Journey To The Half Of My Deen

Chapter Twenty-Five

LAIBA P.O.V

Tomorrow is Eid so I was ironing my clothes. There is always some kind of excitement the night before Eid, the rushing of getting the men's clothes ready or women preparing their clothes. For women we have to prepare sweets and foods which I really love.

After putting my ironed clothes properly on a hanger and hanging it on my cupboard. I walked towards the ladies as we had a to go to aunty Azra's house since Lubna will be putting henna for us. Looking at everyone smiling and being excited all, I made dua that Allah Ta'ala always keeps them smiling and happy.

I am afraid of seeing Zeeshan. I wanted to make an excuse so that I do not go to his place since I was not sure if he will be at home or at the masjid. After our last encounter I just want to avoid him at cost. I was still hurt and angry at his behavior. I just do not understand why he would blame me without knowing the whole truth, sometimes things are never what they seem.

Once we reached at aunty Azra's house, I asked Lubna where all the men are and she said that the men had all left to go to the masjid, I sighed in relief once I found out.

I listened to everyone talk about the soon to be coming baby, I listen to the mothers give my sister advice on what to do in pregnancy and what not to do. Lubna was busy putting henna and sadaf was watching the tv.

I did not speak a single word unless spoken to, when I feel sad or hurt in any way I go silent until I feel better. I looked at the henna on my hand, I do not like the smell of henna I only get it applied on Eid because it is sunnah and, I like the design of it which makes my hands look beautiful.

After a while of the ladies talking Lubna suggested we do something fun and exciting, but our mothers were not happy about that. The bell rang making my heart drop to my stomach 'they are back' I thought, Sadaf immediately stood up to go open the door, I found that a little suspicious, but I did not say anything.

"Please mother I promise it will not even take us an hour before we are back" Lubna and her sister insisted.

"What will not take you an hour" Abdallah uncle voiced out and Lubna and her sister stood up to go greet their father. Lubna kissed his hand before explaining what her plan was.

Abdallah uncle laughed and agreed for us girls to go for bawling but only on one condition was that the boys to come with us. That made the boys excited.

I did not dare look up at him, I knew he was close by I heard Zeeshan speak and also I saw his legs but I knew I could not meet his eyes. i felt a certain ache in my heart, I still remember the look he gave me when he was angry. i still feel scared of his reaction.

We all left immediately for the bawling. We went in two different cars. I went together with Zaid, Lubna, Lubaba and Sadaf and in the other car was Zeeshan, Kareem, Arif, Musaib and Irfan.

When we reached there, we were all being competitive on who will win. After playing for a while, we got a phone call as our mothers were saying that we need to sleep and wake up early for the Eid Salah. Musaib was the one that won which made Lubna so mad, he was making fun of her and pulling her cheeks which made her even more mad. i smiled at them, a sibling relation can be so beautiful.

When we were leaving, I looked up to see Zeeshan looking at me I looked away immediately and did not look back at him, I internally wished I didn't look up when I felt someone staring at me. We all immediately left to go home before our parents called again.

Once we reached home, I knew I started to feel ill, my body hurt but I just ended up taking painkillers before going to bed.

***

I woke up to my mother shouting at me to wake up before she went to my brother's room. I sat up feeling really ill, I leaned my body on the bed headboard before I closed my eyes.

"Laiba! What is the issue I have been trying to get you up for the past twenty minutes" my mother yelled angrily, all I felt was my head hurting as she shouted. I put a hand on my head due to the pain increasing by the minute.

"Laiba!"

"Laiba?!" I heard concerned voices I opened my eyes to see my mother and sister next to me, they looked so worried.

"I am fine" i spoke with a raspy voice, my throat was dry, and it hurt, my mother put her hand over my forehead before looking at my sister panicked "her fever is really high" mom panicked before leaving to call my father

"Omaya I am fine! Honestly!" I rasped out as he left "no you are not Laiba" Halima looked upset, and I groaned "I am ruining Eid for everyone" and Halima shook her head disapprovingly.

Before I know it, I was rushed to the hospital. After visiting the doctor, I was given some medication and we returned home. Aunty Azra's family has come over. I saw Everyone was dressed while I looked and felt horrible. After I was questioned by everyone how I was. I went up to change and put very light makeup to make myself feel less horrible, but nothing seemed to help.

I went downstairs to find aunty Azra's family had left, I sighed in relief. Before I walked into the kitchen I could not believe what I heard. My mother was telling my sister and my aunt that Zeeshan talked to my father and brother last night about his interest in marrying me. I froze, that was the shock of my life.

Ya Allah...