𝐄𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐬

Chapter 6: One heck of a ride

-Aydin's pov-

The familiar hum of the office greeted me as I settled into my chair, the soft glow of the computer screen casting a warm light over the room.

I glanced at the clock on the wall, noting the time with a sigh. Another long day stretched out before me, filled with endless tasks and responsibilities.

I turned my attention to my secretary, who stood patiently by my desk, a stack of papers in her hands. "What's next on the agenda?" I asked, my voice tinged with weariness.

She rattled off a list of appointments and meetings, her words a blur as I struggled to focus on the task at hand.

But before I could delve into the details, a familiar figure appeared in the doorway, causing me to tense involuntarily.

My father stood in the doorway, his expression grave as he met my gaze. I braced myself for what was to come, knowing full well the topic that weighed heavy on his mind.

"Can we talk, Aydin?" he asked, his voice gentle but tinged with urgency.

I felt a surge of frustration rise within me at his words, my patience wearing thin at the thought of yet another conversation about Rahaf.

But I swallowed my irritation and nodded reluctantly, motioning for him to take a seat.

He settled into the chair opposite mine, his eyes searching mine with a mixture of concern and determination.

"Aydin, I know this isn't easy for you," he began, his tone gentle but firm. "But I need to talk to you about Rahaf."

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at the mention of her name, my frustration bubbling just beneath the surface.

"Dad, we've already had this conversation," I replied, my voice tight with irritation. "I've made it clear that I have no interest in marrying Rahaf."

But my father refused to be deterred, his gaze unwavering as he pressed on. "Aydin, you need to understand that marrying young is a Sunnah in Islam," he explained, his words laced with wisdom.

"And Rahaf is a good girl, with a kind heart and a bright future ahead of her."

My father knows very well how to convince me that's why he brought Islam into this. I agree it's sunnah but alhamdulillah I'm able to do other sunnah too, is it important to do this one too?

I gritted my teeth at his words, my frustration mounting with each passing moment. "I don't care how she is," I snapped, my voice sharp with anger. "I don't like Rahaf, Dad. She's clumsy and immature, and she's not the type of woman I want to spend the rest of my life with."

But my father remained unruffled, his expression calm and composed as he offered me a reassuring smile.

"Aydin, my son, you're letting your emotions cloud your judgment," he chided gently. "You're five years older than Rahaf you need to give her a chance to grow and mature. Just like Zain and Noor did."

I bristled at the mention of my elder brother and his wife, my resentment simmering just beneath the surface.

"Zain and Noor's marriage was arranged too," He said.

"I don't want the same fate for myself." I retorted.

But my father shook his head, his gaze unwavering as he met my eyes. "Arranged or not, they have a strong and happy marriage," he countered.

"And they didn't let their differences stand in the way of their love. You could learn a lot from them, Aydin."

I fell silent at his words, a sense of defeat washing over me as I realized the futility of arguing with him.