Those Honey Brown Eyes (A Muslim Love Story).

Chapter : 8 An Unplanned Tour 🌊

Aliya's Pov

I returned to my hostel and threw myself onto the bed after unlocking my room. Tears flowed from my eyes like rivers. Why did he hate me so much? How could I tolerate such hatred from one of the people I once cherished the most?

I didn’t know when I fell asleep while crying, but when I woke up, my stomach was already churning. It was 5 p.m., and I had skipped lunch. My head was throbbing in pain from all the crying.

In the washroom, I looked at myself in the mirror. This wasn’t me—this Aliya looked tired and vulnerable. Sometimes, his happy face, and at other times, his face full of hatred towards me, flashed in my dreams almost every day. How could I move on from him? Besides, the memory of that morning never left me. Would I go mad someday?

After taking a shower, I did my ablution and performed the prayer. 

"Allah, please set me free from all of this. Help me find my solace," I prayed.

I stood up from the prayer mat and made instant noodles to eat. Then, I forced myself to sit at the table and study. I couldn’t afford to waste time since finals were coming.

After studying for a few hours, I got up and cooked a bowl of porridge to feed myself. After offering my last prayer of the day, I began preparing to sleep when my phone rang. It was my father calling.

I picked up the call and offered Salam.
"Walaikum Assalam, how are you, my life? Have you eaten dinner?" he asked.

"Alhamdulillah, Baba, I was just about to go to bed. How are you all? Where is Mom?" I asked.

"We’re all good. Your mother is asleep. When will your finals be finished? I have something to tell you," he replied.

I knew what he was going to say: marriage. It was the thing I feared most. 

"They’ll be finished in two months, and I have a three-month internship program after that," I replied.

"Oh, come home after your finals. Your mother misses you terribly," he said. 
"Okay, I’ll come. Take care of yourself and Mom. Good night. Allah Hafiz. Assalamu Alaikum," I said. 

"Allah Hafiz, my little doll," he responded before hanging up.

__________________

Two months later

Finally, our BBA journey ended as the exams were over. Martha and Asma hugged me tightly and began to cry, knowing I’d be moving away from the city in a few days. 

"Can’t you stay, please? I’m going to miss you, bestie," Asma said, crying. 
"I’ll visit you in the capital, my bro. And don’t you dare apply for an MBA without me," Martha warned. 

These two girls were like night and day. Asma was cheerful and sassy, with a girly vibe. She was the crush of many boys at our university. Martha, on the other hand, was more tomboyish, a cool ‘bro’ type, but she had a soft heart. You’d never believe this girl had been in a relationship for 10 years! 

I couldn’t hold back my own tears at their words. I started crying too and said, "I’ll keep coming here. And I’ll kill you both if you don’t answer my calls."