True Purpose

c h a p t e r 32

The next morning, Zaynab woke up for Fajr to see the bed empty beside her. She realised that Hassan must've already gone for Fajr at the masjid. She got up and prayed Fajr, after which the exhaustion from the wedding took over her again and she retired back to bed.

When she woke up again a little later on, Hassan was still not there. And that was when Zaynab's guilt returned. She felt that it was all her fault. She had gone to extents of staying away for three days and leaving her phone behind in order to avoid him. She could only imagine how hurt he must've been upon realising that!

Zaynab looked at the little clock on the bedside and did a double take. It was eight o'clock in the morning! She had so much to do! She was intending to wake up at seven! The walimah was to be today, and she needed to go to the hall that had been booked for ladies with Rumaysah, Huda and Yusra to go and arrange everything, be it the seating arrangements, catering arrangements, and all the necessities.

Zaynab immediately rushed into the shower and took a quick shower, after which she came out quickly and put on a red long-sleeved maxi dress, and a matching headscarf. She was to come back home after the arrangements to actually get ready properly.

Zaynab then rushed downstairs to see Huda already waiting for her.

"Where are mum and Yusra?" Zaynab asked.

Huda smiled sheepishly. "They left without us. Honestly, I was so tired from yesterday, I ended up over sleeping. I woke up at eight instead of seven!"

"Same!" Zaynab exclaimed. "Now what?"

"I'll drive us there," Huda said.

"Car?" Zaynab asked.

"Hassan's!" Huda replied, holding up his car keys.

"Let's go then," Zaynab said.

Huda nodded and they left the house.

"So, Yasir and Arwa aren't up yet?" Zaynab asked once Huda started driving.

"I guess they're also still exhausted. At the moment, they're all alone at home since you, me, mum and Yus are all going to the hall for the ladies, and dad along with Hassan, Hadid and Yahya have already gone to the hall for the men to organise there," Huda replied.

"Right," Zaynab said, nodding.

Huda finally pulled into the parking lot of the hall and got out of the car. Zaynab followed suit and they both walked to the inside of the hall. Rumaysah was busy giving instructions to how she wanted the chairs to be arranged while Yusra was supervising the people who were arranging the buffet equipment.

"Ah great! You girls finally came!" Rumaysah said, when she saw Huda and Zaynab. "Can you take over this task of mine, Zaynab? Huda, come with me. We have some other things to take care of."

Zaynab nodded and went to continue to take care of what Rumaysah was doing, while Rumaysah and Huda left leaving Zaynab and Yusra to handle the preparations inside the hall.

Time flew and before Zaynab even realised it, Rumaysah and Huda came back, telling her and Yusra that it was time to go home and get ready for the walimah. The ladies went back home the way they came - Yusra and Rumaysah in one car and Huda and Zaynab in the other - and soon, they were all getting dressed up for the function.

Zaynab had a nagging feeling of discomfort deep inside, knowing that at the moment, things with Hassan were a little messed up, and she had no idea when she'd get a chance to see him, seeing as Arwa was to get ready in Zaynab's room and Hassan was in Yasir's room, sorting Yasir out. And that made Zaynab feel even more guilty because had she not have gone away for three days, she'd have spoken to Hassan to clear her misunderstandings which now seemed impossible due to the ongoing wedding.