The lucious cherry lips stretched, forming a beautiful grin when the sapphire eyes fell on the newly bloomed pink flowers. The prince was hypnotized by the spellbinding beauty. The smile, he referred to it as a healer, for even a miserable person could feel alive if they were offered such smile. His heart bloomed with happiness making him feel light headed whenever he came across that smile.
"Sir Elias", called Harun from a distance despite Shahzaib did not respond. Might be because it was not his name or he was too lost in his daze state.
"Sir Elias", this time Sahir called out his disguised name which grabbed his attention towards the sound.
"We have to leave", the older said.
"Yes", replied the royal prince before returning his gaze towards the unmatched beauty just to witness the place was empty.
Heaving out a defeated breath, the prince ambled towards his fellow men who were listening to Hamad informing them about the beach and surrounding properties. They started moving towards the little bridge which was the exit of the Al-Amir estate when a woman's voice called for Hamad.
"Hamad", the lady called from the front door of the house, in a frantic voice which had the referred male to frown. The group of men stopped in their tracks and stared at the beautiful elderly lady rushing towards her husband clad in a pretty dress.
"What happened?", Hamad frowned in concern.
"Inaya", and that one name was enough for Hamad to let out a panick gasp.
"What happened to her?",
the other men present there could clearly see the panic in his voice which had them concerned.
"She isn't home.. Honey, my baby is not at home. I searched every where", she said in utter anxiousness.
"What? How? Did you check the garden?", Hamad said looking around in the garden which was in front of the house and empty at the moment.
The prince and others were utterly confused, however, seeing the panick state of the couple he could predict it was about someone close to their heart. Their ward, might be.
The prince walked up to them to console and ask what happened so that they could offer help but he halted in his steps when the lady called out the same name which managed to skip a beat in Shahzaib's heart.
"Inaya! Yah Rabbi", she hollard and sprinted towards the referred lady who just came out of, what seemed like a basement storage.
The prince for the third time and the generals were awestruck seeing the heavenly features the young woman possessed. It was really rare to witness such bewitching beauty.
The petite woman was startled at the sudden yelling of her name and her panicked mother rushing towards her. Her doe eyes were filled with confusion, lips forming a thin line not knowing what to depict out of the situation.
"Where were you? I was so worried..how many times I told you not to come out without informing me", she scolded but hugged the still surprised lady dearly.
"I just went to grab the shovel", the lady mumbled. And Shahzaib swore he felt his heart stopping for mere seconds.
"Papa.. Mama is being a mean unnecessarily", she complained looking at her papa with wide glassy eyes which melted everyone's heart witnessing the scene.
"No need to scold my angel, love", Hamad playfully scolded his spouse which had his daughter to giggling. The lady of the house just huffed with a bored expression.
The merchant turned his attention to his guests but his jaw clenched witnessing how the strangers were gawking at his daughter with wide eyes and mouth ajar.
"Escort her inside", Hamad's stern voice brought back the general's attention who turned their gaze away in guilt. These men were honorable enough to obey their Almighty's command to lower their gaze, they were just too stunned at this moment thus the audacity.
Nevertheless the prince could not for when the hazel eyes met the sapphire ones, seized everything around them, even the rationality of their mind. Both were lost into each other's eyes as if they were meant to be.
The lady could not see the face behind the cover, much to her disappointment but those sharp hazel eyes which held tenderness and warmth managed to churn something in her whole being. She could feel her heart beating faster but she did not feel suffocated rather felt a tingling feeling on her skin.
"Let's go, love", Sarah said softly and held the lady's small waist, and led her inside, before the door was closed the eyes met again invoking a longing feeling to both of their fast beating heart.
"Your order would be delivered by the first hour of the day in your temporary address.. Thank you again", Hamad stated with a forced smile. He did not like it when people specially men stare at his daughter longer than necessary. Although he missed how the prince was gazing his daughter lovingly or how they held eye contact.
The generals shared awkward greetings and left the premises with hurried steps.
"Woah! Have you noticed the woman? She was so beautiful?", Sarim exclaimed still amused by the beauty.
"I know right... I never witness such beauty in my life", Harun muttered with equal amusement at which Sahir agreed.
"Anyway we should not discuss about a lady in such a way, it's disrespectful", Sahir pointed out and others nodded, obeying the eldest, they shifted the conversation.
The prince was too deep into his own ocean of thoughts to acknowledge his companion's rambling about anything. For the first time a lady managed to gain his interest to such an extent that he was ready to get to know about the family more.
Time to pray Istikhara, the prince looked up at the sky and smiled as if conveying his feelings to his Lord with unsaid words for the Almighty was the all knowing.
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Soon the blue sky was surrounded with a think blanket of darkness, the moon and the stars were shining brightly providing a mesmerizing view.
The price was laying on a wooden bench, thick arms were place behind his head acting as a pillow, that was placed beside the camp fire in front of their temporary shelter. His eyes had a dreamy glint with a hint of fondness while staring at the beautiful moon which reminds him off the mysterious beautiful whose name was Inaya Al-Amir.
His generals and soldiers were laughing and conversing while sipping on local delicious beverages and feasting on chicken meat, enjoying their time to the fullest.
"Sahir, brother", the prince called softly, but managed to gain his general's attention who was just beside him.
"Yes, my prince", he gave a dramatic bow making others laugh.
"Do you believe in love at first sight?", the prince asked, eyes still admiring the moon.
"Hmm! Love at first sight", the older mumbled in bewilderment nonetheless he understood what the prince was implying.
"Love is a strong word, my Prince. A pure feeling of fondness and affection for a person which cannot form just through a mere sight", he said dreamily as the others were silent listening to him attentively.
"love at first sight can be an overwhelming sensation that feels like love but it is not.. It is always attraction at first sight, my prince", he smiled at the royal who still did not turned his gaze from the sky.
"What if, the person make you feel like this was what your heart was yearning for.
As if finally you have given permission to breath to your heart's content.
What if, you feel a different kind of contentment when you see that person's smile.
Yes! you might not know the person personally nonetheless you feel like you have known them for an eternity, like they have met thousands of years ago, before the heavens and earth was created", the prince turned towards the general with an unknown emotions swirling in his hazel eyes.
"What if, you wish for that person to be your other half at any cost. Even if you have to break all the norms and rules of the world, even if you have to fight the whole world just to be with them, you are ready to go at every extent.. Then what is that, brother..Love or attraction?", the prince asked again.
Sahir chuckled in amusement, he definitely could grasp what his prince was indicating, however he did not voice it out because of the presence of the soldiers.
"Then it is love, my Prince", Sahir smiled warmly.
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"What is it that keeping your mind occupied, miss?", Eira asked with a smile while combing Inaya's beautiful soft hair before making a braid. The maiden raised her gaze at the other, through the mirror, she was silent for few seconds, contemplating whether to ask, eventually she surrendered to her curiosity.
"Eira... Who were those men, that visited earlier?", she asked with a hint of hesitation in her voice. Eira was slightly stunned for the young lady never took interest in random visitors, nevertheless she replied,
"I suppose traders. The workers were really busy than usual perhaps they received a fair deal", she muttered the pieces of information which she knew.
"But why do you ask?",
"Hmm! It is nothing", Inaya heaved out a breath before getting up from her vanity.
"You may go now, Eira", knowing the attendee must be really exhausted she excused her.
"Alright, miss", Eira wished her a good night and left the room.
Inaya settled on her bed, under a thin blanket as she stared at the bright glistening moon. Those hazel eyes had been haunting her mind since the very morning to the point she prayed to the Almighty to keep her mind away from them for it was not appreciate to think of an unknown man.
However, she was not successful in it. She really wanted to witness who was behind that mask, what was in those eyes that attracted her so much. It was not a random thought rather the feeling was completely different. Whenever she remembered those eyesls it gave an unusual sensation in her whole being forming goosebumps on her skin.
"Argh! Do not think of a stanger man, Inaya for it is Haram (forbidden).. Yah Rabbi! Protect me from the evil", she muttered under her breath and slide down the bed before forcing her eyes close, expecting sleep to visit her soon.
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Istikhara is a special prayer for when you are lost and confused, unable to make a right decision.. Specially in case of marriage.