Habibti [my love]

[٦]

FIRDAUS AJMAL.

Our conversation flowed smoothly without any awkward moments. Even with him calling me habibti, he is more sincere and doesn't want to win my favour with flattery. That's a bonus!

"So, your baba told you I'm moving in two months, yes?" He asks as he looks directly at my face. I can feel his hot gaze on me. I courageously look up and meet his eyes while nodding. "You know of my request then."

"Yes." I answer him. I place my hands on my lap and tangle my fingers together. Everything feels rushed out from his request. I don't want to be married within a few weeks of meeting him. In all honesty, we've just met today and even if he took his time to choose me as his spouse, he is still a stranger to me. The little that can be done for me is at least he considers how I feel about it.

I want things to go slow or at least at a fair pace. I want to get to know him and to know his family. I want to stay a bit longer with my family too because once I'm out, it's me unlocking another chapter of my life. A new journey.

"Firdaus?" He asks for my attention. "It's only a request not the final decision."

"Ohh." He smiles at my relieved expression. He is considering my feelings? It's like he has the power of reading minds. Maybe he just wants to know what I think and then he makes the final decision for himself.

"Yes, I wanted us to make the decision." He says making me let out a light chuckle. I am a bit shocked right now. This guy is full of surprises. The more we talk, the more he unfolds himself of how conceder-rate and caring he is.

"Don't you think our moms will be delighted to take care of that part, if they haven't already that is." I tell him. Don't get me wrong but with the way they are excited about this union they will want to be included in it. Or even want us to surrender everything to them.

In many of the wedding arrangements I've heard, no bride was lucky enough to decide when they are to be wed. I guess I'm a lucky one among the few.

"If they haven't already, yes but, I want to know what your heart wants." He wooing lyy say. " I believe you also want to have a say in this and I don't want you to feel pressured by it. Maa ra'yuki?"
[What is your opinion?]

"My opinion?" He hums while nodding, " I think it's a bit rushed. Maybe if we decide after my residency."

Pushing the wedding to be discussed after I'm done with my residency feels as though it is far but at the same time, it's only a few weeks. With busy days turning to weeks, it will pass by like a snap. I have a heavy feeling in my chest clouded by thinking about leaving my family. Maybe that's why I want to push the wedding date forward.

"In three months?" As he hears my confirmation, he takes air through his teeth. A little teasing smile plastered on his face. "Maybe we should just let the elders to decide."

"We should shouldn't we?" I give him a toothy smile as my eyes flicks to where our moms are seated. Looking back at him, "And I think it's a bit crazy planning our wedding date on our first meeting."

He lightly laughs and shakes his head. "We are,aren't we?"

"Kam alsaeah?" Our heads turn to the question asked, stealing the attention from each other. My dad looks at his watch. "Fifteen minutes to maghrib."
[What time is it?]

"Yalla kids, unfortunately your pleasant time is over." Amir's dad shouts for us. Looking back at Amir his cheeks has a touch shade of pink and that makes me smile. He is blushing!

He clears his throat when he notices my smile. I bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from smiling more.

"Whenever you're free, we can discuss more over coffee." He states and I raise my eyebrow at him.  "With the presence of your baba of course."

He stands up when I give him a positive answer. I enjoyed talking to him today. The conversation flowed freely without any awkward moments and I got to know more about him as he he got to know about me too. I can't wait to have another meeting with him and with the presence of my dad, he will be like a helping resource for us to agree to the wedding date.

"It was nice meeting and talking with you Firdaus. I'll see you soon?" He asks while I catch my abaya to stand up. I slide the chair back and lift my eyes to meet his gaze.

"Yeah sure." I assure him with a smile. He moves a step behind, giving me the go ahead to head first to the living room.

Everyone is standing up as we approach, giving each other a goodbye. 

"I hope my brother didn't scare you off." Shahd says as she envelopes me with a hug. I can feel her little baby bump and it makes me happy for her. The past few weeks have been bumpy for her and she told me how she missed spending time with her family. Now she's well and happy and didn't want to miss the Chance of meeting the potential future Mrs Amir. Her words not mine.

"No he didn't," I say to her with a smile radiating on my face. We exchange our contacts and promise to talk to each other. Maryam tells me goodbye before making her way to the door with his father.

Shahd hugs me one more time before going to where my dad and Amir are talking animatedly. Aunt Sarah and I move to a side in our sitting area.

"I have a gift for you from my son." She says as she looks for it in her handbag. I want to object but she adds while looking at me straight in the eye, "It's a gift my dear, are you going to refuse a gift from him?"

Shaking my head not wanting to be rude, she smiles and places a gold bracelet on my palms. It looks extremely elegant. It's too nice and too much. I never received a gift so much like this before. I look at her and she looks soo overjoyed. I can't deny, the bracelet is beautiful as I look at it. My fingers trace on it. It has three beautiful butterflies on it and one has little stones.

"Amir chose this for you and it means he already wanted and accepted you for who you are before even meeting you." She starts nodding her head as if agreeing with her inner self. "And I approve."

I envelope her in a hug. I close my eyes as I brightly and happily smile. It's a dream a girl can only dream of. A good relationship with aunt Sarah, my soon to be mother-in-law, is what I've been praying for. I only pray for more love and happiness with her in the future. Ameen ya rabb.

I can't wait to know more about Amir and his family. Every moment spent by them truly defines who they are. Such amazing people I have ever met and known in a day.

I can't wait for more. Insha'Allah.

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It's a short chapter but I hope you enjoyed it  :)