Arranged Marriage

chapter 7

Normani pov

it was finally April and Dinah had been distant with me. my dad had called me to set up a meeting. i already knew what he wanted to talk about. i made up my mind and i'm sure he's going to be disappointed but it's my life.

"what do you want to do?" he asked me, as i drank my soda.

"it's not an easy decision, i hope you know."

"i get that but it's what your heart tells you. don't listen to your mind because that's the worse one to listen to when you need advice."

"dad, if you and mom had to get married like i did with Dinah, would you love her?"

"i still love her till this day but she's gone. if you must know, i had met her through the arranged marriage our parents put us through. my dad had made a deal with me and said that if i didn't like the woman within the 5 months we had been together, we had to be together still. if i did fall for her, i had to annul the marriage. she wouldn't know why and that killed me on the inside. the moment i fell for her, i had to go up to her and say that i wanted a divorce. i had to resist touching her after i said that. just watching her break down in front of me, killed me on the inside. i hated myself for making the deal with my dad. a few years later, we had crossed paths again and i told her everything in secret. we went behind my father's back and we made love. that's when you were born. unfortunately, my dad ended up finding out and he took your mom from me. he let me keep you but he sent your mom far far away. i vow to find her one day."

"what about Sinu?"

"Sinu is someone my dad likes very much and until he dies, we have agreed that we will divorce. she loves her ex as much as i love your mom. don't make the mistake of losing someone you love."

"i've made up my mind." i said, sighing heavily.

"what is it, my dear?"

"i want the annulment. i want nothing to do with her."

"so she wasn't successful in making you fall in love?"

"apparently not if i want to divorce her. there's no reason for me being with her if she doesn't even try anymore."

"does she know about the deal?"

"no, she doesn't." i lied, as i sighed loudly.

"then why wasn't she trying?"

"she probably got tired of me. i'm sure she found someone else."

"maybe, but i support you. if you don't want to be with her, you don't have to. my offer still stands."

"if i do want to marry her, you'll be the first to know."

"i have to get back to work and i know you do too."

i closed my eyes when he kissed my head and left money on the table. i drank whatever was left before leaving to go to work. i walked in as everyone turned to look at me. i shook my head and just sat down on an empty chair.

"what's wrong?" Camila asked, brushing a woman's hair.

"dad is letting me divorce Dinah."

"wait a minute, you want to divorce her?"

"we made a deal all thanks to your mom. he said that if in a few months i don't develop feelings, he will let me annul the marriage. if i developed real feelings, he would do a real wedding ceremony. i, of course, never told Dinah that the ceremony we had was fake because she probably would've gotten mad."

"Mani, i thought you were starting to like her."

"i honestly don't know anything. i feel like a divorce would be better because we get time away from each other and she gets to find someone."

"why would she find someone when she likes you?"

"things change. she'll stop liking me after what i'm about to do to her."

"feelings change but with Dinah, i see so much love from her. i don't understand how you don't see it? how could you not fall in love with an angel like her?"

"why don't you go marry her?" i remarked.

"i'm not into girls."

"yeah yeah, but we're closing up soon. i have to talk to her."

"you're packing your shit before she gets home aren't you?"

"i don't want to make it any harder than it has to be. i just don't feel anything for her. i can't just pretend."

"are you really?"

i shook my head as i got up to pack my stuff. i gave Camila the keys to lock up before going to my car. i really hope Dinah doesn't hate me after this.

xxxx

i had everything packed and ready to go. my suitcases by the door as i ran up to get the rest of my things. when i came down, i saw Dinah enter the house and look straight at me.

"Mani, please tell me those are not suitcases."

"they're suitcases and if you can't see that, you need to go to the eye doctor."

"where are you going?"

"Dinah, i can't be with you. i just don't have feelings for you like i thought i would have. what i went through as a kid, you wouldn't understand."

"then tell me so i can understand."

"i don't want to be here longer than i have to okay? so just please let me leave."

"how can i let you walk out of my life forever?"

"i don't want to keep hurting you."

"i don't care what you want! i'm a grown woman and i don't need you making decisions for me. i want you Normani. every single part of you that makes you you."

"i don't want you.." i said, softly praying she didn't hear me.

i grabbed my stuff to put them outside and when i was closing the door, all i heard was her soft voice breaking as she cried. the moment that door closed, i cried and fell to the floor. i had to force myself to stop and get in the car but the minute i left her house, i broke down on the side of the road. i couldn't drive in this condition. i ended up calling Zendaya and Camila, who immediately came to my assistance. Zendaya drove my car home and i rode with Camila.

"you love her don't you?"

"i really do but all i do is hurt her. i still can't shake what she did to me when i was in sixth grade."

"what if that wasn't her Mani? what then?"

"that's when i get her back."

"how will you know if you can't even speak to her?"

"one day, Mila. one day."

i looked out the window as Dinah's last words echoed through my head.

"Mani please don't go.. i love you.."