Please check out my buddy mnhlatif's book Hana & Hanaan! I can't even begin to tell you how good it is! The story starts out a bit slow, but now it has me on the hook so much I actually wait for the updates 😭.

Farrah entered her home after a long day.

She was reluctant when her friends called her to eat at the latest sushi place. Farrah really didn't feel like going out these days.

But she relented when her friends practically begged her to. She forced herself to get dressed and tried to convince herself that she would have fun.

Ten minutes after spending time with the girls, Farrah started regretting even getting out of her bedroom.

All they could kept talking about was how everyone they knew was getting married, how they didn't know what to do with their lives, and how much the parental were driving them crazy.

It was worse than the conversations she was having in her head.

Farrah left early and gladly started for her home. However, as she saw her house, a different kind of dread brew in her chest.

As soon as Farrah stepped through the door, she was taken by surprise. There were unknown faces greeting her.

Farrah stood by the entrance, awkwardly adjusting the strap of her shoulder bag, realizing they had guests over.

The women seated smiled at her called her out with enthusiasm. They started discussing how much she has grown. Farrah tried to figure out who they were.

"There you are!" Her mother swiftly approached her with a loud giggle. "I have been calling you for hours."

"Sorry," Farrah mumbled, shooting Rani inconspicuous questioning looks. "My battery died."

She could clearly see the discomfort in Rani's face and the force behind her smile. Her mother ushered her to take a seat without any proper introduction, only to disappear into the kitchen moments later.

The women sitting besides her stared at her. Farrah wanted to dig a hole in their living room ground and bury herself in it. After a little small talk, they sat in heavy silence. Why did her mother have to leave her alone with strangers?

Three men entered the room. Farrah's heart plummeted to her stomach upon the realization that one of them was her father.

"Dad," she breathed.

"My girl," Yaqub Hussain smiled, taking the seat across from her. "Where have you been? We were waiting."

His face hadn't changed since the last time she saw him, only his hair had more whites than she recalled. Those happy eyes clenched her heart tightly, the resemblance never failing to remind her of her deceased uncle.

The shock of seeing her father wore off quickly and his words registered, deepening her confusion. "I didn't know you were arriving today," she said unsurely.

"It's fine, dear," the woman besides her spoke up. "We haven't been waiting that long. I'm your Nur Aunty, by the way," she said, placing a hand over her chest. "My two sisters." She pointed to the other ladies. "And that's Rashid's father." She showed the man sitting besides her father.

Farrah felt her head spinning. She stared at them, the names ringing in her ears.

It can't be.

But those names... her mother had been repeating them so much Farrah had them memorized. She swept her glance across the room.

There was no denying what the arrangement indicated to. The guests were so well dressed, the way their house-helpers were hustling in the background.

She dared sneak a glance at the younger man sitting besides her father for the first time that evening. He was wearing a dark grey suit and had deep brown curls. His rimless glasses had slid down his nose as he had his eyes cast down. That was all she noticed before averting her gaze.

Farrah got to her feet in a second. "Excuse me," she muttered before striding towards their kitchen, not bothering for a response. She knew she needed to clear things before the suspense ate her alive.

"Mom," she said through gritted teeth as she faced Rani. "What on earth is going on?"

Rani stirred the pot in front, open flames creating steam around them, air enriched with spiced aroma.

"Farrah, I know you said no..." she started, barely meeting her eyes.

A wave of nausea hit Farrah. She has been praying it wouldn't be what it looked like. But of course it was, her parents were just the kind of people to pull something like this.

"How could you do this?" Farrah exclaimed.

"He is such a great guy," she replied, finally looking up from the pot she was stirring, her expression exasperated. "I just wanted you to give him a chance!"

She stared at her mother, fuming, tongue-tied.

"And his mother kept insisting. I couldn't refuse," Rani added.

Farrah swallowed the ball forming in her throat. "I can't believe you right now," she whispered in a strained voice.

"Just talk to him and see how things turn out."

Farrah couldn't believe how casually those words came out of her mother's lips. Just talk to him... like it was that simple.

"You've lost your mind," Farrah spat out, her voice starting to shake. "I'll be in my room, and don't expect me to come out until they leave."

Farrah turned to leave, knowing if she stood there one second longer she would start bawling her eyes.

"Farrah, please," Rani begged, stepping away from the stove to place a hand over her shoulder. "This is not the time to create a scene."

"I'm creating a scene?" she skidded to a halt, crying in disbelief. "Do you even realize what you have done?" she said, throwing her hands in the air.

Rani glanced at the door once, no doubt fearing if the guests had heard her raised voice. Disgust coiled in Farrah's stomach.

"I have been calling you to prepare you for their arrival," Rani tried to reason.

"That's not the point!" Farrah cried exasperatedly.

"I didn't think it would be a big deal," she looked at her daughter with desperation. "I just thought we could all talk and see where it goes. I didn't expect you to take it like this. It's not like we'll force you into anything."

Tears pooled Farrah's eyes and she could feel a throbbing pain initiating behind them.

"You're forcing me right now," she repeated as she rubbed her temples. "And you don't know me at all if you think I'll go along with this," she hissed.

"Please," Rani whispered, her voice reducing to a mere plea. Tears suddenly pooling in her eyes. "I just wanted you to give the man a chance. I thought he would be good for you. Besides, they are already here. You can't refuse to socialize with them now." Her mother finished, meeting her eyes.

Rani suddenly looked small and drained. The tone in her voice indicated how much was riding on her behaviour tonight.

"Farrah, these people are our guests, and they're expecting to see you."

Farrah had never seen her mother look this helpless.

She could already feel her will crumbling. Farrah could hear the guests' voices coming from outside and her father's boisterous laugh.

"I'm not marrying him," she said weakly, but with a firm tone. "I'll just sit with them for your sake - but that's it."

A burden seemed to lift off Rani's shoulder. "Of course, that's all I ask," she gushed.

Rani patted Farrah's cheek and then hurried to leave the room to tend the guests.

Farrah held the island of their kitchen to keep herself upright, clamping a hand over her mouth, silently sobbing.

She couldn't believe this. Why was her mother like this? How could her own parents do this to her? She never felt more helpless in her life.

She felt a deep longing in her chest for the only real parent she ever had - her Uncle Haroon - or at least the one who cared about her like one.

Farrah didn't know how long she stood like this. When the maids started gathering in the kitchen again and gave her wary looks, she turned away from them and wiped away her tears.

Farrah gathered herself again. She splashed water on her face a couple times from the kitchen sink and went back to the living room. She took her seat again, like a bound daughter.

Farrah couldn't even look at anyone. If her Uncle Haroon were here today he would have never let anyone treat her like this.

Dinner was served and the three course meal was eaten with great content. Her parents talked about their society, culture, friends and laughed every few minutes like they were having the time of their lives.

If there was anyone who was almost as quiet as Farrah, it was Rashid Osmani.

After dessert, her parents took the other elders to give an impromptu house tour, casually leaving the kids to talk among themselves.

All evening Farrah was mostly left unbothered, to grovel at her thoughts. But now that she was alone with him, with their parents disembodied voices in the next, she could suddenly feel anticipation building in her chest.

She wasn't sure what to expect from him at all. Farrah barely knew him - apart from that he was a big shot University Professor and had a fancy education. And she no desire to know anything more as well.

"Are you okay?"

His soft voice ended the speculations in her head, but the budding anticipation exploded and left her a mess.

Farrah looked at him and tried to form an answer. The look in his eyes expressed genuine concern.

She didn't know what to say. She stared at him tongue-tied. She didn't expect him to ask this and she wasn't sure at what context he was asking.

"You look upset," he added, as if reading her mind.

"I just wanted to clear it out that there is absolutely no pressure, Farrah," he continued when she didn't answer. "Not from my side, at least."

She didn't know what it was, but Farrah felt more drained than ever. She couldn't keep up with it anymore. She had about enough of her parents and this family.

"I was forced into this meeting," she said brazenly.

Shock flashed across Rashid Osmani's face at her honest confession. "Oh God." he gushed. "I had no idea, I would have never agreed to this if I knew..."

"It's not your fault," she cut him off stiffly. "My parents and I don't always get along and that sometimes leads to situations like this."

"Are they forcing you to get married against your will?" he asked, furrowing his eyebrows with worry.

Now she was getting annoyed. Farrah knew this man was probably asking with good intentions for her, but she didn't need the drama she could feel brewing.

"We're at a crossroads," she admitted. "But it's nothing I can't handle."

"Are you sure? I could talk to them if you want," he said, leaning forward to hear her better.

Farrah could almost see their knees touching, and she feared for a moment he would reach out to touch her hand. The disgust she had feeling for her parents suddenly shifted to him.

But Rashid Osmani did no such thing. Even their sudden closeness seemed lost on him. He only stared at Farrah with earnest concern.

"Forcing your children like this is not only unethical but haram even-"

"I'm sure," Farrah interjected him, briskly. "I'm grateful for your concern but I can handle my own problems."

Silence fell amongst them but Rashid Osmani was still looking at her with immense worry. Farrah's annoyance with him intensified. She avoided his gaze and didn't say anything until their parents arrived.

To say Farrah was mad at her mother would be the understatement of the century.

She was furious. She was livid. She was angrier than she had ever been in her life.

Farrah didn't leave her room since the evening of disasters. Even the thought of it made her want to tear her own hair out.

Rani Hussain knocked on her door a couple times and called her name, but Farrah ignored her completely.

Farrah had no desire to face her mother, or either of her parents anytime soon.

She couldn't believe them. She knew her parents always put their desires and their social status before her - but this was an outrageous thing to do, even for them.

However, even though Farrah didn't leave her room she knew pretty much everything that has been going on outside since then.

Her mother had reenacted the evening, and the events following it, to at least ten different people over the phone - and Rani was the loudest person Farrah knew.

It was terrible. Hearing her mother spill a private and embarrassing moment of her life to basically all the aunties in her life, Farrah wanted nothing more than to pack her bags and leave the house for good.

After a couple days through the conversations and exaggerated anecdotes, Farrah could come to the conclusion that her father was still clueless about everything, and her mother felt slightly guilty for what she did.

The thing Farrah was dreading to hear the most, however, never came. Rashid Osmani did not spill a single bean about their confession to his parents. But his mother called hers and called the proposal off. Apparently, Rashid said they just didn't click. He shouldered the blame entirely, and Farrah couldn't be more grateful.

It was a warm afternoon when Rani had about enough. Her daughter was refusing to leave her room, talk to anyone or even finish her meals.
She knew there were only few people who could fix the situation now, so Rani finally called for backup.

Farrah's best friends strode to her room and Malika Bashir softly knocked on her door.

"It's us," she called.

Farrah was vexed. She wasn't in the mood to hold conversations with anyone.

But as Malika kept knocking, Farrah became conflicted. She wasn't ready to see anyone yet but she didn't want to keep her friends standing. So she grudgingly got up from her bed moments later and let them in.

"What's going on?" Malika asked with concern as the girls entered her room. "Rani Aunty says you have kept yourself locked for two days."

Farrah reenacted the evening to her friends and let everything off her chest.

"Geez," Layla whistled after she was done. "I knew your mom was crazy, I didn't know she was this crazy."

"I'm so sorry, Fari," Malika said, eyes full of sympathy. "I can't believe you had to go through this because of my extended family."

"It wasn't their fault," Farrah sighed tiredly, as she finally spoke. "In fact, they were incredibly kind to me," she said, thinking of Rashid. "This is all on my parents."

"Have you tried... talking to them?" Dahlia asked, adding the last phrase unsurely. "Your parents, I mean."

Farrah cast are a strange look. "Of course not. Even the thought of seeing them makes my stomach recoil."

Dahlia nodded meekly and the girls continued on with their concerns.

A/N: What do you guys think of the book so far? Who's your favourite character? Who's your favourite ship? 👀
Please do let me know!