"Aisha, can you do me a favour"I asked as I held my pillow tight in my hands.

"anything, just say it"

"take me to the park"I  suddenly said and I knew she already understood what I wanted to go there for.

"ya ALLAH! Aliyah no! You can't go! You're getting married in a week"

"please, just this one last time"I begged knowing she wasn't going to be able to resist me pleading.

"okay, okay fine! Last time"

"were are you guys going"mother asked as we were about leaving the house.

"hmm,to the park" Aisha replied

"you girls shouldn't be late,you have to be around for the gown fitting"

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

"I will just leave you two" Aisha said as I sat on one of the chair at the park."ten minutes"she added.

"thanks"

"take, liyah it's a necklace my mother gave me to give someone I really care about and I want you to have it because I really do care about you" Fazil said.

"no I can't take it, you can't continue to give me things"i said concerned.

"but why, did I do something wrong"he asked concerned.

"no... It's just that I am...getting married soon"i stuttered.

"no liyah,you can't get married. You can't leave me"he said sounding more angry than surprised.

I still remembered the day I met him. I and Aisha had come to the park since it was our favourite since we were little kids. She had told me she wanted to get us something to eat and that I should stay put. I brought out my guitar since I was bored.

"you play so well"the voice said as it seemed to move closer. I dropped the guitar.

"no you can continue playing, it's nice"

"thanks"i said half smiling.

"can I sit"

"yes please"i replied "I rarely see you hear, are you new around here"

"I come here often but not all the time. It's my favourite place"i said smiling.

"what is the stick for"he suddenly asked curiously.

"I am blind"i replied "oh I am so sorry"he said apologetically and I could feel the regret in his voice for having asked me.

"I didn't know"he added "it's okay, really"

"then how do you..."he spoke but I cut him short"play the guiter"i said smiling.

"inner sight"i replied. "that's some talent,I admire that"he said

"sorry I didn't even tell you my name. I am fazil"

"and will you tell me yours"he asked "I wouldn't have but"i said

"please, one name"he begged.

"fine, I am aliyah"

"I will just call you liyah"he said.

"I see you made a friend" I immediately knew it was aisha talking.

"fazil,this is aisha my best friend and aisha,this is fazil"

"nice to meet you aisha"

"see you around liyah"

"Hmmm, liyah!"aisha sarcastically said.

We talked from then on and he became friends with I and aisha but with me we were close friends. I told him everything and since he also played guitar we had so much in common. I always looked forward to going to the park but I didn't know why. Maybe just because I wanted to see him.

"I just wanted to let you know"

"liyah, you can't please! Let's run away to somewhere far away together!"he begged

"but why would I do what you are asking me to do"i asked confused. Even though the thought of doing that had actually crossed my mind before.

"because I love you!"he screamed.

No! This can't be happening to me! Not now!

"fazil,no!"I said surprised.

"yes, I do love you, I have always loved you right from the first day I met you! I know you love me and you don't want this marriage so let's just run away together"he said.

I didn't know why but a tear dropped from my eye.

"no,please don't cry"fazil said concerned.

"we can run probably on your wedding day when everyone is busy with other things I will be right here waiting for you"he said and I didn't really know what to respond with or what emotions to express.

"we need to go now"aisha suddenly came."aunt, needs us for the fittings"she said helping me up.

"can you give us one sec aisha"fazil said.

"liyah, please let me put the necklace on you at least"he said putting it around my neck"no one will know it was from me"he added"let it be a symbol of my love for you".

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

"you have been so quite since we came from the park what did you two talk about"aisha asked curiously as we both sat on my bed.

"you know you can't continue seeing him apart from the fact that it is haram, you are getting married"she added and suddenly I started crying"oh aisha"i said hugging her

"what's wrong"aisha asked as she released me from her embrace

"fazil told me he loves me! And he wants me to run away with him"i said

"ya ALLAH, this can't be good"

"what did you tell him"she added "nothing"i said.

"do you love him"she suddenly asked

"I don't know but if love is caring about that person, always looking forward to seeing that person and feeling comfortable around that person then maybe I love him"i said.

"this is all so wrong!"aisha said.

"why are you so silent,don't tell me you are planning to do what he asked you to"

"I don't know but such news can kill father. I really am confused"

"you know, Aliyah sometimes love isn't all it takes. It takes something much more than love"