True Purpose

c h a p t e r 13

Zaynab had grown accustomed to her new routine. It had been a week since she had gotten married to Hassan, and she was beginning to get used to her life. She still had her fears, she still had her nightmares and flashbacks, she still had all those issues that proved to her just how broken she was, but she was a lot happier than what she used to be.

Her routine consisted of going to university in the morning, coming back in the afternoon and helping her mother-in-law in the kitchen. She would then study after dinner. And throughout the day, she would pray her five daily prayers, just the way Hassan had taught her. Unlike back at Samina's house, Zaynab wasn't treated like a maid here, in fact, she had maximum freedom. Her mother-in-law would insist that Zaynab shouldn't worry about cooking in the kitchen while she had university to worry about, but Zaynab did have her principles.

"So, how is Hassan?" Ava asked Zaynab, during lunchtime at the university.

"He's good. He's a great guy," Zaynab replied.

"I see you've changed after marrying him," Ava commented.

Zaynab looked at her. "Changed? How so?" She asked, raising her eyebrows.

"Well, it's a positive change, so you don't have to get defensive," Ava said. "You wear the headscarf, and every day for the past week, you've been praying your Muslim prayers before coming for lunch. It's nice, I like it!"

Zaynab smiled. "Yeah, so do I," she said.

"And also, these days you're not gloomy anymore. You're not that same terrified, stressed-out, depressed Zaynab I used to know!" Ava said.

"I can't believe that's what you used to think of me. A gloomy, terrified, stressed-out and depressed person?" Zaynab gasped, jokingly.

"And you've even started joking! Whoa! What did Hassan do to you? He's made you so different! Are you even Zaynab in the first place?" Ava asked.

Zaynab rolled her eyes. "Avarielle!"

Ava gritted her teeth. "Zaynab Hamdan, don't you dare call me Avarielle again! And now you've even started rolling your eyes! Where'd you get this newfound attitude from? Don't tell me Hassan is teaching you attitude!"

Zaynab laughed at her friend's dramatics.

"And you laugh too!" Ava gasped, feigning shock.

"Really, Ava?" Zaynab asked.

"Actually, I'm glad. You know, the reason you have changed like this is because you've loosened up. When you used to stay with Samina, you used to be too rigid because she never gave you freedom. And now, because you're not with her anymore, you've become much more happier and relaxed and you can be yourself!" Ava told Zaynab, sounding genuinely happy.

Zaynab pondered over what Ava said. It was true. Before marrying Hassan, Zaynab hardly, if ever, laughed. Even if something was extremely hilarious. She would just manage a strained smile. Zaynab would never joke, or roll her eyes, or talk like a chilled person. Ava was right! And Zaynab realised that as much as she didn't want to initially, marrying Hassan was the best thing that had ever happened to her.

Zaynab checked her watch. "Ava, we should go now," she said.

"It's time? We have a lecture now?" Ava asked.

"Avarielle! Of course we do!" Zaynab exclaimed.

Ava rolled her eyes at Zaynab. Zaynab would never stop calling her by her full name. They both got up and went for their lecture.

The day at university ended pretty quickly. Zaynab had stopped staying till late at university because now she no longer had to return to Samina's house. And for that, she was glad.