#romancenovel #hatetolove

Rumaisa used to video chat with Hadi every night. There was not very much time left for Hadi's graduation.

That evening, Hadi was having a conversation with Rumaisa. He was telling her about his return. When he heard a voice saying, "Mama, can I go now?" Rumaisa turned her phone towards Masooma unconsciously, and Hadi's gaze followed where Masooma was standing. She was wearing a yellow-colored salwar suit adorned with artificial flower earrings, a floral crown on her head, pink lip gloss on her lips, and light makeup enhancing her pure face. She had a chiffon dupatta draped over her shoulders and a faint smile on her lips. She looked incredibly beautiful, and Hadi was taken aback by her appearance.

"Yes, dear. Take care. " Masooma nodded her head, saying "Allah hafiz," and left. Rumaisa turned her attention back to Hadi and asked, "Sorry, son, what were you saying?"Hadi struggled to find the right words to respond. Masooma had left, but her presence seemed to have stirred up a whirlwind of emotions in his heart.

Hadi didn't pay much attention to that incident that day. He thought it was just a minor attraction that he felt upon seeing a beautiful girl. However, he was greatly surprised by Masooma's transformation.

Hadi had completed his graduation, and now he was planning to surprise his mother by coming back home. He knew there was an extra key placed in the flowerpot by the front door. He took the key and entered the house. At this time, Rafik was at the office, and Masooma was at college. He trod softly towards the interior of the house. The sound from the kitchen drew him in that direction. However, upon reaching there, he was taken aback once again.

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As the world outside was enveloped in a veil of gentle rain, Masooma, blessed with a day off from her college studies, found herself drawn to the soothing rhythm of nature's symphony. The cool breezes, carrying the scent of petrichor, danced through her open window, creating an ambiance of tranquility and serenity.

Leaving her assignment aside, she had gone to the kitchen. Rumaisa was at her friend's house, so Masooma decided to make crispy fritters and two special cups of tea before her mother returned. It felt like Masooma had found a new motherly figure in Rumaisa's form. To her, Rumaisa was everything—mother, father, friend, sister. Rafik also showered her with immense love. Tying her long chiffon scarf around her waist, she began preparing the fritters, humming a tune from her heart. While mixing the batter with the vegetables, her hair swayed gently with each movement.

Suddenly, Masooma sensed that someone was staring at her. She turned around, first feeling a bit startled, then surprised. Both of them locked eyes for a moment.

It had been three years since Hadi had seen Masooma in person. He remembered the day when she had listened to him talking to his mother, and he had been happy. He didn't want any misconceptions to fester in her heart.

After that day, Masooma rarely showed up in front of him. Now, three years later, he was seeing her again, and he couldn't look away. She was not the same girl he had married for his mother's sake and later decided to divorce. She was someone else entirely. When he saw Masooma, it felt as if the princess of his dreams had stepped out of his fantasies and materialized before him.

Seeing Hadi staring at her, Masooma averted her gaze at first, then turned back to her work. "Mama isn't at home right now. She went to her friend's place," she informed while getting back to her tasks. Hadi's stern expression softened, and a sudden smile broke out on his lips. He suddenly remembered that this girl was his wife. He took a step towards her, his heart filled with an indescribable emotion.

His steps seemed to guide him on their own, bringing him closer to her. He reached Masooma and paused, a smile forming on his lips as he gretted, "Assalamualaikum."

"Walaikumus as-salam," she responded with reluctance. She didn't even bother to look at her. She continued with her work; her hands paused for a brief moment as Hadi approached.

"How are you?"

"I'm fine."

Hadi continued the conversation, "How's your study going?"

"Good!" she replied.

"Aren't you going to college today?" Hadi asked. 

"It's a day off," she answered.

Hadi realized that Masooma didn't want to talk to him. She didn't even look at him for once.

His handsome and charming face, captivating personality, and remarkable achievements had always garnered him attention from everyone, and he had never encountered anyone reacting to him in such a manner before. Already, he was spoiled with extreme love and attention. But all of this made him even more rude and selfish. Little did he realize that, not too long ago, he himself had been oblivious to her presence. Perhaps today was the first time in his life that he was conversing with him.

However, her ignoring his presence like this was something he found quite unsettling. The smile faded from his lips, and his brows arched. He started to look at her more intently, trying to figure out if she was ignoring him or not.

As he scrutinized her face, he realized her face exuded innocence and purity.

Just as he was lost in his thoughts, Rumaisa's voice brought him back to the present.

"Haaddi!" Rumasia exclaimed. Since she couldn't believe that finaly, she was seeing her son in front of her own eyes.

Overwhelmed by a surge of joy, Rumaisa could barely contain her happiness. Her eyes sparkled with delight as she extended her arms towards Hadi, her heart brimming with affection. Hadi, his gaze lingering on Masooma for a moment, reciprocated his mother's embrace, the warmth of their reunion spreading through him like a comforting wave.

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Hadi had secured a prestigious job at a prominent software company even before completing his graduation. His career was flourishing, and he faced no concerns in that aspect. Around this time, he had also come to realize that he was genuinely becoming attracted to Masooma. Her dressing, mannerisms, and speech all seemed to align with his ideal. Despite wearing traditional attire like a salwar suit, she appeared remarkably beautiful and appealing. What struck him even more was her impeccable character. He was the only man who had ever entered her life, and he had willingly embraced this commitment. His mother had never allowed any other man to cast even a glance her way. He, too, had never been involved in any kind of relationship. Although his handsome looks attracted many girls, they often ended up disappointed. He believed that all of this would hinder his career, and thanks to Rumaisa's upbringing, he was cautious around girls. He firmly believed that premarital relationships were wrong and disapproved of casual interactions with girls.

One evening, he decided to take Masooma for an outing. He went to her room, and without knocking on the door, he entered directly.

The walls were painted with soft lavender, and the bed was dressed in a luxurious white duvet and pillows. Soft pink big plush in front of the bed. The windows were closed and covered with long curtains. A dressing table with a large mirror sits in one corner of the room. On it, all sorts of makeup accessories were organized neatly. In front of it was an off-white buckle dressing table chair. An entire wall is filled with bookshelves, mostly filled with novels. Rumaisa loved to read novels, and she made sure that Masooma loved reading novels.

Masooma, who was studying, got shocked to see him suddenly enter. She thought Rumaisa had come. However, a frown appeared on her forehead.

'Nice room.' Hadi commented after looking around her room. Then he fixed his eyes on her. Her long hair was braided. She was wearing loose long kameez with loose pajamas.

Her scarf was lying on the bed. Masooma at first grabbed her scarf and wrapped it around herself.

She looked at Hadi. Her eyes were laced with surprise and indignation.

'What are you doing in my room?' she demanded.

Hadi, caught off guard by her outburst,was at a loss for words at first, but he quickly maintained his composure. He said confidently, casually shoving his hands inside his pants,My mistake. I was just looking for you.'

'Well, you could have knocked.' Masooma snapped. She'd crossed her hands tightly on her chest, and her eyes narrowed. 'Don't you know it's rude to just barge into someone's room without permission? Don't you have any manners?

Hadi was stunned to see the Masooma standing before him, radiating an aura of self-assurance that he had never witnessed before. He couldn't believe how much she had transformed over the years. The timid girl who would barely utter a word in his presence had blossomed into a woman who didn't hesitate to assert herself. He was happy to see such changes in her. Once again, he was proud of his choice. He was glad that, even this time, he chose what was better.

'I'm sorry.' he said, flashing his charming smile. Masooma, unfazed by his apology, bluntly asked,What do you want?'

Hadi, undeterred by her curt tone, plopped down on the edge of the bed and said, ' Let's go for an outing.'His tone was more commanding than inviting.

Masooma looked at him with confused eyes. 'An outing?' she echoed. Her brows furrowed. 'Why?'

Hadi shrugged as if it were an obvious suggestion, completely oblivious to Masooma's apprehension.

'Why not? It's a nice day, and we could use a break from routine.'

Masooma remained silent.

'What happened? What are you waiting for? Hurry up. Get ready.'

Masooma's face hardened. 'Look, I don't want to go anywhere with you. You can go now.' Masooma answered. Her voice was firm and unwavering. She got back to what she was doing before.

Masooma's abrupt refusal and dismissive tone stung Hadi's pride, igniting a spark of anger within him. He strode towards her, his movements fueled by his frustration. Without a word of warning, he seized her arms, pulling her to her feet. Hadi's sudden change in demeanor caught Masooma off guard. His harsh tone and imposing presence sent a jolt of fear through her veins. Her eyes widened in alarm as he grabbed her arm, her heart pounding like a drum in her chest. 'Who do you think you're talking to? 'he inquired. His eyes narrowed.

Masooma's breath caught in her throat. Tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill over. Hadi could see the terror in her eyes. He didn't mean to scare her, but his ego was hurt by her reckless behavior. Noticing her distress, he loosened his grip, but his voice remained cold and commanding. "There's nothing to cry for," he snapped, not wanting to admit his mistake. 'Why are you crying?'Masooma remained silent, tears streaming down her face. No one had ever talked to her like this. No one. But he dared to do so. Hadi's impatience grew. 'Come on,' he ordered, his voice laced with authority. 'Get ready now.' He didn't want to ruin his mood. To his surprise, Masooma didn't reply to him. Rather, she bolted out of her room.

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Hadi found himself sitting in front of his parents, facing their stern gazes and simmering anger. His mother, Rumaisa, spoke first, her voice laced with disappointment."Why are you acting like you haven't done anything wrong, Hadi Yusuf?" she asked, her eyes flashing with disapproval. "You caused your wife pain, and you have no excuse for your behavior."

Hadi's father, Rafiquzzman, nodded in agreement, his expression grim. "Your actions were unacceptable, Hadi," he said, his voice heavy with disappointment. "You should be ashamed of yourself."

Hadi felt a surge of defensiveness rise within him. "I didn't mean to hurt her," he protested, yet his demeanor was calm. "It was an impulsive reaction on my part. But you should have seen how she treated me." Rumaisa raised an eyebrow, her skepticism evident. "How did she treat you, Hadi Yusuf?" she challenged. "Explain yourself."

Hadi hesitated for a moment, trying to frame his words carefully. "I simply asked her to get ready for an outing," he explained. "But she dismissed my request in such a disrespectful manner that it provoked me."

Rumaisa's eyes narrowed, her anger intensifying. "First of all, who gave you the right to take her out?" she demanded. Hadi looked at his mother, his pride wounded. "She's my wife," he retorted, his voice laced with defiance. "I don't need anyone's permission to take my wife out." He was extremely irritated at Masooma's irrational behavior.

Rumaisa's face contorted in disbelief.

"Wife?" she echoed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "What are you talking about, Hadi Yusuf? You made it very clear before you left that you had no intention of staying married to Masooma. You even said you would divorce her."

"That was then," he replied."Things have changed."

Rumaisa shook her head in exasperation. "Hadi," she began, her voice softening slightly, "you can't just change your mind like that. You've already made up your mind, and you've hurt Masooma deeply. She's not going to just forget all that and welcome you back into her life."

"What do you mean?" He retorted, his voice laced with a mixture of frustration and defiance. "I'm everything a girl could want in a husband."

Rumaisa sighed, her gaze unwavering as she met her son's defiant eyes. "Hadi," she began, her voice calm yet firm, "I'm not saying you're not a good man. But you are not the man Masooma wants."

"Why? Does she like someone else?"Hadi asked; the thought of her having a relationship with someone else despite being in marriage boiled him in anger.'Shut up, Hadi. What do you think of Masooma? "

"Then what's her problem?" He was relaxed after hearing his assumptions were wrong.

"Hadi, when you told me that you wanted to divorce her, I didn't let her weave any more dreams of you. I told her what the truth was. I told her that she shouldn't think of you as her husband anymore. She was heartbroken. I have seen how much it destroyed her. At that time, I regretted my choice greatly in getting you two married. She had fallen into severe depression. We even took her to a psychiatrist, but nothing helped. However,with our love and affection, slowly she came back to life. Now, her feelings have changed for you."

"Okay. I'll apologize to her." Hadi said. "I am sure once I apologize, she will forgive me."

Rumaisa sighed in resignation, realizing that her son's arrogance and ego were deeply ingrained. "'Well, son,' she said, her voice laced with disappointment, "you may be willing to accept Masooma back, but she's not willing to accept you. She's already made up her mind to divorce you, and Rafiq and I support her decision."

Hadi's eyes widened in shock, his jaw dropping in disbelief. "What?" he asked as if he heard something wrong. Rumaisa stood up, her gaze unwavering. "We've already made up our minds, Hadi," she said firmly. "The divorce will proceed, and you will accept it."Hadi said nothing. His shoulders slumped. He had never imagined that his parents would take Masooma's side over his. But he had trust in himself that sooner or later Masooma would accept him. After all, how long would she run away from him?

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