When I Found You

chapter 2

She woke up before Fajr, stretched, and stood up. Then walked to the bathroom, did the usual routine, and performed ablution before returning to her room. Grabbing a hijab and her prayer mat, she prayed raka'atanil fajr.

Zaynab opened the Qur'an and began to recite. Her voice softened as she reached her favorite — Suratul Yasin. With closed eyes and raised hands, she prayed earnestly and poured her heart out to Allah — the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.

The adhan for Subh prayer was called. She stood and performed her prayer again. Afterwards, she quietly recited her morning azkar — a sacred ritual she never missed — before crawling back under her blanket.

Two hours later, her phone rang. It was Amani.

"Let's go out today — shopping and everything!" Amani chirped.

Still sleepy-eyed, Zaynab smiled.

After the call, she showered, then dressed in maroon palazzo trousers and a crisp white top. She spritzed humrah all over her body, the scent lingering like poetry in motion, and went to greet her mum.

She searched her room — empty.

Downstairs, she found her in the kitchen, giving instructions to the cook.

"Hello, sweetpie. Good morning!" Zaynab greeted warmly. She always showered her mum with affection.

"Morning, my sweet angel. How are you?" her mother replied.

"I'm good, Alhamdulillah."

"Ma sha Allah," her mum beamed. "Come, let's greet the man of the house and have breakfast together."

They walked to her father's room and entered after giving salaam. He was sitting at the edge of the bed.

"Daddy, morning," Zaynab smiled.

"Morning, my love. And how's my sweetie doing?" he said, eyes lighting up.

Before she could reply, her mum interjected playfully, "If you're done, remember I'm still here — and I'm your love, not her!"

The father and daughter burst into laughter while she feigned a frown. He reached out and pulled her into a warm hug, kissing her forehead.

"You'll always be my love. You're my life, my everything. I love you," he said softly.

"I love you too, my baby," she whispered, eyes misty.

"Awww! You two are goals. I should've snapped this moment!" Zaynab laughed, taking a quick photo and showing it to her dad.

He chuckled. "Now go find your love and have kids that'll snap moments like this too."

She only smiled — she knew exactly where that conversation was going and had no intention of letting it continue. So she quickly suggested they head to the dining table.

Her mum served them danwake for breakfast.

"Yum, yum, yum! Mama, your hands are blessed. This danwake is the world! From now on, I'll always request it for breakfast."

"I know, right?" her mum said, rolling her eyes.

Gosh. Whose mum rolls their eyes? Well — hers.
"But don't think of requesting danwake every day!" she warned.

After breakfast, her dad announced he was leaving for work. They both hugged him and walked him to the door.

"Allah bada sa'a, Daddy," Zaynab prayed.

"Amin, my dear," he replied.

"Allah bada sa'a, my love," her mum added.

"Amin, habibty. Sai na dawo," he said, smiling as the driver opened the car door. They exchanged pleasantries before he zoomed off.