From the few occasional hoots and from the chirping of the birds outside,Yasir easily figured out that it was way past dawn.People were already on their way to work.He was going to work too but instead of being excited like he had thought he would be on his very first day,he felt depressed.

Extremeley depressed.

He really could not put a finger on what he was feeling right now since he had never felt this way before.He had not been able to sleep the entire night either which was a first for him.

He had therefore spent the whole night on his prayer mat, praying to Allah to grant him ease from this dreadful feeling.A feeling of losing something priceless.But what?He just could not understand.

"Yasir, are you ready to go downstairs?" asked Hisham as he came in and immediately plopped down on his brother's large bed.

Yasir nodded, speculating whether or not he should tell his brother of his uneasiness.Hisham tended to overreact at times or rather all the time.But then he needed to let it out.He had never felt this sad in his entire life and maybe by talking to his brother,he might feel better.

"Akhi,do you know that feeling of something being snatched away from you yet you can do nothing about it?"he asked.

Hisham looked at his brother skeptically wondering where the question was coming from.

"Yep, a gazillion times," he answered.

"Really Akhi?"

"Yeah"

"Like when?" asked Yasir enthusiastically.

"Whenever the waiter at a restaurant walks right past me with an order similar to mine."

"Akhiiiiii, come on!" groaned Yasir at the same time trying to control his laughter.Hisham really was impossible.

"What? That is the worst feeling ever okay!"

"No Hisham, please tell me.Ive been feeling that way since last night."

Hisham scrutinized his younger brother's face.He did look okay to him so then what was bothering him?

"Okay Yasir, how exactly are you feeling right now?"

**********

Yumnah stood outside the jewellery store with her mother a sad distant look on her face.She knew this particular jewellery store all too well.She had come here mutiple times with her friends,sometimes to choose a ring or at times they would just come to see the latest designs.

Excitement would always course through her whenever they came to this shop, not because of the jewels but because she would be able to see those two particular rings she had chosen.

For her and for

"He is such a handsome young man and look at you Yumnah, you foolishly want to reject him," said her mother jolting her out of her deep thoughts.

Yumnah looked up to see Khaleel walking towards them a wide smile on his face.This was not fair to him, he looked so happy yet she preffered to be anywhere else but there.

"Asalam aleikum," said Khaleel as his gaze rested on Yumnah for a few seconds.He had not been able to sleep the entire night.Just the thought that they would be choosing their rings today filled his heart with pleasure.

"Waleikum salam my son," said her overjoyous mother while Yumnah replied her voice barely audible.This was torture for her.

They made their way inside and immediately the old sales lady's eyes lit up when she recognized Yumnah.

"Yumnah dear, look at you,its been a while.Oh and look you have finally brought a young man to finally try out the rings," she said her eyes twinkling.

Yumnah let out a faint smile,cringing inwardly.The last thing she had wanted was for her mother and Khaleel to know that she had already picked out her rings.Years ago.

Two very special rings.

*********

The two brothers had walked in two the store,Hisham complaining to Yasir about something.Yumnah immediately turned her back to them, her beating in overdrive.Yasir always had this effect on her.

She listened in as the two brothers argued over which ring they wanted to buy for their mother.Yasir wanted a simple ring while Hisham wanted a big glamorous one ,something which was in fashion at that time.

"I like this one Hisham.Mama can even do kitchen work and she won't have to remove it," said Yasir as his fingers grazed the ring.

"Its not fit for a gift bro,feel this one.I even saw Mama looking through a magazine with pictures of it recently," said Hisham as he handed a big shiny ring to Yasir to feel.

In the end,both brothers had agreed on the second ring and had immediately left after buying it.

Yumnah rushed to the counter and picked up the ring Yasir had been holding.It was extremeley beautiful.Blush crept up her cheeks as she imagined Yasir slipping the ring through her finger.

"Yumnah dear, seems that particular ring has caught your eye and guess what, that ring has its very own partner," said the sales lady as she pushed a tiny box towards her.

Yumnah opened the box to find a simple silver band, something she knew Yasir would love.She had held on to the two rings for a while capturing every single little detail about them, as she prayed inwardly that one day they would both own them.

And luckily for her those two rings never got sold.

******

"You have already chosen rings?"asked Khaleel a wide grin on his face.Yumnah swallowed hard,she hated lying but then she would never want Khaleel to wear a ring which she had chosen for another man.

A man that she had lost.

"No, i once had once liked them but they are outdated now," she said much to the sales lady's surprise.

"How about this ring?" he asked pointing to a ring with big emeralds.He did not know much about rings but he guessed women always liked glamourous things.

"That one is perfect Khaleel dear," said her mother.Yumnah looked at the ring disinterested.Any ring would do for her.

Yumnah's foul mood however did not pass unoticed by Khaleel.This was the third time he was meeting her but he did feel like something was terribly wrong.He had noticed how she had picked the very first ring on the display when her mother had forced her to choose a ring for him.

Didn't she want to get married?But then she had yes even before their first meeting.Maybe he was just overthinking.

As her mother gushed over other pieces of jewellery in the store, Khaleel walked over to Yumnah, who had been standing all quiet in the corner.

"Yumnah, are you happy with this marriage?" he asked, mentally preparing himself for a negative answer.

Yumnah was silent for a while, after which she gave him a smile which didn't quite reach her eyes.

"JazakAllah for the rings Khaleel.In Sha Allah,i guess i will next see you on our wedding day," she said.

Khaleel grinned back, a few doubts clearing off his mind.Maybe they were just mood swings.Women tended to have them alot.He would get used to it he guessed.

However,what bothered Khaleel was the facthat

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