Arranged

Chapter Four - The Stranger Part 2

"It's okay don't worry about it... actually I was against it but they wouldn't listen to me... I think they might listen to you... we don't have to do this marriage." I said as I lowered my gaze but I could tell he's looking at me, did I say something wrong? I hope I didn't I'm sure he's apologizing because of the marriage, maybe he doesn't even want to get married to me he's a stranger after all, he doesn't know me and I don't know him, so why are they forcing a marriage into us?

"No... actually I don't mind" He replied and suddenly my mum appears in the kitchen, he put the plates in the sink and before he leaves I leave the kitchen. What does he mean by I don't mind? Is he okay with this marriage? Well I'm not. Maybe he's talking about something else.

I went straight away to my room, I opened the door and saw Nadia sitting on my bed.

"You're dead Nadia!" I said as I let out an evil laugh, to show her how scary I am when she leaves me with some random person in the kitchen.

"I'm sorry... I'm very sorry I won't do it again really, it was just dead awkward for me to be in the kitchen." She explained as I came closer to her to beat her up and she backed away from me. I think she's right, but she can't leave me there with Ismael it was dead awkward for me as well, Alhamdullilah that I'm out from there.

"I will let you off this time. Only this time." I reminded her as I sat on the bed.

"Thank you, so tell me what did you guys talk about?" Nadia asked as she came and sat next to me.

"He said sorry." I answered as I looked at her.

"Sorry? For what ?" She asked. Nadia is always full of questions but I still love her.

"I don't know... that's what I also want to know." I replied. I think he said sorry because of the marriage but it's not his fault... it's our parents who are forcing this marriage into us even though we don't want it.

"I think he loves you." Nadia said as she looked at me. What? Love? No way.

"Love? What is love? What kind of feeling does love gives you?" I asked. But really what is love?

"Love is when you love someone like... you can't live without them." She tried to explain.

"To me love is for mum, dad and Allah only." I suggested. To be honest that's how I feel... I mean you should love your mum and dad not anyone else, agh whatever.

"Do you hate him that much?" she asked as she looked at me.

"Well... I never hated anyone you know me I like everyone but love is a different story." I explained. Yeah that's how I truly feel... I think.

"What do you mean? Khadija just come on, open your heart for him trust me... I don't think he hates you but more than that I guess he likes you because he's not against the marriage like you are." She said as she stood up. "Come on let's go downstairs I think we should be there." She opened the door and then she waited for me to come. I stood up and went with her. As soon as I was downstairs I saw all those smiles on everyone's face, everyone seemed so happy and busy in their own world. My mum and dad were talking and saying jokes I think this is the best thing in live. Seeing your family happy it also makes me happy. I also realized the reason for their smiles and it was because of Ismael parents if I refuse to get married... would this smiles fade away and become tears instead? But what if... if... if... if what? What am I talking about? I think I just have to forget about all of this and just enjoy live if that's possible.

"Hey, Khadija and Nadia you guys come sit here." My mum exclaimed as she moved from the sofa to give us some space to sit.

"JazakaAllah aunty." Nadia said to my mum as we both went and sat down, it was very awkward everyone was there even Ismael.