Bending Edges

Seven

Mamoona

I was studying for an exam in my bedroom and my sketchbook was buried under my mattress so I won't have the urged to take it out to draw again. Usually people have their smartphones that distract them from their work, but for me my sketchbook is what keeping me from my studies.

I studied for a good hour and a half, then someone knocked on the door. I rolled my office chair around and peered up from my textbook to see it was my dad. "Hello, Baba," I greeted.

"Hello my dear. How is your studies?" He asked, as he came in the door.

He stood to the center of the room and I noticed the cinnamon brown card in his hands. "A bit stressful for now for the upcoming exam, but I could manage," I told him.

He chuckled wholeheartedly. My Baba was a good looking man; his wrinkle lines that defines his face suits him well, my mom always say it's because of his smile. "You'll get through it. I'm proud of you, my dear," he said as he looked into my eyes.

Great, now I could never tell him, Moona thought to herself. I knew that time was not a great time to tell him my plans, so I held my breath and just gave him a confirming nod.

My dad presented me the cinnamon brown card that was in his hands the whole time. "This is Sabrina's wedding invitation. Go find a suitable man to come with you to the wedding. Find a suitable man to get married to, Moona," he said to me.

"Baba... " I started. I really didn't know what to say about it.

"Moona, your uncle was right, you are at an age when you must get married," my dad said, "and if you are willing to I could set you up with the best Muslim man in the city, but I don't want to force you, Moona so it's only if you want to," he said sincerely.

I honestly don't want to disappoint my dad at that moment, not at any moment for a matter of fact. And most definitely when I felt like I was already letting him down for even considering of the offer Kristen Aura was giving me.

"Baba, let me have just a little more time to think about it, school has been very busy. I trust I will find the man that I was meant to be with," I replied to him.

His eyes gleamed and a smile came across his face. I knew those words comforted him a bit. "Good, your Umi will be waiting patiently for the day, my dear," so he said.