Hers to Love

Chapter 36

Maria stepped out of the car, carefully holding a small, neatly wrapped gift for Amir's youngest sister. She took a deep breath, mentally preparing herself for the evening. As she approached the front door, it swung open, revealing Amir's mother with a wide, welcoming smile.

"Maria, darling! I've missed you so much," Amir's mother exclaimed, wrapping Maria in a warm hug. "It's so good to see you again."

Maria smiled, feeling a mixture of comfort and anxiety. "I've missed you too. It's always so nice to be here."

As Maria stepped inside, Amir's sisters quickly surrounded her, their excitement palpable. The youngest one, who had just turned 10, looked at the gift in Maria's hands with wide eyes.

"This is for you," Maria said, handing over the gift with a smile. "I hope you like it."

The young girl's face lit up as she carefully unwrapped the gift, revealing a set of art supplies. "Thank you, Maria! This is perfect!" she squealed, immediately rushing off to show her siblings.

Amir's mother watched the scene with a soft expression, then turned back to Maria, taking her hand gently. "You're always so thoughtful. I love having you here with us."

Before Maria could respond, she heard footsteps approaching from behind. She turned around to see Amir walking in through the doorway, his face lighting up when he saw her.

"There she is!" Amir said with a wide smile, his eyes locking onto Maria's. He walked up to her, reaching out to give her a warm hug. "It's been too long. I'm so glad you're here." Amir said with a wink and mischievous smile.

Maria felt her heart flutter as she hugged him back, relieved to see him in such good spirits. "I'm glad to be here too," she replied softly.

As they pulled away from the hug, Amir's mother chuckled, watching the two of them. "You two make this house so lively," she said warmly. "It's like having the whole family together."

Amir grinned and turned to his mother. "Well, Maria is practically family, isn't she?"

Maria blushed slightly, not quite knowing how to respond, but Amir's mother quickly jumped in. "Of course she is," she said, wrapping an arm around Maria's shoulders. "Now come, let's all sit down and catch up."

As they moved towards the living room, Maria couldn't help but feel a sense of belonging, even amidst the complicated feelings she had for Amir. His smile, the warmth of his family—it all made her feel at home, at least for the moment.

—-

The cozy atmosphere in the living room was filled with laughter and light conversation. Maria was sitting on the couch, comfortably nestled between Amir's sisters, with Amir seated across from her, his eyes often drifting toward her as they spoke.

Amir's father entered the room, carrying a tray of tea. As he handed a cup to Maria, he looked around at everyone with a satisfied smile. "It's good to see everyone so happy," he remarked, settling into his armchair.

Amir's mother nodded in agreement, taking a sip of her tea. "Yes, it feels like a special evening," she added warmly.

Amir leaned back in his chair, grinning. "It always is when Maria is here," he said, sending her a playful wink.

Maria smiled back, feeling a warmth in her chest, but before she could respond, Amir's father cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention.

"I have some news," Amir's father began, his tone serious yet pleased. "After much thought and consideration, I've found the perfect girl for Amir."

The room fell silent. Maria felt her heart drop as if the ground beneath her had suddenly shifted. She looked at Amir, who seemed equally surprised, his smile fading as he stared at his father.

"The perfect girl?" Amir asked slowly, as if trying to process the words.

"Yes," his father continued, unaware of the tension that had suddenly filled the room. "She comes from a good family, shares our values, and is everything we've been looking for in a daughter-in-law."

Maria's throat tightened, and she instinctively lowered her gaze, trying to mask the sudden rush of emotions—shock, confusion, and an undeniable pang of hurt.

Amir's mother noticed the change in the room's atmosphere and quickly glanced at Maria, her expression softening. "Well, it's just a possibility," she added, trying to ease the situation. "Nothing is decided yet. Amir will have a say, of course."

Amir looked over at Maria, catching the subtle shift in her demeanor. His heart clenched at the sight of her, knowing the impact his father's words must have had.

Maria forced a smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "That's... wonderful news," she managed to say, her voice sounding more distant than she intended. "Congratulations, Amir."

Amir opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. He could see the hurt behind Maria's eyes, even though she was trying her best to hide it. He wanted to say something, to reassure her, but he was just as blindsided by the news as she was.

The room fell into an awkward silence, the joyful mood from earlier dissipating into something much more somber. Maria took a sip of her tea, hoping it would steady her, but all she could taste was bitterness. She realized, painfully, that she wasn't as prepared for this moment as she thought she would be.

Amir's father, oblivious to the undercurrent of tension, continued speaking. "We'll see how things go, of course. But I believe this could be a very good match."

Amir finally found his voice, though it was strained. "Dad, maybe we should discuss this later," he suggested, glancing at Maria with concern.

His father raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Of course, of course," he agreed, seemingly unaware of the unease he had caused. "There's no rush."

Amir's mother reached out and gently squeezed Maria's hand. "We just want what's best for everyone," she said softly, her eyes filled with an unspoken apology.

Maria nodded, grateful for the gesture, but the weight of what had just been said hung heavy in the air. She managed to keep her composure, but inside, she was reeling, trying to make sense of what this meant for her and Amir.

The evening continued, but the warmth from earlier had been replaced by a lingering sense of uncertainty. And as much as Maria tried to engage in the conversation, her thoughts kept drifting back to the words that had just shaken her world.