Those Honey Brown Eyes (A Muslim Love Story).

Chapter : 12 Unexpected Proposition 🧨

Present Time

Aliya's POV

Sarah hugged me tightly, her bright energy immediately lifting my mood. "Hey, Aliya api! Long time no see. Happy birthday! I didn't even know I'd be attending your birthday party!"Her vivacious nature had always been infectious.

She was our immediate junior back in school, and I fondly remembered helping her with accounting. We were both business studies students, but she had always had this zest for life that made her stand out.

"So, tell me," she continued with her usual bluntness, "did you get married yet?"I froze for a moment, glancing nervously at my father and her grandfather, who were within earshot.

How could she bring up something so personal in front of them?

I could feel my cheeks heating up."No, not yet," I replied, trying to keep my voice casual despite the blush creeping up my face.

"That's cool," she said with a cheeky grin. "By the way, I'm engaged!"

Typical Sarah. So sassy, yet it suited her perfectly.

"Congratulations," I said, genuinely happy for her.

We chatted for a few minutes longer before I excused myself to mingle with the other guests.

As the evening wore on, fatigue started to settle in. I hadn't talked to so many people in one day for quite a while.Once the last guest had left, I retreated to my room and changed into a white, comfy long-sleeved top and pajama bottoms.

As I combed through my hair, my thoughts drifted back to him-Tahmeed.

It's not like we're in regular contact or anything, but the thought of him leaving still fills me with a quiet sadness.

I vividly remember when our class was separated, how that shift made me realize my feelings for him.

It was as though losing his presence in my daily life illuminated the depth of what I had been feeling all along.

Now, with his departure to London looming over me, it feels like that separation is happening all over again, only this time, it's more permanent.

Even though we didn’t talk in years, his absence weighs on me in ways I can't fully understand.

I sighed, placing the comb down and staring at my reflection. My mind raced with memories of those stolen glances, the fleeting smiles we exchanged. It's silly, I know. But those moments meant something to me, even if they were insignificant to him.

_____________________

(Flashback)

We moved to class 9, and with it came a new chapter. Tahmeed had chosen science as his major, while I opted for business studies.

With different majors, the distance between us began to grow. We even enrolled in separate coaching centers, and now we only shared two classes together at school.

I never expected to miss him this much. My heart ached for just a glimpse of him, and I found myself eagerly waiting for those combined classes each day. That's when it hit me....it wasn’t just a crush.

I loved him.

I loved Tahmeed–my best friend. It didn’t make sense, did it?

Rima, my other best friend, noticed right away. She was the extroverted type, always encouraging me to confess my feelings. But how could I possibly do that?

A month into the school year, two transfer students joined our class: twin siblings Maliha and Bilal.

Maliha was strikingly beautiful, sweet and charming, with a personality that instantly attracted attention. Half the boys in our class were already crushing on her.