"thanks" I said as mother helped me down to sit.

"will you be okay"she asked and I could see how worried she looked even though I couldn't see her face. Everyday I wished I could see the face of the woman who loved me the most in the world,she was really the sweetest woman I had ever known.

"yes mother, I am, you really need to stop worrying about me, I am a big girl now, I am going to be 21 soon remember" I said smiling.

     "You will always be my baby,no matter how old you are"she said and I felt as she squeezed my hand into hers.

I could feel the atmosphere tense as I heard footsteps coming down and immediately I knew it was dad. It had always been like that since I was a little girl. I remember growing up and hearing stories of how close some girls were to their fathers and how much fathers loved their daughters and I had always wondered what I had done wrong. I remember praying to God every night to make my dad love me because it was probably what I craved most growing up.

"bismillah" I murmured before I started eating.

"aliyah"dad slowly said and I suddenly felt my body shiver even though I knew what he might say, I still didn't want to hear it.

"yes daddy" I replied

"I and your mother think it's time for you to get married"he suddenly said.

"dad are you sending me away,I am not ready to get married"I said slowly but I knew what I  had  said was going to get him annoyed and I suddenly felt mother hold my hands in hers.

"I am not sending you away!"he screamed"you have to get married!"

"dad, don't scream at her" Usman suddenly said"why are you so eager to give her away"he said with a defensive tone. Usman had always been the best brother ever and even though he was just two years older than I was, he never failed to protect me at every chance he had. He was literarily my guardian angel and I loved him so much.

"The elections are"dad was about to finish is statement when usman cut it short"elections! Why always about politics! Think about how she is going to feel!her happiness!"usman shouted

"Usman, that's no way to talk to your father"mother said and a tear dropped on my cheeks and I wiped it with the back of my hand.

"Talk to your children, I lost my appetite already"dad said as I heard him draw the chair back to Stand up."they will be here tomorrow"he added before going away.

Everywhere Was still so silent after dad left and no one talked until I decided to break the silence.

"mother!"I said as I hugged her tightly and tears flowed continuously from my face.

"it's okay darling"she said as she patted my back gently.

  "You really need to talk to your husband mom!life is more than just money, politics and people,does he even care about how we feel as a family. Why does everything have to always be about him!"usman said.

"Usman, take your sister upstairs please"mother said wiping my tears with her hand.

Usman came to me,helped me up from the chair and took me upstairs.

"I am sorry" I suddenly said before he could close the door behind me.

"you're sorry!"he shouted"for what"

"if I cause you guys so much problem and you may probably be tired of walking me around all day and doing everything for me"

"no, I am not tired and I will never be tired. You're my little sister and I love you so much"he said gently.

"thank you" I said pulling him into a hug.

*********************

"Miss,aisha is here to see you"

"tell her to come up" I answered dropping my phone on the bed.

"who's there" I asked as I heard someone enter my room.

"name your best friend, the sweetest one, the cutest one and the most loving"she said

"just sit down already Aisha"I said smiling.

She is my best friend and probably my only friend. Since I was homeschooled all my life because my politician dad believed it was best I stayed away,indoors. I had only known aisha because she was curious about why I stayed in all day while we were still young and she had come into our house one afternoon while we were just eight and had asked mother if I could come play outside. My mum had explained while I couldn't and she had promised to come play with me inside them and she had been my best friend ever since.

"let's go to the balcony"she said helping me up

From the bed.

"do you ever get tired of me"i suddenly asked as I placed my hands on the railings.

"Aliyah! Not again! I have been your best friend for more than ten years and you think I get tired of you!"

"Aisha,it's not that!"I said"then what is it"she asked

"thinking you can have any friend in the world and you choose to stick with your blind friend everytime"

"hmm aliyah! I will pick you over any friend anytime anyday"she said pulling me into a hug and before I could let go I spoke.

"my dad wants to get me married"i said"what!"Aisha screamed and I could feel how surprised she would look right now.

"do you know him"she asked

"nope"

"arranged marriage!, do they even do that anymore"

"the elections"i suddenly said and I knew she already understood me. "ohh"she said.

"but anyway I still get to meet him,they are coming tomorrow"

"tomorrow"Aisha screamed

"yeah, father wants to make it formal at least"i sarcastically said.

"now, I have a wedding to plan"Aisha said

"It's not like I even want to get married now"i said sadly

   "But the sad thing is we both know you really don't have a choice here"she said.

"I know right, let's just change the topic"