Chapter Twenty Five

It was 7:00 am in the morning, Zara woke up with excitement and that was due to their little talk with Fawwaz last night. All the bad event that occurred yesterday was replaced with the good conversation she had with him. Her only problem is how to tell her parent about it. Should she go and just tell them Fawwaz called me that he's ready to marry me. No Zara tell them with much calmness. Yes. She practically tells herself. Making sure everything she needs for work is well settled in her bag, she took one glance at herself in the mirror before descending down. Her mom and Majeed were seated at the dining eating breakfast but their father was not on sight. Maybe he left for work already. Though she's the daddy's 'girl but it will be much easier for her to tell their Mom. Besides, it will give her more strength in her fight with Aunt Yasmin. She knew her mom was shocked and not happy with the action Aunt Yasmin pulled yesterday. She also couldn't believe Aunt Yasmin will throw such words to her sister.
"Good Morning Mom" she greeted taking her seat close to Majeed.
"Good Morning Sister Zara" he chirped taking a spoon of cornflakes to his mouth.
"Morning my little brother. Eating cornflakes as usual" she pulled on his chin lightly. A plate of bread and fried egg was being pushed to her front by her mom. Due to how her parent always leave early for work, they eat their breakfast early.
"Thank you mom" she ushered. The woman nodded her head continuing eating her food. Silence prevailed as they eat their food quietly. Within five minutes horn altered through the room.
"Your school bus is here" Farah commenced removing the napkin around his neck. His school bag and lunch box were already set on the center table.
"Let me get it for you," Zara said making her way to the couch.
"Here" she helped him put on the bag on his back.
"Bye Mummy. Bye, Sister Zara" he wave rushing out as the horn didn't die down. Come to think of It, Zara misses school. She remembered how her Mom will get her ready early morning. Since she attended the same school with Amir. The driver will pick her up first before they pick him up. They will bicker up to their way to the school. Time sure moves fast.
"Zara I want to talk to you" her mother's words brought her back from her childhood memories thinking. She did as she was told taking her seat beside her mom whose face was held in a serious expression, which means what she's about to say is important.
"Zara" she called
"Yes Mom"
"I want you to be honest and truthful to me. I'm your mother, you shouldn't hide anything from me. Do you love Fawwaz?" her heart did a flip. She knew her mom would talk about what occurred yesterday but she wasn't expecting her to ask about her feelings.
"Don't think because I said I will make sure you and Fawwaz get married. No, I want to know if what you really feel for him is genuine. I don't want to make a decision that we will regret later on." Zara places her hands on top of her mom's taking a deep breath. She has to tell her mom. To keep her at ease about their decision.
"Yes, I do. I love him. I'm not saying it out of mouth. No, it's truthfully and genuine. You know me so well. I also didn't know how it happened I just find myself drawn to him. We are not so close to each other like Amir but falling in love doesn't require you to be very close. Your heart chooses the person to fall for and my heart chooses Fawwaz. It wasn't my intention to hurt Amir. I didn't expect such thing to happen. I thought he will understand but-" the words choked in her throat when a sob escapes her. She doesn't even know why she's crying. Her body was pulled in by her mom.
"Shh, it's okay. I understand. No need to cry over it. Know that I will support you. I can see you care a lot about Amir whereas your heart chooses Fawwaz. Insha Allah after I'm done from the office, I will stop by Yasmin's house. I've thought about it, we shouldn't fight instead we should try to solve it. My decision is still valid but I will try to talk to her. She's my sister after all and if she doesn't agree then I have no choice than to do things my way." Farah patted Zara's back as she comforts her. Pulling apart, she wipe off the lone tear from her face.
"Now I don't want to see any more tears. Only smile" she ushered plucking her chin. A smile made it way out of Zara's lips. Her mom sure knows how to lighten people's moods. If they get into a fight with her dad, her mood was the first to lighten down.
"See. You look more beautiful when you smile."
"Um.....Mom I want to tell you something" she began biting her bottom lips.
"Go on" the woman answered back adjusting her sitting position.
"I spoke with Fawwaz yesterday and..." she started her head cast down. Few minutes ago she was telling her mom she loves Fawwaz and now she's nervous about telling her what he confessed.
"And?"
"He said he's ready to take our relationship to the next level," she said in one breath. Farah's brows knitted in confusion.
"Meaning?" Zara snapped her eyes shut. At a crucial moment like this, her mom decided not to understand what she means. Heaving out a sigh she answered.
"That he's ready to marry me" it takes five seconds for the words to process in her brain. Zara almost thought she didn't hear her since her head was still down until she spoke up.
"What a gentleman he is. Then worry not Insha Allah you're his and he's yours. May Allah answer our prayers." Zara couldn't bring herself to look at her mother. She was damn shy.
"Ameen. Let me get going, Sumayya must be waiting for me already" She fled to the entrance door not missing the woman's next words.
"Keep being shy. After confessing your feelings for a man. We will see how you will be when you are pregnant" A smile made its way to her lips. She's not yet married but her mom is already talking about pregnancy. The thought of having her own baby excites her. Fishing out her car keys, she unlocked the door and hop in. Her phone made a sound before she could keep the bag.
I'm addicted to you because I'm thinking of you all the time. She read it out loud.
The message was sent from Amir. She stared at the phone for a good minute. How will she solve this problem? She can not think of anything else to make him understand. The phone made another sound which indicates another message.
The most important person in my life is you. Not knowing how to answer him she decided to ignore him. Putting her phone in silent mode, she plopped it back to the bag before roaring the engine to life and drove away.
**
"So you decided to ignore me right. I won't give up" Amir is in his room pacing around after sending a message to Zara and got nothing in reply. The family thinks they can take her away from him by getting the two married. He isn't going to let that happen. He loves Zara and he knows his love will win. He dialed her number once again, he wouldn't give up even if he has to call twenty times. Anger took over him and he smashed the phone on the white tile when she didn't pick up. Plopping down on the bed, he rested his head in his palm. Why would she reject him for Fawwaz when she knows they have been together for a long time. What will he do to make her understand that he loves her and want her to be his. The opening of the door snapped him out of his thought. There stood his mother with a tray of food.
"I don't want to hear anything. You will eat the food right in front of me" she declared settling the freshly made pasta in front of him while she sat on the bed beside him.
"I'm-"
"Don't. You didn't eat anything since last night. How long are you going to suffer yourself, Amir. Huh?" she remarked. Amir raised his face to look at his mother.
"Mom, what should I do then. I love her. Why can't she understand? Why can't they understand? How I wish you could get into my heart and see what I'm feeling" he ended in a bitter tone. Yasmin stared at her son. Broken and weak. Her words yesterday resurface in her brain. The bitter words she throws at her sister. She could see the hurt and shocked look on her face. And she did that all because of anger. She couldn't bear to see her son broken and no one taking his side. So she did all that. And now she felt guilty about what she said. Though she has an objection about the marriage thing but she shouldn't have let the anger take over her. And now her husband is also angry with her. He's not ready to listen to her.
"I know what you're going through but Amir try to calm yourself down. Zara isn't the only woman on earth. You will get someone who will love and care for you more than you can imagine."
He instantly shakes his head. "I love and only want Zara and that's it. You said it yourself, that you're going to make sure the marriage wouldn't take place so promise me you wouldn't let it happen. Zara will marry no one but me." he said taking her hand in his with a weak look on his face.
"I will. Now eat your food before it turns cold." she ushered. Though she's not sure about the whole thing.
"I'm not hungry I will eat it later" he replied back.
"Are you a kid?" Marwan's voice resonates through the room. They were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn't notice him standing.
"If you don't stop your childishness and pull yourself together I have no option than to find a new CEO for my company. I assigned you and expected you to surge the hotel higher. So quite all these one-sided love of yours when you're not going to marry her"
"Marwan what do you mean he's not going to marry her. Who knows. If Allah wills he'd marry-" Marwan cut her off by raising his hands.
"I'm talking to my son. Let me finish first" and she instantly keep shut.
"Your secretary called me that you were not picking her calls. There is a lot of pending work at the office whereas you're here sulking about a woman who doesn't love you back. I know you two are very close since childhood but she fell for someone else. What do you want her to do? Force her to love you? If you're even thinking about that better stop it. I'm giving you thirty minutes to get ready and be in the office within one hour" He declared. His eyes dart to his wife before walking away. Yasmin followed behind him knowing that her husband is still angry.
Amir felt as if a bucket of cold water was being drained on his body hearing his father's words. He likes Zara for a very long time. How would he remove her out of his heart when she has already dug a deep hole in his heart. She couldn't have not liked him for once with the time they spent together. No, he can't.
He won't give up. He curled his hands in a fist. He knows how to handle the situation. His lips twitched up.
Marwan descends down with Yasmin tailing on his back. He took his briefcase off the center table ready to take off.
"Marwan why can't you listen to me. Why are you angry?" she inquired. He was about to open the front door when she spoke up again.
"Marwan I'm sorry, please. Stop giving me the cold treatment" she declared in a soft voice. Just then, he turned around with an emotionless face. What he has been giving her since yesterday.
"I'm not the one you're to apologize to. It's Farah. I'm hurt by how you treated her when you're supposed to support her instead you took your son's side. I love Amir and I know you do too but we shouldn't let him believe he can get anything he wants. No, life doesn't work like that. You don't always get want you want. So if you want us to be back to normal then go and apologize to your sister. I will take my leave then" before she could reply, he's already out of the room leaving her in a dumbstruck state.
**
Zara arrived at the bakery at exactly 8:15 am. Just in time, Sumayya was about to unlock the door.
"Morning, Summy" Sumayya was caught up in opening the door not knowing when Zara appear behind her.
"Ya Allah. You almost scared me, Zara. How are you doing?" she questioned placing a palm on her heart.
"I'm doing just fine. I'm sorry for leaving all the work to you yesterday" she said truthfully. Sumayya offered her a smile.
"It's nothing." they entered inside. Zara scanned the whole place. She will focus on bringing the bakery to success.
"Let's get started shall we today is another bright day" Sumayya ushered and Zara nodded in return. Indeed it's another bright day. She let out a small smile. They made their way towards the kitchen to start making the preparation anytime soon customers will be coming in. Two hours later, they are done with most of the things. Basically, milk cake, croissant, and meat pie. Now Cookies is on its way.
"How far with the staff search?" Zara inquired untying her apron. They need new staffs as soon as possible if they are to bring it to more success.
"Yeah a lot of people have applied so what is left now is to choose the one that are more qualified and then we'd call them for interview" Sumayya explained.
"Okay. let's wait by next tomorrow then we can choose. I think I heard some sound maybe we have a customer" they giggle at the same time.
"Let me check" She cheerfully announced walking out of the kitchen. Her eyes widened when she met with a lot of people. basically up to ten. What a bright and good day it is. She muttered to herself.
"Welcome to Zara's Bakery" she began ushering them in. Most of them are males. Young and adults. Thankfully, the menus are already printed out. Rushing towards the counter, she fished them out.
"Here's our menu"
"Beautiful just like he described. I'm sure the delicacies will be tasty too." A young guy seated together with a woman said. A smile erupts from her lips. Whoever recommends them to her Bakery is a nice person.
"Perhaps, may I know the person who recommends you here?" curiosity got her and she finds herself asking.
"He's-"
"I'm the one," A voice said from the door.