Chapter 7 You are special

One day you will be thankful to Allah for not giving you every single thing you prayed for, for Allah knows what's best for you.

AHLAM.

"Hey! what are you doing all by yourself? Everyone's downstairs waiting, it's family time!" Hania said.

"But it's your family time Hania, I'd only feel like an intruder" but the girl was so stubborn and wasn't even listening to reason; I guess now I know where she gets her stubbornness from.

"Ahlam! Are you in pain?" She asked concerned, pointing at my hand all bandaged up and barely moving.

"I won't lie Hania" bringing her hand up in view "it's been really excruciating lately but it's something I'm going to have to accept and live with for the rest of my life" I said in woe, putting on a brave face for her benefit.

"Please don't say that Ahlam, your hand will improve over time Insha'Allah.  Put your trust in Allah, as He alone doesn't cause pain without reason" she said with compassion.

"Insha'Allah" I replied, hopeful

"Now! Have you taken your medication?".

"I was just about to before you walked in"

"Okay, no worries."  Heading towards the bathroom, she returned with a glass of water and my prescription pills. "Here, Insha'Allah you'll feel better in no time Ahlam".

"I'm so sorry for being a burden to you and your family Halim" I told her apologetically .

"Hey! think nothing of it" and then, in a more serious note added "…and you're in no way a burden Ahlam, you're actually the sister I've never had.  Now, can you please join us for family time ?" she said full of optimism "in fact, I can now team up with you against that brother of mine" she added excitedly. 

With a rapidly beating heart, I deliberately took slow steps towards the sitting room, wondering how I should react in Aahil's company.  Since my previous outburst, I haven't really spoken to him; not taking into account our two uncomfortable sentences over lunch re my 'secret admirer' gift. 

How am I going to face him and act normal?  Throughout lunch, not once did I glimpse at him, even when I started to have reservations that the gift may have actually been bought by him; hence his foul mood.

The minute Hania and I walked into the room, she deserted me and threw herself into a chesterfield armchair, while I immediately felt his alluring blue eyes burning into me.  Trying to ignore his presence, I glanced over at uncle Firoz and auntie Faiza sitting opposite on a large cream sofa, talking and laughing amongst themselves.  As soon as Faiza was made aware I was in the room, she called out "Ahlam my dear, you're here!" but upon sighting my bandaged hand, she looked up worryingly.

"It's been throbbing with pain auntie" I answered her silent question "I've only recently taken my medication and having it strapped helps in retaining the pain to some extent" I spoke with honesty.

"I pray that your pain eases  but remember this; for every pain you suffer in this world, there's a reward for you in the next".

"Insha'Allah auntie, Insha'Allah"

"Now please! do come over and join us here on the sofa Ahlam" patting the empty seat by her.  Nodding with a smile, I strolled over while keeping my gaze down; all the while sensing his eyes following my every step.

"How's business going son?" Uncle Firoz asked Aahil, displaying a smile fully revealing the love and affection he had towards him.

"It's good Alhamdulillah! we got new deals finalised," he said, all the while trying to grab my attention.

"It's family time! please, no more business talks allowed" Hania interrupted them and they both agree;

"I know of an interesting subject to talk about" she said to nobody in particular, while examining her manicured nails "Aahil's upcoming marriage!"

Lifting her gaze courageously to her brother's, she tried to hide her smirk when she couldn't help noticing his shocked expression of widened eyes and slightly agape mouth.

"Well come on! he's 28 years old! don't you think it's time for him to marry and have someone by his side now?" then couldn't help thinking "I'm gonna get myself in trouble one day".

"Yes, I agree but after Aahil it will definitely be your turn my love" auntie informed Halim happily and Aahil couldn't help but return a smirk back at his sister with vengeance.

"On your face," Aahil told her and she just shrugged her shoulders carelessly, keeping her redden face down.

It wasn't long before Hania returned back to the discussion at hand "Do you have anyone in mind dear brother of mine?"

Uncle Firoz stared at her with disbelief then looked over at Aahil, while I privately murmured "Ya Allah, please tell her to stop"

Finding it extremely hard in rationalising my mixed emotions, I tried to muse on the scenery outside the window but hearing the words 'Aahil upcoming marriage' kept repeating in my head.

"That, my 'dear little sister of mine' is something I will share with you and our parents when the time is right," he said abruptly and then anxiously turned his attention to Ahlam, who was staring absentmindedly out the window; looking confused and distressed.

Sensing a stunned silence in the room, I turned my attention away from the window and like an electromagnet force, caught Aahil running his hands nervously through his jet-black hair.  With his piercing blue eye pursuing mine, I was totally hypnotized by his penetrating stare, like a bait caught by a fishing line.  Our eyes were instantaneously locked on one another's.

They didn't even flicker once when his gaze dropped to my lips, which he rudely allowed to linger there before raising them back up to my now widened eyes.  Perceiving my reaction, a smile touched the corners of his mouth "Ya Allah! Why did he just do that, why did he drop his gaze to my lips? And why am I still gazing at him endlessly? Oh! this is all so haram!" but I knew I was captivated.

I watched intently as his face engaged into a warm smile, creating little laughter lines around his eyes that brought out his cute little dimples that I wasn't even aware he had.  "He really is a handsome man and the woman he ends up marrying will undeniably be very lucky to have him as her husband," I thought miserably.

Detecting a presence close to me, I kicked myself out of my reverie and straightaway felt the heat of humiliation rise to my face as I identified the presence felt was none other than Aahil.  "Was I really not aware that our eyes remained locked all the while he was walking over to me? What must he be thinking? What must his family be thinking?!  Ya Allah!".

Displaying a genuinely warm smile that twisted his lips, he handed me the gift I previously turned down "this by the way…" forcibly tearing his gaze away from me to look at the package and then back up at me "…is in fact from me truly" unable to speak, I just searched his face questioningly.

I don't know how long I was staring at him for but it felt as if it was only the two of us alone in the room; that was until I heard someone yelp close by that stirred me out of my reverie again.  I looked around and embarrassingly noticed everyone's eyes on me. 

Hania remained seated staring at us with a twinkle in her eyes, arms crossed at her chest giving herself a comfort hug of success.  Uncle Firoz and auntie Faiza were also still seated but now with their arms lovingly entwined; staring at me with so much love and affection and then, one after another nodded in agreement to Aahil's declaration.

"How can I refuse his gift in front of his family?"

I moved my right hand slowly towards his gift to accept it with gratitude; all the while ensuring our hands didn't touch but he tightens his hold on it before releasing it and said "Just so you know, this won't be my last gift to you."  My eyes widened in confusion. What did he mean by that?

Staring down at the floor, I asked "Why are you troubling yourself and spending so much on me?".

Quirking one eyebrow up at me in amusement in calling him brother, he answered "Because my dear Ahlam, you've become a very special person to my family…. and now me" he added, while his eyes held a trace of humour.

Did my heart just skip a beat? I hope no one heard.

"This is all so very romantic!" Hania shouted out excitedly and auntie lightly smacked her behind her head playfully, "Ouch!" she giggled.

"I have never seen him like this before! is he our son Firoz?" auntie asked in a teasing tone and Aahil just rolled his eyes and made a funny face, while I looked away.

"Yeah he is our son, just a different side of him," uncle Firoz joked and everyone laughed.

These people are so decent Masha'Allah but a question I can't help asking myself is, why are they behaving this way? Is it because they have me living under their roof?  What will happen if I agree to give Aahil a chance and offend him, will they still want me?

"Ya Allah please guide me? Have I become special to them in just two months? How is that possible? And can I trust myself with him?"

Laying the gifted mobile down on a nearby table, I clasped my hands together timidly while I watched Aahil gather his family away from me to whisper something important amongst themselves and couldn't help thinking how very unethical and rude of them, as I was still in the room with them and even though I tried to eavesdrop in on their conversation, it was to no avail.

Then I started to wonder, behind all their protectiveness and love, did they have a hidden agenda that involved me?  I mean, to have a family take me in under their wing without even knowing me beforehand, it's just surreal, right?

"Ahlam?" Hania called out.

"Hey Ahlam?" she repeated, this time trying to capture my attention by waving her hand in the air "Are you okay?" she asked, as she placed her hand on my shoulder "You've been sitting here totally unmoved, seemingly oblivious of your surroundings around you".

Being startled, I stared up at her with widened eyes for two or three minutes then unintentionally looked up at Aahil who was eyeing me with a twinkle of amusement in his eyes.

"What's happening to me? Why am I constantly in daydreaming mode and mostly about him?"

"Ahlam?" auntie Faiza asked questioningly, prompting a response.

"I… I'm sorry, I was just… erm…" I tried so desperately to explain my repeated preoccupation, even with the colour of shame beginning to intensify my cheeks but the words wouldn't come out.  How could it?  What would I say? "I'm sorry, I was just daydreaming about Aahil" I doubt that would go down well, my inner thoughts said amusingly.

As I courageously looked around at their reactions, I couldn't help noticing how they stood united; staring as if they're expecting something to transpire.  Hania was hugging her father around his waist, trying her best to hide her excitement.  While uncle Firoz hand his arm around her shoulders, gathering her close and smiling proudly.  Aunty Faiza was euphoric but at the same time edgy but why? As for Aahil, well he appeared to be waiting nervously; uncertain what to think, while eyeing me closely with a hint of a smile breaking through.

Taking a deep breath, Faiza said "Ahlam my dear? I pray to Allah that you won't get offended with what I have to say but there is something very important I have to ask of you and I hope you'll accept it agreeably Insha'Allah".(If GOD wills)

Tearing my gaze away from Aahil's, I said "Astagfirullah! Auntie, whatever you have to say, please do.  You and your family have done so much for me.  How can I get offended?"

With a glimmer of hope, she continued "When I first met you, I knew immediately that you deserved the very best in life and that it was only a matter of time before we'll arrive where we are at this particular moment.  How it turns out is all in your hands my dear" then turned to look around worryingly at her family then back at Ahlam. "As you know, you've captivated mine and my family's heart, which I'm ecstatic to say now includes Aahil" as she said this, she looked up at her son and pulled him close.

I tried to hide my panicky thoughts, but I couldn't… "Are they sending me away? Was that what their earlier whispering was about?  They've found me another place to stay; hence the gifted mobile to stay in touch? Ya Allah!"

Sensing my distress, she added quickly "Ahlam, please do not fear, what I have to say is good news Insha'Allah.  You're such a beautiful woman, whatever you may think.  Okay, you have injuries and have noticeable hidden scars but beauty is not only on the outside but the inside too.  Your heart is so pure and I truly would like to see you with someone who will make you happy, back you up without limits and love you without an end.  So, as the lady of this house…" she walked over to me taking my hand "I would like to ask for your hand in marriage…" she stared at her son "… to my son Aahil"

"WHAT?" I silently shouted out

Silence.  I swear I could even hear a pin drop.  Did I just hear auntie Faiza propose to me on behalf of Aahil? Is this some kind of joke?  Glad I was sitting down, I glanced up and found myself staring into his beautiful blue eyes.  He wore a smile that made my body shiver "Ya Allah! I never expected this.  What have you got planned for me?"

"Ahlam, will you please consider this proposal?" she asked, as they all waiting in suspense for my reply and I couldn't help noticing her hand squeezing her son's ever so tightly in hope.

****

Why is it that many can't stand it when someone is doing well in life? They will try to plant seeds of doubts in people minds, they may even spread falsehood just to look good in eyes of others, gossipers will have a lot of people than truth-tellers, what do you think ?

*****

Some thoughts running in Ahlam's mind?

Will she say yes? or will she find out if there Is some motive behind their smiles and love.