The familiar ding of the doorbell rang at a very unfamiliar time. Zoya sat up from her bed in confusion.

Who would be here at this hour?

Zoya peeked outside her bedroom window, attempting to get a glance of who it was but it seemed like her father-the only other person awake in her house- had already let the person in as she heard the door open and shut. There was in-distinctive murmuring from downstairs and then she heard her dad's clear voice, "Zoya, come down here please!"

Why am I being called down? Is someone here to see me? Who would come to see me at this hour?

Quizzically, she managed to pull on the nearest scarf over her dark grey sweatshirt and black pajamas. Whoever was visiting was going to see her in her very comfy sleepy state and the idea of that wasn't very appealing to Zoya.

She slid into her slippers and put her phone on charge before proceeding to go downstairs. The murmuring got louder as she approached the living room and she held on to the door handle hesitantly.

What if it's bad news?

"Zoya!" She heard her dad call out again, so she hurriedly pulled down the door handle to reveal who was with her father at this time of the night.

Her jaw dropped. Literally.

All her previous questions faded when her eyes landed on a dishevelled looking Zaib sitting on the couch he had sat on when he came to see her for the proposal. His hair looked as if he had run his fingers through it multiple times with a few rebellious strands landing on his face. His eyes looked tired as if he hadn't got enough sleep. He was breathing heavier than usual as if he'd just ran. The second their eyes met he sprung up from his seat.

"Can I talk to her now?" He glanced at her dad for permission. "Zoya I'm gonna step out, if you need me just call." Her dad nodded and vacated the room.

Silence fell like a blanket on them and for a minute they just looked at each other, forgetting to lower their gazes in this case. Both their hearts disturbed, their states unkempt- the burden of liking each other settled on them.

"How are you?" They both let out simultaneously. Zaib's mouth twitched at the interaction, and he gestured towards her as a sign she should speak first.

"I don't think I'm fine to be honest but you have more of a reason to not be fine and you're here so tell me your thoughts."

Zaib's green eyes softened at her caring expression. He saw the worry in her gaze when she scanned him with her round orbs and he knew he wasn't the only one bothered by this ordeal. "I'm not good either. I'm here because my mind is unsettled."

"Does it feel like your heart is heavy and there's an emptiness?"

"It's more than that. It feels like I've chewed on to a stale piece of metal. There's no way you can understand what I'm trying to convey so easily if you haven't felt this yourself. These feelings are what led me here at this time." He broke into a sigh.

"You. I can't stop thinking about you." His sharp emerald eyes held her gaze firmly as if daring her to break eye-contact.

She gulped. Those eyes would be the death of her. Now in front of her, those orbs looked so passionate, a fire behind them ready to overpower them both.

"W-why do you think about me so much? I rejected your proposal," Zoya choked out. The fire burnt out as if executed by the waters of sad reality.

"I know," he muttered defeated. "I know you rejected me and I respect that decision fully. You must have your own reasons and rights for doing so. My only question is why? I hate my curiosity, but I- I need to know."

"I care about you and I can't just discontinue my feelings for you without closure. I need a reason, so it can stop stinging and I can—so I can let you go." Zaib paused as the fire in his eyes restarted. "Please," he whispered.

This answer rattled Zoya. It made her heart beat ten times faster than it already was, the rhythm of her heartbeat reaching her ears.

Blood rushed to her face and for once, she was speechless.

He had just admitted he had-no, has- feelings for her. He came to propose, so he obviously liked her but his confession right now, with that penetrating gaze of his did something to her. Her knees felt like jelly, she would drop any second now.

At the same time, she was ashamed. She had just rejected him without stating her reasons and without considering how his feelings after being rejected with no clear answer. If it was her, she would be going mad by now.

"I'm sorry." Zoya dropped into the nearest seat, trying to organize her thoughts. She felt so guilty at this moment. Her gaze finally broke away from his and she looked at the floor solemnly. Silently, Zaib knelt down in front of her, concerned.

"Wait—no. I don't want an apology. It not your fault. Don't you dare blame yourself. I have rejected people too because that is my right. I just want a reason. That's it." His voice was soft and sweet; it made Zoya want to burst into tears.

He was truly a gem.

Any guy she had rejected had been bitter about rejection and shown a bad side of them to her afterwards. Zaib was the only one who remained humble and truthful. This man had shown how he always kept Allah in his heart and that is what made him the best type of man.

"You have the right to know."

"Well, before I started looking into these marriage arrangements, I was completely immersed into my studies. I dreamt of becoming a cardiologist. I lost my grandmother to heart issues and seeing her suffer in her last days pushed my will to help anyone like her. I wanted to achieve my goal and then think about other things like marriage or having a family," Zoya paused for a second, tearing up before she continued.

"Unfortunately, my dad lost his job and couldn't fund my education anymore and that's why I turned towards marriage." His face dropped, a forlorn frown covering his mouth.

"When you came, you were better than any of the men who had asked for my hand. You came with Allah in your heart and I saw that through your actions."

"You know that feeling when you know it's just right? That satisfaction you get after a positive Istikhara? I had it in me as soon as we met."

"I was going to accept. Then I got a call: it was my previous professor who had managed to fund my education further and I had to accept. My education gives me independence; it gives me a choice and it's the path to my goals in life."

"I declined the proposal because as soon as I got this offer, I thought I wouldn't be able to be a good wife and student altogether. Only after I rejected you, did my father speak to me about this. He told me there were better ways to deal with it rather than outright declining. I realized my unfortunate loss but it was too late by then anyway. I had already rejected the proposal and caused a family uproar."

At the end of this explanation, Zoya could not even predict how Zaib would be feeling. Saying this whole thing out loud had reminded her of her stupidity and probably made her seem even more stupid in Zaib's eyes.

Expecting to see annoyance or confusion on his face, Zoya meekly looked up at his face that was in front of her as he continued kneeling.

He was... smiling?

His eyes were twinkling and were creased at the corners as there was a slight grin twisting his lips upward. He let out a soft sigh.

"That's all I needed to know."

"I understand your reason Zoya." For the first time in this conversation, he uttered her name and the way he did it with a tone that could be compared to honey made her stomach flutter. It was just him saying her name but it did so much to her.

"I also want you to know that I still have feelings for you and would like to pursue marriage with you. Knowledge is invaluable. Your passion for your studies is important, and I will make sure you can still go for your dreams, all I want is a chance."

"I've met many women but Zoya Hayaat Malik, you are incomparable. You do something to me that I can't understand. You are special. If I let a woman like you go so easily when there's clearly another chance available, I won't stop regretting it."

Sincerity crossed his features and a new-found determination pooled his grassy eyes. He was a man who knew what he wanted. Zoya found herself even more entranced by him and something in her mind told her to go for it.

"I—I don't know Zaib. I regret rejecting you, but will your family even approve of me after all this? In all honesty, I think you're too good for me."

"That's where you're wrong. You do not see yourself as I see you. I see you as an empowered, independent woman; a loving daughter; a person who knows their purpose and strives for betterment while empathizing with everyone all the same."

"You are one in a million Zoya. And I want to be a part of your life. You said your plan was education then marriage and a family. Let me help you with all those goals."

"I need you."

She felt her eyes brimming with tears again. Her heart teetered at every word. There was like a push towards his direction. She couldn't decline him any longer.

Allah makes everything happen for a reason. Maybe that explains why Zaib ended up here at four AM in her living room talking to her about life. She wasn't that memorable. It was Allah's plans.

This time their hearts determined, their states still unkempt- the burden of liking each other lifted.

He was right in front of her, sitting down nervously after his confession, waiting for her.

"Zaib."

He quickly looked up at her, a foreign storm of emotion in her eyes.

"Will you promise me your heart?"

"I promise you my heart and soul, Zoya Hayaat Malik."