Prologue

Hayat's Pov.

I am at my best friend's Nikkah as she wanted me to be her maid of honour. Sameera Malik has been my best friend ever since we were kids.

I am in her room praying Maghrib prayers as her Nikkah was at 9 pm. What I didn't know was that a little boy followed me to the room and watched as I prayed.

After I finished I turned to see him sitting on one of the throw pillows that decorated Sameera's room.

"Asalam Aleikum, how are you?", I greeted the boy. He stood up and walked toward me. I took him and settled him in my lap as I made my Duas.

What I didn't know was that someone was watching the entire thing. Then the little boy kissed my cheek and ran to the man who was watching me.

The man took the little boy in his arms while he was staring at me as if he were trying to analyse me.

I folded the prayer mat and put it where it belonged.

"I am sorry if he disturbed you...."

"No, it is okay. He didn't disturb me at all. He is precious, an angel", I tell him, smiling at the little boy.

"Okay, excuse me", he walked away from me. The little boy in his arms waved at me, and I waved back.

I walked back to my best friend's side as it was time for her fiancée to arrive at her house.

"I am sorry I took so long but there was this cute little boy who was with me and I have to..."

"Stop, Hayat. I understand. So don't worry about it. Besides, thank you for being here", Sameera tells me while hugging me.

"Hey, listen, it's okay. I am here for you, bestie, always and forever. Now let's go see your hubby", I wiggled my eyebrows, making her blush.

"Really? I will have to wait for you to get married, then it will be my turn to make you blush", Sameera tells me, winking.

My heart fell when she said that. My stepmother, Maryam, will never allow me to get married unless she finds a wealthy husband for her daughter, my stepsister Jameela, first.

"Now let's focus on you....."

Her mother came in and told her to go down as the Kadhi was waiting for her.

"Ready to go, bestie?" I asked her, helping her with her hijab.

"Yes, let's go", she replied as I helped her with her dress, and then we headed down the stairs to the living room, which was decorated beautifully.

There was a curtain separating the groom and her. I sat her down and then took a seat beside her.

As the Kadhi started saying the dua, I felt someone staring at me, but I didn't dare look up.

Sameera then squeezed my hand while saying I do three times. I whispered congratulations to her and hugged her, smiling.

Her parents hugged her and then congratulated her. Then the Kadhi took the marriage certificate for her to sign, which she did.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife".

I was very happy for my best friend who got married to someone who would love and care for her all their life.

As I was helping Sameera's cousin in serving the guests that were there, I could sense that someone was looking at me.

Must be my imagination.

I thought to myself and didn't think of it as anything.

It was almost time for me to go as I didn't want my stepmother to scold me, even though I had taken permission from my father.

I walked over to where my best friend was to say goodbye to her and wish her a happy marriage.

"Asalam Aleikum, I am sorry but could I borrow my best friend for a moment?" I tell her husband Zahir.

He nodded, and I took her hand, leading her to her room. I picked up my bag and removed a gift I had for her that I had almost forgotten about.

"Here, this is for you. I will miss our talks, best friend. Anyways, it is time for me to go home before....."

"The witch ruins everything, right?" She completes what I wanted to say.

" She isn't that bad...."

"Stop, she is worse than Cinderella's stepmother. I will miss you too. I will call you every day and make sure you pick up, " She tells me.

I pulled her into my arms, trying not to cry because I knew if I started, she would try to console me and would start to cry.

"In shaa Allah, Sam," I hugged her one last time before I returned her to her husband.

"Hayat", I heard someone calling me as I was looking for Aunty Hasna. I turned to see that it was she who was calling.

" Aunt, I was looking for you. I wanted to say bye before I left", I tell her as she also knows what would happen if I didn't go home, even though I am a 25-year-old woman.

"I know Habibty. I will let Zahir's best friend take you back home as it is late. Plus you might not get a taxi at this time", she tells me, looking around.

I wanted to protest when she spotted him.

" Here he is. Aayan will take you, right, son?", she says while looking behind me.

"Yes aunt, it's not a problem", he answered.

It was him. The guy who carried the little boy.

" Okay, then it is settled", aunt Hasna said and hugged me. "Take care Hayat", she added before leaving with him.

" Shall we?", he said leading me to his car. As I was about to ask him about the little boy he suddenly came running towards me.

"Be careful Azaan", Aayan tells him but the little boy doesn't listen to him and walks toward me.

I smiled at him.

" I have something for you", I tell him taking chocolate out of my bag. "Here this is for you", I give it to him.

" Shukran", he tells me.

"Afwan my prince", I tell him.

" I am sorry that he is disturbing you....."

"Don't worry about it. Plus he isn't disturbing me at all, right my prince", I tell him looking at the little boy who was busy opening the chocolate.

"I will take him so you can go into the car", Aayan tells me trying to carry Azaan but he doesn't want to move from me.

"It's okay I will carry him if that's okay with you?", I ask him.

Aayan's Pov.

Zahir has been like a brother to me and an uncle to my son Azaan.

Today is his Nikkah with his longtime girlfriend Sameera. She is like a sister to me.

I remember the day I married the love of my life. She looked so radiant Ma shaa Allah. I knew from the moment we met that we would be together on earth and also in Jannah.

"Baba, can I go play?", my handsome son asks me. He is my everything.

"Let him go Aayan. Go ahead", aunt Hasna interrupted me. She is Sameera's mother and soon-to-be mother-in-law to my best friend and brother Zahir.

"Fine", I agree with her.

As I was walking, I saw my son Azaan going into a room. I followed him hoping he wasn't disturbing anyone.

What I found surprised me. He is in some girl's lap making dua while sitting on a prayer mat.

Azaan looked up and saw me. He gave the girl a kiss on her cheek making her smile.

Azaan ran to my arms and I carried him as I watched the girl put away the prayer mat.

I stopped praying the day I lost her.

I stopped believing in everything, including God.

"I am sorry if he disturbed you...."

I tried to apologise to her but she cut me off by saying that he didn't disturb her.

"No, it is okay. He didn't disturb me at all. He is precious, an angel", she tells me, smiling at my son.

"Okay, excuse me", I walked away from her. What I didn't know was that Azaan waved at her.

Azaan has never been fond of anyone, not even his aunts or uncles who come to visit him.

I couldn't help but stare at her while she was helping the bride with her dress.

Who is she?

I looked at Zahir, who was smiling and happy that he was finally getting married to the love of his life.

"Congratulations, brother", I tell him after the Kadhi announced that they are now husband and wife.

"Thank you, brother...."

I started looking at her as she helped Aunt Hasna serve the guests.

"She is Sameera's best friend. They have been friends since they were kids. Her name is Hayat", Zahir interrupted my thoughts. "I know you have been staring at her the whole time. Don't worry, brother, she is single", he added, winking at me as he walked to his wife.

Hayat.