Forbidden Desire. | ✓

(6) The Climb.

A/N: Surprise update! Today's labour day in Canada, which is an official holiday so I thought I'd give a surprise update, yay!

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One Month Later...

"Sahara Akbar." The Dean reads the name out loud. This is one of Sahara's proudest moments. She's finally getting the degree she's worked so hard for. This is something she completed on her own with the help of the One and Only, Allah-mia.

The crowd cheers and claps as she makes her way onto the stage. She walks up to the stage and shakes hands with the females and slightly bows at the males with a hand on her heart to show respect. They take a picture of her on stage holding the degree. And she walks off. This is all she wanted. This piece of paper she worked so hard to receive. But it won't be any use now that she's getting married in a few weeks. She doesn't know if her future husband will approve of her continued work at Vasiliev Corporation Inc.

She walks off that stage, with a lot of pressure off her chest. She did it, she actually did it.

The President of UCL finishes off his speech with, "Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations. At the end, everything is worth it." Applause and cheers filled the stadium.

Sahara thinks about how she feels a personal connection to that quote. She hopes that this difficult road she's about to face will all be worth it at the end.

•••

"Sahara, I want you to meet someone." Her Chachu says to her as her aunt was taking pictures of Ria and Sahara.

The three ladies turn to look at Sahara's uncle. From behind him emerges the dark prince, Damian Vasiliev.

Sahara's eyes widen, she hasn't seen Damian since the last time she took the day off. It was like he's been avoiding her. Now she understands why. This is why. He's the one. She's going to marry him.

"Meet Mr. Damian Vasiliev, Sahara's future groom." Hassan uncle introduces him. "He wanted to see you before the Nikkah (wedding), and I thought it was only fair."

She feels her heart beat increase is pace, her hands starting to sweat. Why didn't she make the connection before? Of course, it would've been crazy that he's the one her uncle chose. It would've never occurred to her in a million years even if the signs were as clear as the moon.

Ria starts choking on thin air when she sees Damian. So this is what Mr. Jahannum looks like, Ria thought. Ria's shook expression matches Chachi's and Sahara's.

Ria whispers in Bangla, "Ay ki kotha? Er poora ga tho ink diya bhora (what's this? His whole body is covered in ink)." She didn't say tattoo so Damian wouldn't understand. She didn't say this out of disrespect but the fact that Sahara's uncle chose a husband for Sahara who looks intimidating compared to her innocent image.

Even though Sahara's Chachi is Pakistani, being married to a Bengali for 30+ years has taught her the language so she understood everything.

Her aunt replies in Urdu, "Apnay sahi kaha (You're right)." to Ria. She turns to her husband, "Mujhay aap saye yeh choice umeed nahien thi (I didn't expect this choice from you)."

Ria nods in agreement as she understands Urdu as well.

Damian awkwardly stands there not understanding a single word. He clears his throat in order for them to acknowledge his presence because he feels disrespected to be talked about in another language he doesn't know.

Sahara's aunt gives him a smile as natural as possible but her shock couldn't be covered. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Vasiliev."

"It's nice to meet you as well, Mrs. Akbar." Damian greets back.