☪ O N E ✝

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*Amir*

"I created you from one soul, and from that one soul I created you its mate, so that you may live in harmony and love." Qur'an 7 18:9

Amir could sense Luna's presence somewhere behind him. She and Mr. Carlyle's steps were very light, so light, he almost wanted to turn around to make sure he wasn't dreaming. His companion was near him, and he couldn't wait to see her beautiful soul. He turned around immediately after Sarah had finished tossing flowers to the ground. Luckily, Vikram was capturing this moment on his phone, because Amir would like to see what he'd missed.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed two extra guests sitting in the back row, holding hands and waving. Cyrus and Gabi looked delighted to see his wedding. Amir hadn't been able to talk to his friend for the last few days, but he was glad he and Gabi showed up. Cyrus had even worn a dark black suit, with a red tie in the front, and she had worn a long red dress, with her dark hair curled and hanging down her left side.

Bhatti Sahib prayed for Amir and Luna's ceremony and their life together as one, including Sarah. As she heard her name being spoken, she giggled in Maryam's lap. He smiled at that.

As Amir stood on the stage, the guys had brought a long drape to cover his side while he was ushered to sit in a designated chair. From the sunlight casting against the window of the house, he could see Luna's shadow on the other side, taking her seat. Irfan asked Luna's wali to come forward, and Amir watched as Mr. Carlyle stepped in front of the drape and stood at attention.

"Mr. Carlyle. As Luna's wali, you have read over the Nikah and agree to it?" Bhatti Sahib asked Lawrence. Amir's heart was pounding, standing so close to his father-in-law.

"Yes, I have," Lawrence answered, and sweat was imminent on Amir's neck.

"Do you give your daughter, Luna Reneé Carlyle, to Amir Ibrahim Khan in marriage?"

"Yes. I do. I, Lawrence Nathaniel Carlyle, give my daughter, Luna Reneé Carlyle, to Amir Ibrahim Khan, the son of Nasir and Maryam Khan, in front of all these witnesses and with the agreed-upon document, as Allah is our best witness."

Bhatti Sahib then turned toward Amir and gestured for him to speak. "And I, Amir Ibrahim Khan, accept your daughter, Luna Reneé Carlyle, in marriage, as Allah is our best witness."

Maryam stood up and handed Amir's envelope with his check to Luna on the other side of the sheet. He heard her murmur "Shukria" as she laid it on her lap. He was so glad there was a shadow casting beside her because he could see her amazing silhouette, and he loved it when she spoke his language.

Irfan then began the Nikah proceedings and said a few prayers and passages from the Qur'an. A few moments had passed, and he walked around, then asked Luna if she was consenting to the marriage willingly. Amir was sure she'd been asked that already, but it needed to be heard by every witness.

"Qubool hai."

"Qubool hai."

"Qubool hai!"

Luna yelled loudly at that last part. She'd announced her acceptance of Amir's hand in marriage and repeated it loud and clear. His heart throbbed when he heard her speak. He was then handed the Nikah contract by Bhatti Sahib, and he signed everywhere necessary. He was beyond ready to begin their lives together as he glanced over and saw from the shadow of her hand signing her sections, too. He couldn't wait to see how she looked, because he knew Mera had fixed her up nice and beautiful with Henna. He thought it would look wonderful on Luna's gorgeous, fair skin.

"Will the witness please come forward; Raul, Mera, Faisal, and Amir's family," said Irfan Bhatti. The witnesses stood up and looked over both bride and groom, signing their contacts while they remained separated.

After the couple signed their names on the dotted lines, Irfan Bhatti recited a few paragraphs from The Qur'an that was equivalent to marriage vows.

Amir gazed at Irfan Bhatti as the Iman pronounced, "Amir and Luna are now legally husband and wife under Islamic Law. Each practice for the Nikah has been fulfilled, and they are now considered one."

Loud cheers and encouragement from the witnesses were heard behind Amir's head, and then he caught a glimpse of his mother shedding a few tears for him. Adnan looked shocked, but then he joined the group and began clapping for them.

The Nikah ceremony was now over and their marriage was solemnized, it was time for him to see his bride. He memorized her precious face since Day One, but seeing her now, at that moment, will feel like he was seeing her for the first time all over again. His nerves were overtaking him.

Not all Muslim families will this during their Nikah ceremony, but Amir's family did when his parents bring out a long mirror, placing it across both of their laps. The drape was still covering Amir and Luna's faces, but it will be lifted just enough to lay their eyes upon one another through the reflection of the mirror.

Once the mirror was placed across Amir's lap, Raul and Faisal lifted the drape a little, and Amir could see Luna's beautiful eyes staring into his. It was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. Her white headscarf looked comfortable around her neck, and he was captivated by her essence. Bhatti Sahib laid The Holy Qur'an on the mirror, and Amir placed his right hand over it, then felt her hand on top of his.

They were now joined as one and have followed the traditions of the Nikah to the best of their ability. Luna was his, and he was hers.

Shukria, Allah.

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*Luna*

When Luna first saw Amir's face through the reflection, it was like she saw herself. She saw herself in his eyes, and his eyes were beautiful. After the Iman finished one last prayer to Allah, she and Amir came together and stood in front of the stage.

Then Reverend McDaniels stood at the altar. "Dearly beloved," he began, as Irfan Bhatti was on the other side of Amir.

Luna couldn't keep her eyes off him. However, she did glance back and notice two people she was unfamiliar with sitting in the back. It looked like Amir's friend, Cyrus, and his partner, Gabi, surprised her. She then brought her attention back to the reverend.

"We are gathered here today to witness the joining of this lovely young couple in Holy Matrimony."

"Can you just pronounce my mommy and papa are married already?" Sarah blurted out, causing the crowd to laugh. Luna admired how she was dressed in a formal white flower girl dress, with white sandals and a lime green bouquet in her hands. Luna's mother tried to shush her, and Maryam scooted over to Sarah, holding her hand. Sarah peered up at her new grandmother and grinned. "I love my papa."

Everyone laughed again. Luna loved how her daughter had a mind of her own and saw Amir bringing his hand up over his heart.

They brought their attention back to Reverend McDaniels, and she gazed at Amir as he looked so handsome in his sherwani. The white brought out his bronze skin tone, and his eyes sparkled in the sunset.

The reverend read a passage from the Book of Genesis about creation and how their lives began. Luna wasn't capable of listening or looking anywhere else but into Amir's eyes. Her body was frozen; not able to move or, much less, breathe. His face was trimmed just right, and his shoes made him seem taller than he already was. He wasn't showing any signs of fear and only happiness.

Unlike him, Luna's nerves kicked in tenfold. The attention was almost too much for her to handle. She was happy when she could standstill as her father took her hand and placed it into Amir's. He quickly gave him a soft hug and nodded at him. Amir's eyes didn't look away from Luna's as they stood in front of the reverend. It was just her and him as the rest of the world . . . floated away.

"Who gives this woman to this man in marriage?" Reverend McDaniels asked.

Lawrence looked at her family and back at Luna. "Her family and I do," he said, standing still. The reverend gestured with his hand for him to sit down.

Before her father walked away, he patted Amir on the shoulder. That was his way of showing everyone he was welcoming Amir into their lives and having a place in the family.

Reverend McDaniels quoted things about love, family, and life, and he continued about how their Creator made them in pairs.

"Would the bride and groom like to make a speech?" the reverend asked as he looked at them.

Amir nodded and went first as he held both of Luna's hands in his.

"Luna Reneé Carlyle, from the moment I first saw you, I knew I found my companion. I knew I was granted with happiness our Creator had given me. When I saw Sarah for the first time, I immediately cared for her like she was my own. And no matter what, she will always come first. I will protect her, her mother, and our family to the best of my ability. I will honor you for the rest of my days, and I will always treat you with kindness and love. You are without a doubt the only one for me, and I thank Allah for sending you my way. You and Sarah are my girls and my family. I love you both as a whole."

Standing, shaking like crazy, Luna's body wanted to tumble over. Amir had always been great about speaking from the heart, but his speech caused her heart to melt. She glanced over and watched as the ladies were passing a box of kleenex back and forth. They, too, were moved by Amir's words. Focusing back on the love of her life, Luna took a deep breath and spoke from her heart.

"Amir Ibrahim Khan, when I first looked into your eyes, my heart fluttered, and my soul followed shortly. I knew at that moment that you would turn my life around in the best way possible. I knew our lives were going to stay connected, but I knew I couldn't imagine my life without you. What made me love the soul you possess was seeing how you accepted my daughter. Our daughter. I saw how good you were with her, and you had never failed to ask about her during times that were a mess for me. You have always cared about my feelings, and you put Sarah's needs above your own. You love her as much as I do, and you care for her like a father. You are truly special, Amir Khan. You will always be the only one for me, and I cannot wait to explore this life together with you by our side."

Reverend McDaniels coughed as she and Amir glanced at the crowd, who were in tears and full of emotion for them. Then he spoke again. "And now I ask you, in the presence of God and this assembly: Do you, Amir, take this woman, Luna, to be your lawfully wedded wife, in joy and sorrow, to respect, and to cherish her for as long as you both shall live?"

"Absolutely!" Amir yelled. But then he cleared his throat and gripped her hand. "I do, Luna Carlyle!"

"And do you, Luna, take this man, Amir, to be your lawfully wedded husband, in joy and sorrow, to respect, and to cherish him for as long as you both shall live?"

"Hmm. Let me think about that for a moment." Amir started laughing, biting his lower lip. But then Luna straightened up and smiled at him. She felt so small compared to him; he was like a giant. "I do. I will forever love and cherish this man for as long as my heart is beating."

"And now, Amir and Luna, it is time to exchange your vows. Amir, when you're ready."

Amir took a moment and let out a soft breath.

"I, Amir Khan, choose you, Luna Carlyle, to be my friend, my love, and the mother of our children. I will be yours in plenty and in want, in sickness and in health, in failure and in triumph. I will cherish you and respect you, comfort you and encourage you, and together we shall live free and bound by our love. I will always be the man that you first fell in love with, and my soul will never change."

Luna squeezed his hands and tried to stop herself from shaking.

"I, Luna Carlyle, cherish you, Amir Khan, for all that you are, for all that you are not, and all that you can be. Know that I am here for you, that your pain will be mine, and your joy will be mine. I take you to be my lifelong companion, to build dreams together, and to live together as one. I will support you in times of need and be the strength you can count on. I will honor you and respect the man that you are. And I will honor your beliefs and compromise with you. I choose you to be my husband, here on Earth, and in the afterlife."

She wanted to make it loud and clear to everyone who was watching, Allah included. Luna meant what she said. Her vows to Amir were small, but they came from her heart.

Faisal came forward and presented the rings. Luna looked at hers, and her clever husband remade his hair strand. She took his ring off the soft flush pillow and placed Amir's ring on first. A moment later, he placed both rings on her finger. It felt good for her to have his hair strand around her finger again.

The reverend then wrapped it up.

"If there are any objections to this union, speak now, or forever hold your peace." No one blurted anything out, not like they would, but deep down, Luna was glad nothing happened.

"I'd like to ask again, do you both take each other as lifelong spouses?"

Luna and Amir nodded, smiling. "We do," they said together.

Then, Reverend McDaniels said loudly, "With the power invested in me by the State of Louisiana, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Amir leaned forward and cupped his hand around her neck, bringing her to meet his lips. He had a peppermint taste on his lips as she enjoyed massaging their tongues in each other's mouths. He kissed her softly, gently, and then moved back to stare deeply into her eyes.

Reverend McDaniels' clap startled Luna near her ear, and they stepped away, holding hands. After a few ceremonial speeches, he glanced over at Amir and Luna and indicated it was time to do the unity of candle lighting. But she and Amir discussed that they wanted to do a blood oath.

Amir pulled the reverend to the side and whispered something into his ear that Luna couldn't hear. The reverend gave Amir a funny look, but then he nodded back. Amir nodded toward Faisal to pull out his medical kit from under his seat, and he opened it up, bringing out a small needle. The crowd began murmuring amongst each other, but Amir's eyes stayed locked on Luna's.

"Do you still want to do this, Moon?" she nodded.

"Yes, A. It is an unbreakable vow and will signify our love for each other."

He squeezed her hand. "Okay. I'll tell Reverend McDaniels to continue."

Amir stepped next to the pastor and murmured in his ear. Then he looked toward the guests, and said, "Mr. and Mrs. Amir Khan have decided to orchestrate a different kind of unity symbol." Luna nodded for Liberty to take Sarah inside and focused back on Amir as he held the needle in his hand. "Instead of using the recommended lighting of the unity candle, Amir and Luna have chosen to do a blood oath. I don't recommend this method, but I see no problem in them doing it. So, Amir, you can begin when ready."

Amir pricked the tip of his third left finger, and then he proceeded to do the same to Luna's. As they brought up their fingers with their rings on them, they pressed their tips together and whispered, "One."

And that was it. Luna didn't have it planned on what they would declare while doing the unity oath, but she felt what was inside her soul, and they are now . . . one.

She and Amir were free to live together through thick and thin.

"I have found the one whom my soul loves." Song of Solomon 3:4

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Congratulations, Aluna!
They are . . . One.