That's what I felt, confusion and what the heck let's add anger into the mix as well. Mustafa's mom and him stormed out of our house after that little façade Asad pulled. "What is wrong with you?" to be fair I was kind of pretending to be angry at Asad.
My plan was to reject Mustafa but not like this! Asad remained quiet just staring at me my aunt and uncle wouldn't stop talking about what was going on. "Young man what is your relation with Rayyana?" I almost scoffed, my uncle was asking that question as if we deserve a label.
"I am here to ask Rayyana for her hand in marriage." I sighed and rubbed my forehead, Rabia, Soojin, and Sabha started yelling at Asad "Who do you think you are asking Rayyana's hand like that?" They all asked him.
He ignored them and called someone "I'm sending you an address come, I want to marry this girl." And then he hung up and sent the person the address. Then to my dismay sat down on our couch and smiled at us "Can I have some Chai please?"
We all stared at him until he raised an eyebrow "Tea." he said as if we didn't know what chai was. "No, you will not get chai." I huffed. Suddenly my aunt grabbed my arm and took me to the kitchen.
There was a separate door to the kitchen so she closed the door and turned to me angry. "Rayyana, how the hell do you know Asad Qureshi?" I shrugged and told her what happened.
She scowled at me "I cant believe he would choose someone like you over my daughter." My aunt said that with so much disgust that I had to take a step back. And to think, I thought we were finally opening up to each other.
"Phupho it's not my fault that people want the gold instead of the silver." She glared at me and I just sweetly smiled. "Whatever, I will never allow you to live in such luxury you don't deserve it." and with that she left the kitchen with me just standing there.
We all have seen Javaria's house haven't we? Isn't she living in luxury? Why couldn't I? I didn't understand my aunt, she herself invited me and took me in to her house and she treats me like this. What's the point then? I couldn't help but feel a little hurt but after all what did I expect?
I fixed my dupatta but only to stop when the kitchen door closed again, but this time it was Asad.
Ya ALLAH why does everyone want to talk to me suddenly?
He leaned against the door arms folded just staring at me. I raised an eyebrow at him "My parent's are coming, say yes." I laughed "I'm sorry are you ordering me?" I asked in ridiculously. He raised an eyebrow as if to say 'duh'
"Listen Mr. Qureshi, you may be famous and all but that doesn't mean that you get to boss around innocent people. If I say no I say no and you can't stop me." I smirked at myself knowing full well I won.
We stared at each other in silence before he smirked. He slowly nodded and leaned forward towards me. "I see. Yes Ms. Arshad you are fully correct I can't control you nor can I tell you what to say." He pulled out a little envelope that was in his jacket handing it to me.
"But I am sure these can help." I suspiciously took the envelope and wondered if there was a bomb in there. Slowly I opened the packet and pulled out the photos and gasped almost dropping them.
In the pictures were me and some guy standing beside me and we were in different places, some were at restaurants, some were at the market place. And in all of them I was laughing and holding hands with him.
But the thing was, I had never seen this man before in my life.
"This Meri Jaan is the power of photoshop." I willed myself not to cry as I looked at him "I didn't want it to come to this but you leave me no choice. You need me, I need you we both want something and this marriage is the answer. 50/50 and these pictures will magically appear into your aunt and uncle's email unless you say no today."
I stared at the pictures as my mind started racing. I thought these things only happened in movies!
Slowly I ripped them apart until they were nothing but shreds, tears were rolling down my cheeks and I stared at the awful disgusting man in front of me who thought that I, Rayyana Arshad needed him.
"Rip them all up, you think I don't have extras?" He taunted me. "Who do you think you are coming to my house and saying that I need you? I don't. I can happily get married to whoever I want." I surprised myself by saying those words with venom dripping from my mouth.
"Yes, but do you think your aunt and uncle will let you choose?" He had a point there. My aunt was evil enough to pair me up with someone and not tell me until I signed the Nikkah papers.
"Meri Jaan I don't think you have a choice... unless of course you don't mind everyone seeing these photos." and then he left me standing there hopeless.
I, Rayyana Arshad stood in my aunt's kitchen feeling hopeless for the first time since my parent's death.
After many minutes of sitting down and and listening to Asad's mom gush about how excited she was that I was going to be her daughter-in-law (unless of course I said no) I stared at Asad as I was asked "Rayyana, do you want to marry Asad Qureshi?"
And with a very heavy heart and multiple glares from my aunt I said the one word I had told myself not to say.
"Yes."
I heard my parent's voice "Rayyana, if anyone ever threatens you or makes you feel unsafe in anyway, don't give in. That's what gives them power."
And that was the second day I had let my parents down.
Urdu Translation-
Meri Jaan-My love
Dupatta-Head scarf
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This is what I mean when I say I put my dupatta on my head
