Exam season was looming over the kids. The parents were busy cutting down distractions so their kids could study peacefully. But what's a neighborhood without fun? So, of course, the parents ensured their kids had breaks and outings too.

Ibrahim had his exams coming up in college, which he was preparing for. He was also helping Maryam out when she was stuck somewhere in her studies. Sarah and Sana were studying together for their 10 Juz tafseer exam. So far, they have completed 200 pages of the Quran, which is 1/3 of the Quran. They couldn't be happier, Subhan Allah. Understanding every word in these 200 pages was what brought them joy. This exam was going to be one that they loved.

Meanwhile, Ishaaq, Ayyub, the other boys, and Maryam have their school exams. Those can be quite chaotic and energy-consuming, too.

But of them all, our college boys had it the hardest, right? (asking college students for help here)

Naturally, Ibrahim was getting home late from studying outside with his teachers for his extra classes. Before exams, being with the teacher and clearing out doubts was lifesaving. But it was also exhausting.

It was around evening when he was walking home from his last class for the day. His eyes were heavy with drowsiness, and he was walking on autopilot. His eyes might have closed at some point, popping open when he stumbled on the brick path.

Soon, he was walking up short steps that led to his house, and he mumbled an 'Alhamdulillah'. He couldn't wait to get in and collapse on his mattress.

He doesn't remember if he had knocked or rang the bell, or had he done both? He waited outside for one of his family members to open the door.

When the door opened, the person who opened the door stood there stunned. He squinted his eyes at the door frame, wondering why the person hadn't moved aside to let him in yet – and that's when their eyes met.

"Oh, Sarah," he realized, straightening his posture. No one else would be wearing their Niqab at home. "You came to visit?" he asked, confusion swirling in his sleepy head.

Sarah was flabbergasted to see him on her door – and even more befuddled when he asked her if she had come to visit. "This is my house, actually," she stepped aside, showing the interior.

Ibrahim blinked his sleep back and rubbed his eyes to see if he was seeing things right. He then stepped back onto the stairs and looked to the right – that was his house. And this was Sarah's.

Ishaaq came running down the stairs after getting dressed in his best attire – he was just wearing his shirt inside out. "Akhi! You're here! Come in!" he pushed past Sarah and pulled him in.

Sarah was surprised by the turn of events, but Ishaaq and Ibrahim had settled down on the living room sofas. She let them be and went back to her room.

***

Hussein was sitting with Hasan more often these days. To study, and to console him. "Okay, yeah, that makes sense..." he muttered while doing some calculations practice for his upcoming exams.

"What doesn't make sense is how you haven't known this before," Hasan sighed, holding his forehead as he sat next to his little brother. "You knew but you forgot, didn't you?"

"Well..." Hussien just looked away sheepishly.

"It's alright, that's why we revise," he placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "And I'll be here if you need help,"

"Me too, Akhi," Hussein turned to meet his gaze. "If you ever want me to relay a letter of confession to Sana, I will," he winked teasingly.

"Astaghfirullah, Hussein," he lightly patted his little brother on the head. "The proposal has been made, we're just going to have the serious discussions now."

Hussein noticed how his brother was shaking his leg subtly – out of nervousness, perhaps. "You nervous?" he asked, leaning in to get a better look at his expression – but he revealed nothing.

"What nonsense," he scoffed a bit too confidently. "Of course, I am..." he let his expression of worry show. "What if–"

"Stop right there," Hussein interrupted. "Allah's plan will prevail. Whatever happens will be His plan. And Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) always wants the best for his servants."

Hasan smiled at his little brother's wisdom and ruffled his hair, "Jazakallahu Khairan for reminding me, kiddo."

"I'm fourteen, not a kiddo anymore!" Hussein pushed his hand away from his hair.

"Whatever you say, kiddo," Hasan chuckled.

***

Sana came over to Sarah's and was surprised to hear the living room quiet. Umm Ishaaq peeked at the living room and told them that Ibrahim and Ishaaq had fallen asleep on different couches. Sarah held her forehead at her little brother's antics. The turn of events amused Sana.

"So he's sleeping at your place," she commented out of the blue.

"Sana..." Sarah scolded.

"I'm just stating the obvious, then again, I slept at your house more than he could ever," she smirked.

"Sana, Astaghfirullah," Sarah chuckled as she brought her Tafseer books out to study with her best friend.

"Again, I was just stating the facts," she sat down with Sarah, and they began revising together.

The two of them revise together while the two boys sleep downstairs. Umm Ishaaq gave her best friend a call to let her know that Ibrahim was resting at their house. Umm Ibrahim smiled fondly at how the two boys have bonded just like how she has bonded with Umm Ishaaq.

"They're inseparable, just like us, Subhan Allah," Umm Ibrahim commented on the phone.

Umm Ishaaq nodded, "I hope they continue to be."

"Marriage would make sure of that," Sana mentions as she walks into the living room to get a glass of water.

Umm Ibrahim spoke to Sana over the phone speaker, "Come on, that's Haram."

Sana blinked for a moment, "Not between the boys, of course, Astaghfirullah," She muttered, then left the two mothers in suspense and confusion.

As she returned, Sarah had put away their revision notes and books and was staring expectantly at Sana as if awaiting something.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked cautiously as she sat down on her bed.

Sarah continued to smile sort of giddily as she stared at Sana from her chair by the bedside table, "Sana..." she started, her tone almost teasing, "I heard you're meeting Hasan today..."

Sana sighed, a blush creeping up on her cheeks – a rare but lovely sight to see. "Yes, and yes, I'll let you know what's talked about then,"

"I'm so excited!" Sarah exclaimed, jumping over to the bed beside Sana to hug her best friend.

"Ya Allah," Sana exclaimed as she felt another suffocating hug, "Anyone would think you're the one getting married if they see you now."

Sarah paused everything for a moment to let a passing scene of her in a wedding dress flicker by, and wondered if she would ever be fit for a role like that. The role of being a wife, a mother, a confidant, and a source of tranquility – the queen of the house. It sounds like it's so far away from her reach. Like something alien to her. Suddenly, she feels very unprepared and lacking.

"Pssh, that needs like... 6 or 7 years more..." she muttered.

"You plan and Allah plans," is all Sana says.

***

Ibrahim woke up and apologized to Umm Ishaaq for coming unannounced and even falling asleep on the couch. Umm Ishaaq told him to consider their house like his own and not to worry about it. OHOHO.

Either way, due to his sleepiness or absentmindedness, he left both his phone and car keys behind as he waved a sleepy Ishaaq goodbye and walked out of their house into his own. When he was awake enough after dinner, which Maryam had helped his mother with, he realized he had to check his phone for any classes he had the next day. And of course, he realizes that it's not with him, or anywhere in their cottage.

By that time, the doorbell rings and Maryam goes to get the door as she's finished eating, and is already closest to the door. She was wearing just a shawl loosely around her face since she wasn't expecting the person before her now.

Ishaaq.

She shut the door on him and fixed her hijab, then opened the door.

"I didn't see anything, it's okay," Ishaaq reassured he,r but that fueled her nervousness. "Anyways, I'm here because Ibrahim forgot his phone and car keys at our place."

OUR PLACE- LIKE, LIKE- ISHAAQ AND MARYAM'S PLA- oh, no. No, he meant our place as in Sarah and Ishaaq's house, ah, ah, right.

"Oh, Jazakallahu Khairan," she muttered, extending her hands to retrieve the things he brought with him. He smiles and nods – that smile could steal hearts and keep them hostage, Subhan Allah.

Maryam felt so self-conscious of her fingertips as they almost brushed against Ishaaq's. She almost went wide-eyed at their contact while he remained oblivious. "Of course, Wa Iyyaki, May Allah grant you success in your exams!" he said, leaving Maryam in subtle shock.

THEY TALKED- THEY ALMOST HELD HANDS- well, maybe not held hands because that would be Astaghfirullah, but, you know. HE MADE DUA FOR HER SUCCESS IN THE EXAMS. AHHH. SHE WAS OVER THE MOON.

But why?

Even Ibrahim would make dua for her, her sisters in deen, and her friends.

Why is Ishaaq's dua so special to her?

Her heart continued to beat rapidly even after Ishaaq left.

Could this be?

No– no way, right?

But by how she saw herself reacting and even behaving in front of him, or whenever they cross paths... the only answer is...

THAT SHE HATES HIM!

No– wait, this isn't hate. Then she wouldn't melt at his polite smile. What is this?

She's definitely not in denial.

No, this isn't a crush.

No, it's not–

Okay, maybe it is a small, tiny, teensy bit of a crush...

It'll go away, right? This is just a momentary attraction because of puberty hormones and everything, or maybe because she just likes to talk to him in general, or maybe because she hopes to meet him more often and speak to him – Astaghfirullah. No, she shouldn't be thinking like this. Besides, there's no guarantee he'd feel the same way. Or what if he does, but he's pretending to be cool? No, no, no. Let's leave it at that. She'll now have to deal with and keep this under control. And she understands that.

"And come not near to unlawful sex. Verily, it is a Fâhishah (i.e. anything that transgresses its limits: a great sin), and an evil way (that leads one to Hell unless Allâh forgives him)." ~ Surah Al Isra, Ayah 32

It doesn't just happen. There is a series of events and incidents – the words, the looks, the feelings, and the actions that lead to this deed. The deed, when performed, Iman leaves them:

Narrated AbuHurayrah: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: When a man commits fornication, faith departs from him and there is something like a canvas roof over his head; and when he quits that action, faith returns to him. ~ Sunan Abi Dawud 4690

And so... we follow the Non-Mahram rules. To prevent the steps that would lead to sin. To prevent following the footsteps of Shaytan to Jahannam. To our doom.

But it's her feelings in her heart, and it's like they grow every time they cross path,s even more. He's like summer, his presence warms her heart and she finds herself wanting to smile underneath the nervousness. She knows now that she has a little bit of a crush on him. She also knows that it can't escalate further, but would the heart or the mind win the battle in the end?

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi was Barakatuhu!

First of all, I want to say Jazakumullahu Khairan Katheeran for 1K votes and 4.1K reads! Alhamdulillah... we've come so far considering once these numbers were all 0.

Now that my exams are over, In Sha Allah, I hope to be back to updating every Friday like I usually did. In Sha Allah, I hope to be done with draft 1 this year, and let's see if that aligns with Allah's plans.

I reread the story from chapter 11-20 before writing this chapter. Let me know if there's any plot points I haven't expanded on - or anything at all, and I'll add it to the list of things I'll consider for draft 2.

Love you all for the sake of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) 💖💖

Ah, and on another note, do check out @muslim_writers. It will be a community for Muslim writers and readers and a place where your stories can be entered into competitions, get reviews, and other things that I'll bring into action In Sha Allah within the summer. Or after-