Yasmin's POV

"Baba,wh-what did you say?" I stammered. I couldn't believe this. My ears must be deceiving me.

"You heard me Yasmin." He said looking straight into my eyes.

I shook my head vigorously. This couldn't be happening.

"Baba I can't marry him."

"You live under my roof young lady and you'll do whatever I tell you to do." He raised his voice at me. Baba never raised his voice at me. Never.

I cowered in fear at the anger I saw in his eyes. But I had to speak up. This was my life. It wasn't just a toy to play with.

"No baba,I can't marry him. Since mama's death,you abandoned us,refused to put your hands into anything we've done. You isolated yourself from us. Your daughter is in the hospital fighting for her life,she cries everyday on how much she misses you but you never showed us you care. And now this. And now you expect me to just do as you say. Baba it doesn't work that way. You're my father and I love you but I can't sacrifice my happiness of a lifetime and get married to someone I don't love. No baba,I can't."

I didn't know where I got the courage to say all these but it felt really good.

He was staring at me,his eyes bloodshot. I lowered my head not able to look into his eyes.

"This marriage will happen whether you like it or not. Now get out of my office!"

I flinched when he shouted and I hurriedly left the room. An angry baba wasn't what I wanted to deal with.

I ran to my room and locked the door. I fell on my bed and started crying. This couldn't be happening. He can't force me to marry him. Salman that idiot...

I grabbed my phone and dialled his number. He picked on the third ring.

"Hey swee..."

"Don't you dare sweet me," I cut him off.

"This is all your fault. I knew you were trouble since the first day I set my eyes on you again. Thank God I trusted my instincts and never believed that you changed. How dare you? Who do you think you're? Huh?"

"Wait,wait,wait, hold up. What the hell are you talking about?"

"You're very stupid for asking me that. Yes I called you stupid. Do your worst. You went behind my back you backstabbing idiot. How could you? I will never marry you Salman. Never. You don't always get what you want. That's not how the world works."

I cut the call. I was breathing so hard. I was filled with so much rage. Like seriously..how dare he?

***

Yazeed's POV

"Come here,I've got a surprise for you." I told sumayya as I held her hand made her sit down on the old chair.

She sat down and was looking at me expectantly.

"Close your eyes."

She did and I removed her broken glasses from her eyes and replaced it with the new one I got her. Thankfully,I didn't throw away the card that had her lens number.

"You can open your eyes now."

She opened them and a wide smile was etched on her face. She removed the frame to inspect it. She was so happy and I knew every pain,every beating,every suffering was worth it.

"Thank you so much Ya yazeed. Thank you. I love it." She caught me off guard as she gave me a big hug. I hugged her back and told her she was welcome.

"You don't want to hug me to death now do you?"

She giggled and skipped off to the room to show Umma her new glasses.

I followed her to the room. Umma was lying down but she sat up as she saw me. She was smiling and I wish I could keep that smile there forever.

"Allah yayi maka albarka Yazeed. Allah ya muku albarka dukkan ku." May Allah bless you.

"Ameen Ameen, Umma. May Allah grant you good health."

"Ameen Yazeed."

"Sumayya go and boil water for me."

Sumayya excused herself and Umma turned to me.

"Yazeed,don't you think it's time to move on? From what I noticed,your current job is paying okay."

Oh no, not this again.

"Umma,I'm not ready. It's paying okay but not enough for me to get married. I'm still struggling with sumie and khaleed. Getting married isn't an option now. Maybe in a few more years. I don't want what happened last time to repeat itself again. Please understand Umma."

"Okay Yazeed,It's alright. I won't rush you into anything. May Allah choose the best spouse for you."

"Ameen, thank you Umma. I have to get back to work."

"May Allah protect you."

"Ameen. See you later."

I left her room and went out. I wasn't really going to work. I wanted to go and check on Afrah. And in hopes that I'll run into her sister.

I decided to walk a little before I find any transport.

Umma can be funny at times. How can she suggest that I get married now. Now wasn't a good time. And the person I have in mind wasn't even up to my standards. Before I could raise enough to give her the life she was used to living, she'd already be married with five kids and two grand children. I might be exaggerating that a bit but it's just shows how impossible it was for me and her.

But I could see it in her eyes. She feels the same way I feel about her. And I wish I knew what was holding her back. For me,I knew what was holding me back. My status, the baggage I come with. She doesn't deserve that. I just wish things were different. I could say that I wish we hadn't crossed paths but I'd be lying to myself. I was glad I got to know this beautiful soul.

So lost in my thoughts,I didn't realise I was already close to the hospital. I increased my pace and arrived within a few minutes.

I reached Afrah's room and she was sleeping. I was kind of disappointed that Yasmin wasn't there.

I sat on the chair next to her bed and she opened her eyes.

"I didn't mean to disturb you." I whispered.  "Just came to say hi."

She smiled. "It's alwight. Can you read for me pwease?"

"Sure. I even brought you a book." I brought out the small book from my worned out jacket.

"Here. The beautiful princess."

"Thank you Yazweed." She giggled. "Read it for me."

"Okay.." And I read for her until she fell asleep again.

It was getting late so I decided to leave. I kept the book beside her bed and closed the door quietly behind me.

I froze when I saw Yasmin just outside the door. She hadn't noticed my presence yet because she looked so lost in thoughts. Her eyes were bloodshot and she was crying. If I wasn't coming out of Afrah's room, I'd think something happened to her.

She saw me and began to wipe her tears. She was shocked to see me there.

"Wh-what are you doing here?" She asked.

"I came to see Afrah. I hope you don't mind." I replied as I scratched the back of my neck.

"No no it's okay. How's she? I didn't get to enter her room." She wiped her eyes again.

"She's fine,she's sleeping now though."

"Okay that's good."

"What's wrong?" I asked concerned as I sat next to her.

She shifted, nervously wringing her hands.

"It's nothing." She sniffled.

"You can trust me remember?" I prodded.

She sighed. "Okay,It's baba h-he he wants to...." And she burst into another round of tears.

My heart was literally breaking as each tear fell. I wish I knew how to console her.

"What did he do?" I asked gently.

She looked at me,eyes red and brimming with tears. "He's getting me married to Salman."

I didn't think I heard her right. "What? Why?" I could feel the blood draining from my face. I didn't like how this news was affecting me.

"I wish I knew. I've never seen baba so angry and determined like I did today. It was so scary Yazeed."

"I don't know what to say." I said weakly.

She wiped her tears. "It's fine. I'll figure something out. I'll never marry him. I can't marry him."

I sat down quietly next to her at loss for words. I couldn't even explain how I was feeling at the moment. I just knew that my heart was breaking. She was right in front me but yet so faraway. I've lost her.

***
A/N: Sorry for the long wait ❤
Finished my exams just recently. Please include me in your prayers:)
So how do we like the chapter?
Is Salman really clueless or was he behind it all?😈
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Love,
Siyamah🍂

Ps. Who likes my new cover?😁