𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐦 & 𝐇𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐦

Chapter 9

"You heard what I said, Erum," her dad said. His cold demeanor vanishing.

Her lips parted, but no words came out at first -just a hollow breath.

"But, dad," Her voice was low, "I... I just woke up from coma, and.."

She couldn't complete her sentence yet but then she got the courage to and continued, "And you're saying that I'm getting married?"

She loved her father. Trusted him. But this... this wasn't what she expected. Not today. Not like this.

Her father held her gaze, calm yet firm. "I know it's sudden. But I wouldn't have brought it up if it wasn't important."

Erum stood abruptly, her voice rising. "Important? Baba, I've barely started piecing my life back together! And you expect me to-" She stopped herself, shaking her head. "No. I can't. I'm not ready for this."

Rafia's voice cut through, "Oh, don't tell me you're going to use that coma as an excuse for the rest of your life." She leaned back with a smug smile. "You're 25, Erum. Women younger than you are already raising children."

Erum's gaze shifted to her, her jaw clenched tight, but she said nothing. Not to Rafia. Not now.

Her gaze returned to her father, the desperation in her voice was visible. "Please... I need time. Can't you understand that, dad?"

Jibran stood slowly and walked toward her, his expression softening. He placed a hand on her shoulder. "Beita, I do understand. But life doesn't wait. You've been through a lot - yes - but Erum, my daughter, you need to understand this - it's for your stability. Look, we know, your life is in complication, but beita it's for your own sake."

Erum's eyes stung, but she held back the emotion rising in her throat. Complication? Her own sake? All of it felt too much, too fast.

Jibran squeezed her shoulder gently. "Just meet him. That's all I ask. No decisions today. Just... meet him."

Silence hung between them.

Erum exhaled shakily, her resistance crumbling - because of him. Her father. His voice. His eyes. The way he looked at her - not like Rafia did - but with love.

Jibran said something more that made her resistance crumble entirely.

"Your mother would've done the same, Erum... she'd have wanted this for you."

At the mention of her mom, her heart ached. She gulped silently and nodded, "I'll meet him."

----

The drive was quiet - too quiet.

Jibran sat behind the wheel, focused on the road. His face was calm, like nothing out of the ordinary was happening. Rafia sat in the front passenger seat, scrolling through her phone with a small, satisfied smile.

Erum sat in the back, her hands resting in her lap, fingers tightly curled around her phone. Her eyes stayed fixed on the window, watching the streets pass by, but her mind seemed to register nothing.

It all still felt unreal.

She leaned her head slightly against the glass, letting out a slow breath.

"You could at least try to look a little less upset," Rafia said, not even looking back. Her voice was light, like a joke, but Erum knew better.

Erum didn't respond. She didn't flinch, didn't blink - nothing.

Jibran glanced at the rearview mirror. He saw the stiffness in her posture, the way she was holding herself together. His jaw tensed for a moment, but he said nothing.