"What do you plan to do about this issue?" Farhan asked as he made his way to the spice cupboard. He knew his way around the kitchen as he stayed with Daanish from time to time when he was in Ankara.
"I do not agree with this whole plan." Retorted Aabid. There were things he discussed and shared only with Farhan, for he was closest to him than the others. "I have someone else in mind. I have told him. I told them all."
"And?"
"They refused to accept it, of course," he said with disappointment in his voice, putting his phone down on the kitchen table and eating the ice cream. "Father then made it clear to me that he would never accept her into the family. You know how he does it. In a conference room with little light, silence in the room, if it was not for the sound of his hoarse voice addressing you," Aabid hissed, looking at the ceiling. "It's just so unfortunate." He muttered, though loud enough for Farhan to hear him. He patted him on the shoulders and looked at him.
"Look on the bright side, Aabid. He would not do anything to hurt you that much."
"Yes, he will. You know very well he will," he raised an eyebrow before sighing as his mind wandered to some hurtful memories. How he was beaten and insulted for his poor grades, how he bounced from one relative to another, how he hoped to be accepted at a pleasant and understanding place, but failed because they all hated him, how his father embarrassed him in front of his friends by calling him names and spilling his secrets. These scenarios clung stubbornly to the walls of his memory chamber.
"But still. Believe me, he would not go too far."
"Farhan, this is a long time union. How far can it go? They are trying to set me up permanently with a stranger I do not know!" He cried, running a hand through his dark, dishevelled hair. "All my life!" he added, biting his lips in frustration. "You do not know how upset I get."
"This can be a good thing! Believe me," Farhan continued, trying to make his friend feel positive.
"I love someone else, obviously. I have been with her for..." he paused, scratched his back and continued, "for about four years. I can't simply delete her out of the blues."
"Yes, which I did not support, because it would be natural for your family to disapprove of your relationship with Violet for several understandable reasons," he told him. Aabid nodded.
"You were right. But I could not stop it. I guess I still had hope they would. And believe it or not, I will still convince them that this must not happen to me. There are my siblings who could do the arranged marriage. Not me," he said softly. Farhan raised an eyebrow at Aabid, knowing that Jalaludeen II could not change his mind so easily.
"Are you even listening to what you're saying, dude?"
"I have ears, do I not?" came Aabid, slightly annoyed by the question.
"Do you feel your father will back off?" Farhan brought some fruits out the fridge and continued, "No. Not your father alone, but the whole Al-Taajir group is dwelling on the plan!" Farhan exclaimed.
A frustrated sigh from Aabid as he swallowed a spoonful of the dessert. "No..."
"Then why are you thinking of the impossible... are you aware that this is a stunt?"
"Hm. True talk."
Aabid went silent for a few minutes as Farhan worked up the dish. He could sense his friend's frustration about the 'family decision'. However, they both knew it was something they all were powerless about. Farhan did not like his friend getting into trouble at work nor at home. Yet, it mostly happened anyway.
"That aside, cheer up and have fun. Do not be so gloomy, I beg of you."
Aabid nodded and they left the kitchen as if they had not discussed much.
---
Aabid entered the living room and heaved a sigh of weariness. It was after 9 pm and he had just returned from Daanish's house. The house was completely silent, even the lights were off and that surprised him. In his opinion, it was too early for such dramatic silence. When he was not travelling, he usually came home around 11 pm and was not tired enough to sleep yet. He would sleep in for a few hours and then retire to bed around 1am. Normally, he could not fall into a deep slumber until the clock struck 30 minutes past 1.
He managed to walk slowly up the stairs with the gift boxes in his arms without turning on the light, using the torch on his phone to help him. He did not want to attract Aunt Naima's attention. Aabid thought it very likely that she stayed up to wait for his arrival. Soon he reached his room and quickly went inside. He closed the door gently and breathed a sigh of relief before setting the boxes down on his desk. Slowly he unwrapped a box, curious as to what it contained, for the friends had refused to say who a box came from, only providing it for him to guess who had given him a particular box.
In the first box he found a unique handmade cashmere scarf and matching hat. He assumed it must have come from Farhed, who had very close connections in Pakistan. In fact, his mother visited Pakistan every year. The second box was flat and from the look of it, one could guess that it was a gadget. He unwrapped it and found the latest edition of a Samsung tablet and the wristwatch that went with it. A smile escaped his lips. He guessed it was Daanish because he was quite fond of electronic gadgets. Then came two more boxes, which puzzled Aabid, but he quickly opened them. In one of the boxes was a Koran, in the other a classic men's wristwatch. He suspected that the Quran was from Farhan, but now he doubted which of them had bought him the tablet and the wristwatch, but he knew it was between Daanish and Farhan.
He sent them texts:
"Thank you so much, I am so grateful. I can not even express how happy I feel! You guys make me feel special, yes. I love you all!"
He waited for a while for a reply, but received none, then he went to the washroom to freshen up. He decided to sleep immediately after showering. When he came out minutes later, his phone was ringing off the hook. Grinning from ear to ear, he read the replies of the three friends:
Farhan: Go to sleep, Mr Hope, and stop hoping for impossible hopes.
Daanish: Eish. I almost cried. It's a romantic message. Lol. Sleep on time, bro.
Farhed: Do not worry, I am glad you are here. Now I am a happy man!
Aabid got dressed, switched off his phone and was asleep in no time. Moreover, he had no plans for tomorrow and that did not bother him at all.