And who ever puts their trust in Allah, than He 'alone' is sufficient for them.
Quran - [65:3]

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Zaroon's pov:

I went to the washroom and changed my clothes. Luckily I had purchased some clothes for myself before going to the food court.

I came back to the food court and saw Usman and Sana sitting on our table and Nysha had not yet returned.

"Zaroon bhai I'm really sorry from my friend's side. It was not done on purpose. Vo hai hi aisi. Pagal. Her clumsy self keeps falling" Sana told me.

"I wish she falls in love with me one day" I whispered to myself.

"Did you say something" Usman asked raising his perfectly shaped eyebrow and smirked. I knew this idiot would have heard. Shaking my head.

"Sana how do you know Nysha?" I asked her.

"Wait a minute, how do you know Nysha?" she retorted immediately.

'Uh oh. Ye Kahan phas gaya mai' I wondered.

"Uh I don't know her personally but I know her dad through business" I lied but I think it wasn't a complete lie.

It was almost 10 mins and Nysha had not yet returned from the washroom and I started to get worried.

"I'll just go check on her" saying this Sana got up and went to the washroom to check up on Nysha.

I looked over Usman and noticed him scanning me with his scrutinizing gaze.

"What?"

"Are you not going to tell me how do you know Nysha?" he asked me.

"Umm she is the girl I keep talking about" I told him truthfully

"Oh my God! Are you kidding me? It's Nysha? Masha Allah Man! She is indeed a very beautiful soul. I wish I knew it was her, I wouldn't let you suffer like this for almost 3 years! You know, she is Sana's friend and she keeps coming to visit Sana sometimes and my family treats her like their own daughter. I can ask ammi to talk to her parents about you and Nysha" he ranted and I was speechless.

"Thanks Usman but I think I will personally talk to her dad once we meet on Monday" I was glad to have a supporting friend like him but I wanted to carry forward this alliance by myself.

Sana returned and told us that Nysha will be leaving. She said she got a call from home but I know that she didn't want to face us after the incident. I was sad but I let it go. I didn't want to make her more uncomfortable. Sana bid us goodbye and left taking Nysha's handbag.

Nysha's pov:

Not only had I spilt everything on them but also I had the audacity to laugh at them. And now I couldn't stop myself for being so clumsy around everyone.

I didn't feel like going and meeting them again after being embarrassed. I didn't want to embarrass myself more. I saw Sana coming towards me and I told her that I need to go back home.

"Nysha I'll be back with your handbag and also inform them that we're leaving" Sana said understanding my situation. But I couldn't let her spoil her shopping for me.

"Sana it's alright I'll go back alone. You carry on with your shopping with Usman bhai" I told her but she shook her head in negative.

"we came here together and we will go back together. Give me 5 mins and I'll be back" and she went to her our belongings.

Thank god I didn't have to face them again.

Once I reached home, I noticed my nosy Neighbour aunty sitting with my mom. I always hated such people who couldn't keep up to their own business and always want to put their leg into others business. I also didn't like her because she was keen on getting me married.

If she wished, she would have got me married to the first person standing outside my door. But thank Allah my parents are literally the best parents anyone could ask for. They would gently decline her saying that I'm still studying and not ready for marriage.

"Assalamualaikum aunty" I greeted her politely. I didn't want to get judged by her for not showing her basic manners. I didn't want to put my parents name in shame.

"Walaikumussalam Nysha. We were just waiting for you to arrive. Alhamdulillah that now your studies will be completed. I've got an alliance for you and it is the best from all the alliances I've got before" she sounded happy but I was far away from being happy. I knew this was coming.

I wonder why doesn't she just start with this business to destroy everyone's life by getting them married to her best alliances and just leave me behind?

"I'm sorry to disappoint you aunty but I would like to talk to my ammi alone about it. She will surely let you know the answer" I told her honestly. I knew ammi wasn't happy with my reply but I didn't want to be forced into getting married right now and wanted to focus on my career.

I excused myself to my room. I kept all the bags I had in my hand and sat on my bed. I took the water bottle that I had kept handy on the side table and gulped down some water.

Why are such auntie's so nosy and always bothered about others business. I really wished if she would look after her own children, I wish she would focus on her own son who has a new girlfriend every week.

After about 5 mins ammi entered my room and she didn't look happy but she really looked angry with my outburst on aunty.

"Nysha I don't appreciate the way you spoke to her. She's really upset and went back home. She was only doing it for your betterment beta. And she's not wrong. I think it's time for you to settle down beta. I've looked at the proposal and it's a suitable alliance and I want you to think about it"

"Ammi what are you saying? I'm just 21 and I want to focus on my career as well. I do not want to put burden on you both right now and I do not like the way we desi's spend on a wedding. I know a wedding will not come into place with the money left behind and I do not want you to put more charge on abbu's shoulder. He is already bearing too much" I told her softly.

"Nysha beta, we don't know how long will we live and you're our only daughter. We do not want to leave you behind all alone in this world. You don't know when our time will come.." I immediately Interuppted her. I couldn't even think of a life without them.

"Ammi please don't say that and I really pray that Allah blesses you both with a long Hayati. Ammi just live for today and pray that Allah bless me with what is best for me. All I'm saying is I will get married but it's just that I do not want to get married now" I sighed.

"but why not now Nysha? You could work even after marriage. Nobody is stopping you. Please just think about it" I didn't want to upset her more so I just nodded my head.

But I was reluctant that I wanted to focus more on my career than rather being married.

I did my ablution and performed my night prayers. I asked got to guide me and show me a way which would lead me to my success. Only he could guide me and understand me.

Abbu had got the job as the senior manager, initially abbu told Mr. Zaroon Mustafa that he didn't want such a higher position but Mr. Zaroon wanted abbu to handle this position and insisted abbu a lot and hence, abbu gave away and agreed to take the job.

Days passed and somehow ammi had convinced abbu for this alliance and abbu was looking forward to meet them, and now since abbu had a stable job in Mustafa company, he wanted me to get married and settle down in life.

Ammi told me that the groom's side didn't have a problem with me going for a job after my marriage and wanted to get us married as soon as possible. I didnt know what was the rush all about? Why couldn't people wait and why was everything being rushed.

I was sitting in front of my small dressing table dressed in a pista green salwar kameez. They had decided to get Fahad and I engaged today.

I informed yesterday about all this fuss to Sana and she was angry. She said I should have objected and I told her that I did but I couldn't convince them and also told her how desi families work in such matters. She looked really upset.

I really missed her right now. I missed her being my moral support. I wish she could join, but she couldn't as her wedding festivities would start tomorrow and she wasn't allowed to leave the house.

Ammi came inside my room and told me that I looked beautiful and I just gave her a small smile. I tried keeping it real but I knew it looked fake.

"Nysha beta, I'm doing this only for your best beta. I'm really happy with the proposal and I'm sorry for everything being rushed out" she hugged me and I left myself to melt in her warmth.

I realised I should just let this happen. If my Allah has willed for this to happen that it will happen and if not then it won't.

I told ammi that I need to offer 2 Rakats of Salah and she left me alone giving me some privacy with my rabb.

I had made ablution before applying the light makeup and I still had it. I laid my prayer mat on the floor and sincerely prayer Salah.

I asked my rabb to only bless me with the best. I told him that I need his blessing to carry this forward. I prayed for our well-being. I also prayed to him that if Fahad was written in my destiny, than I wanted this engagement to move forward without any problem and if not, than stop it anyhow. Tawakkaltu Allah ( I leave my trust in Allah).

I finished my prayer and heard a knock on my door. Ammi came inside and asked me to accompany her downstairs. She told me that my would be in-laws had arrived and were waiting for my arrival.

I didn't feel any kind of excitement of nervousness. My emotions were neutral. I masked a smile on my face and went down stairs with my ammi.

There were a lot of people. I didn't even know these many people were invited. Kids were running all around like it was a playground and not our living room

They had placed a bridal chair for me to sit. I moved forward and sat on the chair. Two girls came and greeted my introducing me that they were my elder sister in-laws. They looked a bit elder to me than I had expected them to be. They looked to be in their later thirties. This was the first time I was meeting them all. I hadn't got to meet anyone before.

A lady in her mid fifties came to me and introduced herself as Fahad's mother. She was about to start with the rituals not was stopped with someone yelling. I didn't know who it was as I had to keep my head low for the rituals.

"Uncle! You can't get Nysha married to this man" someone yelled and if I'm not wrong it sounded like Mr. Zaroon. But what was he doing here and why was he against the engagement?

"Zaroon? What happened and why do you want to stop the engagement?" Abbu asked him politely. He didn't want to be disrespectful to his boss.

"Because I..."

━━━━━━━༺۵༻━━━━━━━

Assalamu alaikum everyone

Hey how are y'all doing?

Hehe a cliffhanger after a long time.

Why do you think Zaroon interrupted the engagement?

Will he confess his feelings or not?

~Huda_Fatima.