Both of the two were thoroughly drenched as they sprinted in the direction of the main road. Fortunately, a cab stopped and offered to drive them home, even though they dampened the seats.
"This is all your fault, Zara," Saliha complained.
"I advised we wait till the rain stops, but you still urged that we should come along. Now the rain has stopped, but we're completely wet."
Zara glared, adjusting her shawl. "You see, it's just rain, Saliha," she rudely stated, looking away.
"If it were my fault, you would have eaten me alive" Saliha said, heaving a sigh, also turning her head away. Her phone rang continuously and the ID showed it was her father. She excitedly answered the call.
"Dad, we're almost there."
(Why didn't you go with the driver?)
"Dad it's not a big shopping, just a few things that you might need," she explained, adjusting her veil.
(Okay, come back as fast as you can! And take good care of each other, Saliha. No fighting on the way, please,) he advised and hung up.
---
When Aabid's phone buzzed, he quickly looked down to see his friend William calling.
(Dude, what's up?) It was so loud where William was that he shouted into his phone.
The response was, "Nothing much, just driving home."
(We're heading out to a club. Can you make it?
His heart nearly leaped. He yearned for the nightlife. But he suffered a jolt of disappointment at the idea that his father was monitored over him.
He replied softly as he backed out of the basement area, "Ah... I would really want to, but as I told you yesterday, I really can't come out anytime at this precise moment. Dude, I've got eyes at me right now! You know, my father and all that!"
(Sad to hear! So, would you likely to attend a brief gathering in my home? 8pm. It's a bachelor party. Might get engaged soon)
"Goodness, you're tying the knot? " As he stepped onto the breakpad, Aabid inhaled while laughing.
(Yes, mate! Right now, Othman is greeting you! He arrived from Beijing barely an hour ago as well!)"
He didn't tell me that," was the composed response.
(He overlooked to notify me as well. Just make an effort, guy. C'mon! It's been a while.)
At 7.23 PM, Aabid saw his watch. Compared to past days, he left work later today.
"OK, I understand. Soon, I'll be there. But you people should be tolerant; I could be five minutes late "
(I got it.) William ended the call.
A loud grumble from his gut caused him to let out a laugh. His stomach was empty, but as usual he seemed to have no appetite.
"The Event takes place tonight. 12am." He remembered his secretary's comments furthermore, "President told me to remind you one more time"
Aabid scoffed. How did people perceive him? They were aware of his expertise as a bidder.
'Why do they have to bug me about it all the time?' He thought to himself.
As soon as the gate slid open, Aabid drove in, parked in the designated spot, and hurriedly started to change once he reached his room.
As he walked out of the living room, ma'Naima cried back,
"The event is today!" to which he acknowledged he heard.
-
Saliha moved towards the direction of Loharani's study as she worried about if she had done anything very wrong to attract Loharani's notice. She carefully followed her aunt while gripping to her own skirt. They were all getting ready to end the night until when Ma'Amina showed up and told her to meet them at Loharani's study room. Zara and she had already gone to bed while Jaya and her brother were sound asleep in their room.
Sipping his chamomile tea, Loharani stated, "I have great information for you child. He was just preparing to go to sleep. Ma'Amina listened quietly. She already knew why Saliha was being called, thus according him.
"Surely none of us found the earlier proposals to be appealing."
Saliha gave a nod. She is also now relaxing. Unlike what she had anticipated, it was not anything very unsettling. She was first a little perplexed, but then realized he was talking about "the marriage requests."
"We've received yet another proposal for matrimony. Additionally, I feel positive about it. His name is Aabid Jalaludeen, and he is the father's first son. He hails from a modest family, a young man with potential and solid ambitions!" He cast a quick peek at his wife, who was looking at her phone.
'He has been exceedingly kind and considerate to all of us because of this.' Ma'Amina reflected to herself as she paid close attention and pretended to be on her phone.
"Thank you, God!" Saliha squealed, smiling at her dad. "If you have a good feeling about it, then surely, it will be good God Willing,"
"I'll send you his photograph this night. You may read the rest of the facts regarding him on a piece of writing." He yawned and continued, "Your mother will deliver it to you. Little one, I'm worn out today. If I'm still here the next day, we continue our conversation,"
She frowned. "Please, Dad, don't say that."
He nodded while giving a smile.
"All right," she said, setting the tea cup down, "I sincerely appreciate it." Saliha kindly wished them a good night before leaving the study, and headed to their bedroom.
Upon entering the bedroom, she met Zara on the phone with her boyfriend. They had been on a call prior to her leaving. Zara was to marry in two months. She had been engaged for a year at that time.
Saliha questioned, "What are you talking about?" As Zara talked, she sensed that she was tense. She waited for her to conclude the conversation so she could share the joyful news she had just learned from the dad while sitting next to her.
Zara said, sitting up upright, "Stop laughing, Yahya."Why don't you just say you're kidding? It bothers me. You really don't know"
Saliha stealthily retrieved her phone from her pocket and started a game of wrestling. Her favorite, in fact.
Ma'Hanan also poked her head through the doorway. She was Ma'Amina's twin sister and a widow.
"Come to my room, now, " she ordered. Saliha quickly got to her feet and followed to the bedroom. Ma'Amina was sitting on the carpet there, with a picture and some paper in front of her.
"The boy's portfolio is here." Saliha received the paper from Ma'Amina as she continued. A template in black and white was included. She grinned at Saliha and said, "I read everything, it's a nice offer, child." Saliha also smiled back.
"What do you think of the picture, then? Do you admire him?" Ma'Hanan, who was seated next to Saliha, interrupted the two. "What opinions do you have on this?"
Saliha grinned while lowering her gaze. She refrained from commenting on how well he seemed in front of them.
Ma'Amina laughed as she observed Saliha and said, "The girl is shy, Hani. Let her be." She further stated, "Read everything, and after that examine the portrait. When you do, you let us know,"
"Okay, mom. God willing, till tomorrow." She stood up and before she left, said, "I hope you have a wonderful night's sleep."
"Why are you presenting it as a decision, Hani?" Ma'Amina questioned her twin, who was currently absorbed in reading the Quran on her iPad (the moment Saliha went out of sight). Compared to her sister, Ma'Hani was a lot harsher and more severe. She really enraged the kids more than Ma'Amina did. Saliha, on the other hand, perceived her as a 'wicked monster' in human form.
"What have I done? I only wanted to hear her thoughts. Of course, whether she likes it or not, she must accept this proposal!"
"Thank God, I thought you completely forgot. Even Jaya's Abba seems very engrossed in this one. There is no point of her to reject it. She has rejected too much already," Ma'Amina uttered as she untied her long hair that contained strands of gray. She always oiled and brushed her hair whenever she was about to sleep.
"I pray all goes well concerning this,"
"Ameen,"
MEANWHILE…
"I left them and joined her. I wasn't expecting that at all. Had it been i knew she chose to disclose that at a public setting, I never would have went!" everyone laughed as Othman narrated his experience. "Dude, before she even spoke, from her body actions, I knew what she was up to. Therefore I dumped her even before she dumped me,"
"But how did you know that she was going to dump you?" William asked as he sipped a mojito from his cup.
"I heard from her friend. And now I'm dating her friend,"
"Damn..." one of the guys voiced. Aabid silently listened, laughed when things were funny but did not contribute much to the discussion.
They were seating at the pool area. 3 of them had their feet dipped in the pool, whereas Othman was in the water, holding a can of Grape wine. Aabid and William were seated on the pool chairs.
He glanced at his watch and realised it was already 11pm. The party was over and the friends stayed around, having long conversations.
"This reminds me," Othman mumbled, glancing at Aabid. "Bidman can you remember that girl we met at the fun center a year ago?"
"Not quite. Which one?" Aabid inquired, sipping from the can.
"The singing girl, Safeeya. Pink hijab, hilarious makeup?"
"Oh! Yes I do. What about her?" Aabid chuckled, laying back on the chair and closing his eyes. He felt his limbs weaken the more he sipped the lychee wine. It was his only cold drink throughout the day. He fed on coffee in the morning and afternoon and that was it.
"I saw her at the airport earlier." he revealed and sipped the last drop from the can. He proceeded to aim and throw to the thrashbin.