Amidst the chaos, Hassan's nervousness spiked. He didn't want to fail this one.

“Shaleh, I need your help,” he admitted, his voice steady yet urgent.

“What do you need?” Shaleg responded, his curiosity piqued.

He laid out his vision with clarity. “Zainab’s parents wants to meet me.”

Shaleh's eyes widened in surprise. “Are you sure about this? Because in my experience, I'm advicing you to never trust the girls in our town. They might come off strong and bold but they'll bail out in the end. Do you still want it?”

Hassan affirmed with a nod. “She's different.”

Shaleh readily agreed to this and helped him to cover up for him at his house.

In the days leading up to the encounter, Hassan immersed himself in preparation. He delved into the values that Zainab’s family held dear, and rehearsed maintaining a calm demeanor.

Finally, the day arrived. Zainab’s parents welcomed Hassan to the coffee shop, and an air of tension enveloped the room.

Hassan took a deep breath and patiently waited for them to begin.
"Hassan, you seem to be an understanding person. I can only ask you a favor and let my daughter alone. This is all new to her and I don't think she's on her right mind." Faisal laid his concerns.

Hassan gulped down before inhaling a deep breath.
"If you find me understanding then what makes you think I won't be a good match for her? I'm sorry sir but my love for her is unwavering."

Zainab’s mother crossed her arms, her expression skeptical. “What makes you believe you are worthy of her?”

Hassan stood firm, presenting his case. “I have a solid education, promising job prospects, and a commitment to my family. Above all I love her for who she is. Her background doesn't matter to me.”

A heavy silence fell over the room as Zainab’s parents exchanged glances. Was there a flicker of hope in their eyes, or would they remain steadfast in their resistance?

The atmosphere in the shop was thick with tension as Zainabs uncle and aunt made their arrival.

Nasreen, Zainab's aunt, was the first to voice her discontent. "Amira, Faisal, you can't possibly be considering allowing Zainab to marry that... that boy."

"That boy has a name Nasreen. Hassan. And I won't entertain any sort of disrespect towards him." Hassan was glad that Faisal took his side.

Amira hesitated, her brow furrowed. "Nasreen, we’re trying to understand—"

But Nasreen interrupted, her tone sharp. "Understand? You’re blinded by Zainab’s innocence. This is not going to end well."

Uncle Jamal cleared his throat, his voice grave. "We must safeguard our family’s reputation. Zainab marrying Hassan would bring us disgrace." By this hassans hands clenched into a fist. He couldn't take it anymore but had to hold back only because he didn't want to fail Zainab.

Faisal spoke with resolve. "We appreciate your concerns, but this is our decision to make."

Nasreen’s voice turned cold. "Very well, but mark my words: Hassan will bring ruin to our family."

As the both departed, Amira turned to Faisal, her voice low. "Perhaps we should think this over."

Faisal’s expression hardened. "No, we cannot allow them to dictate our choices."

Faisal eyed Hassan and let out a sigh.
"I apologize if they have offended you in any way. But we still aren't satisfied with this decision. Now is not a good time. I'll contact you soon. And don't worry, I'm a man of my words." Hassan nodded in agreement and they went their separate ways.

Meanwhile, Zainab sat in her room, anxiety gnawing at her. "What is taking them so long?" she murmured to the empty space around her.

Just then, a text from Hassan brightened her phone, pulling her from her thoughts.

"Wasn't bad, but wasn't good either."

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing much but we'll get through this." Seeing this her heart sank down. Was it a reassurance or a false hope. She didn't know but she believed him.