game of love

4

 "So what do you do for a living?" I asked him, trying to ease the tension.

 He looked at me from the top of his phone, a disapproving look on his face. "I'm a businessman." he said.

 "Oh, what business?" I asked him, trying to keep the conversation going.

 "Do you always ask so many questions?" he asked me, putting his phone down.

 "I have to get to know you." I said, rolling my eyes at him. "If were ever going to get married."

 He chucked. "Carry on dreaming." 

 "Oh hello Mr? I don't really WANT to marry you, I'm doing it to make my parents happy." I said, glaring at him.

 "Then don't make your parents happy." he said. "Don't you care about yourself?"

 I looked at him, hiding the tears that were forming in my eyes. "My parents are the only people I have in this life who care about me, besides Maryam, so how can I not make them happy, after everything they've done for me?"

He didn't respond, his eyes widening and then scanning my face. 

 I got up and walked towards the door. "You can go now." I said, as the three of them got up and walked to the door.

When we arrived downstairs, my mumma looked up at me, smiling, waiting for some good news. "Meri guria, aren't you going to say anything?" my mumma said.

 "Mumma. I need some time to think." I said, giving her a fake smile and turning away to go to the stairs. "Khudafez auntie, I need to do something."

(khudafez - bye)

Just as I was about to go upstairs, I heard his voice, which stopped me in my tracks. "Mum, I agree to this marriage." Zayn said.

I turned my head around as Maryam looked at me shocked. I looked at her as she laughed at me and mouthed 'i think he loves you'.

His mum looked at me, smiling at me. "Oh, well. My son has decided, we're just waiting for your pari's answer now." 

 (pari - fairy)

My mum smiled and then walked over to me. "Make your answer quick, I have a feeling they're going to get impatient." 

 I whispered back. "Okay mumma, I'll try.

We said bye to them and then both me and Maryam went upstairs and sat on my bed. 

"Why do you seem so udaas?" Maryam asked me.I

(udaas - sad)

I looked up to meet her eyes. "I don't know. "

"You know if you ever need , anything then I'm always here." Maryam said.

"Maryam. Is it bad that I don't want to make my parents happy?" I asked her.

She looked at me, a sad smile on her lips. "Guria, don't worry. You don't always have to make your parents happy." 

"But I have to. After everything that happened with Yusuf, dad won't let me have a say in my marriage." I said.

 "Maria. Don't worry. Look, you know this dude?" she asked me.

I nodded.

 "He chose to marry you. He chose you. I mean come on, I know you find him fit." Maryam said, smiling at me.

 "Yeah, but what if he did it to keep his parents happy?" I said.

 "Oh Allah. Then you do what you want, okay?" Maryam said, cupping my face with her hands.

 "Thank you Maryam." I said, hugging her.

 "You're ALWAYS welcome." Maryam said.

 "I need to get going now. If you need anything just tell me, okay? I'm always there for you. Bye baby!" Maryam said and walked out.

At the end, I was always left alone.

(week later)

I turned over. My arms and legs aching. 

I grabbed my phone and looked at the time. 12:40.Even though it was Saturday, I couldn't cope staying in bed for any longer, my insides hurt.

I got up, looking at myself in the mirror. I looked so pale.

Coming out of the bathroom, I walked into my closet and went to choose an outfit. 

Just as I was going to choose an outfit, my mumma came in. "Maria. They're coming here today, for the baat paaki (finalising everything). We're going out to the restaurant so wear something decent."

 "Okay mumma." I said. "Are they coming now?" 

 "They're coming now, we're going to spend the whole day together." my mumma said.

 "Oh okay." I said and chose an outfit.

I went to my vanity and did my makeup, then did my hair, before spraying some perfume.

(her outfit)

I went downstairs and was met with Zayn, who was looking around. "You're here, I need to talk to you." he said, grabbing my hand and pulling me to the side.

 "About the wedding and everything, we'll go with every ceremony you want, okay?"  Zayn said, looking at me.

 "Oh, okay. Well in that case, I want a mendhi, bride to be party, dholki, walima." I said, listing everything.

 "Oh okay. Whatever you want." he said. "And let me guess you want matching outfits?"

 "Awhh! Just tell me if you really want to match with me!" I said, slapping him playfully on his arm.

 "Well, if we don't then everyone will say." Zayn said.

 "Okay." I said. "Can I go now?"

 He looked at me, lost in his thoughts. "Yeah." 

 I walked away, towards where everyone was stood. "Salaam auntie." I said, walking over to his mum and giving her a hug.

 "You look even more like a pari today." she replied, kissing my cheek.

 "Thank you." I said and took a seat on the sofa.

 "So let's get going with everything." his mum said, smiling at me earnestly.

                                           ࿔‧ ֶָ֢˚˖𐦍˖˚ֶָ֢ ‧࿔