Unlikely [Formerly Known as Nerd Next Door]

Chapter Sixty-Eight🌻

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious and Most Merciful, the Sixty-eighth chapter of the story begins, Please do enjoy it.
Good luck!

Taliha's POV :
A few days later, after a long day studying at the library, I run through the hallways like a madman.

My mind is racing faster than my feet. My heart is pounding like a drum, and my lungs are burning like a furnace. I feel like a hamster on a wheel, spinning in circles with no end in sight!

I hurriedly packed my Qur'an into my bag and my eyes couldn't help but be drawn to the amazing and rare verses I had just been reading. The library had become my sanctuary, a place where I could immerse myself in the beautiful rhythm of the Arabic script. The echo of my voice as I recited the verses quietly filled the hall, creating a sense of serenity and peace.

Frequent recitation of the Quran had become an essential part of my daily routine. It was not only a way to remember Allah and seek His guidance, but also a means of memorizing the verses perfectly. Each word, each syllable, held a deep significance, and I took great care in ensuring that I pronounced them with utmost clarity and reverence.

[Q54:22]
'We have made the Quran easy to understand and remember, is then there any who will remember the admonition?'

I absentmindedly switch on my phone to check for any unread messages, then I catch a glimpse of Arif's chat box. Instantly, I freeze in shock and my mind floods with memories of the time I had chosen Toby over him.

The feeling of regret washed over me, even though I prided myself on being an unemotional being.

Arif and I haven't talked since that day...and I can't figure out why I regret choosing Toby over him.
Can't I keep them both?

In this particular scene, I couldn't help but feel like the villain, even though I can't quite explain why.

Suddenly, my phone chimes, jolting me out of my thoughts. Zahra's text appears on the screen, demanding my attention. With a steady gaze at the text, I gasp after reading the content.

'Hi, salaam alaikum, Taliha!'

A smile tugs at the corners of my lips after receiving a text from my dearest childhood friend. The mere sight of her name on my phone screen fills me with a deep longing and I can't help but yearn for the day when I will see her again.

Perhaps she has finished her exams and is now enjoying a well-deserved vacation. I ponder.

As I hastily press to view the message, I nearly collide with a strange, towering figure. A surge of anxiety coursed through my veins, causing my chest to tighten and my breath to become shallow. The man's piercing gaze bore into me as he adjusted his brown reading glasses, his face transforming into a fierce expression. It was clear that he was not pleased with my hurried behavior.

"You! So you bumped into me."

In a grumpy tone, he began to rant at me, his finger pointing accusingly in my direction. I stood there, unable to respond, feeling the weight of his words pressing down on me. Trembling under the pressure.

"Aren't I talking to you?!" He ranted again.

Lost in my thoughts, I suddenly found myself jolted back to reality as my eyes widened in shock. At first glance, I thought it was Arif, a fellow student who shared my passion for the Quran. But to my surprise, it turned out to be a lecturer, his receding grey hair catching the light as he stood before me. His presence seemed to tower over me, even though I knew I was taller from my perspective.

"Uhm, I am so sorry for bumping into you sir."

As I adjust my glasses with my head lowered in fright, he glances at my scared figure before declaring with a raised eyebrow.