"Maa! Can I have a word with you?" I abruptly stood up from my sofa seat and everyone looked at me.
"Ha-ha!" My mom laughed it off while everyone looked concerned. "I know it's too sudden for you don't be so jumpy. You know how girls are these days. Haha. Excuse us, please." Mom announces as we leave the living room together and stand on the side of the staircase.
"Maa how can you make such an important decision without informing me?!" I whisper hiss at her.
"At my time we would give into the decision what our parents make for us-"
"Maa! This is not your time anymore. It's my time and even Islam gives me the right to choose my life partner!"
"Aisha, I knew you would refuse had I told you before... The fact is you would refuse any proposal I had told you about. I can't guarantee about any other guy but Hazek grew up in front of our eyes. We know that he will always keep you happy and I believe that you will make him happy too."
"Maa! I don't want to get married, I have my studies and a career to make!"
"You can even study after marriage. I'd be much relieved if you both go to the university together. As far as your career is concerned you can talk to your husband about it. I am sure you can join Uncle Waleed's business just like Hazek after studies."
"But maa I have-"
"Enough Aisha! Everyone's waiting for us in the living room and I am warning you, I don't want to hear no from you."
"Then what if Hazek refuses to marry me?" I stopped her before she could turn around.
"It'll be fine if he does…" She eyes me. "But know that he's not a guy who would ever go against his parents unlike you." With her stern words, she grabs my hand and pulls me with her into the living room where everyone patiently waited for us.
"Sorry everyone, hope you didn't mind our absence." Mom apologizes and everyone disregards her concern with the shake of their hand.
"Of course not Sufia. I am sure it was too sudden news for both of them." Aunt Najma exclaims.
I looked at Hazek but his eyes were glued to the floor as usual while I took a seat on the sofa.
"My son is my pride, Akbar." Uncle Waleed stated. "I asked him if he liked anyone but he denied. So it's best, I decide who his life partner is going to be and I find no better match than my lovely Aisha. But is she okay with this proposal? I wanted to openly discuss the matter, that's why I emphasized bringing Aisha along." Uncle Waleed turns to me. "Aisha, is there anyone you like?"
I looked at my mother who shook her head as if she believed in me. Then I looked at my brother and dad who both smiled in my way.
"No… I don't have anyone I like." I say, fidgeting with my fingers.
But I don't like your son either.
"Aisha, would you come into the kitchen and give me a hand please?" Aunt Najma calls and I immediately follow her to the kitchen.
She stops near the kitchen island and turns toward me with a soft smile. "I know you don't look very happy with the proposal my dear…"
"I… Umm…" I scratch the bridge of my nose to find words.
"You remind me of myself when I was twenty and was engaged to your uncle. I was too naive to think what was better for me and blamed my parents for finding a way just to get rid of me." She laughs as she recalls her memories. "Believe me marrying your uncle was the best decision of my life that my parents made for me. They knew the person through thick and through, I can't imagine anyone else in Waleed's place who had tolerated my impatient attitude the way he does."
Aunt Najma takes my hand in hers and presses it reassuringly. "And if Hazek ever hurt my daughter in any way, remember your uncle and aunt are always here to pull his ear… I would respect whatever decision you make and no one's going to force you." She pats my cheek and provides me with a tray of dessert cups with scoops of ice cream.
We enter the living room and I serve the cups to everyone.
"So Aisha, what do you think about Hazek's marriage proposal?" Uncle Waleed asks again and every eye stops at me in the room.
I look around and nod my head, hesitantly. "I am fine… as long as Hazek is fine with it." I bite my lip to prevent the tears that were just at the brink of my eyes.
Please Hazek, say no.
Refuse to the arranged marriage with me.
~~~
Hazek's POV
My head suddenly pulls up and I catch sight of Aisha who looked like she gave in to my marriage proposal.
Is she willing to marry me?
She really doesn't have any issue?!
I was confused yet happy at the same time. How can a girl like Aisha who is so adamant with her opinions actually agree to this?
Now that she threw the ball in my court…
"I don't have any issue with this marriage proposal."
The room erupts with happy laughter and everyone starts hugging each other.
Maleeha comes to me and ruffles my hair. "My baby brother has now grown up." She smiles at me and I return it. "JazakAllah (May Allah reward you) for making her my bhabhi (sister-in-law)"
"Please have another scoop of ice cream on this occasion of happiness" My mother announces happily, serving another scoop to everyone in the room.
"I say, the Nikkah (marriage) ceremony should be in three months." Uncle Akbar, suggests. "This would be enough time for us to prepare for the wedding."
"Well Akbar bhai (brother) I won't deny your request if you put it that way… otherwise I am too excited to wait this long to bring my daughter-in-law home," Mama answers politely and everyone delves into a discussion of our marriage.
Three months?
How am I going to stop myself from thinking about her?
Even right now I am trying very hard to not look at her and keep my gaze down. But this Shaitan (devil) keeps provoking me to look at her to my heart's content.
It's already difficult in university when I have to secure my gaze from na mahram(unrelated by blood or women a man can marry according to Islamic law) women and now the woman who I have been looking after since childhood. The woman who made her way on her own in my heart… is sitting just a few steps away from me and we will become a married couple in just a few months.
My heart feels like it would jump right out of my heart at just the thought of her becoming my wife and we living under the same roof… in one room. I slapped my inner self before it got any further delusional.
But one thing is for sure…
My wife can't become the apple of the eye of other men.
She has to stop making her videos and delete everything that has been done.