Chapter Twenty Four

After the heated arguments between the three women, they left for the day. This time around, Zara went together with her parents. Her father thinks it's better if she returns back home since they would be working on a big battle. Yasmin's words didn't stop turning in Farah's head. She couldn't bring herself to believe Yasmin would talk rudely to her and that too in front of their children.
"Farah" she heard her name being called. Snapping herself from the little thoughts, she was met with outstretched hands of her husband. Her brows knitted in confusion by his action.
"What?" she inquired staring at his face back to his hands. Jawad let out a small smile.
"I was thinking maybe you don't have enough strength in your body then I'll hold you." He stated. Farah resists the urge to roll her eyes. What does he take her for? A weak woman? Smacking his hands she got out of the car and walk past him not before giving him an answer to his question.
"I don't have time for that and mind you I'm not a baby"
.
"You're are not a baby but you are my baby," he remarked. Farah instantly turns around throwing him a glare. Luckily, Zara is already inside. Pushing the front door open, Majeed run up to her. She's glad she didn't take him along.
"Mummy," he said cheerfully.
"Welcome home Mam and Sir" Labibi, the young girl whom Farah assigned to keep an eye on Majeed greeted. Labibi is not her personal worker but she calls her at times if she would be busy at work or something since no one would be at home to take care of Majeed and she can't take him along to anywhere she goes.
"Labibi thank you for taking care of Majeed. I hope he didn't put you into a lot of work" Farah asked. She knows how naughty Majeed can be. A smile made it way out of labibi's lips.
"I'm already used to it. Then I'll take my leave" she ushered bending a little
"Alright my regards to your family" After Labibi left, Farah turns to her son.
"How is my little boy doing?" she confided pinching his chin slightly.
"I'm fine. Aunt labibi cooked a delicious snack for me" he declared, his small teeth visible due to grinning. Farah patted his back.
"That's so nice. Now go to your big sister's room tell her to change you out of your clothe" she ushered. As requested, he ran off to the stairs.
"Slowly Majeed" Farah confided watching as the little boy almost tripped.
"You do know we have to talk right" Jawad started after watching mother and son bond few minutes ago. Farah leaps towards the direction of the kitchen pretending she didn't hear him but Jawad knowing how his wife is, went ahead again.
"I think we should put the decision aside for a while. I don't want you and your sister to be in bad terms because of it"
"Well, it has already happened. Didn't you see the look on her face when she said all those bad words to me, because of her son. It was a look of disrespect and hate and since she decided to have her way, so do I" She was now standing in front of him, hands placed on the hips. A smile dangled at the corner of his lips, seeing a serious expression on his wife's face.
"What?" she interrogated throwing him her kind of look. Jawad leaned his back on the couch, plopping his legs on the center table, hands folded together.
"Well, what can I say. You look like an old woman with the way your expression is" he uttered getting a grimace from her in return. Letting out a deep breath, she slouched herself beside him, releasing another sharp breath.
"To be honest Jawad, if I said I'm not surprised by her actions I would be lying. I've never thought for once one day would come when I and my sister will have a kind of disagreement. And seeing as she insists on stopping the marriage, I knew I had to do something even if it means a fight between us. Because the decision involves my daughter's life. She and Fawwaz both admit what they feel about each other and truthfully, I prefer Fawwaz than Amir. You know, Zara and Amir have been together since childhood though Fawwaz is also with them but she's closer to Amir. So I think, Amir is reacting like that because he mistook their bond with love. I don't want my daughter to suffer any kind of thing in her marriage. If Fawwaz is the person she loves and wants to get married to then so be it. I will make sure this marriage take place. That is my promise" turning her face towards Jawad, their eyes meet. A moment of silence fell on them as they both stare at each other until Jawad decided to break the silence.
"I will support whatever decision you make. I hope Zara would be happy. I'm not saying this because I don't like Amir. No. But I prefer Fawwaz, he has a calm and quiet personality. May Allah chooses what is best for us" Jawad ushered placing his hands atop Farah's with a small smile.
"Ameen"
***
"I really don't know what to do Sumayya. I have a bad feeling about what will happen next" Zara was laying on her back as she explains to Sumayya about the event that occurred today.
"Just have faith in Allah Zara, Insha Allah nothing will happen. You shouldn't sacrifice your happiness because of it. You should follow your heart. If you and Fawwaz are destined to be together no one can stop it. I know Amir is heartbroken but what you feel for him is different from what he feels for him. You know, I ....." Sumayya was about to say something but decided against it. Now is not the time, she thought.
"Tell me" Zara ushered adjusting herself.
"No, it's nothing. My only advice for you is to keep praying. Things will be normal. So, I guess I will call it a good night. See you tomorrow?" her words came out as a question. After all that happened, she didn't know if Zara would be coming to work.
"Yes, Insha Allah. We will meet at the bakery" after hanging up, she was about to rest the phone on the nightstand when it vibrates again. Her heart did a flip seeing Fawwaz's name on the screen. Now knowing what he felt about her, she's feeling kinda shy to talk to him. Placing her palm underneath her beating heart she took a deep breath as she slid the accept button.
"Assalamu Alaikum" His voice resonates through her eardrum. His voice was husky as if he woke up from sleep.
"Wa Alaikum salam" was her answer in a murmured voice. Silence prevailed between them. Zara didn't know what to say and the fact that he also didn't utter a word, isn't doing good to her beating heart.
"Um..."
"Um..." They both said at the same time. Why are you nervous, she mentally scold herself.
"Go ahead" she ushered. An unusual sound erupts from the background followed by Fawwaz's voice.
"Um... I called to know how you're doing. You know, about today's event" he stated. Zara forms her lips in a thin line. She thought he's going to talk about something else. About them.
"I'm fine. I just hope our ties wouldn't fall apart because of it. If that happens it will be all my fault" she confided, a look of guilt on her face. She heard him take a deep breath.
"You know Zara, this thing has been bugging me for a while now. To be honest, when Amir confessed his feelings for you that night, I felt unhappy and scared at the same time. My thoughts at that time was like "What if she said yes. What will happen to my feelings" I don't have anything against him for confessing his feelings besides he has the braveness and confidence. But Zara, I can't help it anymore. I tried to assure myself so many times that I don't have feelings for you, but I know I'm only lying to myself because my heart kept thinking about you. I don't know what makes me drawn to you. Your funny antics, carefree personality, or because of the time we spent together but I know one thing for sure. Zara. I felt a lot of things I have never experienced before in a short amount. It wasn't my intention to be a problem to you and Amir's relationship" To say Zara was surprised will be an understatement. He said just what she wanted to hear from him. He also feels the exact thing she feels about him.
"I love you Zara" All of a sudden, everywhere was quiet. It feels like time has stopped for a while. Her beating heart increases a fold hearing the words from Fawwaz. She was still in faze when he spoke up again.
"And I'm more than ready to take our relationship to the next level" her eyes were glued to a particular place still in a daze by his words.
"Zara you there?" He said after hearing the silence from her side.
"Zara?" He loves her. And wants to take their relationship to the next level. Her mind was completely off from him calling her name. Her phone vibrates again snapping her out of her thoughts. A message from Fawwaz. She didn't even know when the call was disconnected.
I want you to take your time to think about it. Like I said I'm more than ready. Which means, I'm ready to claim you as my wife. Have a blissful sleep. Goodnight
A smile made it way out of her lips as she types away.
I will Insha Allah. And Goodnight too
Now they both know what they feel about each other. Nothing will come between them.
Little did both of them know a big storm is on its way which will tear apart, shatter a lot of things in their lives.