Two Hearts Apart

Chapter 27: Just Friends

Before departing the previous night, Mohsin's family had assured them that they would give the two of them time to think it over, by which point they would contact each other again. So, as Farida and Yusuf explained it to her, Zahraa now had to consider whether she found the proposal suitable and whether or not she wanted to take things forward. Over the next few days Zahraa thought about it constantly but still could not reach a definite conclusion. A few days after their meeting, Mohsin's mother phoned Farida to let her know that her son was interested in taking things further. Farida told her that she would let Zahraa know, and that she would phone her later to let her know what Zahraa's opinion was.

When Farida informed Zahraa she was surprised to see that Zahraa, who was usually emotional these days, was calm and assured.

"I've thought about it" Zahraa said. "And I came to the conclusion that Im just not ready. Im sorry, I know I thought that I was, but I just don't feel comfortable with him and I just feel that Im not ready for all of this." Farida assured Zahraa that it was entirely her decision and that she would let the family know.

It was later, when Zahraa and Miriam were curled up in Hafsah's house, that Hafsah asked her a question that, up to this point, she had failed to consider.

"Do you think" began Hafsah "that the only reason you're so against this guy now is because of Zaheer?" when Zahraa remained silent Hafsah continued: "I mean I know that you say you guys are just friends, but do you think that even though you say you want an arranged marriage, your mind is actually closed off to it because you think you have Zaheer as some sort of a backup?"

Zahraa was quick to argue against this: "No!" she said "That would be stupid of me since Zaheer doesn't even like me like that. I wouldn't turn down something good because of the slight possibility of something else."

But even as she said this to her friends Zahraa knew that there was some truth in Hafsah's question. She knew this because earlier when she had contemplated accepting the proposal, she kept thinking of Zaheer.

Zaheer, much to Zahraa's annoyance, had pretended as if all was normal and ordinary. While Zahraa expected him to question her about the initial meeting and the events that followed, Zaheer never mentioned it once. Zahraa actually began assuming that he forgot all about it until he surprised her with an 'out-of-the-blue' question one night during their usual chats

"So I assume you're not getting married then?" he asked.

Zahraa was taken by surprise. Up until this point they had been talking about their favourite foods. The conversation certainly didn't warrant this question.

"Okay, where did that come from?" She asked. "And why the assumption that I'm not getting married?

Zaheer responded: "Well you never mentioned anything about it, or the guy for that matter- so I think its safe to assume that you're not busy shopping for a wedding or something."

"No it didn't work out" replied Zahraa "Don't think I'm ready for marriage yet"

"Well," Zaheer replied "Maybe this guy just wasn't the right person for you."

"Maybe" Zahraa wrote "or maybe I'll just never find the right person and I'll end up alone- with a bunch of cats."

Zaheer's response was one of those ambiguous responses that are so open to interpretation, that it left Zahraa contemplating it for days to come:

"Don't worry, you'll find the right person. Better yet, maybe you've already found him but you just don't know it yet."

"Then maybe I'm really blind" replied Zahraa.

She hoped that Zaheer would discuss this further, she even hoped that he may be a little more forthcoming and actually tell her what he was thinking and feeling, but instead he just changed the subject.

That night as she lie in bed Zahraa, for the first time, admitted to herself that she did indeed have feelings for Zaheer and that those feelings ran far deeper than just their close friendship.