Arranged: Betrothed

chapter 3

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Zahara was extremely excited to go home. She couldn't stop the smile that formed on her face just at the thought of her acceptance email. She was ready to start the next part of her life after a short break.

She had 4 months to enjoy and then it was back to revising, making notes and preparing for more exams. But she was more than happy to do it if it meant she would have a steady career. She was determined and nothing could stop her.

As soon as she stepped home she ran to the living room where her parents were sitting and watching TV.

"Mum, Dad, guess what!?"

"What happened?" They asked simultaneously, sitting up to hear her news.

"I got into my Univeristy of choice." She squealed, telling them the news with excitement.

Both her parents looked at each other and back at Zahara.

"Zahara, sweetheart. We are so proud of you. You have been working so hard. Come and sit here."

Zahara nodded and sat down opposite her parents.

"We have to tell you something." Stated her Father.

She glanced at her parents faces and realised that this was something serious.

"What?" She whispered, dreading to hear the answer.

"You can't go to University." Said her Mother.

"Why?"

"You're getting married."

Zahara felt her whole world come to a stop at those three words her parents uttered. She even thought her heart stopped for a second.

"Are you-... is this a joke?" She asked, clenching her hands into fists.

"Unfortunately, no."

"No. No! I'm not doing it. Whoever it is, say no." She was clearly agitated. Marriage? At 18? She didn't even know who it was.

"We can't say no."

"Why?" She asked sharply. How could they do something like that?"

"Because you've been betrothed since you were born, Zahara."

Her whole world shattered into tiny pieces. She couldn't even breathe properly. She has been committed to a man since birth?

"How could you do this to me?" She cried. "I have worked so hard everyday of my life to get where I am, only for you to tell me that I'm getting married to a strange person? What kind of world are you living in?"

"It was a good-"

"I don't care how good it was. You shouldn't have kept this from me. You should've told me as soon as I turned 16. You should've told me there was no point to have any dreams and hopes, because I'm supposed to get married at an age where everyone else starts to gave fun."

She stood up from the sofa and backed away. "I'm not doing this. I'm not getting married."

She ran from the room and went to her own. She slammed the door shut and quickly pulled her bed in front of it. She managed to move it after a few tries. They didn't have any locks on their doors, but she knew that they never came in without knocking first. This was different.

She dropped on the floor, feeling tears pouring out of her eyes no matter how much she tried to stop it. Everything was ruined. This sort of behaviour was so outdated, it shocked her that after putting so much importance on her education, they were just going to get her married without any other achievement in her life.

They could have told her so many times, they could have told her when she was younger, at least by now she would get used to the idea of getting married. It wouldn't have shocked her, broken her heart. It wouldn't have allowed her to have any other dreams, only that she was to be married by 18.

"Open the door." Her Father knocked and when she didn't answer him, he opened it. The door only opened an inch before it slammed into the bed frame, preventing him from coming inside.

"Zahara, please. Try to understand, we can't say no now." She pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, placing her head on her knees as she sobbed.

"Will you ask them? If I can study? If I can work?" It would be the only circumstance where she could willingly agree to it.

"I can't give you an answer. All I can say it was decided too long ago to say no now."

She didn't answer him, nor did she ask him anything again. They didn't care about her feelings, it was all about their reputation and promise.

Everything was ruined.

Was there even any point of going to College again? What was she going to tell her friends? They would think their family was so backwards. How could she break this news to them? Marriage at eighteen was unheard of. People started dating at this age, partying and going to clubs to meet new people and she was getting thrown into a forced marriage.

Terror swept through her, he could hurt her, hit her, did her parents not even care about her well-being? Force her to do things that she didn't want. She didn't know what to do with a husband, she'd never even had a boyfriend. Could they be that backwards that they wouldn't allow her to continue her education?

She didn't know who to speak to, whether to call Mary and tell her what happened. Rather than staying at home, she was going to go out and stay there as long as she could.

When Zahara arrived to college the next day, everyone could tell something was wrong. She didn't participate in any conversations and shrugged off any questions about her future. "Let's go get a drink, Zahara?" Asked Mary, narrowing her eyes at her. Zahara grimaced and followed her out.

"What's wrong with you?" She asked stopping outside the entrance.

"I don't know how to tell you this..." she mumbled feeling her throat close up.

"You can tell me anything, Zahara." She reassured, taking a hold of her hand.

"My parents... said I can't go to University." She said quietly.

"What! Why?" She questioned shocked.

"I'm getting married."

Mary's mouth dropped open. She couldn't believe the words that left her mouth. "You're kidding right?"

She shook her head, embarrassed. "Have you told them you don't want to?"

A nod.

"And then?"

"They said... I've been betrothed since I was born. And I have no idea who it is."

"I'm speechless. Do you want to speak to anyone about it?"

Zahara immediately shook her head, looking up at her pleadingly. "Please don't tell anyone. It would be more embarrassing for me... I just... don't know what to do."

"Maybe contact him yourself and explain it? The worst he can say is no?"

"I don't even know him. I said to my dad if he could speak to them, but his answer was unclear. Whatever it was, I would still have to marry him."

Mary stayed quiet, staring at her sympathetically. "You're only way out is speaking to someone, love. But it's up to you. I won't tell a soul."

"Thank you, Mary."

Mary pulled Zahara into a hug and held her shaking friend. She felt better after telling Mary, but the solution would put her whole family into jeopardy.

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Z.A.B