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Chapter 2: A Proposal

Haya's POV

So the jerk was Khawar Bhai's best friend.

"Hi, it's so nice to finally meet you. Khawar talks about you all the time." Api Faria said with a smile.

"It's nice to meet you too." The jerk I mean Mr Arman Malik replied.

"And this is my cousin, Haya Murtaza." Api Faria gestured toward me.

Arman smiled "Lovely to meet you."

I nodded my head and looked away. Now that I was in my senses I agreed with myself that I should have pulled back, maybe it was my mistake but more than that it was his.

Arman and Khawar Bhai left after a minute and it was just me and Faria Api.

"What was that?" She asked.

"What was what?" I asked in return.

"What's up with you and Arman?"

"What do you mean?"

"He was looking at you and you were looking everywhere except at him."

"Why would I look at him?" I ignored the first part.

She shook her head "I just sensed some tension."

I hoped she wouldn't but you are a hopless case. My inner self was disappointed.

What did I do now? I asked

You could've been nicer and nobody was going to notice anything. She retorted.

You were the one that told me I should have pulled away. If I were nicer he would've misunderstood. He would have thought that I was on board with what he did and would do it again. I tried to reason.

You can always punch him if he tries to do it again. She suggested.

Good idea. I agreed with her.

3 days later

"Thank God everything went as planned." Zubaida Aunty was having tea with Ammi at our house.

"Yes but I'm still very tired." Zubaida Aunty replied.

"It took alot of time to prepare for the wedding and you had to work the hardest ofcourse you would be tired." Ammi said after taking a sip.

"Qudsia I wanted to thank you. You helped me a lot, I don't know what I would have done without you." Zubaida Aunty patted Ammi's lap.

Me and Dua were sitting nearby on the carpet. Zainab Api was preparing dinner, she also sat near Zubaida Aunty and Ammi.

"Now I want Ahmed to get married soon I get so lonely without Faria that is why I am here most of the time. With Zainab atleast I won't be alone." Aunty said while looking at Zainab Api.

"You can come here anytime you want it's your own house and ofcourse you can take Zainab whenever you want we have already started the preparations." Ammi also smiled at Zainab Api who was blushing.

Me and Dua also smiled.

There was silence for a a minute.

"Aunty did Faria Api call?" I asked.

"Not today I was..." her phone rang at the same time cutting her off.

I looked at the caller id and smiled "Speak of the devil." I handed Zubaida Aunty her phone and told her it was Api Faria.

She took the phone and greeted her they talked for a while and then all of a sudden her smile dropped. "Are you serious Faria? Have you lost your mind?" We all looked at her. Aunty Zubaida listened to what Api Faria was saying and looked at Ammi. "Fine I will ask her... I told you I will ask her... okay bye take care."

"What happened Zubaida?" Ammi looked worried.

We were getting impatient to find out. Zubaida Aunty looked at us. "Girls go and offer your prayers it is getting late."

Me and Dua frowned while Zainab Api obediently went to our room.

"Haya, Dua are you both deaf?" Ammi asked us.

We also got up and went inside.

"I wonder what Api Faria said." Dua exclaimed.

"Me too." I said with a devilish smile.

"No Haya." Zainab Api was pointing her finger at me. "You are not going to eavesdrop." She said in a stern voice. "If she wanted you to hear anything she would not have sent you away."

I made a face at her and quickly went to the kitchen the window was close to where Ammi and Aunty Zubaida were sitting. Dua followed me too.

"Haya?" Ammi sounded surprised. "No she's too young." She was shaking her head.

"I know. I would have said no but I had to ask you first." Zubaida Aunty said.

"Tell her to say no." Ammi looked annoyed. Zubaida Aunty took her phone and dialled a number.

"Beta she said no... Faria she's only 16... Beta she's too young... I have already talked to her... I don't think think Murtaza Bhai will agree... Fine... Okay... Okay bye." Zubaida Aunty put down the phone.

"What was she saying?" Ammi asked.

"I told her no but she is insisting that he is a really nice guy. Khawar also said that he is a good person. I have also met him he was very polite, he is well-educated, and is also running his father's business, Faria said he is very wealthy and I have heard Mrs Malik is a very nice lady."

At this my eyes widened now I understood what was happening. Dua chuckled and I gave her a dirty look.

"Haya is not old enough." Ammi said.

"I know just meet him once. He is a nice person."

"But Zubaida don't you think he is a little old and rich too I don't want my daughters to have problems."

"He is 23 and Haya will soon be 17. And as for his wealth when his mother has no problem why are you worrying?"

"Murtaza will never agree." Ammi said.

"Well I'll invite them to tea. You can meet him and his mother if you do not like them then you can go ahead and say no. His mother will understand you. I mean she will understand that Haya is too young."

Ammi thought about it for a minute.

"So should I invite them for tea?" Zubaida Aunty asked.

"Wouldn't it be weird if you will invite them at your place?" Ammi asked. No no no no is she agreeing?

"Then your place?" Aunty asked.

"Let me talk to Murtaza first." Ammi said. At this I slid down and sat on the floor.

Zubaida Aunty left after a while and Zainab Api came to the kitchen. Dua told her everything. She looked at me and I started crying. She sat in front of me. "Why are you crying?" She asked while taking my face in her hands.

"I am scared."

Wrong you are terrified. My inner self patted me.

"Why are you scared honey?" Zainab Api asked with a smile. "You know Ammi would never say yes."

"But what if she does?" I asked in a weak voice. "She is already inviting them for tea."

"You know Baba will never let you get married at such a young age besides he wants you to study a lot before you marry." Zainab Api wiped away my tears "and you know Ammi does not want to disturb your studies either."

"And if they do fix your marriage you can always run away." This was Dua.

Zainab Api glared at her but I laughed and soon both Dua and Api Zainab were also smiling.

"Now wash your face you don't want Ammi to find out that you were eavesdropping on their conversation." She said and went back to her work.

I washed my face and started helping her.

After dinner Baba went to his study. Me, Dua and Api Zainab were studying.

"Haya can you bring me a glass of water?" Zainab Api asked me. I looked at the empty jug on her bedside table and got up. I was passing by Baba's study when I heard Ammi talking to him. I knew what this was about so I stopped and listened.

"Okay we will refuse just invite them for tea. Faria just got married it would seem very rude if we don't invite them atleast once." Ammi was saying. I frowned I don't know why I felt that she was not as against the proposal as she was showing.

"Fine invite them but Haya will not meet them." Baba's tone was decisive. I could imagine Ammi's face right now.

"But that'll be very rude." Ammi argued.

"When we are going to refuse anyways so there is no use of Haya being there, I don't want my daughter to become a showpiece and I don't want Haya to start thinking of these things. She should focus on her studies." Baba said.

There was silence for a while so I went to the kitchen.

That night I could not sleep. Who could it be? Khawar Bhai knew him so it must be his friend or cousin.

Could it be him?

I am sure it is him. My inner self was also awake I guess.

Why do you think that? I asked.

You were literally in his arms. It looked like she was accusing me.

You are still mad at me for that? I asked.

Is it everyday that you are that you fall into a man's arms? She retorted.

It wasn't my fault. Okay maybe a little bit. I tried to defend myself.

All you had to do was pull back. She was still mad.

Fine I am sorry. And I don't think that it's his proposal.

And why not?