Dance-Off

Ahmer and Ruqsana once again questioned the wisdom of their parents as they were once again forced to be together for a fancy public event. Fortunately, this time they weren't the center of attention; that honor went to Suhail Qaiser for virtually inaugurating super-specialty hospitals in different cities of Aslanistan.

Of course, their parents had made it clear that all eyes would be on them and ordered them to stay together throughout the event. Ruqsana had learned her lesson from the engagement party and decided not to speak to Ahmer unless spoken to. Besides, she still hadn’t figured out what to do about the reporters and was still irritated by the incident.

Ironically, it was Ahmer who had a lot of things to say as they sat at their table listening to speeches from event organizers. Talking with Roxy got him thinking about whether he should do something for Ruqsana, who was in a similar situation to Roxy.

“Ruqsana?” Ahmer whispered low enough not to be heard by guests at other tables.

“Yes?” Ruqsana was surprised at Ahmer for initiating a conversation.

“Would you like to work after our wedding?”

Ruqsana frowned, “And just how exactly do you plan on helping me with that? Your father made it pretty clear what he thinks of working women.”

Ahmer could tell he had touched a nerve, but decided to push through, hoping his solution would convince her, “My father isn’t exactly everywhere. I was thinking we could shift to a different city after our marriage, like Yarımada or Khaneh.”

“And he will just let us?”

“Well, he can’t stop us.”

“So you want to cut our parents off after we’re wed?”

“More like stay away from their judgmental eyes and live our lives on our terms.”

Ruqsana gave Ahmer’s proposition a thought, “It sounds nice at first, but I see two problems.”

“Really, what are they?”

“First, you’re assuming our parents won’t be able to reach us in other cities. But the reality is just the opposite. You are the son of Aslanistan’s president and I’m the daughter of Aslanistan’s richest family. We can’t escape their influence even if we shifted to another city.”

“We could shift to a different country,” Ahmer pointed out, still not getting why Ruqsana was so hesitant.

“That brings us to the second problem: our parents would never agree to us shifting and living life the way we see fit. So we either do as they say or go against them and make them cut off ties with us.”

“They wouldn’t cut ties with us.”

“Really? Then why don’t you reject your father’s plan to marry us?”

“Because,” Ahmer looked away, “my father threatened to disown me if I don’t marry you.”

Ruqsana smirked, “And you think he won’t do the same if you run away with or without me? Do you think he’ll be proud of you for going against his wishes and helping me get work?”

“So they might cut ties with us if we run away,” Ahmer snarled, “Would it really be so bad to have them out of our lives?”

“Yes,” Ruqsana answered, surprising Ahmer, “They may be conservative and overly controlling, but they’re still my parents and I love them. You, on the other hand, are a stranger who doesn’t even pretend to love me. Why should I risk everything to be with you? Especially when you could just as easily abandon me if things get tough.”

“That’s presumptuous of you. I may not be in love but I wouldn’t abandon you.”

“Yet you are ready to abandon your parents who have cared for you since your birth. What’s a pretty wife in front of them?”

“So that’s it, we just obey our parents and live a miserable life?”

“Well, I’m sorry being with me makes you miserable.”

“You are twisting my words now. I just want to make our married life better by trying to get what we both want.”

“Why is your idea of making things better dropping everything and running away? Even in the engagement party you just left and let me hear it from my parents.”

“For the record, my parents also scolded me for that-”

“Is running away your solution to every problem?”

“What’s wrong with running away? Why shouldn’t I leave what’s causing me pain and start afresh?”

“If you want to run away so badly, just do it, but don’t involve me in your harebrained plan.”

“Tsk! Why did I bother trying to help you? You’d obviously rather be miserable than happy.”

“Your idea of happiness is just pathetic.”

“Assalamualaikum,” Farha butted in, “Do you mind if I join you two?”

“What do you want?” Ahmer asked.

“Well Mr Grumpalot, I want to help you two not draw as much attention as you are drawing,” Farha replied, motioning her head towards the stares of other guests. It wasn’t everyone but people at tables close to them were staring. Ammar was smirking as he spoke to Suhail and Rahila, who were also staring at them.

‘Why can’t he just mind his own business?’ Ahmer mentally cursed at Ammar, “Great, now everyone knows.”

“I don’t think they heard you,” Farha assured them, “but you guys clearly look like you’re fighting.”

“Farha, right? Take a seat,” Ruqsana pointed to an empty seat, which Farha took.

“So, what's gotten you two so riled up?” Farha asked.

“I’d rather not talk about it,” Ahmer said.

“Obviously,” Ruqsana rolled her eyes.

“Whoa! Okay, let's talk about something else,” Farha placated both of them and thought of different topics, “How’s your preparation for the election coming along?”

“You and Ammar are the only ones taking this seriously,” Ahmer scoffed.

“From where I'm sitting, you are the only one who doesn't care,” Farha smirked.

“What happens in the college election? Is it big like a real election?”

“Hardly,” Ahmer scoffed again, “it's basically a popularity contest for a useless title.”

“The student council has many responsibilities,” Farha took offense.

“All you guys do is paperwork and coffee for Mahira ma'am,” Ahmer scoffed for the third time.

“At least I'm doing something more than making anime all day!” Farha bit back.

‘What's wrong with making anime?’ Ruqsana thought, ‘It’s basically one of his only redeeming qualities the other being his good looks.’

“Well, you're probably going to win again, so congratulations in advance,” Ahmer snarked.

“That's another thing I want to talk about. After I win, how about joining my council this year?”

Ahmer sighed, “I told you already I'm not interested in joining the council.”

“You are a hardworking and diligent person,” Farha continued, “your talents are honestly wasted in the Anime Club.”

“My talents are being used exactly where I want them,” Ahmer said firmly, “I wish you would stop criticizing me for it and support me instead.”

“I just don’t understand why you’re so dedicated to it,” Farha asked, “It’s one thing to watch anime as a hobby, but it’s like your entire life revolves around it.”

Ahmer laughed a bit, “I suppose it does in a way. You don’t need to understand the why, just support me like you used to when we were kids.”

‘He’s just like Prince,’ the thought crossed Ruqsana’s mind as she noticed the same passion for anime the two young men shared and the similar struggles they both were going through. It softened her heart towards Ahmer a bit, but not enough to forgive him for what he had suggested.

Farha gave a sad smile, “We haven’t been kids for a long time, Ahmer. It’s time to face the real world.”

“It’s very much real for me,” Ahmer retorted.

“It won’t last.”

“I’ll see what to do about my future after graduation,” Ahmer dismissed Farha’s advice, ‘Though we both know that Abbu will accept nothing other than me joining the party.’

“You don’t have time until then either.”

Ahmer frowned, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’ll see,” Farha turned to Ruqsana, “You have my condolences for being engaged to one of the biggest weebs in the world.”

“Honestly,” Ruqsana replied, “him being a weeb is not the problem, it’s him being a jerk that is.”

Farha gave a dry laugh, “Then you have only half of him to worry about.” She got up and left the table, leaving Ahmer and Ruqsana to decipher her cryptic message.

“If she was here to attract more attention, she succeeded,” Ruqsana said, noting that even more people were staring at them now.

“This is not gonna be fun,” Ahmer sighed, noticing his and Ruqsana’s parents giving them a death stare. Well, Rahila just looked worried and Ammar was smirking at their predicament, “That weasel!”

“For once we agree,” Ruqsana scoffed.

“Say nothing about what we discussed,” Ahmer warned Ruqsana.

“My lips are sealed if yours are too.”

As they mentally prepared themselves for whatever lecture on public image Suhail and Saad would give them, Ahmer and Ruqsana had similar thoughts.

‘I wish I were with Roxy right now.’

‘I wish I were with Prince right now.’