“Why can’t you just listen to me for once?” My father said, his voice firm devoid of any emotions. “Why can’t you just let me live my life as I want?” I retorted, as now I’m really tired of these people. They just show other people that they love me so much and care for me so much but it’s all just a show they put on for the world to see.

“You’ve already met him, where’s the problem?” My uncle tried to reason with me, I was watching a show on netflix with my headphones on so I turned the volume to full not wanting to entertain their entitlement anymore, and when they didn’t get any answer from me they left the room in frustration.

Just then my phone beside me vibrated. I looked at it and it was a text from Neil. I decided to ignore it just like all of his messages and calls I’ve ignored this week and he’s still not ready to back off. The audacity.

“He’s a nice guy you know.” Yushra's voice, she has just entered my room.

I chuckled, shaking my head.

“Don’t give me that face.” She said pointing a finger at me, her annoyance palpable in her voice.

“You know Shikha once told me that Neil is so calm like whatever happens he never loses control.” She then said sitting besides me, taking a sip from my cold drink.

“In the start they all are like that and then they all just want control and I refuse to give that.” I replied, munching my chips and dragging my focus back to my laptop.

“He is not like that.”

“And what makes you think that he won't change in future?” I countered.

And no I am not making any assumptions. I’ve seen this in the court room I’ve handled the cases of women who married for love and then in return they got bruises, brutal beatings, slut shamed, racist slurs, some even got raped by the one who was supposed to love and protect them, and some of them weren’t even alive to tell their story they were burnt alive or poisoned or killed by some other means for dowry.

The world we live in is only for men and women?? They’re just for supporting roles for doing household chores to give birth and then take care of those children alone like a single mothers while still being married and God forbids if a man does household chores to help his wife of takes care of ‘THEIR’ child the world reacts like he is doing some kind of divine work while women all around the world do this all the time but then suddenly, ‘IT’S THEIR DUTY.’

As if she has self impregnated herself and then gave birth to that child.

“Leave it, let's not talk about him.” I said trying to brush it off as if my thoughts aren’t occupied with him all the time.

“Well it’s your life but I think you should at least talk to him once before saying yes or even no to this marriage.” She creased my back and left the room.

After she left I sat there on the couch for a long time, looking into the oblivion. Then I reached for my phone absentmindedly, I opened my contacts and stared at his contact for quite a long time, still fighting in my mind that if calling him was a good idea? What if he was busy? What if he scolds or shouts at me when I call?

Shaking my head I turned off the phone and kept it back face down only to pick it up the next second. After some further thinking I called him with shaky hands and when he picked up it was not at all like what I was expecting, “Hello?! How are you?, You know I was just thinking about you.” Came his soft voice from the other end, devoid of any anger or frustration I was expecting.

“You are not angry?” I asked, my voice was barely above a breath, I heard him chuckle at the other end.

“Why would I be angry?, I just said that I was just thinking about you.” He replied, making my breath hitch, there was not even a trace of frustration in his voice.

“Well why did you call? Do you have some work?, or you just wanna go on another date with me?” He asked and I could almost feel his smirk.

“Umm, a-actually my father just asked me if I wanna marry you or not.” I said forcing my voice to stay steady.

“And?”

“A-And just wanted to know if you want this marriage or not?” I finally mustered all the courage I had.

“Is that even a question?” He replied with a laugh.

“Huh?” I said, confused.

“It’s a yes from me.” He replied, making my heart stop.

“Oh-kay, I’ll call you later, bye.” I said quickly hanging up.

My breath was ragged, what the hell, why does he want to marry me of all the girls in the world?

I mean he is handsome, hot and cute even, it's not like he won’t get any better girl than me. He is also rich and powerful and can get whoever he wants then why me?

I sat back on the couch burying my face into my hands questioning my life choices. Then it clicked in my mind, making me smirk. “What if I just marry him to get away from my family and divorce him after sometime and then I’ll change my number address and everything so my family could never find me.” I whispered to myself, my smile widening with each word.

“Fine I’ll just do that, if he doesn’t wanna back off from this marriage then he will have to deal with this problem himself.”

Wow Isha you’re so smart, and also he is a gay so it should not be a problem he will help me get rid of my family and I will help him to get with his Zayn it’s so simple.

But I still couldn’t understand why he agreed to this marriage when he is already in a relationship with his best friend.

“God men are so difficult to understand.” I muttered under my breath, my voice laced with frustration as I ran my fingers through my hair.