The Other Woman

Three|Mina

..Words don't have the power to hurt you unless the person who says those words mean a lot to you.

Anonymous

OK this is crazy. I mean why I'm I even thinking about him so much?! It's not like he will say yes or anything. We aren't even married yet and here I am thinking about a man who clearly isn't mine...yet.

Astagfurla, Oh Lord please forgive me! I should really push away these haraam thoughts.

I was seated on my window seat in our small library, daydreaming about how I imagined my future husband.

He had nicely kept beard just like Mufti Menk's, light grey eyes and a gorgeously humble face. It was during autumn and we were in a beautiful field, with the golden leaves falling around us like snow. They birds were chirping happily and we were seated on a picnic mat with his broad hands on either sides of my face. He suddenly pulled me into a loving embrace, holding me as if he was scared that I would get carried of by the wind. His intense gaze on me made me flushed. He tilted my head so that our eyes could meet but before we got too close, I loosened from his grip and quickly ran off as fast as my legs could carry me. He immediately caught up to me without even being breathless whereas I on the other hand was panting so hard that I thought my asthma was gonna act up. He held me up and looked at me intensely...he came closer and I could smell his minty breath. His lips were just millimeters from mine and just before the gap was closed...

"Mina! MINA!!!" My mother called and I hurriedly rushed to her room.

"Oh Ya Allah! Mina there you are! Didn't you hear me call you?!" She said in her annoyed tone and I could feel my heart beating faster. Please don't scold me...please don't.

"I'm sorry Umi, I guess I just got lost in my own world" I replied shyly.

"Oh dear girl. You read too much now! Anyway I totally forgot to buy refreshments for our guests. Can you go to the grocery shop quickly for me? You can take some money from my bag by the table"

I got the money and made my hijab properly before leaving the house. I had to walk all the way to the grocery shop since it wasn't too far that I needed to take the bus. It was just a few blocks away.

Oh no, Oh no no no this cannot be happening! Oh Lord help me! What on earth is she even doing here?!
She was coming right towards me! My former best friend...the girl that betrayed me after sharing everything I had with her. We grew up together and had been best friends but everything changed when we were in college studying nursing together. My mother had secretly told me that I was betrothed and made me not to let my father know that she told me because he thought I wasn't ready to know yet and I made the stupidest mistake of my life by sharing that secret with Daniya; a girl I thought I could call sister. All the memories came flooding back to that Rueful day...but I shake off those thoughts. She took away the first crush I had in my life and ruined my reputation along with it.

Zayd Abdullah...I can still remember his deep emerald eyes from the one time we ever looked at each other. We both knew it was bad but we just couldn't break the contact. A quiet voice in my head was telling to look away but it was like his eyes were begging for me to stay. Suddenly I heard a male voice call his name so I broke contact and ran away as fast as I could with my heart hammering inside my chest. What had I done?! I thought, but first look is halal right? Even though it was a long one.

From that moment on, I began to have a crush on him. So when I learnt that I was betrothed, my heart sank and I prayed and hoped that it was not true but the sad truth was that it was. So even though I liked Zayd a lot I couldn't help but push thoughts of him away from my head. I was meant for someone else and no matter how hard the truth was I just had to bear it for my Father's sake.

"Umm...Mina...hellooo! Can't you hear me? Don't tell me you are still so dumb that you can't speak!" She said and started laughing a hysterical laughter, bringing me back to my senses.

"Assalamu Alaikum to you too Daniya" I said with a smile that didn't quite reach my eyes. How could she just speak to me without greeting me...then again she was the last person that would ever wish peace on me. Allah SWT has taught us all to forgive that is why I have forgiven her already for Allah's sake but I have no idea what makes her bitter towards me still.

She just rolled her eyes at my greeting making it obvious that she didn't care.

"Well well well...funny I ran into you here!" She exclaimed. Something was off about her because she was smiling but I could see a little hurt in her eyes which didn't last for even a second because it vanished the moment it came.

"Don't waste my time Daniya! What is it?!" I was clearly irritated right now. She was making me nervous...I hated it. I had a bad feeling in my chest.

"Well if you are so eager to know then let me just catch to the chase...Zayd it getting married and I thought you should be the first to know" She said with a smirk. WHAT?! Zayd? Why!? I know it shouldn't hurt but never the less it does...it hurts so much to finally face the reality that he won't be mine. I couldn't believe her so I had to ask again.

"What do you mean that he is getting married? Who could have told you that?" I questioned eerily.

"Well, if you have to know! I overheard his uncle talking about it with someone through the phone when he came to see someone in the hospital"

She didn't even wait to see my reaction before she went away. She knew that she had already won but I had not lost either. I will keep heart and know that he just wasn't written in my taqdeer.

I will have to learn to love and respect whoever my husband would be and insha'Allah I will achieve this...as long as he loves me back.

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Yeeshh!! I know, I know its not very good. Anyway please leave a comment and tell me how you feel.

Assalamu Alaikum!