Fanaa'

Ch #2

I stand there in shock, gaping at my parents. Qasi's jaw drops.

Did I hear them right?

"WHAT?"

"Yeah. Well, we thought it was time you got married. You know , someone who could look after you better."

"Mom, she's 18." Qasi argues, pointing at me.

"Well, I got married at 16." She replies.

"That was three decades ago. You can't just marry her off like that, just because she's legal."

"Son, its Jood's decision that's gonna count. It's for her good." Dad reasons.

"Dad, Qasi is right. I'm just 18. I've got dreams too."

"Yeah, dreams that won't get fulfilled anyway in this warzone. We're just trying to ensure a better future for you."

"What if I don't want that future? I want to walk around free for a little bit more time.  If I feel like a burden to you-"

Mom cuts me off, "Never say that. You are our daughter and we love you a lot. You'll never be a burden to us."

"Mom, but marriage, at 18? Isn't that a bit too early? And she wouldn't even know the guy. Is it someone we know?" Qasi asks.

"It's someone we used to know. A lot of years back, when we lived in Dubai, there was this family, the Mahfuds.  We were really close, but then a conflict broke out between the two families."

"Ah, yes the Mahfuds. You've mentioned them a lot. What went wrong then?"

"A loyalty problem. To re-establish relations, both families unanimously agreed that we'd betroth one of our children to one of theirs."

"They have a son of Jood's age?"

"And a daughter. We had considered betrothing the two of you, first."

"Please tell me you didn't."

"No. the Mahfuds liked Jood a lot. So we agreed on Jood and their son."

"How old was she?"

"Around 2... he was 4 at the time."

"You mean, you arranged my wedding when I was 2 to a 4 year old?" I ask.

"Jood, we're sorry. We didn't think it would be necessary at this point, at first. It was recently that we met them and they enquired about you." Mom asks.

"Why didn't I know this earlier?"

"We moved here a couple of years after. A few months back, we met them at the marketplace. While we talked, Fatima asked me if we were still okay with the agreement. We agreed, if it was with the consent of the children."

"So, the guy?" Qasi asks, voicing my thoughts.

"According to Fatima, he already knows Jood. Seems they went to the same school. He likes her. So he's okay with the match."

This sets me at ease a little. It feels nice to be liked.

I used to attend a school in the city, which students of all nationalities attended. Our city was a place of great tourist interest, as it was a thriving business centre. Even with the war, people still settled here. I never really knew many people in my school, so there was no chance I'd actually know this guy.

Qasi and I don't reply for a while.

"Come on, you two. He's a great guy." Mom gushes, and by the look on her face, she really wants this to happen.