Surah No. 103, Al Asr

o إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَلَفِي خُسْرٍ o وَالْعَصْرِ

o إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْابِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ

Translation :

By the time (through the Ages), In fact ! Man is in loss, Except those who have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and enjoin people in teaching of Truth, and promote Patience.

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It was Shifa's mehndi today, and she still hadn't talked to her. So much for sacrificing herself! She was tired as hell. Her weakness was engulfing her body day by day and she couldn't even do anything, or her parents would detect easily that something is wrong.

Riyaz did talked to her and told her to relax. Everything will be fine! But she didn't knew how?

"Beta apke husband nahi aye?" Her Phupoo, also Rida's mother asked her making her pale for a second but she composed herself. Her cousins were warned, not to utter a word till the wedding ends!

"Aunty unhe kuch zaruri kaam se out of country jaana tha. Bas isiliye." Hardly smiling at her she excused herself only to bump into someone else.

"Ap shayad har kaam bina soche samjhe karti hai!" Zamaan reprimanded her taking a step back.

Zehna slightly lost her senses when his scent engulfed her but barely composed herself when his voice touched her ears. She knew what he was implementing!

"Soch samajh kar apne konsa teer mar liya?" She smiled sarcastically which barely reached her eyes.

"Kya karu? Abhi tak nishana hi nahi mila." He shrugged his shoulders leaning on the door frame and folding his hands on his chest. Zehna followed his movements but looked away muttering 'Astagfirullah'. She was married, for allah's sake!

"Raasta chode mera!"

"Or agar na chodu to?" He asked with a smirk gazing her riled up self lazily.

"Ap ko andaza bhi hai ap kya kar rahe hai?" She moved her hands in the air, forgetting her problems for a moment.

"Kya kar raha hu mai?" He moved his ear towards her.

"Apka or mera koi mazak nahi hai Zamaan Sahab. Behtar hoga ap Bhai ki dosti tak mehdood rahe!" Saying she brushed past him from the little space that was left after occupied by him, filling his senses for a second.

"Apke dost ko kaam de koi. Hamesha faarigh ghumte hai!" He chuckled when heard her loud voice talking to her brother.

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"Shifa?" She peeked inside her sister's room. Everyone was present in the lawn, and she was expected to bring her sister down in half an hour.

Her eyes filled up involuntarily seeing her all dolled up in yello and pink lehenga along with flower jewellery. And she still was ignoring her!

"Ab bhi naraz ho?" She touched her arm turning her towards herself and smiled when she didn't pushed her hand away.

"Kyu ayi hai ap yaha? Mai akele bhi aasakti thi niche!" Shifa grumbler not looking at her.

"Mujhe laga meri behen ko meri zarurat hongi." She smiled again, but it didn't last when she heard her next words.

"Pichle do saalo me kayi dafa mujhe apki zarurat thi. Lekin maine har dafa apki jagah khaali dekhi hai. Ab to mujhe adat ho gayi hai sab akele karne ki." She brushed her arm away as a tear leaked Zehna's eye.

"To mai chali jau wapas? Jaha se ayi hu? Mai to yaha sirf tumhare liye ayi thi. Jab tumhe hi meri zarurat nahi hai to mai chali jaati hu." Saying she turned around taking slow step towards the door expecting her sister to call out for her. But she didn't! Until she was about to step out of the room.

"Khabardar aapi jo ek kadam bhi or badhaya! Mai kabhi maaf nahi karungi apko." She stilled at her tears filled voice and as soon as she turned around, her sister launched herself in her arms.

"Aapiiii!" Shifa cried in her embrace. "Please na jaao us jahannum me!"

After fifteen minutes both the sisters were able to take a control on their emotions. Shifa was now sitting on her vanity while Zehna started redoing her makeup which she spoiled while crying.

"Apne ek baar bhi nahi socha mere baare me?" Zehna's hand stopped for a second at her question.

"Tumhara soch kar hi to mai aj tak wapas nahi ayi." She replied after a moment. She was tired of running.

"Kya matlab?"

"Matlab kuch nahi! Bas mai ammi abba ko taklif nahi dena chahti thi. Log unka jeena haram kardete Shifa." She applied little blush on her cheeks. "Ye sab chodo. Ab niche chalte hai. Ham dono ke paas raat bhar hai baate karne." She kissed her forehead lightly.

"I am glad to have you back Behna. And at the same time I am sad, I won't be able to spend more time with you." Zehna smiled at her pout and hearing that word after so long.

"Koi baat nahi. We will surely catch up. Warna aise karna Yasir ko kehna honeymoon ko na jaake tumhe yaha chod de!" She winked making her eyes wide.

"Haaawwww Api, Ab aisi bhi baat nahi hai. Waha se aye baad I am sure, wo mujhe chodege apke paas." Shifa said with a blush.

"Allah! Bohot hi koi besharam ho gayi ho tum!" She slapped her hand making her wince dramatically.

"Uff aapi! Apne start kiya tha!" And they kept bantering rest of the event.

The raunak of Khan Villa was finally back after two years!

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"Fursat mil gayi apko?" She asked Riyaz as soon as he literally fell down on the chair beside her.

"Tumne divorce ka kya socha hai?" She was sitting alone on one of the tables, she wasn't anymore close with anyone who could accompany her.

Two years is a big time!

Although her cousin brothers who knew about her kept on checking up on her. She was glad that they didn't pity her. They were warned not to talk about her yet!

"Divorce ka?" She was shock at the word. She sure expected to resolve her marriage but divorce?

"Ha...maine apne ek friend ko kaha hai papers banane ke liye...wo ek week ke andar dedega." He said casually sipping on the water which she passed him.

"Bohot jaldi nahi horaha hai...mera matlab hai abhi Ammi abbu ko bhi nahi pata..." she quickly changed her sentence when he shot her a glare.

"Tumhe jaldi lag raha hai? Agar mujhe pata hota to reception se pehle tumhari divorce ho gayi hoti." He grumbled.

Just than Zamaan joined them with his sister.

"Aree aao Aria. Baitho." Riyaz gestured at the seat beside Zehna.

"Meet my Behna, Zehna." Riyaz said earning a smack on his arm.

"She is Zamaan's sister." He did a quick introduction when his mobile ringed and he excused himself.

"Ohh to ap hai Zehna. Bhai apke baare me bohot baa..." Aria was cut off with a wince when Zamaan pinched her making her shut up.

"Mera matlab hai Riyaz bhai apka aksar zikr karte hai." Aria laughed awkwardly.

"I hope good things though." Zehna glanced between the sibling's duo and smiled at them.

"Ji bilkul." She said with a laugh which didn't quiet reached her eyes. "Mai shifa se milkar aati hu." She got up leaving them alone in awkward silence.

"Aria mere sath rehti hai." He started making her glance at her confused.

"Zaahir hai apki behen apke sath hi rahegi." She said with a duh tone.

"Ap samjhi nahi. Three years back uski shadi ho gayi thi with a man to whom she was betrothed to since childhood...due to some problems she came back within three months...mai chahta hu ap usko convince kare ke wo ab apne husband ke sath wapas jaye." He briefed about his sister.

"Or apko aisa kyu lagta hai wo meri baat manegi?" She stared at him unsurely.

"Because she hadn't gone through a bit of as much as you had! I am sure wo apki baat manegi." She looked down embarrassed at the mention of her sufferings. He knew everything! "You are strong Zehna. You can be the inspiration to many ladies out their who are going through the same phase. Please don't keep quiet. Agar aj tum khamosh rahi to tumhare sath hazaro ladkiya apni cheekhe dabadengi. Do you want them to go through the same phase you had gone through?" She shook her head vigorously. "Think about it. And don't you dare go back to that hell!"

His tone consisted of a warning with a promise lacing underneath.

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"Or batao Yasir se kaise mili tum?" Zehna was laying beside her sister who smiled dreamily at the question.

"I use to work under him. He was the head of my department. He proposed me after six months...I too had a tiny winy crush on him..." she smiled sheepishly. Zehna pinched her cheek..."Ha ha...pata chal raha hai tumhara tiny winy..."

They laughed out loud.

"I told him to send the proposal if he is really serious. Rest you can see..." she shrugged her shoulders as they fell in comfortable silence after that.

"Meri ek baat manogi?" Zehna pleaded her.

"Hmm?"

"Please kabhi kuch chupana nahi." Shifa knew what she was referring to. "I know we can trust Yasir, and he would keep you happy...but if anytime anything goes wrong please don't follow my steps. Share your problems with us." Shifa nodded knowing her sisters inner turmoil as she hugged her throwing her leg on her waist just like old days.

Zehna groaned inwardly in pain due to the impact of her wounds, but didn't pushed her away. She was happy having her sister back.

And now she was determined to stay, where she could feel home, finally.

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"You know Aria, kabhi kabhi mai sochti hu, ke Allah apne khaas bando ko aazmata hai. So that, he can make them storng than they already are."

Aria looked up at her. She was silent from past ten minuted of their meeting which Zamaan and Riyaz so obviously made it oblivious.

"I know why are you saying this. But I won't change my decision." Aria said as politely as she could wanting to kill Zamaan thousand times for putting her in a situation like it.

"Tell me one reason." Zehna asked softly.

"Their are many." Aria huffed looking away.

"You know, I get quiet bored in this walls. I am all ears with abundant time." Zehna tried out the answer of her and she was successful.

"He didn't took a stand for me when his mother use to treat me like a doormat." She sniffed a little a if living in the memory. "He should have worked for us, so that his wife shouldn't have to bear its consequences! He should have come back to me, instead of running away like a coward! And now he has guts to come in front of me to ask for forgiveness! I did! I did forgave him! But I can't forget what he made me go through!" Her voice raised an octave by each word, finally letting all out after such a long time. She sat down again taking her head in her hands which started throbbing due to stress.

"Why do you think he didn't took stand for you?" Zehna cross questioned her first reason.

"Our wedding took place suddenly, we were not ready. His exams were going on that time." She said wioing a tear from the back of her hand.

"He was studying. Why?" Zehna wanted her to find her answers herself.

"So that he could provide us with better life." Aria gasped at her own answer...she didn't thought of it like that.

"So basically, he knew you were suffering. He just wanted time to take your responsibility." Aria looked down, guilt seeping in her being. "Why do you think he didn't came back to you? When you herself left him behind, cause that time, I assume, you both needed each other as much."

"Because he went to become a better person." Aria said in a trance.

"I second that! From what you told me, he was a better person. He went to become a better husband." Zehna pointed out. "Person like Nijaz are very rare to find Aria. Trust me I know. I know how much it is important for a girl to have a better half who would come back to her. And he did. He came back for you, it is just he took time to realise that he is capable of you now. You are very lucky that your husband made himself capable to get back you. Not everyone is this much lucky." She said with a distant look. "I know, I may sound absurd about it. But society is cruel Aria. Will you be able to live without him? Or if he supposedly divorced you, will you be able to live with this society? Who questions your each and every move? It is very difficult to turn deaf on each one of them. For a second if we even turn deaf towards the society, but when you both know that you love each other, will Allah be pleased with this divorce just because he didn't came back to you?"

Aria couldn't meet her eyes. She was right! She was throwing tantrums like a stupid brat in need of attention.

Zehna could look at her inner turmoil. "Take your time Aria. No one will force you, if your answer still doesn't change." She side hugged her comfortably which she so much needed that time, as her tears broke on Zehna's shoulder.

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Zehna breathed in a fresh air as soon as she stepped in the garden. Free. She felt free. For the first time in her twenty five years of life!

She filed for the divorce right after Shifa's wedding. Her parents were angry on her...so much that her father didn't talked to her for a week after knowing the truth...but they all came around.

It had been a year...since she was divorced. And now she was just exploring herself. Her brother was proved to be her greatest support through all this.

Her ex-husband, he was angry at her for filing for divorce. He even went to the limit to force her to go back to him, and attacking them. But she was adamant this time. With some of the proofs of her bruises and some recordings of when he threatened her, she was finally free.

But no matter how much back you have left your past...it is always with you like a nightmare!

Instead of mourning over her sufferings, she started concentrating on her studies. Graduated in psychology wasn't proved to be more beneficial than now.

After iddat she was able to get the job at NGO as a psychiatrist, and she proved to be a boon to them cause ever since she conveyed her story during court visit, many women came to her for help! And she was glad to help them at the same time sad that they had gone through all this!

Riyaz and her parents were of great help through all this, because of the guilt that he couldn't help her before, he was more than ready to help her!

"Behna?" She saw Riyaz coming with two steaming cups of tea making her smile.

"Zaruri baat karni thi tumse." Riyaz asked nervously.

"Bole? Hayee koi ladki to pasand nahi agayi apko...Rida ka dil toot jayega." she teased him pulling his cheek playfully.

"Yaar na karo..." He swatted her hand away, carefull at not raising his voice and swatting her hand violently. She was still delicate for this things after what she had been through! "Ladki nahi, lekin ladka zarur pasand agaya mujhe."

"Haaawww bhai?" Zehna was actually shocked at him, as her mouth fell to ground.

"Chup karo! Allah tauba! Tumhare liye ladka pasand agaya mujhe." She went silent at his words. Her scars were still not fully recovered. And who would be kind enough to handle the broken soul like her?

"Bhai, we have talked about this before. Haven't we?" She asked looking away...memories surfacing her eyes.

"I know Zehna...I know." He made her sit on the patio chair and held her hands softly removing both the tea cups. "I know that last experience wasn't near to any good...but I want to give you the chance to relive that moments in different light. I want you to experience what it truly is rather than what you had been through."

"How can you be sure that this won't be a bad experience?" She sniffed softly, looking at him with red eyes.

"Because I know him from past twenty seven years...and no one would keep you happy as much as he could. Don't trust me, trust Allah on this! Please?" Riyaz looked at her with hope, hope to not defame him. "Ammi abbu ko bhi ladka pasand hai, or Shifa...uska to na hi poocho, wo to kud rahi thi khushi ke maare."

"Matlab ye sab pehle se planning chal rahi hai...bas mujhe emotionally black mail karna baaki tha." She said in a stern voice looking away. They were again pushing her in hell.

"Trust me! No one is forcing you. Meet him once...if you don't want, no one will say a word to you. I promise. I just want you to know that we all want you to be happy. And when we are saying the door to your happiness open, why won't we "emotionally blackmail" you? Or tumhe kya lagta hai? Itna bada hadsa hone ke baad Abbu aisehi begair spche samjhe kisi ko bhi dedege tumhe?" He stressed out each word. "Ek baat or. Saari duniya ke saamne jo tum Mother Teressa ban kar ghumti hona...itni hi psychology khud bhi istemal karliya karo." He slapped her head lightly, making her giggle.

"Ek shart par." She got all serious again.

"Tumhari saari sharte manzur hai mujhe tumhari khushi ke khatir." He said patting her head.

"To Rida se shadi karle." He stopped dead in tracks. "Mai psychiatrist hu bhai. Mai agar kehti nahi iska matlab ye nahi hai mai samajti nahi. Or ye ap bhi jaante hai ke wo apko pasand karti hai."

"Thik hai! Lekin sirf tumhare liye." He said after a while making her squeal in delight.

"Haaiiii? Sachi? Ha ha bas mai bahana hu. Jaanti hu mai sab." He smiled looking down, away from his psyciatrist sister, scratching his neck nervously.

"Itni samajdar ho nahi tum...jitna khud ko samajhti ho." He yelled behind her, cause she was running inside the house excitedly calling her mother to spread the happiness she was carrying.

Now cold cups of tea layed on the table behind them...somethings are better left behind...most people leave their favourites for the better end, cause its the taste they want to hold onto for the rest of their lives.

If you are the last thought on someone's mind at the end of the day or the last one they text or turn towards...cherish it...it may not last long. Or it may last forever! All according to Allah's will!

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~Author's note~

So...any thoughts?

You may hate Zehna but she is a sweetheart❤

Who may have sent proposal for Zehna? Isn't it obvious?👀

To say from my side, I am very disappointed by your guys response!

If you like the chapter, does it take too much time to hit the start button and comment an emoji or a heart? And even if you don't like, comment your thoughts politely...so that I can improve my writing.
Believe me you never know how happy your response makes me! It makes my day!