LOVE TRIALS

iii

You don't give up on someone you love.

●

"Baba Rizwan, please, reconsider," Bilal pleaded for the umpteenth time since Rizwan had told him, his daughter would marry Hamza Hassan Omer. For two weeks, now, he'd been trying to convince Habiba Rizwan and her husband to not go through with the proposal. Any man but Hamza Hassan Omer, it was almost like his pleas fell on deaf ears.

"Bilal, I understand your concerns but this is my decision," He removed his prayer hat and ran a nervous hand on his head before covering his head, again.

"How so?" he burst as he turned to his mother, distinct worry lines marked her forehead."Please, make them understand, mama."

"It's been some time," Rizwan muttered. Bilal became awfully upset at Rizwan's admission.

He laughed, it was hollow."Are you kidding me?"

"Bilal," Javeria chided.

"Bilal. Son, I have heard from you. Truly, his decision to pursue my daughter had worried me but It's equally if not more distressing to know my own daughter has accepted it so I can't do much in such circumstances. I would bless her marriage with Hamza. Allah will take care of their affairs, I have placed my trust in Him."

"Trust your God but tie your camel, baba," Bilal said." Sophie is being stupid. She's in love, it's expected but everything has happened right before your eyes, baba. How can you turn a blind eye?" He left his seat to pace back and forth, digging a hole in the carpet. Bilal combed his fingers through his coiffed hair, "I will not relent unless I talk to her one last time and try to shake some sense into her. Please."

Rizwan nodded and asked his wife to summon their daughter. Bilal could hardly keep a lid on his emotions when she appeared dressed in a sequined golden wedding dress, dragging her heavy skirt with her. Her face veiled, her hands gloved. For as long as he could remember, he had always considered her a sister although they had grown apart in recent years and they weren't as close as they had been, he had accepted his responsibility of a big brother with all his heart and he couldn't bring himself to care any less. Knowing, she was setting herself for a failure, Bilal in his good conscience couldn't not warn her of the implications he was much too aware, himself.

Bilal took a deep breath,"I have been told you want this but not everything you want is good for you, kid and he's one of those. He is not right for you.

I don't know what he did to make you think he's a suitable man to marry. He's a difficult man and even harder to love, Sophie. He was married before you and he's already loved a woman. I don't think he is capable of loving anyone, anymore.

You're going to be his wife for a number of reasons but never love.

One day, you will love someone who will love you, cherish you. You will marry him. Please, don't- let it not be him, today," Bilal implored.

Bilal cursed under his breath when a knock resounded on the door of his study and a moment later, his wife's head poked, inside.

"They are here," She told him, her eyes catching his for a moment before they shifted around the room. Javeria gestured for her daughter in law to fully enter the room. She looked breathtaking in her powder pink dress with her flushed cheeks as Bilal's gaze travelled down her body at leisure. Her hair fell to her back in loose waves, Bilal had been too livid in their room to notice her. No- he had deceived her and himself, he couldn't afford to bear a crack and he would've crumbled had she tried to lessen his anger, he knew she would have.