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Some may call it fate

Some may call it destiny

Some may call it Karma

I say it were meant to be

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The trees swayed and danced in the beautiful melody of the winds as 6 little kids stared at them

"what do you think causes it?" asked the only girl in the group, who had her hair in a messy bun and looked mo more than 10 but adorable

"The wind of course" answered a young boy of around 3 smiling cheekily

"What causes the winds, Bayah?" she turned to a boy of around 13, who was staring at the window rather than the scene infront of him

"Its all up to Allah, Zahi. Allah orders Angel Mikael (A.S) to let it be windy and it occurs" he replied, smiling at his little sister while the other siblings stared at him in awe

He was their hero even though he did not know it

"So Bayah, does Allah fulfill our wishes when we want it?" asked one of the twins and Zaik smiled at him

"Of course Zaidan. But for that, you need to be a good boy" he replied and Zaidan turned to his twin/ exact looking brother with wide eyes

"Hear that Suhaim! If we are good, maybe we can get new cars!" he said and Suhaim nodded, grinning at his brothers and sister

The youngest of them crawled to Zaik and set in his lap

"So bayah, will it rain today?" he asked Zaik, looking up to him and then outside to the gloomy weather

"Look around you Sumair, do you think it will?" asked Zaik, rocking him back and forth and Sumair nodded smiling at him

"Yesh" he replied and just then Zaik was hit with another idea

He turned to a boy, few years younger than him and grinned

"Remember the song that we used to sing with chachu?" he asked and the boy nodded smiling slightly

"It was a nasheed!" corrected Zahi, sitting up straight and preparing to join her brothers

Zaik nodded

"Hit it Sohayll" said Zaik and the boy, Sohayll nodded before starting the verse

"I hear the flowers kinda crying out loud

The breeze are sounding sad

Oh no

Tell me when did we become so cold and empty inside...?

Lost a way long time ago

Did we really turn out blind

We don't see that we keep hurting each other no

All we do is just fight" Sang Sohayll, standing up and walking around with his words and Zaik took the que to begin his

"Now we share the same bright sun

the same round moon

Why don't we share the same love

tell me why not?

Life is shorter than most have thought!" sang Zaik, and Zahi stood up

Together, the three sang the chorus

"Hold my hand" they sand, holding the hands of their sibling and pulling them up

"There are many ways to do it right" they walked in a circle as they sang

"Hold my hand

Turn around and see what we've left behind

Hold my hand my friend

We can save the good spirit of me and you

For another chance

And lets pray for the beautiful world

The beautiful world I share with you"

The little kids laughed as they set back on the floor

"Masha Allah" whispered Fatima, smiling at her grandkids

"Indeed" replied Loriza and then turned to her

"Lets go for coffee" with that the two women walked away from the nursery

Shumayll smiled at Iqraam as the two walked towards the nursery of the Ibrahim mansion

It had become a routine for the Edris to be here since there were more kids at the Ibrahim mansion than the Edris mansion considering that Sohayll spent half his time with Zaik

"ABBA!!!!!" yelled the kids as they ran to the two men

"As salaamu alaikum!" they greeted the kids who tackled them both in a huge hug

"Wa alaikum mus salaam!!" they said in unison and then looked at each other before busting our laughing

"Now tell me, did you all finish your homework?" asked Iqraam and they nodded

all except Sumair who had no idea what homework was

"Where is abba, chachu?" asked Sumair, sitting on Shumayll's lap

"He is at work now, but he promised chocolate to each one of you" replied Shumayll and the kids cheered more

Hearing the cheers of the kids, the women knew that Iqraam and Shumayll were home

Like always, Ruqayyah made juice and tea while Iqra made savories for everyone to have as afternoon snack

Since the kids were born, Iqraam and Shumayll were home by 6pm and no late unless there was something more important

"Lets go!" said Iqraam, picking up Sumair and the rest of them followed, leaving Shumayll to be last

The Edrahim family brought up the kids in such a way that there was no jealousy or hate for one another in them. They lived together, ate from one plate, were nursed by the same mothers and had the same family

"Ruqayyah masi?" asked Sohayll when he saw everyone at the table but not Ruqayyah

Iqraam stood up and nodded at him

"I will go see"

he walked into the kitchen and smiled when he saw his wife making juice

"And to say my lovely wife would at least come to greet me!" he said, walking in

Ruqayyah chuckled before turning to him

He unpinned her niqab and placed a quick kiss on her lips

"Beautiful as ever!" he winked at her and she blushed

It was amazing to see that he still had that effect on her like she still did on him

"As salamu alaikum!" she said and he replied to her while tying her niqab back

"Come on, let me help" he said and despite Ruqayyah's protests, he took the juice and walked out of the kitchen

"Your Ruqayyah mama was hiding in the kitchen" he said to Sohayll as he set down in between him and Zahi

Soon everyone was indulged in conversation, laughter and joy

The kids seemed to be enjoying the every afternoon ritual while the adults were in their own conversations

The table, over all, was filled with laughter and happiness

the house itself radiated laughter and itself

Maybe that was what love does

Maybe that was what family meant

Maybe that was what they all wanted

all along

The following day, the females and males (who were dragged into it) were at the mall

"WAARITH! How can you do this to me? How can you leave me? All alone?" whined Shumayll, wiping his fake tears making everyone at the mall turn their heads at them

Waarith stared at him like he were crazy

"Dude, quit it- everyone thinks i cheated on you!" retorted Waarith, taking a step away from Shumayll

Shumayll, Waarith, Iqraam and Namaan were at the mall with the girl who had left them all alone. The shopping was for the baby shower of Nabaahat's baby.

Iqraam and Shumayll doubled over laughing at their antics while Namaan, being the most decent decided to just walk away from the crazy duo

"hey, its not my fault you married Nafaasat leaving me!!" commented Shumayll, finally sobering up

"Yes, You married Iqra bhabhi so let me be a happy man too!" said Waarith and the boys laughed

"So whats the story with you?" Iqraam asked Namaan and he shrugged

"Nothing" he replied

"Uhuh" commented Shumayll

"No honestly- her parents brought over a marriage proposal for her and they are considering it" he said

"Did you talk to them about you? Do you even like her?" asked Waarith and Namaan sighed, running his through his messy hair

"Maybe?" he muttered walking ahead

The boys ran to keep up with him

"You mean to say........... you do?" asked Waarith and Namaan shrugged again

"I guess the saying is so right- you know you love her when you let her go" said Shumayll and everyone turned to him

"Does this look like the time to quote song lyrics, dude?" asked Waarith and the boys burst out laughing

"Relax man, Allah will make everything right" said Iqraam and Namaan nodded

The boys then spent their whole day, roaming around the mall waiting for their wives to complete shopping for the baby of Nabaahat.

Nabaahat was married to Nadir Ahmed, an engineer in Cape Town, SA. Aarib and her relationship could not make it far because even though she worked at Aarib's hotel, she knew she only saw him as her good friend and nothing more

And as for Aarib, well he found a good girl in Australia who happened to be his distant cousin but he could care less because he spent 4 months courting her and now they are married with one baby boy, Aedan

Shumar was finally out of high school, currently pursuing law at one of the universities in Australia. He does not have time for any girl or so he says but everyone knows he has feelings for his long time high school crush, Aiidah

And as for Waarith and Nafaasat, Nafaasat finally realized she liked him and when Waarith found out (he might have sneaked into her room and heard the conversation between her and Ruqayyah), he spent no time in telling his parents his intention and soon the two were married and happy

finally!

Iqra stood at the balcony of her room, staring out at the night sky and the trees covering the Edris backyard, lost in her thoughts

Shumayll saw her and smiled widely

He knew that his wife was lost in her thoughts of books and romance

Perhaps him too

but who knew?

she was as unfathomable as the constellations of the stars! (What up The Fault in Our Stars reference!) He chuckled lowly at his reference

Walking towards her, he snaked his arms around her and placed his head on her shoulder, inhaling her scent deeply

"You did it again" whispered Iqra, melting into his arms

"Did what?" asked Shumayll innocently

Iqra turned around in his arms

"Inhaled my scent" she replied, laughing lightly

Shumayll shrugged

"Tell me again" she whispered looking up at him

"Tell you again what?"

"That you love me" she replied and Shumayll grinned

"I love you, today, tomorrow and till my last breath and i pray to Allah (S.W.T) to grant us both jannah after death" said Shumayll, smiling down at his wife

"And I, you" she whispered back, placing her head on his chest

"Maybe one day we can tell the kids our love story?" he asked her and she chuckled

"Love story? That sounds cliche" said Iqra and Shumayll shrugged

"Sometimes cliche is good" he said, hugging her tight

"Hmmmm, the story of the billionaire and the hijabi you say?" asked Iqra and Shumayll laughed

"I guess that will be the name of the book if our love story ever gets published!" commented Shumayll

the two laughed lowly before turning back at the night sky

If only they knew