The tribe grounds were abuzz from preparations for the nikkah that was due to take place the next day.The tents were being put up,the ladies had set up a kitchen area outside with pots big enough to feed as many people as were expected and the carpets were being dusted one last time.

Aamanah sat in her tent as Sawleha applied henna on her feet,her arms were outstretched.She opened her mouth as Nazmeera fed her and she smiled at her.

"Jazakallah,Nazmee."

Nazmeera smiled back at her,"No problem,Aamanah.Would you like some water?"

"Yes,please." Nazmeera lifted up the glass which had a straw in it and Aamanah took a sip.There was a rustle at the tent opening causing Nazmeera and Aamanah to look towards it.Aamanah's face lit up when she saw her friend's step through.

"As salaam mu alaykum,Aamanah." Zuhaiba greeted as she sat down next to her,giving her a side hug before standing up so Aasma,Humaira and Aakifah could hug Aamanah.

"Wa alaykum mu salaam,girls.You'll are late."

Aasma squeezed her shoulder lightly with an apologetic smile,"We are so sorry,we literally spent two long,gruelling hours trying to convince Zuhaiba to come because she was so hesitant."

Aamanah and Nazmeera exchanged understanding gazes at Aasma's words.Nazmeera immediately stood up,she put her hand on Zuhaiba's shoulder reassuringly,"Zuhaiba,sit.Let the henna artist do your henna first."

Zuhaiba shook her head,"La ughti,I would prefer not to have my henna done."

Nazmeera smiled at her reassuringly,"Your father has already confirmed that you are staying the night.So don't worry about anything,your presence is desired here and you deserve to be at Aamanah's side.To put your heart at ease,from what we have heard your sister will not be accompanying her husband so rest assured you will have a good time." Nazmeera tugged her hand,making Zuhaiba sit next to Aamanah,"Get your henna done,you deserve to have some TLC.Let me get you girls chairs."

"La,ughti." Humaira said with a smile,"We can help ourselves,please come sit here."

"Jazakallah." Nazmeera said as Humaira got up from Aamanah's other side where she sat and held out her hands as another henna artist stepped forward to do her henna.

The girls laughed amongst themselves as the room was filled with the scent of henna as others in the room also had henna applied upon their hands.There were rounds of laughter that were heard from every corner.

The opening of the tent rustled once again causing some of the girls attention to be brought to it,in stepped Ummi Jameel along with Ummi Hamza and other women whom they could recognize,they were probably from Hamza's tribe as well.

A chorus of greeting rang out through the tent as those present within the tent noted the presence of the guests.The henna artist moved away from Aamanah as Ummi Hamza came closer to her,a pair of women behind her holding something upright in their hands.

"As salaam mu alaykum,binti." She greeted Aamanah with a smile,Aamanah smiled back at her.

"Wa alaykum mu salaam,ammati."

Ummi Hamza bent to look at her henna,she smiled,"MashaAllah,your henna is beautiful."

"Jazakallah,ammati."

Ummi Hamza gestured to the pair of women behind her,"This is your nikkah dress,tailored to your fit." As the women came to a stop in front of Ummi Hamza,she lifted the shawl that covered it and gasps of awe escaped everyone's lips.Aamanah stood up,her arms still outstretched as she walked close to the dress.

"MashaAllah,ammatii.My dress is beautiful."

It really was beautiful.The dress was a light pink,A-line dress.The bodice of the dress had pearls and crystals all around the lace whereas the skirt seemed to be have made out of silk that shone under the light of the tent.The end of the skirt had a border of the lace,pearls and crystals.What made the dress stand out though was the cape like train which was made of the same material and as another woman of the tribe straightened it out,it seemed to stretch for a good four meters.The shoulders of the cape were adorned in the same pearls and crystals but without the lace,the pattern moved from the shoulder parts down the cape to form an upside dome.Ummi Hamza lifted the cape at a certain part,gesturing for Aamanah to come forward.

"Within these pearls and crystals which we have hand sewn on,your initials along with my son's initials have been placed to signify your union.One day you will be able to show this dress to your children and tell them the story of how your union brought an end to endless struggle." Aamanah looked down,her eyes finding the initials and she nodded her head.

"Naam,ammati.One day this will be a story that will go down in history."

Ummi Hamza may have not found the hidden pain in her voice but Nazmeera did as she stepped forward and lightly touched Aamanah's back,offering the lightest of touch which was the greatest support to Aamanah.

Ummi Hamza put her hand on Aamanah's head,smiling at her,"Enjoy your night,binti.Tomorrow we shall see you at the nikkah."

They greeted one another again,as the other women laid down the parcels they had brought with and they walked out.Aamanah was lead to her seating place once again,the henna artist commencing with her henna once again as thoughts begun to fill her mind.

On the other side,Hamza along with Khalid,Yusuf and Abdullah sat outside.They had a carrom board in front of them,playing a game while outside Hamza's tent.

"So,you are getting married to Aamanah tomorrow,how do you feel?" Yusuf asked as he took a shot and Hamza looked at him.

"To be honest,I know Aamanah and I got off on the wrong foot but we'll have to compromise since our decision has the ability to affect everyone around us.I guess I'm feeling pretty okay with everything right now."

"That seems quite mature coming from you." They all turned their heads at the newcomers voice,they stood up with smiles in their faces as Sheikh Zuhaiba came through the area,his bodyguards taking their places at the entrance.

"As salaam mu alaykum." They greeted one another with handshakes and hugs before they sat down.Hamza looked at his best friend who took off his bisht and laid it across his chair before sitting down.The men echanged looks at the eye bags under Zuhaib's eyes and the heavy sigh he heaved,"Pour us a cup of tea,Khalid." Hamza said and Khalid did as he asked before handing the other men their cups of tea,Zuhaib included.

"How have you been,man?We haven't seen you since your wedding." Yusuf asked as he sat forward,Zuhaib gazed at him with a shrug.

"I've been fine."

"You look like the living dead,Zuhaib.Talk to us." Abdullah commented from where he sat and Zuhaib took a sip of the cup of tea that he held before letting out a humourless chuckle as he sat back looking at his friends.

"My bride was changed two days before my wedding,I lost the love of my life in front of my eyes as I married her sister and now that sister is giving me headaches every single day since we have been married.So my life is shithole.Do I really need to say more?" He took another sip as his friend's looked at him with gazes of pity,"And you know what's worst?I have no damn clue what did I do to deserve this or why instead of marrying Zuhaiba I was married to Aqeelah.In fact I don't believe that Zuhaiba backed out of our marriage because she didn't want to marry me but no one wants to tell me the bloody truth.I do know that somehow Aqeelah is responsible for all of this and I hate that I could not have done anything to prevent this.I don't even think that mine and Aqeelah's marriage will survive because of the fact that she complains about everything.I've tried to make peace with my relationship with her but she makes it so difficult by constantly bringing up Zuhaiba whenever we fight."

The men did not know what to say as Zuhaib vented to them but they knew that had to comfort him some way.They looked at Hamza who they knew was the closest to Zuhaib as well as someone they always turned to for advice,he nodded his head as he put his tea cup down.

"Zuhaib,right now the best thing you can do is have tawakkul in Allah.You can try from your side,do your duty but leve it in Allah's hands.If your marriage is meant to last it will,if it's not meant to last it won't.Just don't loose your trust in Allah and He will set your path straight.As they say what's meant for you will reach you even if it is under mountains but what's not meant for you will not reach you even if it is in front of you.Just stay strong,ughi.Remember dua has the power to change anything and everything."

Zuhaib nodded his head as he smiled at Hamza,"Jazakallah,Hamza.I'll remember these words.Yet I have something to say to you."

Hamza raised an eyebrow,"Which is?"

"I know you see your marriage with Aamanah as a compromise but try and make it work,okay?If this is what Allah has planned for you it must be good in some way.I know,you and Aamanah never got along but now you'll have to work together to make sure your marriage lasts.I know you doing this for your tribe but do it for yourself as well.Remember,tomorrow after you say those three words it is set in stone and she is an amanat in your hands.Her honour is your honour.Her respect is your respect.What happens behind those closed doors don't let your tribe see it,especially the women of your tribe.They will not hesitate to try and pull you'll apart even more.I know that someone must be giving this same advice to Aamanah and I'm giving it to you."

Hamza sat back as well as Zuhaib's words sunk in and he nodded his head,"I'll also remember your words."

That night,Aamanah stepped out of the tent and stood outside.She gazed up at the cear sky,her eyes drawn to the moon as she let her dried henna arms hang by her side.

Tomorrow she would be wed to a man whom she had always despised for no good reason.Tomorrow she would enter a tribe that she would now call her own.Was she ready for this?No.Would she try her best to ensure that her marriage would work out?Yes,she would because this was no toy this was her life,his life and the faith of their tribes.She would not let her parents and sister down,she would make sure that their names were honoured and respected till the end.

On the other side,Hamza looked up at the moon as well as he took a deep breath.Tomorrow's sunrise would bring a new chapter into his life.A chapter that he did not want to turn the page to but would welcome it with a heavy heart.He would try his best to ensure that his relationship with Aamanah would not be affected by their childish rivalry.He made a dua at that moment that resonated with another dua that was being made on the opposite end of the tribe.

Ya Allah,I put my trust in you regarding this matter and leave it in Your hands.Guide me to make the decisions best for me and her.Guide us to have a successful,long,healthy relationship.Ameen.