Yasir sat back in his swivel chair listening intently to his personal assistant read out the company's annual business report.An aura of confidence surrounded him and from his expressionless face,one could easily tell that he meant business.

"What?Thats it?Thats not even a report to begin with," he said,a hint of irritation in his voice.He had been in office for only a week and it hadn't taken him long to figure out that everything was in a mess.

"Sorry sir,il redo it and rectify everything," said his assistant.His new boss always made him nervous.He may be physically blind but there was nothing blind in his demeanour and way of working.The man meant pure business and if he wasnt careful, he was sure that he was going to lose his job soon.

"And call the head accountant for me on your way out.If the guy does not want to work, we can as well send him home."

"Yes Sssir," stuttered his assistant as he stood up to leave.Things were definately on fire around here, he thought as he quickly rushed out to warn his likewise lazy colleagues.

Khaleel held open the glass door as he watched the poor man scurry out.He quickly put a file over his face to hide his smile.The idiot deserved it.He really did.

"Asalam aleikum bro," he said as he walked into his cousin's office.

"Waleikum salam Khaleel," said Yasir, his face immediately lighting up.He was really missing Hisham and needed someone familiar to talk to.

"Whoa,word out there is that you have the whole department on their toes."

"Don't even ask.What was the previous manager doing even?" asked Yasir as he loosened the tie around his neck.He was really tired and couldn't wait to go home.

"I never liked him bro,he never even showed up to work half of the time," said Khaleel as he sat down on one of the chairs.

"So,are you nervous like Hisham was before his wedding?" Yasir asked a wide smile on his face.Friday was just three days away.Why was Khaleel at work even?

"Im not getting married Yasir.Yumnah and i broke off our engagement."

"What?Why?" Yasir asked shock all over his face.But wait,why was he feeling relieved at the same time?Like as if a heavy weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

"It just wasn't meant to be.It wouldn't have worked out between us," said Khaleel.

He had just called Yumnah's father about an hour ago to break off the engagement.To say the old man was shocked would be an understatement.He had kept asking for a reason but Khaleel had stuck to"it was not meant to be."

He wondered how things were fairing on at Yumnah's house.

Good.Hopefully.

"Oh."

"Yeah," said Khaleel.How he wished he could tell Yasir of what he knew but he couldn't.Yumnah had trusted him and he had no plans of breaking that trust.All he could do was pray for both of them.Pray that they would unite.Soon.

"Come home for dinner then,Mama is making couscous," said Yasir in a bid to reduce the awkward tension in the room.

"Wow, couscous?Wouldn't miss it.Hisham is definately going to burn," said Khaleel.

"Thats actually the plan bro,i plan on sending him a picture too."

"Since when did you become so evil?" joked Khaleel.

"I have my days."

Khaleel laughed shaking his head in disbelief.Yasir had some 'Hisham' moments as well.It was one crazy family and he was glad to be part of it.

"See you in the evening then," he said as he stood up to leave.

"In Sha Allah.Bring your camera with you, thats why i invited you actually," said Yasir.

Khaleel laughed as he closed the door behind him smiling.He had not failed to notice the wide permanent smile on Yasir's face since he had mentioned that he had broken off his engagement.

Is this what they called destiny?

He couldn't wait to find out.

***********

Yumnah wished the ground would literally open up and swallow her.She had promised herself that she would be strong and fight for her feelings but she couldn't.Why was it so hard?

Since they had received Khaleel's call, her mother had not stopped shouting at her.She had not even given her father a chance to speak either.

"Mom, please listen to me.I didn't do anything wrong.I only told Khaleel the truth,"she said tears streaming down her face.She loved her mother regardless and she hated it when they fought which they had been doing alot over the past few days.

"Shut up okay.Just shut up," screamed her mother.

Yumnah looked up at her father for help.Her old man did not even know what was going on.He had not even gotten a chance to ask her anything.

"Saeeda, stop.Let me speak to my daughter," he said, his voice full of concern.He was confused as well.He had never seen his wife behave like that.Yumnah was a very well behaved girl, so for his wife to behave like that,it meant that she must have done something wrong.But that was not how mistakes were dealt with.

"Yumnah,why did Khaleel break of the engagement?" he asked, choosing his words carefully.

"He broke it off because of this stupid girl," screamed his wife at the same time pulling Yumnah's hair.

"Is this what Ustadha teaches you at the masjid?" her mother asked her voice way too high.

"SAEEDA, i am the one talking to her.In fact move away from her,Yumnah dear answer me,"he said taking her frail hands in hers.He could feel her body shaking and his heart broke seeing his only daughter in that condition.

"Because i dont like him Papa," she replied.As much as he was good,respectful and a kind hearted man, she couldnt.She just couldn't.

"But that day Yumnah i had asked if you were okay with the proposal my child, and you had said yes," her father asked.

"I thought it was someone else.I like someone else Papa," she said, turning her stained face away from him.Why was all this so complicated?

"I am telling you Bilal, this girl is not in her senses.What does she even know about liking someone.She is naive.Let me deal with her," said her mother.

"Saeeda, i am the head of this house and i make the decisions here.For now,just shut up."

Yumnah began sobbing more hysterically after seeing her parents shouting at each other.

"Who did you think it was dear?I thought i had been clear that the proposal was from the Hosseini family and you even met Khaleel and you still did not say anything.Explain things to me Yumnah," her father pleaded.

He could sense the uncertainty in his daughter.She was scared.Scared of her own mother.He was extremely disappointed in both of them.Disappointed in Yumnah for not trusting him and dissapointed in his wife because she was forcing their daughter to marry a man she did not want.

"Yumnah dear,who do you like?Tell me his name and i promise you that i myself,will take your marriage proposal to his house and no one will stop me," he said, sending a glare towards his wife.

Yumnah looked at him, fresh tears running down her face.

"Papa, its....."

Her father squeezed her hand encouraging her to continue.

*******