When The Stars Shine Bright

Chapter Nine

"I have to get back Mustafa, Mum was not very keen on my going out without my cousins. She said I should get back as soon as possible, we have other plans for the day," said Nazia as soon as she sat down in the coffee shop with Mustafa.

"Are you always going to be such a dutiful daughter...always listening to Mummy and Daddy?" asked Mustafa tauntingly while cocking his head to one side.

"Well yes, why should I not be? They are my parents after all," she replied back instantly.

"Ahhh so the good daughter is then going rogue on her parents? Dating a man behind their backs, doesn't sound very dutiful to me."

Mustafa you're being rude and I don't like it. If you're going to be like this then I had better go," said Nazia hurt by his taunt.

"Oh Nazia come on! I was only asking you a valid question, after all you have to talk to your parents about us and I don't see you being strong enough to fight for us," he immediately spoke in a conciliatory tone. " You have to be! To stand up for yourself, to stand up for us."

"I know and I will talk to them soon. But Mustafa you could help me out in some way as well. You could send a formal proposal through Rania's parents. We've known them since ages and my parents will be more receptive to a proposal coming through them," Nazia pleaded with him for the umpteenth time.

"Hmmm Rania has been saying the same thing, but what do I say to Rania's parents? That I happen to like my cousin't best friend who also happens to be 12 years younger than me? That we have been secretly talking and texting each other from halfway across the world since the past year? That I am totally obsessed with her and I just have to marry her? And you think that they will readily take my proposal forward? No my dear things don't work out this easily in real life. Rania's parents will have objections to my age, my family background, your family's status, my status and they will never agree to talk to your parents when they have so many objections themselves. I know them, you don't. No, you have to take this step and introduce me to your parents yourself if only the idea that you are interested in someone," Mustafa 

"What difference in status? You are so well established in your career! You are earning a good amount of money and my parents are not so superficial that they will judge you on the basis of your income only," protested Nazia as Mustafa listed the reasons of his unsuitablity.

"There is a difference Nazia, a big difference between my family background and yours," emphasized Mustafa. " I am a self-made man who had to climb up the ranks the hard way with no family and social support. You on the other hand have had everything handed on a platter to you. You had your parents to shelter you from everything, I had to grow up without parents and I had to grow up fast! I was fifteen when my parents died in the car crash and my older sister was only nineteen. We didn't even get a chance to enjoy our teenage years because we had to support each other through the good times and bad. You've never had to see your relatives turn away when they realized that you were poor. You've never had to face kids at school make fun of your worn out shoes and ill-fitting clothes that were hand me downs from older cousins. You've never faced any kind of adversity Nazia and your parents are going to take a look at my family background and realize that I am not good enough for you despite my current status. You are a princess my dear and you deserve only the best," he said bitterly but realistically.

"Mustafa you know I don't care about your background. My father is a self-made man too and he has a great respect for people who rise up despite their circumstances. They might hesitate initially, they will definitely question you about your education and your job but they will never say no to me. They will not say no," she reiterated more to convince herself as much as him.