Chapter 61: Chapter 61

ABUJA, NIGERIA.

"Even if I tell you I want you for myself?" The question hang in the air rendering Kauthar speechless for a minute there. She didn't know whether her head is moving around or she was too tired after so many meetings in the office and started hearing things. Yes, that should definitely be the thing that is messing with her brain big time.

Mujaheed on the other hand only stared at her, his face not displaying any emotion watching as she crease her brows and release them after thinking she's thought about the solution to all her problems. He almost laughed when she looked relieve as if what he said is only her imagination. He won't back out though, not when the words were already out of his lips and she has reacted to it too. This is his chance to ask for her hand in marriage and if she doesn't agree, he shall go to her father and ask for it.

"What did you say? I think I misheard you earlier, sorry." She gave a sheepish smile and gulp the remains of her champagne, had it been the champagne was alcoholic, she definitely would've been drunk by now.

This is so unlike her behaviour, no man has ever made her nervous.

"You heard everything right, Kauthar. I ask whether your door will be open if I want you for myself? I want to marry you, not Khalidah." He explained, his eyes taking in each emotion that is circling across her face and eyes. There is doubt, disbelieve and lots of questions marring her eyes too. He is willing to give her time to digest though, he is in no hurry.

"Uh- what are you saying, Mujaheed? You are my brother in-law and I've never seen you in the light of someone I want to marry. Th-this should be closed please and if you are kidding, hahaha, it is so funny." She grinned at the last part but seeing his serious soldier face, she scrunched her brows again. She bit her lower lip, badly wanting to keep quite to not let the case deteriorate. Maybe if she keeps quite, she will be able to lighten up the mood.

"I was your brother in-law. I'm not saying I'm deeply in love with you, Kauthar. I am just telling you that I want to marry you because I feel like you are the one for me. Khalidah will really understand this since she never contacted me, she might never liked the idea. And you, your fiancée is late so I thought we could be together." This is one of the times where he wish he has sat down with his friends that are not in the military to tell him how it is to talk to a woman. His words sound plain, like he is making plans for a war.

Kauthar feels like all the burden of the earth is suddenly on her shoulders as she stared at her ex brother in-law who is hellbent on wanting to marry her though not in love with her. She understands his point since she was willing to get married to Fahad without love but why does she feel this tinge of annoyance when he said he isn't in love with her? The way he talked moved something inside her but when his eyes are displaying nothing but lack of emotions, it makes everything trickier. Her fingers wring as she nervously pinch the tinge of her fingers between one another.

This is not how she wants another man to ask for her hand in marriage. And does she even want to move on with this heartless soldier in front of her? The man she once consider nothing but a brother in-law?

Not getting her wrong, she likes everyone in his family and any woman would love to get married to a family like Bushra's. The thing is, she is not willing to let her guards down for this man in front of her for their relationship might not work out and it shall ruin other beautiful relations. Marrying him won't be a problem, but he is downright unromantic about how he isn't in love with her. Can't he say he is attracted or likes something about her? She really needs a change from her past relationship with her ex fiancée.

Maybe Allah took Fahad away because he wants her to experience love and not just friendship. Maybe He is telling her that there is more out there for her than just hanging onto marrying a friend and they were just not meant to be all along.

She wants to have the same thing Bushra and Mika'il had, the same thing her mother shared with her father, that same thing his mother have with his father. Is that too much to ask because she is a businesswoman now? They also have a heart not always meant for getting more money, they need love like any other person out there. Her heart also beats when in presence of attractive male, she likes them dominant which means she is just like every other woman.

"I don't know what to say to you so as to not sound rude and downright disrespectful but I don't want to marry you for many reasons, Mujaheed." Her face is blank too, letting the businesswoman emotion take place of her vulnerable girly self. Once in a while, she let's her emotions show out and she mistakenly did that earlier with him.

"What are those reasons might I ask?" He inclined his head, the food he's ordered totally forgotten on the table for the conversation going on between them is much more important, much more crucial.

When he decided to eat early lunch while waiting for his brother to come back from his fiancée, Fayha, he didn't know he was going to see Kauthar or bump into talk less of proposing. Even after seeing her, he never thought the words from his heart will bleed out like that in the wrong place at the wrong time. He just had to do that as time is not in their possession. Just two months from now, he shall be tied to someone he never talked to so he thought the earlier, the better. He didn't know she was going to reject him right in front of his face.

Ouch, it hurts being rejected making him recall how he did Fayha months ago but she has moved on quicker than he expected. Maybe she was just infatuated and almost mixed up her feelings for him with love but he is glad she's moved on with his brother, they are the perfect pair. His twin brother is lured in her completely, he also wants that kind of relationship so he wonder how his brother did it. Was he romantic or just being himself?

Or has he made a mistake of letting Fayha go?

"I can't exactly list them out to you right now but you should know that if you are ever going to approach a lady again in future, don't talk to her like you just did. Granted, you've been in the military more than half your life which is understandable but, we women don't like being talked to like wars or bandits. Just a piece of advise for the future. Goodbye." She looked her bag and stomp out of the restaurant getting madder with each step that he didn't stop her.

If he really do want to marry her, he should feel bad and chase after her but no, the guy sat back coolly accessing what has happened. She gritted her teeth for thinking like a teenager in love for the first time when she is anything but that. She is a grown up woman capable of taking care of herself, more independent than thirty women combined. Why does his words suddenly have such heavy impact in her actions just mere minutes ago? Is that how it feels to be asked out by men, mostly strangers?

Fahad has been her friend before they decided to date and make everything official and it has always been easy with him. Her movements aren't stiff, he understands what she wants and don't want before she could open her mouth and vice versa. While that bastard of a soldier inside the restaurant currently staring at the door is completely aloof. She didn't expect that from him, anyone but her ex brother in-law. They never talked like that, it was always civilised and cautious of what to say to the other not to cross limit

Suddenly, this?!

She has been feeling guilty since she rejected him and when Bushra called earlier so they could talk, she really wanted to pour out her guts but she couldn't. She can't bring herself to tell Bushra that she rejected her brother without giving him a chance. Bushra will definitely understand what she means and where she is coming from, she just don't want to deal with hearing such pathetic words from anyone. As soon as the words ring out, everyone would want to sympathise with her and think he wants to marry her out of sympathy.

Darn it, so much complications. It's convoluted.

And then the next thing she knows, her father request to see her in his grand parlour where he keeps his guests making her scrunch her brows in wonder. It's either they go to the garden, the mini family living room or the dining room when they are going to have dinner. Surprised and also curious, she wore a long hijab just in case if there are guests around and she won't embarrass herself. Her phone is tightly clasped in her hand as if she knew she would need it for what is about the transpire there.

"You called for me, Dad?" She has a smile stretching miles upon miles on her face sighting her father sitting elegantly on the royal sofa. He is wearing one of his favorite white kaftan. When Afrah was younger, she used to think he wears one clothe but later realised that they have different patterns.

"Yes, dear. Sit down." He stopped staring out the window and bring his gaze back to her with a smile too. He's been doing that a lot lately because since after their mother's demise, he was out of it. And now, he is going to get married to Badriyah like their grandmother had suggested.

Maybe that is what he needs to overcome such tremendous grief. They should be jealous that someone is coming to take their mother's place in their father's life but they are all grown up and mature to understand that he needs someone by his side no matter what. Their father isn't that old, he actually looks no older than a man of forty five, why should he die a widow? They support him after meeting the said Badriyah, she is a very nice woman too. She looks to be innocent and pure, they hope that is not a façade though.

"I've been meaning to talk to you about this but I got the motivation today..." He started in that father tone that makes sure you are put in your place and you won't even dare to argue with what they are saying or in her case, about to.

"You have to get a husband and marry, Kauthar. You are not getting any younger and at this stage, people will start talking not that I mind what they are going to say, it's for your own sake however. I don't mind you staying here if there is no husband but there are suitors already asking for your hand in marriage. I don't want to be that father who gets pointed at because he couldn't get his daughter married when she's passed the stage and rumours will go out. You are a public figure, you know that and how the elite circle works. Islamically, marriage shouldn't be delayed when there is someone willing to marry you, that is the Islamic saying. So tell me, do you have anyone in mind you want to marry?" He finally came to an end with his speech while Kauthar stared wide eyed.

Okay, this is totally not a coincidence from what happened yesterday with her ex brother in-law! He has something to do with this and it makes her stomach churn in an unpleasant way because she feels betrayed. Has he always been a hypocrite or did the hypocrite side of his just emerged from the ground? Is that how he wants to make her his after what she's told him the day before? Or is she just jumping into conclusion and that he has nothing to do with the matter to begin with? But this should be too much than just coincidence, something is definitely amiss.

She'd be damned if she doesn't find out what is going on all of a sudden in her life.

"Uh, I don't have anyone so far, Dad. Did someone ask for my hand in marriage earlier?" Straight to the point, that is what business has taught her. Beating around the bush prolong the unnecessary, she tap on the record on her phone.

"Yes, Mujaheed came earlier and wants to marry you whenever you are ready. But he would like it if you both get married together with Amani and his twin brother. I want you to go and think about it for I like this guy a lot more than all your other suitors. We know him in and out, we won't have to worry about anything. Just think carefully and answer me in the evening." He dismissed with another smile of encouragement but also command that she should pay heed to his words.

"This is all Mujaheed's doing and I'll make him pay for this!" She fumed while walking to her room so she can change into something quick and go see Bushra. If this man thinks he can go behind her back and dig his own grave, then she will push him inside seven feet underground.

"Hey, hey! Why do you look like you are about to kill someone any moment?" Bushra jested, staring at Kauthar who thumped into her room like a bull. She isn't wearing her veil correctly and that is how Bushra always finds out that the woman is out of her wits and someone has wronged her.

"You really want to know who is behind this?" Kauthar questioned, her hands tightening around her phone which is seconds away from breaking. She was just assuming that it was that man's head in her tight grip, she won't hesitate digging her nails deep into his flesh till it draws blood.

"Please, tell me what is going on. You have been sounding somehow for awhile now and the curiosity is getting to my brain at this stage." Bushra moved closer to the edge of her bed featuring only her lingerie, she hasn't left bed the whole day. Anaan is with Amir.

"Hear this.." She played the recording she did earlier with her father so she can listen to each word her father had said.

"Wha-what? When did this happen?" There is tinge of happiness in her voice along with astonishment, shock and also surprise. Kauthar gave her a sharp glare but Bushra only returned a sheepish one.

"So that spineless brother of yours, excuse my languages but he really is one, asked me out yesterday. Should that even be called asking me out? Hear out what he said and tell me how you'd react..." And she told her what has transpired between her and her brother the day before. Bushra keep on reacting with each word and Kauthar don't know whether she should be annoyed at the wee lady who she badly wants to support her.

'"Wow, my brother is really one heck of a douche for saying this. How can he ask a woman out like that? The woman he wants to marry? Ah, I'm so disappointed that my intestines are frigid." Bushra made a face because she was really disappointed upon hearing what her brother did. And he went behind them all to call off his engagement with Khalidah then ask for Kauthar's hand in marriage? Seriously?!

Ha, their mother need to hear this for real.

"You see what I was talking about, huh? And I know regardless of my answer to Dad later, I'm going to end up marrying that man that has no affectionate bone. And trust me, I will make his life hell if that happens. Can't he just woo a woman without being a hypocrite? Warn him, B! He will see the other side of me and I won't see him till after the wedding." Kauthar keep fuming around Bushra's room, all she could do is stare at the woman wide eyed but she can't deny that she is enjoying the drama that is about to unfold.

If only she knows how dramatic her own life would be in few hours.