A Tale of Hearts

Chapter Twenty Four

Rubab's POV:

I still couldn't believe I had agreed to Fahad's terrible suggestion. What had come over me? He looked so sincere when he had offered to marry me that I lost track of myself for a minute there. Something about the way his eyes held mine just made my mind blank. His intensity really catches me off guard at times. Will we be like this if we get married? I think not. He seems more laidback than Ibraheem. I had barely gotten over my feelings for him and now we were back to square one. Sighing, I knocked on my parents' bedroom as I waited for an answer.

"Come in, Rubab." I heard mama call out to me. They knew it was me because Sohail just barges inside and Vanya is already married.

I stepped inside and sighed in relief as I noticed the two of them watching television in a pleasant mood. Good, I hope this goes smoothly. Ammi looked at me with a warm smile as she ushered me towards her with her hand. Baba who had an unreadable expression on his face looked at me with tender eyes. It didn't take me long to realize that I had inherited my lack of emotions from my father. We were like two peas in a pod. Sohail and Vanya were far more expressive than me because they had inherited mama's cheerful nature. I didn't mind though cause it helped me bond with baba over time.

I was already dreading this conversation. Well, I had already lied to Salman so I guess it was fine but how am I going to tell Misha and Zoya? This was such a big move. I am honestly more worried about their approval than my parents. Mama and Baba already like Fahad ever since he saved me from Zohaib. They have been rooting for him. Balke woh tou us se dubara milna chah rahay thay lekin menay agar yeh baat Fahad ko bata di tou woh shouda hojayega. (Infact they had been asking about meeting him again but I didn't want to tell Fahad because he will get too arrogant.) Well, I don't blame them for thinking this way. Fahad was pretty convincing as my lover. He treated me with such love and affection infront of them, it was almost scary. He is such a conniving snake. And I am about to marry that shaitan.

"What is it, Rubab? You keep zoning out." Baba questioned as he got up and placed a hand on my shoulder, bringing me back to them.

"Mama, Baba, there is something I need to talk to you about." I was looking at them but my mind had drifted off to Fahad's injury. I wonder if the idiot had changed his bandages or not. I have a strong feeling he hadn't. After talking to them, I am going to call him to remind him to change his bandages and apply an ointment to his cut. I am really curious to know what his parents said too. He told me not to worry but still, it is making me insecure. It was hard to believe that they would accept me this easily.

"Sure, what is it? Did something happen?" I sat down on the ottoman infront of Mama and Baba and looked down at my hands in nervousness. Baba had always encouraged an atmosphere of transparency in our family but I didn't know how he was going to take this news.

"Yes, baba, something did happen. Yesterday, Salman and his guards stopped our car and tried to kidnap me." Baba's eyes turned wide while Mama gasped loudly. I felt like I was about to be bombarded by questions but I decided to ease them out first. "But please don't panic. Fahad was with me and we handled the situation."

"How?" Since Mama was still processing the information, baba decided the questions.

"We lied to Salman. I am sorry baba we had too. Fahad was injured so they would have dragged me away with them if we hadn't." I reasoned as I recalled that memory and started to shiver from fear. I felt weak and miserable. I didn't regret lying about this but a part of me felt guilty. Guilt over the fact that the lie should have been the truth.

"What did you lie about? Stop trembling Rubab, look at me beeti. You know me and your mother are on your side. We have seen how disgusting Zohaib can be."