Page 105 of If I Loved You Less

“Yes.”

Together, we walk back to my house, where Papa is just coming out of his car in the driveway. He looks at the both of us, and it is as if he knows.

He sighs, looking up at the heavens.

“Papa—” I start, batting my eyelashes at him very sweetly. If we ease him into it gently, I am sure he’ll be fine.

“I love your daughter,” Fawad says, completely lacking tact. “I would very much like to marry her.”

Papa looks at us, and I brace for a dramatic reaction. He opens his mouth and … smiles?

That cannot be right. I blink, taking a step toward him and inspecting his face. But yes, he is smiling! His eyes are mischievous.

“It’s about time,” he finally says.

“What?” I say, positively shocked. “After all the fuss you made about not wanting me to get married!”

“Well, I realized you must be married eventually,” Papa says casually, “so I thought it may as well be someone of my choosing.”

“Yourchoosing?”

“Yes,” he says, quite pleased with himself. “You chose each other, just as I had planned.”

“The matchmaker has been outmatched,” Fawad says, laughing. “Oh, well done, Mahmud Uncle.” He is just as pleased.

“I cannot believe this!” I exclaim. “Papa, you are so devious!”

“Where do you suppose you get it from?” He grins devilishly.

“But how did you accomplish such a thing?” I ask. “And how could I have not noticed?”

“You are not so clever, after all,” Papa says. “Did you not find it peculiar it was always Fawad I called upon to check on you? When you were sick or scared from watching horror movies? Did you not notice I often left you two to your own devices and retreated to my office so you could better mingle?”

If I think about it now, I can see it clear as day.

Oh, how silly I have been! Maybe I am truly not so clever, after all.

“Well, it’s good he’s so acquainted with our house. Papa, you’ll be happy to learn Fawad is also willing to move in with us,” I say.

This pushes Papa over the edge of happiness into absolute glee. He lets out a laugh.

“Is he? How splendid!” he asks, clapping his hands. “Oh, what an excellent match I made. I knew Fawad would not disappoint me!” He chatters excitedly. “Now, do not worry, for I won’t infringe on your privacy at all. Won’t this be such fun? The three of us, together! We must…”

Papa walks ahead, Fawad and I behind him. I look at the face of my future husband. He smiles, just for me, his hand brushing against mine as we walk forward, into the beginning of the rest of forever.