𝐀𝐘𝐀𝐓: 𝐀 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐐𝐮𝐫'𝐚𝐧

chapter 43

Anaya broke the hug and sat beside Ayat, who was lost in her thoughts. "Appi!" Anaya called, breaking the chain of thoughts. Salma also sat beside her, removing her veil to reveal the brightest look on Ayat's face. Despite not wearing any jewelry or makeup, Ayat glowed in a way that astonished Salma. "Congratulations, beta!" Salma exclaimed, and Ayat's eyes shot up, moistening with tears. It had been months since she had heard the term 'beta' from her. Salma placed a hand on her shoulder. "Go rest. They will come at night!" Ayat nodded as Anaya took her hand and led her upstairs.

Sitting on her bed, Ayat’s thoughts still wouldn’t leave her mind. She couldn’t understand what was happening. Why was she feeling this way now, when she hadn’t felt it during her first nikah? What was different? "Appi??" Anaya called again, breaking her reverie. Ayat raised her head to meet her gaze.

"Where were you lost? I’ve been calling you for five minutes!" Anaya said, confused. Ayat looked down, avoiding her gaze. "Okay, forget it! First, tell me, have you met him? Do you know each other? How is he? I mean, jiju?" Anaya asked, teasingly amused. Ayat shot her eyes at Anaya, feeling a gulp in her throat because she wasn’t sure if he was the same person—or how he could be. Anaya sat beside her.

"Apppiii?" Anaya shouted, and Ayat flinched. "Where did you just go lost in thoughts?" she asked in annoyance. Ayat blinked without answering.

"Okay tell me? Did you meet him? Do you know each other?" Anaya exclaimed in excitement, but Ayat as usual didn't reply

"Okay, don’t tell me, kept your husband a secret!" Anaya joked, getting up and heading toward the bathroom. Ayat just stared at her retreating form. "Husband?" she mumbled to herself. It was the first term she had heard related to Ashar—and now Ayaan! The thought of Ashar left her mind as soon as she signed those papers. It felt like she had lost her memory; she couldn’t even recall their last meeting. She didn’t know why it happened, but it’s said that when a woman cries or suffers from something traumatic, her past memories begin to fade. Perhaps that was happening to her as well, leaving only her mysterious husband occupying her thoughts.

Meanwhile, Ayaan was sitting on the rooftop of the madarsa on a short wall that reached his knees, staring blankly at the sky. Just an hour ago, he had married Ayat, but he felt neither happiness nor sorrow, which confused him. Suddenly, he saw Sabeeha approaching and adjusted himself as she sat beside him. "So?" she asked, and he looked at her in confusion, shrugging his shoulders as if asking what she meant.

"I am so amazed by your destiny! Aghhhh, ya Allah, I am so happy!" Sabeeha exclaimed with excitement. Ayaan managed a small smile at her behavior because she didn’t act like this all the time.

"Are you happy?... Of course, you will be… right?" She jumped in front of him, causing him to flinch slightly. "Hmm!" he hummed, still gazing at the bright sky. Sabeeha raised an eyebrow. "What ‘hmm’? You love Ayat, right?" she asked, becoming serious. He glanced at her.

"I think... the love has faded away," he confessed, sharing his confusion about his feelings. He didn’t understand why he didn’t feel anything after the nikah. Sure, he felt tears drop onto the documents, but afterward, it felt like everything went silent—he couldn’t comprehend his own heart.

"What are you saying, Muhammad?" Sabeeha asked, facing him seriously as he struggled with his emotions. "I don’t think I still love her the way I did years ago," he elaborated.

"I married her out of respect for the teachings of our beloved Prophet (pbuh)," he said, looking again at the sky, where dark clouds began to gather. "Are you sure? Because your face is telling a different story, Muhammad!" she teased with a smile, making him glance her way. He shook his head. "No, Appi! I’m sure. I know there was a time when I loved her... but after the nikah, I can’t understand what I’m feeling!" Confusion was clear in his voice, while Sabeeha’s smile grew brighter.