Chapter Three: liqa' alsyd alhaqq?(Meeting Mr right?)

It's been a week working in the office it's not entirely bad. Jamila making the most hilarious jokes to make my days better and funnier. While my boss giving me more work, ordering me around and giving me death glares when I don't complete my work on time.

Whenever Mr Adam talks to me I lower my gaze, it's the righteous thing to do. Alhamdulilah I don't have to look into his cold eyes, that give me nervous thrills whenever I look into them.

"Hala, I talked to Fahim about the arrangement between you and his cousin. He thinks it's a great idea, he has already informed his aunt and she agreed to the arrangement," Ayat said excitedly. I totally forget that I had to meet up with a stranger and decide whether I want to spend the rest of my life with him, pleasing him and making him happy or not choose him and marry work instead.

"Okay," I replied short and brief. It was Monday morning and I was not in the mood of the marriage talk. I didn't want to invite the topic, but Ayat just didn't understand.

"Hala I can't wait to see you on your wedding day. In sha Allah it will be better than mine, we will go shopping for your dress, we will plan everything together..." She said excitedly.

"Ayat please stop I don't have time for this we'll talk about it later," I said harshly.

"Halaat why don't you like talking about marriage? Don't you know it's a greatest act in front of God," Ayat said seriously.

"As you said Mr.Right doesn't exist, why should I get my hopes up?" I said while putting on my Abya.

"Halaat I know what father did was unforgivable but you can't possibly think every men is like him,"

"Ayat I don't want to talk about him please... The truth is I am just sacred, what if we don't share the same feelings and the guy hates me?"

"How can someone hate you Hala, you are vibrant colours mixed with madness, how can anyone not like your beautiful soul?" Ayat said comforting me. I found comfort in her words, and I decided to hug her. Honestly the reason why I am not excited about marriage like most people would be is because I am afraid. I am afraid of lonely nights and my fragile heart being broken. Maybe Ayat was right, maybe father's actions are still haunting me and I should forget about the past.

"I promise we will talk about this when I come back from work I am getting late," I said in a hurry. I went down stairs only to find my brother and mother having breakfast. I greeted them and hugged my mum and then decided to ruin Hussein's perfect silky combed hair.

Hussein got angry, and he decided not to speak to me. His anger is like ice, it melts as soon as his mood changes. I sat with them for breakfast as soon as I finished, I kissed my mum on the forehead and left for work.

I got to work early and started working on my presentation. Mr Adam hasn't arrived I noticed and his always early, Jamila too hasn't arrived. I went to the photocopy room to print out some papers, then I had to go to Mr Adam's secretary and give her some reports. After that I had to go to the fifth floor and talk to another director about the project. It was such a busy day, two hours of moving around and making sure everything was orderly.

Jamila had come late, but at least she came because Jamila's jokes are the highlight of my day. I asked her why she was late she told me it was because of her brother. I didn't know Jamila had a brother. Suddenly I hear my phone ringing , interrupting the conversation. I picked up the phone call and I heard my moms voice, she instructed me to come home as soon as possible. My mum hang up without telling me why. I followed my mum's instruction and left as soon as I finished some reports.

I reached home, only to find my mum and Ayat well dressed and in the kitchen preparing a tray of desserts. I asked what was going on but all they said was go to your room. I was curious, what was the so called emergency?

I went to my room and saw a dress on my bed, it was a cream sleeveless silky dress with a light grey long coat with beautiful threading on it. I sat on my bed admiring the dress that I have never seen before. Ayat came into my room and sat with me on my bed.

"Do you like it?" She asked.

"I love the dress but what is the occasion?"I asked curiously.

"Hala the boys' family is coming for the proposal," she said while smiling. I looked at her and faked a smile. I was supposed to be happy but I wasn't I was nervous and scared.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" 

"Well Halaat it's because you were in a bad mood in the morning. When you are in a bad mood you are impossible to reason with. Halaat I know your nervous but it's going to be okay I am going to be there and Ummi will be there too, you don't have to decide immediately," she advised.

I didn't know what to say so I just nodded and smiled.  She told me to get ready, so that's what I did. I put on the dress and did my light make up .I put on a gold necklace that my mum gave me on my birthday. I wore my scarf in a different design that I learnt from YouTube. I went down the stairs and when my mum and sister saw me. They all starred at me like strange magic, the only word that left their mouth was mashallah. I blushed and looked down.

My mother made me get ready an hour early, I sat in the living room just waiting for their arrival. Yes I was scared but I was excited too. After an hour of preparation, I heard a loud honk. My heart skipped a beat and my hands felt cold. It might be them.

My mother opened the main door, made out of wood and engraved in arabic words. I saw a woman getting out of the car with gifts, I saw her from the window in the living room. Ayat also went to greet her, I followed Ayat. When I greeted her she started to stare at me, causing me to blush.

"Mashallah, mashallah, jamil jiddaan( so beautiful) mashallah," the lady said. After I greeted her she hugged me and I hugged her back her kindness made me smile.We sat in the living room and she made a dua(prayer) for me.

"Ameen," Ayat and my mother said simultaneously. I said it in my heart.

"I  am sorry my son is late, he is at work and there was an emergency meeting. He shall arrive with his sister in a short while," she said kindly. The lady started asking me so many question, some questions I didn't know how to answer. She asked me how many kids I wanted, whether I cook or not, what job I do etc. I could see in her wise brown eyes that she is excited. After a half an hour of talking and answering questions. A  loud honk made my heart throb.

It might be the guy and his sister, why do I feel so nervous. I started feeling cold, shaky and that lead to me being frozen. My sister stood by the door, wanting to welcome the next guests to enter. I could hear footsteps getting louder and heavier. I heard two familiar voices saying Salam to my mother and sister. I still couldn't look at them, I was nervous and I couldn't think straight.

I stood up, and waited for the boy's sister so I could greet her. "Assalam alaykum," a  familiar feminine voice said.

"Walikum Salam," I said and looked at her. I couldn't believe my eyes who was standing in front of me, Jamila...

I hugged her and she started laughing, her laugh is like laughing gas it automatically makes me laugh. Everyone was looking at us. Jamila sat with me and we talked in whispers. The boy sat with his mum, his posture looked very familiar but I couldn't see his face .

My mother started talking to him and asking him questions in Arabic. His voice sounds so wise and serious.  I couldn't see his face properly because he was wearing the guthrain and aghal( headscarf and the cord to put in place). I just want to get a glimpse of his face so my heart could stop throbbing. All Jamila did was stare at me and then at him and she didn't utter a word.

After a while my sister and mother, gave the guests coffee and some halwaa(dessert). I decided to ask Jamila about his brother.

"Jamila is that your brother?" I asked while whispering.

"Yes he's my brother, and you know him very well," she said in a jokey tone. But I could swear that I have never meet Jamila's brother. Then Khalo (aunt) Fatma, the boy's mother said in a loud voice.

"Adam abni(my son), I have talked to Halaat and she is an intelligent woman and I can tell she's a loving person, she's perfect for you."

When I heard the name Adam, I looked at him and he too looked at me, it was my boss Mr Adam. I froze not knowing what to do next, his face showed no expression as usual. I looked away as soon as I saw his grey mesmerising eyes. Jamila's brother is Adam.

Adam's POV.

As soon as my mother heard news from my cousin Fahim that his wife's sister hasn't married yet. She got excited and immediately told everyone. Today morning she told me that we were going to meet the girl, and see if she's a good match for me. The whole morning all she talked about is how she was excited for me, I for one was not. Due to mother's talks and excitement I was late for work and so was Jamila since she was coming with me today.

After an hour of listening to my mothers talks and convincing me to meet the girl, I agreed only so she could let me go to work. I left for work and after an hour of working, I got a call from my mother saying that I had to come at the girls house and meet her ASAP( as soon as possible) because she was already there. I was in an important meeting when my mother called me, I had to leave an important meeting that was going to decide on the future of my company just to meet a girl. I left with Jamila, and went to the address my mother told me. Jamila too didn't know who the girl was.

When I got into the house I saw her, lowering her gaze looking at her hands. I too lowered my gaze knowing it's the best thing to do. As soon as Jamila greeted her she started laughing and then she laughed too, a laugh that was familiar to me. The girl's mother asked me a lot of questions, that were very interesting I could say.

After a moment of silence, my mother commented on the girl when she mentioned the name Halaat. I had to look at who this girl was that my mother begged me to come and see. It was Halaat, the same Halaat who worked in my company. I could see her face, surprised and nervous.

Halaat ? my employe...

This must be a cruel joke fate is playing on me.  I have never thought of Halaat that way, how could I? she is an employe and I her boss, that's all.

I looked away and started thinking of what I would say to my mother. If I denied to marry Halaat without a proper explanation, I knew she would be devastated and I can't bare to see my mother sad. And if I agree to the marriage? What will happen then? Halaat isn't the type of a girl I would marry, she's too loud and opinionated she is always commenting indirectly on how I make my decisions, on projects on everything I do as a manager.

And her laugh Ya Allah( Oh God) it's so annoying and irritating and she's never organised. How could my mother possibly think she's perfect for me?

******

After a while of talking and the family getting to know each other. They decided to leave, I hugged Jamila and Khalo Fatma goodbye. I didn't dare look at Adam I knew it would be make the situation more awkward. I just can't look at him in his eyes, it makes me feel like I am under his 'spell.'

Before they left, Adam and I were told to exchange our numbers. As if I wanted to talk him, it would make my life more difficult. He'll just give me more work. I gave him my number and he gave me his. I saved it as 'mudarrib alwahsh'(boss monster). After they left I went to my room so I could get into comfortable clothes.

I still couldn't believe my boss is asking me to marry him. I could never astagfirullah, how can I live with those cold eyes looking at me like I am some sort of weirdo. I knew I couldn't deny this proposal without a proper reason and I had to make a decision. Praying to Allah and listening to my heart was the only way I was going to make the right decision. Ayat came into my room and the first question she asked me was.

"How do you find Adam?" . Same as usual I thought to myself: always serious and no expressions on his face.

***********

End Of Chapter Three.
Thanks for reading my story and I hope you enjoyed it. Adam and Halaat's love story is yet to begin.

Will Adam and Halaat agree to marry each other?

Thanks for reading. :)