Scarred For Life

Chapter 42

*
"Marriage?!"

Damn it!

"Afrah, I can explain."

"I don't want to marry you, Adnan," the words tumbled out of her without so much as a pause.

Adnan sat up on the bed, his eyes drawn to the clock. It was 11pm, the ungodliest hour of the day.

"Afrah, please let me explain."

"Why would you think that I would ever want to marry you?"

"Wow," he said, trying at humor. "That's a nice boost to a man's ego."

"Why did you do this behind my back?" she asked.

"I'm sorry," he said. "Truly, I am. But perhaps if you would let me get in a word, then you will understand my own point of view."

"I don't want to hear it," she said.

"Afrah, please."

He sounded calm. Too calm. It wasn't fair, when her mind was spinning in a million different directions.

Marriage to him?

Of all people?

Imagine that.

But the terrifying part was that she actually could. She could imagine them together, and she could imagine him as her husband. It was exactly what she had been trying to stop herself from imagining for the last few weeks. The security she felt around him, it wasn't like anything she had ever felt before. He was always just - there. Like an unwavering rock which refused to be weathered by the elements.

Even so, she couldn't beat down the betrayal she felt at him having to sneak behind her back. Why did everyone have to do that? Why couldn't he be a man and look her in the eye before dropping the m-word?

And what exactly would she have said if he did?

Probably nothing. That much was certain.

"Afrah," he proceeded carefully, "this is hardly the time to have this conversation. I would prefer if you and I spoke face to face about this matter. And if you still feel the same way after that, then I will hastily withdraw my proposal."

She was silent for so long that Adnan had to check his phone to make sure she was still there.

"Afrah?"

"Pray you have an extremely good reason for doing this," she said before hanging up. Adnan released the breath he had been holding, collapsing onto the bed. The crisis was averted, at least for now. Soon however, he would have to face the tune once again.

And tell her what, exactly?

That he loved her?

Afrah would be long gone before he finished getting the words out of his mouth. No, he had to do this carefully. She would never agree if he simply told her how he felt. But if he reasoned with her, presented his case in a way that would broach no argument, then the deed would be done.

And so, for the remainder of the night, he sat down and thought about all the reasons why Afrah should marry him. At the crack of dawn, he only had one solid reason she might agree upon, and another which was still up in the air.

Nevertheless, he was never one to deter. Especially not on a matter like this; which was why he was to be found sitting on the porch of his uncle's house barely an hour after Zuhr.

While he waited, Adnan tried to settle into a modest state. Perhaps if he looked repentant enough, she would go easy on him.

Probably not, he thought upon seeing the expression on her face when she walked out a short while later.