3: WTF....He's here?!

Sania's POV,

I was getting ready for work that's when mumma came to me. 

"Shona, come early today ok?" She said.

"Mumma" I said with a chuckle. "- I work at a bank. Ofcourse I come early always" 

"But still, come early" she said.

I looked at her suspiciously. "Why what's wrong? Is someone coming?"

She hesitated a bit but then smiled. 

"Yes. A boy's parents are coming to see you" she said.

Ting, ting, ting. The bob pin that I was holding in my lips fell on the cold tiles as my mouth dropped open. 

"What!!!!!!! Nooooooo" I almost yelled. "How can u do this to me - why are you doing this- why do you hate me - what did I ever do to you......" I was blabbing and my mother just looked at me amused. 

When I finally shut up, she cupped my face. "Just don't talk so much in front of them and be beautiful" she kissed my forehead and went to the kitchen. 

My mouth was open again. 'did she even hear half of what i said..... Ya Allah nooooo. I don't want to marry.'

I sulked on my table at the bank. 

"What's wrong my overacting ki dukan(shop) ?" Aditi asked me. 

"The devils are coming" i said.

"Eh? Human language please" she said confused.

I looked at her like a crying puppy. 

"A boy's parents are coming to see me"

"Yaay! That's great" she was clapping like a child.

"Shut up! What's so Yaay! about this. Its more like Noooooo!" I snapped.

"Oh come on! You'll get married, fall in love, have cute little kids like you, then they'll grow up, get married, have kids...." Bla bla bla she went on making me nauseous. 

"I don't want to get married ok!" I blurted out. She looked shocked at my sudden outburst.

"Why?" She said calmly.

I sighed. "You wouldn't understand." 

' because I didn't understand myself'

Since I was little, I have been scared of the marriage word. Leaving your parents, adjusting in a new life. It gave me nightmares. And now the nightmare was about to be true......

I reached home and my mother was in the kitchen making preparations for the devil. Ugh.. I wish something would happen and they wouldn't come. But not every wish could be fulfilled right? 

Mumma dragged me to my room and handed me a new dress and some light jewelry.

"Its not my bday" I said.

"I know but you have to look beautiful. They'll be coming within an hour" she patted my cheek.

She was soo excited that I didn't wanted to break her heart. So I forced a smile. "Ok". 

I wore the yellow and white anarkali suit with dangling earrings and bangles. I hate bangles. The sound they make is soo annoying. Mumma asked me to wear some subtle makeup like lipstick, liner and stuff. I hate lipstick. Its not like I'm a tomboy or anything, its just, I prefer lipbalms. But I still did all that for the sake of my parents....

I heard the polite laughs and greetings from outside. They were here. My heart sank. I sat on my bed and my phone rang. My smile was back, it was my dad calling. He works in Dubai and so comes home only for a month every year. I really missed him right now.

"Assalamualaikum daddy"

"Walaikum assalam Sania how are you sweetheart?"

"Good" I said almost lethargic.

"What's wrong? Is it about that boy's parents coming to see you?" He said like reading my mind.

"You already knew? Well ofcourse you do" I answered my own question.

"I was surprised too when your mamma told me about it. I don't want to let go of you either. I mean you're still my little princess." 

I almost had tears now. "I miss you daddy" my voice broke.

"Hey, don't cry. I'm right there with you. Standing beside you. Don't worry. If you don't like the boy or his parents just say so. I'm there to support your decision. And be strong. My Sania can never cry right?"

"Hmm."

"Good. Now smile"

And I did. I smiled feeling better. 

"Thank you daddy. I love you"

"I love you too princess. " And we hung up. Mamma came to call me and I took a deep breath and stood up. 

"Take the dupatta on your head" she scoulded me slowly. Without a word I obeyed her. And walked with her out looked down. 

I never understood this all. A girl is presented like a porcelain doll to the spectators so that they can see if her complexion, nose, hair, eyes are proper. If you want such a perfect girl, why not actually buy a pretty doll like those on Facebook dp. 

"Assalamualaikum" I greeted avoiding eye contact. 

"Walaikum assalam" the boy's mother said. 

Actually I didn't even care to ask my mother who those people were and it was all so sudden that even mamma forgot to tell me. But that voice sounded familiar. I looked up at her. 

'its Rukhsar's khala saas.' (Maternal aunt in law) no way!

The boy was sitting right next to her. I reluctantly looked at him. And my jaw dropped horrified, my brain blasted. ' Mr Fancy Pants!!!' why why why?!!!!!

I got his marriage proposal!!!!!!!!!

'Oh! Kill me!'

Zaheer's POV,

I couldn't stop looking at her. She was as amazing as always. But somewhere I thought she wasn't glad to see me. Our eyes were set on eachother. I smiled at her but she immediately looked away. I frowned. 'did I upset her? But how?' 

Sania's POV,

'Please let this be a dream. Ya Allah. Of all the unmarried men in the world, of all the unmarried Muslims in the world why him?' 

He's just looking at me. 'are you mocking me Fancy pants. Well I don't like it. I don't wanna look'

Zaheer's POV,

She sat in front of us on the single sofa. Her eyes were down on her hands in her lap. She didn't look like her usual cheerful self today rather she looked nervous and quite.

Mom started the conversation about her education, job, interests, etc. She gave the answers in a soft voice. 

"Do want to ask anything son?" Sania's mother asked me. 

"Uh, not actually" I said nervous myself. Her mother seemed sweet but I had this pressure on me that I just couldn't shake off. I was meeting the family of my prospective bride afterall. 

"I think these too should talk alone for a while. Don't you think?" My mom asked Sania's mother.

My eyebrows shoot up as I looked at mom. She smiled. I looked at Sania, she seemed surprised too. 'mom quite giving such sudden shocks already!' 

"Ofcourse, ofcourse.... Why not" her mother said smiling wide. 

Sania's POV,

"Sania go take Zaheer to the balcony and have a good talk ok" it sounded like a warning from her. I sighed inwardly and nodded. 

"After you please" he said like a gentleman. 'I'm not impressed'

We went to the balcony and I looked down at the children playing in the park. That sight always calmed me a little.

Zaheer's POV,

She was smiling looking down at the kids playing. Really smiling. It brought a smile on my face too. 

"These kids are soo innocent, soo cheerful without a care in the world. I wish life could be like this forever" she said lost in her own world. 

"Yeah, sometimes I too feel that I could just be a child." I said and smiled. She didn't look at me.

"What a life would that be!" She said again dreamily. 

The duppatta fell from her head and the wind played with her hair. My heart just skipped a beat at that sight. The long strands brushed her cheeks and she pulled them behind her ears with her gentle fingers. I wanted to kiss those fingers, those hair, those cheeks. But her sudden statement brought me back to reality.

"I'm sorry, but I'm not ready for this marriage" she said turning to me abruptly and looking straight into my eyes.

I could hear my heart break. 

"May I ask why?" I said calmly. 

"Its just- I- its..... suffocating. I don't like change and I don't fancy the fact of changing my life as it is now. Its- its-"

"Scary" i said giving her the word she wanted. She looked at me with those eyes and nodded. 

"So can you please reject me?" 

My mind went blank. Reject her?

Sania's POV,

He just stared at me blankly.

"I don't have the heart to tell my parents this myself but if you do they won't question anything" I said hopefully.

He looked away and I waited for an answer. 

"I can't" he said after a long silence.

"What?"

"I can't I'm sorry. Do you really think I'm here bcoz my mom brought me here to see you. No. Like you I was scared of marriage too. But when I saw you for the first time, it all changed. " He sounded soo serious. 

For the first time I realied how intense and intimidating his eyes were. I was lost of words. He took a step towards me and I froze. Men and guys were usually intimidated by me, but with him, it was the other way around.

"I really like you Sania and I really wish you to be my life partner." He looked straight in my eyes. I couldn't even blink. 

Then he smiled and stepped back again. "Um- sorry"

He moved his hand on his nape and looked down. Then looked back at me.

I'm still shaken.

"I really want to know you. Maybe if you get to know me too then maybe you can rethink your decision. Take your time and please don't be hasty. I'll be waiting" he said and turned to his heals. 

I took the duppatta back on my head and followed him.

Everyone's eager eyes were on us.

"I hope you 2 had a good talk" his mother said smiling. I faked a smile and I could judge that he did too. 

"Allahafiz. We should leave now. Um- I just got a call from work" he smiled at Mumma.

'he's lying. There was no call!' 

"Soo soon? Please stay for a while longer." Mumma insisted a bit worried. 

"No aunty we have to leave. Its urgent" he said. 

"Allahafiz Fatima ji. Looks like it can't be helped. Sania beta Allahafiz. You are a really sweet girl" his mother said. I smiled with a gentle nod. 

They left and mamma came to me.

"What happened? Why did they leave soo suddenly? Did you say something?" 

"Like he said it was a call from work." I just said and kept quiet. But her suspicious eyes were still in me. So I gave her a assuring smile. She bought it. 

"So did you like the boy" she was excited.

I sighed. "I don't know"

'I really like you Sania' those words echoed in my head. 

'ugh! Why do his words always get stuck in my head!'