No Choice || H.S.

Chapter 9

Harry's P.O.V

Fifteen minutes later, I was parked in front of a house that looked a bit similar to mine but was different a bit from the structure of the windows and had a small garden filled with different kinds of flowers. I got out of my car the same time Tahira and her father did. They entered the house and I followed behind them but her father held a hand up.

"Can you wait here for a minute, Marcel?" He asked and I nodded and he walked further in the house.

"Assalamu 'alaikum."* I heard Tahira and her father say and a new, sweet sounding voice, probably her mother replied. "Walaikum 'assalam."*

"Sara, we have a guest-"

"Where are they?" I heard the sounds of footsteps approach and Tahira's mum came into view.

"Oh, hello. Don't just stand there! Come in!" It was easy to see whom Tahira went after. Sara looked like an older version of Tahira, with the same facial features and eyes. Though Tahira's height was still uncertain as her parents were just an inch or two shorter than me.

Her mum, like Tahira, was wearing a hijab but it was in plain black colour. "It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Sultan. I'm Marcel." I knew better than to stretch my hand out and her eyes widened.

"You're Marcel? It's such a pleasure to finally meet you. You can call me Sara (pronounced like Saara). I'm sure my husband forgot to mention his own name though. I wouldn't be surprised if he did."

I chuckled a bit as I followed Sara into the kitchen. Tahira's father was present but Tahira wasn't anywhere in sight.

"She's just gone to say her prayers. She'll be back in a few. Why don't you have something first?" Sara said and she placed a plate filled with small golden-brown looking... things and I looked up quizically at her. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to offend but what is this?" I asked pointing to the plate and they both chuckled.

"It's called paneer ke pakode. It's just pieces of cheese dipped in a paste of gram flour and water with a bit of chilli powder, salt and some other spices. Then you fry them, ta-da!"

She pointed towards the plate. I chuckled a bit before taking a bite out of a piece I picked up and smiled at her after swallowing. "Its pretty good, Sara." 

I said and Tahira's father smacked his forehead. "I'm sorry I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Omar."

I smiled and nodded and that's when Tahira came in with a rosary in her hand. While passing me, she picked up one of the pakode and smiled at her parents. She nodded her head towards her parents while looking towards me and after a few seconds I got what she wanted to say.

"Oh yeah. Tahira told me about you wanting her married..."

Her parents looked at Tahira a bit shocked and she looked down avoiding eye contact with them.

"Son, as much as I am grateful of you for helping my daughter, I don't appreciate you meddling into our family matters." Omar said and I frowned.

"But, sir, I don't think Tahira should be forced to marry the guy!" I protested. Her mother suddenly  gasped and her fathers eyes widened.

I looked at Tahira and saw her biting her lip. I gaped at her in disbelief. "They don't know?" I asked and she shook her head.

"Wait, forced? We aren't forcing her into anything! You are agreeing to marry Zubair on your own! Tahira!" Her mother said while her father continued calmly.

"Tahira, what are you hiding?" She bit her lip harder and I knew she wouldn't say anything. "Marcel, did she tell you something?" Omar asked me.

I still looked at her before nodding and looked at her father. "She said he's threatening to frame you for theft."