The Unwanted Marriage

Chapter 30

Amina's POV

My mother was no more.

All my dreams, all my hard work—it all shattered into pieces. I wanted to cry aloud, to scream, but no sound came. My tears had dried up, but my heart sobbed with a pain so deep it felt like I was drowning.

I tried to remind myself that she belong to Allah, and HE had taken her back. But no matter how much I tried to console myself, the ache wouldn't subside. The pain was relentless, gripping my heart and mind in a way I couldn't control.

I prayed for my mother, my lips whispering du'as in a voice so broken it barely sounded like my own. Then, the Maghrib adhan reached my ears. The call echoed through the silence of my despair, grounding me.

I listened to it quietly, each word reminding me of the final destination we all must face. Taking a deep breath, I stood up to pray.

Performing wudu, I let the cool water calm me, even if just slightly. I spread my prayer mat and began my Maghrib namaz. In sujood, I poured my heart out, praying for my mother's afterlife, for her forgiveness, and for her peace.

And somehow, in that moment of submission, I found a strange solace. The weight in my chest eased, if only a little. Still in sujood, I closed my eyes, tears wetting the prayer mat beneath me.

I don't know when or how, but I drifted into sleep, right there, in sujood.

"Amina, Amina!" I heard someone calling me, shaking me gently, trying to wake me up.

I slowly opened my eyes, my vision blurry, and saw Mama. There was a radiant noor on her face, a glow so serene that it took my breath away. I widened my eyes in disbelief.

"Mama?" I whispered, my voice trembling as tears began to fall. I hugged her tightly, burying my face in her chest, and the floodgates opened.

I cried, my words tumbling out in between sobs. "Mama, aapko pata hai? Maine kitna bura sapna dekha... I saw you went far away from me, Mama! It was horrible." I clung to her as though afraid she might disappear.

[Mama, do you know? I had such a bad dream.]

She smiled softly, the kind of smile that could calm storms, and stroked my hair. "Mera bacha, mai toh aapke paas hi hoon, aur hamesha rahungi," she said, her voice like a soothing melody.

[My child, I am right here with you, and I will always be.]

I laid my head on her lap, finding comfort in the warmth of her presence. "Mai bahut akeli padd gai thi," I confessed, my voice breaking.

[I had become very lonely.]

"Aap akeli kahan hai, Amina?" she replied, her tone reassuring. "Allah aapke saath hai, aur ab aapke shohar bhi toh hai na."

[How are you alone, Amina?] [Allah is with you, and now your husband is with you too, isn't he?]

I let out a soft, sad "Hmm," not knowing how to respond.

She stroked my hair again and said, "Sabr rakho. Sab theek ho jayega." Her words, so full of faith, felt like a balm on my wounded heart.

[Have patience. Everything will be fine.]

Then suddenly, I heard another voice calling me. "Amina, Amina, wake up!"

My eyes snapped open, and I saw Bhabhi leaning over me, worry etched across her face. Reality hit me like a blow. Mama was gone.

"Amina, kya hua?" she asked gently, sitting beside me.

[Amina, what happened?]

"Bhabhi... Bhabhi, maine Mama ko dekha," I stammered, tears streaming down my face.