||~Promise~|| ¤ZM Love Story¤

Chapter 12- Those Eyes

*Azra*s P.O.V*

I was looking at the tall buildings of Bradford passing by as I hired a cab for driving me to Starbuck just as I promised to Mrs. Malik. I just messaged Afra saying about Mrs. Malik's strange call and she told me to go immediately as Dad is not going to be home tonight and so is Mom. To be honest, I was nervous, as if Im going to a date. I cant concentrate on anything. I cant even describe how today was planned out for me, first of all, I was listening to Dad's story, Zayn's arrival and dropping a bomb in my life, crying my eyes out, talking to Elena, Zayn's letter, Mrs. Malik's phone call, and now meeting her. The day seems to be too longer than before and it only makes me frustrated. What more is in store for me before night arrives. I cant wait until this day ends. This is just too much to take in for one day.

"We're here Ma'am"

The gruff voice of the cab driver snapped me out of my thoughts making me nod at him, "Thank you", I paid his due amount and got out of the cab, the warm evening air hitting my face. I took a deep breathe before making my way towards Starbucks. As I stepped in, the familiar smell of hot coffee invited me in. I looked around to see if Mrs. Malik has arrived or not. To my surprise, I saw her sitting in the same table where once me and Waliyha sat for planning the wedding. She looked stressed as she was thinking hard while looking at her intertwined hands which was resting on the table. I made my way towards the table and she looked up probably from the sound of my heels hitting the tiled floor. Dont blame me, Im a huge high heels fan. She stood up with a warm smile on her face and stepped forward to give me a hug. Her hug, as usual was very motherly and warm something that I rarely got. And Im a fan of hugging too.

"So happy to see you again hun", she greeted and I smiled at her nodding, "Same here Mrs. Malik", she nodded smiling and pointed towards my chair indicating me to take a seat. Both of us sat down and I sighed, "I'll order something?", she asked and I politely shook my head at her, "Thanks for asking Mrs. Malik, but Im not actually in the mood to have something", I told her seriously with a light chuckle and her face saddened, "I can understand my dear, which is why I thought of meeting you personally by myself", by herself?, "You mean nobody knows about our this..", I pointed at both of us, "..meeting? Not even Waliyha?", she chuckled as shook her head, "Not even Waliyha, what about you? Have you said anyone?", she asked me with a knowing smile and my face heated, "I told my sister and got her permission, since you know, dad is kind of mad at me", I told her with a hint of embarrassment in my voice. This is what I meant, Im 23, and yet I have to get permission for each and everything, still I have never went against this rule but my Dad failed to understand my reasons. She looked amused at my answers, "Per-Permission?", she chuckled and I fisted my hands under the table, she is making it worse, "Y-yes Mrs. Malik, permissions", I clarified her own words and she shook her head still amused, "In this century, a girl of what? 20? 22?..", she paused to ask, "23", I answered and she continued, "..a girl of 23 is waiting for permissions to do something..Wow", she laughed and I smiled with my teeth gritted, "Okay..Okay..", she composed herself, "..that is completely out of topic", Oh no..she is going to get into the real topic, god please help me..

Before she could say anything, "Im sorry Mrs. Malik, I really am..", I looked at her who looked at me intently, "Im sorry that I slapped him, I apologized to him the minute I realized what I did and for some reasons..", I paused to take a breather, "..for some reasons he forgot the apologizing part", I told her and she nodded at me, "Are you finished?", she asked me in a calm tone making me confused a little bit, her calmness is only scaring me, I hesitantly nodded at her making her smile, "Darling, what you did was completely right", she admitted making my eyes widen, she is ok about the slap? She noticed my reaction and chukled, "Dear, as a mother, yes I was a little bit angry that you slapped my son but, as a woman, I was and am proud of what you did", my eyes never bothered to go back to its normal size, how can she be so...understanding? My mind immediately went back to the little session I had with Elena earlier..