Hazek's POv
I sat on the prayer mat, I had prayed my Tahajjud (mid-night prayer). It always felt good to talk to Allah when you knew no one else could amend your things for you, understand you, and love you back the way your creator does.
I cup my hands in the air for dua. "Ya Allah! Ya Rahman (most merciful), I plead for your forgiveness, for sins I have done intentionally and unintentionally. You know me better than myself, there's nothing hidden from you my rabb (lord). You're the savior of the survivors, you're the king of all the kings. I surrender and accept that all power solely belongs to you, the only God, Allah. The God of all believers and disbelievers." My lips trembled as I continued, the feeling that I was in front of my creator was overwhelming.
"Ya Allah, recently I have been distracted by worldly desires, a girl has consumed my mind lately and I can't help but indulge myself in her affairs. I know she's a namahram to me but... since my father always said that Aisha would make a suitable bride for me, the thought of another girl never came to me. But unwillingly I couldn't save myself with the thoughts of her either. A part of me had accepted her long ago as my partner which was worst of me. A Muslim should always save his eyes, and his body for his wife and I'm the worst of the Muslims. She wasn't my wife and yet I had been secretly stealing looks of her, I had been giving into Shaytan's (devil) whispers."
I cried softly and a whimper escaped my mouth. "Ya Allah please forgive me. The hurt I'm feeling right now the pain of not having what I wanted, is solely brought by myself upon me. If I had followed the Shariah (Islamic Laws of living) I wouldn't be feeling this way. I gave into Shaytan's temptations… Please Allah guide me to the Seerate Mustaqim (Straight path). Bring me a wife who will love you more than me and make me walk the path to Jannah (heaven) together hand in hand. And remove the thoughts of the women with whom I'm not destined to be with."
Tears trickle down my face and onto my beard and I finish the dua with Ameen, rubbing my hands over my face and beard.
After Maleeha told me what had happened back at Aisha's home I knew the chapter of our marriage was closed and I have to accept that.
If Allah wants it that way then it must be best for us.
~~~
Aisha's POV
"Sana, you've to help me end this engagement. I don't know what to do." I clutch my hair.
"Does David know about your engagement?" She asks, resting her head against her palms as we sit together in the common room of uni.
"No. I couldn't tell him, he would think how backward my family is, he doesn't meet his family for the same reason and that's why the sooner I'm over with it the better."
"Hmm… Then if he's going to marry you aren't you going to let him meet your parents?"
"My parents will hardly approve of him. Isn't it obvious? They want a son-in-law someone like Hazek a good Muslim, not just by name. Can you relate the two?"
"Oh God! I'm sorry but your family is seriously too much to handle. How do you even do that?"
"It's been getting hard since the day I confronted my maa and I don't think she's going to stay like that for long. Before she tells Dad, I have to make a move first and tell them everything."
"Hmm… Then why don't you just show them this?" She presses on the screen of her phone and gives it to me.
A video of Sana and Hazek starts playing in front of me when Hazek blackmails Sana in the library.
"You don't have to be the bad guy. Just tell them who they thought was a steadfast Muslim is not much of a follower of his deen (religion) is he?" She arched up an eyebrow and I saw a glint of wickedness in her eyes for the first time. Or was it just my conscience trying to protect Hazek for no apparent reason?
"I don't know… He never warned my family about my TikTok…"
"You're still thinking about others when you're a few miles away from your freedom? I would have never suggested this to you if it was for me. But it's about you. You need not take the full burden."
I ignored the gloomy feeling I was having regarding Sana, after all, she was my best friend and trying to do her best for me and my life and she knew I couldn't imagine living without David.
"I guess you are right. Today, I'll face my family and tell them how I feel." With a firm nod, I stood up and we both went to our class.
After our class, as we walked out, I saw Hazek walk past me and suddenly I froze because usually he stops me for some talk but he went by his way as if he didn't even notice me.
"Strange," Sana utters, feeling the sudden change of course. "I noticed in class too, usually I catch him stealing looks at you but today he never looked."
"Isn't it great?" I say, shrugging my shoulders but why was I feeling a little pang in the chest?
Ignoring the strange feeling, we both walked towards the university gates when I stopped Sana.
"Okay, this is it," I say taking a deep breath.
"Take it easy. You can do it." She pats my shoulder.
"Sana… Come to my home with me. My family might listen to you and then they'll understand me better." I exclaim.
"Uh… Aisha, I would love to but I have somewhere I have to be today. I can't cancel the appointment, you know it's… Important. I'm having a meeting with the brand David had connections with. And… You know it wouldn't look good on David's end. And besides you must tell them how much you're earning with all those videos and sponsors entrusting you." She looks at her watch and then back at me. "I have to go now… All the best." She pressed my hands, reassuringly and then turned to leave.
Yeah, it must be important or she wouldn't have left me…
~~~
Hazek's POV
I was leaving the uni and was heading towards my black SUV parked in the parking lot when I turned towards the voice.
"Yo! Loverboy." Sana moved towards my car. I fixed my eyes on the ground but from the corner of my eyes, I could sense that she was wearing skin-tight and revealing clothes just as usual. "She's going to reveal it to her parents today."
"That's great. I hope everything turns out well for her."
"Yeah, but everything's going to burst on you. She's going to put the blame on you for blackmailing me to end this engagement. She's going to show them the video."
My eyes widened as realization struck me.
~~~
Aisha's POV
I got out of the cab, hailed out of the uni, and headed towards the door of my house. I repeat in my head that everything's going to be fine. I'll do it. I'll show them my capabilities and they'll be convinced or I hope so.
Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open and headed home, only to be greeted by my family sitting quietly in the living room while Tahir showed his phone to Maa and Papa.
Thankfully I was wearing my abaya today as I came inside. Pulling on my usual facade I acted all chirpy and gleeful as I walked inside the living room.
"Salam everyone. It was a long hectic day I tell you guys." I announced and no one responded as they were still engrossed on the screen.
"What are you guys so attentively watching?" I speak, placing my bag in a corner as I go and sit beside Tahir and glance at his phone screen only to have my world collapse into splinters.
They were all watching the TikTok videos I had posted on my account.
All the chirpiness left me and I almost felt my soul leaving my body.
"I… Wanted to tell you guys-"
Suddenly my mother stood from her seat and slapped me hard on the face. I clutched my cheek as the stinging pain arose on the side while my father stayed fixated on the sofa as he gazed in the distance.
"Where did I go wrong?! Did I not teach you how precious you are to us and Allah that you decided to go reveal your body on the internet!" Mom cried and Tahir finally locked his phone screen and sighed. "What did you gain from all this?! From defaming the family name and honor?!"
I grit my teeth and clenched my fist.
Enough is enough!