CHAPTER | TEN | UMAYMAH | POV

Friday had finally rolled around and knowing that I would get to see the house I'm going to be sharing with Shoaib from tomorrow was exciting. As much as I hated that we'd been bought a house, it did take away the stress of having to be modest even at home in front of my in laws. Not that I minded.

What I minded was that from tomorrow I would have to be sharing a whole house with a boy, which I've never experienced before. But there was no point of making a deal out of it as I knew this day was going to come sooner or later. I tried not to dwell on that part too much as I placed my shoes back on after Jummah prayer.

Assia finally showed up to school after her no show yesterday. Consequently she got my history textbook thrown at her - good thing she missed it. Now I just stood impatiently waiting for her to finish talking to one of the many girls who had just finished praying with us. It felt like forever until she moved towards me.

"You should learn to be more patient you know." I simply glared at her but grabbed her hand and more or less ran out of school. We couldn't go to the masjid for Jummah since it was during school times.

"I would if I could, but I can't so I shan't." I quoted Sheldon from 'Big Bang Theory' and she laughed. A few minutes later I joined in too.

"Okay, so I get that you're excited to go see this new house of yours but do you mind not shoving me into people along the way?" I have her a sheepish smile not realising that me rushing has caused her to bump into a few people.

I asked Assia if she wanted to come with me but she insisted that she needed to help with the wedding. Again I was disappointed but I was still happy of her putting so much effort into my own wedding than I was even allowed to. My smile grew wider knowing she wanted the best for me.

"Sorry man I'm just anxious. You sure you don't wanna tag along?" Silently I prayed that she changed that stubborn mind of hers to accompany her best friend in seeing the house she'd have to be sharing from tomorrow with a very intimidating boy.

I realised that even though I wasn't scared of him, I was still intimidated by the things he did or how he spoke to me. It made me restless to know how he could be angry one minute and then calm the next - but I guess we all have bad days. His just seemed to be all year round.

"Nope. Have loads to do before tomorrow. By the way don't forget to wake up bright and early tomorrow; I won't be going easy on you with the make up." I groaned out loud. There was no regret from me to let Assia do my make up because she knew exactly how to apply the substances and make you look flawless while doing it. Unlike me; unskilled unless it came to eyeliner. I would never let her touch my face even on special occasions but tomorrow topped the list of being a 'special' occasion.

"I promise to be up early. Not that I'll get any sleep anyway." I grumbled but knew she heard my from the chuckle she threw in my direction.

We came to a stop in front of aunty Aliza's house and like she'd been doing all week, she went inside the house saying she would call my future mother in law out so we could go. I sighed and leaning against the side of the door thinking how fast this week had gone and that tomorrow I would be a married woman.

Apart from yesterday I hadn't seen or talked to Shoaib for the whole week and that made me curious, because I didn't know how he was feeling about this. Sure he agreed, but why?

"Asalaamalaikum Umaymah, ready to go?" I turned around and gave my future mother in law a smile and a hug.

"Walaikumasalaam, yeah let's do this!" I half shouted in enthusiasm and she shook her head but walked towards her car while I followed behind her. It was way too generous of her to do this, however she wouldn't take no for an answer when it came to the house.

The car started and she informed me that the house was just on the outside of town, nearing the next but it's only about half an hour from where we lived now. To be honest I didn't think it would be that far and was quite surprised.

"Half an hour? That desperate to get rid of us huh?" I joked. It was amazing how easily I could talk to her like she was a friend rather than my soon to be mother in law.

"Of course. Why else would it be so far?" We both let out a laugh and she rolled her eyes as the car came to a stop.

My gaze shifted from aunty Aliza to the house in front of us while we both stepped out. She gave me a moment to take in the appearance and I honestly needed it. The fact that the house they'd chosen to buy looked astonishing outside made me wonder what it looked like from the inside. All I could tell was that it was a two story house.

"Let's go inside and we'll look around. Your suitcases are here so we might as well unpack your clothes and if there's anything you don't like, you tell me straight away, okay?"

"Yes mother, now let's go."

She had a key already waiting in her hand and she unlocked the door, pushing it open so we both could go in. The lights were already switched on surprisingly and I couldn't help the smile on my face. A passageway led to the kitchen in the distance while two rooms came just before - the living room and a study. Everything was colour coordinated to creme and brown which I found really complimented each other and gave off a warm atmosphere.

Furniture was already placed in the living room including two sofas and some cushions along with it. A TV hung on the wall as well with a big calligraphy painting on an opposite wall. It was truly beautiful. Definitely better than anything I would have done if it was left to me to decorate.

"This place is amazing. I wouldn't change anything down here at all." A smile was given to me as I said it.

"Wonderful but let's go see the kitchen. Food is already stocked up and the cutlery are there too." I followed her into the kitchen and like she said, all the things we needed was there.

There were double doors that led to the garden outside but I made no move to go outside considering it was a windy day today. After looking round the kitchen we finally took the stairs to go upstairs and see the rooms. I wondered how our room looked like.

Reaching the top of the stairs there were three rooms. I understood why two of the rooms were there, a bedroom and bathroom, but what was the third one for? Seeing my confused expression she chuckled and walked towards one of the doors and opened it.

"This is your prayer room." She beamed at me and upon hearing that I took off my shoes and headed inside. I didn't honestly know what to expect and this was definitely not it.

On a wall a massive bookshelf was placed with every single Islamic book to have probably ever been published. There was also a little section that held two prayer mats and some perfume as well as musk. Ahead of the shelf was a large space covered in light carpet and Allah's name written in massive wooden chunks in Arabic on the wall. I couldn't deny the beauty of this room and by far it had been my favourite place in this whole house. Normally it would be the kitchen.

"This is so beautiful Mash'Allah. It's peaceful just by standing in here." There was a peaceful aura in this room which made me feel more at ease knowing this was a place I could spend a lot of time in.

"I'm glad you think so and I hope you get that boy of mine in here sometime." Ah, I could finally see her main purpose of wanting this to be a prayer room. Of course I didn't blame her because she has every right for her child to be spiritually happy.

"Il definitely try to buy hey, let's go unpack now." With that I lead to what I presumed was my soon to be bedroom and stepped inside happy that I got the room right.

Like the colours of the rest of the house, it consisted of creme and brown. A king sized bed lay in the middle of the hardboard floors and a big wardrobe stood on one side. A couple of homeware items were in here too and to my liking, they weren't too big or flashy.

My suitcases were just by the wardrobe and grabbing them I placed it on the bed and opening its contents. Because they were folded we could just place them inside without wasting time. Aunty Aliza did the same with my other suitcase while I went to slide one of the doors open but shut it again when I realised it was Shoaib's side.

"Whoops, wrong side." I explained and opened the other side to find it empty and waiting for my clothes to occupy the space inside.

"I probably should've told you that. He already came here yesterday to check it out and put his clothes away. We did it on separate days for obvious reasons." I knew what she meant and that was for us not to be together. Of course she couldn't help that I would see him in school though.

"That's okay. Here hand me those and I'll place them in." I smiled and stretched my hands out for the clothes that she was holding.

"Oh, don't you want to organise your wardrobe? Like summer and winter clothes?" I felt embarrassed at her suggestion because I was never one to be organised and even if I did try, I would end up making a mess afterwards trying to look for what to wear.

"Oh er, I'm not really good at organising. Once a mess freak, always a mess freak." I admitted sheepishly, getting another chuckle from her. I seem to amuse her a lot.

So randomly I placed the clothes where I wanted to and was glad when there was no more left. But again I was confused when aunty carried on handing things to me, this time silk pyjamas which I was sure I had never seen before.

"These aren't mine?" It came out more of a question due to my confusion but it looked like she was expecting me to notice. Unlike me thinking she got some sort of mistake.

"Oh now they are. Your mom told me you hate going shopping so me and Zainab went to get you some stuff." Zainab was Shoaib's younger sister by two years and even though we didn't talk, I knew she was a sweet girl.

Once more I felt embarrassed standing in front of her while I placed the pyjamas inside. I was to be getting married, I couldn't have been wearing my old pyjamas that has cartoons on them. Though I could argue I had a really nice laced one...that I got for my 12th birthday.

"Again, you didn't need to but thank you." I slid the doors shut and went to close the zip of the suitcase.

It's like she could see my embarrassment. "Don't worry about it, I've been through worse." I stopped fumbling with suitcase and raised my eyebrow at her. "Just before I got married my mom took my to Victoria's Secret."

I think I must have been red in the face from laughing so hard at what she'd just said to me. No doubt going to a store like with my mom would have scarred me. Heck I wouldn't go there if it was the only store in the entire town. Sure there were pretty things in there, but all which I didn't want.

"I don't know whether I should be sympathetic or not." I told her truthfully but the amusement was clear in my voice and face. She shook her head for the second time today and we both made our ways back to the car after switching the lights off and locking the door.

By now it has gotten dark and I was definitely ready to get home and get some food in me. Only I knew how I had been eating a lot less this week due to this wedding, but today the hunger was getting to me. It wasn't a deliberate action but I was too occupied, such as making scenarios on how I could have fun alone. Midterms were also coming up and I had a lot to study for. Fair to say that I had a lot on my plate right now.

"Now that's over and done with, you'll be eating dinner at ours today. I doubt your moms made anything and you must be too tired to cook anyway." Contrary all I wanted right now was to cook for some weird reason. It felt like I needed to practice my cooking skills before tomorrow so I won't make a fool of myself.

"That's alright. I don't mind cooking something and it won't take that long anyway." I gave her a reassuring smile to make sure she knew I meant it.

In the car we passed a few comments about things like the house, mostly the house. She seemed happy that I was happy and I couldn't think of anything that needed changing because it was beautiful the way it was when I saw it. Half an hour later after coming back into town, the car stopped on our street. Just as I was about to go out, aunty caught my arm.

"Umaymah I just wanted to talk about tomorrow. I know we haven't let you done much but we thought it's easier than you having a load of pressure." Mom of the year award goes to her. She sounded so understanding and all my frustration about not being able to help was instantly gone.

"About this marriage though. Allah knows how happy I feel that you're becoming my daughter and how much I want to be a grandmother." She stopped to look at me for a moment but my reaction was unfazed. Allah knows how overwhelmed I was by what she had just told me. I would love to be a mother.

"But, I want you to wait until senior year is over, or at least a few months before and that's the latest. I wouldn't want you missing on school no matter what." It made sense what she told me and agreed with her.

Although I would love to be a mom, with Shoaib I doubt it would be so quick in our marriage. I barely knew him, my presence annoys him and we've had no experience like that towards each other so obviously it would be a little awkward.

"Don't worry I understand. Jazakallah and I'll see you tomorrow, I'll be the one in white." We had now gotten out the car and walking towards my from door of the house.

"You saw the dress didn't you?!" She gasped and I couldn't help but crack a smile.

"No I swear I didn't, not even a peak." I assured her and she looked content with my answer as she breathed out a sigh of relief while I rolled my eyes. She was way too innocent to be a mother of five and a businesswoman along her husband, and that's for sure.

We parted ways but not before she gave me a final hug and told me that she would be looking out for me tomorrow. Well she wouldn't miss me considering I would have to be the centre of attraction.

Walking into the house I took my coat off and placed it on the hook along with the other coats on the wall. I was glad it was warm inside now that the temperature was beginning to drop more and more everyday. Like everyday no one was home but today I was glad of it. It felt like this week has gone too fast without me thinking of the changes Saturday was going to be bringing along.

Brushing those thoughts off for now I entered the kitchen and looked around for a moment, deciding on what too cook. Since I already rejected the offer of eating next door, I had to find something I could make edible without embarrassing myself and going to eventually ask for food. I opened cupboard doors and the fridge in my quest and finally settled on some pasta bake.

Getting the ingredients out I began chopping away and cooking the sauce on the stove as well as boiling the pasta. Smells of tomato and spices filled the air and I could tell I was doing a good job so far. As soon as everything looked good, I emptied the contents in a dish for the oven and sprinkled some cheese on top. Occasionally popping some into my mouth as well.

All I had to do now was wait for ten minutes and I could eat my heart out. The dishes were already cleaned while I was cooking because I didn't want to see the mess I'd created, therefore leaving me with nothing to do other than wait. Of course there was a little too much but the family would eat it when they came home.

My thoughts had been so intense by the thought of food that I hadn't realised my phone which was now ringing. I groaned and got up to where I placed it and hastily answered the machine.

"Hello?" I sounded tired and I definitely was.

"I need you to do me a favour." Blunt indeed and it clicked that Shoaib's voice ran through the other end.

"Again?" I asked amused. I remembered the first time he asked me for a favour and how irritated he looked that he was helpless.

"Yes." He growled involuntarily. "Mom said I have to ask if you want the boys there tomorrow?"

I thought that they had already been invited but now that I see they weren't, I definitely wanted them there. The boys and Shoaib were like a family and it's only right to invite them.

"Sure, I'd love for them to come." It was genuine and for a long time I didn't get a response.

"Oh, I thought, never mind. Thanks and try not to embarrass me tomorrow." With that the line went dead and all the previous frustration I felt returned.

It seemed that only this boy could get me angry with a time frame of two seconds, no matter how happy I was before. We hadn't even talked for five minutes and from helpless he turned to cocky.

Embarrass him? I scoffed, what did he even mean by that?

Slipping back in the kitchen I was grateful to notice the pasta wasn't burnt and cautiously I got the dish out and placed a serving on a plate. Food seemed like the only thing that was calming me down and that was only because I was trying not to get my tongue burnt.

Soon enough my food has vanished and I got up to clean the dishes once again. It was prayer time and after doing my wudhu I sprawled my prayer mat on the floor in the right direction. After seeing the prayer room today, I couldn't help but wait for tomorrow when I would finally be able to use it.

Nonetheless I prayed. Prayed because it was my last night in this house, prayed for a good marriage and finally prayed that my temper would lessen after spending time with Shoaib. Tomorrow was going to be long and hard but I was ready for this.