"Excuse me? Did you just say 5 years?" Asfand choked out, still staring at Zubiya with wide eyes.

"Why, what's wrong with 5 years? I mean, by then you will yourself get a job and I'll be done with my house job.. Remember, you yourself offered me this suggestion?" Zubiya asked Asfand as she shrugged her shoulders while raising an eyebrow at him.

"Yeah- I mean, yeah... But that was then. When I thought you weren't open to marriage! But now, you have yourself proposed me... no! Not 5 years. Let's come to a deal. How about a year? You'll be done with your college. And then we can have the ceremony after which we'll head to the US. You can get admitted to a medical college over there and finish your house job as well. And after I get my degree I'll get a job in a hospital. We'll finally return once you finish your house job." Asfand suggested Zubiya with a hopeful smile.

"Yeah.. The plan's all good. But how will you support a new wife and everything? Won't it be expensive in the US? I won't feel comfortable living off Mamu once we get married. It's just a few years, Asfand. Okay, how about this. You quickly return after getting your degree and then we get married? I won't say no, then." Zubiya asked him softly.

Asfand stayed quiet a few minutes. Finally, heaving out a sigh, "I just- I just don't want to stay apart from you. I can't bear any distance between us." Asfand said softly, as he tried to avert his eyes from her.

This was a big thing for him. He had never expected to fall in love with someone. He had always thought that love wasn't in his fate because he had never felt anything for the girls that were in his college or the ones that he met during any family occasions. And now he had felt something in his heart for someone. For Zubiya. And to stay away from her for such long periods of time... he just couldn't fathom how he could survive them.

Zubiya looked at Asfand as he tried to avert his eyes from her. She could feel his struggle to share his inner-most thoughts with her. She knew this was new for the both of them.

She caressed his cheek as she turned his head slowly towards herself and caught his eye. She blinked twice and gave him a soft smile to let him know she understood him completely.

"Asfand, it's no harm in waiting. Now, we have our whole lives... My mother has always taught me this. To have patience. When my father wouldn't let me have any toy that I really wanted when I was a kid Ammi would always tell me to have patience. To have faith in Allah. To have Sabr. Because Allah has given us many messages in life which tell us to never take any step in haste. It always leads to failure. And I have faith that just a few more years' wait will make our this relationship more stronger. You know, as the saying comes, distance makes one fonder. It will be good for us, I'm sure. We'll be more mature then. More grown-up. I promise, we only have to wait till you return after getting your degree. And then I'm yours. No one will come between us. If Allah wills. In Sha Allah." Zubiya softly said.

Asfand nodded his head and smiled at her as he too whispered, "In Sha Allah."

Zubiya woke up the next morning with a wide smile on her face as she remembered her previous night's conversations with Asfand; and a sense of peace in her heart.

Luckily, it was an off-day for her or else her heart would have stopped completely after looking at the time. The clock read almost 11 A.M. She had never woken up this late, not even on her off-days so it was a huge surprise for her that Gaiti bhabi hadn't yet barged into her room to wake her up.

She quickly ran into the washroom for a shower.

After she was done with her and busy blow-drying her hair, the door to her room opened and her Mami slightly poked in her head.

"Zubiya, are you awake?" Mami asked her.

Switching off the machine, she looked back at her mami. "I'm so sorry, mami. I woke up late today."

"It's alright, my child. You are lucky you don't have any classes today." Lubna aunty chuckled as she stepped into the room and sat om Zubiya's bed. "Zubiya, can you please sit with me for awhile? I wanted to discuss something with you."

"Ji Mami." Zubiya said apprehensively as she sat across her mami with a slight nervous expression on her face.

"Beta, there's nothing to be nervous about. I just wanted to ask you about Asfand. I'm sure by now he must have asked you to marry him, am I correct?" Lubna aunty asked her slowly.

Zubiya, unable to meet her mami's eyes looked down, her cheeks warming up as she slowly nodded.

"Thank goodness!" Lubna aunty exclaimed and stunned Zubiya by giving her a tight hug. "I hope you're are willing to become our Asfi's partner. But please, don't hesitate to speak out if you aren't. We will never force you."

"No- I mean, I'm happy... I really like him.." Zubiya softly said, slightly looking up only to find Lubna aunty almost in tears.

"You have no idea how happy you've made us... And your mamu! He has already started making plans! He is so happy that he won't have to part from his daughter again." Lubna aunty said softly.

Zubiya blinked her eyes rapidly to control her tears that wanted to fall. Unable to control them, they rolled down her cheeks.

"Why are you crying, my child?" Lubna aunty asked as she wiped her tears off which were again replaced by the fresh ones.

"I- I feel as if I am the most luckiest girl in this planet today. Allah has bestowed with so many blessings, Alhamdulillah. I have no idea what I did to deserve all of this." Zubiya said shaking her head softly.

Lubna aunty held Zubiya's hands in between hers as she said, "You have your mother's blessings with you, my dear child. Her prayers.. And you've already gone through as many hardships you could through this short span of your life. These are probably the rewards you're receiving as you haven't lost your faith in Allah. And that is what He wants to test on his believers. I am so proud of you, my child. I don't think if I would have been in your shoes, I would have fared well myself. You are the most brave girl I have encountered till date and I'll be proud to have you as my daughter from now onwards. You are blessing."

Zubiya hugged Lubna aunty tightly and laid her head down on her chest with her eyes shut.

"Thank you. Thank you so much. I'll be forever grateful to Allah, my mother, Asfand.. and you and mamu." Zubiya whispered softly.

" will be forever grateful to Allah that he kept you safe when you needed Him the most. That He helped you when you called for Him. I'll be forever grateful. I get goosebumps every time I think about how you must have fared the journey from your house till here in the middle of night. If something were to happen to you... my heart breaks when I realize that- that it wouldn't have even come to our notice...." Lubna aunty almost choked out as she herself was overcome with tears.

"Your mother, Ma-talat was a dear friend to me as well. She had helped in uniting me and your mamu. Your mamu's family didn't agree with our marriage but she somehow convinced them. My only regret in life is that I couldn't help her when she needed help. But we were helpless. It will forever remain as my sole regret in life." Lubna aunty shook her head as if she was trying to clear away some thoughts.

"It's alright, aunty. We need to always keep in mind that whatever happens in life, happens for a reason. We should never forget that Allah has something good planned for us.." Zubiya said softly to Lubna aunty trying to dissipate the slightly desolate environment.

"Yes. You're absolutely right, my daughter." Lubna aunty finally said and smiled at her lovingly.