"Don't ask her that now?" Aunty Safina said to Ruqayya. Saving me from the Ambush. "life saver" I whispered smiling at her and nodding like a fool. I had no answer for the question and I was glad she intervened."Her uncle would ask her tomorrow," she said, reminding me of the awkwardness I was about the face tomorrow. "she would have to answer that in front of everyone," she said again, my smile fading as she spoke. I wondered why our tradition made the engagement day so hard for a lady. In our tradition, the engagement day Was a day when the in-laws came to the house of a lady with boxes of clothes, jewellery and every accessory you could think of. The gifts along with Date fruits would be handed over to the girl's family as a form of token for request. The family of the bride accepts the gift only after the bride is asked very important questions which are; "do you know this family?", "there here on behave on their son to ask for your hand in marriage do you accept." "Do you
I was so nervous about my engagement, that I couldn't sleep. The whole house didn't sleep either as they were all busy making preparations and bonding. They refused to let me help and I was forced to stay in my room according to them "Brides don't work" "Just rest," they said. How could I rest when I knew what awaited me the next day? I tossed and turned on my bed. Thoughts of the question my uncle would ask me filled my head. how I would answer in front of my family and Ibrahim's family?My Alarm finally rang after a night of waiting, j couldn't wait for it to be morning. I quickly turned it off getting up to pray then rushing downstairs immediately after. I could hear laughter from my room. All through the night, I wished I could join them. I walked into the kitchen to find the whole family, including Jidda and her mum. "Good morning," I said to all of them, standing beside Jidda. She was cutting some spices and I picked up the knife to join her. "what do you think you are
My heart was pounding as I walked down the stairs. "Don't trip" I whispered to myself, making sure to watch my steps. the worst thing that could happen to me was falling face down in front of my in-laws. Ruqayya held my hand leading me into the living room. She guided me to the centre releasing me and leaving me alone. I felt alone as she stepped out of my view. Clutching onto the edge of the veil and staring at the ground."Don't choke" Jamila's words echoed In my mind "Don't throw up" I told myself. Feeling lightheaded.I could heavy eyes on me. I could tell the full room all had their eyes on me. "Fatima, these people are here to ask for your hand in marriage, do you know them" my uncle asked.I nodded hoping they could see me. I was tongue-tied and unable to open my mouth to a yes. "You accept them and their son" my uncle asked and again I nodded, thank you Uncle Faisal for not asking me to say an audible yes, like they did Ruqayya.I guess he learnt from Ruqayya that even a
"What are you talking about" I said, he sounded like he was not in the right frame of mind. how did Ibrahim get such an annoying cousin, I wondered.Ibrahim stayed silent while I spoke to Kabir. "Don't worry about It, congratulations once again," he said. Walking away with a smirk. "Who was that?" Ibrahim asked, his voice was huskier and his tone serious. "Your cousin Kabir""What was he saying?" Ibrahim asked I could sense a discomfort in his voice. "I don't know" "I guess, he was congratulating us on the wedding". "Can I call you back?" Ibrahim said hanging up the call immediately. he sounded upset. As he ended the call I rushed back to my room. I found his cousin Kabir very creepy and weird. "Who gave you this" Ruqayya said as I walked into the room, she was holding the ring Ibrahim's mother gave me. "Ibrahim's mother" I replied, I was sure she already knew that. she stared at the ring awe rotating it to see its detailing. "O!! It has an inscription in it" Ruqayya said l
"What!" I exclaimed. My heart skipped a beat. what was he talking about? "My brother loves you," he said again. moving closer to me as I took a few steps backwards."you are the girl he saw three months ago, you are the girl he has been searching for" He explained, I shook my head in disbelief, Ahmad hates me. "You have no idea what you are talking about '' I said, I felt certain Ahamd didn't love me."Ahmad can't love me, tell me something believable," I said, I thought he was looking for an excuse to call off the wedding. "Is your family friend back, is she willing to marry you instead? '' I yelled, I had seen this all before with my ex, he lied to me that he was forced to marry a relative. 'Why can't men own up to their own decisions' I wondered"I am not lying Fatima, I swear he told me with his own mouth" Ibrahim said, why would Ahmad do such a thing."Even if he does, I don't care. you are the one I am engaged to not him" He shook his head, "he's my brother" "And so what
My heart skipped a beat when I heard Ibrahim's mother's voice. I looked at Jidda who looked back at me, I hope she didn't hear what I said about her husband, my voice was pretty loud. She knocked again when there was no reply, "come in" Jidda said, I shook my head to tell her to stop but she had finished her statement. The door cracked open and Ibrahim's mother walked in. "Good morning," Ibrahim's mother said. looking at me, she didn't have the glow she had yesterday, she looked exhausted and unhappy. Jidda and I got up to show respect, "good morning" we replied. "Fatima dear can I speak to you please" she requested immediately.Jidda nodded. Gearing up to go walk out."no downstairs please, Ibrahim's father is here too," she said as I nodded. I looked at Jidda who was as confused as I was, why are they all here this early morning? Without saying another word she turned around walking out of my room and I followed her. We walked down into the living room where I saw a man in a
"Ahmad is here" Jidda said rushing into my room. 'o! Lord'!' I exclaimed, I had tried not to think about meeting Ahamd. I was sure it was going to be very awkward. I was already uncomfortable with him."Are you serious?" I said looking at the time, it was a few minutes past 4. "You would think he would refuse to come and just let me and his brother be happy," I thought. I picked up my phone to see if I had any missed calls. I did, I missed three calls from Ibrahim. my phone must have been on silent. I missed it. I decided to call immediately, he probably thought I was avoiding his call. "Hello, Fatima!" Ibrahim sighed picking up the call. He picked up so quickly, that he was probably staring at his phone. "I am sorry for the way I behaved earlier, I let my emotions control me" he apologized. After hearing everything I knew it wasn't his fault. he was being a good brother. As always he was being selfless. "It's fine, I spoke to your mom, I understand everything now" I replied.
I asked Ahmad. I was curious. I wanted to know if he was going to continue treating me badly if I chose Ibrahim."I don't understand your question," Ahmad said. staring at me. "You have been formal and unfriendly to me ever since I met you, I thought you didn't like me for your brother and now I am hearing you actually liked me for yourself" "Everything about it is confusing and I just want to know if you would continue being unfriendly to me If I choose to marry Ibrahim or you would treat me better," I said. I let everything out. It was difficult for me to hide how I felt."I am sorry if you feel I am unfriendly to you" Ahmad replied. " I do like you for Ibrahim". "But you can't expect me to be as friendly with you as I am with Jidda or anybody else" he explained."And why not, because I am marrying your brother and not you?" I naively asked, not paying attention to how hurtful and inappropriate it may have sounded until I said it. He smirked, looking at the time. "My one hour