Chapter 5 – The Prom

Sara gets in her car and starts driving it. She wanted to drive fast because she didn't want to see them together. It hurt her so much seeing that one she loves with her best friend. She was crying while driving on her way home. She was looking back in the rear mirror to see what they were doing. She wished that she were Neha and Neha was Sara. She didn't want to cry, but tears were coming from her eyes like rain from the sky. It looked like it was raining, she couldn't even see the road very clearly, but still, she was driving for the sake of Neha. She felt like her journey will never end. She started having a headache and thought that she was going to faint.

Finally, her journey ends and she got home. Before she could get out, she needed to fix herself to look the way before she got into the car. So, she wipes her tears from her cheeks, but they were unstoppable. She wipes her tears again and cuts the engine. She gets out of the car and sees Aaron's car. He had Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster; it was so beautiful. Everybody loved his car and of course Sara as well. She walks toward Aaron's car and he lowers his window's mirror.

Sara smiling now, “This is my house and I'll be ready by 7. Okay bye, Neha.”

Neha waving back at her, “See you later.”

Sara walks back to her house and runs straight inside. She didn't look back again to see if they already left or not. She gets inside and sees that her mother was cooking food for her. Her mother didn't work a lot; she only worked for a few hours because her father didn't let her work a lot. Sara was standing at the door looking at her mother cooking. She runs to her and hugs her. She was crying so much that it made her mother cry too.

“What happened? My baby. Oh my God, please tell me what happened?” She was crying so much that she wasn't in a state to say anything to her mother. She pulls her back from her and makes her sit at the dining table. She goes to the kitchen again and brings water to her.

“Here, drink some water; you'll feel better.” Sara refused to drink it, but her mother made her drink the water. “Better. Now, tell me what happened? Why are you crying so much?” She was so worried about her daughter and she was about to call her father to tell him that something was wrong with Sara. “I think I should call your dad; you don't look good.”

“no, mom. I'm fine.” She was crying and talking to her mother. “Can I ask you something and promise me that you won't get mad?” She wipes her tears and tries to calm herself down.

Ayesha concerned, “I'm worried about you, please tell me what happened to you? Why are you crying so much? I mean, I've never seen you like this before.”

“Mom, I want to go to the Prom and that's why I was crying because you will never let me go.” She lied to her mother and hid her grief from her mother.

“Oh, my baby,” She hugs her again and laughs now, “you want to go to the Prom Party? Why didn't you tell me that before? I was going to tell you to go to the Prom because Neha's mother told me that Neha was going to the Prom and they're going to have a competition. They will pick a Prom Queen and Prom King and I want you to go. I want you to win the competition and make us proud, but who is going with you.” Sara got very happy seeing her mother happy and forgot about Aaron for a minute when her mother asked her about her partner for the Prom.

Sara said, “Hmm... I'm going with Neha's friend.”

Ayesha asked, “Why aren't you going with Johnathan? He is your best friend, Isn't he?”

“Yeah, mom, but Neha is going with Johnathan and I'm gonna go with her best friend. Okay.” Her mother turns around and goes back to the kitchen to cook. “Mom, can I ask you something else?”

Now Ayesha wasn't paying attention to her anymore because Sara was not crying anymore, but her grief didn't end. “Yeah.”

“Is it really haram to fall in love with somebody?” She thought that she was just asking a casual question and didn't mean anything else. Sara was scared to ask this question, but she didn't have any other choice. She wanted to make sure that she wasn't committing any kind of sin.

Ayesha responded, “No, it's not a sin to fall in love with somebody and even in Islam, it says that if you love somebody, then you should tell your parents and make them understand how you feel about the other person. Also, they have to get you married to the person you love not somebody you don't like or love, and they can't force you to get married.”

Now, she turned to her to face her. “Why are you asking this question?” After listening to her mother, she felt good, but she thought that what was the benefit when Aaron doesn't love her.

Sara casually, “Just wondering.”

“Oh, why don't you go and get fresh? I'll set the table and today we will have lunch together.” Her mother winks at her and smiles.

Sara gets up, “okay, mom. I'll go and get fresh.”

Sara went upstairs to her room. She straight lays down on her bed and started crying. She was crying so that everyone in the house could hear her, so she gets up and closed the door. She gets mad at God and tells God that she never loved anybody like she loves Aaron. Then why God is doing this to her, why can't she be with him? She was blaming all this herself because whatever she did to him made him hate her. Now she was cursing herself for stopping her from being with him. She had the chance to be with him and he liked her before, too, but when she reacted this way with Aaron and Neha was being so nice to him; it made him change his decision. She thought that was the reason he chose to be with her and nothing else. She was convincing herself that he only likes her because she was being mean to him. She didn't want to accept that Aaron doesn't like her because the way he was looking at her made her think that he still likes her, but she didn't want to ask her because Neha likes him. That was the reason it made Sara stop asking him because first Neha liked Johnathan and he liked Sara; now Neha likes Aaron, but Sara likes him. She didn't want her to feel that whenever she likes someone, God doesn't give her the love she deserves.

Ayesha interrupted her thoughts, “Baby, come downstairs. The food is ready.”

Sara realized how her parents feel about her because she never believed in love and didn't know how it felt when somebody loves someone so much. Now, she knows and doesn't want to hurt her parents anymore. So, she opens the door to answer her mother.

Sara said, “mom, I'll be there in a few minutes.”

Now, she decides that she will not cry anymore and try to keep her parents happy. So, she goes to the restroom to get fresh, so her mother doesn't think that she's been crying. She looks at herself in the mirror and thinks that she is the unfortunate girl in the whole world because her true love was in front of her and she was running away from her true love. Now, when she has realized that her true love has gone far away from her. She washes her face and change, then she goes downstairs to have lunch. She forgets everything and tries to live her life all over again. She thought that maybe he is not made for him and that's why it didn't last long.

Sara asked, “Mom, what did you cook today?”

Ayesha answered, “Your favorite dish. You love biryani, right?” Biryani is rice and chicken cooked together; it’s a special Pakistani dish.

“Yes, I love it.” They started eating quietly and then her mother speaks.

“I think you should wear the dress that I showed you yesterday. Remember?” said Ayesha.

“I'll wear anything you want me to wear. Okay, mom.” She doesn't argue with her mother anymore and it looked like she gave up her hope to even live a happy life.

“Okay, then. I'll go and bring that dress to your room.” Ayesha told her. She gets up in hurry and then realizes that she didn't ask the guy's name. “hey, I forgot to ask you about your partner. What's his name?”

Sara thought for a minute and then, “His name is Aaron Lawson. He's gonna be here around 7 to take me with him.”

Ayesha told her, “That's a pretty name and I'm sure that he likes you a lot; that's why he asked you to go with him to the Prom.”

“Mom, please. He's Neha's friend, not mine. I'm just going with him because Neha wants me to go. That's all nothing else.” When her mother said that she wished that it comes true, but then she knows that she can't change somebody.

Ayesha responded, “Alright, I'll go and bring your dress.”

She went to her room and Sara picked up the dishes. She takes them to the kitchen and washes them. While she was washing the dishes, she was thinking about what wrong she has done, and she only asked God for only one person in her life. She wanted to be with someone who would love her so much. She always prayed to God that one day her prince charming will come and take her away, but she again blames herself. She thought that maybe she didn't believe in love that's why she didn't get the love she was waiting for. She thought that maybe if she did believe in love as Neha did, then maybe God never separated them from each other.

“Honey, why are you washing the dishes?” Ayesha takes the dishes from her hands. “I told you so many times not to do anything. I'll do it later, okay, and here is the dress. Today, I will dress you and you will look like a princess. I promise you; everybody will be looking at you and nobody else. You're gonna look the most beautiful girl in the hall.”

She thought about that for a minute and thought that the one should like her, doesn't like her, then her beauty doesn't matter anymore. She thought that if Aaron doesn't like her, then her beauty is useless.

“Okay, mom. Can I go to my room now? I very tired and I want to sleep for a little bit.” Her mother was confused now that she's always so excited about going to the parties and now this was the biggest party ever. She wasn't excited at all.

“What happened to you, baby? Why aren't you excited to go to the Prom? I mean you are always ready to go to any party, but now you don't look happy.” Sara suddenly changes her reaction, so her mother doesn't notice it again.

Sara enthusiastically, “Mom, I'm thrilled to go to the Prom. I just want to sleep for a little while because I don't want to fall asleep during the party. I don't want to even miss a minute of the party, you know.”

Ayesha accepted her behavior, “Yeah, yeah. Okay, go ahead and rest for a little while.”

Sara goes back to her room and lay down on her bed again. This time she doesn't cry because she has decided that she will not cry anymore. If Aaron doesn't love her, then who is she crying for? She can't make him like her or love her. She told herself that if her love is true, then he will come back to her one day and goes to sleep. She hears the alarm and thinks that she didn't put the alarm on, then how come it was beeping? Then she thought again maybe her mother had put the alarm for her. She hits snooze and goes back to sleep. The alarm goes on after 10 minutes and then Sara gets up from the bed. She looks at the time and sees it was 4 o'clock. She had only three hours left and had to get ready before Aaron could come and pick her up. Her mother comes in to see her or wake her up, but she saw that Sara was awake already.

“You're awake, I thought that you're still sleeping. I didn't want you to be late for the party, so I thought I should come and wake you up. I hope you didn't mind me coming to your room.” Sara thought about that and realized that she's always been so mean to her mother and she should not behave like that anymore.

“Mom, I'm sorry.” Her mother speaks immediately.

“About what?” Ayesha still standing next to the door.

Sara making a sad face, “I'm really sorry, I've always been so mean to you and I promise that I will never behave like that anymore. I'm extremely sorry, I promise I will never do anything that will hurt you or dad.”

Ayesha Comes in and stands in front of her, “baby, you're never said or done anything that will hurt your father or me. You've always made us proud and we're blessed that God gave us such a good child, who is loving, caring, and respectful to everybody.”

“Thank you, mom.” She hugs her mother.

“I think you should get ready now or else you'll be late. Why don't you go and take shower first and I'll get everything else ready for you?” she gives a smile, “Okay, mom.”

She goes downstairs after getting ready and she hasn't done her hair. Her mother looks at her and takes a deep breath.

Ayesha saw her daughter’s hair, “Thank God, you haven't done your hair. I'll do your hair today, okay?”

Sara asked her mom, “Okay, are you coming upstairs?”

“Yeah.” Sara goes back and looks at herself in the mirror, she was wearing the dress only. She didn't put make-up on or wore any jewelry. Her mother comes in and she was holding a set case. It was a very beautiful necklace and matched her dress. Her mother gives her the necklace. “When I bought your dress and I also bought this for you. It will look very good on you.”

Sara smiles, “Thanks mom, but I don't feel like going to the Prom. I don't know, why?” Her mother was worry about her again and Sara looked sad to her.

“What's wrong? Tell me, my baby.” She puts her head against her chest. “Are you thinking that I'm not happy that you're going to the Prom? Is that the case?”

Sara immediately, “No, no, mom. I'll go and I promise that I'll win the competition for you. Okay” Now, she was smiling.

Her mother does her hair like a princess and she wore her hair off of her face. She curled and pinned her hair in the back. Her hairdo looked so good with her dress, it looked like she was going to get married. Her hair matched pretty well with her dress. She had a white dress, which almost looked like a princess dress. Her dress was with ruffles and a sweetheart neckline, which looked so good on her. The bottom part of her dress was layers upon layer with ruffles. She looked like a princess when she was ready. Her mother couldn't take her eyes off of her and now she was scared to send her out because she looked so beautiful that people will look at her with evil eyes. So, she goes downstairs and bring red chilies and moves her hand on her head in a circle to take away the evil eyes, if somebody does give her an evil eye.

“Oh my God, you look so beautiful. I can't believe that you're my daughter”, said Ayesha. Sara feels good when her mother tells her that and looks in the mirror.

“Thank you, I'm looking beautiful it's all because of you, mom.” She was not thinking about Aaron anymore and suddenly the bell rings, which reminded her again of him.

Ayesha went for the door, “I think Aaron is here to pick you up. I'll go and open the door.” Sara wished that it wasn't him, but again her assumption was wrong. She could hear her mother talking to Aaron.

“Hello, I'm Aaron. I'm taking your daughter to the Prom and I'm here to pick her up,” Aaron introduced himself.

Ayesha shakes hand with him, “Of course, I know that. Sara already told me that and I must say that you really suit my daughter. You look like a prince and she looks like a princess. I bet you guys will win the competition.”

Aaron smiles, “Thank you.”

“Why don't you sit here?” Ayesha points to the living room. “And I'll call Sara to come downstairs.” She takes him to the living room.

“Actually, I want to take picture of her, and I know that she won't let me, so can you please tell her to let me. Also, if it is okay with you, can I take a picture of you and my daughter because I want her to remember this forever.”

Aaron was happy and smiles, “Of course and I promise that your daughter will always remember this day forever even she wants to forget it, she won't be able to forget it.”

Ayesha looked confused, “Really?”

Aaron explains, “I mean to say that she's gonna enjoy a lot tonight and I promise that I will bring her safely home.”

“Thank you, after meeting you, I feel relief now because I know my daughter is in safe hands,” said Ayesha. Sara was listening to them and she told herself that he is the one that she's not safe with because she was ready to do anything to be with him even leave her parents, which made her feel ashamed of herself. Ayesha calls out, “Sara, Aaron is here.”

Sara answered back, “I'll be there in a few minutes, mom.”

She goes to her room and brings a camera in her hand to take a picture. She goes back to the living room where Aaron was waiting for Sara and stands there with the camera in her hand. Sara walks slowly and comes down; she wished that it would take all night to go downstairs because she didn't want to face Aaron anymore. Whenever she thinks about him or see him, it only gave her pain, in her heart. She hears her mother talk to Aaron again.

Ayesha with misty eyes, “Today, I've dressed her, and she looks like a princess. I mean she always dresses, but today she wasn't feeling good, so I told her that I will dress her today. You know what she didn't even want to go to the Prom with you, but I convinced her that she should go. That's why she agreed to go.” Sara got mad and walked faster now because she didn't want her mother to tell Aaron how she felt when she came home.

“Really? She didn't want to go with me.” He looked sad to her mother.

“Ye...” Before her mother could say something, Sara comes into the living room and stops her mother to say anything else.

“I'm ready to go,” Sara tells Aaron.

When she looked up to see Aaron, she saw that he was looking at her in shock. He was stunned looking at Sara because she was looking so beautiful that his mouth fell open. Then her mother speaks to Aaron. He couldn't take his eyes off of her.

“Don't look at my daughter in that way.” They laugh, but Aaron couldn't take his eyes off of her. “Sara, come here; I want to take your picture with Aaron.” She brings her to stand next to Aaron, who was looking at her, but Sara was looking on the floor. She didn't lift her eyes from the floor when she came down except when she said that she was ready to go.

“Mom, what are you doing?” She gets mad at her mother for no reason because whenever she sees Aaron, he reminds her of whatever happened to her.

“I want to take your picture with Aaron; you guys look like real prince and princess.” Aaron was smiling and Sara got madder.

“No, mom. I don't want to take a picture, please. Mom, I just don't want to.” Aaron speaks, “Why don't you let her take a picture? It's just a picture, nothing else.” Sara looks at him and rolls her eyes.

“Okay, fine, but only one picture.” Her mother gets really happy and sees that Aaron asked her only once and she said yes. Her mother takes the picture and takes another snap, “Mom, stop it now.”

“Baby, you're not smiling, so the picture is not coming out nice. Please, smile.” Sara gets even madder because she wanted to go to the Prom and get over with everything and come back home fast.

“Okay, mom. You just have five minutes, and you can take as many pictures as possible you want, but after that, I'm leaving from here.” Aaron was smiling and he didn't say anything because he didn't want to have a bad impression in front of her mother. So, he stayed quiet and took pictures with Sara. Her mother takes a picture and after a picture.

“Sara, why don't you come a little closer to him because you're too far away from him.” Sara gets annoyed and gives her mother a bad look. “Please, this is the last picture.”

“No, mom. That's enough.” She walks to the door, suddenly Aaron pulls her from the arm next to him and tells her mother.

“Please, take the picture, now.” Sara was looking at Aaron and didn't say anything to him. “Please look at the camera.” They look at the camera and coincidently, this picture comes out to be the best picture of all the pictures her mother took. She was smiling and her dimple looked so good in her picture.

Ayesha excitedly, “Oh My, it's the best picture that came out. Well, I think you should go now. I'm sorry, Aaron. I took so much time of yours.”

“I'll come home early, don't worry. I don't think it's gonna be fun at all because Johnathan told me that it's gonna be boring.” Aaron disagrees with her, “No, it's gonna be lots of fun. I'm pretty sure.”

They leave the house and her mother see that Aaron brought a black limousine to take Sara to the Prom. She was so happy for her daughter because she thought that she was going to have lots of fun but didn't know what her daughter was going through. They were standing outside the house and Aaron asked for her hand, but Sara refused to give her hand. He looked mad but didn't say anything because her mother was standing outside. Aaron opens the door and Sara waves at her mother, get in the car. Sara wasn't surprised by him bringing a limo because he looked rich to him and he proved it by bringing a limo. They sat and the driver drove off. Aaron was still mad at Sara for whatever she did just before a few minutes ago.

“Why did you do that?” He said that in an angry tone.

“Why are you getting mad at me? I'm not your girlfriend and why should I hold your hand for? I'm only going to hold my boyfriend's hand.” Aaron was sitting in front of her.

“Oh, really?” Still angry at her and looks out the window. Sara had lots of questions in her mind and wanted to ask him, but he was mad. Still, she wanted to ask him before they reach the hall.

“If you don't mind, can I ask you something?” He didn't turn around to look at her. “I know that you're mad, but you need to understand that you are my friend's boyfriend, not mine. Okay, if you still don't want to talk to me that's fine with me.” She also looks out the window and Aaron calm himself and takes a deep breath.

“What you want to ask me?” Attractively looking at her.

She also looks at him, “How did you guys suddenly...” pause for a minute. “I mean to say that do you love Neha?” Now he was smiling and looking into Sara's eyes.

“Yes, I love her a lot more than anything in the world.” He told her that he was in love with her, which made her forget all the questions she had for him. They were looking into each other's eyes for a little bit and then Sara thought about another question before she again felt weak.

“hmm... Why do you love her so much?” Still looking into each other eyes.

“I love her because she's caring, loving, and she's beautiful. When I saw her for the first time, I fall in love with her. It was love at first sight.” Sara felt jealous because she wanted him to love her not Neha.

“Oh, love at first sight” again looks out the window.

“Can I ask you something?” Sara wondered what will he ask her?

“Yeah, sure.”

“Do you have a boyfriend?” Sara started laughing and her dimple appeared again.

“Neha didn't tell you; I don't believe in this boyfriend and girlfriend thing. I think it's just to complete your needs and nothing else. There is no such word love exist in this world.” Now, she knew what love is and what it means.

“What if somebody loves you so much and wants to be with you? Are you still going to say no to that person?” He wanted to know if she would say yes to him or not.

“I don't know what I will do.” She didn't think about anybody else and now there was no space for anybody else in her heart except Aaron.

Aaron had wine in his limo, and he started drinking, “Can I ask you another personal question?”

She turns and sees that he was drinking, “You drink?”

“Yeah, sometimes when I'm very happy or when I'm very upset.”

Sara smiled, “Are you happy right now or upset?”

Aaron replied, “I'm with you, so I can't be upset.” At first, she liked it when he said that and then she realized that he's Neha's boyfriend.

“What?”

Aaron laughed, “I was just joking. Now, my turn.” She nods her head. “Are you ever going to fall in love with somebody?”

She thought about telling him that she loves him but stops herself. She changes the topic. “When are we going to reach there?”

Aaron answered, “In about ten minutes, and don't change the topic. Please, tell me. Are you ever going to fall in love with somebody?”

“Why do you want to know that? I don't know the answer to that question myself, then how can I tell you.”

Aaron sat back in his seat again, “Alright, that's a good excuse to get yourself out of the trouble.” She wanted to reach at the party because he was asking so many questions that she didn't have answers for. “Another question? If that's okay with you?”

“Yeah, sure.” She didn't want to say that, but she didn't want to be mean to him because he was Neha's boyfriend.

“What kind of guy do you like?” She didn't want to answer that because she wanted a guy like him.

Sara said, “I want a guy like you.” He smiled and Sara looked at him because she wanted to see his expression and see what he would say about that. Suddenly, she laughs aloud. “Got you. I was joking, you think only you could crack a joke.” Laughs again and turns to look out the window again.

He was looking at her the whole time. “If you want a guy like me, then leave it to me. I promise you that I will find a guy exactly like me.” Sara looks at him and smiled.

“You tell me, is Neha the girl you've always been looking for?” He didn't answer her question for a minute.

“I think you shouldn't ask me this question because you already know the answer to it,” Aaron replied.

“Yeah, of course. Neha is the one.” Aaron disagreed, “No, wrong.”

She was thinking now, “then?”

Aaron said, “I'll tell you about it, later.”

She asked, “Why not now?”

Aaron told her, “I want to tell the whole world about it.” Sara was angry now because she knew that Neha is the one for him and it made her heart cry out, which she can't do because Neha is her best friend.

“As you wish.”

They finally reach the parking lot and both of them think that it will take them the whole night to find a parking space.

Sara finally said, “I think we're gonna spend the whole night finding a parking space.” Laughs and remembered the night that she spent like half an hour find a parking spot.

Aaron under his breath, “I wish.”

Sara asked, “What did you say? I couldn't hear you.”

“Nothing and we've found a parking spot very easily today.”

Aaron gets out first and opens the door for her. Sara held her hand out for Aaron to hold and he holds her hand to take her out of the car. She steps out of the car and still holding Aaron's hand. He closed the door with the other hand and doesn't leave Sara's hand. Sara didn't want to leave his hand as well and walks with him in the hall with holding each other’s hand. They reach the gate, and the principal was standing there.

Mr. Patrick said, “Hello, Sara. You're looking beautiful.”

Sara smiled, “Thank you.”

Mr. Patrick looked at Aaron and forgot about him, “and he is?”

“This is Aaron, my date for tonight. You forgot about him; he came to meet you the other day.” She felt good saying that and Aaron as well, but he wanted her to say my boyfriend to Mr. Patrick instead of a date only for tonight.

Mr. Patrick said, “oh yes, of course, how can I forget him. well, I must say that both of you look good together. Made for each other.”

Sara rolls her eyes and doesn't say anything and walks inside with Aaron. They were still holding hands and Sara sees Neha with Johnathan, immediately leaves Aaron's hand. He looks at her confused because he didn't know that she saw Neha. He wanted to hold her hand again and reaches to hold her hand, but Neha and Johnathan come there.

“Hi, you're looking so handsome.” Looks at Aaron first and then Sara, “Oh my God, you look like a princess, Sara.”

Sara replied, “Thank you, but you're looking more beautiful than I do.” Sara goes to stand beside Johnathan. “Hi, Johnathan.” He didn't want to talk to her because she refused to go with him and then she was coming with this guy.

Johnathan told her in a calming voice, “I don't want to talk to you.” He walks away from them and Sara looks at Aaron and Neha, then goes after John. Neha tries to stop her, but she doesn't listen to her and goes after John.

Sara grabbed his arm, “John, please stop. I'm really sorry but just listen to me one time. I promise that you'll understand why I did this?” John stops and turns to her to listen to her. He looks at her for her to say something, but she was quiet for a minute and then talks.

“I did this for Neha because she...” Neha interrupts her and takes her from there.

Neha asked her, “What were you doing?” Sara was confused because she didn't know what Neha was talking about.

“Why? What happened?” Before Neha could tell her the truth, Aaron comes next to her and whispers in her ear not to tell her the truth because he wanted to tell her on his own.

“Why don't you come with me and I'll explain to you everything?” Reaching for Sara's hand and taking her for a dance and Neha goes back to Johnathan, Sara was still standing there and calling Neha. “Neha, what's going on?”

Aaron told her, “I said that I'll explain everything, come with me.”

Sara goes with him and he takes her to the center of the hall for a dance, where soft music was playing, and the lights were dim. Before he could dance with her, Mr. Patrick came on the stage to announce The Home Coming Queen and King. Sara didn't want that because she wanted to spend some time with Aaron. But nobody could stop Mr. Patrick or anybody else in the hall because everybody in the hall was dying to know who is going to be The Queen and The King.