Hers to Love

Chapter 49

Amir walked into Maria's office, feeling the weight of a hundred eyes on him. He could sense the cold stares from her colleagues and knew he was unwelcome. But he had come here with a purpose—to see Maria and to face whatever he had to, to make things right.

Maria looked up from her desk, her eyebrows arching in surprise. She hadn't expected Amir to come to her office, especially not like this. As he approached, she could see the nervousness in his eyes, despite his determined stride.

"Amir," Maria said, her tone neutral but her gaze inquisitive. "I didn't expect you here."

Amir stopped in front of her, his face softening as he leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. Maria's eyes widened in surprise. It was an unexpected gesture, and for a moment, she was at a loss for words.

"Hi, Maria," Amir said quietly, pulling her into a warm hug. "How was your day?"

Maria was taken aback but managed to return the embrace briefly before stepping back. Her mind was still reeling from the earlier confrontation with Dianne. "My day has been... interesting," she said, a smirk playing at the corner of her lips. "You know, Dianne came by earlier."

Amir's expression shifted to one of concern. "Dianne? What did she want?"

Maria leaned against her desk, crossing her arms with a hint of defiance. "She tried to convince me that you're not really committed to this—us, I mean. She even tried to make me doubt your intentions."

Amir's face flushed with frustration. "She's trying to manipulate you. I'm sorry you had to deal with her. She's been... difficult."

Maria's smirk widened, her anger still bubbling beneath the surface. "Oh, she certainly made an impression. But I'm not easily swayed by threats or manipulations. I can handle myself."

Amir sighed, looking both relieved and guilty. "I wish I'd known sooner. I would have told you myself. I just... didn't know how to approach it."

Maria raised an eyebrow, her tone sharp. "You didn't think to tell me at all? Or were you hoping that Dianne's visit would be enough to break us apart?"

Amir shook his head quickly. "No, that's not it. I've been trying to figure out how to fix things with us, and I should have come to you sooner. I know I messed up, Maria."

She studied him for a moment, her expression softening slightly. "Well, you're here now. That counts for something. But you have to understand, Amir, that actions speak louder than words. You've got to show me that you're committed, not just with apologies, but with how you act moving forward."

Amir nodded earnestly. "I understand. I'll do whatever it takes to make things right. I know I can't undo the past, but I want to build something better for us and for our baby."

Maria sighed, her tone more forgiving but firm. "We'll see how things go. But for now, let's focus on the present and what we can do to move forward."

Amir's face brightened with a hopeful smile. "Thank you, Maria. I promise I'm committed to making this work."

Maria nodded, her gaze softening as she looked at him. "Alright, then. Let's see where this goes."

As Amir stayed for a while longer, chatting and sharing small moments of normalcy, Maria felt a sense of cautious optimism. It wouldn't be easy, but perhaps this was a step in the right direction.

——

Amir returned home, feeling a mix of determination and anxiety. He needed to talk to his family about his decision to be with Maria despite the age gap and cultural differences. As he entered the living room, his father was seated in his usual spot, reading a newspaper. His mother and siblings were gathered around, preparing for dinner.

"Dad, can we talk?" Amir asked, his voice steady but nervous.

His father looked up, setting the newspaper aside with a frown. "What is it, Amir?"

"I've made a decision," Amir began, taking a deep breath. "I want to be with Maria. I know there are a lot of differences between us—our ages, our cultures—but I've realized that I love her."

His father's expression darkened immediately. "You've realized you love her? This is not just about love, Amir. It's about our traditions, our family's honor."

"I understand that, Dad," Amir said, trying to remain calm. "But I can't ignore my feelings. I want to build a future with Maria, and I'm willing to face the challenges that come with it."

His father stood up, his voice rising. "You're talking about breaking with our traditions. What about our family's reputation? Our community's expectations? You're willing to throw all that away for a relationship that will be full of difficulties?"

Amir's mother, who had been silent up until now, looked between Amir and his father, her eyes filled with concern. "Amir, we love Maria. She's been kind and respectful to us. But this is a serious decision. It's not just about you and her. It's about our family and our way of life."

Amir's siblings exchanged uneasy glances. His sister spoke up hesitantly. "We've gotten to know Maria, and we like her. But we understand how important our traditions are. It's hard to see how this can work without causing a lot of problems."

Amir's father sighed heavily, sitting back down. "I'm not saying Maria is a bad person. She's not. But traditions are what hold our family together. They give us a sense of identity and continuity."

"I know," Amir said, his voice softening. "But love and commitment are also important. I believe that Maria and I can make this work if we're given a chance. I want to prove that our love can overcome these obstacles."

His father's face was a mix of frustration and resignation. "You're asking us to support a decision that goes against everything we've taught you. This is not easy for us."

Amir took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "I'm asking for your understanding, not just support. I know this is difficult, but I hope you can see that I'm serious about this. I want to respect our traditions, but I also want to follow my heart."

His mother reached out, placing a hand on Amir's shoulder. "We want you to be happy, Amir. We're just worried about how this will affect everyone. If you're truly committed to making this work, then we need to think carefully about how to navigate these challenges."

Amir nodded, feeling a mix of relief and anxiety. "I understand. I just wanted you to know where I stand. I hope we can find a way to make this work, together."

His father looked at Amir for a long moment, then sighed again. "We will need time to think about this. We can't make any decisions in haste. But we'll consider your feelings and try to find a way to address this."

Amir thanked them and left the room, feeling a bit of hope but knowing that the road ahead would be difficult. His family's acceptance wasn't guaranteed, but at least they were willing to consider his perspective.