A Marriage Proposal For You.

Hayat's Pov.

It has been over a week since my best friend's engagement. I was beyond happy for her. She deserves all the happiness that came to her.

As I was praying, I didn't see that my stepsister Jameela poured hot water over my head.

I knew that it was intentional as this is one of the mother-daughter tactics to make me lose concentration over my prayers.

I jumped because thankfully the water wasn't boiling but it was still hot.

"You deserve that for being lazy. Besides, you don't even deserve happiness or even to smile", Jameela says to me while continuing to pour the water on my head.

I wanted to get angry but I realized what the point was. Anger is like poison in the heart and I didn't want that poison in me. So I kept quiet and continued with my prayers because they were the only ones I could count on.

I knew that I couldn't tell my father about this. There are many reasons why he wouldn't believe me.

One of them is; that Jameela is and will always be innocent in his eyes. Because she is younger than me and easily influenced.

After finishing my fajr praying, I quickly went to the bathroom to pour water on my head. Fortunately for me, the water that Jameela poured on didn't even burn that much.

Ya Allah, give me the strength and courage to endure this. Help them, to open their eyes to see what they are doing is wrong.

I quickly walked downstairs to the kitchen to prepare their breakfast. I looked at my wristwatch and it wasn't even 7 am.

Jameela doesn't even pray nor does she ever wake up early. What could be so urgent that she woke up early?

Before I could answer my question both mother and daughter walked into the kitchen and started talking while eying me.

"I can't believe that someone is coming to propose to me. I just hope he is rich...."

"Habibty, I know that he is rich and handsome too. Besides, who else would he come here for apart from you?", Maryam interrupts her daughter while giving the stinky eye.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes inwardly.

I wondered who was foolish enough to come and ask for your hand in marriage.

Someone who doesn't even know how to cook or even work?

Someone who scores less and less in their examinations?

"Are you done?", Maryam startled me.

"Yes, ma'am. Everything is done", I answered her.

"Good. I don't want you here when they come for Jameela's hand in marriage. You can go anywhere you want but remember to be here when they are gone. Is that clear?", she tells me sharply.

"Yes, ma'am", I answered her hoping she would go away so that I could set the table and get ready to leave even if the time for my job was at 7;30 am.

"Okay".

Alhamdullilah.

She then walked away with her daughter in tow. Jameela then turned around and smirked at me. It was as if she was saying she won whatever it was.

I set the table for them and discreetly walked up to my room. I knew that Papa would be angry at me for skipping breakfast again.

It wasn't something that I wanted to do but I couldn't stand the stares of the mother-daughter as they ate without caring about anything.

I finished getting ready and walked out of the house before Papa could catch me.

I am sorry, papa. I hope you understand that the woman who you married isn't and will never treat me with kindness. I pray that you will have the patience and the heart if the need for truth arises.

Author's Pov.

The mother and daughter didn't know which daughter was going to be proposed to by Leila and her husband Nabeel Muhsin for their son.

They were happy to have Hayat out of the house as she was a menace to them. Even though they pretend to be nice, loving, and caring to her when Ahmed is around.

"Everything is ready, right mum? I have the perfect dress and the shoes and even the makeup....."

Maryam had to stop her daughter from blubbering so much as the maids were looking at her weirdly.

"Stop that. It is embarassing. And you don't need to wear a lot of make-up. Just a little, okay?", She advised her daughter who nodded.

Jameela always likes extravagance. Clothes, jewelry, and even makeup. She has always been addicted to shopping even though she had a lot of clothes in her closet that weren't even worn.

Hayat had just finished teaching the kids and now it was time for her break. As she was walking towards the cafeteria she couldn't help but hear her colleagues saying that there was a new benefactor in the school.

Who could it be?

Hayat thought to herself but she shook her head and dismissed whatever thoughts were on her mind.

She finished her break because as usual, she couldn't eat breakfast because of Maryam and Jameela.

Meanwhile, at home, everything was ready to receive Leila and her husband Nabeel.

As the couple entered the house, they were warmly welcomed by Maryam and Ahmed. But Leila expected someone else to be there but she didn't ask about her.

"Asalam Aleikum. Welcome, please sit", Maryam ushered them to the living room.

"Waleikum salaam and thank you", Nabeel answered while his wife looked around to see if she was there.

"As my husband already told you, Ahmed in the phone. We are here to talk about your daughter for our son. But it wouldn't be confirmed until they both agree to this", Leila explains to them.

Maryam was ecstatic to hear that but what she didn't know was that Aayan has a five-year-old son.

"Yes he did. Maryam could you call....."

Maryam didn't even wait for Ahmed to finish. "I will go and get her".

When Maryam and Jameela walked in, Leila knew that she wasn't the girl they wanted for her son.

"Asalaam Aleikum", Jameela greeted them and took a seat next to her mother.

"Waleikum Salaam", Nabeel answered her while his wife shook her head.

"I am sorry but don't you have another daughter?", Leila asks earning a look from her husband but she doesn't care. All she wanted was the best for Aayan.

And to her the best is Hayat.

"Yes, I do but she isn't here. She is a schoolteacher at Shehzad School", Ahmed her father explained to them.

This made Maryam and Jameela angry because they wanted Hayat and not her.

Why does it have to be her, all the time?

Jameela thought while trying to control her anger but Leila could see right through her.

"I am sorry to ask but how do you know about her?", Maryam asks Leila.

"I know her from somewhere. She helped me with something that I needed and I thought she would be prefect for my son and grandson. We will come later when she is at home. But for now we will take your leave", Nabeel replied standing up along with his wife.

When the couple walked out of the house. Jameela tried to control her anger but she couldn't do it anymore.

She stomped her feet and walked into her room with her mother in tow.

Meanwhile, Ahmed was happy for his daughter because she got a good proposal from a good family. Nabeel and Ahmed knew each other through business transactions.

Alhamdullilah.

Inside Jameela's bedroom, she was fuming mad and started throwing everything on the floor.

"That's enough, Jameela", her mother shook her daughter's shoulders.

"No it isn't mother. She stole everything from me. And now this...."

"Keep quiet Jameela. You heard her, the guy has a son and you don't want that type of man, do you?"

"But mum, he is rich...."

"Jameela, they wanted a mother for their grandson more than a wife for their son", Maryam tried to explain to her but Jameela couldn't have it as she was angry and jealous of Hayat.

It was time for Hayat to return home after spending almost 2 hours outside alone as she didn't want to disturb Sameera because she had a few important exams.

She walked into the house and was shocked to find her father waiting for her.

"Asalam Aleikum, Papa. How are you doing?", she greeted her father kissing his forehead.

"Waleikum salaam. Am good alhamdullilah. I have news for you, my Hayat. Listen first before you tell me your answer, okay?", her father asks her.

Hayat nodded.

"There's a marriage proposal for you from one of my business friends for their son. But their son has a child of his own. They wanted you and not Jameela. So in shaa Allah when you have decided, they will come again to see you", her father explained to her.

"Okay, Papa. Could I have some time before my decision?", Hayat asks her father.

"Okay, My Hayat. Take your time", he rose from his seat kissed his daughter's forehead, and left to go to his study.

As she was walking toward her room she was stopped by Jameela.

"Here she is. Did you parade yourself to get that proposal? I knew it, you are just like your mother....."

What happened next shocked everyone who was witnessing what happened around them.

Hayat slapped her.

"Never talk about my mother like that. You didn't know her. So know your limit. Remember when it comes to me you can do anything but when it comes to my parents that's where you cross the line. I am not you, Jameela. I know how to value myself, I know how to take care of myself unlike you. How many boyfriends have you had? Just a reminder never ever talk about my mother like that or else I wouldn't be held responsible for what happened to you", Hayat was fuming with anger but she needed to control it. "And listen carefully, Jameela never ever talk about my mother or else I might have to tell dad about the pictures of you and one of your boyfriends in bed", she added walking away.

Hayat was shocked at what she did. No one has a right to talk to her mother like that.