Shayba's P.O.V.

"Oh Allah, can you believe H2O's son is marrying you? Internet and newspapers will flood with your pictures you'll see."mom grinned.

"Yeah in your dreams."

"If he marries you, Allah, we won't have any tension for money at all!"

"Mom you make it seem like we are in intense financial crisis now and this guy from nowhere is coming to rescue us from all debts!"I ejaculated my exasperation.

"But just imagine what our status would be! The whole town will talk about H2O's owner's wedding and guess who his wife will be?? My daughter!! Oh my goodness! I can't keep calm Shayba! I must tell our neighbours!"

"Oh hello, stop right there. You aren't telling anyone about anything regarding this proposal."I huffed, "And FYI, he is not the owner of that company. His father is. He is only inheriting it by luck."

"And what is wrong with it? Soon he will be the owner! After all, he is the only son. Isn't it great? No one will mess with you after your wedding. No evil sister in law to fight with and no brother in law to share your property with."

I sighed in tumult. "Will you stop it mom? How can you say such things when I haven't even seen him yet?!"

"So what? I bet he looks dashing. After all, he was born rich. If he looks bad, he will just make a plastic surgery of his face. What's the big deal?" my mom giggled.

"Yeah right rich. And that means he is the only spoilt child of his opulent parents who doesn't have any significant quality of himself, rather than a huge ancestral property which he received without any credit and wow, his whole life depends on it. I can guarantee he was one of the least attentive students of his class who used to roam around with a pile of pocket money in his wallet and some stupid flatterers behind him. Thus he reigned with supreme dominance like a jerk trying to make others' lives hell. All those rich kids are the same mom. His life was all set since forever. What does he know about the real world? "

"Wow sis slow down,"Annaba laughed entering the room, "He may not be as stupid as you think."

"Yeah whatever." I turned to leave, "But wait. Let me tell you clearly mom, if I don't like this guy's behaviour and find it annoying somehow, he seems not to say his regular prayers, I'm calling off this marriage. At least I have that right."

"Excuse me? You are in no liberty to do such things now. You have messed it enough Shayba. You should feel lucky that you still get such proposal. Abeer will come this Friday with his family to see you and if they like you, they will on spot fix the akdh date. Ahhh I feel so elated Shayba! I didn't become so happy even when you got admitted to U.o.E."

Huffing at her statement, trying to process in head these upcoming despondent week of mine, I got ready to leave home for university.

"At least take his biodata and have a look!"mom shouted from her balcony when I was getting on the car.

"No, thank you. I couldn't care less."I shouted back and got inside. Geez!

Don't know why I find this so called flamboyant proposal vexing but the sudden approach of this unknown guy definitely feels weird. How am I going to get married to someone whom I don't know at all?! Yeah I know, I would never have a love marriage, but still! This guy seems to come from a completely different part of the world.

How am I going to spend the rest of my life with him who seems most likely not to share my views? Maybe what is Haram to me will seem modern and smart to him. Maybe what is forbidden for me according to Islam, he will find it the most pleasant. And what if he hates my kind of attire and veil? What if he forbids me to wear abaya and niqab to show my well polished figure to everyone? What if he smokes on a regular basis? What if he doesn't pray his Salah? I mean these are my basic criteria! I can't condone any of them. Agonizing questions flooded in my head as I reached my campus with a sore heart trying to put a tight smile on my face.

I...am scared.

"Hey look who's here! What's up? How you've been doing?"my friends surrounded me after a long week.

"Yes, now I'm doing great Alhumdulillah. Thanks for caring guys." I smiled and as I took my seat beside the window, Nadia jumped on it and sat beside me.

"Really? You don't seem so."
"About what?"
"That you are doing great."
I sighed out my heavy heart aloud. "Yeah you got me."
"Tell me every single bit of it."
"Ahh nothing much really. Another proposal and I fear that it's gonna be the last one."
To my surprise, she grinned with all her teeth out and squeaked,"Oh gosh that's such a great news! Are you getting hitched in this semester?"
"Only Allah knows. You know how my mom is..."our conversation ended as the teacher entered into the room.

By the way! I totally forgot to return Zawad sir's money. Oh Allah! How am I going to convince this guy to take it back?! Should I just put the money in an envelope and hand it over to him? No he will never accept that. Should I buy him something? What about lunch? Or what else am I going to give him?! I'm his student!! Pondering for a while, I stuck to this decision with utter confusion.

"Nadia, you definitely need to go with me!"I opened up everything to her. "You know how he paid all the hospital bill and for my medicines!" Nadia smilingly stared at me and realizing the urgency in my tone, nodded with affirmation."Oki love!"

At sharp 1 p.m. being done with the classes, we went to the nearby food court and bought lunch, drinks and some pastries. Well not for us, but for him and sheepishly began to squander around the teacher's room. How am I going to find him now? I hope no one minds anything seeing us here. Thank goodness Nadia came with me!

Suddenly I saw him coming out, "Zawad Sir!"

He turned and finding us awkwardly smiled, "Shayba?"

"Uh it's for you. Thanks! JazakAllahu Khairan!"I quickly replied.

He stared at the bag in my hand and asked being completely incongruous, "For what?"

"For helping me in the hospital." I answered. "It's very little though. Just a token of thanks."

He crunched his nose,"Shayba I...."

"Pleeease!"I urged.

He clumsily looked at Nadia while taking the parcel from me and tightly smiled. "Okay. Thanks."

Well I'm done. So I immediately turned back holding Nadia's hand and almost ran towards the class. On the way, she started giggling.

"Aww did you notice how nervous he felt taking the bag from you?! He was looking at my side avoiding your eyes! Hahaha!!" She jolted with laughter.

"Shush you! Are you out of your mind?"

"Not at all! I believe there is something going on! Have you ever saw him behaving that weird?"

"Yeah whatever you want to fantasize." I shrugged and blew her off.

And as time flew by, Friday approached very quickly.

"What do you think about this pink sharee?"

"Astagfirullah! Put it down for Allah's sake! I'm not wearing a sharee mom!"

"Why not? What if they bring a ring and perform the engagement on spot? You definitely need to wear a sharee!" Mom urged.

"They are just coming to see me. And there will be NO engagement party today. Am I clear?"

Mom sighed with utter exasperation. "Fine! But at least wear a gorgeous expensive dress. They must not think of us poorly either."

This woman! I searched for my old salwaars in my closet and rummaging through it for five minutes, ended up choosing a green one. Mom heaved a tired sigh but said nothing, definitely not happy with my choice. She wanted a red or bright pink one to make me look like a bride.

I went to the dressing room to get ready in the afternoon when the door bell rang making my heart jump a bit. For some unknown reasons I started to sweat. Oh Allah please make this easy for me. What if it's the final one? What if mom really leaves me no choice?

When I came out, I could hear people running, greeting each other and chairs screeching on a very busy mode. After a while, Annaba ran upstairs and winked, "Sis, he looks damn hot!" She stopped and eyeing me, immediately peeped, "Aww you look so pretty Masha-Allah! Both seem to be just made for each other!"

"Shut uuup!"I blushed hearing her.

"Oh look, your cheeks are tinted. You're blushing! Girl, you should wear a niqab if you don't want him to go crazy today!"

"Shut up Annaba!!!!"I diverted my eyes and changed the topic, "So what's going on over there? What do you think?"

"To be bro in law is damn hot!"

Gritting my teeth,I took it in and keeping my calm asked, "Next?"

"Bro in law's mom is way too beautiful and young. At first I thought she was his elder sister or something."

"I swear, if you call that guy bro in law again, I'm going to squeeze your throat!"I gritted.

"Hahaha ok, sorry."she hid her smile with her palm.

"Next?"

"They behaved well, I mean enough politely."

I heaved a sigh. Good to know that.

"Mom asked you to take the tea tray when you enter. She needs you to look cultured and civil."

"Huh? Why do I have to do that?"

"Like I said already."she shrugged and instantly looked at me with awe, "Aww sis,you look so nervous!"she cupped my face.

I quickly caught hold of my guards, "No, I'm not being nervous, I just, you know have a weird feeling inside. I don't know this guy at all and look what's happening!" I sighed looking at my reflection in the mirror,"Even YOU have started calling him brother in law!"

She chuckled. "Don't worry my pie. Let's go. It's time."

Without any words, I got up. Mom came to supervise me telling me again and again how to give salaam, how to behave politely and how to not sit before they tell me to. Oh mom! I know!!

Keeping my gaze as down as usual, I entered the room boldly with self esteem and confidence. They are not going to eat me up, are they?

"This is my daughter, Shayba."Dad introduced.

"Masha-Allah, she looks prettier than the picture!"a lady praised. Wait, they have my picture? Which one? Without niqab? I am so going to kill mom for providing them my picture without telling me!

"Shayba! Tea!"mom whispered with a glare.

Sorry! I quickly paced forward and gave the woman a cup of tea from the tray. Then dad. Then my brother. And then reaching the last person sitting at the corner. And while I took the cup from the tray, the earth shook with my hands when our eyes met.

IT CAN'T BE HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My breathing stopped.
I didn't even realize when the cup slipped from my hand. My senses came back only when its crushing sound shattered the silence of the whole room. WHAT IS GOING ON?!?!

The flaming hot tea burnt both my feet and spilled on his shoes as I surreptitiously jumped two steps back.

My eyes shot up towards the woman, then to my mom and lastly to the guy in concern.

"I'm sorry, what's going on?"I almost fainted.

"Sis! Apply some ice! Geez, you burnt yourself!" Annaba rushed and thrashed some ice on my feet.

Oh shut up! I'm dying here! Don't you see?!

"You have a twin?!!" I almost cried. Don't freak out, but I AM freaking out!!

The whole room laughed out loud as he too replied with a chuckle,"No I'm afraid, I'm the only child of my parents. By the way, Assalamu Alaikum."

NOOOOOOOO!!!
"Walaikumus...Salam."I murmured in shock and turned to my sister whispering with a squeaky voice, "Annaba, is he a doppelganger?!"

She smiled sympathetically but nodded in the negative. And our eyes meeting again, he shrugged his shoulders and smiled.

I couldn't utter another word. Is it real? Someone please pinch me!

That Abir is him?!?!
Zawad Abir Khan!?!
My suitor?
A businessman?!
The successor of H2O?!
That spoilt rich guy I was thinking of?!
My head spinned as the realization dawned upon me. Why didn't I think of it before?! How could I forget his name?!

"Why don't you have a seat, Shayba?" His mother asked smilingly. Oh yes I know her. I even had a video chat with her in France last year. Oh God! My hands began to sweat immediately.

I was so bewildered that I still couldn't move. Annaba made me sit on a couch just in front of him and left the room.

"Assalamu Alaikum. How are you?"
"Ahh Walaikumus Salam. I'm... fine Alhumdulillah."I replied sweating. Fine? Really? If anything, 'fine' is the last thing in the world I am right now.

She asked me a couple of questions about my life and studies and then all on a sudden got up, "I think it would be better now if you two talk."
WHAATTTTTT!?! I DON'T WANT TO TALK TO HIM!
My parents and brother got up too and leaving the room, they waited just beside the door in the dining hall.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!?"I almost cried crunching my face.
He took a deep breath and stood up. "Look Shayba, I know it's unexpected but please calm down. I...."

"Calm down?! How do you expect me to calm down?! How did you get my address? My parents' number? My biodata and everything else?!" I squeaked out trying to keep my voice as low as possible.

This time he laughed and eyed at the door at peeping Annaba.

THAT BETRAYER!!! My jaw dropped with an audible gasp.
"You were behind all this?!"my voice raised.
"Sis, I swear, it's not my fault! He proposed at first!" she pointed her index at him and hearing her, my face turned red, abashed as I couldn't articulate anything.
'He' and 'Proposed'?

"Shayba, listen,"he came forward and knelt down just in front of me regardless of how pathetic I looked right now, "I know you were not prepared for this. And how much it's for you to take in. But please, try to comprehend this at least without blowing it off just because I teach at your university now."

Oh Allah! This guy is on his knees for me!
I diverted my face to my left to hide it somewhere in vain. I know my expression looks horrible now.

He continued, "I've been thinking of this proposal for the last one and a half year and I thought this might be the right time and right way to approach you. I knew that you'll never accept me if I directly proposed to you. That's why this sudden appearance. You understand what I'm saying?"he asked softly.

That long?! Are you kidding me?!

Chapping my lips together, I just nodded in reply without looking at him. He is right anyway. I would never encouraged such an offering to me.

"Good." He smiled again.
God! Someone please move that guy from my front! I can't breathe!

He got up. "Now, you can ask me any questions if you have. Obviously you know me very well already. But still if you have?"

I took deep breaths trying to utter some words at least, but my head never felt so blank. Definitely I had a lot of questions in my head to ask my suitor, but I never pictured it would be HIM! What should I say now huh? Come on Shayba! Say something!

"Fine, then let me ask first,"he smilingly said, "So, are you planning on finding a job after marriage?"

"Yes."I replied after an awkward pause of silence.

"Good."

"Any plan of higher education after B.Sc?"

"I wish to do a Ph.D."I replied gazing at the carpet.

"Good to know. Now your turn."

Gosh, my hands turned into ice almost. Okay.

"Do you pray regularly?"I uttered in a faint voice.

"Yeah."

"Regularly?"I asked again with a hint of doubt. I hardly get any news of him this days.

He grinned this time, "Yes, I do. I knew what you'd ask for." And even though looking at the carpet, I could see his expression from the corner of my eyes as my cheeks blushed for no reason. Move on to next question Shayba!

"Do you still smoke?"

This time he took a pause.
"Yes."

Okay.

"Thanks for being honest." My heart sank a bit even though I knew I would never get someone in my life who is 100% perfect. But then again, a smoker?

"Ok I have one last question."I said sitting with my backbone straight, "What is your opinion on my wearing Burqa and Niqab?"

"Huh?" he frowned for a moment, "Ok Shayba, I can't give you any specific on this topic, but I can at least surely say that this is one of the major reasons I want to marry you for." As my eyes shot up, he gave me a lopsided smile, "I have seen how you respect your attire. I have seen how you lower your eyes everytime you talk to me and I couldn't find it more appealing. I know what kind of character you possess and I also know what I personally want in a wife. Now if you ask me, this is the reason today I'm here for. Trust me."

I blushed so terribly this time hearing him, I didn't know where to hide anymore. Oh dear Allah. That's it. I can't stand another second here. With short breath, I immediately called my sister for my rescue, "Annaba I need some ice!"

"Finished talking?"my brother asked peeping through the curtains and I just quickly nodded. Thankfully everyone else entered the room too.

"Shayba, you can go now. We'll talk for a minute."my mom stated lovingly.

Oh thanks!

I ran for my life and before flying to my room I could hear people saying, "Oh. She is way too shy to talk haha." "She's embarrassed." "Yeah." "She never expected this to come." "Just look at her face, she's all red!" And then loud laughter.

Entering into my washroom and locking the door, I finally breathed in. My heart felt like running a marathon in my chest. His last words were enough to sway me up.
Oh Allah!!
I feel so relieved right now!

Pressing my forehead with both my palms, I stood before the mirror looking at the red tomato like face. And then I laughed.
I'm actually happy!
Literally!
Could I ever imagine to get someone this supportive of my veils?
Someone I know for almost two years?
A qualified bright student who comes of a reputed family?
Oh dear, he looks good too!
Astagfirullah! Shut up Shayba!

I hid my face in my hands with an awkward kind of shameless happiness and shyness. Geez! I'm acting like a love struck teenager! The more I thought about him, the more my heart did somersaults.

The fact that he smokes seemed very little in the long list of qualifications right now. Who on earth is totally perfect? Maybe he can give up smoking later!

Biting my lips, I stared at my reflection cheekily smiling back at me.

Shayba, you are doomed for sure.

I badly need to perform Istikhara, Ya Rabb.

_______________________________________

Huff! Long chapter. I hope I did justice to the characters.

Assalamu Alaikum.
I'm back from a long exhausting break for studies.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter hehehe.😄
Good news! INFATUATED won the second place in the Rahma Awards.
Thanks to each and every person who have ever read this book and voted for it. I love you people!❤

Also, you can catch me up on the book The Rahma Awards for an interview! I'd love to hear from you and answer your questions!