Zain's POV

I drive home with a hundred thoughts over my head. I shouldn't have tried to get close to her. Not today. Not like that. She wasn't herself when we were in the restaurant. She was forcing herself to talk, to smile. Was it a bad idea? Taking her on a dinner? All I wanted was her to feel better, feel normal. I don't think I succeeded with that.

I lock the door and go straight to my parents room. My mother smiles as I knock on the door.

"I told you he would come." My mother tells my father with a smile that shows her admiration.

"Of course he'd come. After all, it's a matter of his life." My dad replies her and I stare them in confusion.

"What matter are we talking about?" I ask my mother who holds my hand and makes me sit on the bed beside her. She smiles kindly as she rubs her fingers on my palm. "I went to visit my friend Zara today. I also met her daughter. She's very beautiful. If you agree, how about we tie you both in a relationship?" My mother looks at me with hope,  expecting a yes. But I don't think I'm ready for that.

" But mom, I am still young." I say childishly and she taps my shoulder.

" Don't be silly, Zainy! You'll be twenty-six next month." My mother says and I roll my eyes.

"Its been only a month since Haya got married and now you all are after me! Is that even fair?" I question my parents who are smiling at my silly expressions making me more irritated than I already am.

"At least meet her for once, I'm sure you won't be able to reject her then." My mother assures me and I laugh sarcastically.

"Why wouldn't I be able to reject her? Is she a goddess? or a fairy from heaven?"

"Yes." My mother replies.

"You can tell us if you want to marry someone else, son. We will always value your choice." My father says as he put down the magazine he was holding.

"Ofcourse we do." My mother agrees and folds her hands around her chest.

"I want to marry Saba." I hear myself say.

"WHAT???" My mother cries out in shock and my father stares at me in confusion. Even I don't believe what I just said. But why am I not shocked?

"Sarah's daughter?" My father asks and I nod.

" Zain, this is not gonna happen. " My mother's voice turns cold.

"Why?"

"Because it's not meant to be!" She argues. "Look at you! You have everything, respect, education, job, money and most of all, a fine reputation. I don't want my son to marry a girl who has no self-confidence and and who runs away with a guy and returns home being raped."

"Mom, she didn't ask for it!" I answer back, " she grew up in this house, ma! And you always admired her, didn't you? You always told Haya to learn good habits of hers. How can you turn her entire character upside down because of just one heartbreaking incident?" I ask my mother who is now looking at me with anger.

" She's unfortunate." My mother snaps.

"How can you say that, Zeenat?" My father questions my mother with frustration, as if he didn't like her review.

"Because she's raped." My mother replies coldly.

"You shouldn't say that, Zeenat. She's like our daughter. God forbid, What if the same thing would have happened to Haya? Would you throw her out of the house, thinking she's unfortunate?" My mother stares at my father, ashamed of what she just said about Saba.

"If Zain wants to marry her, let him do it. There's no point of pushing him to marry someone else because he won't be happy then. And I'm sure you don't want that, do you?" My father asks my mother and she shakes her head in response.

"I want my son to have all the happiness in the world." My mother says as she wipes up her tears and then turns to me, "but dear, I want you to think one more time."

"Don't worry, ma! Once the case has been solved, we will discuss this with her family." I tell my mother.

"Case?" My mother asks.

"Yes, Saba will file a case against Danish for rape attempt."

"Oh!" My parents say and I nod.

"Just be careful." My mother says, "don't get too much involved in matters like these. They destroy our reputation. "

"I am not gonna lose my reputation, ma. I'm trying to save Saba's."

"Yes, you are the only man left on Earth to care for Saba's self-respect. " my mother comments sarcastically and I laugh.

"If I don't, who will?" I reply calmly and move out of my parents room.

As I enter in my room and close the door behind, the thing that's on my mind is one single thought, how would she feel when I tell her that I want to marry her?

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