Love Starts After Nikkah Chapter 27

"Kindly ask Mr. Asad to accept my assignment. Today was the last date and I didn't attend the lecture."

She said to him while putting breakfast on the table.

"Don't worry. I will ask him to accept it." He ensured while taking sips of soup.

She nodded her head and went into the kitchen, avoiding his gaze.

After having breakfast, Sahir went into the home office while Saba went into the room to do some of her freelancing projects.

Creating a new gig on Fiverr, messaging people on LinkedIn, and sending cold emails through Google; she took three hours to complete the whole work. Her mind was immersed in the project, avoiding her to think about the night.

…………………

Sahir started getting weary and his blood started boiling while convincing Mr. Asad to accept Saba's assignment.

"Last date was yesterday. She should show the responsibility toward her work."

Sir Asad was saying. 

"I know but she was telling me that there was an emergency at her home and that's why she didn't manage to come. So, it's okay. She is a responsible student."

He managed to maintain a smile. 

"If you are saying it then I will take the assignment from her." Mr. Asad said while rolling his orbs at which Sahir took a deep sigh.

"Thank you!"

He stood from the chair when stopped by Sir Asad. 

"By the way, why are you so desperate about her? You haven't done this act for other students in your career"

This question startled Sahir, and a red alarm blared in his mind.

"Because she is having some personal issues and I want to help her as she is a bright student."

He replied with a smile at which Mr. Asad hummed with expressions clearly telling he is not convinced.

Sahir gave a tight smile to him and came into his office while struggling with wrapping his mind around the situation.

"Maybe, concealing truth can be harmful for us."

Plethora of confused notions hit his being at meaningful smile of Mr. Asad.

......................

Saba was sitting in the cafe when she received the message from Sahir. 

"Mr. Asad agreed to take your assignment."

"Thank God!" Words tumbled from her lips as relief flooded in her veins.

"What happened? " Fiza asked her with curious orbs.

"Sir Asad agrees to take my assignment! Thank God, Sir Sahir succeeded in convincing him." 

Excitement and happiness etched on her face at the news but Fiza's next question faded the smile.

"Why Sir Sahir asked him? " 

"Because I had requested him" 

She replied while red alarms blaring in her mind.

"Sir Sahir gave you many favours. Our luck is not as bright as yours."

Fiza said in a nonchalant tone at which her eyes widened and heart gripped in fear.

"What if everyone will know?"

This question was echoing in her mind when Iqra and Nimra came near the table with trays in their hands.

"Take your plate" Iqra extended the plate toward Saba which averted whole attention toward lunch, the previous discussion dispersed in the air.

At least, Saba thought this.

.........................

But we by a love so much refin'd, 

That ourselves know not what it is, 

Inter assured of the mind, 

Care less, eyes, lips, and hands to miss.

Poetry class was going on and Mr. Ajmal was reading the stanza from the poem "A Valediction Forbidden Mourning" by John Donne. 

"Ah! A beautiful stanza! John Donne is pointing out that true love lies in having a strong bond with soul. Love with the soul of other person is true, loving inner beauty is the true essence of love. 

There is a difference between attraction and love. In attraction, you only focus on outer beauty, and this type of attraction is mostly known as lust. But in true love, your priority is on inner beauty. Outer beauty is also important, but soul's beauty is more crucial.

In the last line of stanza, poet has indicated that outer beauty is important, you can't neglect it in love but it is less important than soul."

Pin drop silence was in the classroom as literature students were immersed in the philosophy of true love. Glint was in Saba's orbs as flashes of Sahir's caring nature and smiling face flashed in front of her eyes.

When class was dismissed, Mr. Ajmal stopped her to discuss her progress in the test.

After getting free from the discussion, she went outside to find her friend's group.

"I think there is something fishy about Saba. She is getting more and more attached to Sir Sahir!"

These words of Nimra dropped into her ears as she stepped toward her group. It slowed her steps, and heart skipped into her mouth at this. 

Her friends changed the topic as she came near them but her heart kept thundering with full force.

………………

"Saba, come into the room." She was cooking dinner when Sahir's call came.

As soon as she stepped into the room, a smile etched on her face while listening to the voice of Mrs. Amna.

Sahir was sitting on the couch with a laptop in front of him, and was smiling at the screen.

"Assalam o Alaikum!" Saba came near Sahir and greeted Mrs. Amna and Mr. Sikandar.

They greeted her and asked about her wellbeing. She sat near Sahir, giving the view of a perfect couple to his parents.

"I am praying for your happiness. May Allah grant both of you the happiness of the whole world, give you healthy and pious children, and make your relationship strong." 

Mrs. Amna prayed at which blush crept on Saba's cheeks and heart careened about in her chest while Sahir had a nervous smile on his face.

"Say Ameen!" 

Mrs. Amna said, hints of shock in her tone at which they both swiftly muttered Ameen, and had a brief eye contact with each other.

After a few minutes of chit chatting, they cut the call. As soon as the call was disconnected, Saba rushed toward the door, concealing her red face from Sahir.

He gazed at her back with an amused smile, and decided to make his relationship stronger with her.

………………..

"No, Nimra. I am not going to give any favors. You deserve this grade."

Sahir's stern voice echoed into the classroom, students were gazing at his expressions while graded papers were in their hands.

"But, you should recheck my paper. I don't deserve this grade." Nimra argued back while gazing at her grade.

At this, anger flashed in his orbs and he again said.

"I have been fair in marking your papers. And I have re-checked your paper already." 

"That's not fair! If I will be Saba, you must have given me the favor!" 

Nimra winced at which Saba and Sahir's orbs widened and they made eye contact for a brief moment.

Whisperings rippled into the classroom at which frown settled on Sahir's face.

"That is not true! You are crossing the limits." He said sternly, took his papers and went outside the classroom.

Saba's gaze followed him and then slid toward class who was whispering and smirking at her.

"This is the worst blame you have put on your friend, Nimra!"

Iqra said furiously at which Nimra was taken aback.

"What? It is true!"

"Shut up," Iqra said to her and put her hand on Saba's whose face was becoming pale due to the whole situation.

…………….

She stepped into the house while mind was a hodgepodge of different thoughts. Her gaze lingered toward the couch where Sahir was sitting, gazing outside the lawn while seriousness etched on his face.

He didn't see her direction even though the door was closed with a loud thud. Deciding to give each other some space, she stepped toward the room. 

As they both had taken lunch in University, she just laid down on the bed, and tried to sleep which didn't come to her after a long struggle.

When the wings of evening spread into the city, ready to take it into its peaceful lullaby, Sahir entered the room.

"Are you sleeping?" He asked while stepping into the room.

"No", she replied while abandoning the bed.

"That's great. Get ready, we are going for dinner." He said in a nonchalant tone at which she nodded her head.

"In the classroom…" She tried to speak but was interrupted by Sahir.

"Forget about it, Saba! Just get ready and forget everything." 

He said sternly and went toward the washroom.

Gazing at his reflection in the mirror, he saw fear rippling in his orbs. 

This was the accusation he was afraid of!

This was the situation he dreads!

Whole day, he kept thinking of different scenarios in which he saw his reputation succumbing into the pit of insults.

At this, his heart skipped a beat and fear coursed through his spine. 

Splashing water on his face, he shook away all the negative thoughts and decided to enjoy some moments with Saba. 

When he stepped into the room, Saba was nowhere to see. He had performed his ablution so he took out a prayer mat to perform his Salah.

After praying his Namaz, he was putting away his prayer mat when eyes landed on the Quran which was lying on the table. 

His legs went toward it, and he opened the Holy Book to find Surah Yusaf's initial Ayahs in front of him.

Casually glancing at the initial Ayahs where Hazrat Yaqub was fearful that his sons would not take care of Hazrat Yousaf, the same thing happened afterwards.

"When we are fearful of something, sometimes Allah tests our faith through that fear. He manifests that fear into reality to check our reaction and level of faith in the situation."

That thought popped into Sahir's mind while reading the Ayahs of Surah Yousaf.

"I am ready." He came out of his reverie by the voice of Saba who was standing in front of him, clad in white shirt trousers with pink hijab.

He smiled at her, took the keys and went outside.

…………………….

Sahir was talking on call while Saba went toward the washroom area of Restaurant. He was immersed in the discussion when familiar female voice stopped his whole world.

"Assalam o Alaikum"

Turning his head, he saw Zahra standing there, gazing at him with a smiling face. His jaws clenched and lips tightened into a thin line.

"Walaikum Assalam" 

He replied and was going to turned around when her words stopped him. 

"I am sorry Sahir! " 

His eyes widened while shock settled on his face at her words.

"Excuse me?" 

"I realized I was very mean to you. I.. I didn't give importance to your love, and to our friendship. I always think that money is the most important thing in life, that's why I...I prefer Haseeb."

There was plethora of tears in her orbs and voice was cracking, indicating she is on the verge of crying. Sahir stood from his seat and gazed at her face with pity.

"It's ok Zahra. Time has passed away. We both are now leading our lives. You have got Haseeb and I also have got a very good wife. So, it is best to leave the past and move on." 

He said gently while his heart also get freedom from past fears.

"But the guilt is there in my heart. I haven't done good with you so life also has not treated me well. Haseeb is not the same person I think he was. I wanted money and life has only given me money. No happiness. No peace and no love. " 

There was guilt and pain rippling in her tone at which Sahir felt bad for her.

"Pray to Allah Zahra. He will listen to you and lessen your hardships." 

Sahir said with sympathy. 

"After marriage, I realized that I love you. I am sorry, I rejected your love."

"It is over now, Zahra! We are not supposed to talk about the forbidden love when we are in a pure and heavenly relationship with another person."

He said sternly at which Zahra nodded her head, gulping the bitter lump.

"Yeah, I just want your forgiveness."

"It is over now, Zahra." 

He replied gently when his gaze fell upon Saba who was approaching the table with confused expressions.

"Assalam o Alaikum" 

She came near and feigned a smile at Zahra at which she swiftly composed herself.

"Walaikum Aslaam, Mrs. Sahir." 

She curtly nodded her head while sustaining the fake smile on her face. Sahir noticed uneasiness and confusion rippling in her orbs.

"Let's sit and join us for the dinner." Saba said in courtesy while Sahir remained silent.

"No, thank you! I'm here with a friend. Next time maybe."

Zahra said with a formal smile, and stepped away from them after saying Allah Hafiz.

"You should ask her to stay with us for some time as she was your old friend." 

Saba said to Sahir in a nonchalant tone while gaze boring into his face.

"Don't worry Saba! She has been with us for a long time. I am thanking Allah that at last, she left."

 Sahir replied in a straight tone, and silence etched in between them as waiter started serving them.

Frown settled on Saba's face and Sahir saw questions and confusion rippling in her orbs. He took a deep sigh and decided to have a conversation with Saba as soon as he would be mentally ready.

.......................

Blinking lights of Islamabad sprawled in the night while sky also seemed to be drunk with the soul of loved ones. Hushed symphony of night and cool breeze was relieving pain from Sahir's mind and body, saving him from the tiring war of mind and heart.

Zahra's red face and words were echoing into the ears of Sahir at which thoughtfulness etched on his face.

"Do I love Zahra?"

He peeked into the heart and found nothing.

"No! Maybe, I have never loved her. This pure feeling is dedicated for the pure relationships of life, and my relationship with Zahra was not pure. Before Nikkah, you can feel attraction toward a person, you can see your ideal in another person, but heart and soul can only be bonded with a person with whom you tied the heavenly relationship, the person who became your soulmate."

He thought with a smile and swiftly turned around to see Saba through the glass doors who was working on her laptop in the bedroom. 

She didn't utter a word after Zahra left them. Her confused expressions, quizzical orbs and silence was signalling him to clear the confusion as soon as possible.

…………………….

"I am so happy my daughter gave us a visit today." 

After yesterday's dinner and encounter with Zahra, she was feeling low because of all the stress and fears. So, she decided to have a change in her routine by spending quality family time with her parents.

At that moment, she was sitting in her parent's room, sipping tea and having a chit chat with them.

Their laughter, their conversation lightened her mood, and let her forget everything of yesterday's event.

The laughter of her parents mixed with the sharp sound of the bell which seemed like a knell. 

Getting startled by the sudden intervention, Saba stood from her place to open the door.

As soon as she opened it, her eyes widened gazing at the two individuals standing in front of her.

Zain and Zarina's marriage day flashed in front of her orbs, and her blood boiled. 

…………….