Chapter 3: Surprise

Next day when Zubaida Aunty came Ammi took her to her room. I knew what they were talking about but this time I did not want to eavesdrop so I stayed in my room. I know Baba will never agree to this marriage. I know whoever sent the proposal will come but I also know I won't have to meet him.

As for my curiosity I will just ask Api Faria who is so desperate to get in trouble I mean marry me.

Friday

I was getting ready for college when Ammi knocked on the door.

"Haya do you have anything important today?"

I looked at her for a second and changed my expression to a confused one.

"I mean at your college do you have anything important?" She clarified.

"Umm yes I have this really important test and we also have practicles today." Even though I hated lying I was not going to be presented to someone to feast their eyes on me.

"Can you come early then?" She had hope in her voice.

"I don't think so." I shook my head.

At the same time Baba came in he looked at Ammi and then at me with a kind smile, "Are you ready, Beta?"

"Yes." I gave him a smile in return.

"Good, my daughter has to work hard. You know I have great expectations from you, right?"

"I know." I hugged him and he kissed on my forehead.

"Okay now go before you miss your van."

I took my bag and waved at them as I got inside the van.

I wonder who is he.

It's him. My inner self was getting bored with me

I still don't think so.

When will you start believing me?

If he is such a gentleman that he wants to make me his wife instead of wanting a haram relationship he would not have done those things. I tried to reason.

Touchè.

4th Period

It was physical education class. Have I mentioned that I love sports.

Seriously I do but only when no one is watching. If someone is watching, my co-ordination system makes sure to embarrass me, but when I am alone even though my balance is still crap atleast no one is around to make fun of me.

So we were playing hand ball. I love handball so so much but my clumsy-as-hell self never allowed me to fully enjoy.

Despite being so clumsy my sweet teacher Ma'am Adeela always puts me on team.

Same as always Ma'am Adeela was dividing us into teams. She took my name and I rushed to join my team but on the way I collided with none other than Zoobia. She looked at me for a second and then fell back on her butt.

Huh drama queen!

"Ouch my..."

She could not find the right word so I decided to help her "Ouch your butt?" Ofcourse I had to keep my voice down.

Zoobia was one of those people who thought that the world revolved around them. She was the daughter of a rich senator so for her the law was below her and almost everything else too. We don't hate each other or anything like that it's just that we get on each others' nerves sometimes Her father was a nice guy. His wife? Let's just say I pity him.

"Ma'am I am hurt." She whined.

"Sweetheart it's okay," It was me, "such small accidents only make you stronger."I patted her on the shoulder and walked towards my team. I saw Fareeha rolling her eyes at me.

The game begin and the opposing team was doing good. Zoobia was in their team and I must admit she is good. So far I tried to stay as far away from the game as I could, but seeing my team like this I decided to take matters in my hands so I stepped forward and just as Aliza(from the opposing team) was going to pass the ball to her teammate I caught the ball and passed it to Fareeha who passed it back to me and boom I scored.

I looked at the goalkeeper in shock. I did it. Now I was confident or should I say over confident. Next time when I rushed to get the ball I somehow lost my balance and fell but not before I brought someone down with me.

I heard laughter and quickly tried to stand up, but as soon as I did I fell back again. There was pain in my right foot. I think I twisted my ankle. I heard groaning behind me and turned to see Fareeha behind me she was holding her shoulder.

"I am so sorry," great I had to hurt someone.

She was throwing daggers with her eyes.

Ma'am Adeela took us to the nurse's room. I had to walk with the support of both Ma'am Adeela and Fareeha. We sat while the nurse started examining me.

"I am so sorry, Fareeha." I apologized again.

"It's alright." She said with a really bad face.

Well meet Fareeha, my best friend since 4th grade. She's the nicest person that I have ever ever ever met. She has two brother and is the youngest. Moez Bhai is is in third year of medical school while Faseeh studying business and Fareeha, well with me in 11th grade.

So it turns out I had a sprained ankle and Fareeha had hit her shoulder really hard. The nurse told us that if we wanted to go home we could.

I wanted to go but I don't think anyone can walk that far with an ankle like mine and especially not someone like me who already had two left feet.

I was going to call Baba but Fareeha offered me a ride. Apparently Faseeh was free these days so he was going to pick up Fareeha. I did not want to disturb Baba so I went with her.

Faseeh was cracking jokes all the way to my house. His jokes are almost always lame but that makes us laugh the most. He used to play with me and Fareeha when we were kids, now not so much.

I had keys so I just opened the door and with help of Fareeha went inside. I stepped into the living room and the first thing I saw was a lady sitting on a sofa.

Crap how could I forget? I should have just stayed at school.

"Haya!" I heard Baba's panicked voice as he came towards me "what happened, Beta?" He was now supporting me.

"Twisted my ankle." I explained.

"Okay I am leaving," Faria said goodbye to my parents and left.

I walked a little further to greet the woman. "Assla-"

Dammit!! How did I not notice him before?

Arman! Freaking Arman Malik sitting in my house on my sofa drinking my tea and smirking at me.

I took a deep breath and composed myself. "Asslam o Alaikum."

"Waalaikum Asslam, Beta how are you?" She asked in a kind voice. "How is your ankle?"

"Better." I tried not to be bitter.

"Haya let me take you inside." Baba took me to my room. "How is your foot? Did the nurse check it carefully?" He was getting really worried.

"Yes Baba."

"Okay let me deal with them then I will take you to the hospital." He patted on my head and left.

Told you. But you won't believe me no matter what.

Yeah right. I am not in the mood to fight.

You are aware of the fact that I am your sixth sense also, right? I imagined her looking at me from top of her spectacles

Yeah whatever. I don't know why but I was suddenly feeling really scared.

If you ask my opinion I think he is not that bad.

Not that bad? We have been fighting since we saw him. I almost shouted at her.

You are making it sound like we are fighting over who can have him, which is weird because we are practically the same person.

Sometimes I think it's crazy that I talk to you so much.

After about half an hour Baba took me to a doctor who gave me some painkillers and the good news that I wont be able to go to school for a week or so.

Great now I had to lie in bed the whole day.

Next dat Aunty Zubaida came and again we girls were asked to go inside. I was not going to miss out on anything this time so I sneaked into the kitchen.

"I know Apa but Murtaza is not going to agree." It was Ammi.

"He said they are fine so why is he not going to agree?" Zubaida Aunty seemed like she was almost pleading.

"You know her age..." Ammi tried to say.

"She is going to be 17 next week and then ofcourse the preparations for the wedding are going to take some time. Don't you remember how long it took for Faria's wedding preparations? And then ofcourse you will marry Zainab first. All of this will take at least a whole year. So Haya will be at least 18 by the time she get married." Zubaida Aunty explained. My heart was beating really loudly. Why was she taking that jerk's side?

"I know but you know she is a really intelligent student. Murtaza really wants her to get good higher education."

"Qudsia," Aunty Zubaida said patting Ammi's lap "Haya is really lucky that someone like Arman wants to marry her. I mean it is really hard to find someone like him these days. MashaAllah he is handsome he is smart and polite, he is well educated, he is rich. You saw the way he was treating his mother didn't you? He was so gentle and loving with her. That is the way he is going to treat Haya. Don't you want someone like him for your daughter? You know I love Haya just like I love Faria and I think you can not find anyone better than Arman for her."

"I did not like this proposal but when I met Arman today I honestly want to accept this proposal too but Murtaza." I can't believe it was Ammi who said it.

"Qudsia he wants Haya to get higher education, right? He can talk with Arman about it. He loves Haya a lot so I think when he will find out that Haya wants it too he will let her get her education."

"Okay I will talk to Murtaza about it." Ammi took a sip of her tea and after sometime Aunty left.

Dread was settling down in my stomach. I hope he disagrees. I hope he disagrees.

What do you have against him?

Are you defending him now? I was angry at myself.

What did he do to you? My inner self had her arms crossed.

You forgot what he did to me? I was surprised.

He saved you. She stated.

I was speechless for a second but not for long. I did not like the way he saved me.

My inner self was again looking at me from top of her spectacles. I ignored her.

Later that night I heard Baba talking in a really harsh voice with Ammi. He never raised his voice at anyone. Great now my father was angry with my mother because of that jerk and all I could do was sit in my room, heart full of fear, crying while my sisters tried to cheer me up.

He again came with his mother one more time during the week that I was at home. Baba tried to be civil with them but as soon as they left Baba locked himself in his study.

I hate that jerk.

It was Monday and it was also my birthday. I would have skipped college but I had already missed so many classes. So I decided to go.

There was a large crowd in front of the college. Larger than usual. I hate crowds so I stayed back and waited for people to go inside but it was taking forever. I felt someone's eyes on me and looked back but there was no one there.

Suddenly someone grabbed my arm and a hand went to my mouth to stop me from screaming. I tried to get someone's attention but everyone was focused on getting inside. I was dragged away and thrown into a car.

I quickly got up and came face to face with the man that I never wanted to face.

"Hello, love." He said with a smirk.

I was going to punch him when I felt a needle on my arm and my eyes closed.

*Beta = Child

*Apa = Elder sister

*Ammi = Mom