Chapter 1 : The First Encounter
---
📖 Chapter 1: The First Encounter
Dua wasn’t expecting anything special that day — just a simple girls’ outing.
Nihel had been begging her all week, “Please! I need to shop, and you’re the only one with taste that isn’t dangerous to society.”
They laughed, shared a warm chai, and set off — first for a quiet shopping spree, then dinner at Nihel’s favorite spot. It was meant to be a peaceful night. But as always, plans had a habit of turning.
While waiting for food, Nihel’s phone buzzed.
She looked up guiltily. “My brother wants to join us. Just for dinner. Please don’t be mad.”
Dua blinked. “Shahzan?”
Nihel nodded. “He’s… complicated. But he’s not rude. Just… distant.”
Dua offered a soft smile. “It’s okay. Allah knows who He brings into our day.”
And minutes later… he arrived.
---
Shahzan.
Tall. Quiet. Dressed in black like he was trying to match his attitude.
He barely glanced at Dua at first — just nodded at Nihel, sat down, and scrolled his phone. His presence filled the table like a storm cloud. Dua stayed polite, sipping her water quietly.
But Shahzan finally looked up.
“You’re the one who prays a lot, right?” he asked, voice low and unreadable.
Dua blinked, caught off guard. “I do.”
“What do you get from it?”
She didn’t falter. “Peace. Something I hope you find.”
There was silence after that. He didn’t smile. She didn’t waver.
And that was how it began — not with warmth, not with love…
But with quiet fire between two hearts that didn’t understand each other —
yet somehow, couldn't stop listening.
---
