A Little bit of Love

Chapter-3

"Don't you feel this dress is somewhat dull?" Mama asked, holding up a baby pink dress. I watched her quietly for a moment.

"I think it's fine." Returning with a smile, I hoped this would be enough to placate my Mother; but I was obviously pushing it.

"I think this darker one is better! No?" Without having anything left to say, I turned away with a long sigh; letting my mother be. I don't understand what's the need for all these formalities! I mean, it's not like they are seeing me for the first time. Why create so much fuss?

"I think this is fine. Rahima! Take baji's clothes for ironing—" She screamed from her place. I didn't lift my eyes from my phone. Anything that I say, will have a negative impact. So, for now, I have decided to lay low. Until, they leave; that is. It's not that I don't want to give him a chance. But, I don't feel right. From the few times, that I have met him in the past, it felt like he didn't like me very much. Now, if that's his way of expressing his emotions, then it could be understandable. Otherwise, there is no other valid explanation for his cold behaviour.

"Hoor! You are still sitting here! Go, get ready." Mama exclaimed horrified on finding me relaxing on my bed.

"Mama, there is more than an hour—"I tried saying, but she wasn't having it.

"Now—hurry up!!" She ordered before leaving me to my own devices. I watched the now closed door with a feeling of impending doom before exhaling a loud groan into my bed.

'I hate this!'

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"So, now what? They came today with the mindset to finalise it—" Papa began, after they had left. I didn't bother contributing my opinion. Not like it was asked.

"I think, we should finalise it too, after another meeting with Hadeed present. He couldn't come today after all, due to work." Mama interjected. I wanted to scream out loud and protest but externally I was calmly scrolling through my phone.

"Yeah. We should pay them a visit, this time, before finalising. Okay, Hoor?" Papa suddenly brought me into the conversation without any prior warning. I looked up from my phone, shocked at this sudden turn of events.

"We'll see." I murmured in a small voice.

"What do you mean? Don't you like the proposal?" He began, as if I had said the most unimaginably impossible thing. Before I could get a word in, Mama broke in.

"What does she know—" she was starting, when I let out a long sigh, wondering when would it be okay for me to leave. I can't follow this conversation any more.

"I mean—it's too soon to say for sure. But sure, we'll see how it works out?" I tried to present a satisfactory explanation, but obviously it was thrown out of the window, without any consideration. So, I sat in my place listening to the list of his attributes and the family's prominence in the society, once again. The same thing that I have been hearing since the past 2 weeks and will probably continue to hear, until something is finalised about this proposal. However, sitting there I could only think about one thing.

'He didn't come.'

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Exhaling a tortured sigh for the millionth time, I watched Ayeza squabbling with the inspector.

"How dare you tell me to quiet down! Hah! You are afraid that someone will see through your corrupt acts?!" Ayeza continued to scream on top of her lungs. I felt bad for the poor officer, who was making vain attempts to calm her down. Did we really have to get into an accident today? I might as well skip work now. It's already been 3 hours past my clock in time. And seeing how Ayeza is being so resolute about getting even with the officer who let the offender run off without following the proper protocol; I doubt we'll be able to leave any time soon.