Veil of Truth

Chapter 8

"Zayd," my father said quietly, his voice careful, as if testing my reaction.

The name hit me like a punch to the gut. Zayd. Mrs. Sarah's son. I felt the world tilt slightly beneath me, as if everything I thought I knew had just been upended. I stared at my parents, my mind struggling to catch up with what they were saying.

Zayd? It couldn't be. The same Zayd who had barely acknowledged my presence earlier that evening, the same Zayd who had been so distant and aloof at the party. The idea of a marriage proposal from him seemed... impossible, or at least so out of place.

I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. My thoughts were a tangled mess. "But... why?" I finally managed, my voice trembling. "I don't even know him."

My mother's expression hardened slightly, and she exchanged a quick glance with my father. The tension in the room deepened, and I could sense that something was being held back. "Beta," my mother said, her tone firm now, "We're not asking you to make a decision immediately, but you need to understand that this is important. Mrs. Sarah came to us with so much hope, so much trust. She believes Zayd is a good match for you, and frankly, your father and I agree."

"But I don't know him!" I repeated, my voice rising. "I've barely spoken to him, and now you want me to marry him?"

My father's tone softened, but there was an urgency in it. "I know this is difficult for you, but you need to understand, your mother isn't well. Her health... it's been worsening, and she wants to see this happen. She's asking for this, for you to make this decision quickly, before she becomes too ill to manage."

The room felt like it was closing in on me. My mother, who had always been so strong, was now the one who needed something from me—something big, something I wasn't sure I was ready to give. And the pressure was unbearable.

"Your graduation is just around the corner," my father continued. "Mrs. Sarah is hoping for the wedding to take place just two days after. She's made all the arrangements. It's important to her, to us... we just want to see you settled, happy, and we believe this is the right path for you."

The words were coming faster now, each one making my head spin. It was like they were cornering me, making me feel as though I didn't have a choice. Two days after graduation? It felt like a dream, or maybe a nightmare. How could they expect me to say yes to something I wasn't even sure I wanted?

"Please, beta," my mother said, her voice almost pleading now. "Think about it. We only want what's best for you. Mrs. Sarah has put so much faith in this, and I know you can make it work. Zayd is a good boy. We believe he'll take care of you, and that's all we want."

I couldn't breathe. My chest felt tight, as if something was suffocating me. Zayd? The thought of marrying him, someone who barely acknowledged me, someone who seemed so distant and indifferent, felt like a weight I couldn't bear.

But I could see the desperation in my mother's eyes, the way her hands trembled slightly, as if she was afraid I might say no. And I knew how important this was to her—how much she wanted to see me settled before her condition worsened further. The pressure was suffocating, and I felt as though I were being crushed under the weight of their hopes and expectations.

I stared at them both, unable to speak, my thoughts a blur. I wanted to scream, to refuse, to demand time to think. But all I could manage was a whispered, "I don't know... I need more time."

My parents exchanged a look, and for a moment, I thought they might insist. But then my father sighed, his expression softening. "We understand, beta," he said quietly. "This is all happening so suddenly, and we know it's a lot to take in."