PROLOGUE
"Will you marry me?" he asked softly, grasping her fingers. She gasped in shock as her breath caught in her throat. Had she heard him right? She stared down at him with unrepentant joy, her heart quickening at the love and fire she saw blazing in his soulful eyes. A love that reflected hers. Had he planned all this just for her? Hajara wondered silently in amazement as she took in the beauty around her. Their meeting spot had been transformed into a lover's nest, with blood-red rose petals carpeting the floor around them, and twinkling lights of various shades hugging the branches and trunks like the arms of a lover. It was simply beautiful, and she loved it! Hajara cleared her throat as gently as she could, tears of joy filling her eyes. "Yes, I will. Yes, I will marry you, Ibrahim. I will!" She gasped aloud as she quickly pulled him to his feet and hugged him passionately. She then showered him with kisses, kisses dripping with passion; a passion of the heart.
"I would get you a real ring when I officially come to ask for your hand. But for now, please wear this," he whispered as he placed on her ring finger an intricate makeshift ring made with synthetic glass or something. It felt and looked nice nestled on her finger. She smiled with happiness, her body still brimming with amazement.
"I love it, Ibrahim. Thank you."
"No, thank you for giving me the privilege to make you mine. I promise not to make you regret your decision."
"You better not," she warned, only half-jokingly.
"I wouldn't. I promise."
"Good. I promise to do the same too; not to make you regret your choice. I promise to protect our love and cherish it," she said in a solemn voice filled with conviction as she smiled into his loving eyes.
+++
Hajara couldn't contain her joy as she rushed home from her secret meeting with her lover. Neither could she wipe off her grin; yes, she was so enamored with Ibrahim. She couldn't believe he proposed, finally! Guess it was time to introduce him to her folks. She just couldn't wait to share her gratifying news with her mum. Her mum was going to flip with joy! She smiled harder as she urged her legs to take longer strides in her haste to reach home quickly.
Hajara called chirpily to her mum, who was busy cooking up something that simply smelled divine. What was going on? She asked herself silently, for it seemed her mum was cooking up a storm. Did they have visitors? Who could come calling at this time? She just had to find out. "Mum, I'm back. What's going on? It seems you're preparing a small feast. Do we have guests?" Hajara asked breathlessly in a rushed tone.
Her mum jumped up in excitement and took her by the hands, giving her a tight hug. "My daughter, what took you so long?" She asked rhetorically before rushing to add excitedly. "I have good news for you. Yes, we do have guests, and they are mostly here for you!"
"What... How... Why?" Hajara sputtered with a slight frown. Something just doesn't feel right. She couldn't place her fingers on it but could feel it deep in her bones. Why would they be here for her? Who could they be? It doesn't make any sense. She stared at her mum bewildered as she waited for her to contain her excitement and explain further.
"Don't be silly, Hajara. They are here to ask for your hand in marriage, and your dad has accepted!" She exclaimed happily, unaware of her daughter's escalating distress.
"What!" Hajara yelled, astounded. "What do you mean they asked for my hand? And... and father accepted? How could he! Without even asking me what I thought about this... this new development?" Hajara rasped agitatedly, raising her hands in distress. "Tell me, mum, who does that?" Hajara couldn't contain her anxiety. She felt the walls closing in on her, and she couldn't breathe. It was like she had forgotten how to. The world was suddenly spinning, and she felt like throwing up. She was drowning and didn't know how to save herself. "M..mum...he... help me. I... I can't breathe..." She rasped, gasping for air.
Her mother, realizing her daughter had lost it, quickly fetched a seat and pushed her into it. Patting her back soothingly, she murmured in a voice that was both soft and firm, mingled with worry. "Calm down and breathe slowly. That's it. Yes, just like that. Breathe in and out. Let it all out. That's it. Good girl."
Hajara slowly reoriented herself and kept hearing her mother's chants like a Chinese mantra. In and out, she kept breathing until she felt a smidgen of relief from the sorrow bearing down upon her. How could this happen? She couldn't even begin to fathom the whys and hows. It's like fate was playing a sick joke on her and laughing its head off at her expense. It must all be a nightmare, the worst of its kind. She would wake up soon, as soon as she pinches herself into wakefulness. But when she raised her eyes to meet her mother's, the truth she saw reflected there took her breath away again. She started wheezing through her nose as she tried unsuccessfully to get a hold of herself.
"Hajara, stop it this instant!" her mum warned. "What's wrong with you? Why are you panting in distress? I thought you would be happy at the news. You've always been a responsible girl..."
"Happy? Did you just say happy?" Hajara interjected, smoothly cutting her mum off. "How could I be happy, mum? I don't even know the man in question!" she wailed.
"Neither did I when I married your dad, but look at us now... We're happy. I'm happy."
"Are you really? Are you truly happy with dad?" She questioned knowingly.
"What's that supposed to mean, Hajara?" Her mum hissed in a warning tone, but she was too far gone to heed it.
"Don't you think I know he beats you when he is moody? I see the bruises, mum, and figured it out. I'm not a kid anymore..."
"Then stop acting like one," she cut in swiftly. "Whatever is going on with you, fix it before your dad finds out. Do not create trouble when you can avoid it," she scolded smoothly, skirting her comments.
"I can't, mum. I'm sorry, for I can't go along with this. I'm in love, and he has proposed to me, which I accepted," she said in a dreamy voice. Thoughts of Ibrahim always made her dreamy and filled with unrepentant joy. Slowly, she became aware of her surroundings and looked up to find her mother gaping at her with a mixture of astonishment, fear, and sadness. Her mother exhaled heavily and shook her head in reprimand at Hajara.
"Hajara, what are you saying? Since when has this been going on? Do you have any idea of the consequences when word gets to your father?"
"Mum, that's why you need to assist me in convincing him," she pleaded gently, trying unsuccessfully to convince her. Urging her mum with her eyes to understand. "I have been seeing him for a while now. We have been meeting up in secret, and he..."
"Enough!" Her mother growled fumingly. "Just stop it. Whatever this is, has no future. My daughter, it's simply too late now. Your father has accepted the proposal on your behalf, and a date has been set later this week for your marriage and things involved."
"What!" Hajara spewed, pacing agitatedly.
"Yes. And you know your father, once he puts his mind on something or gives his consent; there's no turning back or changing his stand," she stated with a nonchalant shrug.
Hajara shook her head in denial, though deep down where it counted the most, she knew her mother was right. What was she going to do? She had no means of contacting Ibrahim, and come their next meeting, it simply would be too late. He would feel she betrayed him once he learns the truth. Oh God, what to do. Hajara broke down into tears; she couldn't stop it as she stared sorrowfully at her mother. A tiny fraction of the sadness she felt was reflected back at her. That gave her a bit of solace that didn't last long. She was too far gone to care or feel relieved. She watched on with teary eyes, running nose, and a heavy heart as her mother pulled her in for a tight hug; her way of showing Hajara she empathized. But Hajara could feel nothing, and it brought her no comfort, for her mind was a whirlwind of emotions; mostly anger and helplessness now. Her heart was churning with pain mingled with regrets. Perhaps if she had mentioned Ibrahim sooner, things would have turned out differently. Perhaps... Perhaps... Perhaps. Hajara hugged her tighter, now needing her comfort to somehow drown her sorrow.
"Let it all out. Cry it all out. It's going to be okay, Hajara," her mother whispered softly into her ear, all the while patting her back soothingly. And Hajara knew... she simply knew nothing was ever going to be okay again. Nothing! She sniffled into her mother's temple, crushing her harder into her, just needing her mother's warmth to console her.
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