Author POV
It was 4 in the evening. The grooms family has already arrived that too with the groom. Shafiyya didn't expect the groom to come today to see her as her father didn't mention anything like that yesterday. She doesn't want to meet anyone, unfortunately she had to.
Right now she is getting ready inside her room as her friends zainab and clara helping her. Shafiyya wore a red and dark blue shalwar in soft gorget material which has beautifully decorated with stones. The net duppatta with some same stone works wrapped around her head neatly covering her hair. She was wearing minimal jewelry matching with her 2 inch heals.
"Wow Shafiyya you look stunning girl. Even I feel like marrying you" said Clara playfully who is an only daughter of a business man. She is little rich and has colored her hair in brown. She is very slim and taller than Shafiyya with her tan skin tone.
"Asthagfirullah!!! Clara stop talking like that, you know nah she is upset. Her another friend Zainab scold Clara for her silly talks. Zainab is a very kind girl. She is from a middle class family. She too look pretty but not more than Shafiyya.
"I was just trying to cheer her up. I am happy that she is meeting a groom for her today. I thought she will die single whenever she rejects proposals of those handsome guys in our college. I guess her dad thought the same that's he is hurrying up things."
Rolling her eyes at Clara, Zainab talked to Shafiyya who kept her hand on her thighs looking them for long. "Shafiyya your hands a fine. Look at me. Why are you so upset. Try to smile girl. Groom will get scared if he see you like this."
"Zainab, you know nah my expectations on my life partner?" Shafiyya asked her friend sadly.
"Who know better about you than me and Clara. But think positive. What if that guy meet the expectations of yours. Like your mom advised let's hope for good. Don't you trust Allah's plans for you? Think that there is a good in everything he does for you."
Knock on the door got their attention and came Shafiyyas mother.
"They are calling you down. I have made tea and some snacks. Come and serve them"
Shafiyya went along with her mother nervously.
In the hall there seated a big fat woman who is grooms mother, beside her set a man who looks little older than Sulaiman who is grooms father. Another lady was there whom groom's mother introduced as her sister in law. On the arm chair there was a man who is eyeing Shafiyya from head to toe which made her uncomfortable. It's none other than the so called groom as her father introduced him to Shafiyya saying he is Asir.
She sat beside her mother silently hearing their conversation. Asir's mother asked some questions related to her studies and hobbies. She answered them.
Asir's father informed them that he wanted to talk to Shafiyya alone. She thought it's a good opportunity to tell him politely that she is not interested in this marriage.
Her father lead them to the backside garden of the home. Even though the garden was small it has so many flowers and few trees. There was swing in the middle.
"I have never seen a beautiful girl like you before. I can't take my eyes off since the time I came here." Asir spoke as eyeing her lips to Shafiyya who kept starring at her toenails.
She didn't like his compliment it made her uncomfortable yet she said a small thank you.
" I like you very much, hope you like me too, meeting you I can't wait to marry you. Let's tell our parents to fix the date soon. What do you say?" He asked casually.
She didn't understand what to say. He is being so fast which she didn't like even a bit.
" but I am not ready for the marriage. I need some time to think about it".she spoke to him.
Hearing what she just said his face changed dangerously. Holding her arm painfully he spoke.
"It's not my problem that you aren't ready for this. What matters to me is, I like you. I want this marriage to happen ASAP. More over, I am not a fool to miss a beauty like you" he said looking in to her eyes furiously and left there.
She sobbed there placing her hand on her chest to calm down her self. She is scared of this man. She expected him to give her some time to process her thoughts but what he said made her feel very sad. He didn't ask anything about her. She knows her life is going to end up with him as her father already liked him so much.
"Didi"....! Hearing Shahil's voice she quickly wiped her tears.
"Didi who is that guy? I didn't like him at all. Mom is saying you are going to marry him. He is not even that handsome." Holding Shafiyya's hand he asked but she didn't say anything. It was hard for her to find words.
"Didi! Were you crying? Did he hurt you anywhere? Tell me I will beat the shit out of him." Hearing Shahil, she felt more like crying.
Wiping her tears again and placing a small fake smile on her face she pulled both cheeks of Shahil's in a playful manner.
" who can hurt me when I have a hulk like strong brother beside me ah ? I wasn't crying some dirt fell into my eyes"
" I thought he did something to you" said Shahil smilingly.
.....................
Asir's family has already left fixing their engagement date which is in a couple of weeks. As Sulaiman's request, Asir promised him to let her study after the engagement. Her friends Clara and Zainab left her home at 7 consoling her for long. She didn't speak with her dad after that nor she didn't had her dinner. Shahil was sleeping on her lap and she kept patting her shoulders. When sleep fully consumed him she made him lay down properly on the bed and went to take ablution.
Spreading her prayer mat and wrapping her head with a big shawl she started to pray. Her heart felt heavy. Whenever thinking how Asir had behaved with her made tears in her eyes. The way he drooled over her body made her disgust. She gave her salam to both sides and held her both hand towards her lord to ask dua.
"Ya Allah, there is nothing beyond your power, nothing will happen without your permission. You are the best of everything. You won't let your servant suffer. You are the most kindest who love his servants 70 times more than a mother's love. Please ya Allah don't let this marriage happen. I don't like him. He didn't treat me respectfully.he didn't consider my feelings. I don't feel safe around him. I don't want this marriage. Make this all stop. Change my father's mind ya Allah."
She let out all her worries to her lord.
.....................
Shafiyya went to her college as usual. Attended every classes and wrote the notes properly as she is an average student. She didn't worry about her marriage after she handed over the matter to her lord. Shafiyya, Clara and Zainab decided to spent some time in a cafe which is located opposite to the their college.
To be continued •••