I bid Na'eemah goodbye and walked out of the spa, minutes later Hafeez honked and packed his car.

I rubbed my sweaty hands on my skirt, took a deep breath and raised my head. You can do this Humaira, it's Hafeez who's practically your best friend. I muttered in my head as I walked over to the car

"Assalamualaikum" I said immediately I was in

"Wa'alaikumus Salam" He replied looking at me as I kept my gaze ahead.

Ya Rabbi, why am I even nervous? Act cool Humaira act cool

"Why are you nervous? He asked. Great, he found out. Well it's not like it isn't obvious in the first place

Nonetheless I lied muttering "I'm not nervous"

"Yeah tell that to your hands that keeps sweating even with the AC on or your eyes that refuses to look at me or your hands that are busy fidgeting" He replied as I looked out of the window

"Can we just leave? I said still refusing to maintain eye contact

"Is this about you realising your feelings on me? He deadpanned as my gaze snapped to him. Well, he's really blunt and straight forward

"Ahnmmm

"Humaira I don't think this should change anything. Before anything else, we are friends. Things aren't supposed to be awkward"

So just tell me your answer already dude. You in or not? I snapped in my head and instead settle with telling him "Sure thing"

He sighed and played Never Enough by Loren Alfred before turning on the ignition and drove off.

The drive was silent with each one lost in his own world. I kept thinking about all the possibilities of Hafeez saying No. I looked at his side view for a minute and looked back to the window. I really want to know what he is thinking, how I wish I have a super power of reading minds and maybe manipulation too. No that would be mean of me to manipulate people. Teleportation is better, at least you can easily get out of an awkward situation.

The car coming to a halt disrupted my  derange train of thoughts as I glanced up at the huge mall in front of us. Hafeez got down as I did too helping him with dropping off of the packages. Three young men came and took it inside while Hafeez and I trailed behind.

"Good evening Mr Pilot" The owner spoke dragging Hafeez into a hug as I stood there keeping a polite face

"My friend, how are you doing? Hafeez asked as they broke the hug

"I've been good my friend. I see London is treating you well" He laughed letting his gaze fall on me. "And who's this beautiful damsel standing? He added as Hafeez came to stand beside me

"This is Humaira, the owner of HBG drinks and Aira this is Alhaji Umaru, owner of Sideways mall

"Nice to meet you Humaira" He said grinning

"You too" I replied returning the smile

"Well why don't we go discuss the plans" He said winking as Hafeez lead me walking beside me

"She's pretty special Hun, you've got a special name for her. You don't do nicknames" He whispered to Hafeez as Hafeez silently laughed

"You have no idea how special" He replied lowly stealing a glance as I pretended not to be listening while a small smile graced my lips.
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After half an hour, we were finally done and bid Alhaji Umaru goodbye making sure we exchanged our cards. He's pretty nice and jovial and I know we will be great partners.

Hafeez had been very considerate letting me talk about what I want, my plans and opinions and only chirping in when he thinks of a good idea

"So" Hafeez started as I looked at him. For the moment at the mall, I forgot all about the situation at hand

"Yes? I questioned increasing the volume as Get you the moon by Kina  ft. Snow blasted in

"Let me gist you while we drop by to grab ice cream" He said giving me a toothy grin melting my heart right there and then

"Sure" I said smiling ignoring the squeeze my heart kept doing.

If my heart melts by his smile then I wonder what will happen to the ice cream.
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"Finally, we are home" Hafeez said as he parked the car

"Yeah. Thank you" I said smiling as he got out forming a little bow

"After you my lady" He said as I laughed walking ahead of him.

I stepped a foot into the house switching on the lights when I realized it is off. Weird

"SURPRISE" I heard shouts as I stepped back placing a hand over my wildly beating heart and examined Daadi's huge living room

Faces of Daadi, Maami, Zainab, Na'eemah, Uncle Aliyu, my other two uncles I forgot names of with their wives. On the other hand there is Hajja, Aunt leema and Uncle Ibrahim then the grinning faces of my Friends. Intisaar, Juwairriya, Yusrah and Zahra all kept looking at me smiling widely. Next to them stood an elegantly beautiful woman whom I recognized as Hafeez's Mother, next to her is his sister then a man I don't know of.

"What's happening? I questioned looking at them at the same time feeling confused. Yusrah pointed to the banner on the wall. I let my eyes move to see Will you marry me Aira? boldly written

"That was Zahra's idea" Hafeez whispered as I snapped out of my haze. I was shocked beyond words, not only is my family and friends here but also Hafeez is proposing to me in the presence of everyone. Now I get why Daadi sent me off to spa and go out with hafeez, it was all to plan this. How come I was so clueless, when did she call everyone

"Darling" Hafeez's mother said coming over to me and pulling me into a hug. "We're so sorry for everything my husband did, I hope his actions won't stop Hafeez from getting you. All he does every day is think about you" She said when she broke the hug

"Mama" Hafeez groaned as I smile keeping my eyes down

"Will you do us the honours and be my daughter in-law? She asked with hopes in her eyes as Hafeez turned to stand next to her looking at me dead into the eyes

Are you kidding me? All I ever want is to have Hafeez

"Yes" I replied fixing my gaze on Hafeez as I saw his face morph into a wide grin. He handed his mother the ring who carefully placed it on my ring finger. I looked up to him and even his eyes twinkled with happiness and my own self never felt more joy

With that single word, the room erupted into yayys and Alhamdulillahs. Maami came and gave me a bone crushing hug looking back at me with pride and tears in her eyes, she quickly went to Hafeez mother not to tear up. Daadi came next giving me a hug and patting my back with a satisfied and knowing smile. Next was Hajja, I didn't expect it but she gave me a hug prayed for me and left smiling. Aunt leemah's hug was so tight I had to talk to her to let me breath. Ohh how I missed this woman, she loosened up and gave my forehead a peck leaving with a teary eye. Hafeez's sister came hugging me saying she's a huge fan as I laughed reminding her we do talk sometimes on social media. She's the bubbliest person you will ever meet

My uncles and aunts came one by one
Congratulating me and it was only when one of my uncles hugged hafeez did I realized Hafeez was beside me all along and his mother was with Maami, Daadi, Aunt Leemah, Hajja and other two aunties

"Thank you" Hafeez whispered as I looked at him questioningly

"For everything, you became something I look forward to being with everyday. You give a whole different sense of purpose. I don't how to explain this Aira, I don't know how to explain the depth of my love for you. Love itself isn't enough to describe what I feel for you" I let a tear roll as I listened to his confession

"Babe,don't cry" Intisaar said as I turned to look at my friend's grinning faces with Juwairiyya's face stuffed in Samosas

"She's beautiful nonetheless" Hafeez said shrugging innocently

"Awwwn, Hafeez turned cheesy" Zahra said laughing

"How did you guys know about this? I asked

"Well we might have planned all along because we know you like each other" Yusrah said winking

"When I told Hafeez, I had to wait for thirty minutes for him to finish his duas thanking Allah. Then we planned everything, he told his family and the girls called and told Maami while I told Mummy who then contacted Hajja and Uncle Ibrahim. Everything was planned out and we wanted giving you a surprise. We all booked an afternoon flight as we know you will be at the spa by then" Zahra explained as I looked at them mouth agape

"You did this all for me? I said getting teary

"Anything for you Maimai" Juwairiyya said as they all engulfed me in a group hug.

After the hug, I looked at them, my laughing family and then back at Hafeez's love filled eyes

Which favours of my Lord will I deny?
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Long chapter yayyyy!!!

Our dearest dearest is engaged! Hafeez and Humaira are GOOAAAALLLSSSSS! WE NEED A SHIP NAME ASAP GUYS!

Bonding time are more important than business talks after all.

I tried making the engagement modern, beautiful, a little magical yet HALAL. what do you think about it? I don't know what shipname to give our faves. #Hafaira, #Aifeez #HH Y'all should suggest.

Have you ever heard or read my poems? I've just uploaded an outspoken poetry on my channel https://youtu.be/i96zdeivGt4. Do check it out and subscribe

Khayr ❤️