*Chapter 3: Two Stories*
The Proposal Accepted
Marriage in less than a week.
Mr. Abbas didn't hide anything about his children, Rayyan and Anaya, or his intentions for getting them married to Zeenat and Zayd.
The silence in Mr. Abbas's office was deafening.
Zayd and Zeenat felt trapped. They never imagined there could be something Mr. Abbas would ask them that they would say no to.
Zayd and Zeenat exchanged uncertain glances. Marriage? Rayyan and Anaya? It was a proposal they never expected.
Mr. Abbas spoke up, breaking the silence. "I know this is sudden. My kids might be spoiled, but they are not bad people."
Zayd swallowed hard. The weight of the decision pressed down on his chest. He thought about his mother's teachings—about trusting Allah's plan, even when it didn't make sense.
But, more than anything, he was worried about Zeenat.
Marriage was never part of his plan, especially when he was still living under his stepmother and brother's roof. He had planned to get his sister married and out of the house. How could he bring someone into that same house? Zayd thought.
And the worst part— Anaya came from completely different world and class. Zayd had only seen Anaya a few times before she went to the US and The last time she came, her father had asked him to show her around the office, but she'd ditched both him and Mr. Abbas, returning to the States with her brother. Zayd sighed at the memory.
Zayd couldn't say no to Mr. Abbas, but he was still uncertain about Anaya. If he agreed, what would that mean for her? Could he do justice to her?
Zeenat shifted in her seat, her heart racing as her thoughts tangled with doubt.
She had first met Rayyan three months ago when Mr. Abbas temporarily assigned him to the company to test his leadership abilities. Zeenat had been appointed as his assistant, tasked with guiding him through the day-to-day operations.
But Rayyan had rejected her help from the start. "I don't need an assistant," he had said bluntly, his tone dismissive. "I can handle everything on my own."
True to his word, he took on the workload himself, barely acknowledging her presence afterward. A days later, she heard he'd returned to the States without so much as a goodbye to even his Dad.
Zeenat doubted he even remembered her. But she remembered him—his confidence, his sharp intellect, and the cold distance he kept. The memory left her with a sinking sense of helplessness.
If he didn't need her help then, what would change now that she was being forced into his life as a wife?
She found herself in a position where she couldn't say no to Mr. Abbas. But marrying Rayyan? The uncertainty gripped her. She wasn't sure what to expect from someone like him.
Mr. Abbas looked at them both, his eyes hopeful. "What is your decision?" he asked, his voice softer but laden with expectation.
Zayd and Zeenat exchanged a worried glance, their unspoken thoughts reflected in each other's eyes.
Just hours ago, Zayd had promised his sister that he would never let her marry against her will. Yet here they were, caught in a situation he hadn't anticipated, and he had no idea how to get them out of it.
Mr. Abbas was someone they both deeply respected—a man whose kindness and integrity they had admired for years. Saying no to him felt like a betrayal.
But saying yes? The consequences of that decision were just as uncertain.
"Please," Mr. Abbas continued, his voice more urgent now. "I trust the two of you with this. My hopes are with you."
Zeenat met Mr. Abbas's hopeful gaze. She couldn't disappoint him. He had put so much trust in her. Despite her doubts, she look down and spoke first. "Yes, I accept."
Mr. Abbas exhaled in relief, his face lighting up with happiness.
Zeenat, however, felt a deeper tug at her heart. Deep down, she wondered if maybe this was fate. What could be worse than staying with her stepmother and brother? She had to believe it was the right decision.
Mr. Abbas turned to Zayd, his expression still hopeful. "What about you, Zayd?"
Zayd wanted to say no, but something inside him stopped him. His heart raced, and for the first time, he felt as though he couldn't fully control his thoughts.
Finally, Zayd took a deep breath, calming himself.
He turned to Zeenat and gave her a small, reassuring nod. "Yes. We'll accept the proposal. If this is Allah's plan, we trust it."
Mr. Abbas's face lit up with joy. "Alhamdulillah! We won't regret this, insha Allah."
As the words left his lips, both Zayd and Zeenat felt the weight of their decisions settle around them. What awaited them in the coming days felt uncertain, but one thing was clear: they had made their choice. Now, they had to face whatever came next.
In the quiet aftermath, a single thought lingered in their minds: They just hoped it would be good for Allah's sake.
The wedding was set for Friday—just four days away. The gravity of the impending day hung over them, and both felt an overwhelming sense of urgency. Time was slipping away faster than they could process it, and there was no turning back now.
___
"Are you seriously going to do this to us?" Anaya demanded, her voice trembling as she crossed her arms over her chest. She stood beside her father, Mr. Abbas, who was seated in an armchair in his bedroom. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, her heart racing with disbelief.
Mr. Abbas leaned forward, his expression a mix of frustration and determination. "Do you think this is a joke, Anaya? I gave both of you more than enough time to find someone. I warned you. I pleaded. You didn't take me seriously, so I had to act. This is my final decision."
To avoid distractions or resistance, Mr. Abbas had kept his plans secret until the last moment. He had instructed Rayyan and Anaya to leave whatever they were doing and come home for an important family event. They had assumed it was a simple gathering. But when they arrived and found the living room filled with relatives, friends, and well-wishers, Mr. Abbas dropped the bombshell: they were getting married that afternoon.
The shock was overwhelming. Rayyan and Anaya had barely processed the news when they stormed up to their father's room, emotions running high.
"Marriage to strangers, Dad?" Rayyan's voice was cold and distant. He was seated on the couch by the window, his hands clasped tightly, his gaze fixed on the floor. His usually calm demeanor was shattered, replaced by anger and confusion. His eyes were red from holding back the storm of emotions raging within him. "In just a few hours? Did you even consider how we feel? Or do we not matter anymore?"
"Of course, you matter," Mr. Abbas said, his tone softening. "You're my children—my pride. I would never make a decision like this if I didn't believe it was best for you."
"Best for us?" Anaya choked out. "How can marrying complete strangers be what's best for us?" The tears she had tried to hold back now spilled down her cheeks. She wiped them angrily. "You didn't even tell us who they were until today. How can you expect us to just accept this?"
"They're not strangers," Mr. Abbas corrected her firmly. "Zayd and Zeenat are two of the most trustworthy, hardworking people I know. I've watched them for years. I know their character, their values. They'll be good spouses, inshaAllah."
Rayyan shook his head and let out a bitter laugh. "This is insane. We've barely spoken to them. And now we're supposed to marry them? In a few hours? This isn't how it's supposed to happen, Dad. You always said marriage is a lifetime commitment. And now you want us to commit to people we don't even know?"
"I said marriage requires trust, respect, and good character," Mr. Abbas corrected him. "Love grows with time when there's a solid foundation. Zayd and Zeenat have that foundation. They were raised with good morals, with humility and patience. Traits that will sustain a marriage better than fleeting emotions."
Anaya's legs weakened, and she slumped into the chair across from her father. Her head throbbed from the emotional toll of the conversation.
"But...we're not ready," Anaya whispered, her voice cracking under the weight of her emotions. "Like I told you, Dad...I'm too young for this. There's so much I want to do, so much I want to achieve before marriage."
"You've never been ready, Anaya," Mr. Abbas said softly. "Marriage won't stop you from chasing your dreams. A good spouse like Zayd will support you, not hinder you, I am sure of that." He exhaled heavily.
Rayyan clenched his jaw. "This is unbelievable," he muttered. He stood abruptly and turned toward his sister. "Come on, Anaya. Let's go."
Anaya blinked in confusion as she wiped her tears. "Where?"
"Back to the States," Rayyan said through gritted teeth. "We don't have to go through with this. We didn't agree to it, and Dad can't force us." He held out his hand, and Anaya, though hesitant, took it.
Mr. Abbas's eyes darkened. He straightened in his chair, his jaw tight. "Where do you think you're going?" he asked, voice dangerously calm.
"Back to our lives," Rayyan answered, his gaze unwavering. "We didn't sign up for this circus. We're leaving."
"Are you really going to defy me?" Mr. Abbas's voice thundered through the room, his usually composed demeanor replaced with stern authority. His eyes, dark with disappointment, shifted between his children. "After everything I've done for you both?" He pointed to the door. "Go ahead. Leave if you want. But know this—if you step out of this house today, you are no longer my children. Don't even think about returning, not while I'm alive and not after I'm gone."
His words were like a slap, sharp and unforgiving. Anaya's legs buckled beneath her, and she sank into the chair, her face crumpling as hot tears poured down her cheeks. Rayyan stood rooted to the spot, his hand clutching his sister's with a tremble he couldn't hide.
"Dad..." Rayyan's voice was hoarse. "How...how can you say something like that?"
Mr. Abbas's expression softened briefly, but the resolve in his tone remained. "Because I love you both enough to make this decision for you. I've been patient, I've given you time—but you refused to act. This marriage isn't a punishment. It's an opportunity, a blessing, if only you'd open your hearts to it."
Anaya's shoulders shook with sobs. The weight of her father's determination pressed down on her chest like a boulder. Rayyan slowly released her hand and turned toward the window. He rested his forehead against the glass, his heart aching at the sight of the colorful tents and decorations set up in the courtyard below. The celebration was in full swing—his wedding, his sister's wedding—all without their consent.
"Because of two strangers, Dad?" Rayyan's voice was low, strained with disbelief. "You're willing to push us away for the sake of two people we hardly know?"
"They might be strangers to you," Mr. Abbas said, his eyes narrowing. "But to me, Zayd and Zeenat are far from strangers. I know them. I've seen their character, their morals, their integrity. I never had to argue with them to respect me. Unlike you two."
Rayyan inhaled sharply, his father's words striking a nerve. His gaze dropped to the floor. Anaya buried her face in her hands, unable to look at either of them.
Rayyan lowered himself into a chair far from his sister, his mind racing yet paralyzed.
Mr. Abbas took a deep breath, his voice losing its edge but not its resolve. "I don't expect you to understand now. But someday, you will. When you see the kind of people Zayd and Zeenat are. When you realize what a blessing marriage can be. Trust me, my children—just give it time."
With that, he turned and walked to the door. His hand paused on the handle for a moment as though waiting for one of them to call out, to beg for his forgiveness, to relent. But the room remained engulfed in heavy silence.
He opened the door and stepped out, leaving his children behind with their grief and confusion.
Anaya's cries were the only sound in the room. Rayyan ran his hand down his face, trying to suppress the wave of emotions threatening to choke him.
From outside, the sounds of celebration drifted in: laughter, music, the chatter of guests excited for the impending ceremonies. The aroma of freshly prepared dishes wafted through the window, mocking their turmoil.
A marriage was about to take place.
Whether Rayyan and Anaya wanted it or not.
And the reality of that truth settled over them like a suffocating fog.