The Hooded Hijabi

Proposal

"What?", I cry out in shock as I jolt right out of the sofa I was previously seated on. Did Aunty just tell me she'd like me as her daughter-in-law?

Ma blinks at me, slightly surprised by my reaction but then starts laughing. "Looks like she really wasn't expecting this", she says to Aunty Ayesha who seems to be very amused.

Fatima stands up and puts her hand on my shoulder. "Really, Ammi, you've scared the girl. You should've first asked her what she thinks about bhai and not just blurt out your plan", she says and air-quotes 'plans'.

Aunty Ayesha chuckles and moves to the edge of her sofa to grab my hand. She holds my hand in her warm grasp and I sit back down, my eyes lowered.

"Amina, baiti (daughter), I'm a very simple woman so I don't know how to beat about the bush. I'm sorry if I've surprised you but I just wanted to let you know about my feelings", she says.

Sweaty hands, sweaty hands! Don't hold my sweaty hands, aunty!

"We've only met a couple of times and I know it may not be enough for you. I may be simple but I'm wise enough to see that you'll make my son very happy in shaa Allah. You already do, actually", she continues. I look up at her right away, baffled.

What does she mean?

She notices the confusion on my face and says,"I'm here because I like you. But more importantly, because my Azan likes you."

My eyes widen with shock, surprise and astonishment. Azan likes me? What?

"Ammi? Let me handle this", interrupts Fatima and Aunty lets go of my hand, not noticing the bruises on my knuckles. I covertly pull my hoodie's arm down to cover my hand so that no one starts interrogating me.

"Alright, so bhai likes you. Like, a lot. Trust me, I know. Ammi likes you because you'd make a perfect daughter-in-law. I like you because you bake so well. So you can make cookies for my teacher and I can bribe them into giving me better grades. Cool?", Fatima says.

I blink at her, speechless when Aunty Ayesha and Fatima start laughing followed by bickering over who handled the situation better.

I don't even know the kind of person Azan is. I probably would have said yes if I had been proposed before last night's incident but after seeing Azan like that I've come to my senses; I just don't know who he is.

How come he fought so well with Blackmailer? A lay man does not have the skills he showed last night. That twist and neck lock were no joke.