~ If you have to hurt other people in order to feel powerful, you are an extremely weak individual.

Amyrah

I glanced at myself in the mirror. I looked ugly. Yes ugly. Rayzah, my sister in law said, "You look amazing."

"I look disgusting!" I retorted angrily.

Any ideas why I am dressed up like a clown?

Because that... that Mr. soon-to-be-a-groom-but-I-won't-marry-him is coming. To see me. Yep. Pathetic.

Though there is an advantage I am dressed like this. He'll surely run away after looking at me. So I made sure to come up with a tactic to make that happen. As soon as Rayzah had left the room, I started writing it down on my journal.

01. Dress up like a clown✅

02. Secretly glare and stick out my tongue at him.

03. Make fun of him in public.

04. Then laugh at him like a maniac.

05. Keep talking non stop till his ears bleed, not bleed blood, but you know what... huh whatever!

These steps weren't enough to drive him away completely. So after a thought I wrote some other points too.

06. Smile innocently and grab his arm, then suddenly twist it.

07. Whisper saying, "I'll kill you if you agree to this marriage! I hate you from the core of my heart!"

08. Keep on smirking devilishly, then he'll surely scream,"You idiot! I will never marry you!"

09. Angrily he will raise his palm to slap me. Then my brother will run and come to my rescue. I will shed a few tears, and act like I've no idea what he's doing.

10. His family will stare at him in shock. Then angrily take him away. Finally I will fist my hand up in the air saying, "Hoorray!"

I happily closed my journal. I have completed my first step. Now I just have to make sure I do everything else right. With a huge smile, I opened the room door.

Take a deep breath, Amyrah. Slowly I started walking down the stairs.

Here goes.

"That's my sister's daughter, Amyrah," my aunt said.

"Oh, so she's the one."

Obviously duh!

I slowly looked at the woman. She was dressed in an expensive, glittery grey coloured Abaya, it was more like a cloak, though. Too expensive. Too modern. So unlike me. I scrunched my nose in disgust, which made her smile vanish.

Ya Allah! What an impression I just gave.

I quickly gave her a huge smile and waved. She looked quite unsure, so she just nodded.

Wait. Why did I wave?

I took a deep breath. After exchanging a few formalities and nods, I was finally told to sit. The
soon-to-be-a-groom-but-I-won't-marry-him was nowhere to be seen.

I craned my neck searching for him, which was a stupid thing to do, because all the adults smirked and gave me a look which said, 'we know who you are looking for.' Specially my brother who quircked his brows, clearly enjoying this. Then my sister in law nudged him and shook her head. I just rolled my eyes at them.

Well, obviously I was interested in seeing him. As I had completely drenched the paper aunt had given, I had no idea who he is. I mean aunt had the courtesy to explain all about him, but I don't know how he is.

I didn't speak. At all. His mother had asked many questions, but the reply was given by aunt. 'I can speak too,' I wanted to scream, instead I gritted my teeth in anger.

"So she agrees to marry my son?" His mother asked.

Excuse me, ma'am, I am right next to you.

"Yes, yes, she does," aunt said.

"No!" I raised my voice. They gave me a look, like what the heck?

"Aunt, don't lie to her. She'll eventually get to know the truth."

What truth? I don't know. I simply said. Sorry aunt, it's payback time. I looked at the woman and said,

"And yeah, where is your son, aunty? I must see him, so that I could know whether he is suitable of being my husband. To know whether he is worth for wasting my time."

She looked taken aback. My brother smacked his hand on his forehead. My uncle and his father jerked their head, and looked towards me.

Great Amyrah! You just attracted attention.

"Amyrah dear, don't talk like that," aunt said in a sugary-coated voice. "You know nah young girl's these days... haha... when she's excited, she gets a bit dramatic," aunt continued looking at his mother.

"Oh well, well, she's really intersting."

Huh? I think the two of them are the ones who are interesting, interestingly crazy. And then the two of them laughed. Wow. Just wow. Absolutely interesting!

If it was me, finding a groom for my son, and that girl acts like I did, then I would storm away from that house, but these people? Wow.

Then his father excused himself and left. I wondered where could he go? Maybe he had to go to fulfil his... uh... call of nature?  And he's probably embarassed to ask us where the bathroom was.

I internally laughed at my thought. When I couldn't hold it, I quickly excused myself covering my mouth with my palm, and ran to my room. I think the others thought that I was about to throw up. Holding my stomach, I laughed, more and more. I am really crazy. After the scenario was over, I took a deep breath and calmed down myself, then went downstairs again.

This time, a new figure was seated in the front couch. I couldn't see his face, but I knew who he was supposed to be. The soon-to-be-groom-but-I-won't-marry-him. Yep him. Finally!

I marched towards him, I had to look at him. I couldn't wait any longer. How dare he come this late. Just before I could walk further, I was pulled back.

"Hey!" I whisper-yelled. I turned to look and saw Rayzah who said quietly, "Geez Amyrah, don't act rude. Walk slowly. Smile. Sit gracefully. Got it?"

Ha! In my dreams.

I shrugged and went to look at him, with whom Ammar was speaking, more like staring at him.

Ammar gestured me to come, I went muttering under my breath, to reduce my nervousness, and with a 'I don't care' smile. 

After sitting I looked at him. He slowly looked up. My breath hitched. My palms started sweating. My heart beating erratically.

His eyes held no emotions. Blank. He was seated hunched. His hands quivering as he drank water, gripping the glass in a tight hold. His lips pale.

I shivered. He briefly smiled at me. It was just a stretch of his lips. My thoughts clouded. I forgot to blink.

Ammar coughed and introduced us, first looking at me, then at him.

"This is Amyrah."

"Amyrah, this is Rumaan."

Then he nodded, like he agreed to what Ammar said, sat up straight and said hoarsely,

"Rumaan Jaward Siddique."

☆☆☆

A/N

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Learnt steps to avoid marriage? You could totally try it, but I won't hold responsible for the consequences! (;