Love or Future

The corner of the library was cool and quiet. Only the rustling of pages and the occasional scratch of a pen could be heard… Noor ul Fatima was absorbed at her desk, writing research notes in her notebook. There was a deep focus in her eyes that pushed away any disturbance… “Excuse me, may I sit here?” A soft yet confident voice broke her attention. Noor looked up, and there stood a handsome young man whose presence and glimpse of his face could draw anyone’s attention. His eyes were deep and captivating, as if reflecting some hidden secret, with a gentle yet firm confidence in every gaze. His hair was black and smooth, sometimes swaying lightly with the breeze, touching the heart. His face was neither too long nor too round, but perfectly balanced, carrying a faint smile that hinted at charm and softness. His presence made everything seem to brighten, and a pleasant calmness filled the atmosphere… Noor spared only a sideways glance and then focused back on her book… “Hey! Why so serious? Come on, lighten up a bit.” He teased her as he placed his bag on the table in front. Noor softly replied, “I’m working… and I don’t want any disturbance in my work. The boy raised his hand with a mischievous smile and said, “Well, work is very important, but enjoying life is just as necessary. Okay fine, I’ll disturb you for only two minutes.” Noor closed her book and looked at him, saying, “Alright, tell me—who are you? Introduce yourself.” With a slight smile, he said, “I’m Moosa Asad. I’m an economics student. I came to the library today to get a few books. And you?” Noor nodded and replied, “I’m Noor-ul-Fatima. I’m a political science student. I was organizing notes for my project today.” Moosa said in surprise, “Wow, political science—interesting.” Noor glanced at the clock and said to Moosa, “Your two minutes are over.” Noor-ul-Fatima’s face was clean and radiant, her deep black ocean-like eyes carrying a slight redness—probably from long hours of studying. Her long and simple hair was left open, and a few strands, moved by the breeze, had fallen across her face. She was wearing a wrist-colored kurti that reached her knees, paired with a light greyish-blue shalwar underneath. She had white shoes on. In one hand, she held her books, notes, and phone; in the other hand, she carried a coffee from the famous Tim Wendelboe Café in Oslo, Norway. Noor’s Story – Oslo, Norway Noor had come to Oslo New University College (ONUC) on a scholarship. She was, in fact, an Indian girl—someone who had left her homeland, her family, and her comforts behind to chase her dreams in a foreign country. This university attracted boys and girls from all around the world, each here to fulfil their ambitions… and perhaps, for some, to enjoy a little fun along the way. In Norway, Noor shared her apartment room with a Pakistani girl named Zarnab. Their friendship grew deeper with every passing day. However, today the library felt strangely quiet; Noor sat there alone because Zarnab was at home with a fever. That was why Noor was now walking by herself along the cold footpath… Back home in India, Noor’s parents lived with her twin siblings. Noor was the youngest. Her twin brother, Faiz Mustafa, was a successful entrepreneur—a young man who owned a luxurious 5-star hotel called “Aurora Kashmir Grand.” Her twin sister, Suzain Mustafa, was a psychologist who didn’t get a single day off, not even on Sundays. Although Faiz and Suzain were twins and their parents wished for both of them to marry around the same time, neither of them had the time or the intention; they were completely consumed by their careers. Suzain could forget many things in life, but she could never forget her youngest sister’s birthday. And today, the date was 10th August—which meant Noor’s birthday on 17th August was coming soon. Somewhere deep in her mind, Suzain was secretly planning a surprise party for Noor. She even wished she could travel all the way to Norway herself to surprise her sister, but the idea seemed… complicated. Walking restlessly from one side of the lobby to the other, she suddenly heard Faiz say, “What’s the matter, my princess sister?” Suzain sighed heavily and replied, “Noor’s birthday is coming. I’m thinking of going there myself and giving her a surprise party.” Faiz looked shocked, “How did I forget my own sister’s birthday?” Suzain rolled her eyes and teased, “As if you remember anything properly. Stop pretending. Just book two tickets—for me and Baba. You and Ammi will stay here. Understood?” Although Faiz and Suzain were twins, Faiz could never win an argument against her. 🏠 Back in Norway – 5:30 PM Noor and Zarnab were busy cleaning their apartment. It had a kitchen, two rooms, a shared balcony for both bedrooms, and a bathroom. They first cleaned Noor’s room together and then moved on to Zarnab’s room and the kitchen. Zarnab stretched and said tiredly, “Okay Noor, let’s finish this quickly. Then we have to study too.” Both of them headed toward the bedroom. Inside the room, a bed was placed on the right side. A little further away stood a tall wooden bookshelf with more than 400 books. These books weren’t only about politics—there were Urdu and English novels as well. Even in the 21st century, Noor kept alive her passion for reading. “Let’s start with the bookshelf,” Noor said. “It’ll only take five minutes. Then we’ll do the rest.” 🏡 Back in India – Night 9:00 PM Mustafa Sahab was eating dinner with his family. After they finished, Naseema started collecting the dishes when Shaziya suddenly said sharply to Mustafa Sahab: “The children are grown now. Their marriageable age is passing. Don’t you have any concerns about this?” Mustafa Sahab simply nodded silently. Faiz and Suzain were used to such comments. Faiz cut into the conversation: “Baba jaan, I’ll book the tickets tomorrow morning—for Princess (Suzain) and you.” Laughing, Mustafa Sahab said, “Why? Do you two intend to throw your father and daughter out of the house?” He burst into hearty laughter. “Oh come on, Baba,” Suzain said with irritation. Shaziya snapped, “At least tell me why you need tickets!” Suzain answered, “Noor’s birthday is coming. I thought of giving her a surprise party…” Mustafa Sahab scoffed, “Mashallah, what a useless thought. Shaziya is right—you’ve grown up now. Stop celebrating birthdays. We try to please ourselves but end up displeasing Allah.” Faiz and Suzain replied softly together, “Ji…” and walked to their rooms. Suzain had never imagined that Baba jaan would disapprove—especially for Noor’s birthday. After thinking deeply for a long time, she felt that perhaps he was right. “We try to make ourselves happy,” she repeated in her mind, “but we end up making Allah unhappy.”