Chapter 10: I can't even hate the entire family. 

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"Oh Allah, 

I pray he finds you. 

Before he finds me. 

Ameen."

-2am-

*

This is a struggle. And I hope, oh Allah, that I get rewarded for this.

"You look pale, sweetie. Are you alright?" Nahal looked up to see Zaiha eyeing her with concern.

Oh great. Now I can't even hate his entire family!

She let out a small smile and nodded. Zaiha placed her hand over her head with a smile.

"Let me know if you feel sick, alright? You look like you could use some tea" she said and Nahal let out a small smile.

"It is alright, Aunty. I feel weary, nothing more" she replied. Zaiha nodded and left the girl alone. Nahal walked over to the dining table, where others were seated. Lunch was uneventful, save for the glares she got from Yahyah.

"Come sit!" called out Aanabia from the table and Nahal nodded before taking a seat on the chair, right in front of Yahyah; unfortunately.

"Are you alright?" questioned Aanabia and Nahal let out a small smile before nodding. She caught the questioning look of Yazdan before he turned to the CEO and then back to her, with raised eyebrows. She shrugged and leaned onto the table, placing her head on it.

She listened as her sister conversed with Yahyah, the latter replying in short syllables. She heaved a sigh before getting up from her position and standing up.

"Let me go help Zaiha masi with work" she muttered before leaving the dining hall. Without even looking, she knew Yahyah was looking at her. Probably glaring.

Nahal walked into the kitchen to see Zaiha placing dishes in the sink. She smiled at her.

"Let me help, Aunty" she said, going over to where the sink was.

"It is alright, sweetie. I can do this"

"Nah. I am bored anyway. So I will help" she replied and Zaiha chuckled from the island, where she was placing the wrapped up left overs.

"Alright then"

Nahal smiled brightly before turning to the sink and sorting out the dishes.

"So how is work?" asked Zaiha, placing a dish in the sink. Nahal shrugged.

"It would have been nice if I didn't slap my CEO" she replied, leaving out the detail that the CEO was her son. Zaiha let out a laugh.

"You slapped your CEO! But why?"

"Well, you see. I was already rushed. Told last minute that he was coming and I had to prepare for a meeting with him. I hadn't had lunch and coffee was my last straw. I was rushing into the building when he appeared in front of me out of no where. I lost my balance and coffee fell on him."

Zaiha stood by the kitchen sink and listened to her story. It intrigued her. Nahal let out a small laugh.

"It was my fault too, thought I would never admit it. He was rushing and so was I. But in that moment, I was frustrated. I guess I took it out on him. In my defense," she said, soaping up the dishes, "He said something along the lines of having no manners and his face was plain irritating" Zaiha let out a series of laughter. Nahal laughed with her, before washing the soap away. Zaiha finally sobered up.

"So you mean, you slapped him for calling you a mannerless girl?"

"Yes and no. He also asked me what I was" replied Nahal and Zaiha chuckled, walking towards the counter with the sink cloth.

"And?"

"And when I reached the meeting, he turned out to be my CEO"

"Must have been awkward"

"Hella" laughed Nahal causing Zaiha to laugh too.

"But before that-" said Zaiha and Nahal hummed. "-Is is good looking?"

Nahal halted in her actions, before turning to Zaiha. Zaiha threw her a sly smile and wiggled her eyebrows. Nahal chuckled before washing the plates. If only you knew who he was, aunty. If only.

"Well?" she probed and Nahal let out a small smile before throwing her a wide smirk.

"Maybe" she winked and Zaiha laughed.

"This is the most I have laughed in a while, Nahal" she told her and Nahal shrugged, grinning herself.

"Oh what plans do you have for Ramadhan this year?"

"It is already here?!" asked Nahal and Zaiha let out a small smile.

"Of course not. It is around the corner"

"Ah. In sha Allah, I will try for a full 30 days of fasting" muttered Nahal and Zaiha nodded, putting the sink cloth back on the sink.

"So Nahal-" said Zaiha, drying the plates on the rack.

"Yeah?" replied the girl, washing the final glass sets.

"May I ask you the typical Indian aunty question?" she asked and Nahal let out a small chuckle.

"If you insist"

"When do you plan on getting married?"

Nahal heaved a small sigh.

"I don't know" she replied and Zaiha nodded.

"Fall in love and then get married" she advised and Nahal turned to look at her.

"Love marriage?" Zaiha shook her head, with a dejected look before replacing it with a smile.

"Arranged turned into a divorced marriage" she replied and Zaiha nodded.

"Ah"

"It was more of my parent's pressure to get married. I married Rashad when I was 25. I had graduated from Law school and had done the bar exam. I was waiting for my results when I got married. You know, the typical 'Oh you are 25? Not married? Oh my god' kinda things" said Zaiha and by now, Nahal was done with the dishes. Zaiha wiped the last glass and placed it on the other rack.

"But it is the 21st century" said Nahal and Zaiha chuckled at her, before poking her chubby cheeks.

"Okay, imagine this. The year is....1989 and you come from a conservative Indian migrant family. You seriously think they would give me words like woman deserve to chose who they marry?" Nahal shook her head, her mouth slightly ajar and her eyes slightly wide.

"I thought so."

"But why? Shouldn't a girl be told to do whatever she wants? To marry whoever she wants?" questioned Nahal, turning to Zaiha who smiled at her, pushing back the stray hairs of hers.

"They should actually. If I had a daughter, I would teach her that. But I don't."

Nahal chuckled lightly.

"Well, in that case, you have me."

"You must marry for love, darling. Do not marry because the society pressures you or because you want children. Marry because you are ready to spend your entire life with that one person." Explained Zaiha and Nahal nodded, with a small smile. "Now tell me, is the CEO, the one?"

Nahal stiffened. CEO? As in Yahyah Rashad?

"I don't............ know" said Nahal and let out a small, awkward laugh. "But how will I know I love him?"

"When you see him, you feel happiness. When you see him, you pray that Allah grants you children who can look up to him. That is how you know, he is the one"

And unknown to them, the CEO stood by the door and listened to the entire conversation that took place with a small smile.

***

There you go. Update. That too, on Nahal. 😉 I know most of you are curious about this person so.......... hahah yeah. 

I updated because...... THE COMMENTS ON THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER WERE SO MOTIVATING. 

So yeah. 

| R - C - V |

xx, 

aalihha.