The Other Woman

One|Mina

EDITED**
"There is reward to kindness to all people"

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

Allahu Akbar! (God is the greatest). They all shouted in unison. My parents and the rest of my family were looking at me with tears in their eyes as I recited the last verse of the Glorious Qur'an.

They were happy...very happy. And so was I. Alhamdullillah I have finally finished the Qur'an! Only Allah SWT knows how relieved I am, how ecstatic I am...

"Masha'Allah Ya Qalbi! I am so proud of you! Come here" my father said as he pulled me into a hug and prayed for me silently.

Next my mother pulled me close and started crying uncontrollably. Yeah she was a softie!

"Oh my! Jalal...imagine this! We will be like royalty in Jannah insha'allah! Both our children have completed the Qur'an! How lucky are we?" She said happily and did sujoodul shukr.

"Alhamdullillah" I said with a smile on my face.

My cousins congratulated me with the young ones telling me of how I was their role model and they beckoned me to teach them the Qur'an.

I had to say yes obviously especially when little meera asked with her puppy doll face! She was so cute Masha'Allah that I couldn't say no to her and I wouldn't have it any other way.
******************
After I finished giving my little cousins their first Qur'anic lesson we all went to the prayer room to pray and we were led by my brother Faris. I was always a little bit jealous of his voice, he had amazing tajweed and hearing him read the Qur'an always brought tears to my eyes.

I pray to Allah azzawajal that I have a husband who recites the Qur'an better than he does and for someone that is loving, has a lot of sabr (patience) and someone who always puts his deen first.

After praying I took up a book I had been reading and enjoyed literature with a steaming cup of hot chocolate on my window seat. Vampire books always got me excited. Don't judge me!

"Mina habibti...come here please" I heard my mother call in her soft voice. I memorized number of the page I stopped and put the novel I had been reading on my bedside table before heading downstairs to my mum. Weirdly I had this weird feeling in the pit of my stomach...I just don't know how to explain it. Well...its like you know this feeling when something bad is gonna happen and you feel in the pit of your stomach as if there are lobsters and bulldozers in your belly chomping and grinding in your stomach right? Well I feel even worse that that. So I just say 'aAAoothu bilahi minas shaitaanin rajim', seeking refuge in Allah SWT from Shaitaan the cursed one.

Brace yourself Mina...you haven't done anything. I coached myself in order to stop my frantic heartbeat. I'm sure I have nothing to worry about Inn Shaa Allah.

I timidly climbed down the wooden stairs and walked into the living room. My mother was seated in one of the Sofa's with a look of worry and anxiety.

Oh now you've really done it! I mentally scolded myself.

"Uhm...mum you called?" I said with a look of hesitation while fidgeting with the strands of my lose Hijab.

"Habibti.." There it goes again! "..sit down next to your umi" She said patting on the seat next to hers. Omg I'm dead! In loving memory of Mina Summaya Farouqi! OK OK...I know that I'm just exaggerating because my mother couldn't possible kill me right? RIGHT?!

"I know you are worried out of your mind because of my hesitation" She said and gave me a quick reassuring smile which helped me ease up a little. I gave her a quick nod so that she could continue. My father was seated next to her but he wasn't looking at me in my eyes. It was as if what he was about to say was hurting him in someway. So I just sat on his lap like always looked up at his face, and gave him the warmest smile I could muster up. He smiled back and hugged my mum and I lovingly.

My parents are my real life definition of eternal love. I know for sure that true love does start after Nikah. Even though my parents never met each other before getting married, they learnt to love and tolerate one another for the sake of Allah SWT. After a lot of hardship they still managed to write their own story among the stars. Their story about loyalty, trust and love. My dad would never shout at her or raise his had on her. I always wanted what they had true love...it was something I know was real but will I ever find it?

I gave her hand a soft squeeze and she hung her head.

"Your mother and I wanted to talk to you about something very important..." My father started. "I told you that your father had already betrothed you to his dearest friend's son. Habibti he didn't do it for money, just so you know he did it because he knows that they are very good people and trusts no one else with his baby girl...sweetheart your father and I think that it is about time you get settled down,that's why we arranged for a meeting with Abdullah and they both agreed since his only son also needs a kindhearted Muslim woman to set him straight. He's a great guy but everyone has his vice. My dear do not think that you guys are going to be forced. Yes, you were betrothed but it just means that it's the best choice for you and he is the first man we want you to think about getting married to...but you can always change your mind dear if you don't want him" She said thinking that she could convince me. What she didn't know was that I had already made up my mind about what I had to do.

"Think about it. They'll be coming here tomorrow for dinner" She said but I couldn't speak. My head was on overdrive so I just nodded my head and went into my room.

They're coming here tomorrow?! I couldn't believe it. I'm gonna meet my to be fiancé tomorrow and I had no idea what to do. It seems so surreal that I am gonna marry someone I don't know. Oh Ya Allah!

I got out of bed and decided that the only person that could help me calm down was my Lord, I don't know but praying to Allah always made me feel great and helped me forget my worries.

After praying Isha I held my arms up in supplication with my tears streaming quietly down my face.

"Oh Ya Allah please help me. Oh Lord please save us from ourselves. Oh Lord please do not let us transgress and please forgive us for all our sins. Oh merciful Lord please help all those children being killed and harassed find justice. Oh Ya Allah please provide them with love, care and shelter and please grant every innocent person that was killed jannatul firdaws. Oh Ya Allah I know you don't put us through anything we can't handle so please help me be strong enough to be able to deal with my future husband. Please bring tranquillity and peace in our lives. Please help us learn to love one another. Oh Ya Allah thank you for everything you've given me. Please grant my parents and my siblings Jannatul firdaws. Ameen" I finished off and was shocked to see my older brother sitting right beside me on the prayer mat. Before I even had the chance to say anything he engulfed me in a bear hug and the treacherous tears fell and I started crying harder. I and my brother were so close that he would immediately know whether I was OK or not even if I tried my best to hide it.

We sat on my bed and I told him everything that happened even though I knew that he very well knew everything since he was the eldest sibling. We also spoke about everything that's been going on in our lives since he was living and working in Saudi Arabia with his wife Lea.

I couldn't help but say Alhamdulillah when he tucked ,me to sleep. I could only hope that tomorrow goes according to plan.

********************
Assalamu Alaikum guys! How you doing?

Anyways I would just like to say that I edited this chapter and I will also edit the next three. I'm sorry but I just think it could be better hopefully after this everything will be stable Inn Shaa Allah.

If you have any questions you can kindly comment it and I'll try my best to answer it Inn Shaa Allah.

Allah hafiz🤗❤️