US

All my life I have done nothing but obey my mother and father. Coming from a traditional and cultured family like mine has its up and downs. God forbid if I ever had a boyfriend. Or if I went outside in a mini skirt. I can't say I'm mad with their values. I'm happy to be confident about my body while keeping it modest. And having a boyfriend, out of the question. I've seen what having a boyfriend do to girls. No thanks. I'd rather never get married and live alone my whole life working on my career. Men are pathetic anyways.

"Rosanne"!.

I hear my mother yelling from downstairs. Probably because we had guest coming and we need to serve them. I've never seen these guests. All my parents told me was that they were special.

Wonder why they're special

"Coming". I yell back.

When I go downstairs I'm shocked to see the people there. I see my dad talking with his best friend. Even though they hadn't met for almost 15 years. The last time I saw my dads best friend was well, 15 years ago.

I immediately go and greet them.

"Hello".

Everyone stops and looks at me. Uncle looks at me. I call my dads best friend uncle.

He gets up and brings me in for a tight hug.

"Hello, love. I haven't seen you since you were ten. You've become such a beautiful young women."

I turn red out of shyness.

"Oh, thank you." I say gracefully.

They go back to their talking. When another man enters the room.

Wow. He's very pretty looking. A little feminine because of his hair and eyes and jawline. However he had a very angelic face. And he was tall.

My mother immediately ushers me upstairs. So this unknown man didn't even have the time to look at me.

Why did she act like that.

My mother tells me not to come downstairs till they leave.

I stay down. Not really caring about what happens.

An hour or so both my mother and my father come into my room.

"May I help you guys ". I say to my parents. They both look at each other.

My father is a strict man who is very big on honor and family reputation. If he makes a promise he makes sure he fulfills it. Even if it costs him everything. But even through all that he's very loving and sweet.

He comes and sits next to me.

"Rosanne, listen to me hun. That man you saw today. That man is special in your life."

"Huh,how"? I asked, not understanding a single word they meant.

"He's your future husband". He said it simply.

Sure

I just looked at him a minute or so. Then I burst out laughing.

"Baba, you're hilarious." I say wiping fake tears.

He just looks at me seriously.

He just looks at me and hangs his head. Out of nowhere I see tears falling on his shirt.

I get in my knees genuinely concerned. I have to know what's wrong with my father no matter what. I can't see him in tears.

"Baba, what's wrong"? I say worriedly wiping his tears.

He looks at me with his eyes red.

"I know, you must think I'm a horrible father for promising you to my close friends son without even letting you know. But I had to. That man has done so much for our family. I wanted to give him something precious that I loved very much. Because I knew that he would love it just as much. So I promised you to him. Now I can't go back on my promise. Neither can I ruin your life".

I looked at him shocked. He was telling the truth.

"Baba. How could you". I say to him shocked

He grabs my hand.

"Listen, if you don't want to marry it's ok. Don't worry ok".

My dad leaves the room quickly. My mother stays.

She looks at me. "Rosanna, you should marry him". My mother declared.

"How could you even ask me that mother." I say angrily.

She comes and takes my face into her hand.

I know I'm asking you for too much. However if you don't marry him. You're father he will forever be embarrassed of himself for not fulfilling the promise made to his best friend. He will never live the same. He will think of himself as an dishonorable man. Don't let your father steep that low in front of himself. Please just think about it".

She left the room quickly too.

What the hell. On one side it's my life. On the other side it's my fathers.

I'm very lost.

God please help me

An hour later I go downstairs to my parents. My father just looks at the floor in shame.

"Baba." I say to him. "I'm ready to get married ". I declare. No matter what I could never let my father embarrass himself or make him lose the image of himself in his eyes as a honorable man.

My father comes and hugs me looking very happy.

My father does not want to break his promise. However that doesn't mean that they can't. I will make their son divorce me. That way my father will not look bad. And I won't be committed to them.

Operation lose the marriage is a go.