Chapter 31: FINALLY

"Amyrah! Get your butt up and get ready. People are coming over!!!" called out Aaiyla, banging the door.

Amyrah was up, pulling her hair in a messy bun. She had not slept since Fajr.

"I am up!" she said, opening the door for her best friend to enter.

"Great then, get dressed, Rishta from the Zaeef family is coming" Aaiyla said so casually, as if talking about the weather.

Amyrah stood gwaking at her best friend.

Say what now?

Aaiyla grinned and ran over to hug Amyrah.

"Yes! Finally!" she giggled as she hugged the stiff Amyrah.

"I knew there was something!!!" she grinned.

Amyrah took her time to actually register what was going on. Zaeef family? Rishta?

When it finally registered, she felt her heart race abnormally.

And that's when she gave a reaction.

"WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO WEAR?"

Two hours and many bickering later, Amyrah was finally ready.

She, for the first time, wore light natural makeup and bright colored clothing, for Kayan.

Well that's what everyone thought.

"Masha Allah!" Said Amma smiling at Amyrah.

"Who knew another marriage will take place in this wedding!" Commented Rushdah smiling.

"You have no idea!" Muttered Amyrah and Aaiyla laughed.

The cousins were excited for they knew maybe Kayan was best for her. No, he was best for her. For someone who had so many walls around her, Kayan managed to break all of them. Now that was something praise worthy about Kayan.

"Smile Amyrah!"

"I wonder when the nikah will be...?" Whispered Aaiyla, causing Amyrah to nudge her ribs.

Aaiyla, Urwa and Farhaan laughed leaving a very confused Umair.

Kayan walked into the Saleh condo and felt his heart pick up speed.

He was doing it!

Finally!

"Calm down bro!" Commented Yazdan, laughing.

Kayan glared at him but did not speak. He dressed elegantly today, as usual; wearing his suit that screamed 'CEO' in capital.

His brothers were also dressed formally and so were his sister and parents.

"As salam alaikum warahmahtullah wa barakatuhu! " said Noor, opening the door wide for them to enter.

Qaidah hugged Noor tightly and chuckled.

Qaidah walked in, followed by grandfather Zaeef and Aahil, grandmother Zaeef hugged Noor and smiled brightly.

It was finally happening, what people had given up on is finally happening!

Noor kissed the cheeks of Kulthum and the brothers kissed her hand as a sign of greeting.

Noor closed the door and walked into the living room where the family had gathered.

If someone from outside saw this scenario, they'd faint at the amount of people present. It looked like a small party rather than a marriage proposal!

Kayan took his seat at the couch beside the large glass windows so that he can stare outside if he wanted to avoid gazes.

"Where are the kids??" Questioned Amma, looking around.

"I will go call them" Jazbah stood up and walked upstairs to call Amyrah and the others down.

Yazdan set beside Kayan and smirked at his brother.

"Don't! " whispered Kayan, looking away.

"Juice?" Kayan looked up to Farhaan smirking at him with a tray of juice.

"If it's sweet, don't give it to him!" Said Yazdan, panicking.

Farhaan threw him a confused look and Yazdan chuckled lowly.

"Bhai is not allowed sweet things!" Supplied Kulthum from the other side of the room. Farhaan nodded and gave him juice saying it's not that sweet.

"Thank you!"

Farhaan nodded and moved to the next person.

"Ah Amyrah!"

Kayan looked up as casually as he could but when he saw her, his breath was knocked out of him.

The girl walking towards them was totally different yet very familiar. She wore light makeup, bright blue Kurti that reached her ankles with white jeans and blue and white hijab. She was the definition of perfection for Kayan and he could not take his eyes off her.

"Bhai, nazar lag jaeh gih!"

(Brother, you will cast an evil eye!)

Commented Yazdan and Kayan looked down, feeling his cheeks heat up.

"Masha Allah! You look so pretty!!" Qaidah stood up and kissed her cheeks causing Amyrah to smile.

"Come sit!"

Unlike the last proposal, Qaidah did not bother questioning useless things like cooking or earning. Both if them, Qaidah and Aahil had asked grandmother Zaeef and Grandpa Zeef to ask if they have anything.

Grandma Zaeef however did have some things to ask.

When Grandma Zaeef said she had questions, Amyrah felt her heart race yet again. She had not even dared to look at Kayan! She was that scared!

"Okay so Amyrah..." said grandma Zaeef and Amyrah looked up to her. The smile on her old face gave her some consolation that it will be okay.

"Do you recite Quraan?"

Amyrah was shocked at her question but nonetheless answered.

"Yes, alhamdulillah!"

"Do you pray or at least try to pray 5 times prayers?"

"I do try"

"Do you understand what it means to be married into a Zaeef family?"

Amyrah looked up to Qaidah and then back to grandma Zaeef.

Slowly she shook her head, no.

"It means your responsibility will be doubled, you will have to deal with media and what not all your time. You have to live with many people yelling around the house for a month and you will have to deal with their crazy demeanor. Kayan is the successor of Zaeef Empire, you will have to be strong for him. You have to be a lot more than just the wife of a billionaire in our house. Do you think you can handle that?"

Now that scared Amyrah. It was a lot and she had never had anyone's responsibility other than herself. She can't even take care of herself! Thoughts ran through her head like a meddle train.

What if she can't handle it?

What if she isn't able to adjust with them?

What if something goes wrong?

What if Kayan is not okay with her not being able to adjust?

What if it complicates her life more?

Suddenly Amyrah felt the confidence draining out of her and fear and anxiety filling her.

Seeing her shocked state, Qaidah smiled and spoke.

"What mother is trying to say is that you will no longer be just Amyrah, along. Instead you will be Amyrah Zaeef, the wife of a CEO, daughter-in-law of Zaeef family and the light to almost everything. The responsibility is huge" explained Qaidah and Amyrah looked over to Kayan.

Kayan gave her reassuring smile and nodded.

Slowly Amyrah felt the lost confidence coming back. She can do this! She is Amyrah Saleh! If she is able to build am empire on her own, she can also do this!

Everyone looked at her for an answer.

Slowly, she inhaled a deep breath and looked up to grandmother Zaeef, who rose an eyebrow at her.

"I am not perfect at anything but.... I can try?" Amyrah smiled innocently like a little kid at grandmother Zaeef who stared at her before a smile formed on her face.

"I say yes!" She said, taking off her gold bangles.

Amyrah grinned and Kayan laughed, putting his fist on his mouth.

He was so nervous what the families would say.

Noor, Elijah and Amma turned to Amyrah for an answer.

"You can take your time" said Amma and the Zaeef siblings, as well as Amyrah cousins began their coughing loudly.

Amyrah glared at them before nodding anyway.

"You two wish to talk?" Smirked Grandpa Zaeef and Kayan looked over at Amyrah.

"Yes" he smirked.

"Terrace!" Said Amma.

Kayan nodded and stood up, Yazdan did the same and glared at the rest to keep their seats. The other Zaeef siblings glowered at him.

"Let's go"

Amyrah walked up to the terrace and stood staring out to the backyard.

"So!"

She jumped at the sound of his voice but immediately calmed down.

Yazdan was at the other corner of the terrace on the phone.

"As salam alaikum!" Said Amyrah, turning to face him.

"Wa alaikum mus Salaam!" He grinned at her. "-you look beautiful"

"Thank you!" Amyrah smiled.

"So? Are you ready for it?"

"Frankly speaking, I am not sure. I mean our lives are VERY different and from my experience I will have a hard time adjusting" she told him truthfully.

Kayan chuckled, holding on the railing and leaning on it, all the while looking at Amyrah.

"It will not be easy but we will go through it"

"We will?" She asked him and Kayan nodded, smiling at her.

"We will"

"In Sha Allah!" They both said in unison and then broke into laughter.

"Did you tell them you were courting me?" Amyrah questioned.

Kayan nodded.

"I did. I did not want to form any relationship based on lies. It was easy really. My family is understanding." He said and Amyrah nodded.

"What if I can't cook? Or clean? Or do-"

"You will be the eldest daughter-in-law of the house and not a maid!" Kayan interjected.

"I know but a girl needs to know-"

"Then we will just do them together I guess. But we have chefs and maids and housekeepers." He explained.

Amyrah chuckled and nodded.

"So how soon can we get married?" Questioned Kayan.

Amyrah sobered up and looked up at him.

He was serious. His eyes held sincerity and his smile was genuine.

"Why so soon?" she whispered, peering at him from under her lashes.

"Because I want you as mine as soon as possible?" He raised an eyebrow at her and she blushed, looking down.

Kayan smirked at the reaction.

"How soon?"

"As soon as you want it!" she looked up and replied.

"I love the confidence you have, Miss Amyrah!" He said, bowing down slightly.

Amyrah laughed and curtsied.

"Why, I try, Mr. Kayan!" She laughed again and Kayan stood there, mesmerized by her laughter. By the look on her eyes when she laughed. He stood there, simply mesmerized by her innocence. Could anything be even more perfect for him than that moment?