Mutuals

[72]

Fast forward 11 days now and I was back at home except this time I had brought Harris with me, who for the record was shitting bricks.
"Bubs don't worry okay we've got this, I did most of it anyways"
"Your dad and brother fucking hate me" he sighs rubbing his palms on his thighs
I grab his right hand in my hands and squeeze them gently, "I'll be there with you through it all I swear"
He looks me in the eye and and smiles a weak smile
"After all I've done and you're the one comforting me" he scoffs and I roll my eyes
"Shut up" I laugh, "now come on let's go"

We both get out of my car and cross the road to my house, Harris following right behind. When we walk in, he takes his shoes off even though I had told him not to but he insisted.
"Salam" we both greet once I open the door to see everyone sat here just as they were a week ago
My mum hugs me and so does Maira

"Salam uncle" Harris says holding his hand out to shake my dads hand
My dad replies with a firm handshake
Harris glances over to Kaisar who nods his head, to which he nods back
Just as Harris is about to sit next to me, my dad pats the empty space next to him, gesturing for him to sit there. I give him a reassuring smile but he clearly looks stressed bless him.

"So" my dad begins and I notice Harris take a quick breath, "why are we all here today?"
I bite back a smile because I can tell by the way my dad is behaving, he's not taking this situation entirely seriously. But obviously Harris doesn't know that.
He clears his throat and glances at me, "uncle I've come to ask for your daughter's hand"
"If I'm not mistaken, that was supposed to happen a year ago no?" My dad replies and Harris's face twitches
"I don't mean this in a bad way at all I just wasn't ready for your daughter then" Harris explains and I'm not sure how I feel about the way he worded that
"And what makes you think you're ready now?" Kaisar speaks up from the corner

Harris glances over at Kaisar and then looks at his hands, "I never should have left her I loved her then and I love her even more now, I am one hundred percent sure I am ready"
He's picking at his nails which I've noticed he does when he's uncomfortable.
"You hurt Zara a lot and we were the ones that had to witness that so what makes you think you can just leave and come back as you please and take my sister?" Kaisar grills him and I cringe at his tone which feels very patronising even to me and he's not even directing the question at me

Harris looks majorly uncomfortable and dad doesn't speak up to lighten the mood and I don't even know what to say to cut the tension. He looks up at me through his eyelashes and I can genuinely feel my heart cracking by the second.

Why is he not saying anything?

I mean surely if he did want me he would be able to answer this. Don't get me wrong I can understand how scary this situation must be for him but even then, am I not worth it?

"Look man" Harris acknowledges Kaisar and then my dad too, "Uncle with all due respect your daughter wasn't the only one who was hurt and I don't expect you to understand that but I have two sisters and a mother who I care for so deeply and I would react in the same way as you guys if anyone made them upset"
He sighs, "I know I shouldn't have done what I did but them few months away from Zara was the hardest thing I've ever done and it made me realise how much of a mistake I had made. Me and Zara have both put that in the past and she knows how much I adore her and as long as she's with me I only intend to make her happy and nothing else"

I feel my heart swelling and I swear to God I just wanna jump on him that's how happy I am. My mum grins at me from across the room and I smile to myself.
"Son, you have our blessing, as long as you keep my beti happy" my dad places a hand on Harris's knee
I can tell my dad feels a mixture of happiness and sadness but he's trying not to show it.
"Really?" Harris asks
"Don't make us second guess our decision" Kaisar jokes and Harris sighs with a small laugh

Our eyes meet and honestly, I felt genuine happiness erupt inside me

...