From Aliya to Hafiz

A/N.

"And that's a wrap, Alhamdulillah." Is literally what I said when I finished writing the Coda.

This actually wasn't the ending I had planned for Aliya and Hafiz's story. I think the inspiration for this book hit me when I was in Sudan, around mid-2022, I can't remember what month exactly. Surprisingly, the first thing about the book that came to me was the title, "From Aliya To Hafiz."

The thing with me is that titles don't come easily to me, I can have the storyline and climax figured out but you see the title? It's always a struggle. So I was surprised when I thought "From Aliya To Hafiz" and it just hit me that this was the title and the story would be about two people forced into proximity out of a sense of duty and gratitude and helplessness.

Aliya was supposed to be kidnapped after Bailey exhausted all means to prevent her and Hafiz from getting together. Three days after her kidnapping, Bailey asks the kidnappers to kill Aliya and traffic her organs with the mentality that Hafiz is bound to ruin her even after finding Aliya anyway. So she might as well ruin them.

When Aliya heard their conversation, she asked the kidnappers for a pen and paper, and out of whatever humanity they had left, they complied. As she wrote down the last word, she was shot dead and after making sure she didn't write anything incriminating, the kidnappers tucked the letter into her hijab and got to work to complete their assignment.

Five hours later, her body was found, her organs gone. And when Hafiz received the letter, soaked through with her sweat and blood, the first line read;

"From Aliya to Hafiz."

Everything after that was a blur to be figured out. That was the first encounter between my brain and this book. So it's beyond surprising that the book concluded in such a manner.

But I guess my English teacher in secondary school was right. "The characters decide how the story progresses, you can't force the narrative to go the way you want it to or it'll feel like forced art."

I guess Aliya was too strong-headed to die, we all know she doesn't take bullshit. Her will to live is just too strong. I'm not sure how to feel about this ending since I've always thought she was going to die and Hafiz would forever live with the regret of her death.

Guess they loved each other too much.

Anyway, I'd appreciate it if you all could comment on what you think about the ending the characters chose for themselves and the one I had mapped out for them.

What's next after this? Well, I have no idea, but we shall see.

Thank you for reading Aliya and Hafiz's story and sticking with it to the end. May Allah's blessings and affiyah be with you and your loved ones always.

Do like, comment and follow (FOLLOW PLEASEEEEE), really, do.

Thank you,
Zahra Mamii.