Faith On Allah... Imaan (Ibadah Book 2)

Principles of hearts

sitāroñ se aage jahāñ aur bhī haiñ
abhī ishq ke imtihāñ aur bhī haiñ
tū shāhīñ hai parvāz hai kaam terā
tere sāmne āsmāñ aur bhī haiñ

(There is a world beyond the stars
There are gonna be more tests of love
You are a falcon, your work is to fly
There are more skies to conquer for you)

His family was enjoying a function of Mehendi in their home, while he was sitting on the terrace and watching his cell phone fixedly. The screen showed a picture of two girls. Both of them were similar looking. They had hands around each other and were smiling at the person who took the photo. How he got the picture was anyone's guess. He wanted the picture of the third sister too but he couldn't get one. They were the Shams twins; Zinneera Neha Shams and Asweera Nawal Shams, best friends to each other.

He had to decide which sister to target first. He had to show their family the definition of grief and he still didn't have any plan. The twins were in Dubai right now along with their elder sister and he was going to start his circle of revenge very soon. He wanted them to feel the fire that flew in his veins. They had poisoned him with their deeds and now he was going to make them taste that poison. And it was going to begin with one of the twins.

"Why are you sitting here?" He heard someone ask behind him and smiled.

"I didn't feel like joining downstairs with all of them! It felt suffocating!" He turned as he answered. Standing before him was his beloved cousin Iqra Afandi. She was in a very stylish Pakistani gharara and was standing in a model like pose, demanding answers from him. 'Nazakat nazneenon ke banane se nahin banti, khuda jab husn deta hai nazakat aa hi jati hai...' (A woman doesn't become delicate on trying, when Allah gives beauty then a woman become delicate without trying).His mind whispered to him. And it was true, she was very beautiful.

"Then you are gonna stay here and do what?" Iqra asked.

'Plot!' His mind replied. He stayed silent though. He knew Iqra liked him. He liked her too and soon his mother was going to ask his permission to take the proposal to his Uncle, for Iqra's hand. And he wasn't going to refuse.

Ma'arij owned a chain of successful hotels in Emirates. His grandfather and father were the ones who laid the roots of this chain and now it was at it's height due to him. He was a tough taskmaster and very hardworking. His whole day was filled with meetings and works. He was expanding their business and was quite good at it.

"Come on! You are usually too busy to socialize with the family... At least today when you have been forced to take a leave by Phoophu (aunt), you can come join us downstairs!" Iqra said and he smiled at her softly. "Sometimes I can't understand how a person can stay in the same house with his family and not meet them for days!" Iqra said and crossed her hands across her chest and turned away from him, indicating that she was angry with him. He finally left his perch and jumped down, walking towards her in a relaxed way. He liked her, true... but never in his life had anyone's anger ever affected him. He didn't allow anyone that power over him. He stood right in front of Iqra and lifted his eyebrows.

"Iqra Afandi bekaar ke naqre chodiye aur chaliye! (Iqra Afandi stop these unnecessary tantrums and come on)." He said sweetly. Iqra stared at him in shock for a while and then angrily shook her head and walked inside, with Ma'arij following her closely, a smile on his face.

"Arre Baji woh Mehendi ki thal(plate) to de dein! (Sister please give the henna plate)" Someone shouted across the hall. He furrowed his brows as he saw his whole family accumulated in the hall. It was going to be a long night.

******

"Psst!" Rubdha heard someone whisper. She frowned as she looked around herself. The whole hallway was dark and she really had no idea who was whispering. She shrugged and went towards her room. Just as she neared the door of the next room, someone opened the door and pulled her inside unceremoniously. She was about to shriek but someone covered her mouth and whispered a "Hush!" urgently.