The next morning after their normal routine, Fawwad went to the office leaving Walija behind. When she finished cleaning the kitchen, she went up to take her bath because she woke up late. And if she stayed to take her bath first before making breakfast, she would be late and she doesn't want that.

After taking her bath, she wore a long loose gown and walked back to the sitting room. She was just sitting watching TV when she got bored. Just then, she remembered Noor calling her the previous day about her visit on that day.

She picked her phone and dialed her number. After two rings, she picked.

"Assalamu alaiki" Walija said.

"Wa alaiki salam sis. What's up?" Noor answered back.

"Nothing much. I'm just home alone bored since my best friend didn't show up yet"

"Oh my Allah! I'm so so so sorry dear. Nihal dragged me to ice cream parlor. I'll just drop her home now and I'll be on my way"

"Since it's my baby, you're forgiven"

"Whatever, let me get going" and with that, the call was disconnected.

Thirty minutes after their phone call, the doorbell chimed. She knew it was Noor, so she quickly opened the door for her enveloping her into a bone crushing hug.

"Okay,...you're going to melt the ice cream" Noor said as she playfully pants for air.

"Ohh my Allah! Did you bring ice cream for me?" She squealed before she let her go "did I tell you I was craving for it?" She rhetorically asked.

"Okay, if you don't stop blabbing and let me in, this weather could melt the ice cream" Noor said while laughing at how her friend was reacting.

She knew it wasn't just for the ice cream or her visit. There was something else that made her extra joyful and lively. And she must find that out soon.

They walked into the parlor and Walija went to the kitchen where she placed the ice cream in the freezer before she poured chocolate chips in a bowl and placed it on a tray alongside with the ice cream.

They ate and chatted about random stuff. Some few minutes after they were done, Walija spoke.

"Okay, can you tell me the steaming gist you were talking about yesterday cause I'm tired of being patient enough for you to spill it out"

"I know you just have to ask" she laughed.

"Yes, I have to and I'm eager already"

"Oh my Allah!" She laughed and when she noticed Walija was serious when she said she was eager, she began "well, I came to tell you that ya Ibrahim have finally gotten a wife for himself" she simply said.

"And?"

"The formal introduction and all the necessary arrangements have been done"

"Masha Allah, I'm so happy for him. So, where did he got a wife?"

"She was his classmate. They had been dating for quite a long time but none of us knew of it. Can you imagine that?"

"What matters more is that they love each other"

"Yes, I know but you got to see the way she was behaving shamelessly with him in front of me and Nihal. She's such a spoilt brat...I don't like her" she pouted.

"Noor...gossiping is haram(prohibited) you know" she playfully chided. "And so what if she behave shamelessly with her fiance? She's going to marry him soon anyway. And that doesn't make her a spoilt brat" she laughed.

"Yeah, you got to see the way she's respecting mom and dad. She also loves Nihal and me so much. I don't even know if she's pretending it" she sighed.

"Then, why don't you like her. I think she's perfect. With time, you will learn to like her"

"I guess I will"

"What's next?"

"Huh?"

"There's something you want to tell me"

"I just told you" she rolled her eyes.

"Oh come on be serious babe. I know there's more to tell me"

Walija knew there was something Noor wasn't telling her because, from the way she was speaking over the phone, she knew it wasn't just because of her brother's wedding.

"Okay fine" she sighed "well, there's more to ya Ibrahim's wedding"

"Go on" she said eagerly.

"Actually...two weddings will take place"

"Two weddings?" She asked still puzzled.

"Yes, ya Ibrahim's and...and my own" she said excitedly.

"Oh my God! You're joking!" She replied just as excited as her friend.

"Of course I'm not. I'm soon going to be a bride" she said in a singsong.

"And look who was calling someone shameless just a while ago" She said rolling her eyes.

"Her own is different" Noor said nonchalantly still smiling.

"Ya Allah! I'm so so happy for you dear. Masha Allah" she said as she pulled her into a hug. When she broke the hug, she asked: "now, tell me who's the prince charming that's making my friend all mushy?"

"He's a family. A cousin to be precise"

"You woman have been dating and chose to hide it from me until when you're getting married?" She said feigning hurt.

"It actually happened so fast. We are kinda close so, when he proposed...you know....mutual feelings" she said shyly.

"You still have no right for not telling me"

"I just waited for things to fall into place. And that's why I decided to come and tell you myself"

"Now that explains the ice cream"

Noor laughed before she said "seriously no. I just got it for you"

"All that aside. I'm so happy for you dear" she hugged her again. "May Allah spare our lives to witness it in good health" she prayed.

"Amin ya Rabb. Thank you so much, babe"

They were still in the parlor chatting and eating chocolate chips when they heard the adzaan to zuhr prayer. They climbed up and prayed. When they got down, they walked to the kitchen together. And in less than an hour, they prepared a scrumptious tasty lasagna. They arranged everything and set the dining table ready.

Walija wanted them to eat but Noor said she was tired and needed to rest a bit before she can eat.

"Is this how you're going to do in your house? You're surely going to be a lazy bride"

"Hey I'm not lazy" she protested.

"You can say that again" Walija replied as she also flopped down on the couch.

Not too long after they'd got seated, the doorbell chimed. Walija's heart skipped a bit because she clearly knew it was Fawwad. Noor was just busy with her phone when Walija stood up to get the door.

She opened the door to smiling but exhausted Fawwad. She also smiled back and said "welcome home"

He pulled her into a side hug and she leaned in before he kissed her forehead. "Thanks, hon"

Just when he let her go, she remembered Noor was still in the sitting room and she must have seen everything.

Oh god! Now I got explanations to make.

She collected his briefcase and they walked into the house. Noor greeted him and after they finished exchanging pleasantries, he moved upstairs.

"Can you give me a minute please?" Walija said to Noor.

"Stay as long as you want, I'm good" she replied making some silly faces which Walija knew what she meant but she just ignored her and shook her head before she left.

When she got to the room, Fawwad was already undressing to take a shower.

"Um-u...I'm-I...I'm sorry" she stuttered as she tried to walk out not wanting to look at him shirtless.

"Why are you in a hurry?" He teased her because he clearly knew what she was doing.

"Um...nothing. I'll just be downstairs when you're done" she said still backing him and placed his briefcase down.

"As you wish dear wife" he smiled and thanked God once again for not giving him the chance to let such a priceless gem go.

Immediately he closed his mouth, she left. He laughed and shook his head before he finished undressing and moved to the bathroom.

When Walija got down, Noor was busy chatting and smiling to herself.

Walija cleared her throat before she gained Noor's attention. "Someone is in love" she said in a singsong. "You haven't even told me his name"

She placed the phone down before she said: "sweet Farheen" she smiled.

"And you're even calling him sweet in front of me shamelessly?" She said unbelievably laughing at how fast her friend has fallen deeply in such a short time and at the same time feeling happy for her.

"You know that I've seen everything right?" She asked rhetorically.

"Oh, God!" She face palmed herself because she knew she has a lot to explain. "Please, you didn't see anything"

"I saw everything" she said emphasizing the word 'everything'. "The looks, the smiles, the hugs, the-" she started but Walija cut her off.

"Okay, okay! you've seen" she sighed in defeat as she sat beside her.

"I'm all ears Miss" she grinned.

Walija sighed before she began "well...actually I and Fawwad have reconciled"

"Oh my God! I'm so happy for you" she squealed and her face didn't fail to show how excited she was "Alhamdulillah" she muttered but Walija heard her.

How utterly beautiful it is to know that you have someone who isn't your family that always wants the best for you. That was how Noor was. She was her friend but she took her as her own blood sister.

"Since when?" Noor asked.

"Just last night" she simply replied smiling.

"Now that should explain your mood when I came"

"Huh?" She asked baffled because she had no idea what Noor was talking about.

"Nothing... Never mind" she quickly added laughing "what matters more is that my friend is finally happy" she added.

"I can never ask for a better friend like you"

"Awwwn...I'm blushing" she said as she batted her eyelashes wiping away fake tears of happiness.

"Don't be too flattered Miss. You're still my idiotic friend" she teased laughing.

"Whatever" she pouted.

They were still making fun of each other laughing when Fawwad walked in. When he realized they stopped laughing when he walked in, he said "I'm sorry if I interrupted you"

"No, not at all," Noor said "in fact, I'm the one interrupting you guys" she said grinning "I should be on my way" she made to stand but Walija stopped her.

"Where are you going, Miss? You haven't eaten" she said.

"No, I'm good. I'll just leave"

"Please stay Miss..." Fawwad started.

"Noor" Walija completed because she knew he doesn't know her name.

"Yes, Noor...please join us" he stated.

"Okay fine" she sighed.

After that, they all went to the dining table and sat. Walija served them before they started eating. Fawwad also got to know Noor and the relationship they shared with his wife just like him and Hussein.

After lunch, Noor helped Walija to pack the plates to the kitchen.

"Your husband is a great man" Noor said while she was arranging the washed plates in the dish drainer.

"I know right"

"And see who was calling me shameless" she said as she rolled her eyes.

"Hey! I'm not shameless" she protested pouting like a small child.

"Please stop before your Mr. Romantic husband will say I've made his wife cry" she teased laughing.

"Noooor!!" She whined.

"Okay...okay" she said in between laughter raising her hands up in surrender "but, you surely are lucky to have him. The love he has for you is pure and genuine" she said as she placed both her hands on Walija's shoulders.

"Was it that obvious?" Walija asked.

"Heck yeah! Its shown all over his face. You got to see the way he was looking at you, babe. Mehn! His eyes say it all" she said dramatically.

"Huh?"

"Yes dear and I'm more than happy for you"

"Thank you babe" she smiled and hugged her.

"Anything for you" she smiled "let me get going"

"Alright" and with that, she escorted her out. After they said goodbye and she'd pulled out, Walija moved back inside.

Immediately she locked the door, she felt something grabbed her hand unaware. Her heart immediately skipped a beat out of fear and she placed her other hand on her chest. She let out a sigh of relief when she saw Fawwad laughing.

"You...y-you scared me" she said panting.

"I'm sorry" he said as he pulled her closer to him "sorry" he whispered, "who were you even expecting?"

"I don't even know" she laughed as he stood admiring her.

"Have I ever told you-you are beautiful" he found himself saying.

"Huh?" She asked puzzled.

He just ignored her question and pulled her hand "come with me, we got a lot to talk about" and she followed him to the couch and they sat down.

And there, they got to know about each other. Their likes and dislikes and everything about each other's life. And that moment was the best for both of them and it marked the beginning of their marriage journey.

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