Choosing Him

18

Continued from the previous chapter...

"What do you mean mama?" Areesha asked.

"Areesha go to your room; we will talk about this in the morning."

Areesha glanced at Zayan who gestured her to leave and went back to her room.

She knew that her mother wanted her to marry Aamir but she had said it herself that if the guy was a good muslim then she didn't mind. What was up with her then?

Maybe that's what the barrier she had seen in the dream was about. If Allah had given her a clear positive indication and from the dream she decided that removing that barrier was important. Personally she was so confused about her feelings. The face wasn't that clear in the dream. But she was sure that Fawad had the same brown eyes. She had loved Aamir so much and she wanted him back. She just hoped that she wasn't using Fawad to get over Aamir.

With those conflicting thoughts in her mind she fell asleep as she was very tired from the long day.

Fawad, on the other hand, couldn't sleep a wink. He was so happy about it. He had even told his family about it. Maya was very happy for him but she couldn't help but say 'I told you so.'

He thanked Allah and prayed that nothing went wrong. He had this uneasy gut feeling that something bad was going to happen. He gave sadaqa so that if there was anything bad it won't happen.

Fawad's gut feeling however was right. When Areesha's mother had sent her back to her room she told Zayan what she had been hiding from them and why Areesha couldn't marry anyone but Aamir. It changed everything.

"When you two were eleven years old, someone had taken over your father's business and all the property illegally. Your father was very upset about it and he contacted many lawyers about it but none of them were willing to help as the person who had the property was a very dangerous man and that your father didn't have the money to pay a lawyer in case they lost the case. So your father went to that man and tried to make a deal with him. That man said that in return for our property and business we would marry our daughter to his son Aamir when they grew up. He made us sign a contract about it. We have no choice. Areesha can only marry Aamir." By the time she had finished telling Zayan about everything she had tears in her eyes.

"What?" He was having a hard time digest this new information.

"This is the truth."

"So y-you basically sold your own daughter for money?" He said angrily.

"It wasn't like that. He threatened to kill your baba as well. We hoped that things would take a better turn as Aamir was a good boy." She said desperately trying to make Zayan see the truth."We had no choice beta. We had gone hungry for days. We couldn't spread our hands in front of our relatives and friends forever."

"What was the contract like? Maybe I can do something about it." He said hopefully when he understood that maybe they really were desperate.

"It was plain that when Areesha grew up she would marry Aamir. Amirs ffather is a very dangerous man. He is not going to spare us. Zayan I can't lose my daughter as well." She said sobbing.

"What sort of s**t is that? How did the court even accept that?"

"You don't know the gravity of the situation beta. Aamir's father is a man with very high contacts. Even if you try right now you won't be able to get anywhere. He has the judges in his hands. Whatever he says goes." His mother didn't even comment on his language as she would usually do. It was clear that she was very worried about her daughter herself too. All she could see was that Areesha married Aamir and be safe.

"Mama why are you losing hope? Allah is with us. We will figure out something." Zayan said trying to be calm as he looked at his mother's worried expression.

"I hope so."

"Wait, Aamir rejected Areesha himself, right? So that's not our problem. He can simply tell his father that he doesn't want to marry Areesha."

"If  he listens to him."

"Hmm."

"Okay. You go to sleep but don't tell Areesha anything about this. Ok?" She said still so worried about her daughter. But sharing this with Zayan took a burden off her shoulders. She saw another light of hope.

"Yes Mama. Don't worry, I won't. Allah hafiz."

With that his mother left the room and he retired to bed hoping that things turned out good.

But the next morning was to prove that the things weren't as simple as he thought them to be.

***

Areesha woke up next morning to a phone call. It had been around noon when that life changing call came.

"Hello?" She said in a sleepy voice, her phone pressed to her ear as she was lying on the bed.

"Hey Areesha? Salam." The voice came from the other end.

"Wasalam. Who is this and why are you calling so early in the morning?" She all but snapped as she stifled a yawn with her hand.

"Forgotten me already?" She instantly recognized who it was and she sat up straight. She was fully awake now, all signs of sleepiness had disappeared into thin air. She would recognize this voice in a million years and she was surprised she didn't earlier.

"No, how are you?" She couldn't help but ask.

"I'm good. And by the way it is already noon and you're calling it morning. You were never a morning person. " the other person said fondly and Areesha felt a wave of emotions take over her.

"So remembered me have you?" She asked trying to keep the bitterness from her voice.

"I never forgot about you to begin with."

She scoffed at that. "You think I am going to believe you?" She said incredulously.

"No I don't but I will make sure you do." The other person said knowingly and Areesha scowled at the tone.

"We'll see about that then." She snapped.

"I want to meet you."

"But I don't " she retorted.

"Please? At your favorite place?"

"I said I don't want to come." She tried not to be rude.

"Please for me? One last time and I won't disturb you again." The person sounded sincere but Areesha tried not to give in so easily.

"Why?" She asked genuinely curious.

"What why? "

"Why do you want to meet me?"

"Because I need to talk to you. It's very important."

"About?" she questioned

"We have to talk face-to-face."

"Ok fine." She said curious as what this person had to say now. "When do you want to meet?"

"Whenever you want."

"I'll be there in forty minutes then." She said looking at the wall clock and estimating the time. She knew she ought not to agree but she was curious and didn't want to regret it in future that she should've agreed for a simple meeting.

"Ok. Fine by me. But don't be late." The other person said warningly.

"It depends on the traffic."

"Alright then I will be waiting for you."

"Ok Khuda Hafiz."

"Khuda Hafiz. "

After that the person on the other end hung up and Areesha could hear the dialing tone.

She placed her phone on the side table and flung of the blanket from her and hurried to get ready. She just hoped everything was fine.