"Mama you know I am not into marriage let alone arranged marriage. You know I am happy with my life right now. You guys are the best I don't need anybody more. I literally so content with my family that I don't even stress about spending time with fajar even though you know she is my one and only best friend."
"I know honey. But you know marriage is the best form of companionship and friendship. How long will we live? 10 years 15 years? You have your whole life in front of you need somebody that matches your strength and compliments your personality. Us old souls won't always be able to work up to your speed."
"God forbid mama I hope you live forever and ever after."
"Okay, you can butter me up later. This family is a very nice family. They are genuine people and the guy is absolutely dreamy. I tried to show you his picture but you were busy watching Riverdale. He is better looking than that redhead in that show."
"Right." Asia rolled her eyes.
"Okay, Rani is setting up the table with refreshments and tea. I'll call you in a while."
"Okay."
Mama was very happy with this proposal. According to her, this was the perfect match for Asia. But spending your whole life with somebody you don't even know seems a bit weird. Asia was worried but not too much since she was a bit excited. She also her parents won't ever force her if she is not 100percent satisfied with the proposal.
Her thoughts were clouding her mind and not allowing her to focus on straightening up her hair. She was wearing a black chiffon peplum frock with raw silk bell bottoms. The frock had silver detailing around the neckline and ended six inches above her knees. Her black Gianvito Rossi
Heels were barely peeking through the flare of her bell-bottom pants.
She barely wore any makeup since her skin was basically flawless and she liked to flaunt that with skin like makeup. She applied red tint to her lips and her cheeks. She wore mascara to the heavens, though, always a big fan of lashes with larger than life drama.
As she was admiring herself and simultaneously straightening her hair mama came into the room and said "Come on now. We are all waiting for you."
All of a sudden a wave of shyness enveloped her. It's not like this is the first she was going to meet a guy and his family but since mama and Ali had been praising about the guy's family and his looks bit of nervousness had crept up on her unannounced.
She tried to hide her shy smile from her mother by throwing her hair on he fac which in hindsight accentuated the fact that she was in fact feeling bashful.
She picked herself up from the cream coloured dewan sofa in front of her dressing table and fixed herself a bit in the mirror, trying to suppress the timid smile on her face by biting her lips.
"Come on now. You look absolutely stunning. There is no need for delay. Chop chop." Mama did notice Asia's sheepish behaviour but she didn't mention it as that would've totally added fuel to the fire of her coyness.
Asia apprehensively left her bedroom and started to tread towards the drawing-room where the guests and her potential groom was sitting.
She was slowly thinking to herself how difficult and odd this situation in which most of the girls in the subcontinent have to go through. She was kind of wondering if she could've fallen in love if she had lowered her standards. Well, truth be told marriage was not a part of her plan she just was happy with the streamline fashion her life was going in. Marriage, to her, was a gamble and gambling is not always fun or fruitful. But since society wanted her to get married she was going to. She almost rolled her eyes hard enough to see her hindbrain. But this annoyance didn't stand for much longer because as the door opened and her eyes fell on the handsome devil sitting on the sofa wearing a white button-up t-shirt and black dress pants. The rolled-up sleeves showed his well-built forearms which had veins popping out and flowing down to his long fingers.
Asia could, believe it or not, feel violins playing in the background. She could literally feel the little angel of love throwing arrows straight into both of them. The way he was looking at her made her feel like she was made of rainbows and magic. She could see in his eyes that he had also fallen in love with her. And that very moment she decided that this man is going to be her husband. She could feel it in her bones. She could sense a connection, a familiarity.
Is this what love at first sight is? Is this what I have been missing my whole life? She thought to herself as she went up to meet with her potential future mother in law and father in law.
"Darling you're so pretty even prettier than your mother's praises. If I were a boy I would've totally proposed you right now and would've surely tried to win your heart." said the guy's mother. She seemed like such a sweet lady as hse held both of her hands and made her sit next to herself. Thankfully so, because she didn't have the courage to meet the guy in flesh. A raging plague of shyness had now doused her. She couldn't even find the nerve to even look the guy straight in his eye. This feeling was foreign since she had never been afraid or underconfident in front of probably anyone in her life. But right now even though she felt comfortable and respected she couldn't muster up the courage in her to look at him.
"Oh, sweetie are you getting nervous? Don't be. We are not going to grill you with the typical interview-style questions. Also, this is my son, Fahad." She pointed towards Fahad who was looking at her with a sweet little smile on his face. His eyes were kind and his jawline and beard game was strong. His jet black straight silky hair was falling a little on his perfect greek nose. His shoulders were broad and his shirt could barely contain all the muscles.
"Tell him about yourself Fahad."
"Uhm. Hi. I have recently completed my BDS from Havard but I am now working in my dad's steel mills. Since he has forced me too." he looked at his dad mischievously, who gave him little funny look "I do enjoy working with him since all I have to do is sign paperwork and pretend to be a rigid boss." His voice was smooth as silk, like milk chocolate melting in your mouth.
"He likes bossing around and sleeping on his desk and he has told me how much fun he has doing all the boring paperwork since it is saving him from looking at other people plagued teeth and hurting his back all bent up into their mouths."
He laughed a burst of deep musical laughter. He looked like a dream come true. he didn't look like somebody who came out of the magazine but rather somebody that had descended from the heavens above. There was something so pure about him.
"Yes, I do like being lazy and not hurting my back. Asia, you have no idea some maxillofacial surgeries take 3-4 hours and truth be told no matter how satisfying the end result is the pain in your back makes it unworthy. And yes I do adjust the clients' seat."
Asia plainly smiled since she didn't know what to say.