FOREWORD

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• HER VOCATION    7. THE SECRET HAVEN

  “We [angels] were your allies in worldly life and [are so] in the Hereafter. And you will have therein [heaven] whatever your souls desire, and you will have therein whatever you request [or wish].” (QURAN 41:31)*************************************"Amo? Are you awake." I knocked at her door.''Yes love. Come in." Amo's gentle voice resonated through the door. I saw her sitting with Quran on a bookstand placed infront of her. She looked at me with that smile full of warmth. I smiled back at her.

• HER VOCATION    6. THE NIGHTMARE

  “And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided.” (QURAN 2:186)************************************"Hadi dear, after breakfast, accompany Aasiya to get her stuff from the hotel." I looked up from my breakfast and watched from Amo to Hadi, who obediently nodded at her command. Noticing my gaze, Amo gave me a small smile, which I returned with my own.We we

• HER VOCATION    5. THE BLACKOUT

  “But they plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners.” (QURAN 8:30)*************************************"What the hell is the meaning of this?! How dare you spout that nonsense out there!! Is there anything left for you to destroy?!" My mother kept screaming her heart out but I sat there silently scrolling through my phone; checking up on my flight for Gilgit."I AM TALKING TO YOU!!" She screamed, snatching the phone from my hand roughly. I watched her heaving from

• HER VOCATION    4. THE INTRUDER

  “And never say of anything, ‘Indeed, I will do that tomorrow’, unless Allah should will it.” (QURAN 18:23)**************************************I got up early in the morning, had some breakfast and went to Amo's house. I stood infront of her gate and knocked when I heard a male's voice. I guessed that it was her son Hadi, whom she kept talking about yesterday. I waited for the gate to open when I heard someone's footsteps. I had a smile on my face thinking about Amo and Zahra when the gate opened to reveal the guy from last night. My smile immediately faltered. I gaped at him shocked to find him looking at me with a mixed expression of surprise and annoyance.

• HER VOCATION    3. THE CHANCE ENCOUNTER

  "And He is with you wherever you are. And Allah, of what you do, is Seeing.” (QURAN 57:4)************************************"Excuse me. Can you take me to Serena Hotel?'' I asked a cab driver outside the Gilgit Airport in Urdu wondering if he would understand."Of course Maam. Please sit, it's not that far from here.'' he replied politely.

• HER VOCATION    2. THE ASSAULT

  “No disaster strikes except by permission of Allah . And whoever believes in Allah - He will guide his heart. And Allah is Knowing of all things.” (QURAN 64:11)***************************************"Ugh.."A grunt escaped my lips as the effects of black out started wearing off; drifting between consciousness and unconsciousness for an unknown period of time, before finally being able to pry my eyes open. For a while, I couldn't fully comprehend about my current state. Everything felt hazy and that blasting headache—I thought with a groan and unconsciously lifted my right hand to my head; when I found it immobilised. A sharp pain travelled up my arm as a result of my attempt to free it. Taking a few sharp breaths, I