Arranged Marriage

Chapter 4

The next day, I met Hassan with Amina like I had promised. It was a small town, and I knew he would find out if I had ditched, and word spread around here fast so everyone would know how I had stood him up. Sure, I was justified, but I would rather it not remain a big deal, or even be mentioned to anyone around here. On the way here, Amina had been full of questions. How did he ask? Why did you say yes? Did I know who he would bring?

"Amina, I had no choice, and I don't know who he will bring. And he made me come, and I had to get him away from my house before my father came home and saw him, because then I would be in trouble."

"I still think you should at least try Hassan. You could rebel..."

"This isn't a movie, Amina," I cut her off.

"Oh, right. I should write a story or make a movie about that, though. It would make a great plot! And you could be the star, Aisha."

"Thank you, but I don't know if I will look the same by the time you finish," I snickered.

"Are you hinting that I won't follow through?" Amina asked with a huff.

"Yes, maybe I am."

We both laughed and walked the rest of the way with simple talk. As we neared the meeting place, I saw Hassan in his car. I sighed. I refused to let my mind wander, because I didn't want to change my mind about Fareed. Besides, Hassan was too poor, right? I quickly reprimanded myself for thinking that; it was stuck up and selfish. Hassan was loyal, almost like a dog guarding his owner. Except I was the owner. I didn't know how to interpret this thinking either.

There was a boy next to Hassan, in the front seat. The boy reminded me of Amina, for some reason. He was shorter and a bit stocky, but not chubby. He had dark hair and dark eyes. He definitely would not stand out in a crowd because that would describe 90% of the boys here. I imagined him and Amina together, and decided they would make a nice couple, if Amina was allowed to eventually marry him. There was no such thing as courting in private here, and parent supervision was always necessary. If the parents knew. I felt like a rebel, defying my parents right now. I supposed that I would get in all the trouble if we were caught, and Hassan could go to jail or get something on his record. I wasn't sure if this was against the law, though.

I smiled brightly at Hassan, then his friend. Actually, that's a lie. I grimaced brightly at the two.

"Aisha, you can sit in the front with me," Hassan said.

"No, I won't ride in your car. We better hurry to...where are you guys going anyways? Why am I here?" I asked suddenly, remembering we were supposed to make this a coincidence.

"We were, uh, going shopping, right Aisha?" Amina hinted.

"Oh, yes. I need a new pair of...earrings," I added. Wow, I felt so stupid. Was I really that excited to see him? No, my mind roared, but my subconscious giggled sneakily.

Amina grabbed my arm and dragged me past their car.

"Need a ride?" Hassan suggested. "You can sit in front, Aisha. If you say yes, that is."

I gritted my teeth and looked around. Nobody I recognized from my tight circle of family and friends. Amina did the same, and nodded the slightest bit so only I could see. I walked around to the side of the car, and put on a heard scarf.

"Come on now, Aisha. I can't see your pretty face, although your eyes may just be worth focusing on for a while," Hassan pleaded for me to take it off.

I smiled inwardly, and held back to urge to giggle. Only little girls giggled like that when complimented by a boy. Only little girls who weren't already promised to someone else.