Chapter 12: Another Proposal

It was 3 o'clock when she got home. She opens the door and sneaks into the house quietly. Everybody was asleep and she went to her room quietly. She lay on her bed and was smiling. As always, she thought about what happened at the club and then at Aaron's house. She thought about how he touched her and where. She was laughing about what happened at his house. He touched her neck and her lips; his hands were on her waist and he was pulling her against his body while kissing her at the same time. It was making her smile because he was kissing her so softly and madly that made her love him more. Then she thought about what she did and realized that she shouldn't go close to him so much because whenever she's close to him, she forgets about the whole world around her. Also, what if something would have happened and she wouldn't face her parents or anybody else. She didn't want to make her parents embarrassed of her. She always thought about her parents first and then herself. She kept thinking about what happened and was cursing herself. Then her phone vibrated, she thought who could be calling her at this time, but it was a text from Aaron.

Aaron: Hey, are you sleeping right now?

Sara text him back, “I can't go to sleep, and you?”

Aaron: Me too, I miss you. I wish you were here with me.

Sara thinks for a minute and then replies. She changed the topic because she promises that she won't get into things that are not safe for her. “Hey, I'm very sleepy and I got to get up early tomorrow.”

Aaron: you just said that you can't go to sleep?

Sara replied, “Well, I'm sleepy now. Bye.”

Aaron: Hey, what happened? Are you angry because of what happened at my house? Look, if you are, then I'm really sorry about that. I'll try to stay within my limits. It's just that when I see you, I can't control myself.

Sara replied, “It's not that I have to go drop Farhan's family tomorrow and I'm tired.”

Aaron: Oh, they're leaving tomorrow, so that means you're not gonna go to school?

Sara replied, “Yeah, Okay, bye now.” She was trying to avoid talking.

Aaron: Alright, then I'll see you tomorrow.

Sara asked, “What? No, you can't come.”

Aaron: But why? You're gonna be alone at home, right?

Sara texted him, “I have lots of things to take care of and I'm very busy tomorrow.”

Aaron: I'll come and help you. Now, just call me when you come back home after dropping them at the airport. It's final and done. Bye, I LOVE YOU.

Sara didn't type anything back, BUZZZZ, “you're forgetting something.”

Sara texted, “What?”

Aaron: Nothing, just go sleep.

She didn't type anything and turned her alarm on for tomorrow. She tried to go to sleep and hoped that she would wake up on time, so Farhan's family won't be late for their flight.

It was eight o’clock when she heard her phone vibrate. She saw the clock on the wall and saw the time, and then she realized that she was late because she had to go and drop Farhan’s family at the airport. She answered the phone, “Hello?”

Ayesha informed her, “Are you awake? I didn’t wake you up because I thought you slept late and their flight is around 11, so still have time to get ready.”

“Alright, thanks. Bye.” She tries to hang up, but her mother interrupted, “Listen, Sara. They’re already awake and they had breakfast already. So, now they must be waiting on you.”

Sara answered, “OK, I’ll be ready in ten minutes. Bye, mom.” She hangs up the phone.

She goes to the restroom and gets ready. After getting ready, she goes downstairs and sees that Farhan and his family was already sitting in the living room waiting for her.

Sara apologized, “I’m so sorry, I didn’t wake up early. Mom was gonna call me, but she didn’t call me earlier.”

Isha told her, “It’s okay, Sara and the flights are at 11.”

Sara said, “Oh, OK. I’ll eat something and then we’ll leave.”

Farhan replied, “Alright.” She goes into the kitchen and finds something to eat. Farhan goes after her in the kitchen. “Hey, I want to talk to you about something really important.”

Sara starts eating really fast, “Yeah, what is it?”

Farhan told her, “Eat slowly.”

Sara said, “oh, sorry. I don’t want you guys to be late because of me and then my mom will be mad at me for making you guys miss your flight.”

Farhan answered her, “We still have time. I wanted to tell you that” before he could complete his sentence, his parents interrupted them.

Isha told them, “I think we need to go now because it’s already 9:30 and we’re gonna miss the flight if we don’t reach on time.”

Sara finished the last piece, “Yeah, I’m almost done. Aunty, why don’t you put your luggage in the car, and I’ll be there?” She goes to the living and takes their luggage outside in the car. They were putting their stuff in the car. Farhan was also helping her parents take the bags out and he was also looking at Sara while taking the things out. “All done.”

Izat said excitedly, “Yeah, let’s go!” They all get out of the house and Sara locks the door. She drives to the airport and after 20 minutes, they reach the airport. They get out of the car and Sara parks it. Sara went inside to say goodbye to them. His parents were checking in while he was talking to Sara.

Farhan told her again, “I wanted to talk to you about something really important.”

Sara remembered, “Oh, yeah. I forgot about it. What is it?”

Farhan expressed his feelings, “I want to tell you that I really like you,” he hesitated first and then started talking to her very carefully, so she understands that he really meant whatever he was saying. “I came here to get to know you and after knowing you, I’m falling for you.” Sara was in shock and she didn’t know what to say and then she thought that maybe he was joking.

Sara laughed, “You’re kidding me, right?”

Farhan told her, “No, I’m not. I’m serious. Well, I guess your parents didn’t tell you anything about us that my family came here because they wanted to see you and me too. After getting to know you, I’m falling for you.” They were still standing away from Farhan’s parents because he has told his parents that he will tell her the truth about everything.

Sara told him, “I can’t even think about you like that. I mean I like you, but only as a friend nothing else.”

Farhan surprised, “I guess your parents haven’t told you anything. Well, and then let me tell you. My father and my father are very close friends, and they were thinking that they should change their friendship into a better relationship.”

Sara was still confused, “What? What are you talking about? I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

Farhan interrupts her, “If you don’t interrupt, then you’ll understand”. She doesn’t say anything and listens to him carefully. “My family came here because they’ve seen your pictures and they really liked you. So, they want you to be their daughter-in-law. I mean to say is that I want to marry you. I know that I should propose to you in a better way, but I couldn’t stay here longer. I want to tell you that even your parents want us to get married and that’s why your father agreed for you to apply to Stanford University, so after marriage, we can go to the same college.”

Sara couldn’t believe what her parents were up to and she was so in shock that she didn’t know what to tell Farhan. She was just standing there, and he puts his right hand on her cheeks.

“I really like you and I mean it from the bottom of my heart. First, when my parents told me this in California, I didn’t want to listen to them, but after meeting you. You changed my mind, you’re an amazing girl. Anybody could fall in love with you, and I’ll be the luckiest guy on earth if you say yes to me.” He kisses her on her forehead, “Don’t think that I’m forcing my decision on you, you have the right to reject me, but if you say yes, then it will make me and your parents very happy.”

His parents were calling him because it was time for him to go. “One more thing before I go, I want to know your decision before you even tell your parents. You have my number and I’ll be waiting.” He runs to where his parents were standing. She didn’t say anything and was staring at him go. He waved at her and told her that he was gonna wait for her phone call.

Sara was so confused because she was in love with Aaron and Farhan became such a good friend of hers. She didn’t want to lose him too, but most of all she was mad at her parents because they didn’t even tell her that they were coming here to see her. They played her the whole time, and she was so mad. She didn’t know what to do. She was still standing at the airport; Farhan was gone already. Somebody pushed her and then she realized that she was still at the airport. She ran outside to her car and drove home. She was so mad that she threw everything out of place. She threw the cushions on the ground and everything that came to her hands threw it on the floor. She got so mad; she wanted to break the dishes and everything in the kitchen and living room. She started crying and talking to herself.

She was looking up and talking to God, “Why? Why does it always happen to me? Why?” She was crying so much and heard her phone vibrate in her pocket. She looked at it and it was Aaron. She didn’t want to answer the phone, so she ignored his call. He called again and again, but Sara didn’t answer her phone. She threw her phone on the wall and it was in two pieces. She didn’t care about anybody now and she was thinking about what her parents want from her. She thought that they always think about themselves, but not about her. They didn’t even bother to tell her that somebody was coming to see her and here she was thinking about them all the time. Whenever she tried to do something, first she thought about her parents and then herself. She always thought about what made them happy and what she shouldn’t do that will make them sad. She always cared about them, but they didn’t care about her. It was 12 already and she was still crying. She heard the doorbell ring, and she didn’t want to open the door. Then she heard Aaron’s voice.

Aaron on the other side of the door, “Hey, I know your home. Come on, open the door.” Sara was still sitting on the floor and didn’t want to open the door, but she loved him and didn’t want him to wait outside the door. So, she goes to the door but doesn’t open it.

Sara crying, “Just go home, I’m not gonna open the door.”

Aaron realized from her voice that something is wrong, “What happened? Are you crying?” She stopped crying and wiped her tears. She ran to the restroom and washed her face. He was still standing outside the door.

Sara opens the door, “You’re still here. You don’t listen to me at all, right?”

“Of course, not. If I listen to you, then I would have not been with you at all.” Sara tries to avoid making eye contact with him because then he’ll figure out that she’s been crying.

Sara getting angry, “I told you not to come because I got lots of stuff to do.”

Aaron asked, “like what?” She looks at him and he was looking so handsome. He was wearing a white shirt with long sleeves. His muscles were showing, which made the shirt look more attractive on him.

Sara swirls her hand around, “Look around.” He looked around the living and of course, she had lots of things to clean because she was throwing things and didn’t think that she’ll end up cleaning them.

Aaron ignoring her, “I was calling you and you didn’t answer.”

“Oh really?” She was pretending like she didn’t know he called. “I don’t know where my phone is?” He went to the living room.

Aaron looking at the mess, “You really have lots of things to clean up. Don’t worry, I’ll help you.”

She was still standing at the door. “I don’t need anybody’s help. I think you should go home.”

Aaron walked toward her, and she suddenly opened the door, “What happened? Were you crying? Because I heard your voice wasn’t normal. Tell me what happened?”

Sara ignoring his questions, “Aaron, please, don’t ask me anything. I just want you to go and I just want to be alone for a while.”

Aaron was looking in her eyes and she wasn’t looking at him at all, “Alright, if you want me to leave, then I’ll leave. Bye!” He gets out of the house and stands next to his car, still looking at her standing next to the door. He opens his car’s door and sits in. She was feeling bad already and thought that her parents only cared about themselves, so why should she care about them, so she ran to his car.

Sara opens the door, “Come inside. I’m sorry, I was thinking about something else, and I was rude to you. I’m really sorry.” She started crying.

Aaron gets out of the car and puts his hands on her face, “It’s OK. You don’t need to say sorry; I know sometimes when you think of something else and then you take your anger on somebody else.” She hugs him so tightly.

Sara repeats, “I’m so sorry.” She was still hugging him and didn’t want to let go of him. She hides her tears.

Aaron tried to make her smile, “Hey, what if somebody watches us like this, then they’ll tell you, parents.” Immediately, she lets him go. He was just trying to forget whatever she did, so he told her that which made her laugh.

Sara was looking at him, “You’re looking handsome, today.” She runs inside the house and he runs after her. They were inside and he held her from the waist and was swinging her around. She was laughing, “Put me down, let me close the door. What if somebody hears me laughing so loudly?” He puts her down and she locks the door.

“So, where do we start?” She was confused at first and then she thought that he was talking about cleaning the mess that she made.

Sara told him, “You don’t need to clean anything.” She grabs him from the arm and takes him to the dining table. “I want you to sit here and don’t move. Okay?”

Aaron told her, “You really do need help.”

Sara said, “I made the mess, and I will clean it by myself.” Puts her hand on his mouth, “Now, don’t talk and watch me clean.”

Aaron asked, “OK. So, you dropped your friend at the airport?” She remembered everything that Farhan told her, and she stopped working and sat on the couch.

Sara thinking how to tell him, “There is something I want to tell you.” He walked to her and sat next to her.

“What is it?” But she couldn’t tell him anything, just looked at him.

Instead, she said, “Nothing” and got up and started picking up the things that she threw.

He got up and pulled her from the arm, “What is it? I know you’re hiding something from me. When I came here, I heard you crying, I want to know what’s going on?”

Sara takes his hands off her, “Nothing. I just wanted to see how much you pay attention to me.”

Aaron sarcastically laughing, “Oh, I see. Now you know that how much I care for you.” She nodded and started cleaning. She picked up the cushions that she threw on the floor. Then she picked one cushion and started hitting him with love.

Sara laughing, “Oh, yeah.” He also picked up another cushion and threw it back at her. “You wanna fight, come on.” They were throwing cushions at each other and laughing so much. She threw one cushion so hard at him and ran upstairs. He ran upstairs after her.

Aaron running after her, “Hey, you. I won’t leave you.”

Sara screaming, “First you gotta catch me.” They were running around the house, running upstairs and downstairs.

Aaron said, “Oh, just wait and watch.” She ran to her room and closed the door. She was gonna lock the door, but he arrived there and started pushing the door to open. “You can’t run away from me, I told you before.”

Sara laughed, “Oh, really?” Then she let the door go and he fell. She started laughing at him and he got up. He caught her by the waist before she could run again.

Aaron grabbed her, “Got you. Where you’re gonna run now?” He puts his arms around and holds her so tight. “I won’t let you go, now.”

Sara told him, “Come on, let me go. I have to clean the mess downstairs. I also have to cook lunch for us.”

“Oh yeah. I’m hungry.” He doesn’t let her go and kisses her close to the bottom of her ear.

“Then let me go.” She tries so hard to make him let her go, but she couldn’t release herself.

Aaron repeats, “No, I won’t let you go.” Kisses her again on the same spot.

“Alright, I’ll make you let me go.” She hits her elbow on his stomach, which definitely made him let her go.

Aaron bent down a little, “Ouch, you’re so strong.”

Sara smiling, “Come on, let’s go downstairs.” They walk downstairs holding each other’s hands. “I’ll pick these things up and then I’ll cook. I promise it’ll be done in ten minutes.” She picks everything up so fast and sees her phone on the floor. She was happy that it wasn’t broken, only the battery came out and she put it back. It was working again. Aaron turned the TV on and was watching the TV. “Hey, Aaron call on my cell phone.”

He dials her number, and her phone was ringing, “You found your phone.”

Sara told him, “It was never lost. I threw it under the couch because I was mad.”

Aaron trying to put pieces together, “So, all the mess you made because you were mad. Oh my God, I need to think about you again because if that’s what you do when you’re mad, then I definitely need to change my mind.” She runs to him where he was sitting on the other couch.

Sara smiling, “What? I’m gonna kill you.” She had her hands around his neck like she wanted to kill him. Then she let it go because the way Aaron was looking at her, made her shy and he always made her go crazy about him. In other words, he dazzled her all the time with him looking at her with love. She turned away from him and he knew what just happened.

Aaron asked, “Are you getting shy? I hope not. Come here,” he held his hand out for her to accept, but she was afraid to accept it because she had promised herself that she won’t even get closer to him anymore. He says it again with more like a command. “Come here.” She goes and sits with him, but far away from him, “Come a little closer.” She moved only an inch.

Sara asked, “Just tell me what is it? Or else I’m going to the kitchen.”

Aaron instead gets closer to her and she immediately gets up. “Come on, just listen to me.”

“I’m so hungry.” She doesn’t listen to him and goes to the kitchen. He followed her in the kitchen.

Aaron knew that something was up in her mind, “Why are you ignoring me?”

“No, I’m not.” She takes things out of the refrigerator and remembers about Neha that who took her to school. “Oh shit, I totally forgot about Neha. I need to call her and see if she went to school.” She picks up the phone and dials Neha’s number. Neha answers it, and Aaron was standing behind her in the kitchen.

Neha answered her call, “Hey, I’m in class, I’ll call in a minute. Bye.” Sara hangs up without saying anything.

Sara turns to face Aaron, “She’s in school.” Aaron puts his hands on her shoulders, “Maybe somebody gave her a ride.” He leans down to kiss her, but she turns away and moves his hands. Her phone rings and she answered, it was Neha.

Sara asked, “Hey, are you at school?” Aaron was still behind her.

Neha told her, “Yeah.”

Sara worriedly, “But who dropped you at school?”

Neha told her the whole story, “Your mother called my mother last night and told her that you won’t be taking me to school because you need to drop Farhan’s family at the airport. So, my mom dropped me here when she left for work.” Aaron puts his hands around her, but she moves his hands away and tries to make sandwiches.

Sara still talking on the phone, “Oh, I see, then I’ll come to pick you up?”

Neha said, “Well, John was gonna give me a ride home and you know I want to spend some time with him.”

Sara smiling, “Ohhh, love birds.” Aaron was smiling at her. He knew that she was trying to get away from him, so he didn’t touch her anymore. “Alright, I’ll let you go now. Bye.”

“Bye.” Both of them hang up the phone.

Sara asked, “Do you like a sandwich?”

Aaron standing by the table, “I will eat anything that you’ll make.”

“Oh really, but now I want you to sit here.” She drags him from the arms and makes him sit on the dining table. He was quiet for a moment, and then he talks.

Aaron hesitating, “Last night, I thought about what you asked me, and I think I should tell you everything about me and my family.”

“OK, so tell me.” She puts two sandwiches on the table for Aaron and he takes one.

Aaron started telling her, “My mother died when I was five and I live with my father. Well, actually I don’t live with him because I really don’t get along with him. So, I live alone by myself, but he loves me a lot. He asked me to live with him, but I just don’t want things to get worse than things are right now.”

“Do you love him, too?” She puts more sandwiches on the table and sits next to him on the chair and starts eating.

Aaron took a long time to answer her question, but he finally says it. “Yeah” and changes the topic. “I loved my mother so much, but after she died. I never loved anybody else when you came into my life,” Looks in her eyes, “Of course, I did have girlfriends, but I never loved anybody because I never believed in love, but when I met you and I knew that you’re the one made for me. That was the moment that I knew what love is and what you mean to me.”

Sara was hesitating before asking him this question and she was picking up the dishes. “How many girlfriends did you have before?”

Aaron told her, “That doesn’t matter; I love you and only you. That’s the only thing that matters, and I don’t want to lose you.”

Sara teasing, “Oh really?”

Aaron replied, “Yes, of course.” She just kept looking at him and didn’t say anything. He was looking at her too with the same love. “There’s more to say.”

Sara turns and washes the dishes, “And what’s that?” He stands up behind her.

Aaron asked, “why aren’t you letting me touch you?”

She was surprised that he noticed, “hmmm, no it’s not like that. I mean you are allowed to touch me.”

Aaron wanted to test her, “Really? Let’s see.” He touched her long hair and then her face with his fingers. He kept touching her face again and again so that she agrees that she doesn’t want him to touch her. “You’re doing well.” He puts his hands around her waist while she was washing dishes. Then kisses her dimple, under the ear, neck, and then goes to the shoulder, but she moves immediately. “See, that’s what I mean.”

“I was just putting this away.” She held the plate that she just washed.

Aaron makes her turn around to him and she was also done with the dishes. “Why are you lying to me? Is there something that you’re not telling me? I want to know what you’re thinking and what you want. Do you even love me?”

Sara looked in his eyes, “Of course. I do. I love you more than anything in my life.” She kisses him and turns away very fast. “Come on, let’s go watch some movie.” She drags him to the living room, “What’s your favorite movie?”

Aaron asked, “Why do you always do that?” He pulls her against his body, “If you really love me, then prove it to me.”

Sara being annoyed, “What? I have to prove that I love you.”

“Yes, or else I’m out of here.” He tries to leave, but she holds his hand, “Please, don’t leave. Why are you doing this to me? I’m already in a big mess and you’re taking my test.”

Aaron tries again, “Are you going to prove it or not?”

Sara asked, “what do I have to do?”