CHAPTER 12
AHAD POV:
After finishing my work at the office, I got back in my car and reached home, the house felt empty and silent, as I walked towards the living room, I took off my blazer, closing my eyes, taking some time off the noise I hear deeply, all of the sudden, I felt a hand caressing my head, opening my eyes I found my mother giving me her softest smile.
I smiled as she took a seat on my left side, giving my attention to her guessing that she might have something to say at this time of the day, "I do not want anything to hurt my baby, not even a little insect, and I want you to tell me if you're okay with what I have decided for you," mother said while playing with the corner of her dupatta, "What you have decided Ammi Jaan?"
"I want you to get married, Ahad." I looked at my mother, surprised, and my heart sank as I thought about whether she had said yes to my aunt's proposal or not.
"I want you to get married to Hayat, she is Eira's best friend. I have thought through this decision. I have talked with your father about it, and he has no problem if you agree."
I have a messed-up past, I haven't overcome my trauma, I get nightmares sometimes, and I'm pathetic. How will I take care of her if I'm so broke inside...
"I don't want to destroy my Bacha's life by marrying him to Seema, and that is why I want you to say yes to this proposal so your father won't have a word to say when her sister talks about her daughter's marriage proposal." Ammi's words made sense, and I, too, think if Ammi has selected a girl for me, then she would be great herself... but will she accept me with all my flaws? Will she help me heal? (Translation: baby.)
I gave a nod and stood up, walking towards my room, "It's a yes from me, Ammi."
HAYAT…
Hayat... I have heard this name from my Eira years ago. But every time we talked on video calls, she told me only about her other friend, who was her best friend.
It was Sunday already, and we were going to her house to see my future wife. I was nervous. I didn't know if I should feel this way or not, if she would love me or not, if she would say yes, or if she would walk away. Would she judge me for my weakness, or would she be my strength?
A lot of questions were running through my head, I had a chat with Hammad about my marriage and he was the happiest, such a brat friend I have, I told him to join me today but he refused, while my brother was busy with his work that he couldn't come too, and here I'm alone with my parents, suddenly Baba placed his hand above mine and gave me the unknown strength that I needed.
We sat on the lawn, and we were having some tea. She didn't come with the tea as most girls do in movies, but it's okay, I don't mind it… Things started to get awkward as time passed by...
"Here comes my Chanda." … Chanda? Wasn't her name Hayat? I thought to myself, before I looked up, and met with the hazel brown eyes looking at me directly.
The captive eyes looked away when they met mine, as I looked down and whispered, "Masha Allah," and took her image print in my head. She wore a white kurta with a black printed dupatta on the side; her long black hair was down. I was captivated by her at one glance.
"Hayat, come here, beta," Ammi said, and this time I scrunched my eyebrows and put my fingers on my eyes, whispering, "Damn, Ahad, you are stupid. Her nickname is Chanda, not her real name."
Soon, I heard my mother as she suggested something I was wishing for, "You two can talk in the garden, go."
We strolled through the garden. No one broke the silence. I wanted to ask her something when she suddenly turned towards me, whispered, "I'm Hayat, they are my uncle and Auntie, my father doesn't support me, so everything will be done by my uncle only, I haven't completed my graduation, I want to continue my studies."
Giving my attention to her, I replied softly, "I'm Ahad Mir. I don't have any problem with you marrying me, just with the blessings of Uncle and Aunt. I'll always support and encourage you more towards your higher studies, actually.
"I race and go on a long drive."
"I do race, too. We'll go together to race after marriage if you are okay with it, and I do go for a long drive, but on my bike." Chuckling, I replied.
"I read a lot, and yeah, I'm 24 years old."
"I don't like reading, but I have read some Urdu novels, and yeah, I'm 29 years old."
She was glaring at me as I was giving a response to her, "Oh! Yeah, I dress in hoodies mostly, I don't wear an abaya, I mostly forget to pray…"
"I would love it if you wore an abaya, but it's all up to your choice. You can have my hoodies too if you like. I don't wear them often, actually, I can remind you to pray; we can pray together, too."
"I stay outside most of the time, and I agreed to marry you because my father had been persisting with me in handing over my mother's property to him, and I want someone to protect me from all the drama he might create shortly."
"I stay outside mostly, too, but I can change this habit if you want, and I don't mind being your protector, as a husband, it would be my responsibility, and I will willingly fulfill it."
She looked away, glared at the wall, she's way too small for me… cute, I thought, and facepalmed myself.
Why would I say something like that? Allah help me please, she might be 5'7, her looking up at me while me looking down at her, it makes me warm.
I loved the way she opened up to me about things she thinks are important. I had noticed her reaction, I think she didn't expect me to say all these... her eyes went wide at some point, those hazel brown eyes looked so beautiful, that I couldn't help but lowly whisper, "Masha Allah."
I need to tell her about my situation, but I don't think it's the right time. I have made up my mind to look for a psychologist so I can be a better version of myself for her...