Faking Love

CHAPTER 6

ILYAS

I hopped right into the shower, eager to get the sweat off of me.

If someone ever saw the 'organic' shampoo in here, they'd fo' sho make fun of me. But what can I do when my Mummy DIY'd this for me, along with the soap so I won't have to put products with harsh chemicals on me. One would question my masculinity.

"Ilyas! Are you in there!?" Mummy's voice echoes.

"I'll be a minute," I yelled back, doing a quick work of lathering my hair in the shampoo, hating the smell. It kind of doesn't have any smell, but I still despise it.

Grabbing a towel, I wrap it around my waist, and walk outside not even caring the slightest if I am dripping like a wet dog. Or if I am just in a towel.

It's just Mummy.

The door flew open. Two women stared at me in mock horror. One was my mother, who immediately rushed towards me. The other was my very ow—my PA.

"Ya Allah! Where are your manners!" Mummy scolded, pushing me back inside the bathroom, but before she could slam the door on my face, I saw Neha gulp.

"Such a bad boy!" Mummy was still grumbling about this.

"Well, maybe a warning would've been nice!" I called out. "Please get me some clothes, will you, Mumm—" I snapped my mouth shut. I can't believe I was really going to call her 'Mummy' in front of her. "Mom, clothes. Please."

I heard shuffling and mumbling from the other end.

Then, "Here. Get dressed and come outside. I have an important thing to discuss." She narrowed her eyes at me.

I gave her a 'uh okay?' look which only resulted in her slamming the door, again.

Once dressed in black shorts and a t shirt, I made it safely outside without any scolding from Mommy.

Neha was nervously seated on the edge of my bed, while Mummy stood beside her, glaring at me. With love, I must add.

I walked over to her, and planted a kiss atop her head. "Assalamoalaikum," I mumbled, wrapping my arm around her shoulder. Neha looked up at this gesture, and maybe it was just me, but I kind of saw a deep emotion flickering across her eyes. I couldn't quite put a finger on it.

"Walaikumassalam," Mummy replied in a high pitched voice.

Something was wrong.

I flopped down on the sofa behind me. Then, patted besides me. "Come sit," I told her.

She made faces, but sat down.

"This is Neha," Mummy uttered out of the blue, gesturing towards my PA.

My eyebrows scrunched. "So she says. And, your point being?" I took her hand in mine. Even now, her hands were so soft and comforting.

"I think she is the perfect wife for you."

Whoa!

What just happened?

My body began to thrum with adrenaline. I jerked to my feet like Mum burned me or something, and stared at her in disbelief.

"What?" Neha gasped, shooting to her feet as well.

My Mom looked between the two of us, and I could literally see her imaging us in wedding dresses and standing on the so called stage.

"I asked Neha about some stuff just earlier. She said if a good proposal came, she'd marry the man. Her only requirement was that he should be mature, and to me you are quite mature, Ilyas," Mum stared, her voice dripping with both threat and sweetness.

"But ma'am—"

Mum cut her off. "No buts. Do you like my son or not, Neha?"

"Mum," I warned. "You cannot force her into anything. She just met me today." I needed to divert this away from Neha. That poor girl seemed on the verge of crying, and I wasn't that callous of a man. "I will get married, but not like this. We'll find someone else."

Mum was on her feet in seconds. She pointed an accusing finger at me. "You, Mr. I have heard enough of the drama and I am not going to wait any longer. You've have enough of years to live a life of your choice. I think it's time you settle down."

This was going south way too fast.

"Mum, look, I think you don't get this. I just met her today. We don't even know who she is, her family—"

"I didn't say get married right away."

"—or if she even wants to get married. This is crazy, Mum. Seriously." When I woke up this morning, thrusting me into a situation like this was the last of all things on my head.

"I could just wait outside. . ." Neha trailed off. I peered over my shoulder at her nervous form.

She actually was the most gorgeous girl I had ever seen. Even though the clothes she wore didn't define her figure, I could tell she was thin, but not too much. And she was tall, something that really attracts my attention. Despite no makeup covering her skin, she looked flawless. There were some scars on her cheeks, which I suppose were because of acne because I used to have them too, but even then she seemed to take my breath away.

"Hey, boy!" Mum snapped her fingers at me, pulling me out of my trance. "A week. That's all you both have got. To me that's more than enough to get to know each other."

I didn't care that Neha was just next to me. I gave Mum the puppy dog face. "I'm just 26. Don't you think that's too young?" I countered.

"Young?! You're about to get old now!" She grabbed her wallet from the bed. "I want to see my grandchildren very soon." And then she walked out, but not before giving Neha a hug.

We both just stand there, and I am wondering if she has frozen. I sneaked a glance at her only to catch her staring at my form with her mouth hanging open. She almost looked unsure, as if this was all a scary dream.

"What just happened," she whispered after what seemed like ages.

"Same," I muttered, and sighed.