𝐀𝐘𝐀𝐓: 𝐀 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐐𝐮𝐫'𝐚𝐧

chapter 56

She emerged from the bathroom after taking a relaxing bath. As she moved toward the mirror, she caught a glimpse of her reflection. She was wearing an ankle-length anarkali, and the round neckline showcased her slender neck and exquisite collarbone. Her hair, previously wrapped in a towel, fell beautifully on either side of her figure as she let it down.

She hung the towel and recalled Dr. Isha's words, a smile spreading across her lips as she realized she could try again. Perhaps it was a sign from Allah (SWT), and she had complete trust in her Lord. Looking up at the ceiling with hopeful eyes, tears welled up as she quietly prayed, “Please, Allah, handle everything!”

Quickly, she blinked the tears away and turned her head toward the shelf where her Qur'an was kept. With her period having ended, she felt a renewed sense of hope, as if she were free once more. She often felt that her periods were like a break, but to a Muslimah, it was heartbreaking not to be able to please her Lord, not to read the Qur'an or pray to Him.

However, she reminded herself that following Allah's orders still counted as a good deed, and thus she had nothing to be ashamed of. She approached the shelf, took the Qur'an into her hands with a smile and glistening eyes, and moved back to her bed, where she sat down, ready to connect with her faith once again.

She opened the Qur'an and flipped some pages and started reading surah ankaboot

يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّ أَرْضِي وَاسِعَةٌ فَإِيَّايَ فَاعْبُدُونِ

O My servants who have believed, indeed My earth is spacious, so worship only Me.

كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ ۖ ثُمَّ إِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ

Every soul will taste death. Then to Us will you be returned.
As she recalled witnessing this verse for the second time, she remembered the first time in Ayaan's office. She had just returned home after having lunch with him. He had even asked her why she was there, but what could she have told him? That she had an appointment and went directly to his office with the lunch she had packed before heading to the clinic? She thanked Allah that he didn’t ask too many questions and that she had made it home safely, but she still sensed his doubts. Shrugging her shoulders, she glanced at the clock; it was 5 PM in the evening, and she quickly refocused on the Quran.

As she finished the Surah, her phone rang. She looked at the caller ID and saw it was Anaya. Anaya had promised to call her daily, especially since her exams had been ongoing ever since she arrived in Mumbai. Ayat knew her sister was becoming stubborn about coming to Mumbai, but Adam was not allowing her to go. She answered the phone, placing it to her ear as she walked toward the bookshelf.

"Assalamualaikum, appiiiiiiiiii!" Anaya's usual overly excited voice rang out, bringing an instant smile to Ayat's lips as she set the Quran down.

"Hmm, walaikum assalam! How is my little kitten doing?" Ayat asked enthusiastically as she sat on her bed.

"Don’t call me that name, or I’ll miss you even more!" Anaya replied cutely, making Ayat chuckle. This was not typical behavior for Anaya; it was clear she was really missing her.

"I miss you too, but what can we do? Abbu will never agree!" Ayat said, matching her sister's sorrowful tone.

"But yes!" Ayat shouted suddenly, straightening up and capturing Anaya's attention.

"What, appi?" Anaya asked, intrigued.

"What if you all come here? I will talk to Ammi about it. Sabeeha aapa is also planning to come, so you can all come together!" Ayat announced happily.