NAJMA | Unedited

6.

•TARIQ's POV•

"Dad, as I said last time, I'm not ready for marriage right now" I repeat to my father who is adamant that I am ready for marriage.

"And as I said, you are getting married next month" he affirms, sternly sitting behind his office desk.

"To who ?" I ask and he stays silent, as if thinking on what to tell me. "You see ? You have no one in mind so let me be please"

"Najma" and I gasp. What ? Why her ? Since that day I learnt about her crush on me, I have been avoiding her. I don't know exactly why but I'm unable to face her right now and to think of dad who thinks she is a good match for me is not helping at all ! "She's a good girl. We never spoke but I can change that. I'll call her father now, hold on"

"NO! Wait do not please" I beg "You can't do that to her, I'll talk to her first"

"Does that mean you're accepting to get married next month ?" He asks, excitement visible in his hopeful eyes.

"No. I'm not ready but I'll talk to her. I just don't want her to be told what to do like you did with me" I say before excusing myself from his office, went to the lobby and drove home.

•••

I can't stop thinking about her even if I want to. I like her and all but I don't like the fact that she has or used to have a crush on me. I'm not worth it. I'm nothing but a mess to everyone and myself. I don't want to break her heart but I think I already have with the type of ugly attitude I have towards her.

I shake my head in an attempt to erase all these thoughts I'm having before getting out of my bed to go meet her in her room. I need to talk to her. I can't ignore her for the rest of my life.

I walk downstairs in a haste to tell her I'm sorry. Just that will be enough.

Before setting foot into her room, I see Jasmine walking to the kitchen and decide to ask her where Najma is because I don't want to go to her room unannounced and she tells me that Najma is out with the kids. Oh alright. Great.

"Did she go with the driver ?" I ask.

"Yes but not with the car, they were walking" she replies and I nod then thank her.

I go out to meet one of the guards. One of them might know where they are.

"Hey man wassup ?" I ask Badr. Yes Badr as in the battle of Badr and trust me he is very good in battling.

"Good sir thank you" he smiles "how can I help you ?"

"Do you know where Najma and the kids went to ?" and he says they went to an ice-cream parlor but he doesn't know which one exactly.

So if they were walking it means that it's not far. I'm not so much into going out to ice-cream parlors so I have no idea where they can be.

An idea hits me and I take my phone from my pocket to dial a number. Iman's number. After two rings, she picks the call.

"Waouh see who's thinking about me ! Tariq, how are you ?"

"Good Iman, how are you ? Are you free right now ? Can I come pick you up ?"

Say yes please I'm begging.

"Fine, yes and yes sure" she says and I cut the call immediately to get into my car.

I drive to my aunt's house which is just 3 kilometers away from here.

"I'm outside, please come I can't get in" I tell Iman as I put my phone close to my left ear and I cut the call before she tells me to go in. I don't want to go there right now because there is no time. My aunt will start ranting about why I don't visit her and no I don't want that now.