"Who is he?"
She questioned looking back to her booklet.
He looked at his mom's face that seemed void of any emotion. This is going to be hard.sighing internally he replied with
"Her therapist Dr. Hameed"
"So what was your answer to him" she asked pushing her spectacles back.
"I told him we're going to talk about it" hearing this Khadijah paused her movement , intertwining her hands she looked up to him her grey eyes portraying coldness.
"Good,reply him with No, we are not accepting the proposal" just like I expected thought Ahmad.
Maama and Ahmad are so protective of Asma since after that incident but Khadijah's own has surpassed his, she's so possessive of her, she doesn't trust anyone else to be close to Asma apart from her,Ahmad and Fateema. Ahmad sat there in dilemma, Hameed's words flashing back in his head 'he's indeed right we have to face reality,not everything in life is bad, life is always bitter sweet' lastly he made up his mind.
"Maama, Asma needs a change,a change of everything,of environment,of family. She needs someone more than just a mother,a brother,and a friend,she needs a partner that's by marrying her off and the best partner she could ever come across is Hameed Maama. He knows her condition yet he accepted her that way, Maama not everyone have the heart and resolve to tolerate her behavior"
A malicious grin found it way to her cold face
" He indeed brainwashed you just like that person did,he made you to convinced me to allow Asma to go with him,so now you're trying to convince me again to trust this person,it's like history repeating itself. Ahmad we trusted that person and what was the outcome?eh?" She questioned him "He betrayed us Ahmad,he betrayed us " she added .
Ahmad clenched his hands his heart ablaze but no way he's giving up, this is one in-a-million chance and no way in this world he's going to let it slip away, Allah gave us this chance He sent us Hameed and I believe he's a blessing insha Allah. So am not going to loose this chance I am going to make her accept him for sure!for sure!!!.
"Maama. Not all people are the same,some are good,some are bad. Maama you want Asma to go back to being normal more than anyone else and this is just like a path to achieving that, she needs to experience real life not by those heck of fantasy books..." she roughly cut him off
"I desperately want her to become herself again,but Ahmad not by trusting her to someone else, the therapy session is enough for her, I won't marry her off to him."
After saying this she started to gather her booklets ready to get up but Ahmad stopped her.
"Maama please reconsider your decision, don't say no, think about it,look at it from the positive perspective, she is in need of new love and that will lead her to experience other emotions" Her eyes dully looked at him she parted her lips and said in a low voice.
"Let's stop this talk if you don't want to face my wrath and my love and yours is enough for her" she packed up the booklets and made her way to her room.
"What if she craves for another love other than ours, what if she wants to experience that feeling of falling in love, what if she wants a change,what if the person she wants to discover her emotions back with is Hameed,if she wants to marry him what will you do" she halted midway, then she turned around and looked at him.
"Let the time come first"
"Maama you just sounded like she won't recover her emotions back"
"I did?" She said with faked innocence and continued to walk away.
Ahmad hurriedly stood up 'not yet!,I won't give up not yet!!' and made his way to her,standing in front of her he got ahold of the booklets in her hands and led her back to the dining table,putting the booklets aside his hands firmly hold her own hands as he looked at her with a soft gaze.
"Her been emotionless doesn't mean she lacked them no! She got them , she got them clocked in her,she just need a strong push,an igniter that will light up a fire that will burn the strings that held them and I believe that ignitor is none other than Hameed. Maama remember her main problem is Dissociative amnesia ,through that she developed Alexithymia but she's not fully an Alexithymia patient she can be cured Insha Allah." He then added
"Maama I believe you know what Qadr is, If Allah destined Asma to marry Hameed none can stop that and if Allah destined her not to marry him none can make that to happen. So have faith in Allah and pray for the best please" This made her shoulders to drop in defeat. She looked up to him and asked
"What about Asma do you think she will accept this"
"She...."Before he answered her a voice interrupted him.
"I will accept the proposal" came the dull words from Asma as she stood at edge of the stairs clothed in a baggy maroon sweat pants and a black cashmere sweater. She made her way to dining area and sat down too.
"I heard all of your conversations and I will accept the proposal" slipping her hands away from Ahmad's grasp their mom hurriedly made her way to where Asma sat and sat beside her.
"Are really sure about the decision you made?" Asked their mom her voice full of concern.
"Yes"Replied back Asma nodding her head slightly.Ahmad heaved a sigh of relief 'Alhamdulilah'.
"Masha Allah, Maama I told you a change is coming for us,Allah subahanahu wata'ala is always there for us" he widely grinned as those words came out from his mouth.Khadijah glared at him playfully as she said
"You made it sounds like I am the 'bad guy'here" Ahmad chuckled loudly.
"No I did not" he said raising his hands in a surrendered-like action.
"You need to take a nap Maama you look haggard" Ahmad said picking up her hand in his.
"Yes I think so,let me go have some sleep, See you later Asma" Uttered Maama as she followed Ahmad to her room.
"Okay" Asma slowly voiced out.
After closing the door behind Ahmad hugged his mom that suddenly busted into tears.
" I am afraid Ahmad ,what if he hurt her?, I don't want my baby to suffer again. I am so scared what am I going to do?"
"Pray Maama, pray and ask for Allah's guidance. He's all Hearing and Seeing. So pray ask for His help and for Him to ease your decision for you" advised Ahmad patting her head to console her.
"Thank you Ahmad,May Allah's brakha always be with you"
"Ameen Maama"
Raising her head she looked at him with frowned brows.
"And warn that guy if he dares hurt my daughter i am going to skin him alive okay?" She gingerly warned,Ahmad lightly chuckled
"He won't insha Allah, let's get you to bed now okay?".
After tucking her under the duvet Ahmad made his way back to the living room where he found Asma who sat at the two seater in the living room as usual lost in her world, Making his way to the two seater he sat beside her.
"What made you accept the proposal?" Asked Ahmad staring into space.
"I don't know"
"You know Asma, you can't just voice it out,why? He asked again.
Asma turned her head to look at Ahmad who was already looking at her. She said
" before I didn't believe you about me lacking something,about me being sick all I know was that I am who I am" she gulped silently as she continued
"I am just living, I observed many people, I read many books,I've watched many movies and many of them have things in common which I couldn't point out because I lacked it. I saw different expressions daily on peoples face and I wonder what those were? I once tried to make those expressions but all I felt was blankness,darkness,emptiness and that made me to question myself for the first time 'why couldn't I make those expressions that many people have in common?'. it doesn't bother me before like it does now. Even though I had all those strange and confusing thoughts I tried not to think about them but that emerald green guy made me to question myself again,my everything, my darkness. And I finally realized that my darkness indeed lacked something other than just a light and i believe that he only can prove it to me"
for once after those six years Asma voiced out her inner thoughts,Ahmad gazed at her with his eyes wide open and his jaw ajar dumbfounded at what Asma just said . 'Is this really my sister, she said more than 10 sentences can you believe this?? The strings are finally snapping off one by one.Ya Allah!! Hameed is such a blessing' he thought.
Gathering his emotions back he unceremoniously pulled her into a hug which she didn't returned.
"I don't know what to say Asma thank God you realized that yourself, insha Allah this marriage will be nothing but blessing, I will inform him about your acceptance tomorrow when we go for the therapy session" He said as he pulled her back to look at her face.
'Happiness' was the only thing screaming at Ahmad's face.
'I wonder what her reply would be, I don't know if she will accept me but all I know is that she will definitely come back to demand an answer for that question. My instinct is telling me that she discovers something about that question more than what she supposed to know,so to know 'that something' for sure she's going to accept my proposal and I don't mind being used as long as it's her. My Moonlight !!
"Sir!!" London called out for the third time now. Hameed blinked once before looking at London with a questioning gaze.
"What?"questioned Hameed his lips twitching in annoyance as he was disrupted from his thought. London gulped hard at the sudden drop of temperature.
"There's an emergency patient that you need check before she's taken to the psychiatric" London explained passing a black file towards Hameed.
"Her room number?" Hameed asked taking the file in his hands.
"20"
"Alright, lead the way"Hameed got up from his seat and followed London to the patient room.
After knocking twice they got in. There laid a weak and fragile figure on a bed silently looking at the ceiling. Hameed stood there observing the patient whose life can be squeezed out any moment.
"Excuse me?" He called out to a girl sitting by the side on a chair close to the bed,who seemed lost and worried at the same time. She quickly stood up realizing they're people other than her In the room.
"S..sorry I didn't see you"her voice quivered soothing her black hijab,her eyes darting left and right. She seemed nervous Hameed thought.
"SalamuAlaikum"
"Waalaikum salam" she answered looking up at him, her blue eyes widen slightly gobsmacked about his emerald green eyes, Hameed cleared his throat to gain her attention and she quickly looked away her cheeks tinting themselves with light pink color.
"You're her?"he asked
"Daughter" she replied sadly. Hameed nodded his head as his eyes went back to the black file in his hands, checking the information about the patient. He brows frowned themselves.
"Who finalized her as an emergency patient?" He asked glancing to his side at London.
"Dr. Amir sir" London answered. 'That nitwit'Hameed gritted his teeth in anger.
"Refute this file and change it to a normal one, and stop her therapist from hypnotizing her further, she's just in need of counseling and constant therapy session, sign the patient under my care" he explained and passed the file to London who caught it in time and answered him with a yes. Turning back to the girl he said
"Don't worry she will get better insha Allah, I am signing her under my care and if anything happens come inform me at my office. Dr.Hameed Abdallah office no: 5 okay?"
"Yes, Thank you so much" the girl thanked him with a smile 'so his name is Hameed,such a beautiful name' she thought looking at him with admiration in her eyes as he walked out from the room.
Back to his office Hameed sat back to his chair with a bored look waiting for Ahmad and Asma's arrival. 'What's taking them so long, I really can't wait for his reply and I want to see my damsel'ahh he sighed sliding deep into his chair.
A sudden knock came through the door which made Hameed to hurriedly adjust his sitting position to a proper one,quickly slided his hands to his black-raven hair to adjust back the locks of hair that fell on his forehead, soothing his scrub he called out.
"Come in"
" SalamuAlaikum "Ahmad's head slightly peaked in then his whole body. He made his way to one of the seat in front of the desk.
"Waalaikum salam" Hameed replied as they shook hands. Ahmad made himself comfortable at one of the seats.
"I thought you're sleeping"teased Ahmad with a smile.
"No..not at all, I was just having some rest" Hameed defended himself with a sheepish grin.then asked
"Where's is Asma?"
"She's already waiting at the glass room, today she seemed excited about the therapy" Ahmad muttered with a laugh.
"I see,so?" Hameed innocently hinted
"Ahh i almost forgot, she accepted the proposal" Hameed sat there dumbstruck
"Really!!! You're not kidding right?" He smiled widely as his emerald green orbs turned jade green with delight. Ahmad chuckled
"Yes i am not"
Alhamdulilah Ya Allah!! Hameed silently prayed.
"Ahmad" Hameed called
"Can we please pause the therapy session till after our marriage?"
"Why?" Ahmad questioned
"I just want it be that way please. but I'll like to talk to her now" Hameed pleaded.
"Okay I'll consult them about it and text you back insha Allah"
"Thank you man"
"Anytime"
They made their way to the glass room where they found Asma sat on a seat positioned opposite an empty seat like last therapy.
"Where's her friend?" Asked Hameed standing in front of the glass door with his hands inside his scrub pants pocket.
"Fateema? she won't be able to come,she's quite busy" Hameed was about to reply when the blaring ringtone of Ahmad's phone cut him off.
"Excuse me" Ahmad picked up the call signaling Hameed to go ahead.
Getting himself inside he closed the door behind with a salam.
"Waalaikum salam" her low voice
replied,sitting on the chair opposite her he uttered out.
"You accepted the proposal"
"Yes I did" she replied not looking back.
He kept his gaze concentrated on her a moment longer as a lethal quietness reigned between them. He slowly looked away fighting back a smile that desperately want to adorned his handsome face. 'Hameed you're surely insane over this girl' his subconscious mocked Yes!! I am who wouldn't be humph indeed Allah is the best creator, Ya Allah !Asma how can you be this beautiful you're making my heart to fall over and over .
"If you keep staring at the sun, you won't see"Asma mumbled out slowly which made Hameed to snapped out of his thoughts.
"I...I..w.. wasn't staring at you" he quickly said stammering along the way.
"I wasn't referring to you" she said looking at him for the first time that day.
"But I was referring to those" she added pointing towards the glass that's facing them. Looking to the glass his emerald green eyes reflected back. That was then their first conversation came back stroking him hard. Hameed chuckled loudly his eyes squinted with amusement.
"You're surely funny, you used my words back to attack me" seeing that Asma didn't find it a bit funny he cleared his throat and asked
"Who said that?" Hameed asked about the quote
"Post Malone"
"You listen to music?"
"No"she replied back holding the rim of her black hijab. An unyielding silence passed by for seconds when Asma voice broke it.
"The real darkness lacked something more than just a light right?" Asma questioned him
"Yes"he simply replied. She kept quiet for some seconds her eyes silently calculating the glass room
"Prove it to me, make me to believe you" she uttered as her irises burned into his. Hameed ponder over her words and a smile formed on his lips.
"Then be mine, be my wife and I will definitely prove it to you" hearing the words that escaped his lips something ignited within the depths of her eyes , but before Hameed could read what it was,she blinked it away and it was gone in the next seconds. Her gaze was back to that blankness,emotionless facade mask again. Seeing that he added
"Be the queen of my realm and I will be your king...."