaved a sigh of relief when she realised he had slept on the farthest corner of bed giving her space.

She peeked through the blanket after some time to see he was fast asleep and she too closed her eyes falling in deep slumber as she hugged her pillow tightly.

it was only to her horror that when she woke up she was holding Rihab arm instead of her pillow and she shrieked in even more shock when she realised she was under his blanket along with him.

"Ya Allah! what even?" Rihab sat up straight, and she pulled the blanket towards her chest as her dupatta had fallen off.

"Why are you sleeping with me?"

"Me?" Rihab smirked pointing toward his chest and laughed.
"look at your side Mrs.mehek!"

"This isn't some clichè movie Mr.Rihab, were you fool a girl!"

"ohh," He raised his brows as he retorted sarcastically, "I really dont know how you cant wake up while I pulled you towards me and made you hold my arms"

Safina looked at her blanket before mumbling sorry and rushed off to the washroom as her cheeks turned crimson realizing that she had abandoned her side and blanket and pillow and instead was pulling Rihab's blanket as they both ended up sleeping so close to her liking.

Rihab on the other hand laughed out heartily as he could smell her scent on him and this memory of them was enough for him to be happy while he would be away from her.

_____

Assalam alaikum lovelies..
how are you all??

feels great to be back after so long.
I know I have been MIA that felt like a decade.. I hope you all remember me and your fav couple safina and Rihab and Adeel and Rashiya'a.

updating a chapter was difficult with WRITERS BLOCK and a 7 month old babygirl but hoping this chapter is atleast likeable.😊

where do you think is Rihab going?

will he come back soon or late?

is Safina's hate towards Rihab justified?

Team Rihab or

team Safina or

Team RiSaf?? 😉