Meanwhile,
Haziqa had her flight for London and on Hoorain’s words, she went to see Azed, mentally prepared to turn him down no matter what and leave to never return.
“Are you trying to flex your Father’s money?” She said coldly, tapping her foot on the ground as they were at a fancy restaurant at a reserved seat away from the crowd.
“No. It’s the money I earned. I knew you were going to taunt.” He chuckled dryly, looking down.
“Why did you call me?” She asked, glaring at him.
“There are things which I believe I should say before you leave, for my inner peace.” He breathed out.
“What?” She asked.
“Haziqa…” He called her, looking intensely into her eyes.
“It truly started as a bet but I fell for you after a month of our relationship. I was so scared to tell you, fearing you might leave me. I was frightened.. To lose you.” He began to say with a deep breath.
“But those people, my so-called friends, began to ask about the bet. I told them it’s no longer a bet, I truly love you but they told you it was a bet and you left me.” He said.
“I had all the rights to do it after knowing it was a damned bet.” She shrugged, giving her logical reason.
“I am not saying. Of course you do. You did the right thing but I want to clear up that I have been a woman after you. They spread rumors to make you jealous.” He whispered, lowering his head.
“What?” She asked, taken aback.
“That is what I wanted to tell you. I never wanted to hurt you, I never wanted us to break, Haziqa. There was no one but you in my life.” His voice broke, tears reaching his eyes.
“Then why did you tell me before?” She asked, astonishment filled her mind.
“You were never ready to listen, cursed me. How many times I tried to talk but you never listened.” He said breathlessly.
“I.. I..” She tried to argue with it but couldn’t. She never gave him a chance of justification.
“I know it was my fault, my wrongdoing. I deserved to be punished but isn't almost four years enough?” He asked as a tear rolled down his cheek.
“Everything they say was wrong, I never did anything then why do you punish me like this? Why don’t you believe in me but the people?” He asked, tears blurring his vision.
“I.. was afraid. To know you might do this again. I was afraid to get my heart broken, Azed. You were the first experience of my life and when you did this, I couldn’t love anyone anymore.” She whispered, voice breaking into dejection.
“And I never stopped loving you, I loved you with all my heart back then and till now and will.” He confessed, sniffling, wiping his tears.
“What?” She asked, voice hitching to fathom.
“Yes. And I know tomorrow is your flight. I might not see you again but there was one thing I wanted to tell you.” He said, taking a pause of incertitude.
“What?” She asked.
“Haziqa, I want to become a better man for you, to work hard, earn my name, take after my Father, take some responsibility and ask for your hand in marriage.” He confessed what he truly wanted to say.
“What?” She asked, body frozen at his unforeseen words, her heart began to race abnormally as he continued.
“I am very serious about you, I love you so much and I hope you could give me a chance to show what I failed to.” He whispered, caressing her hand gently.
She was flabbergasted, impotent to react properly to the abrupt proposal.
“W-What.. I.. I don’t know…” She paused, looking away nervously, hands and mind freezing by the inability to think.
“I am not saying that now. Whenever you are ready but I want you to know that I love you so much, I have never stopped thinking about you.” He said sincerely, pulling his hand away.
“What… if.. I say no?” Mentally regretting asking this, she opened her mouth to correct herself but he chuckled.
“Of course, you have all the rights to reject. If you will decline the proposal I will set then it’s okay. I respect your choice.” He grinned as their food arrived.
“Wouldn’t.. It hurts?” She asked vaguely, looking away.
“Of course it will, I will be heartbroken, depressed but- I will pray you find the best.” He grinned, speaking earnest words.
“And you?” She asked, lowering her gaze.
“I will continue to work and marry whoever my parents will want. You are my only choice if it’s not you, then whoever they will find befitting for me, I will try my best to accept her… and forget you.”
He expressed everything truthfully, not twisting words or emotions, straightforward and sweet.
“But, Only if you reject. I will pray and try my best you don’t but it’s your decision after all.” He shrugged, taking a bite of his food.
“I held a very wrong perspective about you.” She whispered, not parting her eyes from him.
“It doesn’t matter, everyone does. Now, I know I am not what people say. Ask me and I will tell you.. Sadly you never did.” He paused, not lifting his eyes to meet her compassionate ones.
“Azed..” His heart skipped a beat when she called his name.
“Hmm?” Humming, he looked up at her.
“I will wait for the proposal.” She whispered, lowering her gaze shyly.
“You have no idea how much content you have provided me in your words.” He laughed happily, not believing what his ears were hearing, grinning widely.
“I promise you, I will try my best to place all happiness before you, to do everything I could for you, I will offer all my love to you, Haziqa.” He whispered, offering his hand to her, to intertwine their fingers and feel the beauty of it.
“Thank you, Azed.” She smiled, holding hands to feel the warmth they might not feel again as she would leave as they continued their dinner.
Filled with the sound of chattering, exchanging words they never did before.