Waiting For A MIRACLE..

Epilogue

9 years later...

"Be with those who love your being"

"Sweetie! How long will you take to get ready?", Fawad called out while tucking his shirt and hurrying up at the same time.

"Almost done", a sweet and relaxed voice replied.

It was Saturday, an off day for Fawad and it was meant to spend it well with his family. All these years changed him a lot, to be precise. He spent time with his family, with himself and with Allah. He needed the extra spiritual space for tranquillity and getting along with life. It wasn't worth trading with anything in this world. Time unveiled the realities of every situation and every action. He could see the beauty in it and everything apart from it.

He was standing by the door, lost in his thoughts when his fingers were intertwined by someone with the most delicate and familiar touch. A smile crept to his lips and they moved towards the car together.

Emaan waved at her grandmother, while Fawad drove them away.

"Dad, Are we taking carnations this time also?", Emaan asked with a bit of excitement in her tone.

"Yes sweetie, as always!", Fawad looked at her and smiled.

They stopped by the flower shop and picked up a fresh bouquet of carnations. The clove-like fragrance of the flower brought back numerous memories that made his heart flutter and also ache at a few of them.

He sighed at the sight of Emaan holding the bouquet, she held and caressed the bouquet just like a baby that gave Fawad a feeling of nostalgia; when he had held Emaan for the first time. She was tiny than the bouquet, her eyes just like her mother, deep and full of compassion for everyone who could read it.

Driving away those thoughts, he drove towards their destination for today.

Fawad stopped the car by a huge gate above which was a board that read, "Al Haadi Memorial Garden". Something inside Fawad would clench whenever Saturdays arrived and he was supposed to come here. He loved to be here but he dreaded the reason that made him come here in the first place.

Fawad closed the car's door, held Emaan's hand and went inside the cemetery. He has been visiting this place for 7 years now, and Emaan joined him a year ago. Earlier it was a tough journey but slowly it had become a mandatory visit and a day that he longed for no matter what. After all, he was visiting his better half, Zaara.

"Here it is Mumma, your favourite flowers! We hope you will love it", Emaan said, placing the bouquet on her mother's grave. She was too young to realise that this realm had no connection with the one that Zaara's soul has been residing in now but only Allah had the mastery over all the facts. His will was beyond a man's wide imagination.

Fawad stared at the little girl, his heart broke at the sight every time as Emaan raised her little hands and asked Allah to send those flowers to her Mum.

Fawad kneeled down to her level and hugged her. He held back his tears and said, "Come Emmy we will pray for your Mum now".

Fawad recited few verses from the Holy Qur'an and then raised his hands to pray for her wife, for her peace and forgiveness, and to be with her in the Hereafter. Emaan followed him and prayed for her Mum. The young soul still needed time to understand the mysteries of the universe and how it functioned, especially the power of prayer. But her already anxious heart had profound trust in Allah that usually lacked in adults. Kids are innocent.