It was dinner time and i was more that hungry starving because i haven't had anything to eat all day. Today at my modeling agency was extremely exhausting. i am just thankful my anckle was healing now,and i didn't have to use crutch to walk again. We were all seated at the dinning table of the Mr kamals family everyone was around and we were all having a spanish dish for dinner.

"So Zahra how is your leg?i noticed that you were limping with crunches the other day."

Mr kamal asked me after noticing the way i walked throughout today and yesterday. I just smiled at him and greeted everyone at the table, Salman and his sister Aliya didn't answer me obvious but i ignored them. I had made a promise to my self to not be afraid of them In any way.We all ate in silence after we said a word of prayer(Bismillah)Once we  finished eating Mr kamal asked me again and i choose to answer this time.

"Zahra what happened to your leg, Is it the modeling school ?"

" no not at all, I hurt my leg at the wedding"

I said..looking at Aliya, she just rolled her eyes at me and looked away. Her eyes were focused on her nails like it's the most intriguing thing in the room. Mr Kamal noted the tension in the room but ignored it and spoke again saying.

"Really ? How is it now? Does it still hurt?

"Yes, but not as much as before. It's healing now."

"Oh that's good news dear."

Mr kamal said to me in the nicest way possible. He and his wife were the nice ones in the family. I just smiled at him and he nodded at me in response.

Mr and Mrs kamal smiled before looking at there children Salman and Aliya,They were upset that they weren't informed about Zhara's Ankle.they even went ahead to ask them questions as to why they didn't inform them.

"Why did you keep that from us Salman?I am pretty sure you knew about her ankle"

"Yes Mom I did, but I have been so busy with work this days that slipped my mind."

He said and i rolled  my eyes at him. He was the reason I fell and twisted my ankle in the first place. How could he been so forgetful as to not remember, I am sure he was lying and he was just using work to cover up. His mother turned to Aliya expectantly too, she asked.

"Aliya Why didnt you say anything Hmm."

" I have no idea in what you are talking about mother, If you would excuse me."

She said standing up and leave the dining table. rude if you ask me, I couldn't even dare say such a thing and walk out on my mom like that. I was brought up to do such, even if I was, it didn't feel right to leave the dinning table before my parent.I guess things are really bit differently here then,as Aliya left the table the kitchen maid came to clear the table too

Mr kamal had always been very nice to me,Because i am his friend daughter. Maybe thats why he didn't like how his children were treating me, going As far as keeping the news of my injured ankle away from them. They have known me for a while as my fathers daughter and he is a very good friend of my dad . He had also know my dad to be a very good man so he was certain i won't be of any trouble.

" Salman.your freind is getting married soon you should attend the wedding maybe you could get a bride from there."

His father said to him and implied that Salman needed a wife,i became uncomfortable with this topic.This is because ever since I fell down at the wedding the other day i never thought of marriage. All what was on my mind is making a name for myself in the model company.

"Father, not now."

"Why not son. It's about time we have to talk a lot on it

"yes, but not in front of a guest. Can't you see she finds it uncomfortable."

We were having a conversation now about Salman single life and i must say i feel very very uncomfortable about it. I just wish I could leave the table and so that i won't have to be a part of the conversation. Fortunately i can't ...i didn't have the courage too, at least not right  now.

Mr kamal was looking at Salman to further teasing him about his freind that was getting marriage next week.Tonight they were teasing salman in the funniest way possible telling him that he doesn't even have girlfriend when is he planning for marriage. His mom specifically asked him some questions in front of me and i felt embarrassed for him.

"Come on son, who is the luckiest and fairest maiden in the land that has captured your heart so."

"I... urrr... I"

"Son why do you stutter. Have you not found a Maiden yet, or you just don't have the guts to dazzle your Maiden."

He looked very embarrassed and uncomfortable when his mother said that. He obviously didn't know what to say as he kept opening and closing his mouth like an agama lizard.i was going to feel sorry for him coz this was really embarrassed but i didn't bother. Now was his turn to feel embarrassed after what he did to me in that night at the wedding. It was time for pay back so instead of helping him out of this embarrassment i giggled making it worse as i said.

"What's the matter, cat got your tongue? Ahh ahh bubub so now you can't speak English."

I said sarcastically. Giggling some more. Salman was furious obviously because he wasn't expecting it. i smile at him show my teeth letting him know i was having fun teasing him. He glared at me and it looks he could kill,i would probably be attending my own burial by now. But none the less i tease him further make sure the next line i was saying will bruise his ego one way or the other.

"Oh Poor shame. You can't defend your self i see. Thats too bad, you are so confused because too many people are ruining after you. It's only a matter of time before you become ugly and ... oops you know how the stony ended."

He was looking at me now. A death glare in his eyes and i only laughed out this time. His mom and dad joined me in laughing at him as we continued to tease him further. When he couldn't take the teasing and endless laughing from us he spoke a little hardly now.

"Oh please. Just because i haven't found my woman yet doesn't mean it's the end of the world. There is still time, much more time to decide."

"Mmmm are you sure ? Or you can  caught the chase short. By looking inward or going to a local village near us."

His father said and he frowned in annoyance , understanding the coded message he was trying to pass across to him. He shook his head at his father saying No, i was glad he said so,  because that's not what he wanted in a bride and he wasn't what i wanted in a husband so i wasn't offense and my face held no emotion at all, not even sadness. Yes i knew his father was indeed Trying to match make us, but he wasn't doing it directly.

"No father you don't need to worry. When i am ready i will find my own Maiden. i must retire to bed now I'm very tired ."

He told his parents before leaving the dining room Leaving just me and his parents. I too stood up took a short bow before leaving but i wasn't gone completely. i head my name being call and i knew they were talking about me In hush whispers. So I stood by the corridor to listen, yes I was easy dropping but I had too, my name was being called which means they were talking about me and i really wanted to know why. Listening attentively i heard Mrs kamal say it loud and clear.

"Oh it is that bad . I can't let our only son be with that pupper of a girl. No way."

" I am sure its not as bad as you make it seem. Zahra and our son will make a find family."

" over my dead body will i let that happen."

This was really hurtful to hear. Yes I was okay that there son Salman didn't want me, for them to talk about  me in this manner, they must really not want me as a daughter in law then.  If I am really being honest with my self it really hurt my feeling, it really really did. I was honestly honored that  mr kamal was  thinking of arranging me and salman together, so we could wed. He was well aware that me, Zahra was  from a very respectful and religious family. But for his wife to talk about me on this Manner to treat me like I wasn't human at all it was very painful to hear. Her husband said some thing am trying to convince her but she wasn't having any of it.

" why are you against Zahra and Salman's union, those two would make a fine couple I just know it."

" I am not against it. I just don't want that poor, busy and very local girl as my daughter in law. She can't even walk in heels."

"Still that doesn't mean anything. She is from fine respectable home, besides I thought you love her."

" m my husband I do, but not enough to make her my daughter in law"

I was broken. I didn't expect Mrs Kamal to say that and it really affected me. She was looking down on me in a bad way and it was crushing my Sprite He and his wife  decided to talk in their  room as they left the dining room. At that point I went to my room as well as he and his wife went to their room to continue talking about me. His wife still kept saying say no. She didn't want her son marrying  a local girl that's not even fashionable.

Dejected I went to my room to prepare for the next day. The next day came and I was the first in class, We were told to wear a dressed that was very loose and exposed though i brought mine but didn't wears it. It was just too short and exposed for me liking so I just kept it in my bag instead. The teacher gave us and the rest of my classmates the dress to wear for practical.

I tired to wear it, even tried it on yesterday but I wasn't comfortable in it so i didn't wear it. The dress was a little something like it was  naked and a very high heel shoe that was difficult  to walk in. when the teacher came to class and ask me to wear that clothes and shoes i said  no.

" I am sorry ma I can't wear... i am not comfortable in."

" how come, you are the only one not wearing it. if you know you don't want to leave this school  then i suggest you wear it."

" you can't do that. i paid to be in this school. You can't"

" put the clothes on or leave!"

the teacher said and i didn't have a choose than to wear the clothes  since everyone is wearing it for the practical.I don't want to get  withdrawed not after  everything I went thorough to get here.

Dan Dan Dan😂Zahra is in hell
Thanks for reading my story!!!
See you soon
Heroine