Leilah's POV.

After searching through my wardrobe for minutes, I finally got dressed in something decent like my dad had warned. I received several comments about my outfit.

I was dressed in red for some reasons unknown to myself. I had a hard time picking out my outfit as I have never gotten invited t for an occasion like this. Where I get to have lunch with a wealthy family like the Akhmads.

I was in awe when we reached the Akhmads. Never have I seen a house so polished.

The door opened to reveal an Indian man in a cook's Attire.

"he is a cook dumbass!" I reminded myself , while fighting my sweaty palms.

"there they are! "

The lady of the house screamed excitedly.

Mr and Mrs Akhmad, all smiling and welcoming everyone. Everyone hugged like they knew each other so well. They each placed kisses on my cheeks, including the almost 65year old woman who introduced herself as Waleed's granny and the Matriarch of the Akhmad's Empire.

The house was mad beautiful from outside. But inside, I was speechless.

We all settled in the massive dinning hall. Surprisingly, granny asks me go sit on a particular chair next to an empty chair after everyone had sat down.

I stayed wondering why.

"what is keeping him" meena, The first child of the house asks Mrs Akhmad, Mariam.

I can tell the room has this tension I can't wrap my head around. It suddenly hit me that "Him" here meant she was referring to Waleed.

Mrs Akhmad took her phone up to place a call to someone.

"hello Abdel, where in God's name is your boss?"

As soon as she did that... Waleed enters wearing an unreadable expression.

This Man is Hot!

"Uncle Waleed! " Halah, an excited little four year old, jumpes on him. He kissed the little girl who is his Oldest sister, Meena's daughter.

Obviously, not only his niece was excited to see him. I was inwardly happy too.

With a big smile I never thought he could pull on that stern face of his. He asks the girl some questions and she answers super excited.

He pulled out something from his pocket and gave it to the girl who screams in excitement, racing over to her parents and her grand mother to show them her little gift... Little? IS THAT A GLOBE!? Who gifts a little girl a Globe that had London in it... Dude!

This earned him unacceptable stares from every angle of the dinning hall.

"Really.. Wal? " Meena looks at him feigning annoyance. "she is four"

"salaam to you too. Sorry I am late. I had to round up work in the office so the lunch won't be interrupted" he hugged his Family and my brothers then Shook hands with my Dad before placing a kiss on my mum's cheeks.

"you look beautiful Amal.... Dave is Lucky"

He smiled at Amal who quickly gulps down the juice in front of her.

Who is Dave? Are they dating?

Amal has some questions coming for her as soon as we leave here.

Nodding at me without a word, he takes the empty seat beside me.

Oh... His granny is definitely trying to set me up with Mr Too perfect? Woman.. That isn't happening!

He pays no form of attention to me.

"shall we?.. bismillah " Mr Akhmad senior spread his hand across the table.

"Waleed.. Why don't you help Leilah. Your..... Our guest serve her food? " his prettiest sister, a Hijabi model, Amri finally spoke for the first time since saying Hi to me.

She has been all over her shy boyfriend who was sitting next to her, the whole time. I looked over at the swelling man beside me , his fist was clenched.

"I am sure Leilah can serve her food alright.... Right?" Waleed smirks looking at me directly in my eyes.

Why is this man so crude!

Everyone stared in our direction. I could pee on myself right now.

"I can help myself. Thank you Amri.... " holding out the spoon, I stood to dish my food only to be stopped by a hand.

A soft, warm, cold....

"I will be a bad guest if I don't help you." Waleed collects the spoon from me as he dishes a small portion of food in my plate.

He had this evil grin on his face.

"that is too small. wal!... " Amri waves her hand. She seemed angry.

"well... I only date size 4. I guess we need to start by cutting her into half...enjoy your meal Milady....fatty" he winks.

How dare He Wink at me after this shade?

I was totally speechless.

Amri mouths "I am sorry to me" with every member of his family shouting at Waleed.

"I guess you have been dating sticks . Mr waleed Akhmad because I am a size 8...a Beyonce's size 8! Not some big mama Fatty!" I snatched my hand from Amal who is trying to make sure I don't lose the cool.

I have just been turned hot.

"She can talk. Barely though 'cos if this is the loudest your voice can go.. Then, you... My.... " He stops.

" Please Leilah, Go on. Do Tell us more. so my family over here will understand your need to pretend like you are some saint!" he laughs.

"saint!? I never called myself that! And you need to stop being so full of yourself. Calling me fatty with those lanky girls you have been with doesn't show you are better than I am though...mr Tabloids! ".

The whole family stared at the two of us. No one said anything. His granny was smiling.

"look Leilah, You need to stop getting on my nerves right now! I am not going to mar.... And Amri! Cut your shy boy some slacks! " he cuts himself and sits back on his chair.

Everyone looked tensed.

OK.. This might just be the beginning of more dramas to come.

"I don't want to ever talk to you again Mr Waleed. Ever! So don't push it" I hate shouting.

I always argue in low tone. Growing up people Mocked my low toned voice. Someone once said I forgot the rest of my voice where I Was born.

"stop it you two. How are you going to live together if you are fighting already"

what is Granny saying about living together because I am not living with this arrogant man here.

Or... Wait! Who said anything about living together?

He murmurs a few gibberish and picked up his fork.

"Arrogant mouse!" I spluttered.

"pretentious Fatty" he replied with a smirk.

"one more childish act and you two are off the table! " Mr Akhmad says.

few minutes of eating, tension reduced as everyone interacted. Our fathers obviously talking business and our mothers talking interior decorations while WAleed and I are the only quiet people in the hall.

Amal suddenly grabbed my left hand as soon as I heard someone crack his voice. It was Waleed 's father.

"No matter what! Do not freak out Lee. it is not as bad as it sounds" she pulled me into a tight embrace before I could ask what the hell she was talking about.

"may I please have your attention everyone".

The deep masculine voice belonging to Mr Akhmad senior speaks then He goes quiet for some seconds.

"I am glad we are all here today. Even my two daughters and their families are here" he looks over at his oldest child who has been feeding her daughter and the other , Amri, who has been all over her fiance who I have come to know as Omar.

"Leilah, I know this might be hard for you to take in at once considering you just met your.... My son... Waleed... Barely 24hours ago. I know you understand what the term "infant Bethrotal is "? Don't you? " Mr Akhmad looks a bit shaken.

Is he scared of something?

"yes I do. But no one does that anymore.... Considering we are now civilized, educated and ...... "

Waleed mutters something really disturbing beside me "She is so clueless".

Arrogant fool!

The hall turns absolutely quiet. I am sure if my hair pin drops. Everyone will sure notice it.

"uhm Leilah, you are like a daughter to me. I watched you grow into a woman. what I am about to say might hurt you but I want you to understand that your parents and my family wants what is best for you two and we will never mislead you." I turned dumbfounded at this point.

"where is this discussion heading?"

I was getting too tensed. I turn to look at Amal, who is grabbing my hand tighter now.

"you are a lawyer Leilah so I guess you understand what a Deed is. You and Waleed are to get married tomorrow..."

At this point. I had to drink from someone's cup. I didnt care whose cup it was but I needed water. I was dehydrated and my legs were shaking underneath the table.

I looked across the table where my family sat. They were now standing.

"someone tell me this is a joke! "

From my dad, to my mum... To my brothers and my own twin. no one says anything.

They all have the "we are sorry " look on their faces.

I started to laugh. It's all making sense now. All the pretense, all the wedding gown pictures, the interior decorations, Amal 's avoidance, Waleed 's anger.

I dont know why I am laughing but I think everyone is messing with me. this isn't even April.

This is July....! Damn... July!

" Leilah. It was made by our fathers" my dad finally opens his mouth.

That mouth that has promised and failed me countless times as he points to waleed's father and then him.

"we didn't know how to tell you Leilah. It was Waleed's part of the deed to tell you this but...... "

"you knew about this!" I was now shouting at the equally sad man sitting close to me.

He looked away almost immediately after our eyes met.

I was totally motified. Hot drops of tears ran down my face. Everything was clear to me now. I finally understand why I had been made to dance with him at Meena 's wedding five years ago. I was 17 then.

Now it was clear. I had thought he was a visiting cousin or something then.

"you can annull a... deed... dad. We can make amends.. We CAn discard it since both parties are dead... We can! " I stuttered, amidst the river flowing from my eyes.

"we signed our part... Leilah. We are Muslims and this is more than a deed, Princess. This is the combined wishes of two dead Fathers... We have to obey.... "

"it is unislamic to force kids to get married.. Our consent is needed too! Leave Islam out of This " at the top of my voice which is barely a shout at this time.

"You see. ...Leilah.. This is more of a contractual agreement with no reference to Islam. What your dad was trying to say is that you should please obey the dead and us as Muslims. The dead here were friends. Best of friends. They were practically raised by a woman." his father spoke.

"Everything has already been planned. The wedding is to hold tomorrow and Everything, will be private....i promise you. Untill you two decide to have a big wedding " his granny who has been quiet since the beginning finally says something.

I glanced hopelessly at everyone across the table. My eyes searched for Someone who would tell me that this was all a joke.

His sister Amri, muttered "sorry" again for the second time.

Amal was crying already. meena had Tears in her eyes. My twin too was fighting his. Mum was adjusting like she has been doing the whole time.

"This is not happening"

Drowned, I gathered my dress and ran out of the mansion. Where I am headed, I don't know.

I heard everyone calling me. I dont know where I am Headed still. But I had to get away from all that. I finally stopped to look behind me to see the mansion few meters away.

I fell on my knees, finally letting the scream I have been holding out. No one Gets so much from their dreams. Please wake me up ... someone!

I laid on the grasses after a while. I had planned my life in my head while growing up. I protested against child marriages and infant bethrotals while growing up. I even went to Africa for this, To my Maternal Home in Somalia. Yet, I am only a living victim of my own hate.

I have never been in a relationship because I have been waiting to fall in love with the right man, travel the world, get married and have kids. I never knew I was going to have my wedding rushed and in private.

So deep in my thoughts was I, that I didn't hear his steps.

I am suddenly greeted by his shadow as he stood above my head. Quickly, I sat up and adjusted my dress. Turned around and I am greeted with his smile.

"Hey. Can I join you? " his voice, soft.

The world class Asshole, gone. A new Waleed stood above me.

"yes."

I can't continue fighting him seeing how frustrated he looks now.

He sat on the grass with Me. I am drawn to his perfect "blueish grey eyes".

obviously the only good thing about this one.

"I Hate this as much as you do. But right now. We are going to learn to tolerate each other"

He waited for response and I let out a sigh.

"and I have a plan" he adds.

"we can make this work. Live in peace, live Freely. I get to do what I like. You get to do yours."

I nodded.

"I get to continue dating my girlfriend or friends and you can continue dating your boyfriend. It will be more of an open marriage... So what do you say?".

What is this man saying?

I just wasted 2minutes of my time, watching him spew such nonsense from his mouth.

It's not like I was expecting him to come console me and then we live happily ever after.

But I wasn't expecting this. I wasn't even expecting anything.

I was about to protest when I found myself agreeing to what he had just said. I don't even know why I did that. But it was already done.

I nodded in acceptance.

"it will be much easier. Trust me, Then we can figure out ways to end this marriage. After all, divorce wasn't talked about in the deed " I nodded again in agreement.

I was still speechless.

Taking my hand in his, he helps me up into the house. while we walked back into the house, he occasionally rubbed my head, sending soothing relief through my veins.

Everyone kept apologizing for something which isn't their fault while in the mansion.

"I am sorry you had to find out this way Lee. I couldn't bring myself to tell you. We couldntwatch you get hurt" my mum pulls me into a tight embrace.

" you will be fine Lee... He is a good man...he has his bad days... But you will be fine" she whispers into my ears.

I was still dazed from what i agreed with him. I sat there quietly waiting for the next thing. Everyone has made friends with everyone. They had open discussions about the wedding infringement of me and i got told this has been on for two weeks And no one told me! Not even my family!.

Shoving all thoughts behind me, I looked down at my phone to find a long apology message from Amal who was sitting right next to me.

"I am sorry Lee... I found out two years ago when I walked in on uncle and his father discussing this. I wanted to tell you so bad but your father noticed and begged me not to . You know I wouldn't willingly keep such from you but I couldn't bring myself to hurt uncle. I love you Lee. You will be fine. And I will be with you all the way. We will find a way out, I promise.

Please be fine for me and for the questions I know you would ask. I met his super attractive friend Dave last week when I went over to get his signatures on something concerning the wedding and we got talking. We are going on a date after your wedding. Since you are going to ask me who is Dave. I could as well tell you anyway.....

Please don't strangle me at night."

I don't reply or say anything to her, instead I turned to see her eyes obviously red from crying too much.

I hugged her tight. I have lost a battle without fighting in it. I can't afford to lose my only source of solace right now too.

"we will kill him if he tries anything funny" she whispered to me. And I laughed for the first time in hours.