PROLOGUE
Jannat Mahnoor had mastered the art of smiling without feeling.
She moved through life like sunlight behind clouds—warm, bright, untouchable. People praised her for her grace, admired the way she carried herself: head held high, hijab pinned just right, eyes steady with purpose. She was the kind of girl who made everything look effortless.
But behind the smile was a silence. A story no one knew.
The kind of past she never spoke of—not out loud, not even to herself.
People called her confident, radiant, innocent. But only Allah knew the weight she carried in her heart.
To the world, she was unstoppable.
To herself, she was surviving.
~
In a cozy café tucked between two bookstores, Jannat stirred her coffee absentmindedly, her friend chattering away across the table. The fairy lights above twinkled softly, casting a golden haze over their corner.
“So tell me,” her friend leaned in, playful grin on her face, “Are you ever gonna get married or just keep rejecting everyone until we’re all at your nikkah wearing black for drama?”
Jannat laughed, shaking her head. “Black? Really?”
“I’m serious! You're like... emotionally unavailable but make it aesthetic.”
Jannat raised a brow, sipping her drink. “I prefer the term focused.”
Her friend smirked. “Focused, huh? You’ve ghosted three proposals this year.”
“Ghosted is a strong word. I just… politely didn’t entertain them.”
“So, no marriage on the vision board?”
“Nope,” Jannat replied casually, eyes still on the coffee foam. “Career first. Everything else later—if it ever happens.”
“Wow. You really don’t believe in love, do you?"
Jannat glanced up briefly, her smile soft but unreadable. “Let’s just say… I’ve seen enough to know it’s not always what it looks like.”
There was a pause—one of those quiet, thoughtful ones that drift between two friends who’ve known each other long enough to read between the lines.
Then Jannat waved her hand. “Anyway! Enough deep talk. Let’s find dessert. I deserve cake after surviving another week of group projects.”
Her friend chuckled, the tension melting as easily as the chocolate lava cake they’d soon order.
~
But later that night, when the laughter had faded and the world was still, Jannat sat alone on her prayer mat, bathed in the hush of Isha.
Tears slipped silently down her cheeks—not loud, not heavy, just... there.
She raised her hands in du’a, heart speaking where her lips could not.
"Ya Allah… protect this heart I don’t even know how to protect. Fill it with You, and let nothing else matter more."
~
Across the city, Haris Azhar Suleiman stood beneath a quiet sky, the stars above flickering like du’as waiting to be answered.
His prayer had just ended, but his thoughts lingered—soft, steady, hopeful.
“She’s out there, you know, your qismat (fate),” his sister said, appearing beside him with a knowing look. “Your future wife. Maybe even closer than you think.”
Haris smiled faintly. “InShaAllah,” he murmured.
His sister nudged him. “You pray for her like she already exists.”
“She does,” he said simply. “Maybe not in my life yet... but in my prayers, she’s always been there.”
~
They hadn’t met.
Not yet.
But Qadr had already begun its quiet work.
She was a storm wrapped in stillness.
He was peace that knew how to wait.
Soon, their lives would intertwine—
When Allah wills.
-----------------------
Characters profiles–
Female lead: Jannat Mahnoor
Age: 23
Height: 5'3"
Nationality: Bangladeshi 🇧🇩
Family details
Father: Naeem Ashfaq
Mother: Samira Mahzabin
Younger brother: Ayaan Naeem (18)
Male lead: Haris Azhar Suleiman
Age: 28
Height: 6'2"
Nationality: Pakistani 🇵🇰
Family details
Father: Azhar Amir Suleiman
Mother: Nafisa Haroon
Siblings:
Aleena Azhar Suleiman (23)
Zayaan Azhar Suleiman (18)
Meher Azhar Suleiman (16)
~
Author's Note:
1. There are fragments of pain in this story, which may be a little bit too much to some. So, if you're sensitive to such things you're free to skip this beautiful journey. 🤗
2. This is a halal slowburn. No NSFW content. No compromise on values. 😤
3. If you're looking for instant romance, you're in the wrong place. This love takes time. 💞
4. 100% fiction. Any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidence. 🙃
5. If you dare to try & steal my hard work, may you get DIARRHOEA in the middle of your wedding day, in front of your in-laws. Ameen. 😘
I like the story already!