Story: Internet Matchmaking

“Hmm,” she said. “This needs some thinking. I’ll tell you my opinion later. Right now, I need to eat.” And she went into the kitchen to prepare breakfast.

“Just don’t tell Mom and Dad about this. Just not yet. They’ll make me break the engagement and that will kill her.” He pleaded.

She nodded. “I know you have good intentions. God will reward you and will not let you get into trouble. I have faith in that.”

***

And so, with his sister knowing and agreeing to keep it a secret, part of Saeid’s problems was over. In the future he might get Lania to talk to Khulood but he didn’t want to complicate things. He didn’t want anything to make Khulood self-conscious. So, he continued talking to his in-laws occasionally. However, they had agreed that he wouldn’t correspond with Khulood anymore to keep the engagement Islamic.


After a few weeks of the secret engagement, he was informed that Khulood was losing a healthy amount of weight each week. She was in a much better condition than before and her mental health was improving. She had come out of the deep depression and had even started to work again. That was good news but what would become of her when Saeid finally broke the engagement? There was no way he was going to marry into a family that had lied to him, whatever their intention.

However in another few weeks he learned of another scheme. To help speed up the process, Khulood’s family wanted him to do nikah with her. It would only be verbal, but it would allow him to talk to her and meet with her. There would be no dowry set at present and since the nikah would only be known to immediate family members, he could simply divorce her verbally in the Islamic way later without any consequences. Kamal would do the nikah. And since Kamal knew the family well, he said that there was no fear. “You can trust them. I know them well. I’ve known them all my life,” Kamal said.

“I wonder if I can trust you,” Saeid said. “This is the worst idea. It is not possible at all.”

He wanted to say no outright, but the memory of the car crashing into the tree flashed in front of him. And his words which he had blurted out at that time. “I won’t ever do anything that displeases You God if you save us this one time.”

And a promise was a promise. Would God be displeased if he said no? If he didn’t go through with this, what would happen to Khulood? Was there a chance that she might die?

What will Saied do? Will he go along with the plan? Find out in the next installment.

noooo sis don't do this to me post the nxt part quick!!

this story reminds me of bro fi's heartbreak series

btw the suspense is killing me

Coooome on sister I need to know wots gonna happen next!

Sister! Please hurry up We all are replying like insane people so that you post the next installment soon.

With nothing else to do, he agreed to consider it and do the istikhara prayer. And he would ask his sister’s advice this time.

So he told Lania everything, even the promise he had made at the time of the accident.

“I don’t know what to say,” she said. “This seems very fishy. This could all go very wrong.”

“I know, but it is supposedly only verbal.”

“I think you should talk to a lawyer. A verbal agreement is also dangerous if there are witnesses. They can cause you trouble later. So it’s best to talk to a lawyer and get in writing from them about all this.”

Accordingly, over the following few weeks, he spoke to a lawyer about the situation and got his advice. It was agreed that Khulood’s family would give him a written statement signed in front of the lawyer and countersigned by the lawyer consisting of details related to the nikah.

And so after having the written agreement from Khulood’s family, they proceeded to plan the nikah procession. Four months after having gotten engaged, when their parents were visiting family back home, Saeid proceeded to do the nikah in Khulood’s family home. Kamal did the nikah, and Lania attended the nikah party. It was agreed that this was just a nikah and the wedding ceremony wouldn’t take place until later. However, the truth was, there would be no wedding ceremony ever, as was disclosed in the signed agreement; Saeid could simply divorce Khulood whenever he wanted without any repercussions.

And so he was married. He stayed in Ruston, Louisiana for a week, while his parents were in their home country. During that time, he went out to dinner with his “new wife” and met her occasionally in her home in the company of her relatives, talking about common interests, getting to know each other. A couple of times Lania came along. Khulood was elated to talk to a member of his family. Having met his sister seemed to have done wonders to her mood. It seemed it had added credibility to the whole scheme. She wanted to meet his parents but understood that it would be best not to meet them until she had lost all her weight.

“They are very traditional and want a perfect daughter-in-law,” he explained. “I don’t want them complicating things.”

***

He was glad when the week was over and he could return home. He wasn’t much of an actor and at times tried hard to contain his regret. Sometimes he was angry. Other times it hurt him that someone’s actions could so easily put another person’s life in danger; he couldn’t understand why people did things without thinking about the consequences. From the time he and Khulood spent together, Saeid saw that Khulood seemed like a very normal and even lively person, not to mention that she was extremely beautiful. Therefore, he assumed that the story about the heartbreak being the cause of her depression was true.

Still, he wondered where this would lead them. And whether it was wise to believe the story about the cause of her condition? After all, a family that tells one lie may tell many more. So, once he returned back home, his doubts resurfaced and with them his fears from the deceptive family. And he started wondering if there was more they were hiding. Could it be that the woman was actually a mental patient and not just depressed? Could the whole story of a heart break be a lie? He had no way to know for sure but these new doubts made him more distrustful of the family than before. He hoped that Khulood’s condition would improve quickly so he could get away from them as soon as possible.

Now that Saeid has new doubts, what will happen? How will this affect Khulood and Saeid's relationship?

Over the next few months, he spoke to his “wife” occasionally on the phone and visited them once in a while but tried to keep the contact limited, only as necessary. He told Khulood that he was busy with his business and would only be able to visit her when he was in her state. That was the only possibility since his family wasn’t aware of the nikah.

Two months later, he was informed by Kamal of an Islamic conference. “It is in Louisiana and is three days long. You can attend it as well as visit your in-laws,” Kamal suggested. And since Saeid had to play the part to help Khulood get out of her condition, he had to visit her. So, two weeks later, he was once again on his way to Louisiana. He would attend the conference the first two days and spend the third day with his “wife’s” family.


Khulood’s condition was much better than the last time he’d seen her and her weight was much lower, Saeid saw. Her looks were returning, and he saw that she was prettier than anyone he knew. Pictures hadn’t done her justice. She really had model looks. But he wondered what her mental condition was like. Was she really only depressed because of a failed relationship or was she psychotic? He didn’t know and he might never find out. In any case, he was getting out of this as soon as he could. But would that be easy? Or would there be danger of putting the woman back into the same spot that he was trying hard to get her out of?


Those were his thoughts when Khulood interrupted him, coming into the room, holding a tray with two glasses. She placed the tray on the table. “What are you thinking?” she asked.

“How and when to tell my parents,” he replied. It was better than saying “nothing” which might make her suspicious. And he wondered if she might be borderline. If she might break if he gave her the wrong answer. “I didn’t tell them about you because I didn’t want them complicating things. They are very traditional and weren’t even happy about my joining a matrimonial agency. They prefer that I marry someone from back home.”

She nodded, sighing. “I know I wasn’t in the condition where you could show me to your parents. I’m still not, at 215 pounds, but I’m trying. I know I’ve been a disappointment and I’m trying hard to overcome it.” She sat down on the sofa next to him.

“I’m glad that you and your sister accepted me. That was not short of a miracle.”

Saeid saw that Khulood spoke in a controlled, calculated manner and he couldn’t help wondering if she might be on some medication. He looked at her with distrust. Still, he knew she expected an answer from him.

“Do you remember when I told you about the accident I had. My three friends and I were saved and that was the greatest favor of God on us,” he said.

“I always wondered if that story was true or were you just saying it to make me feel better,” Khulood said.

“It would be best if you weren’t so distrustful of people, Khulood,” he said, hoping his frankness didn’t hurt her. But if she was on medication which he now expected, then whatever her condition, it was hopefully controlled.

“Not trusting people will only hurt you,” he continued. “I know you were previously hurt, and I’m not saying you should trust everyone. But try to stay in-between.”

“I am trying,” she said. “You were telling me about your accident.”

Saeid saw that Khulood passed the first test. She didn’t have memory problems or flight of ideas. He didn’t know why he was keen on finding out the truth about her condition; he had no plans to keep her as his wife. Pushing the thoughts away, he said, “Yes, I was given another chance at life. And when I met you I thought it was a test on me from Allah, whether I would help you through your ordeal or turn you down which might further pain you.”

A fleeting pained look passed through her eyes and he knew he’d made a mistake. She would now doubt his sincerity. To keep her from letting it hurt her, he brought his face close to her. “You know Khulood, I think you are the most beautiful woman I’ve seen.” And he brushed his lips across hers. He hoped she would believe that the kiss was sincere. But no sooner had he kissed her, she stood up.

“I knew it was too good to be true. You are only doing this to help cure my depression. You don’t really intend to marry me.”

Then she ran from the room.

“I already did marry you,” he yelled after her. But she didn’t stop or answer. She just ran and disappeared through the double-doors leading to the rest of the house. It was obvious she was crying, because a moment later her brother entered.

What will happen next? Will something bad happen to Khulood? Will the family blame Saeid? Find out in the next installment.

wow u srsly know how to write mashaAllah

format_quote Originally Posted by Cbdullahii

don't read into the story too much

y not? its just a story

its obivious hes gonna fall for her lol but i love the story..

format_quote Originally Posted by marina28

its obivious hes gonna fall for her lol but i love the story..

lol i was thinking the same

format_quote Originally Posted by marina28

its obivious hes gonna fall for her lol but i love the story..

I hate happy endings. At least one of them should be evil.

format_quote Originally Posted by Al-bint

for example?
those people are long gone....

wasalaam!

hahahahhahaha sooooo true!!!!!!

format_quote Originally Posted by Al-bint

for example?

may be the brother himself doesnt go after model looks