Daud frowned, "What is wrong in that?" he asked observing his mother's expression.

Chloe cleared her throat and side glanced at her husband who was confused at her reaction as well. She then raised her eyes at her son, "Do you know Salman's marriage proposal has been asked for her?"

Ibrahim grew rigid and abruptly turned to his son.

Daud nonchalantly picked his tea mug, "I know and I don't care."

Ibrahim glowered, "is this your way of taking revenge on Salman?" he was breathing hard now.

Daud slowly shook his head and then for the first time since the conversation started he looked straight into his father's eyes, "No." Not taking his eyes off his father he continued, "We have been talking and getting to know each other for the last few weeks. And I even met her once. I know she has feelings for me."

Chloe arched an eyebrow and rested her forearms on the table, "What about you?"

Warmth was seen in Duad's eyes turning his sky blue eyes into stormy blue, "I feel something for her too. Something I had never felt for anyone."

"I want you to forget the girl." Ibrahim said in a calm tone.

"Why?" Daud's eyebrows furrowed.

"I do not want you to think to marry the same girl as Salman is thinking too. Already this rivalry between both of you have gone out of hands and this would create animosity for generations to come."

"It's too late. I have given her my word. And I want you" Daud's eyes flickered at his mother, "and Mom to accompany me this weekend to her home."

Placing his hands on the table, Ibrahim pushed and stood up. The chair staggering behind him, "Daud I will not support you on this. Enough is enough now. Forget the girl."

Daud also stood up, "I want to marry her Dad. You know very well I will not make such a decision to spite Salman. Why the hell would I want to go through marriage – a life time commitment just to see him in agony for some time? You tell me. Have I ever expressed my desire to marry someone? If today I am telling you this that is because I genuinely want to marry her."

Chloe rose up and gently touched her husband's arm, "Ibrahim, I can see he is sincere. Your son has never asked anything out of you. Don't abandon him when he needs you the most."

Ibrahim glanced at his wife and he softened under her touch. He swallowed, "But Chloe..."

Chloe interrupted him, "Ibrahim, in your culture a girl gets many marriage proposals. Let her decide who she wants to marry. We are not forcing anyone. We don't even know if they will say yes. There is nothing wrong in going with our son." Her eyes pleaded her husband, "Please, don't make the same mistake as your father." She said softly.

Her words melted Ibrahim's stern heart, "Fine Chloe. I am doing this only because you are asking me to," Ibrahim glared at his son, "Otherwise I was not going to listen to him."

She squeezed his arm affectionately and whispered, "Thank you."

Ibrahim left the room as a defeated man.

Daud stepped forward and enveloped his mother in a bear hug, "What will I do without you my darling mother." His voice muffled against her blond hair.

"Thank your lucky stars," she said stepping back from his embrace.

His expression grew solemn, "No I thank God for blessing me a mother like you. You mean the world to me."

She blushed and patted his cheek, "Shower this flattery on Nawal after your marriage and she will fall head over heels in love with you." She winked.

He chuckled, "I can't wait."

****

****

The winter sun lightly shone through the curtains. The freezing temperatures didn't let the sun to spread its warmth. But it was a nice a day. Bright blue skies seen after days of rain. The living room at the Ahmed residence was brightened on this pleasant winter day in late January. Shabbir Ahmed and his wife hosted the unexpected guests.

"It's good you could come Ibrahim. It is always nice to catch up with you." Shabbir said taking a bite of the shortcake biscuit and then sipping his tea.

Ibrahim smiled in response and said, "But my visit to your home is not casual today."

Shabbir tilted his head and his eyebrows rose slightly, "Oh, then how can I help you?" he set aside his tea cup on the saucer at the corner table.

Ibrahim glanced at his wife and son who were seated across him on the luxurious fabric sofas, "I haven't seen Nawal beti today. Is she not at home?" he enquired glancing at Ghazala.

"Nawal umm.. yes she must be in her bedroom. I will call her." Ghazala stood up and rushed to call her daughter. But before she could climb up the stairs she saw her daughter standing in the kitchen. Confused, her eyebrows knotted, "What are you doing here?"

Nawal's heart beat was racing since Daud had stepped at their home half an hour ago. She had been restless and unable to stay in her bedroom, "I came here to drink water."

Ghazala nodded and scanned her daughter's appearance. Nawal was wearing a lacy navy blue top and printed navy blue and orange palazzo pants. She had her pashmina navy blue hijab around her neck.

"Wear your hijab properly and come in the living room, Ibrahim bhai is asking about you."

Nawal tied hair hijab with her clammy hands and her heart beat increased further. She followed her mother with her head bowed. She mumbled her greetings as she stepped in the room. Everyone responded but it was Daud who wasn't able to tear his eyes off her. For the sake of their parents, he looked away with great effort. Nawal wasn't able to look at Daud as she didn't want to make any mistake for which she would be reprimanded later by her mother.

Nawal moved forward to shake hands with Chloe but instead the older woman embraced her. A gesture that was new to Nawal. She was startled but reflexively hugged Chloe back. When Nawal was settled beside her mother, Ibrahim spoke. "What are you studying now beti?"

"I am doing the second year of the Bachelor of Commerce International degree." Nawal replied shyly.

"Mashaa Allah." Ibrahim murmured and then turned to Shabbir, "I would like to make Nawal my daughter."

Shabbir frowned. Daud eyed Nawal's parents closely, holding his breath. Nawal was unable to look up and she fidgeted with her hands on her lap.

Ibrahim smiled, "I am asking her hand in marriage for my son Daud."

Ghazala gasped.

The atmosphere was tensed awaiting for the response or any kind of reaction. There was an unnerving silence. Shabbir said after contemplating for a few minutes, "Ibrahim I respect you a lot and Daud is a fine gentleman but I think there is a big age difference between the two."

Ibrahim slid forward in his seat and responded, "I agree but Shabbir if this is the happiness of our children, then age shouldn't matter."

Shabbir scowled and his head spun around and gazed at Nawal. She was breathing hard, her chest rising up and down. She was unable to look up and the hands on her lap had clenched into fists, her nails biting into her palm skin. She knew she was in big trouble now.

"Bhai Sahib, we are looking into another proposal for Nawal right now. So ..." Ghazala started explaining but Shabbir didn't let her complete, "Daud what guarantee do I have that you will keep my daughter happy?"

Daud coolly looked at his future father in law and spoke with confidence, "I have started my own halal foods company. It is still at start-up phase but we are picking up business. In the near future, I have great plans for the company not only meeting the needs of Muslims in Ireland but also across Europe. Your daughter will never have any financial worries." His gaze flickered at Nawal, "As to how I feel about her. I know I would take care of her, provide her every need. But above all respect her as my wife. My equal, my partner and together we will work towards finding solutions when obstacles will be seen in life. But I know we will be happy together."

Ghazala started shaking her head ready to object but Shabbir didn't let her. "What about your religious duties? Do you not want to strive for a better position in the Hereafter?" he challenged the younger man.

Daud was a little surprised by the question but he didn't falter, "I know my faith is weak for that I will rely on my wife." Again his eyes fluttered to Nawal who still had not looked up, "I know any of my shortcomings she will help me through it."

Shabbir nodded slightly and said to Ibrahim, "Give me some time and we will give our answer."

Ibrahim smiled.

Ghazala was not happy at all at the turn of the events. In within few minutes when the guests left, she stormed back in the living room and yanked Nawal's arm, "Tell me the truth, what have you been doing with that man?"

"M..m..mom ... I ...I didn't do anything" Nawal stuttered.

Ghazala roughly pulled her daughter to her feet and said, "Are you pregnant? Is that why he came with a sudden marriage proposal?"

Nawal's eyes widened and she shook her head vigorously, "N...n...no"

"Don't lie. Your behaviour in the last few weeks was giving me all the wrong vibes but I didn't take it seriously." Ghazala hissed.

Nawal kept shaking her head but Ghazala was not ready to believe her daughter. She slapped her hard on the right cheek, "You have been playing with our honour haven't you?"

Nawal's head jerked back. Blood dripped from her bottom lip as Ghazala's ring had roughly grazed it. Tears trickled down her eyes, "Mom believe me. Please believe me" Nawal's voice rose.

"First you commit a sin and then you raise your voice at me." Ghazala raised her arm to hit her daughter again when Shabbir gripped her wrist tightly.

He glared at his wife, "if you touch her again you will face the consequences Ghazala." He seethed.

Ghazala's eyes grew large, "B..but look at her Shabbir sahib. Ask her what she had been doing with Daud. She had shattered our honour."

"Daddy I didn't do anything. Nothing at all. Believe me please please." Nawal stepped in front of her father and clutched his arm. Blood and tears flowed down her face but she was oblivious to the pain, she wanted her parents to believe her innocence.

Shabbir quietly gazed at his daughter, "I believe you my child." He turned to his wife, "This is the last time you will accuse my daughter of such heinous sins." His jaw tightened, "Now leave us. I need to talk to Nawal alone."

Ghazala stepped back, she opened her mouth to speak but changed her mind. Instead she walked out without a backward glance.

In the quietened room, Shabbir pulled out a tissue from the tissue box at the centre table and pressed in her daughter's hand, "Wipe your face."

With trembling hands, Nawal wiped away the tears and the blood. She was shaking terribly. She couldn't believe how her mother could accuse her of committing adultery. She would never commit such as a sin.

"Now sit down," Shabbir enjoined gently.

Stepping backwards, she placed her shaking hands on the sofa seat and slumped on it. Fresh tears fell from her eyes still trying to understand what had occurred.

"That's it. Nawal stop crying beti." He whispered sitting beside her.

"Daddy I didn't do anything wrong. Please believe me." She whimpered

Shabbir soothingly rubbed his daughter's head, "I believe you."

Nawal leaned forward rested her head on her father's shoulder. "I will never do anything that will ruin my family's name."

"I know" he said rubbing her arm. There was silence and he asked the question he wanted to know the answer of, "Do you want to marry Daud?"

Nawal pulled back, eyelids lowered she mumbled so quietly that if it wasn't quiet in the room Shabbir wouldn't have heard, "Yes"

"Have you been meeting him?" he asked softly.

"Once at Starbucks."

He nodded, "You will marry him then my child."

The words reassured Nawal and brought peace to her soul.

****

The next afternoon, a distraught Ghazala sat by the kitchen table while Seema prepared tea. "Baji, what happened? You look very upset."

"Where is Salman?" she asked dejectedly.

"I am here khala jaan." Salman entered the kitchen wearing his jogging pants, hoodie and trainers. He bent down to kiss his khala's cheek. "Is everything alright?" He discerned she was stressed.

"I am worried. Nothing is going according to what I had desired." She covered her face with her hands and sobbed.

Salman knelt down and took her hands in his, "Tell me khala."

"Daud came with his parents yesterday."

Salman stiffened.

"He wants to marry Nawal."

Salman clenched his jaw, his hands fisting. He shot to a standing position. But Ghazala next words boiled his blood in uncontrollable rage.

"Nawal also wants to marry him." She whispered.

Seema stifled her gasp by placing her hand on her mouth.

Salman spun around and rushed out. He ignored his mother and khala yelling behind him. He had bones to break and a heart to tear apart.