𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟒𝟖

ARZO

Turns out, I’m not fine.

I didn’t think being away from Faizan would be that hard. I miss him.

Since he left for his business trip, he facetimes me whenever he’s not busy. We don’t talk a lot except for asking each other whether or not we ate or slept properly. Other times, we just stay on facetime and do our own thing. He works and I paint or sometimes he works and I watch him.

Some may call it creepy but I call it being a wife.

I was going to ask him not to go on his business when I realized that I wanted him there on my graduation day but stopped when I overheard him talking to Farhan, telling him how important the meeting can be.

I love that Faizan puts me before everything else but I also want him to focus on his business. It took a lot of hard work and I don’t want anything to go wrong.

I stare at my phone, expecting a phone call from Faizan before I leave the house for the graduation ceremony. I texted him a few minutes ago that I was getting ready but haven’t gotten a reply.

Maybe he’s busy.

Releasing a sigh, I look at myself in the mirror. I decided to wear a simple beige kurti and trousers. I paired it with my beige hijab, golden rings and heels. I'm wearing my dark blue gown over it and my graduation cap.

Putting my phone in my purse, I make my way downstairs. Zahid bhai and api will come to pick me up today.

“You look beautiful, Ms Arzo.” Salma says as I descend the last stair.

I smile and sign, “thank you,” to her.

Salma busies me with a little chat, helping the nerves die down before Zahid bhai comes to pick me up.

With a hug to Salma, I leave the house and get into Zahid bhai’s car.

“Assalamu Alaikum, graduation girl.” api says with a smile.

I smile and greet back, “Wale Kum Assalam,”

“How are you feeling?” Zahid bhai asks before he starts the car. I show him thumbs up then he starts driving to our destination.

Our graduation is being held behind our university building, on a huge ground.

When we arrive, a big stage is placed in the middle of the ground with a podium and a few chairs placed on it.

Multiple- almost thousands of chairs- placed in front of the stage, where family and friends of the graduates will take their place.

We get out of the car, Zahid bhai keeps an arm around api’s waist as support. Api’s bump isn’t showing that much but it's there if you look at it long enough.

“Go inside. Ammi, abbu, mama and baba are on their way.”

I nod, kiss her cheeks and make my way into the university building to meet my teacher. All students go to their classes first as teachers give them a short summary of how the ceremony is going to be held.

After the speech, the honor sashes are given to respective students- including me. And we place them around our shoulders. Then we are instructed to make a queue and go outside.

As my turn start to come near and I start to step near to the stage, the nerves return in my body. I nervously fidget with my rings then look at the audience.

I spot ammi, abbu, mama, baba, api and Zahid bhai sitting together. Behind them, Rose and Bree are seated- I invited them to come to my graduation, they both looked really excited to come.

My body freezes when I lock eyes with familiar ones.

Faizan is sitting in the third last row along with Farhan, Finn, Ryan and Jack. My mouth falls open at the sudden surprise and Faizan’s lips form a small smile at my reaction. Happiness blooms in my chest at the sight of him, killing all the nerves.

“Graduating summa cum laude, with a GPA of 3.9 and above, please welcome Arzo Saeed.”

I snap out of my haze at the sound of my voice and quickly make my way to the stage. Familiar voices of cheers reach my ear- Zahid bhai, Farhan, Jack, Rose and Bree woohooing- as I take my degree and pose as the camera clicks pictures with the headmaster. I sign, “thank you,” to him before I exit the stage, my heart expanding with joy because of the fact Faizan is here.

ᯓᡣ𐭩

Api, Bree and Rose squeeze me in a hug as soon as I make my way towards them, earning a giggle from me. They hand me their bouquet of flowers when we pull away.

“Oh, My God! You were so great up there!” Rose says.

“You have the highest GPA, too! That’s so cool!” Bree says.

“Thank you!” I sign to them.

“I am so proud of you, baby sis.” Api says.

“Thank you- why are you crying?”

Zahid bhai quickly appears behind api when he notices.

Api sniffs, “hormones.” she says then lays her head on Zahid bhai’s shoulder.

Rose and Bree make an “Awwww,” sound making api chuckle.

Abbu, ammi, mama and baba hug me next, congratulating me, telling me how proud they are and of course clicking pictures- more than needed.

“Congratulations,” Ryan, Finn, Jack and Farhan say as I approach them. Faizan holds the bouquets for me so I can sign.

I smile and sign, “thank you.”

“How do you do that?” Jack asks. I frown and he continues, “how did you score such a high GPA.”

“It’s called hard work.” Ryan says, “something, you’re not familiar with.”

“Are you insulting me?” Jack asks, dramatically.

“No, I am merely stating the truth.”

Finn and Farhan burst out laughing and I press my lips together to suppress my laugh.

When the laughter dies down, we all stand quietly. I glance at Faizan who’s boringly looking at his friends.

Ryan takes the signal and walks away. Finn, Jack and Farhan notice him leaving then look at Faizan.

“Oh,” comes out of their mouth and they quickly scramble away from us.

“Congratulations, amar.” he says, handing me the bouquet of lilies and kisses my cheeks.

My smile widens, “why didn’t you tell me you were coming early?”

“It wouldn’t have been a surprise.”

“You’re such a romantic man, Faizan Malik.”

“I assume.”

I chuckle and he smiles. He lifts his hand and caresses my cheeks, “I am so proud of you, amar”

“Really?”

“Positive.”

“Thank you for coming.”

“I couldn’t have missed it.”

I smile and hug him, my head resting on his chest, he places a kiss on my head.

Mama and baba call us after a moment, saying they want to click more pictures. By the time, we’re done, I’m pretty sure there are thousands of pictures in both baba’s and abbu’s phones.

After the photo session comes to an end, abbu invites everyone to brunch. Faizan and I go with Zahid bhai and api since he didn’t bring his car.

We reach the restaurant in a few minutes, abbu already booked a huge table. Faizan and I sit beside each other with Rose and Bree on my side and the guys on his.

The brunch goes very well, Zahid bhai and Farhan crack jokes while we wait for our food to arrive. Jack, Finn and Farhan gang up on Ryan and Faizan on something they pointed out- as always.

Bree and Rose shake their heads and mutter, “men,” earning a chuckle from me. Zahid bhai and api get lost in their own world. The parents are invested in their own conversation through the brunch.

“Are you tired?” Faizan asks as we get up to leave.

“Depends. Why?”

His form a small smile, “there’s a new art museum that just opened a few days ago. Would you like to go?”

I smile and nod, eagerly.

“Okay, I’ll call us a cab to take us there. Hafsah looks tired, she should head home.”

I show him thumbs up. He pecks my cheeks before he goes to talk to Zahid bhai.

“You both are so in love.”

I turn around at Rose’s voice, my cheeks heating up.

“He looks at you so lovingly.” Bree says.

“He’s a man out of a book.” Rose says- which is a huge compliment, considering its coming from her.

“Thank you. You guys will find someone like that too.” I type out.

“Hopefully. Right now, it doesn’t look like it.” Bree says with a sigh, “when you have a scary brother like Ryan, men usually stay away from you.”

“He doesn’t want you to date?”

“He does but when I do date, he scares the man off.” she says then rolls her eyes, “it’s so annoying.”

“It is but in some cases, it’s right because most of the men you go out with are red flags.” Rose says.

“Are you seriously defending my brother?” Bree asks her.

“What? No! I am just saying-”

“Rose has a crush on my brother.” Bree tells me. My eyes widen and I look at Rose.

“I had a crush on him. In highschool!” Rose grits out, “he is not my type. At all.”

“Okay, if you say so,” Bree says and winks at me. I chuckle and Rose rolls her eyes.

After a while, Jack calls them saying that they’re heading home. Rose and Bree kiss my cheeks, tell me “congratulations,” one last time before they leave.

Faizan calls a cab for us. After saying goodbye to everyone, we get into our cab.

I rest my head on Faizan’s shoulder as he interlocks our fingers together and the car starts moving. We drop the bouquets, my gown and graduation cap at home then head to the museum.

ᯓᡣ𐭩

Faizan rented the whole museum for us.

There is no one in the museum except the staff.

“I like being alone with you.” is what he said when I asked why he rented the whole museum.

The silence in the museum actually helps. I easily walk around the museum, looking at every painting. Faizan never complains once. He keeps walking with me, his fingers interlocked with mine.

“One day, one of your masterpieces will be portrayed in museums like these.” Faizan says after a while.

I look at him. Our eyes lock, a small smile on his lips as he says, “In Sha Allah.”

I stare at his eyes, full of hope and belief. He believes in my ability more than I ever could. He never lets me give up on anything- especially something I’m passionate about. He never complains. He’s always there for me. His smallest gestures fill my heart with so much love for him to a point I think I’d burst.

I will always be so grateful to Allah for giving me such a beautiful soul.

I stand on my toes and place a soft kiss on the side of his mouth.

I love this man so much.