Petals Of Grace

Will

Zahrah's POV:
"So, how did it went?", asked Hazwa in an enthusiastic tone, fixing her jilbab after sitting on some slightly dewy grass.

"Awkward", was all I could let out as a respond remembering the bus ride. "But Alhamdulillah, everything went persuasively in the office. To be honest. It was fun. Just a pile of paperwork, hours of researches and some chinwags with co-workers."

"And you have enjoyed that?"

"Why wouldn't I? It's far better than laying on the bed 24/7 with random thoughts about foods", I said in a matter-of-fact tone. I pushed my swing myself with my foot by force.

"Oh great...", her somewhat hushed tone surprised me. "Umm I got something to tell you, Zahi uh yeah...", she sighed fidgeting with her fingers.

"Spit it out already"

"I got a marriage proposal..."

"What?! Congrates Hazel!-", my rejoice got interrupted by her louring. "Yeah uh continue", I coughed out.

"I like another guy but...", Okee this is a serious issue.

"Have you told your parents? Who is it?"

"Remember Radeen? The boy from our Masjid who helped us in the show fair? ", I tried to recall.

"Radeen? His sister is my friend. Wait, that guy is a year younger than you. That means he's twenty-three..."

"You see, that is the problem. The guy who asked my hand in marriage is a wealthy employee of a famous IT company and...uh Mashallah good in almost everyway but...ughhh how can I put into words?!"

"Ok ok, I get it. You're worried about your parents not agreeing to your confession letting go a man of this great kind and your heart is in a turmoil, right?", I asked, anticipating a positive response. Wait, positive?

"Yeah but I'm also afraid if he doesn't likes me back...."

"You need my help", it wasn’t a question, it was a statement.

"Exactly"

I sighed. She's my best friend after all and I can't let her down, nor I can break any rules. "Keep asking Allah, I will do what I can...", this simple statement of mine brought a grin to her face. I smiled nervously at her.

She looked at the sky and asked, "Have you thought about marriage, Zahi?"

I stopped on my swing. "I have...but my parents haven’t talked to me about it yet. Or maybe, I'm not ready for it?"

Hazwa smirked. Uh oh, don't tell me- "Blue?", she asked with a mischievous sneer raising her eyebrows. I groaned at looked away.

"You can't see it coming, Hazel. Allah knows, you don't. So please stop with the 'blue' thing. It's just my favourite colour", I tried to shrug it off.

"Okey okey, don't mind though". We sat in a comfortable silence for a bit before she remarked, "Elee has a date, tonight. A guy named Carter Huldings."

I looked at the grass beneath my feet. "We can't stop her, can we?"

"I tried to explain our perspective to her. I didn’t force her though, she asked me herself..."

"You have warned her and that's enough. We shouldn’t force our practice on her"

That's when the Adhaan called on. We went inside and prayed Maghrib before she went back to her home. How would I feel if I was to walk in her shoes? The anxiety was visible in her face when she talked about the marriage.  Something must be going on. I'm immensely in need of Allah's guidance now...