Chapter 65: Chapter 65

The room buzzed with excited chatter and children ran around the house in good natured game of tag. It was past 2pm which means the knot has been tied. Aydah roamed around the room, scratching the back of her hand nervously. Maryam threw her head back laughing. Ever since aydah heard the announcement, she barely sat down. “Aydah, quit pacing around and come sit, they will be here anytime from now,” one of her friends stated. Aydah hissed and continued pacing back and forth till maryam held her shoulders, thats when she realized she was holding the tears. “By Allah I am not ready. I told umma to tell baba to cancel the wedding but she refused,” she lamented and stomped her foot on the carpet.

Maryam sighed and shook her head. “Do you even hear yourself aydah? You sound so childish, damnit! Just calm your self and get your butt on the bed. You're going to ruin your makeup before he comes,” she said lightly dapping the tears away with a tissue. “You've gone so far not to just give up. Don't you even think of how your husband would feel if he hears you saying such? You know how he's head over heals about you. You'll be fine, okay? i believe you.”

She slumped her shoulders and nodded, “you win, I won't cry again... well not now.” They both chuckled and enfold each other in a gentle hug.

Intisar hurried into the room and pulled Maryam and aydah’s hand. “Ya mahmud wants to see you. He said you should come along with Ya aydah,” she informed them. They exchanged looks. Maryam shook her head when aydah tried to panic again. “You're the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen. Captain Ahmad is so lucky to have such a beautiful wife, Masha Allah,” maryam complimented while she fixed aydah’s veil. They were wearing the same dress. Aydah smiled sheepishly and held maryam’s hand. “Let’s go,” aydah said looking at their friends.

They stepped out of aydah’s room and walked down the stairs to the main living room where intisar led them to. “What am I supposed to do when I see him,” aydah whispered to maryam. She chuckled and shook her head. “Don't you ever see any videos on instagram how a bride hugs her groom the moment they see each other.” Aydah glared at her and looked away. “I’m serious aydah that’s what you’re supposed to do,” maryam whispered to her again. “Fine I hear you,” she whisper yelled as they stepped into the bright living room. Several elegantly-dressed groomsmen were already milling around, each holding a cocktail in hand.

She felt when aydah let go of her hand and rushed to her husband. Maryam couldn't help but chuckle at the way aydah changed her mood in 0.001 seconds. The cheering of the people around brought her back from her reverie. she scanned through the room and caught sight of him. She looked at his eyes, lips quivering upwards. His eyes were so different in that moment, more soft than she knew eyes could ever be. The cold, silent man was gone and instead it was the eyes of one who loves deeply. If she was anyone else she would drop her gaze, but with him she's drawn in closer, always wanting more. Then he walks over to her and held her hands beautifully adorned with henna. “Everything is over and we will finally be together and happy, okay?” Her lips curved upwards as she nodded. Those were the words she always wanted to hear and he finally uttered them. He wrapped his arms around her. His embrace was warm, and his big, strong arms seemed very protective when wrapped around her frail body. The world around them melted away as they squeezed each other, not wanting the moment to end.

He broke the hug and placed his hands on her torso before planting a soft kiss on her forehead. He leaned close to her ear and whispered, “you are always beautiful, Manha, but today.... Today, I simply can’t keep my eyes off of you.” He held her waist and drew her closer. He gently kissed her ear and scanned her face. She could feel the heat growing in her cheeks. By now they must be beyond an attractive rosiness. “We should stop, all eyes are on us and the camera man is here.” She hurriedly said, with a hot blush. She freed herself from his hold but he still joined their hands together. She looked at their hands and couldn't stop her heart from beating fast and the smile on her face. She looked at aydah and Ahmad who were busy clinging on to each other. They seem not to even care about the people around them. They snapped tons pictures together before the grooms and groomsmen left.

**

It was already getting which was time to convey the brides and aydah and maryam’s father instructed. And that was the moment they both dreaded, especially Aydah. In the lit living room sat the two brides with their parents. After almost thirty minutes of advice, the brides were finally taken to their matrimonial homes.

After all her friends and family left, she was all alone in her room. She unveiled herself and looked around the alluring room. The room was like a perfect magazine cover. The couch was grey but inlaid with a fine black silk; flowers embroidered so delicately that they might have landed there in spring and just sunk in, but she knew they took hundreds of hours to sew. The white curtains were linen, the kind of white that is untouched by hands and devoid of dust. A cursory look to the right shows the almost hidden cords that are used to open and close them. There was a plasma tv by the coffee table. The coffee table chairs were arranged around the bespoke table. She has never seen a room with so much furnitures. But It was quiet big.

She got tired of looking around the room and hugged her knees. She hid her head in her knees. She couldn't describe what she was feeling. She was not happy or sad. In some point she wanted to cry but in some other point, she was happy with whom she got married to. The word marriage kept ringing in her head. Like her mother told her earlier that day; marriage is a deep and loving friendship, one in which the love is so strong that each other would sacrifice for the other. It is not something endured but savoured. It is the union of two hearts beating as one, each that would sacrifice for each other’s happiness and wellbeing. It is something so beautiful that in that natural world it would be an opening rose, always with radiant petals ; eft to unfurl to a warm sun. Marriage is a blessing given to one another, an eternal bond of soul-mates.

The door was slowly opened and he appeared. “Salamu alaikum,” he smoothly said. His deep voice boomed across the lit room. He saw the shock registered on her face before she could hide it. A small smile played on his lips.

She could feel her own heartbeat increasing it’s pace.... Every single pound in her chest. The fear travelled in maryam’s veins but never to her facial muscles or skin. She held her knees tighter and peered at his fair face. He has changed his kaftaan from white to ice colour. “Something on my face?” He asked teasingly while he settled down on the edge of the bed. She was in the middle of the bed, knees hugged to her chest.

She couldn't find her voice. She felt her cheeks flushed hot, and her stomach was heavy. Her heart pounded in her throat, threatening to break out. His eyes wandered around her face to her hands adorned with red and black henna. Her eyes still stayed locked to him. How many songs have she heard that said ‘he takes my breath away?’ Now that line makes a lot of sense.

He cleared his throat and reached out for her hand. He held it and smiled at her. “We should pray first before we eat. Mommy told me you didn't eat much today.” He spoke while she stared at their intertwined hands. “That’s the bathroom, you should change into something comfy. I’ll be right back,” he added before letting go of her hand.

Her skin tingled where he touched her and her heart beat erotically in her chest so hard that she thought it might fly out. There were butterflies- no, lions- in her chest, but it felt good. She has finally admitted to herself what she knew all along, but was too afraid to admit it: she loved him. A lot. And she wanted to be with him forever.

The moment he left, she got off the bed and moved the the closet to her (Kayan lefe) pre wedding gifts. She opened the suitcase that had her sleeping wears and fetched out one of the gowns inside and wore it. She also brought out one of hijabs before she sauntered into the bathroom and performed ablution. She wore her hijab and settled down on the couch waiting for him.

He sauntered in after some minutes. He spread the praying mats for them and they prayed two rakaat. They both settled down there making dua for the good of which has came to them and seek refuge in Allah from its shaitaan. After they were done, he ushered her to the dinning room. “Let me get some plates,” she offered but he stopped her. “Just sit and wait for me,” he said before sauntering into the kitchen.

He came back afterwards holding a single plate. She gave him a puzzled look but he shrugged it off. He wasn't hungry maybe, she thought. “We’re going to eat together,” he informed her while he served them. She only looked at him and kept mute. He raised his head and looked at her. He dropped the spoon and sighed. “I don't think you have said a single word to me ever since I came,” he spoke, gravely. “Is something bothering you, manha? You don't look yourself at all.”

She shook her head and smiled, “I’m fine, I promise.” He smiled back and nodded. “Now cmon, open up. I’ll feed you myself.” He gave her a spoonful of the Chinese rice. “You’re too far away from me. Come sit her.” He pulled her from the chair and sat her down on his laps. “Mahmud.... This isn't necessary,” she murmured, struggling to get up from his laps but failed. “Stay still manha or I’m going to pinch you hard and I’m not joking,” he spoke jokingly. She pouted and sighed. “That’s better.... Now open up.” She did as he told her. He made sure she has eaten enough before he had his own meal.

He cleared the table afterwards and led her back to her room. She gently settled down on the bed while he pulled the vanity stool and sat on it, right in front of her. Her heart was pounding so hard that she was afraid he would hear it if he moved closer to her. He stared at her while she fiddled with the ring she was wearing. She was not comfortable with their sitting position. “Why do you look this way manha? I won't bite you, you know that. Please relax, it’s not like I’m going to do anything to you. I just want to talk before you can get some sleep,” he assured her. He took her hand and gave it a light squeeze. She exhaled and nodded.

“I know that.... you have been through a lot and... you're still healing from everything that has happened for the past months. But, I believe in you, the person you will be and the couple we will be together. With my whole heart, I take you as my wife, acknowledging and accepting your faults and strengths, as you do mine. I promise to be faithful and supportive and always make our family’s love and happiness my priority. I will be yours in plenty and in want, in sickness and in health, in failure and in triumph. I will dream with you, celebrate with you and walk beside you through whatever our lives may bring. You are my person, my love and my life, today and always.”

Even when he was done speaking, she couldn't utter a word. She felt the heat rise to her cheeks as he beamed at her. She snapped her head away knowing that if she continued to stare she would get lost in his big brown eyes. She could feel his eyes still on her, she silently inhaled and exhaled, hoping that everything he said wasn't a dream because it felt so unreal.

He freed her hand and stood up. “It’s getting late, you should get some sleep.” His lips alight on her forehead like a dew freckled petal caught in a breeze, so soft and with the smallest hint if coolness. Her heart thumped so hard that she swore it was audible. She stared at his face as he stood straight. “Or do you need anything?” He asked still smiling at her. It was only a smile but it was enough to make her go weak at her knees. She quickly shook her head and snapped her head away. “No, good night,” she murmured, head ducked. “Sleep well,” he retorted before he left the room.

She inhaled and exhaled before she laid down on the bed. She simpered and closed her eyes. His cologne all over her nighty. She inhaled it and smiled again. She never expected their first night to turn out that way, but it was one of the best nights she has ever shared with him.