“Yes. Mrs. Owens,” he answered, and walked to her.
“I'm not going out again. I changed my mind,” she informed. Now, the driver admitted and walked back to the courtyard, and returned the car to the garage. Nevertheless, Sarah sunk into her seat, and heaved freely. Then, she decided to give Rose a call to cancel the appointment. Suddenly, her phone rang. She looked at the caller and her face beamed. Then, she picked cheerfully, and greeted, “Hello, Lilly. How are you?”
“Hello, mom. I'm fine. How is everyone?”
"Everyone is fine. How are your studies going?”
“My studies are going on smoothly. I miss everyone.”
“We miss you too. Your dad would be in Saudi Arabia for a long program.”
“Oh! I can't wait to have him.”
“Yes. But the program will commence the coming year.”
“I see. I would have visited home before then.”
“You are right. I can't wait to have you.”
“I can't wait to see everyone, too.”
“We are expecting you.”
“Okay, mom. Goodbye.”
“Goodbye, my dear. Take care of yourself.”
Six Months Later
“Rose! Rose! So, you are around?” George called out when he spotted her. Now, Rose was excited, and looked up. She had accepted his funny-looking car, and concluded that he was a poor transporter.
“George,” she called out happily. Now, he got out of his car and walked to her store.
“How did you know that I’m around, George?” She inquired happily.
“I was actually on my way to the gym. So, when did you come back?”
“That is good. As you can see, I’m just coming in. I will leave for the house as soon as the Attendant comes in. Kindly take your seat,” she offered, and signalled him to a chair.
“Welcome back,” he greeted, and took his seat. Then, he inquired, “Where has your attendant gone to?”
“She had gone to the wholesaler to get some goods.”
“I see.”
Now, his mood changed, and he looked at her, and asked, “Rose, why don’t you want to give my proposal a second thought?”
“There's no need for a second thought, George,” she pointed out immediately.
“Why?” He asked instantly. Rose smiled softly and reminded, “I have told you George, I already have a fiancée.”
“I don't believe you.”
“Why?”
“How come I have never seen him?”
Now, Rose laughed sarcastically, and inquired, “How do you intend to see him? I just arrived, and you don't know if he will be around the next minute.”
“Do you love him? Do you think he loves you as much as I love you?”
“Yes. I love him, and his mother is like a mother to me. I don't have doubts about their love for me.”
Subsequently, George, who would not accept defeat, looked into her eyes, and warned, “You are about making the biggest mistake of your life. How can you marry someone you have never met? Just because a woman you know little or nothing about told you that her son will marry you, and you believed her. What if her son ……”
Now, Rose interrupted him, and advised, “Just stop wasting your time, you have said this over and over again. I’m so much convinced that it will work out fine. Until it fails, I still maintain my stand.”
Fate has its way of playing a fast one on people. George realized that the more she turned him down, the more he was head over heels in love with her, and could not be wrathful with her. Now, he smiled, and looked into her pairs of beautiful eyes, and requested, “It's Ok, but can we meet at the gym today?”
“Certainly. As soon as she comes back, I will go home and freshen up, and thereafter, join you.”
“Thank you for that. I will be waiting.”
“It's okay.”
He left for his funny car, and drove off. Meanwhile, the Shop Attendant returned, and Rose left for her house.
At the Gym Center.
Rose arrived at the Gym Center, looking very charming with her walk out attire. George was thrilled, and walked out of the treadmill to receive her. To his vexation, he noticed the lecherous gazes from the bachelors at the center, and he felt threatened. To exhibit his superiority over them, he held her hand, and greeted aloud, “I'm happy that you could make it, dear.”
Nevertheless, to his delight, she did not resist his gesture, rather, she smiled broadly, and confirmed, “Certainly, I promised that I would.”
Subsequently, he walked her to the next treadmill and watched her began her exercise. When he was certain that she was stable, he got back to his, and continued. Just as he promised in the morning, he trained for a longer period than in the morning. Meanwhile, he kept observing Rose to ascertain her expression.
“We can take a break, if you are won out,” he proposed with concern.
“Oh! You just said my mind. I'm exhausted,” Rose declared, and got off the treadmill.
“I thought as much,” George pointed out when he got off his treadmill too. He handed over a towel to her, and she collected. Then, she began to towel herself, and appreciated, “Thank you dear.”
“Don't mention.”
Thereafter, they walked to the visitors' seat, and sat down. After they had rested a bit, George inquired, “Would you love to continue?”
“I know you were not satisfied, let's continue,” she explained.
Now, George was moved by her level of concern for others, but would not take her for granted.
“It's okay. We will train for thirty minutes, and we are through for the day.”
“That is perfect.”
They trained for another thirty minutes, and got out of the center. Now, George was undoubtedly convinced that he would get her for himself because she was at ease with him, and considerate of his feelings.
“I will press on until I take her mind off the arranged marriage with a mama's boy, who can't show his face,” he resolved. Now, he was more romantic, and opened the passenger's door for him.
“Thank you for the gesture,” she appreciated happily, and took her seat. Now, George shut the door, and proudly walked to the driver's seat. Then, he observed the onlookers and his rivals, and smiled in triumphant. Then, he looked at Rose, and watched her fasten her seatbelt, when she was through, he inquired, “Shall we move?”
“Yes, we can,” she responded cheerily. He drove off, and soon, they were at her shop.
“Thank you for the outing. Let me leave you to go back to work,” Rose said hastily, and attempted to open the door. Now, George was baffled because he had not discussed his work with her. Then, he halted her, and inquired, “Wait a minute. What do you mean?”
“Ain't you a transporter? You can still make some money before the end of the day if you leave now,” she clarified.
At that point, he smiled inwardly, and played along. Then, he responded, “I will give it a thought. Take good care of yourself.”
“I will. Take care.”
“Okay. See you tomorrow.”
Instantly, she halted, and gave him a questioning look. He understood the look, and inquired hastily, “Wouldn't you want to see me tomorrow?”
Howbeit, Rose looked at his pleading face, and felt pity for him. She gave him an assuring smile, and answered, “Why not. I just feel that you should not allow your work to suffer.”
“Thank you for your concern. Allow me to worry about that,” he responded.
At the Residential Area.
Mrs. Owens felt that she had to get her son's spare time before she would bring Rose to the house. To ensure that he would be in the right mood to discuss with her, she got his favorite food for him.
Meanwhile, George returned home that evening with mixed feelings. He had his shower and settled down afterward. He laid on his bed with his back, and faced up. Furthermore, he stared at the ornate ceiling, and grumbled audibly, “I wonder how someone can be so childish to believe in someone she has never met before….” Nevertheless, he halted when his mother walked into his room unannounced, with fruits in a saucer. He looked up and, saw her cheerful face.
“Who are you speaking with, George?” She asked. Now, her question took him unawares, and he stammered, “Good morning, mom.”
“Good morning? This evening? By the way, who is so childish?" His mother asked at once. Nevertheless, he sat up from the bed and faced his mother, who was already sitting on his reading chair. Then, he tried to cover up his puzzlement and corrected himself before he answered, "It is the coach at the gym."
"How dare you talk rudely about your coach, George?" Sarah reproved.