Someone Else's Diary

05. let's get married

Mariam didn't sleep after her fajr prayer, she laid down on her bed staring at her ceiling and hearing the clock too away, wondering what would happen next, she still didn't know how her she died or who was the exact reason.

It was already noon, she heard a knock on her door it was her aunt Khadeeja, Mariam got up and opened the door, her aunt spoke and beamed brightly sharing her positive energy.
"Good morning sweety!! You were sleeping til now?? Come down and have your breakfast."
"Haye Allah... I woke up long back Mami I was just folding my clothes," Mariam lied smiling sweetly.
"Ok fine today guests are coming, I mean Hishma and her husband their coming for lunch, you better come and sit down because you were not there for her Walima also."

"Oh that's nice, just give me a few minutes I'll clear off this mess and come," Mariam said giving her a smile picking up the things over the couch.

Zahran texted her telling he was sorry about last night, Mariam acted angrily but she secretly liked him too.

Zahran: I just felt like seeing you at that time so I made a secret entry into your house and I am sorry about that. 12.34PM.

Mariam: Fine, Please don't do anything like this again for heaven's sake.12.40PM.

Zahran: If that's what you want. Okay.12.42PM.

Mariam kept her phone grinning ear to ear and went down to eat her breakfast. There were chicken and vegetable stir-fry, She heated it in the oven and managed to finish half her plate.
After two days they were leaving back to Edinburgh as her graduation was near, Mariam and Zahran's relationship started growing bigger and bigger and finally, they all packed off to Edinburgh and Zahran also flew off to London.

Zahran though it would take another year for them to meet again and so did Mariam, Though they both spoke so formally and like friends but they definitely knew something was brewing between them.

One month passed and it was time for Mariam's graduation, her father was coming that evening. The whole family felt happy and thrilled, and Khadeeja Mami went along with their driver to the airport to pick up her father, The Airport was located in the Ingliston area of the City of Edinburgh.

Mariam told her father about the threatening text which she had got before a month and her father advised her not to worry about it and that they are just trying to blackmail her so that she'll get scared.

********

Mariam was getting graduated that day, she was so excited that finally, she's a gynecologist, After this she will have to practice for some more time before she starts handling patients individually, this was her ambition from a young age, and her family was proud of her, Mariam's mother's sisters and brother's had come to see Mariam and congratulated her. The whole day was happy for her and that evening she went for dinner with her college friends, it was at Commercial street named Kezban Mediterranean restaurant, they were all going to miss each other, they promised to keep in touch and go out every now and then.
All of them exchanged numbers and hugs before they left.

Mariam got in the car but the driver was missing, she called up her driver but he never picked up she doubted that as usual he must have got drunk and slept somewhere, her father wanted to change the driver, Anyways who wants a drunkard now.

Now her friend Kelsey offered her to drop her home and Mariam also was about to go but then her friend took her to another car and said, "Good luck my dear, Please get home safe!" Mariam was confused with furrowed eyebrows, she said

"Aren't you coming?"

Kelsey said, "Get in the car girl."

Mariam opened the car and to her surprise, it was Zahran inside
"Assalamu Alaikum,"
He said turning back with the nerves and muscles of his neck so taut.

Mariam's eyes widened almost popping out.
"Walaikum Assalam. What are you doing in here?"
He smirked and pushed out his words, "Isn't it your graduation, thought to congratulate you," he winked.

Mariam turned pink and he got the courage to ask her if he could take her for a drive, Mariam couldn't bear telling a No to such a perfect young man with a perfect profile and cutting features.

Zahran drove the car while Mariam just sat there awkwardly playing with her fingers, he stopped and opened the door for her to get down, Mariam questioned him why he was doing all this, she got down the car and they both were so close to each other. Every bone and nerve in Zahran felt like hugging Mariam but he wasn't that bold to hug her right now.

They both stood silently watching the stars, it was very cold at that time of the year and after sometime Zahran bent down and came on his knee and took out a ring from his pocket, Mariam stood there shocked but she smiled closing her face to hide her crimson cheeks.

Zahran cleared his throat, now licked his lips to tell something which wasn't very used to him.

"I love you with all my heart and soul, and I know you do too. I'm not so good at this, so in that case please be mine."

Mariam's inner voice screamed at her

That was so early!!! How can you do this man?
Say no or no or no or no or no.

Mariam laughed seeing how hard he tried to be romantic in proposing but he failed miserably.

No girl!! Don't laugh. Damn what's wrong with you and your self-respect?

She gave her hand kind of shivering and let him put on the ring, He kissed her hand and she pulled it off immediately, She felt so shy all of a sudden because they had only spoken through phone and texts, Meeting in real was still new.

She still didn't return those words 'I love you'.maybe soon she will.
Or maybe not?

------------------------------------------

Glossary:

Fajr prayer: Fajr prayer is one among the five obligatory prayers offered by practising Muslims.

Mami: Is a word which refers to an Aunt.

Yours truly
~storiesfromahijabi