I woke up today early in the morning at 5:30 am for my fajr prayer as usual. I quickly got out of bed to do my wudu. I came out of my bathroom quickly to look outside the window in my room. It was still a little dark outside with the sun peaking to rise.

I quickly did my early morning prayer and read at least two pages of the Quran. I try I as much as I can to read the Quran at least once a day, every morning after my morning prayer. If I don't get to read it then I try to at least recite the yaseen. It helps to me get through my day peacefully.

I am really close my religion. I love being close to Allah, because I can share all of my feeling with him and he helps me to ease my pain. I know I'm not the best muslim in the world, but I do try my best and plus everyone is not perfect. Just like the saying "Islam is perfect, but muslims are not." Though, he still cares for everyone and makes everyone wishes come true with just making dua (prayer). So I quickly made dua for myself, my family and friends, and asked allah (god) to help everyone around the world who are facing problems

And help then solve it and ease their pain.

After doing my prayer, I heard a knock on my door. I knew it was my mother because she would always come to my room and check on me if I did my prayer. She asked me "Zara, beta did you do your morning prayer." I answered her back saying "yes ammi, I just finished."

"Acha (okay), then come downstairs for breakfast. You have to get to college on time, right? Hurry up." I quickly got up from my prayer mat and went back into my bathroom to take a quick fifteen minute shower. After my quick shower, I got changed into my blue Jean's and tucked in my loose white shirt around my waist. I quickly brushed my hair and let it air dry.

I applied some concealer under my dark under bags with some mascara and a soft natural color liptint to bring some color into my lips. I looked at the clock on my wall and it showed seventy thirty-one. I still had an hour until my class. I grabbed my bag and headed out to the dining room for breakfast.

As I reached the dinning table I see that my two older brothers Arman and Hamdan are already seated, having their breakfast. Arman is the second eldest brother in the family. He is twenty-six. He's an engineer, that's why he's up so early to go to work. He is very loving and caring, he loves to look out for the family. He loves me and my elder sister so much, that he tells us many times that he is thankful to Allah for giving him two sisters or else he would've killed himself living with three other gorillas.

My eldest brother is Feroz, older than Arman. He is twenty-eight and about to turn twenty-nine in about two months. He's very caring and loves to look out for the family. Of course being the eldest he also has the most responsibilities of the family aswell, but right now that has been passed down to Arman, since he's not here now. Unfortunately, he doesn't live with us here in New York because of his work. He is an engineer and he works at the office of his company that is based in London, but he does try to visite us at least three times a year. He's also married and has a seven year old son, my nephew Rayan.

Then their is Sara, my older sister. She is a year younger than Arman. Lovely and cute. She is just like Arman. The only difference is that this girl just won't shut her mouth sometimes, she talks way to much but I love her still. We miss her alot also because she doesn't live with us since she got married five years ago at the age of twenty. She lives in Toronto with her husband, kids and her in-laws.they are super nice, which I'm so happy about.

After Sara is then Hamdan and Azaan. They both are fraternal twins. Both of them are twenty-two, but still act like kids. They both are the trouble makers in the house. Honestly speaking, I think that me being the youngest I have never troubled my mother as much as they have and still do. They are in their second year of university. Which is why Hamdan is awake early in the morning because of his class and not Azaan. His classes start later in the day.

"As-salaamu' alaykum (Peace be upon you)" I said to my brother. "Waleikum asalam (may peace be upon you). How is your second semester of college going Gulle?(flower?)" Arman asked because Hamdan is too dead to talk early in the morning. "Its going great. I'm so happy I got a ninety on my exam for biology. I just hope it stays like that" I replied. "Inshallah (if God wills), it will." He smiled.

My mom came to the dinning room followed by my dad. Me and my brother said salam to baba right away. He kissed me on my forehead. He also asked about how school was going and my plans on what I want to do in the future.

My dad was actually not in support of me attending college here in America because of his strict rules back in Pakistan. He thought about what will people say when they find out that his younger daughter is going to college and that too in America. It's not going to show a good image of him to his family and people.

That was one of the main reason why my sister Sara didn't get to finish school. She graduated from high school and then got married after a year. Now she is a housewife. I mean her husband is loving and caring, looking out for her and supporting her. But that's just not what I want.

My family back in Pakistan resides in Peshawar and Islamabad. Mostly in Peshawar because my grandpa used to rule over the district where our village Karthak is in. After he passed away my eldest uncle Nasir Ali Khan took over along with continuing his political position as MPA in Peshawar. Also yes, my family is involved in politics and I hate it because it brings down so many restrictions on us, especially for us girls. Even though I love living there, there are too many rules that we have to follow and no freedom.

I want to be my own person independently and not be dependent on someone else. I want to get a good education so I can provide for myself and my family and not wait for someone else. I had to beg my father to let me go to college.

I know how women get treated back at home in Pakistan. They think of them as too low and can not be successful. Especially back in my family village where almost all the girls get married at an early age and have to be dependent on their husband. They can't even do anything if they're husbands are abusive, have relationships, and have more wives. That's not the life I want to live for sure. So begged my dad so much to let me go.

I was so thankful for my brothers supporting me because of them my dad ended up agreeing. So here I am now in my second year of college making my dreams come true and being the first female in my whole family to go to college. Which makes me so happy.

After I started attending college my family that lives here and back in Pakistan did found out and talked about me. My uncle even argued with my dad, but my brothers tried to make him understand and warned abu about the consequences. Some talked bad and other's actually encouraged me saying that I'm bringing in a change for the girls. But soon people stopped talking and I found out that some of my other cousins also started to go to school and attended college, which was good to know.

"Zara, aren't you getting late for your class? Let's go." My brother Hamdan said. Suddenly making me realize I was getting late for my Anthropology class. I looked at the clock on our dinning room wall and it read eight o'clock. I quickly got up and followed my brother. I dont drive so usually my brothers Hamdan and Azaan would pick and drop me off from college.

On my way as we reached my college I let my brother know that I will be done with with my classes by four. I said bye to him and started heading straight to my Anthropology class. As I reached my class I saw my best friend Noor.

"Thank god your finally here. I've been waiting for you so long. Did you do the homework we had for extra credit?" She asked. "Waleikum asalam" I replied. "Oh, I'm so sorry sister. Asalam walaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh" I laughed at her reply. "Yes, i did it. Why what's wrong?" I asked. "Quick. Let me see I need to copy it because I forgot to do it. We have fifteen minutes until class starts." I gave her my assignment. She finished copying a minute before class began.

After our two hour class, me and Noor decided to head to the library. We spend sometime doing some studying for our exam next week, which barely happened because we both crackheads can not study together without making any jokes and laughing our asses off.

I met Noor right years back when we both were in middle school only. I wasn't really a talkative person back then, till this day I still am. But I remember walking down the hall for my fourth period class I was walking and somehow ended up falling ahead on top of someone else. I definitely knew that it wasn't a mistake. I was pushed by someone. I turned around and saw it was Elizabeth. That same girl who has been bullying me since elementary school. She turned around to look at me and said "oh, I'm so sorry. That was by accident" and started laughing with her two small minion's.

"Who the hell pushed me and fell on top of me breaking my bones? Tell me right now or else I'll rip your eyes out of your socket" I turned around hearing the girl that I fell on top of. I'm I that overweight that I can brake someone's bones. I know Hamdan and Azaan tell me I'm fat, but not that much to break someone's bones. I saw Elizabeth point at me to the girl that I was the one that pushed her to the ground.

"I'm sorry, it wasn't me. She actually pushed me and I fell on top of you. She was bullying me that's why" I quickly told her. She was looking at me like she was about to eat me alive, but then turned her attention to Elizabeth.

"So it's you again wearing your expired ass makeup. You love me that much that you came to see me again. Have you forgotten what I did last time to you and your two rats for bullying that kid in the cafeteria. Should history repeat itself again?" She asked Elizabeth. "No please. I'll leave" Elizabeth said. "Before you leave say sorry to her and I never want to see you near her again. Also dont show me your crocodile ass face to" the girl said. " I'm sorry" Elizabeth said and left with her minions.

We both introduced ourselves were both surprized that we were both Pakistani. She told me that she was born in the US but her parents are from Lahore. I told her about myself that I'm from Peshawar and Islamabad mainly in Pakistan. She was so happy to know that I am a Pathan because I will be the first in her friend group. And that's how we both crackheads ended up here now. Eight years later and still best friends. I'm happy to have her because she reminds me of my sister for some reason. Even though she calls me her mother because I act like one.

We also have another best friend Kate. She is also the same like Noor. She is like an ice queen also. It's too hard to melt her down with her hard emotions. I feel like I'm the only odd one in them. For some reason she didn't came to college.

Soon my classes ended and I was about to call my brother to pick me up, when I saw Noor beeping her car so loudly in front of me on the other side of the road. Kate was also with her, sitting in the passenger seat. I quickly walked up to the car and sat in the back seat.

"Were going to the city to eat out. You should probably call your mom to let her know that your going with us" said Kate. I said okay and quickly called my mom to let her know. She said to just be home on time before dad gets home. Which will most likely be by eight-thirty. That will be great cause I'll get to spend a few hours with the girls.

On our way to the city we had our own karaoke. We sang outloud to all the songs on Noor's playlist. Kate would sometimes get mad at us for putting too many Bollywood songs on because she wouldn't know the lyrics or never heard of them. I mean her being friends with us we did put her on to some amazing Bollywood and Pakistani music which is a win for us.

As we approached the diner we quickly got out of the car and sat down to order some food. I couldn't wait to eat cause I haven't had any food in the past five and a half hours. Yeah, I know I eat alot and like a fat ass but what can I do food is life. It helps me go through my bad times when I'm either depressed or stressed.

We called up the waiter and ordered our food. I ordered myself a pizza with extra cheese and some soda and fries. Kate ordered a burger with fries and soda. Noor order herself a plate of pasta with some juice. The food was amazing. The restuarant looked like it was hella expensive, but I was happy cause I didn't have to pay. Kate offered to pay for us since she chose the spot and of course we couldn't say no to food.

"I'm just going to go to the bathroom" I said and got up to. As I was walking into the hallway to get to the bathroom quickly. On my way I bumped into some one because I was't looking ahead. I was about to fall, when I suddenly felt two hands wrapped around my waist stoping me from falling to the ground. I looked up and my eyes met with the most darkest green eyes I have ever seen.

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