We Belong Together

Chapter 14

-Fareesa POV-

"What? Are you out of your mind?!" I yelled at bhai horrifiedly

"It's just an idea. The final decision is yours." Shahveer bhai said

"No. No. No. Never!" I screeched, shaking my head multiple time

"Fareesa darling, calm down-" bhabhi intervened this time.

"What? Calm down after the bomb that you just dropped on me?!" I yelled.

No, I have not gone mad, if that's what you are thinking. The bomb was dropped on me a minute ago.

You must be wondering what the bomb was? They are telling me to get married. No no that only. They are telling me to marry Asher.

Asher bhai!!

Whom I think of as my brother and nothing else. Not a love or a crush. just simply bhai.

'No, you don't. Liar, liar pants on fire!' That was my inner self who has the worst timing.

'I don't think of him as a brother. I actually think of him as the most annoying, rude, arrogant person on earth. So why would I marry such a person.' I said back to my inner self promptly shutting it up.

All I can see is red. I am so mad right now. The kind of mad that gives the word a new definition.

How can bhai even suggest that? No wonder Asher 'Bhai' looked so irritated when I called him Bhai. Maybe I should keep calling him Bhai.

"Fareesa listen to me. Asher really likes you and-"

"What?" I screeched shocked at this new piece of information.

"Please have mercy on our ear drums," Bhabhi said to me. "And what's wrong with him? He is a good looking, religious, well-off, well-mannered and decent guy."

"Really? So why don't you go and marry that good looking, blah blah guy?" I said to her sarcastically.

"Fareesa you should think twice before saying anything." Bhai snapped at me and I realized what I had said.

"Ok sorry. But I don't want to marry him or anyone else for that matter. Plus I am just in university and my studies are the most important thing. What if I can't continue my studies after marriage?" I said reasonably trying to make them see my point of view.

"They own the University that you go to. Of course, they are going to let you study!" Bhai replied as if ridiculing my reasons.

"Oh yeah," I said defeatedly, at a loss of what to say anymore.

"See exactly!" Bhabhi said pointing at that me. "Ok here's an idea: why don't you give this some thought and we will talk about this later."

"I don't need to think. It's a no." I said angrily.

"There's no harm in thinking about it, now is there?" Bhai said to me and I shut up because I knew that I wasn't going to be able to convince them.

****

The problem is I don't want to get married to anyone. The idea of giving someone complete authority over yourself doesn't sit well with me. It's not fair how being in love can completely change you. I don't want to change myself for anyone.

It's just not fair how you have to live your life taking another person ideas into consideration. It's not fair how girls have to leave their old life and start a new one with another person. I don't want anyone else ruling my life. I have seen plenty of dramas to know the drawbacks of marriage.

I am not even that pretty. I am an average looking girl, with a normal figure. Whereas, I have to admit that Asher is a very good looking guy and I am sure he can get any beautiful girl. I know I am not that pretty and I admit it. Even in high school all of my friends had guys at their feet and when to dates but I didn't. I would never have dated anyone even if someone asked me out but the point is that people don't usually find me that pretty. It's not that I want a guy to tell me that I am worth anything. I know my worth very well and I don't underestimate myself. It's just that looks have never mattered to me that much. I am conscious of my appearance but not that much.

Besides there are thousands of girls out there who are so much more good looking so why would Asher choose me? Why me tho? I don't know but I have noticed that whenever I think of Asher I have never thought of him as bhai. I just say that because he is older than me and I should respect him.

I want to study and make a career. I want to be independent not leeching off a guy. I don't want to get married have kids and then be done with life. I want to enjoy life, adventure, explore myself and the opportunities I have. I am not studying in such an expensive university for nothing. I know the hard work it took me to get to there. And I am not going to let it go down the drain. I am going to use it to support myself and my family.

I want to become something and start my own NGO for the welfare of women. That has always been my dream and my goal. Whenever I read an article about a woman being abused it hurts me so much. I know Asher would never do that. But I want to make a difference for people, make this world a better place for the helpless women.

Why is it that only the men in our society have the right to work and earn money? Women have an equal right to be independent. Those who think women are weak or they can't stand on their own feet are dead wrong. My parents have supported me all through my studies. They never let me give up. All the while they were with me and they were the ones who encouraged me to pursue my higher studies in a good uni. I am not going to let their efforts go to waste. And getting married means signing yourself off. You have no more choice.

Besides, suppose I did marry someone. What if we are not compatible? What if we get divorced? There are so many couples I have seen who break apart. How do I know that we won't? It is such a big risk marrying someone. Even if you know someone very well, it is a different thing to live together with them and share your life.

I really don't believe in love. All it does is makes you so vulnerable and weak. I have never believed in those cheesy romance novels where the girl looks in the guy's eyes and they fall in love and can't stop staring at each other. All of that is bullshit.

Moreover, I can never sacrifice my values for anyone else. I am who I am. Even my parents let me vs the way I am. They do disagree on some things with me like I don't wear hijab and all. But they have never belittled me for that. And I know for a fact that when you marry someone they tend to overuse the rights they have over you.

I know that it is not only my choice that matters. We are all living in a plan by Allah. Whatever Allah has written in my destiny is going to happen at the end of the day. Whether I like it or not. So I have always prayed to Allah to do the best for me. Why that thought in my mind I decided to leave the matter in Allah's hands given I was so confused myself.

Suddenly I heard a phone ringing. I looked around my room to find my phone. While I was looking for it the red gift Asher had given me yesterday

TO BE CONTINUES......

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