Chapter 1
Maryam's POV
إِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا
Indeed with hardship comes ease (Qur'an 94:6)
I closed the Quran as I finished quoting my favourite verses with my most favourite verseand after that I placed the Quran back on the top shelf while I turned off the lamp and slept after doing my night time adhkar (zikr)......
it was midnight when my eye suddenly shot open due to the loud music coming from outside and the music started getting louder with each passing minute while I placed both of my hands on my ears to cut of the noise while I spoke to myself “not again” i pressed my hands more tightly on my ears but the music was so loud I couldn't cut off the noise nobmatter how much I tried and after waiting for sometime when the music still didn't stop I picked up the pillow from the bed and smashed it on the wall in anger and frustration while I walked towards my study table while stomping my feet loudly and as I reached there I picked up my headphones and placed them on to cut the noise but when it was still audible and nothing seemed to help tears started to form in my eyes as I spoke to myself “why can't I sleep peacefully… since the day he came to live here he made my nights hell” with that tears rolled down my cheek and a low sob left my mouth and i started sobbing continuosly for an half an hour but then I wiped my cheeks aggressively and decided to pray nafil prayers till the music doesn't stop… with that I went towards the bathroom and after a couple of minutes I came out of the while rubbing my arms with the towel and after that I wore my prayer scarf as i spread the prayer mat and started my salah while saying “Allah hu akbar “
I was in the middle of my second Rakah when I realised that the music started getting lower and lower and after sometime it completely faded away when I was in the middle of the ruku and as I realised the music stopped completely a wide smile appeared on my lips as I prostrated after which I completed my remaining salah and as I did Salam towards the left shoulder I said in a happy blooming voice “thank you ya rabb..you are the best , I love you so muchhh”....
with that I placed the mat back on the console while I took off my prayer scarf and then I slept after turning off the lamp
َnext morning I woke up at the sound of the alarm and did my morning routine is I had already prayed my fajr salah while I was still feeling a little tired due to the lack of sleep but then I walked towards the cupboard while rubbing my temples “ I wanna sleep but i can't miss university at any cost today , i already skipped 4 days in a week if i didnt go today they will expel me for sure ahhhh ..whyy”
i murmured while making a dramatic crying pout but then I opened the cupboard and took out my beige open Abaya with a loose black straight pant and a brown casual while i completed my look with white sneakers and a white tote bag while my head was covered with an all black hijab….. As i was done i looked at my reflection in the mirror with a satisfactory smile then I suddenly realised that something was missing , i mentally facepalmed myself while i walked towards the drawer and took out a badge and walked back towards the mirror…i started at my reflection as I wore the badge and a proud smile appeared at the corner of my lips as I exclaimed “now it's perfect ”and with that I left my room towards the dining hall downstairs and as I reached there I saw mom was already seated at her chair while i greeted her with a salam and as she noticed me , she raised up her eyebrows while she spoke in a disappointed tone “what kind of clothes are u wearing Maryam, atleast close it from the front..for god's sake ” while i replied her in a calm voice “c'mon mom…. It's no..” but my words were cut off as we saw dad came out of the kitchen smiling while holding a tray of sandwiches and glasses of juice in his hand…he placed the breakfast on the table while he opened his one arm with a smile as I also walked towards and hugged him from the side while he caressed my clothed head and then he said in a gentle tone “ruqiyah ,my love..look our daughter is a sensible adult now and she knows whatshe is doing or wearing and I know my daughter very well she will never let father down and as far as concerned about her clothing she is properly covered and the clothes are loose enough and these are not intimating any male clothing too, so I don't see any problem ” as I heard his words I nodded my head with a confident smile and then I said “yeah..dad.. absolutely correct ”with that I took my seat and spoke again in a desperate voice “now… please pass me the sandwich I'm super hungry ” he looked at me and passed the sandwich while he chuckled to himself and I also laughed a little at his reactions…
I said bismillah while I took a bite of the sandwich and as I took the first bite i closed my eyes savouring the taste while I said “dad.. you make the best food…wallahi” “ i made these , he Just took the credit by bringing them here from the kitchen” I looked at my mother as I heard voice and saw she was already looking at me with the dramatic side eye while she munched on her bite…..i looked back at dad and he nodded his head with a little smile then I looked back at mom while i chuckled a little and while I finished my food and after that I got up from my chair while i picked up my bag and walked towards her and as I reached there she was caught off guard as I quickly kissed her cheek while i said “afterall he learn from you darling”.
With that I ran towards the main gate while she laughed and dad shouted from behind “I'm warning you if u call her darling once more..then don't blame me for abandoning you.. she's only my darling , ok!”
As i came out I laughed to myself while I walked towards my car as I realised i had to pick Mahi on my way too…
With that I sat in the car and wore my seat belt as I played the Quran recitation in the car while I was driving at a normal pace and after sometime I finally reached near mahi's house as she was already standing at the main gate, I stopped the car near her and as she opened the front seat door I was about to pause the recitation so that I could greet her but she singled me with her hand to stop and let the recitation continue….
With that she sat in the car and as she wore her seat belt she started reciting along……
وَٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ َوَٱلصَّٰدِقَٰتِ
and the truthful men and truthful women
وَٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ وَٱلصَّٰبِرَٰتِ
and the patient men and patient women
I smiled after listening to her and I also started the reciting along while looking towards my front side....
وَٱلْخَٰشِعِينَ وَٱلْخَٰشِعَٰتِ
and the humble men and humble women
وَٱلْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ وَٱلْمُتَصَدِّقَٰتِ
and the charitable men and charitable women
وَٱلصَّٰٓئِمِينَ وَٱلصَّٰٓئِمَٰتِ
and the fasting men and fasting women
وَٱلْحَٰفِظِينَ فُرُوجَهُمْ وَٱلْحَٰفِظَٰتِ
and the men who guard their chastity and the women who do so
وَٱلذَّٰكِرِينَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرًا وَٱلذَّٰكِرَٰتِ
and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so
أَعَدَّ ٱللَّهُ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward.(Quran 33:35)
and as we both finished the aayah together I paused the recitation while we both look that each other with smiles for a brief movement but then I looked back towards my front of focus on the road while she said “so how are you babygirl ” “well you know my answer very well” I took a deep sigh as those words left my mouth while she looked at me with a frown on her forehead and said “don't tell me your annoying neighbour played loud music again…that to add midnight ” while I nodded my head and she said in a confused “then why don't you complaint to his parents? how can they let him do such stuff at midnight” while I shook my head as I took a sigh again and said in a neutral tone “ he lives alone”
“ then why don't you talk to him”
“Dad told him many times but he just doesn't listen”
“Then talk to him yourself ”
“ Hmm…. I don't want to talk to him directly I don't feel very comfortable, still I will see if I can get his number so I can call him and tell him to stop his crazy activities ”
“ Don't you have his instagram or something ”
“ No I don't..and i really don't add random guys anywhere on my social, and you know that very well”
“Yeah..i get it , getting his number would be much better then”
I nodded my head at her words while I stopped my car near the university parking lot and as we both got of the car my eyes well on a guy who just threw a wrapper near the newly planted flower beds while I signalled Mahi and she also looked towards the direction but we couldn't see his face as his back was facing us…..I raised my eyebrows in confusion and annoyance while we both started walking towards him but suddenly Mahi got a phone call so she gestured me to walk forward while she went towards the other side attend the call….i also nodded my head my head while i continued to walk , taking fast calculated steps and as I reached near him I called him from behind in a loud sarcastic tone. “Excuse me..Mr!”
Azlaan's POV
I was busy making my playlist on my iPad when I heard a little loud feminine voice coming from behind
"Ecuse me..Mr!"
While I turned my head back to look behind me towards the direction of the voice, but as my eyes met her, I didn't realize when my whole body turned towards her side and I was lost in staring at her serene brown eyes, but suddenly my thoughts broke when she snapped her fingers in front of me while I blinked my eyes and clared my throat and just then she bent down and picked up the wrapper I threw there moments ago and as she picked it up, she stood straight in front of me while my eyes fell on her badge
"Head of the environmental department"
I was staring at her badge when she said in a stern but calm tone "give me your hand" With that, I looked at her when I noticed she was already looking at me with a serious look on her face while I smirked and said "For what? Marriage"
But as those words left my mouth, she gave me a disgusting look while she rolled her eyes at me, but I somehow maintained my composure as this was the first time someone reacted this way to my flirt, while I said, "im sorry..I was just kidding" and with that I forwarded my hand towards her bt i was taken aback by her actions, while my eyes got wide open in wonder and amusement when she placed the wrapper on my palm while I looked at it and then back at her, and she said,
"If you disrespect the campus, atleast don't make others clean after you."
While I rubbed the back of my nape as I said in an embarrased, but playul tone trying to keep the situation light. "Umm..sorry...I didn't knew you were here"
" even if I'm not around, shouldn't you be a little responsible? Can't you see these flower beds are newly planted by my club members, they didn't work hard only for you to litter around them" She said in a dead serious and angry voice, almost shouting, while I looked down at my feet as I closed my fist around the wrapper saying, "yeah, I'll be more careful next time."
And with that, I joined both of my hands in front of my face as I bowed my head sarcastically to reduce the tension between us while she rolled her eyes again at me mumbling " you better do" and left towards the other side and when she was away from my sight, I took a breath of relief as I said to myself "woofff!! what a lecturer who made her the head, I wonder how her friends tolerate her and her poor future husband..bro i can only pray for you..tch..tch"
And with that, I turned around and my gaze fell on Ayaan ,who was leaning against the corridor wall, while a sheepish smile was clearly visible at the corner of his lips and he was staring at me with a teasing look. As I noticed him, I realized he must have been standing here from the very start while I whispered to myself in a worried tone "Why is he even here? I hope he didn't listen to anything"
While I walked towards him and as I reached near him, he patted my shoulder while saying, Hmm, nice...it our day 1 here and you already got female gaze" With that, he walked forward while I followed him as I mumbled "nice joke"
"Then what were you guys talking about? Tell me,"
he smirked.
"You really wanna hear.. then listen she legit scolded me for throwing this mere wrapper on the ground." I showed him the wrapper, which I was still holding, while I chuckled to myself. "Woah..bro you got scolded on the first day that too by a student." he laughed
"Shut up!"
I said while rolling my eyes away.
"But if she scolded you, why didn't you say anything to her?and on top of that, you're carrying this wrapper till now... perfect " he clapped dramatically "I salute your patience, man"
"Seriously ?You are so annoying. Like who wants to get into a damn fight on the first day of university, huh? And I don't even know her yet."
"You are right, I guess, but if she can behave like this with a new student, imagine the situation of a classmate. I feel pity for them"
"Exactly"
I said while laughing " just pray that she's not our classmate". he nodded his head while humming in response while we both noticed that we reached near our classroom.
I was about to walk inside when he grabbed my wrist from behind and i looked at him with my eyes signaling, 'what?' While he moved his gaze towards the wrapper, and as I followed his gaze, I noticed the wrapper as well as I made an oh face. "Oh...no...I had to throw it, but the class is about to start and I don't wanna walk 200 kilometers just to find a dustbin...arrghh!!"
While he took the wrapper from my hand and said, "turn around"
"Wait, why?" I was processing his words when he suddenly turned me around by my shoulders and opened the zip of my bag as he placed the wrapper inside and zipped up my bag. With that, I turned back. And then he said, "you can throw it away later, for now, let's just go or else....we'll get scolded here too"
While I murmured to myself as I took a sigh "better than getting scolded by a student"
"Did you say anything" He asked
"no...nothing"
I replied and the we entered the classroom, and as we walked in, we saw that the professor was already there setting the projector up, and as he saw us, he stepped down from the stool and gestured us to come towards the front and as he gestured , every student looked towards us while I flipped my hair backwards and walked towards the professor confidently
As we both were at the front, he said, "attention students, we have got two new gems in our class..plese welcome 'Ayaan bint Asif '
(He said while pointing towards him) and 'Muhammad Azlaan Khan' while he placed his hand on my shoulder and with that, he asked us to introduce ourselves to other students one by one.
I started introducing myself to others while they did the same, and as it was turn for the student at second desk...I noticed she had placed her head on the desk while her arm was covering her face
I was about to speak, but suddenly the professor said "Maryam ! Get up and introduce yourself "
"Can we just skip it, please?" She said in a low pleading voice while I narrowed my eyes as her voice felt too familiar..while I tried to look at her, but her face wasn't visible as her arm was already blocking her front....i took a deep breath while looking at my feet as I thought to myself " no..it can't be her, she can never have such a low voice.... impossible "
With that I shook my head to sides as I looked up while saying "hi.... I'm Muhammad Azla--" but my words got stuck in my throat and my eyes and mouth got wide open in shock when my eyes met hers and i heard only one word came out of her mouth as she was looking at me with the same shocked yet pissed look on her face
"YOU!!"
