CHAPTER | FIVE | ALIZA | POV

All night my thoughts had been only on one thing and one thing only. Isa. I wondered if it was haraam to be having thoughts of your future husband; I hope not because I ended up thinking about him until it was time to pray Fajr.

It's a lucky thing I don't have any bags under my eyes or else I would have had to use an ounce of make up to try and cover it up. Doesn't mean that I didn't have to wear any anyway. Ma is now in my room looking for something for me to wear while I'm taking the longest I possibly can in the shower so that I don't have to go in there and let her do her 'magic'. By magic, she means make up.

I had no intention of making my face look as if it had been raped by a pack of Crayola crayons but apparently I have to look 'nice' when I'm about to meet my future husband. She's obviously trying to say that I look ugly every day. I noticed.

"Habibi hurry up. You've been in there for over half an hour!" I faintly heard Ma shout from the other side of the bathroom door.

Without replying back to her I shut the water off and wrapped myself in a towel that I had hung up by the sink. The boys and Dad went to the Masjid at the weekends to pray Duhr as they couldn't go during the weekdays because of school and work, so I could safely walk to my room in a towel.

Still not sure though if they were going to walk back in the house and up the stairs any second, I dashed to my room at the end of the hallway while hoping my towel wouldn't slip off or that I don't get the floor wet. That wasn't going to be a pretty sight if Mom saw.

"Ma where are you?" I asked as soon as I entered my room and had closed the door behind me shut. It was starting to get a little chilly.

"Over here Habibi. I think this will look nice on you today. No discussion. I'm going to make the rest of the food downstairs and you need to get ready," Ma was speed talking now and I was lucky enough to have heard what she said or else I wouldn't have known what to do.

As soon as she left my room I went over to my where my outfit lay. A bright blue maxi skirt with a crème crotchet and a full sleeved black shirt underneath. There was no Hijab laid out so I guess I'd have to venture for one myself in the mess of my wardrobe.

I have no idea why she thought I was going to argue about her clothing style because when I put it on I looked pretty good Mashallah and all that was left was my Hijab, shoes and the makeup which was Ma's job.

Opening the door to my room I went over to the edge of the stairs and called Ma up to do her stuff. "Ma I'm ready. You can come to do your so called 'magic' now!" 

While waiting for her to come upstairs, I went back to my room and looked at my shoes wondering which one I could wear that Ma would approve of. Sandals? No. Heels? Don't own any. Flats? Too worn out. Finally I saw my blue and white checkered Vans and slipped them on with the first pair of socks I found in my drawer.

By then Ma had already walked in my room. "Ma do you think these will do?" I asked her, hoping that she wouldn't tell me to take them off and make me wear one of her pairs of heels that she seemed to own a lot of.

Instead she smiled and nodded at me which took me back a bit but didn't show any sign of it. Ma was being unusually quiet today and I don't know whether it was we had guests coming over or that her favourite character in her musalsalat (Arabic for soap opera) died last night. What a mystery.

I shrugged it off for the moment being and headed to my wardrobe to fish out a matching Hijab that would go with my outfit. Hmm, looks like my burgundy one will have to do. Slipping my hair into a bun and making sure my Hijab had a bit of volume to it, I wrapped the Hijab around my head and with a pin, placed it all in place so that it wouldn't fall off. Looking in the mirror I would say I looked pretty good Mashallah.

I turned to Ma but suddenly wished I hadn't. Standing there looking at me with crystal eyes and tears streaming down her face had turned the smile I was wearing a second ago into a frown. I then went closer. "Ma why are you crying? Please don't!" I pleaded with her as I wiped them away with the palm of my hand.

She sniffed. "Ya Habibi I can't believe my daughter already has a marriage proposal and look at me, I must look so silly right now," I shook my head at her and already felt the tears coming along too as I pulled her in for the biggest hug without actually hurting her.

"Ma you never look silly so don't say that!" I consoled Ma and she briefly nodded before scanning me up and down. And that's when I knew that our little moment had gone and now it was time to get to business.

"I think you look absolutely beautiful Mashallah without me putting make up on you. It's your lucky day," I could have tackled Ma to the floor as she said that but she was already out the door. Then, Baba and the boys had just come home shouting at the top of their voices claiming that they were hungry and something about getting drenched by the little kids when doing their wudhu.

Laughing at how childish my brothers could be, the idea suddenly struck me and I silently fell back on my bed with my head swirling. After I get married there would be a high chance of me missing these idiots which I call my brothers and not to forget my dramatic parents.

Surely I would be able to visit home after I get married right? Isa wouldn't be that cruel, or so that's what I thought anyway. I was still sitting on my bed when I heard my name being called out from downstairs so I reluctantly got up from where I was sitting and went over to the others downstairs.  

"Ma look at how Ali makes an effort for her future husband but looks like someone homeless for us!" I glared at Akbar as soon as the words had left his mouth and had caused the rest of the family to burst out laughing. I admit I might look a teeny bit like a boy when I'm at home because of the sweatpants, but why on earth does one dress up in their own house anyway? 

"Ma look at how Akbar smells decent in front of Amenah but smells like a baboon for the rest of us!" Little brother, two can play at that game and I made sure of it. Ma playfully glared at us and walked off to the kitchen muttering something about how she only wished for one, just one mature child. Not a pack of wild animals. I actually found that quite insulting but I knew she was only messing around with us. 

I was about to follow Ma into the kitchen when Baba stepped towards me and pulled me in for a hug. "Baba is something wrong?" I asked him when he had met go of me.

"Just proud that my little girl is handling this better than her own parents," He stated quite proudly and beamed at me showing off his slightly crooked teeth which I had to force back a giggle.

"Baba just because I don't show it doesn't mean that I’m not scared," I informed him pretty straight forwardly well aware that all my brothers were now listening to the conversation.

"There's nothing to be scared about Ya Aliza. Isa is a good person and will take care of you," He was so sure about this as he stated totally convinced himself. Before I had even thought of something to say back, Ali had already began talking.

“And if he doesn't take care of you then you know who to call Sis. He may be older but he can't win with the three of us!" Ali, Akbar and Adam nodded their heads vigorously which made little Mustafa frown.

"What about me?!" He began whining and again I was in a fit of laughter at their childishness. They all began to try and calm Mustafa, in the end when nothing worked, they all stormed upstairs like big babies refusing to hear any more of the seven year olds whining.

 "Look at the time! Isa and his family will be here in five minutes and no one is even sitting down here ready! Hurry up boys!" Ma was definitely stressed out about this but no one made a move to try and interrupt her or tell her to calm down. Just like trying to get a boy off video games, it was pointless to try and make Ma calm right now; she'd just think of all the worst things that could possibly happen. 

Everyone was now sitting down on the couches next to each other with the massive feast amount of food placed in front of us as we waited for the doorbell to ring. It was my job to open the door because that would apparently make a good impression. The twins obviously thought there was something funny about that too.

The laughter had instantly died off, though as soon as we heard a car park in our driveway. I stood up and made my way to the front door with every inch of my body in tingles of nervousness. I mean what if they don't think I’m a suitable daughter in law for them? 

Once at the door I scolded at myself for being so stupid. They wouldn't have agreed to come here if they thought that, right? I peeped timidly through the glass window from the side to see an aging couple coming out the car alongside from what I remembered to be, Isa. He was wearing a blue button down shirt with crème Khakis and a pair of all blue Vans, I guess in a way we matched.

Seeing them make their way towards the front door, I stood up straight and shot a warm smile to the rest of my awaiting family who had now calmed down and were sitting patiently for me to open the door. Should I wait for them to ring the doorbell or should I open the door before hand? And make myself look like a complete stalker who had been watching them walk here?

My thoughts were interrupted by the doorbell ringing, well that came a little too quickly. I sighed deeply before saying Bismillah and opened the door to our guests who would also be my future in laws in the coming weeks.

"Asalaamalaikum," Was the first thing I said to them as they entered the house. My future mother in law came up to me with a warm smile and kissed my cheeks three times while I did the same to her before she replied saying "Walaikumasalaam"; my future father in law did the same and they both went over to greet my family who was now standing with smiles etched on their faces.

Isa was the only one left standing in the doorway who I hadn't greeted yet, I was still a little nervous about the idea of talking to him face to face. Who knew, I might start rambling about the time I accidently killed Adams hamster and he might think I would kill his hamster too. Did he even have a hamster?!

The sudden click of fingers in front of my face snapped me back to reality. I then, realised I was just standing there in front of him without saying anything. Yet again another awkward moment. I finally plucked the courage and spoke up to him after another few seconds of debating,                                                                    "Hi," Simply enough,

"Hey there," He replied back to me when all of a sudden I heard squealing. I turned my head and found Ma and my future mother in law beaming at us. What were they doing?

"They look so cute together!" Ma said and I understood what all the squealing was about now, if I could blush then I would have. I glanced over at Isa who was already looking at me. Without saying anything else to him, I went over to the couches where everyone was sitting and sat down between Adam and Akbar while Isa went and sat next to his Dad. 

"Habibi don't be shy and come sit next to Isa," His Mom said to me. At the same time pointing to the empty space next to Isa. Without a choice I timidly went over to sit by Isa, hoping that I don't trip on the way there; that would be very embarrassing indeed.

When I finally sat down next to Isa I tried sitting as far away as I could from him which really wasn't enough because the sofa was only limited with a bit of space for me to sit down and if I went any further away my ass would have ended up on the floor by now.

"Aliza dear you are truly beautiful and I'm glad Isa chose you to be his wife. Now before we even begin discussing the wedding we want to know if you actually would like to get married to our son," His Dad said and I almost choked on my own spit at how nice they were. I had to show that I was someone who wasn't shy or quiet. I had to be me.

So I looked straight up at them and spoke. "I don't really mind actually," I said while offering them all a smile and stole a glance at my parents. I saw that they were both beaming at me with proud faces.

A look of astonishment and happiness had seemed to go through their faces, either way I could say that they were happy with the answer I had given them.

"We are both so happy. We would also like it if you two had a little talk before you're one hundred percent sure," My future Mother in law said. I was about to protest when Isa had already gotten up from the couch and was now looking down at me waiting for me to do the same.

So I simply stood up and gestured for Isa to follow me up the stairs to my room, which would be an okay place for us to talk. Unless the twins put those walkie talkies in there again. Lets hope for their sake that they didn't, otherwise it would have been gone by tomorrow.

 We silently climbed up the stairs without any of us trying to make any type of conversation with one another. Finally up the stairs, to the door was the only barrier to my room so I pushed the door open and went inside. My eyes went wide as soon as I saw what was on my bed. Before he could come inside the room I had closed the door and ran to my bed.

"Is everything okay?" I heard him shout from the other side of the bed as I frantically looked for a place where I could put my undergarment that I must have put in the laundry basket. 

"Errm yeah, give me a second!" I shouted back to him. Relieved, I opened one of my drawers, stuffed it inside making a mental note to remember and take it out later on when they had left.

I rushed back to the door and pulled it open to see that Isa was leaning against the barrister with his arms crossed over his chest and it miraculously made his muscles appear. 

I gulped and smiled at him sheepishly.

"I'm really sorry about that. Come in," As I opened the door a little wider so that he could come in, as he did this arm brushed mine and I couldn't help but pull my arm back. I wasn't used to having any sort of physical contact with boys other than my Mehram so I found it a little new. 

"So what just happened?" He asked me while taking a seat on my unmatching bed. What was I supposed to say to that now?

"There was an ermm…a bee?" I said, more like asked as my answer came out more of a question than anything else. Either way he didn't look convinced with my answer but didn't question it anymore.

"So… Are you just going to stand by the door? Or are you going to come and sit down?" He asked me with amusement. I then realised he was enjoying watching me look like a complete fool.  

Without having to embarrass myself further I went to my bed and sat down a little bit further away from him than necessary. It looked like he had noticed because he began patting the space next to him for me to sit. Hesitantly, I went a little closer, to be honest there was still a lot of space between us so I could still have my breathing intact. 

I decided to start the conversation off and so I turned to him to see that he had already made himself comfortable on my bed with his head on my pillow and legs stretched out with mismatching socks and past my small bed frame.

"Comfortable enough there?" I asked with sarcasm that still managed to hold a full smile on my face, because this was just too funny for someone not to see. I did however, restrain myself from taking a picture though, he would have thought I was a total creep! 

"Not really. Why do you have such a small bed?" He asked and sounded like a little baby whining for a lollipop. I simply looked at him and rolled my eyes. He was now squirming around the bed trying to get more comfortable but I guess that didn't work since he got up and just sat there cross legged. 

"Isa?" I called out to him. Instantly, his gaze met mine but I immediately looked down to my fumbling fingers on my lap.

"Yeah?" He answered. I looked up again because it would look a bit weird for me to be staring at my lap and talking to him at the same time. 

"Why did you ask for my hand in marriage?" I don't know how I managed to get that question out my mouth but I did and it felt good to let it out since it was irritating me since I had found out. For a second he just stared at me, I was still waiting for an answer so I raised my eyebrows at him to show that I actually was waiting and that I expected an answer from him. 

"To be honest? I don't even know you because heck I've never even talked to you before; seeing you at my sisters wedding though was different. Your eyes got me. And that was the morning my parents had told me I had a week to find a wife," He stopped for a breath because he had said that way too fast, luckily though I had heard everything in time, "Why I decided to ask for your hand in marriage though, that I have no idea. Maybe one day I'll have an answer ready for you,"

I looked up to him again and saw how sincere he looked. I had a feeling that he was telling me with complete honesty. If he didn't have a reason yet to why he asked for my hand in marriage then I surely had a reason as to why I was about to accept it; he’s an honest person and I could live with that. 

"Isa what would you say if I said yes to your proposal?" I asked him as my smile reappeared. I couldn't believe that I would be asking this question to someone so soon. 

"Seriously?! I mean yeah that's great. Why don't we go down and tell the others?" He suggested while swinging his legs off the bed and putting his shoes back on his feet. 

While getting up I remembered that we were supposed to be up here to learn things about each other and without doing that I had accepted this proposal. "Isa, we were supposed to be up here to know each other. I still have no clue about you!" I threw my hands in the air and began biting my lip, a habit of mine that I did when I was nervous or confused.

"Don't worry about that. You'll get to know me a lot before and after the wedding." He stated like I should have known this and carried on talking, "One more thing. Don't bite your lip,"       

I looked at him a little more confused than ever but he simply shrugged at me and began to walk out the door. I followed behind him lost in what he had just told me not to do. What was wrong with me biting my lip? 

I hadn't noticed we were down the stairs already, but Isa's arm around my waist was holding me in place so that I didn't fall on the last step had brought me back to reality and in a second his arm had gone.

Instead of thanking my saviour I looked at the families who were more or less about to become one and cleared my throat since they hadn't noticed us yet. The elders all stood up looking a bit nervous than they had been a few seconds ago. 

"So…I decided to accept the proposal." I stated calmly and looked at how the families took that news in. First it was the elders again who rushed over to us and hugged us both just as tight and began saying words of joy to themselves and each other. Next it was all the boys at the same time. 

Having three brothers, an older brother who was the size of a boxer and two younger brothers who were somehow older than you hug you all at the same time made Mustafa's hug feel light like a feather.

"Guys. Let go or there won't be a wedding to go to!" I managed to choke out and they released one by one, now turning to look at Isa. I knew this look they were giving him. I may not have experienced it before but I've watched enough movies to know that they were in fact going to have one of the many 'talks' with Isa. 

Before they could though, I gave them all one of my looks which meant that if they even thought about it I would be making them go through some pain later on. Which basically meant me not making any hummus for them. They all understood and backed off, but not without giving him a final glare, which I rolled my eyes at.

The elders were telling us how much they were happy. I then remembered how Baba told me how he had to get Ma's hand in marriage. I smiled to myself and knew exactly what I wanted to do for Isa to have the chance in being his Mehr.

"Guys? I actually would like it if Isa did the same as Baba did when asking for Ma's hand in marriage. I want you to dedicate a Surah to me and if you say it all without a mistake then I would love for you to become my Mehr,”. I gazed over at Isa for the last part, to see him smiling smugly at me somehow looked as if he was ready for this challenge. 

"Of course! Why didn't we think of this? After all we did the same thing," My future father in law spoke and I already knew what Surah I wanted him to recite for me. Surah An-Nisa. 

This Surah was about marriage and I hadn't thought about it until now. Before I could say anything else though, the boys began dragging me out to the garden with everyone following behind us. Why were they taking me to the garden of all places in this house?

We finally stopped in the middle of the garden and the boys went over to where the elders were standing while Isa made his way towards me. 

"What Surah would you like recited?" He asked me and I couldn't believe that he wanted to do this right now! Usually they're given time for them to learn it by heart, yet it was not even a mere five minutes that had passed since I suggested the idea. He was getting ready to recite whatever I had in mind for him. If he wanted to do this now though who was I to stop him? He looked determined. 

"Surah An-Nisa." Either he knew it by heart or didn't, but his expression didn't change while he straightened himself and cleared his throat. 

I looked at him speechlessly. His voice was beautiful and there was no denying that fact at all. I hadn't expected him to recite this today. I hadn't expect him to even know this Surah by heart. But he did and it made me more than happy! 

"So what do you say? Will you be my wife?" He asked me with a smirk on his face because he knew I wouldn't say no to him now, even if I wanted to. 

"Yes," 

Just that simple little word made my brothers leap on me again, making me lose my breath. The elders were in an animated conversation but you could tell that they were happy with my final decision. And as soon as the boys had let me go and gave me pecks on the cheeks I could see that Isa was happy too.

Again he had his arms crossed over his chest and was now talking to Adam about something which he found amusing, although Adam didn't, and so I went up to them to see what was happening. 

"What's going on?" I asked the two of them once I was close enough to them. Adam looked surprised that I seemed to be there but Isa just continued to smile at me so I smiled back.

"Isa we should get going. We'll get a chance to talk about this another day," Saved by my future father in law. I wasn't exactly giving up though. Adam still had to answer my question when they leave, or maybe some other time. 

One by one we said our goodbye's and watched them drive away before going back inside the house. With a sigh, I sat down on the couch and buried my face in one of the cushions. So much had happened today and I was so surprised to have survived it all.

The rest of the day went by with everyone in gushes about me being engaged and how happy they all were for me. I was happy too; more than happy actually. I really couldn’t wait for the end of this month to come.

***

Asalaamalaikum guys, I hope that this chapter is longer than usual. I could have probably posted this last week but I didn't and there might be another update this week too if I can write it. Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

NOTE: I didn't put the Surah up because I couldn't find it in the english version so that you could actually read it if you can't read Arabic. However I'll put the recitation up on the side so you can listen to it and hopefully one with subtitles. 

Dedicated to @SarahMars for making such awesome banners for me and I'll put that up on the side on the next chapter. Thank you so much for taking the time to do that because they are amazing. Until next time.

Have a Good Day and May God Bless You All.