Loving You

CHAPTER# 5

“I want you to make Nooreh your daughter. I want you to marry Nooreh to Xavier.” Fawaz said firmly.

“What?!” Xavier exclaimed.

before Mustafa could even respond.

“Uncle, what are you saying? This is impossible. I can’t marry Nooreh. She is just a child. That is stu…” Before Xavier could continue, he was interrupted by Mustafa.

“Okay…”

This sentence from Mustafa left Fawaz and Xavier both in utter silence. Xavier couldn’t believe what his father had just said. How could his father expect him to marry a child? He was eighteen. He knew his rights and wrongs and he completely knew that what they wanted him to do was wrong, not only for him but for Nooreh too.

“What are you saying, dad?” Xavier asked Mustafa, somehow annoyed at how absurd the two grownups were sounding right now to him.

Mustafa looked at Fawaz’s relieved expression and felt some relief for himself too.

“Xavier, come follow me…” Mustafa ordered Xavier as he walked out of the room. Whereas Fawaz turned his face towards Nooreh, who was sleeping on his chest, making some space for herself on his bed. He smiled at her gesture.

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They went to a secluded area at the end of the corridor.

“You will marry Nooreh!” Mustafa said to Xavier, but more like ordered him.

"Dad, are you kidding me right now?.. Do you want me to do this?.. Are you for real? NO! You are joking, right?" Xavier exclaimed. He felt like going mad. No one was in their senses. How could they expect him to marry right now, at the mere age of eighteen, and especially a nine-year-old girl who didn't even know what was right and wrong for her? No! Never!

"I am not asking for your opinion on this! You have to marry Nooreh and that's final! Fawaz is on the verge of dying right now. I will not decline any of his wishes at all." Mustafa Ali Khan whisper-yelled at his son. Mustafa knew he was doing wrong not only to his son but to that innocent child, Nooreh, too, who didn't even know what drastic change was going to come in her life after this step, but he couldn’t do this to his friend.

"Dad why me? Why not Azriel or Zayn? She is good friends with both of them. I can't marry someone this much younger than me please!" Xavier argued but begged at the end. He couldn't do that. He could not marry a child. His and her lives will both be ruined.

"You do know why. Only you can provide her with the protection she needs. Azriel is too careless for such responsibility and Zayn will soon be enlisting in the military. He can't protect her as you can. She will have danger lurking her whole life." Mustafa exclaimed.

Xavier heaved a sigh in defeat.

I still can’t do this to her dad… what will I say to her when she asks me why I married her at such a young age? What would I tell her that I was helpless and couldn’t refuse you? This will ruin both of our lives dad, please don’t do this to us please.” Mustafa tried to reason with his father once again to see if he would give in, but when he looked at his father’s stoic expression he knew that there was no way he was getting out of it.

“You are Nooreh, both are a Khan and you both should know that it is common for people in our tribe to marry early. Fawaz will deal with his daughter on her own, but I will not listen to one more word from you. Do you understand me?” Mustafa asked his son, who he always deemed his pride. He knew himself too that Xavier was completely capable of giving and providing Nooreh whatever she deserved and needed.

“Okay dad… but I have a condition. If Nooreh wants to get separated in the future by any chance, I will not force her to live with me.” Xavier said in defeat. He knew he could not disobey his father. He was not brought up to disobey his elders, and though he tried his best to convince his father, he seemed to be firm on his decision to bulge.

“Okay… but make sure she knows why you took this step. Tell her all the truth before making a big decision.” Mustafa walked toward Fawaz’s room to tell him about the decision after finishing his talk with Xavier.