Until Now

Chapter 2: Try me

And Allah said I am with the ones whose hearts our torn.

                                                                                                                Hadith Qudsi.

Minha Waleed, 18 years old, was born to excel at everything. In school and college, she was the brains of her class. At the age of 13, she won the IKMC International Kangaroo Mathematics Contest, becoming the south Asian champion . That was when she decided to become an engineer. Even as a kid she always felt inclined towards buildings and bombarded her parents with questions like "HOW'', "WHEN''," WHY''. But fate has abstruse choices for all us. Sometimes all of our plans, dreams and hopes fall apart right there in front of us and we stand there watching our world crumble to pieces; pieces so small that you might need a century to stick them together. You witness your hope annihilating to ground and maybe up to the core. 

'' Minha did you look at the list of the universities that uncle khan emailed you?'' Minha was brought back to reality with her mother's voice. She took a deep breath. ''Yes'', she said casually. "So, what did you decide?'' "I thought that University of Winchester was the best. It was considered the best university by The Sunday Times in 2014. It also ranks tenth best university in south Europe". Her Mother smiled as she remembered how methodological her daughter has always been. "Okay, I will talk to your father tonight".

 The Waleed's were progressive and contemporary. They knew that in order to succeed, they had to focus on education instead of money. Saad Waleed, Minha's father, was a lawyer. In his young age, he had decided to use all the rightful ways to give his family the luxuries they deserved. Although Minha's mother, Saadia Waleed was from upper class, she never complained about the limited resources they had to utilize. In a country like Pakistan, where middle class has to spend their life in fringes, sometimes things don't always turn out the way you want them to be.  

In the afternoon, Minha was listening to her favorite song, Grenade by Bruno Mars, while strolling in her colony. She was thinking about all the times when she and her brother used to play in these parks. She was called 'Miss know it all' in her neighborhood. Memories do hurt sometimes, she thought. 

Suddenly, she saw her elder brother's face on the screen. She picked up the video call. "What's up my little tigress?'' She smiled halfheartedly. "I am good. How are you? How is the weather in Dubai?'' Minha's elder brother, Mateen was a geologist. Although, they both shared honey brown eyes, her brother had fair complexion and she had olive skin like their father. "I am fine, Alhamdulillah. Dad told me that you opted for psychology in University of Winchester." "Yeah, I am waiting for another rejection email," she chuckled humorlessly. "Look Minha, I know you are hurt and dejected but still you have no right to be hopeless. You know in our religion, Hopelessness is a sin." "I know", Minha said with a bored expression. Mateen looked away from the screen. For few minutes, they were surrounded by an unfamiliar silence. "You know Minha, when I was rejected from the Air Force I went to Kashmir to commit suicide, not to clear my mind and move on." Minha was flabbergasted, she had never seen her brother cry or complain about the whole incidence. He was a lively and witty person. "I stood there, at the edge of the hill and played my whole life in my head. Do you remember when Abad and Noor were born? We both were so happy. I know you used to fight with me saying that they were only yours and you didn't want me to go near them. I wasn't even allowed to carry them," he laughed. 

"I remembered when I won a speech competition in fifth grade. I could still hear dad's applause. That sound was different from any other sound I had ever heard. I could still sense mom's teary yet smiling face. I could see you, Abad and Noor shouting, Mateen, Mateen. Then, I saw dad hugging me on my matric result. I recalled each and every part of life. I was so stressed and I didn't know what to do. I knew that if I ended myself, my family would never be same again. I imagined dad carrying me to graveyard and mom lying on the ground unconscious. I couldn't stand watching my parents in pain. I sat at the edge and watched the sunset. I remained there all night. And finally saw the sunrise. You know what I saw?" On the other side of the screen, Minha's face was filled with tears. She was sitting in the same park where Mateen taught her cycling. "I saw that Allah is the biggest creator. If he could change so many colors and weathers and sky, how could he not see my pain and understand what I was going through? How could he not change my heart? I opened Quran and came upon this ayah SURELY; MY LORD IS WITH ME AND HE WILL

GUIDE ME THROUGH.

I kept going and this ayah struck my heart ALLAH DOES NOT BURDEN A SOUL BEYOND THAT IT CAN BEAR and I just knew that He will always be there for me." Minha smiled at her brother.

"I got up and went back. This is exactly what you are going to do. You are going to get up and you are going to tell the world that this is not the end. Head up, stay strong, move on. You still have a lot of fire left in you. You are stronger than you can believe. You are a gem and you are going to beat the odds no matter what it takes. And most importantly you are going to tell yourself that a tigress never leaves the battlefield. I repeat never." After bidding farewell to her brother, she went home. And after what seemed like ages, The Waleed's were laughing. 

Assalumualikum people!

How was the chapter? I know it was a bit long. 

Isn't Mateen an ideal big bro?(dreamy eyes bcz my brother is younger)

Have you guys ever participated in IKMC?

I did and stood first among only 15 students (LMAO)

Dedicating this chapter to @SundusMaarifahArif  stay strong girl.

Don't forget to comment and vote.

Good luck and Good bye.