Shout out to @Yashhal for writing her amazing book 'My Blindness'. Go check it out!

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S H A H R O Z

Shaheer killed the engine and they both hopped out of the car and made their way to their doorstep and rang the bell.

Their university had given them an extra week off before their exams, and Shahroz was glad he had finished studying for most of them.

There was a faint 'coming' before the door opened to reveal their mother with food splatters on her apron.

"Assalamu Alaiykum bachon (kids)!" She hugged both of her sons at the same time and Shahroz felt slightly awkward at the moment.

He pulled away earlier from her embrace and scratched the back of his neck. He always disliked being greeted by their parents at the doorstep as it was too awkward for him.

His father emerged from the lounge and he voiced a mental 'oh no' in his head.

"Assalamu Alaiykum, abba." Shahroz bent his head down and waited till his father came up to him.

He ruffled his son's hair, "Walaikum Assalam, Shahroz." He gave his son a heartwarming smile, followed by a hug and Shahroz instantly felt suffocated.

His mother came up to him, "How's our son doing?" She kissed his forehead while he was still in his father's embrace. Shahroz couldn't take it anymore.

"F-fine.." He closed his eyes tightly, hoping that when he opens them, he would come across a situation different than this.

Shaheer had already left to his room and Shahroz pulled away and did the same after his parents had tortured him further - according to him.

He had locked the door and stripped off his jeans and plaid shirt, replacing them with his loose grey shirt and pants.

He had zoned out while checking himself in the mirror, his thoughts landing on her.

There was no doubt that he wanted her so badly. He wanted to look at her, to touch her, and to kiss her without any guilt, and being her husband would let him do that.

'Husband.. ' He thought and smiled while looking down, he could feel heat flowing to his cheeks while only thinking about her.

But what excited him more was that she might be his wife.

He was still thinking about his first love when his mother's voice came from downstairs, indicating that dinner was ready.

"Jee ammi (yes mother)!" he shouted back before opening the door and making his way downstairs to dinner.

And to face his family.

Again.

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Dinner wasn't as awkward as he was expecting it to be, considering the fact that his parents were constantly asking him about how his semester went.

His mother even made his favourite food, Nihari.

Right now, he was sitting on his prayer mat and making duaa (supplication) for his and Marina's future.

"O Allah," he sniffed, "I can't thank You enough for letting me meet her. For letting me know her. For letting me love her. And now, for letting me propose to her; the love of my life. I love her, Allah. I love her. I love her too much that it would hurt me immensely to not be with her. To not see her everyday. To not carry her in my arms. To not hug her until she can't breathe. To not kiss her until she can feel the love I have for her." He wiped his eyes with his right hand and let out a quiet sob, "And I'm truly sorry for hurting her today. It was my own pain and misunderstanding that led me to hurt her and cause her pain. You truly are the Most Merciful, for You still gave me the courage to ask her after hurting her; one of Your most beautiful creations I had ever stumbled upon." His cheeks and eyes were turning red now due to crying too much, "And if we're not destined to be together by Your will, then I beg You, Allah, that You protect her at all costs. I beg You to let her have her happiness with her man, and let me have mine with my woman. I beg You to lead her to Jannah (paradise), just like how I hope for myself. I beg You to let her be loved throughout her life by her man, just like how I already love her."

He had never cried this much in a long time, and it felt good to finally let it out to his Lord. He knew He had the best plan waiting for him, and he knew that if he doesn't get to marry her, then it will be for the best.

He opened the door to his bathroom and switched on the lights, his eyes landing straight on himself as he looked at the mirror.

He truly had cried a lot.

He washed his face and brushed his teeth. He made his way to his bed and tucked himself under his covers as he picked up his phone from his nightstand.

He had texted Marina earlier and she had given him her father's number so they could talk and settle the meet up.

He unlocked his phone and his thumb tapped on his gallery and he looked at the picture of him and his love.

He smiled.

She truly was so beautiful.

His thumb caressed her face on the screen as he remembered that she was his everything.

'Okay now you're just being creepy.' A voice in his head said and he instantly closed his phone in guilt and embarrassment.

He was about to place his phone on the nightstand and close his lamp to go to sleep but a knock on his door stopped him.

He yelled a 'come in' and his parents appeared at his door.

He frowned.

They entered with smiles on their faces, both of them sitting on either sides of the bed with Shahroz in between.

"Why didn't my little boy talk to us after dinner?" His mother asked as she placed her hand on his and he cringed.

He didn't know if it was because she touched him or because she called him her little boy.

He didn't want his parents to come and ruin his good mood by making him cry again. He had done enough of that for the day.

His father noticed his uneasiness and decided to change the topic, "So.. any good news from university?"

He instantly blushed by thinking about Marina.

"Beta.. I was just asking you about your marks.. why are you blushing?" His father asked as he pointed at his face and Shahroz opened his mouth to speak but his mother interrupted him.

"You've found a girl, right?" His mother asked excitedly and he stiffened.

How could his mother know him so well like that?

"Uhh.. actually-" His father cut him off.

"What's her name?" He asked with the same enthusiasm as his mother and he mentally facepalmed.

He sighed and hid his face in his hands in embarrassment.

He knew he had to tell his parents as they were going to talk to her parents after all.

His face was still hidden as her name rolled off his tongue by itself.

"Marina." He paused for a moment, "Marina Malik."

He could hear some shuffling and removed his hands from his face to see his mother grab his father's phone and open Facebook.

"Ammi.. what are you doing?" He asked as he leaned toward in her direction.

"Shush beta," she typed away, "I'm trying to search her on Facebook."

He immediately snatched the phone away from her hands, "No ammi!" He practically shouted, "She doesn't have Facebook! And that's so creepy!"

The truth was that he didn't want his mother to see her like that. He could've just shown her the picture but he didn't.

He didn't want them to judge her without meeting her.

His mother was shocked but quickly covered up immediately, "O-okay.. and how do you know her so well?"

"She tutored me for all of fifth year." He hated himself for opening up to his parents so suddenly.

But he had to do it.

He had to do it to be with her.

This time his father spoke, "And are you planning to do something to start your relationship?"

Shahroz turned to his mother and then to his father, finally revealing the truth.

"I already proposed to her."

"WHAT?!" They both shouted at the same time while Shahroz kept his expression calm.

He had expected that reaction.

His mother broke the awkward silence, "You didn't tell us?!"

"I proposed to her today ammi.." He trailed off.

They were shooting him with questions and he was answering them well till now.

"What kind of doctor is she planning to become?" His mother asked.

He surprisingly still calm, "A cardiologist."

He remembered she had told him that when they were having their tutoring session.

"And what about you, Shahroz? Have you decided anything yet?" His father asked and his mood slightly dampened.

They knew so little about him.

He sighed, "A urologist."

"Aha, penises." His father nodded his head, "I like them too."

Shahroz's face reddened, "It's not like that.."

"It's okay, son," his father gave him a look that he understood his situation, "I get it."

He wanted to get done with this family interview as soon as possible.

"So.. when will we meet this girl?"

"She gave me her father's number-"

"Uh huh, and what is it?" His father grabbed his phone.

He was surprised by how excited his parents were.

Maybe he should forgive them.

Shahroz said the number out loud to his father who dialled it and went out of the room, leaving him and his mother alone.

She turned to her son, "I'm so proud of you, beta." She gave him her motherly smile.

A smile he wasn't used to.

He awkwardly nodded and she engulfed him in a hug, her scent of something familiar and homey making him sigh with a weakened smile.

She pulled back, "I want grandkids okay?"

Shahroz looked at her horrified, "Ammi.."

"Relax." She slapped his cheek lightly, "I'm just kidding."

She pulled his cheeks and that reminded him of his childhood when they hadn't completely abandoned him.

"You've grown up so much, Shahroz." She smiled warmly at him as she held his face in her hands.

He just stared back at her. He was speechless.

"You know," and started and he could feel the tension building up, "I've realised these past few days that I never actually did anything all these years to deserve to be called 'mother' by you," her thumbs caressed his cheeks, "and I know it will never be enough but I'll keep repeating it-"

"Ammi-"

"I'm so sorry, Shahroz. I'm so sorry-"

"It's okay." He took a deep breath before continuing.

"I forgive you."

A smile erupted on both of their faces as soon as he said that.

He wanted to start off new and fresh with his parents, and this was his chance.

"Oh, Shahroz!" She squeezed him in a hug again, "My sweet little boy." She stroked his back.

The door of his room suddenly opened and his father appeared with his phone in his hands, a smile etched on his face.

"Get some sleep, Shahroz. We're going to meet her tomorrow."

Him and his parents smiled in pure happiness, and that's when he realised it.

This really is the start of something new.

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Sana