Mastoorah

As I stood near the high front wall of the rooftop at Uncle Faraan's house, I saw Iyad stepping upstairs through my peripheral vision. It was very much reminiscent of what happened last week when Iyad out of the blue proposed to me.

I was very confused and amazed at this. Iyad wasn't a person who would joke around. His nature wasn't like this. If it was Imad, I might would have considered this. But this didn't go with how Iyad was. And then a few days ago, his sister approached me saying that he was serious about me but the decision was in my court whether to pursue this or not.

As far as I was concerned, then I considered myself very practical. I believed in love but I didn't think of it as something very crucial for a relationship. For me, respect and regard should be present before anything. Marriage was an inevitable part of one's life and it was bound to happen any day.

And if I had to get married, then why should I wed off to someone totally unknown and again become a part of some stranger family? I didn't have my own family even now but I consider these all very dear to me. So Iyad wasn't a bad option. He was a nice, soft-spoken spoken, and intelligent guy. The only halting point was our age difference. I was might be his sister's age. And this made me four years older than him. If I was okay with it then would he be fine after a few years?

Iyad walked up to me, his hands plopped in his pants pocket. The next morning, he had to go back to his training so he wanted to discuss that thing with me sooner.

He smiled. "Don't you think the weather is getting chilly now? Do you want us to talk downstairs?"

I shook my head. "No, it's fine." I changed my posture and faced him. "Iyad, I am a very realistic girl. For me, love isn't important. Respect, companionship, and a promise of forever are important. Marriage is a pivotal part of life. I won't tell you an untruth; if I said I would see to it to Eizal about your proposal, then honestly it's because I don't want any more hardship by going between another stranger's family. I have known you guys since I was a kid and also because there is nothing I can hold against you as a person who can be my potential husband. But..."

Iyad who was listening carefully to me, raised a brow at my deliberate pause. "But what?"

I inhaled a sharp breath. "We have a considerable age gap between us. I am older than you and in today's age, this fact is being frowned upon by society. I want you to think again by taking an ample time if your earlier statement was out of any impulse."

He rubbed his nose quietly before speaking. "I am not an impulsive person, Mastoorah G. My confession wasn't out of any random or one-second attraction or maybe love at first sight." He chuckled. "I have been liking you for a while and last week seemed the best moment to confess. And age doesn't matter to me. You are someone I consider very respectful and loving."

I stared at him silently while understanding his words. He and I indeed had many things in common. We shared a serious demeanor and we both were goal-oriented. At that time, his eyes were so expressive that I had to look away. I didn't even know when he had started to love me.

"Mastoorah G, I genuinely love you and want to marry you," he further said, his voice husky as ever.

I scratched my forehead while looking back at him. "Did you talk to your parents about it?"

He shrugged his shoulder. "First you say yes. My parents will never say no to a girl like you. They have good eyes."

He had a smile on his lips as he completed this. My cheeks burned due to what he said. But the next moment, I nodded because there was seriously not any bad thing regarding this.

"I have no problem regarding this. But yes, but nothing will happen without Aunt Hania's permission. She is like a mother to me."

He pressed his lips together in acceptance. "Understandable. And thank you Mastoorah G for rubbing off that thought that I was joking."

Finally, I gave him a smile at his words and shook my head before rushing downstairs. Though I could feel his eyes on me the whole time.

                        ________________

Iyad

In my next break from the training, Mastoorah and I were engaged in front of our whole family and relatives. Mama and Baba agreed because first included my happiness and second, Mastoorah was someone both of them liked. Mastoorah's Aunt Hania too said yes. Api too was so excited that her best friend was going to be her sister-in-law. I believed that was the main thing too why Mastoorah had agreed to my proposal. However soon I would make her love me as I loved her now.

After there was no hurdle in our future union, I was very happy. But Mastoorah had raised a wish to keep a line between us as long as we would not get tied by a legal knot. Hence, we didn't even talk to each other as much, meeting discreetly was far-fetched. And I respected it. That was what made me fall in love with her.

Now she became my fiance, we only agreed on some phone chats and a few calls. Adding her as my fifth contact to message her good morning in the early morning, asking about well well-being, telling her to eat the meals, and informing her of my daily routine and in return getting to know theirs was so wholesome. Slowly I was falling in love with her more and more.

It was a day before our engagement when I was sitting in the gym after completing my workout. My rascal of a brother smirked and sat closer to me. He playfully hit the back of my head. I almost choked on the water I was drinking. My glare deepened seeing his cunning grin.

"So fast you are. Like a 3G. No instead 4G," he laughed.

"Shut up!" I hissed.

"By the way Iyad, now I got to know why you never called Mastoorah Api as Api when I used to call her the same. That Mastoorah G was going be romantic I never knew." He mimicked my voice as I used to call her name and here I stifled a smile.

"Don't you have anything to do?" I scowled at Imad.

He nudged my elbow. "What can be more interesting than teasing Mastoorah G's Romeo?"

"Hey, don't say something like this in front of her. She minds such thing," I warned him.

Imad cackled. "Becoming a wife's man even before marriage? God, that Mastoorah G is killing me."

I hit on Imad's broad naked bicep. "Gadha."

(A/N Gadha literal meaning in English in Donkey. It's used as a sledge to tease someone)

I stood up as Imad's laughter increased more. "Come let us play a video game. It's been a while since we hadn't played a game together."

He blinked and then got up too. "Come then. I will defeat you today, Iyad Faris."

"That game is my left-hand thing, Imad Faris. You will get overthrown by me again," I supported a wicked grin as I ran out of the gym, Imad soon matched my pace while giving me one of his sweetest nicknames.

That was how we were. Wild yet sophisticated enough to never let each other down.

                         ______________

The night before I had to leave for my training again, Mama had come to my room. She first looked at me before my all-packed suitcase. A wetness came in her eyes but she soon hid it by a heartwarming smile. I knew whenever I had to leave for my training, she became sad like this. She was a mother and had a heart that was sensitive to her kids. I fought an urge to hug her because if I did, she would think that what she wanted to pose had failed.

"Is the packing complete?" She asked me, putting a hand over my shoulder.

I nodded. "Yes, Mama."

"Take care of yourself, Iyad. I know the training is time-consuming and hectic but don't forget to have proper meals. Be easy on yourself," she instructed me.

I turned towards her and kissed her forehead. "I will Mama. Don't worry about me."

She gave a teary smile to me before grabbing my hand and kissing the top of it. "Mama is so proud of you, Iyad. Mama loves you so much."

I hugged her this time. "I love you too, Mama."

I wiped her cheek where a fresh tear had dropped. She didn't let go of my hand, instead sat with me on the bed.

"I want to talk to you about something," she murmured, her voice was still nasal due to crying.

I nodded my head for her to continue.

"Look Iyad. You are engaged now. Don't consider engagement a small thing. It gives you a right over a woman and vice versa. It's unofficial but it's there. Your fiance becomes your responsibility. Never cut any slack in fulfilling that responsibility. Always take care of Mastoorah. She is your soon-to-be wife. And you know what is the meaning of being a wife," she explained gently.

"Don't worry, Mama. I know this. She is very respectful to me and I will always consider our relationship very important to me," I mumbled, truthfully.

She smiled and patted my cheek. "That's my good boy. Now you should sleep. You have to leave early morning."

Mama had left after that. As I lay down on my bed to sleep, I remembered about Mastoorah. I couldn't see her during this break. We hadn't even talked over texts and calls that much as well. And now I started missing her. Staying away from her seemed more and more difficult now as time passed and my feelings were substantiating for her. I couldn't wait for that day when she would become my bride and start living with me, letting me show her how much I loved her. I smiled at my thoughts and picked up my phone.

Browsing through my chats, I searched for Mastoorah's number. My thumbs stayed above the screen as I mentally thought about how to text her, especially at this time.

"Hi Mastoorah G."

A few minutes passed before I heard the ringtone of my notification. A satisfied feeling entailed my insides.

"AssalamoAlaikum Iyad"

"Walaikum Assalam. What are you doing?"

"I was studying. What about you?"

I was thinking about you. I chuckled at my own thought.

"I didn't disturb you. Right"

"No no. It's fine. You tell me. Tomorrow you have to leave for your training again."

"Actually yes. And now I realize it's been two months since we last saw each other."

"We had our own routines. Like, whenever you are free, I don't have time. And whenever I am free, you are on your training. Bad timing I guess."

"Never mind. Even though it's torture something which comes after doing a lot of patience is more beautiful. Just like you are."

"Don't flatter me."

"Do I look like? You are beautiful."

The notification remained dead for a while.

"Iyad. Thank you...for...respecting my boundaries"

"Where did this come from, Mastoorah G? You are my fiance and if I don't respect you, that will be my failure"

There was no response from Mastoorah's side now. But I knew she liked what I said. I really couldn't wait for that day when Mastoorah would be all mine. And I knew it wasn't anywhere far.

                  _______________________

AssalamoAlaikum/ Hi guys!

How are you?

Here's a new chapter for you.

I hope you like it.

As Romance isn't the main focus of this book, hence we saw a rather logical approach to Iyad's proposal from Mastoorah's side. Did you like how she took all this?

Do you like Mastoorah and Iyad?

Do you like how Iyad is respecting Mastoorah's boundaries?

Did you get reminded of his father from here? 🤞❤

Ajwa is so sad whenever Iyad has to leave. The mothers are just so sensitive for their children. 😢❤

I hope you like the bond Imad and Iyad shares. And even Eizal too with her both younger brothers. 🧡🧡🧡

Please vote and and comment. ❤❤