Meanwhile, the Manalo household was a hive of activity. With the responsibility of orchestrating both his daughters' weddings now upon him, Manalo was thoroughly occupied. The plan was set: his younger daughter Kirana's wedding to Yusuf, the youngest son of the Singh family, would take place in early April. This would be followed by his elder daughter Anisa's arranged marriage to Hasan in late April. ⏳
Kirana's union was a love match, blossoming naturally, while Anisa's was a matter of familial decision. Kirana and Yusuf already moved with the quiet confidence of a couple blessed by her parents, though they had kept their relationship a complete secret at the publishing house where they both worked. At the office, Kirana maintained a strictly professional demeanor, addressing Yusuf not as her beloved, but solely as her boss.
One late March morning, Kirana entered Yusuf's office for a work-related matter. After discussing the files, he called her back just as she was about to leave. 📌
"Hey, Kirana," he began, his voice low. "Your parents like me, which is great. But we need to get my parents on our side too. Since tomorrow is a holiday, could you come to my house for lunch? That's when I plan to tell them about us."
"Okay, I'll come. What are your parents like?" she asked, wanting to prepare. 🙄
"My father... he can get a bit irritable sometimes. He's a very principled man. My mother is lovely, very kind," he explained, meeting her gaze.
"Alright then. I'll come around 12:30 tomorrow," she said, gathering her files before leaving his office. 🤞
After she left, Yusuf took a deep breath and called his mother. "Amma, a friend of mine is coming over for lunch tomorrow," he said, informing her. He used the word "friend," his courage faltering at the final hurdle of declaring "girlfriend." I'll tell them the truth tomorrow, in person, he promised himself after hanging up, a mix of anxiety and hope tightening in his chest. 💓