PROLOGUE
Zuberiya couldn’t help breaking into a fit of laughter as she have no other way to reveal her bewilderment but the person sitting in front of her didn’t break a smile but he stares at her intently making her believe how serious he is.
“Is this some sort of a joke? You want to get married to me?!” Zuberiya snaps at him trying to pretend that she isn’t surprised but deep inside she is shocked.
“Yes, and you know that this is no joke.” He replies finally in that commanding tone which always leave Zuberiya weak in the knees.
“I just don’t understand....” She tried to share her confusion when he interrupts smoothly.
“My parents and your parents have no trouble with this alliance. It’s between us and I have made up my mind but I need your answer too,” He speaks as Zuberiya stares at him with uncertainty.
“Why me?” She asks crossing her arms trying to hide her agitation and this makes him smile.
“Why not?” He asks her as she glares at him. Why was he pretending? He knew every reason why she would never agree for this alliance and yet, he wants her to answer.
“You know why....I mean how this is even possible?!” She snaps at him again but he sits calmly enjoying the moment and that irks her.
“Speak out your doubts, Zubi. Whatever is bothering you....just let it out,” He says unaffected as she doesn’t know how to put it in words.
“Do we have to go through this, Furqan?” She questions him as he sat in front of her not bothered.
“Yes, because if you ask your question only then you will have your answers.” Furqan replies confidently as she hesitates for few seconds. Furqan Shafeeq, knew every detail of her past and yet, he was here at her home with a marriage proposal. Their parents have met already and everything was approved until Zuberiya insisted on meeting the groom and seeing Furqan gave her a blow.
“You know everything that I had with Ameen....he was my boyfriend and we loved each other!” Zuberiya struggles to speak about her past.
“You loved Ameen.....” Furqan corrected making Zuberiya’s throat go dry. He was right! She was the one who loved Ameen whereas, he was just playing with her feelings.
“Exactly,” She managed to squeak with a nod refusing to look in his eyes. “And you know how he left me.....he humiliated me....he thinks I am no good for him.”
Tears sting the corner of her eyes when his words ring in her ears. The humiliation and hurt she feels every time she remembers them.
“What do you think, Zubi?” Furqan questions. “Do you really believe all that he said to you?”
“I don’t know,” Zuberiya answers shaking her head and fighting the urge to cry. “Maybe, I am no good for anyone.”
“You want to believe that?” Furqan asks as Zuberiya stares at him for a long time. Her whole life flashes in her mind as she remembers being a couch potato in her childhood and it continued in her teen years too. Later, she was diagnosed with hormonal issues which were the main contributor to her excess weight as no amount of diet or exercise helped her.
She was bullied and humiliated by her own family and relatives as her parents worried about finding a suitable alliance. Zuberiya met Ameen Khan in her college and they became friends even though, Ameen was three years senior to her. He worked as a volunteer in her college and soon they developed a rapport.
A year later when Zuberiya realized that she was harbouring feelings for Ameen but he surprised her by confessing his love and promising to make things work. Zuberiya was at the top of the world as they became inseparable and though Ameen always expected Zuberiya to be intimate, she never allowed him to cross the line.
Her family found out about a boy Zuberiya was seeing and pressurized her to make things permanent as it was forbidden in the community to form such relationships and carry them. Ameen refused to show up at her door with a marriage proposal because he didn’t have a career and instructed Zuberiya to keep things under wrap until he finds a well-paying job and she obeyed only to be disappointed by him.
“What make you think I will agree to this alliance?” Zuberiya questions confused as Furqan smirks.
“You have no option to refuse either...”He says calmly as she feels her heart skip. What did he mean by that?
“What do you mean?” She retorts.
“I know you haven’t revealed anything to your parents about breaking-up with Ameen.” He says in a nonchalant tone. “I used that to my advantage and approached in his place instead.”
“Excuse me?” Zuberiya’s jaws dropped open at this revelation as she remembers her mother’s comments when she insisted on meeting the groom.
“Don’t pretend as if you don’t know the groom....why do you want to meet him?” She questioned as Zuberiya rolled her eyes before replying.
“I want to be sure....”
“You don’t trust your own parents?” Her Mom snapped at her as she shook her head and walked away giving her an answer.
“Just arrange our meeting....okay? Or else I won’t sign the nikah* contract.”
Things began to fall in place as she didn’t consider them before as she begins to feel her stomach knot.
“I know you are confused right now but you will soon find your answers so have faith and approve this alliance...” He says calmly and Zuberiya eye him suspiciously.
“What are you upto?”
“For now I am trying to save you so focus on that...” He answers knowingly as Zuberiya nods slightly realizing the fact of the situation that he just mentioned.
Zuberiya knew Furqan through Ameen because they were best friends. They claimed to be related too but she couldn’t grasp the relationship they share though, Furqan was a year older than Ameen but they were very close to each other. Zuberiya respected Furqan as his personality intimidated her as he acted mature, reserved and serious unlike Ameen, who was confident, funny and outgoing. Ameen invited troubles in his life and Furqan dealt with them patiently trying to make things easier for him and assisted him in many ways which made Zuberiya admire him.
It hit her instantly as he start to leave and she startles him with her question.
“Are you trying to make amends on behalf of Ameen again?”
“Don’t jump to conclusions, Zubi. Plus, me and Ameen are no more friends.” He states in a strict tone making her cringe inside. She wanted to find out more as to what lead to this separation but she didn’t as she didn’t want to make Furqan realize that she cared for Ameen still. Did she?
“What if I refuse to carry this forward?” Zuberiya asks in a hesitant voice.
“There is nothing in your hands, Zubi so don’t even try it.” Furqan says making her heart drop as she grows pale. “You know if I tell your parents the truth, they will consider me a blessing and force you to this marriage. It’s better if you agree and make it simple for both of us.”
Zuberiya didn’t like the tone of his voice as she could sense he was up to something but she couldn’t guess it. Why would someone want to marry their best friend's ex-girlfriend? Something was not right in all this but there is nothing she could do apart from agreeing to this marriage and wait for things to unleash on their own.
*nikah: marital contract between muslim couples.
