Shattered Vows

28

As I sat there, enjoying the hilarious banter between the MC and the bridesmaids, Halima nudged me gently. "Are you okay?" she whispered.

I turned to her, smiling, but before I could respond, she continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "Zara, look at that man. See his style and composure."

I sneakily turned my head, trying not to make it obvious that we were gossiping. And then, I saw him. Ahmad. My heart skipped a beat as I took in his dashing appearance. He's dressed in a classic black two-piece suit, a jacket blazer, and matching pants. A crisp white turtleneck peeked out from under his blazer, adding a touch of sophistication to his already impressive look.

Ya rabbi... what a man. I felt my eyes widening in admiration, my mind momentarily blank.

Halima's voice brought me back to reality. "Isn't he perfect?" she trailed off, her eyes shining with excitement. I quickly snapped out of my thoughts, trying to play it cool. "No, definitely not for me."

She grinned mischievously. "Good, because I just found my man."

I found myself laughing at her, but deep down, I know that Ahmad was the type of man you admired from afar. He is the kind of man who makes you weak in the knees but also intimidates you with his sheer presence.

As I continued to laugh and chat with Halima, I couldn't help but sneak glances at Ahmad. He is standing across the room, sipping a drink. He seemed completely at ease. Despite my surprise at his presence, it's evident he and Ayman still maintained their friendship.

Halima noticed my gaze and nudged me playfully. "I told you, he's perfect," she whispered. I rolled my eyes good-naturedly. "You're impossible," I teased.

She excused herself and returned with a mischievous grin plastered on her face. "Guess what?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"I don't know, my mind is blank," I said, trying to stifle a smile. Her grin grew even wider. "I found out his name," she whispered, her voice trembling with anticipation.
"It's Ahmad Kyari."

"He's related to the Kyari's, which means he's rich," she said, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "I mean, just look at his aura. He exudes confidence and wealth."

As Halima continued to gush about Ahmad's wealth and status, she dropped another one. "And guess what else?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "He's an Air Force officer!"

That explained the sense of confidence and authority that radiated from him. Though I thought he was in the army. "He's got the whole package - looks, wealth, and a sense of duty and service. What more could you ask for?"

I couldn't help but laugh at her enthusiasm. She grabbed my arm, her eyes shining with excitement. "Let's go meet hi. Hee just went outside."

I hesitated, feeling a sense of trepidation. "Are you crazy?" I asked, trying to pull my arm free. "Do you know how many girls have been secretly ogling him? I don't want to lose sight of him."

But Halima was determined. She dragged me through the crowd, ignoring my protests. What if he said my name, and Halima starts asking questions? I'm not ready to explain my complicated history with Ahmad.

"Why can't you just go alone?" I asked, trying to stall. But she just laughed and pulled me along. "Zara, I need your confidence. Please, let's go."

We finally reached the outside area, and Halima spotted Ahmad standing alone, his back to us. "Let's go," she whispered, tugging on my arm.

But I hesitated, feeling a sense of unease. "Wait, what will you say to him?" I asked, trying to slow her down. She just waved her hand dismissively. "Don't worry."

As we approached Ahmad, Halima called out to him, her voice loud and cheerful. "Assalamu alaikum, I'm Halima."

Ahmad turned around, his expression unreadable. "Are you Ahmad, Ahmad Kyari?" She asked, her eyes shining with excitement.

I rolled my eyes, feeling a sense of embarrassment. Did she really need to ask? It was clear that she already knew his name.

Ahmad nodded curtly, his expression still unreadable. "Well, you see, my brother wants to join the military, so I was wondering if..." Halima started to say, but I pinched her and glared at her. She didn't even have a brother, so what was she talking about?

Just as she was about to retaliate, her phone rang, and she excused herself to answer it.