Life is short. A phrase we all throw around but its meaningless because we do nothing to change.
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Bela stands with her arms pressed against her chest. She eyes the tall figure who's looking straight at the garden before them, she attempted to admire it too but He poses too much of a distraction. As soon as Talha noticed the woman he couldn't take his mind off of as well as her parents', he ended his discussion and tended to his guests. He called his mother and she immediately told the housemaids to put together delightful snacks for tea. Bela witnessed all this with wide eyes, she came here for a reason but she never expected to stay as long as they have.
Talha watches the woman shift awkwardly from one foot to the other. She's wearing a lilac coloured dress and a grey shawl. He still doesn't fully understand why she came all the way here in search of him. He wants to ask her but is afraid she might snap and leave. How wrong he is. Their parents' excluding Jabir, converse in soft tones inside the house, the glass windows are open so that Thabith is aware of what his daughter is up to.
'How are you?' Talha decides to break the silence. For the sake of his sanity, he avoids looking at her.
'AlhamdhuliAllah, and you?' She replies softly.
'Alright.' He mutters.
'How's your father? I didn't see him.' Bela inquires with a tinge of uncertainty in her tone. I don't know if its a good question but really I don't know what else to say. How about you do what you came to do? Bela come on!
'He's getting better. The doctor always gives us hope.'
'Oh, I see.' Talha flicks his eyes to meet hers, he could sense her concern.
'Was everything okay after I left?' He asks in reference to last night, he knows very well that her father can hear every word he says but in his mind this conversation needs to take place. I need to know. Bela is lost in his dark orbs for a good two seconds.
'Yes.'
'So what did you do?' He asks very bluntly.
'What do you think I did?' She retorts. Does this man really think I went ahead with it?
'I wasn't there. A certain someone asked me to leave, remember?' His eyes taunting her. I deserve that.
'I did what I thought was best.' Talha's heart rate accelerates and his fists clench almost instantly. She's engaged. Regardless of what I showed her. She did it anyway. She came here to tell me that she still wants him regardless of her... Feelings. For me.
'Is that why you came?' Bela could see the change in his expression.
'Yes, why?'
'Then I think you should leave.' He looks away from her.
'What?'
'You heard me.' Their tones grow softer. Talha walks down the porch toward the garden, Bela follows him without even thinking twice.
'Talha, what are you doing? Wait.' The two have completely forgotten that their parents' are required to watch over them. Their emotion gets the better of them.
'Did you come here to rub it in my face? To tell me that you've started a new life with someone I want buried six feet under.' He finally turns, the wind slaps their clothes. His curls sway angrily. He's about eight steps away from her, the Man walks with incredible speed.
'What? I never said that! Are you delusional?' Bela waves her hands in the air exasperated at his behaviour.
'No but why else would you be here?' He shouts over his shoulder still pacing ahead.
'If you could stop and listen then maybe I'd tell you.'
'Why are you here?' He finally stops, Bela pants lightly and takes a deep breath. Lo amos, lo amos. You love him. You love him. Her mothers words suddenly barge into her train of thoughts.
'To ask you if you would- for the Love of Allah- ask my father for my hand in marriage.' Talha is dumfounded. What...
'To what?' He asks as if trying to affirm her words. He walks closer leaving a decent gap between them.
'You heard me.' She repeats his statement from before. He stares into her eyes as if hunting for a sign to prove her words wrong.
'This is not a prank?' Bela bursts out laughing at his innocent face.
'I can't believe you're doubting this. I'm serious.' She covers up another laugh threatening to be set free. He runs a hand through his hair and shakes his head.
'So you're not engaged?'
'No.'
'So he is gone?' Talha tries to collect all the information he needs in order to console his heart.
'Yes.'
'So this is why you came?' She nods. Right then he smiles. A full blown smile that Bela is actually stunned, she's never seen him look like that. He looks handsome beyond words. Wow. 'So do you want to tell them or should I?' He points at three very confused elders who are standing on the porch waving at them.
'I'll leave it to you.'
'Good, because I need to have a chat with your father.'
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Bela leans against the leather seat of her car and drives at a moderate pace. She hasn't stopped smiling since she left. After they approached their parents', Talha came up with a lame excuse as to why they were in the garden. Thabith had frowned but didn't say anything, Maria and Zeena simply smiled and let it go. They shared the typical 'Been there, done that,' look and went back inside to enjoy the food. Talha took Thabith to a side and explained his feelings and thoughts on marrying his daughter. The father definitely got riled up but listened and agreed nonetheless. Ultimately the entire meeting became a celebration.
Jabir joined in and smiled at Bela with pure happiness. She wanted to cry when he said the words, 'I wanted this more than you know.' She didn't think that she displayed such benevolence without even intending to do so. Bela even got to meet Aahil, Ali and Tahira, her soon to be in-laws. Tahira was thrilled to say the least and the two boys had a pretty bland reaction until they heard that Bela loves football.
'Well of course, I'm half Spanish.'
'Wow! You're the coolest.' Ali exclaimed. Bela chuckled with a shake of her head.
'Yeah, I want to go to Spain.' Tahira joined in.
'In Sha Allah. Sounds like plan.' Talha scheduled the Nikah for Friday of this week which is exactly four days from now but surprisingly no one objected. He laughed and joked the entire evening and Bela wondered whether she was the reason for that. She sighs dreamily and stops at a red light. The way he looked at her was enough, why didn't I see any of this before? Was I so keen on finding fault in him? Well he is a man of faults and mistakes. Then again who isn't?
'I'll see you on Friday In Sha Allah.' She simply nodded at him and left. Their faces were unreadable but their hearts screamed with emotion. That's the amazing thing about faith. It gives you courage enough to go forth with your plans but it also makes you rationalise. Bela did think this over and now she can only hope and pray that everything goes smoothly.
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YAY! WHATTT :) There it is :) I hope you enjoyed it, I certainly did. Vote, comment and share! Peace- Zai x
