Loving a Princess

28. Maybe that's the point.

Eid was supposed to be a day of happiness, joy and celebration. But for once in my life, this was the first Eid where I couldn't help but feel depressed. How could I not, knowing that Eid marked the end of Ramadhan and it was right after Ramadhan that I had to get married to a guy whom I didn't want to get married to?

During breakfast, I stayed quiet all along, staring at my plate of food as I ate, but I could feel mum, dad, Asif and Arif's eyes all on me. Dad cleared his throat, and I lifted my eyes up.

"Aliyah, what is this behaviour? I've seen a massive change in you! For a whole month plus a week, you have been moping around like this, hardly saying a word to anyone! You're getting married in ten days!"

Maybe that's the point, dad. Maybe I'm moping because I'm getting married in ten days? I thought silently.

"Aliyah?" Dad said. "Are you okay? Is something wrong?"

I shook my head.

Dad sighed heavily. I knew he felt that all hope he had of talking to me just went down the drain, but I really couldn't help it. For me to say anything was like a burden. I preferred to just keep silent and if I spoke wholeheartedly, it was only during my du'ahs to Allah.

"Dad, Aliyah is upset because she doesn't want to marry Talal. She's not going to say anything but it's true. And it was high time I told you," Asif spoke up.

Dad's head snapped in his direction.

"What?" Dad questioned.

"It's true, dad. She doesn't want to marry him. And this Talal guy doesn't seem right, he texted her and even called her!" Arif said.

"He also called you?" Mum exclaimed, shocked.

"Aliyah! Why did you agree to this proposal then, if what they're saying is true?" Dad asked.

Not in the mood to answer the question because in fact, the answer was too long a story, I just stood up abruptly, having finished my breakfast.

"Look, dad. I'm sorry, but I just don't want to discuss anything right now. I'm going to my room," I said, and left the dining room.

I don't know why I couldn't bring myself to tell dad that it was true, when I knew that dad would call off the wedding if I wasn't happy. But to be honest, it wasn't in my nature to actually tell people I wasn't in for something if there was even the slightest chance that they may be disappointed or there would be some sort of difficulty. And maybe by now, mum wouldn't be disappointed if I refused to it because she had learned of how Talal actually was, but what about the fact that if dad called off then wedding, then that would ruin his relationship with Mr. Rafiq, who was an old friend of dad's? Or for that matter, it would be too much stress for dad to take if I told him I wasn't happy with this.

I decided to just let it be and I went to my room. Allah knew that I was just persevering through all this because I was trying to put everyone else's comfort and happiness before mine. But then, why did Umniyah's words ring in my head then?

"Aliyah, if it happens to be true that Farshad does like you too, then remember, not only did you spoil your own life but you also spoiled my brother's life. And I'm not happy about it," she had said.

Urgh! This was so frustrating, I just couldn't figure anything out. But when Umniyah had spoken to me, she said Farshad probably liked me, not for sure though.

I heaved a sigh and sank onto my bed. It was Eid and here I was, feeling gloomy. Usually, I would be the one who would wake everyone up in the morning due to the joy of Eid.

I heard a knock on my door. Sighing again, I stood up and opened it, only to see dad standing there.

Seeing the concerned look on dad's face made me want to burst into tears and tell him everything. I knew that for dad, his children were his priority. And I was so close to dad, he loved me so much, that I knew seeing me like this was really painful for him.

I just couldn't help but hug my father and he immediately embraced me back, stroking my head.

"It's killing me to see you so depressed, and you won't even tell me what's wrong. I can't do anything for you if I don't know what's wrong, princess," dad said.

It took all the strength I could muster for me not to burst into tears when he said that.

"You still won't say anything?" Dad asked.

I looked up from his chest and shook my head.

"You're impossible!" Dad chuckled.

I cracked a half-smile. "You think?" I asked.

"I know. Now, you're going to listen to what I tell you right now, okay?" Dad said.

"Depends on what it is that you're telling me," I joked.

"There's my daughter! I hadn't heard something like that in ages!" Dad said, dramatically. "Anyway, it's Eid today, and it's been so long since we went out somewhere as a family. So I want to take you guys out, maybe for lunch and then we can spend the rest of the day somewhere else."

"Dad," I whined. "I'm not in the mood!"

"Aliyah!" Dad said, sternly. "I've made up my mind and that's final! We're going out today as a family!"

"You guys go, I'll stay behi-"

Dad interrupted me before I could continue. "It's for your sake that we all think we should go out. Get ready, right now! We're leaving at noon!" Dad ordered.

Before I could protest any further, dad left my room. I flopped onto my bed, and started at the ceiling, wondering why dad wanted to do this. I honestly was going to ruin their mood because I didn't feel like going anywhere. And they would want me to talk and be my bubbly self, but I couldn't be that way!

By noon, I had gotten ready, dressed in a new abaya since it was Eid. I stared at myself in the mirror. There were dark circles under my grey eyes, and I despised them, but there was nothing I could do. My mouth seemed to have lost its smile. I seemed to have also lost my sun-kissed complexion and I had become pale. The girl in the mirror didn't look like me, that was for sure.

My door opened and dad walked in.

"You're ready? We're leaving!" Dad said.

I nodded in reply and followed him out of the room, along the corridors, down the stairs and out of the house.

The valet had already brought the car near the entrance, and mum and the twins were already inside. I joined the twins in the backseat as dad sat in the driver's seat, and we headed out.

It was once in a blue moon that I sat next to Asif or Arif in the car and they didn't irritate me. Now was one of those rare times, and in all honesty, I missed it. I wanted them to irritate me, but I knew that they thought I was in a foul mood so they kept to themselves, occasionally whispering something to each other.

We finally got to the restaurant. It was one of the most expensive restaurants in town, but it was our favourite. Dad got us a table in a booth, where we could see everyone, but hardly anyone could see us unless they were sitting opposite to the entrance of the booth.

After placing the order, as we were waiting for the food to come, I was staring out of the booth. People kept on coming in, and it was no surprise, since it was Eid. A few minutes later, I did a double take, when I saw who walked in. I nudged my brothers and all of us stared at the newcomer.

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Short chapter, I know. But bear with me, because trust me, things are getting...Well, I don't want to say anything and let y'all see for yourselves. So I present you with a cliffhanger here!

Anyway, please do drop a vote and a comment.

Thanks readers, just know that you reading this story, voting for it, and commenting on it means a lot to me. It is like an inspiration, honestly.