And we've created you in pairs

5) Shattered

Haleema's Pov

After school and Alimah, I head out with my friends and into the bus. "Soooo What's happening?" Sadiya asks. I began laughing, "What do you mean?" "You know..." Mariam winks. Aliyah playfully hits my arm. "Haleema, you have to tell us what's happening now? Have they planned out a date for the wedding? Is it before or after we graduate?" Asks Aliyah, bombarding me with questions. "Well.. right now, we haven't spoken to them since the whole engagement happening, but inshaAllah they'll probably call soon. "I hope so, I can't wait to be an aunt to a million kids." Aliyah says. Mariam and sadia burst out laughing. "Aliyah!" I yell as I turn red. Soon the bus stops at my house. "Alright guys, Asalaam U Alaikum!" I say. They all reply as I get off the bus. I walk towards my house and open the front door. "Asalaam U Alaikum Haleema! How are you?" My mom greets as she gives me a hug. "Alhamdulillah, and you?" I greet back. "I'm good too Alhamdulillah, quickly get ready, your students will be here soon.

Oh, there's another thing you don't know about Haleema. She does Evening madrassah. "Oh yes! And I'm expecting a new student today as well." I say as I quickly go upstairs to get ready. I look at my left hand and smile as I come downstairs. I begin to set up for madrassah. A while later, there's a knock on the door. I get up to open it. "Assalaam U Alaikum Asiyah!" "Walaikum salaam Haleema Apa." She greets with a bright smile.

3 minutes later, all the students come in and began reciting their sabak. I hear a knock on the door. I open the door. I open it to see a little boy standing in front of me with a smile on his face. "Awh, Asalaam U Alaikum! And who might you be?" I say as I bend down to shake his hand. "I'm Ahmed! Are you my teacher?!" I smile and nod. "You're really pretty apa." I Smiled. "And you're really cute." I get up to greet the lady who brought Ahmed. She was wearing niqab. She looked really pretty. "Assalaam U Alaikum! How are you?" I ask as I give her a hug. She returns the hug and the greetings. "Wow Ahmed is right, you're gorgeous." My cheeks turn red. "Awh jazakillahu Jannah." I say in a shy voice. "Whats your name?" She asks. "I'm Haleema, and you?" "You've got a beautiful name, I'm Zaynab" She smiles. "Wow mashaAllah, your name is really beautiful too." I say. "Haleema, are you studying?" She questions. I smile. "Yes, I'm going to complete my Alimiyah course this year, and my high school." "Oh wow mashaAllah! So, you're 18?" "Jee (Yes)" I smile and reply. "Wow mashaAllah!" She says in an exciting voice. Weird, I think. "Ahmed can be a handful sometimes, please do tell me if he bothers the class." She says with a smile. "Oh no, I think he'll be fine." I smile. I pat Ahmed on the head who looks impatient to go inside the house. Suddenly I look at Zaynab looking at my hand. "Oh.. you're engaged." She asks. I could feel her expression changing underneath her niqab. I smile. "Yeah I am." I say. "Wow mashaAllah! Mabrook!" "Jazakillah!" We said our goodbyes and took Ahmed inside. "My beloved students, this is Ahmed. He will be joining us for class from now on" They all greet Ahmed. Ahmed waves at them shyly. I give Ahmed sabak to read, after he reads it he looks at me. "Haleema Apa, you know my uncle is back from UK!" He says excitedly. "Really? MashaAllah!" I smile deeply showing my dimples. "He smiles like you! He has those holes in his cheeks too!" He says looking shocked. I began laughing. He begins talking more about his uncle. Suddenly, someone knocks on the door. I get up to open it. It's zaynab with a bright smile. She greets me and I return the greet. I call Ahmed and he runs towards the door. He suddenly gives me a hug. "I Smile and bend down to lightly pinch his cheek. "Wow he really likes you, he never really gets along with anyone." Zaynab says in a shock. "He's such a sweetheart mashaAllah." I say as I pat his head. "Mummy, I told apa about chachu" He says as he giggles. I began getting shy. "Oh my. I'm so sorry!" She says as she giggles. "No no its ok." I smile. I say my salaams and after a while all the students begin leaving. I begin folding the cloth the students were sitting on and set it on the table. "Haleema.." I hear a voice behind me. I turn around to see my mom standing expressionless. "yes ammi?" I smile. She looks over at my hand. "Hand me that ring." She says. "What...?" I stutter. "I said hand me that ring." I give her the ring. She looks at the ring, then at me. "From now on, you won't be wearing this." My mom says. I look at my mom in a shocked expression. It felt as though all my happiness shattered into a million pieces.

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Oh no! What just happened. Why did Haleema's mom just do that? What is that even supposed to mean? The answers to your questions will be relieved in the next chapter.