The days where he thought of a partner, he told himself he'd tell his mother straight away—when he was certain. He was sure about Zoya but he couldn't bring her up to his mother. Why? Because he was already thought of as a "husband" from his mothers family side for their daughter Mariah.

Zaib never acknowledged that relationship as anything neither did his parents, but he still knew that his mother was very comfortable with them.

Zaib gulped down to ease the quench of thirst he had felt way before he even left his house. He looked down at his shoes and noted how they looked untidy and were a bit dusty. Zaib rubbed it to the other one for the marks to disappear.

Zain was eyeing Zaib closely.

"What are you doing?" He mumbled, catching Zaib off guard.

Zaib rolled his eyes at him. "You got a proble— I mean, uh— just cleaning shoes." Zaib felt a tingle rush up his back in disgust at having to show such kindness to Zain, but he was helpless. Zain had done something great for once and gone to his mother telling her about Zoya.

Late at night, his mother had boomed into his room filled with excitement and asked Zaib herself if it was true. Zaib woke up flustered and confirmed Zain's words shyly. His mother was skeptical but agreed nonetheless.

And there they were.

"I can't believe this!" Bilal shouted for the tenth time walking back into the living room with a bottle of water. Zaib sighed unable to control the smile.

"Can you shut up. I'm trying to act normal," Zaib mumbled. Bilal's smirk only widened.

"You know this is unbelievable right?" Zaib sighed again, pinching the bridge of his nose in annoyance. Bilal came to Zaib's side, putting an arm around his shoulder.

"But—in all honesty, I'm really glad that you're interested. I've known you all my life enough to consider ourselves lucky if you become a part of our family," Bilal muttered, smiling at him.

Zaib's tense nerves immediately vanished. "Do you really think I'm worthy of her?" Zaib muttered softly. Bilal nodded without a second thought. "Of course you are."

Zaib smiled wide. "Thank you, B."

"B, a round of fortnite tonight?" Zain interrupted uninterested within their conversation. Bilal rolled his eyes. "You lose every damn time. I'm not wasting my time."

Zain snorted. "Just say you're scared and leave."

"Scared? Hello? Did you not hear me—"

"Yeah, yeah."

"You know what? Fine. Be online at ten."

Zaib rolled his eyes at the kids. Who played fortnite these days? Yeah, everyone but it was the lamest game Zaib had ever played. No, it wasn't because he lost every damn round and had conquered no achievements whatsoever—not that at all.

"What're the elders doing for so long in the guest room?" Zain mumbled sighing in boredom.

"I don't know actually," Bilal answered shrugging.

Zaib wanted to know as well. Why were they talking over here and why did Zoya not come yet? Zaib nibbled his lower lip, shuffling around. Bilal noticed his impatience and chuckled, getting up from the couch.

Zain sick out of boredom, chugged his phone out, playing some weird game.

Bilal roamed the hallway, edging towards the room all elders were talking in. He stayed out of their sight and waited. They all were talking and chatting like they were having the time of their lives. Bilal watched silently. "Peek-a-boo!" Bilal flinched, punching Zain in the gut out of shock.

"Oh my god, what is wrong with you?" Zain chuckled, shifting forward eyeing the elders with interest. "Did they forget what we came for or something?" Zain murmured, eyeing his parents sipping tea. Bilal stepped back. "Let's go. If they see us, they'll think we're overhearing," he explained like a wise old man.

"Nah I ain't going back. Bye." Bilal gasped as Zain literally pushed the door open before he could stop him. Bilal vanished from the view as Zain walked in smilingly. All the parents hushed as they watched the young man walk up to them. "Are we ever meeting Zaib's potential wife or..." Bilal was hyperventilating behind the wall upon hearing Zain and he dashed back into the living room where Zaib sat frustrated.

Instead of hearing Zain get beaten up, Bilal was surprised to hear laughs and giggles. "Of course!" He recognized his mother exclaim. Zaib heard it too and bucked up with a broad smile. After a while of silence, Zain walked in with a sly grin. "They're calling you in Zai--" Zaib was already trudging out, dashing towards the room. He took a deep breath and stepped in saying his salam aloud and his minions followed behind.

"Masha Allah, I didn't mention before but what a handsome young man!" Zaib looked up to see who had talked about him like that and grinned upon seeing Zoya's mother. It wasn't hard to tell because Zoya had her mother's blue eyes and little nose. Zaib thanked her for her kind words.

"So, how's work going Zaib? Your father told me you're kind of a perfectionist." It was Zoya's father who had spoken. Zoya definitely took the tallness from her father. Zaib chuckled in response. "Alhamdulillah sir, it's going great. I wouldn't call myself a perfectionist. I'm just specific with a few things."

"Specific? Bro, everyone hates working with you because you always want to--"

"Zain knows nothing. Please ignore him." It wasn't Zaib who had spoken up; it was Zayna, his cute little sister who always saved the day for him. Zoya's parents laughed while Zaib's mother patted little Zayna's head.

There was a knock at the door, steering everyone's attention. Then she walked in eloquently, her eyes on the ground as she said her salam softly. Caught off guard, Zaib's heart pounded against his chest as he stared absentmindedly. She looked gorgeous. His eyes followed her as she looked up hesitantly. Their eyes met and his heart plummeted into his stomach. She glanced away almost frantically and walked forward, seating herself on the couch in front of him. The mere closing up of distance was like magic. She radiated warmth. Or maybe it was his head playing with him.

"Zaib! Did you go deaf?" Bilal whisper-shouted. Zaib winced, looking around.

"Zaib, do you need tea?" His father repeated for the third time, trying to not burst into laughter. Zaib tried to smile the embarrassment away.

"Dad, I don't drink tea." There was an answer from the other side. "Would you like a banana milkshake?" Zoya asked softly. His heart skipped a beat. "I'd like that," he replied. Maybe she wanted to prove to him that she could indeed make something good after that whole cake incident.

"Milkshake! Oo, can I make it with you?" Zayna cheered up almost jumping off the couch. Zoya's tense muscles seemed to calm as she smiled. Her smile was gorgeous too. "Come along," she mumbled. Zayna skipped to the kitchen with Zoya.

"Masha Allah, your daughter is beautiful, Aminah." His mother complimented. Zoya's mother smiled. "Yeah, she's basically me when I was young." And everyone laughed.

"Hey, Zaib that's the girl you like?" Zain, the idiot, questioned.

"No."

"Oh, then who is it?"

"It's her idiot. Do you see anyone else here?" He sarcastically muttered.

"Oh wow. She deserves better."

"Zain--I might be nice here but at home, you're going to scream and wish you never said a word here," he threatened. Zain didn't seem to care as he reached forward to take the fifth biscuit. From a distance, their mother glared daggers at him, causing him to eat guiltily.

"Serves you right, cow."

Bilal and Zaib chuckled. The parents talked about some things here and there. Zoya finally returned with a tray in hand. Zaib perked up as she neared him. "No! I'll give it to Zaib!" Zaib stared in defeat as his sister grabbed the tray from Zoya and walked to her brother who now seemed less excited. He gave a tight smile before grabbing the glass. "Thank you Zayna... and Zoya."

She seemed surprised when he said her name. Zoya sat back down on the couch. Zaib sipped the milkshake and smiled. It tasted like those professional ones in popular cafes. Zaib patted Zayna on the head. "It's delicious. Thank you Zay." Zayna giggled and then leaned forward whispering in Zaib's ear. "If you won't marry her, I will." And she left to her seat.

Zaib stared at her retreating figure in shock. Did Zayna just say that? She never liked someone that easily. She hasn't liked Zain and he's been there her whole existence.

"So Zoya, are you planning on finishing university?"

The entire mood of the room flipped. Zaib stared in confusion as her smile faded and the glow in her gaze was overcome with something he couldn't understand. Something not good. Bilal shifted awkwardly beside him. Everyone was silent. Zaib's father who had asked the question felt the need to continue to ease the tension. "Uh, if you want to, then we'll not stop you."

Zoya looked back up, regaining the warmth. "Thank you, uncle. However, I've decided to quit and focus on other things." Her answer was short. Zaib still had hundreds of questions in his head, but he refrained from asking, not wanting that smile to vanish again.

Zaib's father nodded with a smile. "There's a lot more to life than studying Zoya. I know that the way the world treats us will say otherwise but trust me, most of our life lessons are taught by experiences." Zaib felt grateful for his father's kinds words. His father always had charms and a way with his words, just like Zaib.

Zoya's smiled broadened as she nodded. "We should allow the two to talk now."

Oh god.

All the adults stood up to leave. Bilal and Zain kept in place. Zayna marched towards them, clearing her throat. "Are you two not going to leave?" They glanced at her and then at Zaib who looked like he wanted them out without a second thought.

Bilal chuckled awkwardly, getting off the couch and nudging Zain to do the same. Zain sighed, rolling his eyes and both of them walked out with Zayna following behind.

He was with her. Only her.

His gaze softened unintentionally as he looked at her, surveying her expressions. Zoya seemed nervous as she nibbled on her lower lip and played with her fingers.

She was the definition of an innocent beauty.

"So, will you ever like—look at me?" Zaib played it off cool, his voice strangely seeming quite confident. She looked up abruptly and then narrowed her glowing eyes.

"Here. Anything else?" She fired back. Zaib was surprised at the sudden outspokenness. One minute, she was a scared little cat and then the other she was as fierce as a tigress.

He stared back amused. "Thank you for the shake. It was great," he mentioned with a grin. She was caught off guard at his sudden choice of complimenting her skill. Zoya looked back down at her heel, wishing her parents would be back already.

"Are you interested in this proposal?" Zaib surprised himself asking such a freaky question out of nowhere. He wanted her reply to be positive but if it wasn't going to be, he didn't know what he'd do. He liked her so much already.

With crimson cheeks, she looked back up to glance at him. "W-well, I wouldn't be doing this if I wasn't now would I." He surveyed her with amusement. She was so witty and sarcastic and shy and humble; she was a mixture of things he wanted to know more about.

"Hm, do I fit your ideal type of a person?" Zaib was becoming braver with his words.

She gripped her hands together, holding them in place to give the fidgeting a rest. She was never comfortable with making small talks with guys but this was different; this was a guy she wanted to like.

Sitting so far apart, could he hear her heart thundering? She hoped to God, he didn't.

"My ideal type isn't that complicated. I just want someone who values a relationship with Allah before anything else. But—that doesn't end there. Throw in some good sense of humor and pretty eyes and we're good to go." It was the first time she had addressed him more casually, like he was an old friend from college.

He was glad to hear her mention Allah in such a question. Not only was she a wise young lady, she was adorably interesting. His curiosities knew no boundaries. He wanted to hear her talk more.

"Hm—well, do I fit the criteria?" He asked.

She scoffed humorously. "Well, that's for you to tell me. I don't know much about you."

His smile-or what seemed like a smirk to her- widened. "What about the eyes part?"

She wanted to laugh and then leave. The entire situation was so horrifically amusing to him, she felt like an idiot sitting there.

"Uh...maybe?" She muttered, looking away.

He let out a lighthearted chuckle which was for some reason pleasurable to hear. She absentmindedly looked up and surveyed the man before her. He was tall, black-haired and incredibly handsome. More than anything, that smile made his green eyes brighter than usual.

He was an undiscovered gem.

"Zoya, I want to marry you."

Her heart literally sprung up into her mouth as her eyes zeroed. She noticed the seriousness in his tone and the determination in his eyes. He was passionate and certain.

"For me, there's nothing to think about. I—I'm certain that I want this."

She was astonished. Usually, he was playful with his eyes and words. He rarely made serious talks, at least in front of her. But at that moment, he was anything but playful. There was a blaze of unrest fire in his emerald gaze. Deep inside, she knew she had given him her heart then and there.

Why did such a perfect man want to be with her? It was beyond her imagination. She wanted to ask.

She opened her mouth to vocalize her curiosity but the creaking of the door interrupted her. The door was slid open and in emerged Zain and Bilal, looking as smug as ever.

Zaib wanted to curse but held back, eyeing them murderously. Like, they can't even talk properly? Bilal dropped himself next to Zoya and smiled at her while Zain sat next to Zaib.

"So are you love birds done talking?" Bilal muttered and Zaib wanted to reply with a no but Zoya broke him to it. "Yes we're done talking."

And she stood up and left.

Zaib stared at her retreating figure in disappointment, his eyes dropping to the two idiots, growing uninterested. "So, does she like you at all?" Zain nudged his elbow. Zaib stayed put, not answering his stupid inquiry.

A minute later, the parents swarmed back inside. Everyone held shy grins on their faces as if the two had done something already. Zaib's mother rushed to his side with a huge smile, trying to attain as much as knowledge through eye communication.

Zaib just smiled.

"So now that the two have talked and Zoya has shyly left the room, what do you have to say son." Zoya's father outright questioned gently. Zaib tensed up, eyeing his father who simply nodded.

"I am really drawn towards your daughter, sir. I haven't talked much with her but I already notice how simple, keen and knowledgeable she is. With due respect, am I worthy of her?"

There was utter silence in the room. Zaib could hear Zayna mumbling little nursery rhymes under her breathe. He waited for their answer quietly. He then noticed how the straight face of Zoya's father shifted to shock and then he smiled brightly.

He lifted himself off the couch and came to Zaib slowly patting his head with care and love. "You're a good man Zaib." Zaib felt an unreal amount of joy hearing him say that, as if a huge weight lifted off his chest.

Her father walked back to his wife and nodded at her. "Bilal, call your sister."

Bilal, without wasting a second, rushed back outside to get Zoya from whatever hole she was hiding in. A few skeptical moments later, they appeared.

Was this happening?

"Zoya, do you want to further this relationship?"

He waited, his eyes searching for hers. She looked up and their eyes met. The smile left his mouth as he noticed the uncanny emptiness in her gaze. He felt it even before she could say anything.

It was bad news.

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