Arranged or love?

Chapter 10: It was show time

Chapter 10: Some more family drama and a wedding

It was show time.

The tap of my dad’s boots on the tiled floor was in sync with my heart beat.

Tap, tap, tap.

I gulped. Ruksana gulped.

We all stood frozen as he approached us. My mouth became dry and I felt the mother of all headaches coming on as he got closer- there was only so much I could take damn it, first Faiza, then Rehan and now my dad. Kill me now.

I felt a hand on my back, at first I thought it was Adam or Rahim, but when I looked at them I realised they were too occupied with my dad, their hands clenched at their sides. If looks could kill my dad would be a dead man. I turned behind, chanting in my head for the hand not to belong to Rehan and sighed with relief when I looked at Adam, stood behind me, his lips set in a line, his eyes bearing a grim look yet he managed to give me a small, reassuring smile. My heart soared a little at his gesture. It dropped straight back down as I turned my head to face my dad; he stopped in front of me and looked into my eyes. His piercing gaze making me flinch- I hated it hated showing I was afraid of him.

“How are you?” he asked me, his gaze never leaving my face, I wanted to scream at him, shout and yell for all the pain I had to go through but I couldn’t open my mouth I was frozen. He gave a small smirk. My stomach turned over. “Remember I said you could only stay at your brother’s house for a few days” he chided mockingly, I nodded still unable to speak. I cast my eyes around the room and mentally groaned when I realised all eyes were on us. “Rehan, my boy how are you?” he shouted as he saw him, he gave a genuine smile and then walked and engulfed Rehan into a hug, my brothers’ shared a look as I shared one with Husna and Ruksana. “I’m so glad you came back, I was hoping you would after all you are my first and only choice” he exclaimed chatting to Rehan animatedly.

Do you ever get that sinking feeling in your stomach, like your missing the obvious?

I had that feeling right about now.

My brow furrowed as I thought of what my dad had chosen Rehan for, maybe he needed his help after all Rehan was one of the best criminal law solicitor in the area. He had a knack for being manipulative; cold hearted and determined to reach his goal. I shuddered after he caught my eye and smirked.

“Ladies and gentlemen, can I have your attention please!” my dad’s voice boomed across the hall, the fifty odd people in the room immediately quietened. We all shared a knowing glance, the last time he made an announcement my life had taken a 360 degree turn, I didn’t know what my dad had up his sleeve, but whatever it was I knew the outcome was going to be bad. Very bad. “If you can remember, a couple of weeks ago I made an announcement,” he paused as he looked around the room, the people in the room hung on to his every word, like leeches they wanted more. The sinking feeling in my pit had returned with a vengeance.

“I had announced that my daughter was going to be married soon,” he continued, my hand automatically grasped for whoever was closest to me and I latched on for dear life not caring who it was. “I have chosen the man she’s to marry and he’s in fact in this very room,” he announced gleefully, Adnan swore under his breath as Ruksana paled and Rahim looked at dad with pure hatred. I felt myself sway as his words registered in my fuzzy mind.

Oh please, please no, no, no, make him quiet someone shut him up, I chanted in my mind as he stared around the room, building up the tension and excitement. I on the other hand was thinking what could have possibly possessed him and why the hell I was seeing double at the moment. “He was literally one in a million, ladies and gentlemen I introduce you to my son-in- law” he shouted. A smirk emerged on his face. Everyone held their breath, you could probably hear a pin drop, nobody moved a muscle.

Someone then began moving towards the stage, a collective gasp was let out and I felt the blood rushing to my head. Prickly heat engulfed my body and I let out a small gasp as I saw the man I was going to bound with for the rest of my life.

Fate was playing a cruel joke.

Muttering this I felt the inky darkness engulf my vision and I welcomed the escape from the pain my dad was causing with open arms.