Matters Of The Heart

𝟒. 𝐀 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐲.

𝘔𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘺𝘢:

Daniya's cherubic face lingered in my thoughts, her innocence and charm captivating my heart. Her sweet smile, a gift from above, had left an indelible mark on my soul. 'Ma Sha Allah,' I whispered, grateful for the brief encounter.

Meanwhile, Sarah's playful teasing had become a constant companion, her words weaving a gentle spell of amusement around me. She delighted in recounting the tale of Zayyan's kindness, his selfless act of assistance on that fateful morning still fresh in my mind. With each passing moment, her lighthearted jests wove a tapestry of warmth, reminding me of the beauty in human connection.

Yesterday's chance encounter at the ice cream parlor had left Sarah utterly enamored. She couldn't cease her effusive praise for Zayyan's chiseled features and captivating demeanor. Every word he spoke, every gesture he made, seemed to have bewitched her. Her enthusiasm was infectious, as she regaled me with vivid descriptions of his warm smile, his bright eyes, and the gentle cadence of his voice. Her words painted a picture of a man who had effortlessly won her heart, and perhaps, mine as well.

As the lazy Sunday morning unfolded, my sister Noor set out to meet her friends, leaving me to bask in the serene silence of our empty home. Mom, Dad, and my little brother had embarked on a journey to India the previous night, bound by family ties and obligations. Their return was anticipated in a week's time, leaving me to revel in the stillness.

With the house to myself, I sought solace in the world of words. I retrieved my favorite novel from the shelf, a treasured gift from Sarah on my 20th birthday. The worn pages and familiar scent transported me to a realm of comfort and tranquility. As I settled into the couch, the soft rustle of leaves outside was harmonized with the turn of the pages, creating a symphony of solitude.

As I became completely absorbed in the world of my novel, time slipped away, and the clock struck 12:00, its chime piercing the silence. I reluctantly closed the book, my mind still wandering in the realm of words. But as I stood up to retire for the night, a sudden pang of worry struck me. Where was Noor? She had left to meet her friends hours ago, and it was unlike her to stay out so late without a word.

I reached for my phone, my fingers flying across the screen as I typed out a message.

𝟷𝟸:𝟶𝟻 𝙼𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚢𝚊: 𝙾𝙼𝙶, 𝙽𝚘𝚘𝚛, 𝚐𝚒𝚛𝚕𝚕𝚕𝚕, 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎'𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚕𝚘𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗?! 𝙸𝚝'𝚜 𝟷𝟸:𝟶𝟻, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙸'𝚖 𝙵𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙺𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝙾𝚄𝚃, 𝚜𝚒𝚜! 𝙳𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚏𝚕𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚢?! 🕰️ 𝙸'𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚊 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚍, 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚜𝚝, 𝚝𝚋𝚑! 𝙿𝚕𝚜 𝚍𝚛𝚘𝚙 𝚖𝚎 𝚊 𝚙𝚒𝚗, 𝚕𝚎𝚝 𝚖𝚎 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚏𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍, 𝚘𝚛 𝙸'𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚖𝚊𝚓𝚘𝚛 𝚖𝚎𝚕𝚝𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗, '𝚔𝚊𝚢?

As I waited for her response, my mind began to wander to all the terrible things that could have happened to her. Why didn't she even bother to send a message? I tried to shake off the feeling of unease, telling myself she was probably just caught up with her friends and lost track of time. But the silence was deafening.

I decided to call her, my heart racing with anticipation. What if she didn't answer? Was she in trouble? No, no, I needed to relax. Nothing would happen to her. I took a deep breath and waited for her call to connect, my prayers whispering in the darkness: Ya Allah, please keep her safe.