Nikah

Chapter 3

"Assalamu Alaikum Amu."

After a few practices in his head, Sufyaan managed to greet. He started to revise all the explanations he was about to deliver—in his mind.

How can he stutter and act unsure about what he would say? He collected enough information about the matter which was so important that he had to miss a family get-together. Missing a family get-together was never in his habits and if he ever missed them, there had to be a very important reason behind it.

"Walaikum Assalam Sufyaan habibi, come sit down," Abu Rashida said. "Why didn't you come today?"

Sufyaan sat down on the chair on his left, just across Abu Rashida.

"Um Amu, I had some important works to do."

"Oh, I was just wondering as you never miss any functions," Amu Rashida smiled at him, "so what brings you here?"

"I wanted to talk to you," he replied, "about Nazaakat and..."

"Don't take his name! He's a coward. My daughter is already enough hurt by his family's behavior. I don't want to hear any more nonsense about him or his family." Abu Rashida threw a tantrum.

It wasn't Yusuf he was talking about. It took Sufyaan a while to understand who his uncle was referring to and it amazed him that the wrong choice of words made his Amu this mad. It made him even more nervous than he was. And Angry. Not that he minded to hear about that but he couldn't tolerate anybody from Yusuf's family, especially his sister.

"No Amu," he said, "I'm not talking about him."

"Then what?" Abu Rashida leaned back on his chair as he furrowed his eyebrows.

"I–" he tried to carry on, but he had no motivation to do so.

His Amu just tilted his own head to study him. Sufyaan feared for a moment that Abu Rashida will know how nervous he was.

"I want to marry Nazaakat."

To say that it took all his energy to say a '5-words' sentence would be an understatement. Because, he almost died, seeing how nervous he was.

Abu Rashida's eyes widened a bit and he was clearly very shocked to hear what his nephew had to say but he composed himself soon.

"And what makes you say that?" He asked to Sufyaan, "are you willing to marry my daughter out of pity?"

Again wrong choice of words? Not this time but it was how Abu Rashida comprehended his nephew's statement.

"No! No, Amu! I'll never think of marrying her out of pity."

"Then why?"

"I just thought..."

He trailed off which earned a sharp look from Abu Rashida.

"You thought that it would be fun to marry your cousin?"

"No Amu. I really believe that she would be a good wife and on top of it, my mom loves her."

"Well, it's not your mom who's gonna marry," Abu Rashida put a hand up as Sufyaan tried to protest, "and don't even tell me she'd be your perfect wife because I know that you both aren't in good terms with each other."

"Amu..."

Abu Rashida again stopped him from speaking.

"No. How can you expect me to even agree to this? The problem here isn't you. I would have gotten you married with either of my elder daughters despite the age difference, only because I see you as a good person and as a son. But, Nazaakat? It's not the same when it comes to her."

"Why do you think that we won't be able to overcome the hatred towards each other?"

"Because I know my daughter really well."

"But Amu, my parents got married even when they hated each other and you know it better than me."

Sufyaan could see the reason behind the way Abu Rashida was behaving and that's only because of Yusuf. Whatever happened in the past few days might not be any of his doings but the least he could do was apologize on behalf of his family.

"We've been great friends when we're children. It's just that we gre..."

Abu Rashida sighed and leaned forward.

"I do not have any problem with you being my son-in-law, as I said before but Nazaakat's decision matters over here. I really don't have any problem."

"So, you're basically permitting me to marry Nazaakat?"

He nodded slightly.

"Actually, I... I'll talk to her and if she says no," the sense of negativeness couldn't be more clear in his statement, "then I'll support her."

"Okay."

There was an awkward silence between the both of them. Neither of them wanted to utter a single word that could hurt the feelings of the other, especially Abu Rashida.

"I guess, I should leave now," he looked at Abu Rashida, "Assalamu Alaikum Amu."

With this, he stood up and after getting back the salam, he left the room.

He came out of the room with a mixed emotions and he, for a second, was doubting about the decision he made.

Would they really never learn to get along?

Whatever the answer might be, he was afraid to know about it.

-•-

Being a teacher was something Nazaakat always disliked, seeing how several students hate their teachers.

However, being a teacher herself made her felt different and she believed that she would never trade these moments with her students for anything in the world.

In spite of all the happiness she felt while handling the kids, being a teacher is sure a hard thing.

Checking test papers, class schedules, etc.

"Nazaakat habibti!" Um Rashida called her out.

"Yes Ma. Coming!"

Nazaakat stood up from her old study desk, closing her agenda in the process. She hopped down the stairs happily.

There, she saw her parents sitting with each other.

❤️

Schooollll!!!
Sorry for the late update  :)