AN: Gosh, I can't believe that this is published! Wattpad is refusing to let me publish anything! 

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The du'a to be recited when shaking hands:

يَغْفِرُ اللهُ لَنَا وَلَكُمُ

May Allah forgive us and you

'The person who performs Salaah before the sun rises and before it sets (i.e. Fajr and Asr) shall never enter the Fire (of Jahannam).' (Sahih Muslim)

The Prophet Sallallahu Alyhi Wassallam said: "Any woman who applies perfume and then goes out among the people so that they could smell her fragrance is a zaaniyah (adulteress)."

(Reported by Imam Ahmad, 4/418; see also Sahih al-Jaami', 105).

"And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts) and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent (like both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer palms of hands or one eye or dress like veil, gloves, headcover, apron), and to draw their veils all over Juyoobihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband's fathers, or their sons, or their husband's sons, or their brothers or their brother's sons, or their sister's sons, or their (Muslim) women (i.e. their sisters in Islâm), or the (female) slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigour, or small children who have no sense of feminine sex. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allaah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful."

[An-Noor 24:31] 

Chapter 6: 

Dihya's POV:

I carried Mardiyyah to the bed in the guest room after I'd called Dr Tahmid. She said that she was on her way, and that she'd be there in an hour and I shouldn't worry, but I needed to make Mardiyyah lie down. I took out her jilbaab, niqaab, scarf and gloves, and covered her with the duvet, making sure that her neck was not pressed upon.

I left the room and walked over to the kitchen, where mummy, Maryam and Faheem were still shaken by the situation with Zayd and were currently giving the story to the policemen who'd come over.

Who is Zayd, do you ask? Zayd is an orphan child that Ihsaan's sister took care of. Faheem and I were especially fond of the little guy.

Ihsaan's step mum always hated Zayd, for some unknown reason. I guess today, she just...blew it.

'She...she came into the house, and just... I don't know!' my mother told the policemen that were taking her statement. Ihsaan's sister had come over with him, and they'd taken Zayd away. The Janaazah would be after Isha and Faheem and I would attend, In Shaa Allah.

After a little while, she spoke again.

'I was cooking, and well...cooking, when someone rung the doorbell. I went to open it, naturally, and there she stood, as drunk as a skunk, holding Zayd in her arms. I didn't realise that she was drunk, at first, but soon I did, when she slurred and stumbled around. As soon as she saw a picture of Maryam...she... she...' mummy burst into tears and clutched onto Maryam.

'I tried to stop her from...from doing that, but she tied me up. And then... in..in front of me, she did it, and made me watch. Ya Allah! The child cried and...I didn't do anything!'

Mummy was crying uncontrollably now, and Maryam shot us a worried glance as she led mummy into the other room downstairs. The policemen asked us a few more questions before informing us that Ihsaan's stepmother had been caught and then they left.

I sighed and, getting up, began to pick up the dirt from the floor. Faheem stood up and helped. Finally, after about an hour, we had the place cleaned up, and ready for the mendhi, which would be in a few hours. Dr Tahmid arrived eventually, and I lead her to the room where Mardiyyah was laying down.

'Hmmm...' she said thoughtfully, after a little while of checking this and that.

'Don't worry Dihya. It was just the shock of what she'd seen. She was already weak, and I guess this just added to the situation. Any time anything happens, please phone me. Even if it's in the middle of the night, don't hesitate!'

'Jazakallah Rayhana,' my mother said as she walked into the room.

'Aameen! How are you feeling?' she asked mummy.

The two of them then got into a long conversation about some motherly stuff. I stood bored on one side, when suddenly I heard Faheem laugh. I grinned and walked out of the room, ready to tease him.

I walked into the lounge and found him sitting with an elderly man on one couch.

'Assalaamu Alaykum Wa Rahmahtullah,' I greeted and walked up to the man, shaking both his hands, as the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam did.  [SEE END OF CHAPTER FOR HADITH]

'Wa Alaykum Salaam Wa Rahmahtullah,' he replied in a deep, cultured voice.

Taking a seat next to Mr.Tahmid, I turned to Faheem and grinned.

'What were laughing so much about, Faheemah?' I asked him.

Mr.Tahmid chuckled at the nickname and Faheem groaned.

'I am NOT Faheemah!' he growled.

'Awww, are you getting angry, princess?' I teased him. He glared at me and I grinned back.

Finally, he gave up and sighed.

'So, Mr.Tahmid. What do you do?' I started.

'I'm an electrical engineer, Alhumdulillah. Not as demanding as my wife's career, but I enjoy it, Subhannallah,' 

he said kindly.

I nodded and we continued to talk, Faheem adding in his unwanted comments now and then.

After a little while, Dr Tahmid walked into the room and smiled at me.

'Mardiyyah is going to be just fine, In Shaa Allah,' she said and I sighed in relief.

Before Faheem could ask, she said:

'And so are the babies,' she chuckled, looking at him.

He let out a sigh of relief and I grinned at my brother. He could be such a nut sometimes.

'Ok, we better get going now,' Dr Tahmid said and Mr.Tahmid stood up.

'Go?' Mummy said. Her voice took on a dangerous edge.

'Go where?' she asked them.

'Urm...home?' Dr Tahmid said. More like asked. Mummy had that effect on people.

'No! Absolutely not! You've helped us so much, you're staying tonight for supper and attending tomorrow's khatam and the nikaah!' mummy said.

Faheem and I nodded in agreement.

'But...my children...they're at home...' Dr Tahmid said.

'Imraan,' mummy said to Mr.Tahmid, 'go home, and bring your children here. Rayhana, you sit down and relax. Actually, get up. Let's start in the kitchen!'

Dr Tahmid followed mum in a daze and I felt like hiding my head in embarrassment. Mr.Tahmid chuckled, made salaam to Faheem and I, and then walked out.

Right... I guessed it was time to work!

Mardiyyah's POV:

I woke up and found Maryam lying down next to me. She was asleep and drooling a little. I giggled and flicked her forehead.

She groaned and her eyes flew open.

'Woah! That was fast!' I commented.

She rolled her eyes and then said,

'I'm not you, you know...'

'Ouch... So what happened to me this time?' I asked with a grin.

She looked at me worriedly.

'You were weak, and with the shock of seeing...that...you passed out. Dr Tahmid says it could have been much worse,' she said with a frown.

'But it wasn't, right? Alhumdulillah for that! Look, I can't get worried over small things when there are more important things to be worrying about. I've just got to live every day, like it's my last day on Earth!' I said.

She smiled at me and then we decided to go to the kitchen.

'I can't believe that tonight is your mendhi!' I told her as I wrapped a scarf loosely around my head.

'I know, right!?' she said in disbelief.

I tried getting off the bed, but my legs wouldn't co-operate. Gosh, what have I become? I could no longer eat properly, breathe properly and now I couldn't even walk properly. Tears threatened to fall, but I pushed them back.

'Maryam?' I called out softly.

'Hmmm?'

'Could you...could you please help me up? I feel weak...'

She nodded and quickly rushed to my side. Maryam helped me to stand up and then wrapped an arm around my waist. I wrapped another around her shoulder and we made our way toward the kitchen like that.

When Dihya saw us, he growled.

'Why didn't you call me Maryam?' he asked.

'Because...urm... I don't know...'

He shook his head and scooped me up into his arms.

'What are you doing out of bed?' he asked me.

'I was bored...' I said cheekily.

He chuckled and shook his head, then carried me into the kitchen and put me down on a chair, before leaving the room to go and get some stuff with Faheem.

'Ma... Whatcha cooking for tonight?' I asked curiously. Whatever it was, it smelt DIVINE!

'Gaajar halwa, saucy steak, creamy chicken and a few other things...' she said as she stirred a pot furiously, before turning her attention to the other.

My jaw dropped.

'A few other things?' I asked in disbelief.

Before she could say anything, foi's shrill voice came from the front.

'Assalaamu Alaykum! Anyone home?'

'In the kitchen, Sumayya,' mummy said.

Foi rushed in with her hands full of food, and so did Abbi, right behind her. He looked pissed off with her and made salaam before walking out.

'Hey Sunshine! My bag is in the car! Go and get it,' foi yelled after him. We heard him grumble before going to get it.

Maryam and I started to laugh. Foi looked at us with a grin, before turning to mummy.

'Right...What needs to be done?'

'Come here, make this wagaar for me. Rayhana, you make the puri and patha. I'll get the vegetables done—-'

'Vegetables?' Maryam asked, scrunching up her nose in disgust.

The three ladies glared at her and she shut her mouth.

'Now. As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted,' mummy said glancing in Maryam's direction, 'I'll do the vegetables. Maryam and Mardiyyah, clean the chickens and cut up the steak. Not all, though. I don't want ANY waste. If anything is left over, the two of you will sit and eat it up.'

We looked at her in horror, knowing that she wasn't joking.

'You got it?' she asked us.

We nodded mutely.

'Good.'

Maryam looked at me and then at mummy.

'Urm...Ma? Dr Tahmid said that Mardiyyah can't do any work,' Maryam said boldly. Dr Tahmid opened her eyes wide as did I.

Worst mistake of Maryam's life.

Mummy turned to look at us with her hands on her hips.

'Not in my house! She only won't work when she's falling down from pain. Mardiyyah, do you have a problem with working?'

I held in my laugh and told her that I didn't.

She glared at Maryam and carried on stirring her food in the huge pots.

Mumbling about how inconsiderate she was, Maryam got up walked over to the chicken. I laughed and followed her to the sink where we began washing it. I hated doing this. It was just....ewww.

Finally, the disgusting job was done. Maryam and I then went over to the table and started to cut the chicken into quarters, under mummy's watchful eye. By the end of that, I was exhausted, which puzzled me even more. How could I be almost breathless just by cutting chickens!? All three ladies noticed and glanced at me worriedly.

I smiled reassuringly but still felt their worried gazes on me.

'Diya? Go and lie down, darling,' mummy said, a little guiltily.

'No, no! It's fine. Maryam, bring the steak. Let's start with it,' I said looking the other way so that they wouldn't see the pain of my face. My chest burned and my arms hurt, but I didn't want them to worry about me.

'DIHYA! Come here NOW,' mummy yelled.

Dihya walked into the kitchen two minutes later, breathless and sweaty.

'Jee ma?' he asked, walking over and pouring himself water.

He knelt down and drank his water in three sips, after reciting the Tasmiya. I smiled at how, even when he needed the water desperately, he followed the Sunnah.

'Take your stubborn wife away from here,' she said.

He nodded and walked toward me. I inched back.

'No. I'm fine Dihya!' I insisted. He looked at me closely then shook his head.

'No, you're not. You're in pain,' he said with finality.

I groaned. How did he know!?

'Tell you what Dhul Hun. Let's go to the room, and revise our Qur'aan. We need to. And when we're done, I'll let you come back,' he said. I nodded.

He took my hand and we walked toward the guest room.

'Let me go and fetch a Qur'aan,' he said running up the stairs, two at a time.

I laughed and walked into the room. I took out an abaya from my bag and retied my scarf properly.

Dihya walked in carrying the Qur'aan my grandparents (Sarah and Sulaymaan) had given us on our wedding day. Tears formed and I smiled a little. Dihya grinned sheepishly, looking like a little boy.

'I couldn't find any other Qur'aan in the first room,' he said. I shook my head and beckoned him over, onto the bed, next to me. He handed me the Qur'aan and slipped on the kurta in his hand. Wiping his face, he sank down, onto the bed.

'What juz are you in?' he asked me, pulling me to his side.

'29th... You?'

'29th also...'

'Ok... Let's start then!'

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

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صدق الله العظيم

Dihya closed the Qur'aan, held it to his heart and kissed my forehead.

'Did you know that, when reading a lot of the Surahs in the 30th juz, one can curse himself?' He asked me.

'Yeah... Like Surah Humaza, and Surah Ma'oon...'

'Mhmmm... Surah Humaza is...scary. But so beautiful, Subhannallah!'

'Yeah. My favourite ayah in there: نارالله الموقدة... It's...it's beautiful!'

'But frightening too, because we may put Allah Ta'alah's curse upon ourselves. Like the first ayaat... Woe to the backbiter and taunter... We're all guilty of Humz (Backbiting) at some point or the other, no?'

'Yes...And without realising it, we're cursing ourselves, in our salaah,' I said in horror. I'd never thought of it like that. Dihya nodded and kissed my forehead.

'Come on, we need to get going. I left Faheem to carry all the tables from Aunty Hasina's, down the road,' Dihya said getting up and helping me up.

'You guys have to carry all twenty five tables?'

'Yeah...And all the stacks of chairs...Why do you think I was sweating so much darling?' he asked with a grin.

'Thought you'd become unfit,' I said nonchalantly.

'Me? Unfit? Hah! Never sweetheart, never!'

'You're so conceited.'

'And you're beautiful. Now let's go,' he said taking my hand and walking out of the room. He threw his kurta onto the bed just before we left.

'You're so untidy,' I said to him.

'Hmm...I know. Now, go and sit in that kitchen, and don't do any work, you hear me?'

'Yeah, yeah. Are you and Faheem the only one's carrying the stuff?'

'No, we have some friends, and your father's a big help. Now don't worry about us,' he chuckled.

Dihya lead me to onto a chair, made sure he told the ladies that I wasn't allowed to do any work, and walked out.

'Ya Allah! That son of mine... Look at what he did!'

We all turned to look at mummy. She was glaring at a puddle of fresh cream, on the floor.

'Dihya?' I asked.

'No, that stupid Faheem!' Maryam said. Mummy nodded in agreement.

'He came in just now to get a glass of water. He knelt down, drank it, but, before he could finish it, he sprinted out. I was wondering why. Now look! He wasted an entire litre of fresh cream! Ya Khuda! What to do with this boy,' she muttered the last part angrily.

I got up and fetched the mop.

'Put. It. Down,' mummy said. I looked at her, confused.

'Why?' I asked.

'Because I don't want my son to go to Jahunnum for killing me. Now put the mop down!' I shook my head at her, and handed it to Maryam.

'I can do some work, you know. I'm not useless,' I mumbled.

'Awww, my darling! Of course you aren't useless! That would be Faheem. But for your own well-being and my own, just sit down, and relax,' she said, threatening to hit me with her dish cloth if I tried to strain myself.

I sighed and sat down.

'Can I at least make the juices for tonight?' I asked hopefully.

She glared at me for about a minute, before finally giving in.

I stood up and hugged her.

'You're the bestest ever!' I told her, kissing her on her cheek.

'Ya, ya, I'm only the bestest to you children when I give you'll something,' she muttered, making us all laugh.

I realised that foi wasn't in the room.

'Where's foi?' I asked.

'Outside. She's bossing the boys around,' Dr Tahmid chuckled.

Just then I heard her yell.

'Faheem and Aswad!!! Those are not ours, and they aren't toys! PUT THEM DOWN NOW, OR ELSE!!!'

She walked into the kitchen then, and gulped down a glass of water.

'These boys,' she said through gritted teeth, 'are the most annoying things under the sun! I can't do this anymore! Oh, Rayhana, Imraan and your two boys are here. Your daughter should be here just now, I sent her to fetch the lemonades from the garage freezer.'

Dr Tahmid nodded and the three women chatted on about Allah knows what.

After a few minutes, a pretty girl walked into the kitchen. She looked about 18 years old, and wore an abaya and red scarf.

'Assalaamu Alaykum,' she greeted us with a smile. Maryam and I replied.

'I'm Sameeha,' she told us.

'Maryam,' Maryam said with a grin.

'Mardiyyah,' I said smiling.

She was a little bit shy at first, but after a while, she started to show her crazy side. At around Asr time, the three of us were laughing together like long-lost sisters.

'Come on. Let's go and read Asr,' I told them as soon as the adhaan went.

'We still have time,' foi said.

I looked at her and smiled.

'Yes, we have time. But, listen to this Hadith: "Ibn Mas'ud Radhiyallahu Anh said that he asked Nabi Salaallahu Alayhi Wassallam which deed was loved most by Allah Ta'alah. He, Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam, said: The salaah which is performed at its time. [Bukhari, Muslim]"

'Another narration mentions that on the day of Qiyamah, mankind will stand in rows. A caller will then call for those that performed their salaah as soon as the Adhaan went. A group of people will then stand up. The caller will lead them away, and enter them into Jannah BEFORE the reckoning starts...'

Foi gaped at me before telling everyone to rush and go to read their salaah. I laughed and Sameeha, Maryam and I went to the guest room to read our Asr.

When we were done, Maryam took out her phone and messaged Faheem to ask him where they were.

I went over and sat next to her, laying my head on her shoulder. Sameeha stood awkwardly to one side, so Maryam patted the bed on her other side. Sameeha smiled and sat down on the bed, on Maryam's left.

ME: Salaam. It's me, your favourite sister, Maryam :D... Where are you?

FAHEEM: Wa Alaykum Salaam. Favourite sister would be 'Diya. I'm carrying these damn chairs around for your stupid mendhi night.

ME: Well guess what Faheemah? 'Diya is also my favourite sister!-_- It's not a stupid mendhi night. Maybe 'Diya and I will find you a wife ;P.

FAHEEM: I'm going to kill you and Dihya. I am NOT Faheemah. You see, this is why I like Diya better! I already found a wife :P

Maryam and I looked at each other with wide eyes.

'HE FOUND A WIFE?' Maryam spluttered.

'I dunno! Ask him! And I'm honoured to be everyone's favourite,' I said with a grin.

ME: WHO!!!!!!??? :O

FAHEEM: I dunno her name yet. Find out for me?

ME: WHO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????????

FAHEEM: That girl with the red scarf, and black abaya. Related to Dr Tahmid, I think.

Maryam and I looked at each other, grinned, and then turned to look at Sameeha.

'What?' she asked, terribly confused.

'Red scarf...' Maryam said.

'Yeah...so?'

'You're wearing one,' I said grinning evilly.

'Yeah... so what does that have t—-OH!' She gasped.

And the light had dawned.

Maryam and I burst out laughing, and Sameeha's face turned the colour of her scarf.

'No...DON'T MARYAM!!!' Sameeha yelped. It was too late though.

ME: You idiot. She's sitting next to me XD And her name is Sameeha :P...

FAHEEM: Please tell me that she didn't just see all those messages? -_-

ME: She did! :D :D :D OMA! This is so funny =D

FAHEEM: Ok... Urm, please apologise to her... I need to go. Ihsaan's here ;P... Assalaamu Alaykum!

ME: In Shaa Allah... Wa Alaykum Salaam Wa Rahmahtullah. Give Dihya Mardiyyah's love! XD

FAHEEM: Will do, In Shaa Allah XD

I smacked Maryam lightly on her arm.

'Who told you to do that?' I asked her.

She grinned.

'It's true though, isn't it?'

I shook my head and got up, my legs screaming in protest.

'Ya Allah...Let's go and help a little more...' I said, pulling Sameeha and Mardiyyah up.

Sameeha still hadn't said a word.

'Don't worry,' I said to her, 'my brother-in-law is an idiot. But he's good at heart.'

She blushed and looked down.

'Let's go to the kitchen,' she said hurriedly.

Maryam and I laughed, and walked out. Maryam held my one side and helped me walk, when she saw that I was having difficulty.

'Did you hurt your leg?' Sameeha asked.

I smiled a little.

'No. I have a lung cancer.'

Stunned. That's what she was.

'Oh...' she finally managed out.

'Yes,' I said laughing, 'don't worry about me though. Worry about my babies.'

'You have kids?' she asked, obviously surprised.

'No. Not yet. They're still in here,' I told her, pointing to my stomach.

She laughed and praised Allah.

'In Shaa Allah Ta'alah, it will be easy for you and Allah Ta'alah will grant you Shifaa.'

'Aameen,' Maryam and I said.

The three musketeers (Mummy, Dr Tahmid and Foi) were already in the kitchen, now running around frantically because 'the guests will start coming NOW.' Now meaning after Maghrib. Which was ore than an hour away.

As soon as mummy and foi saw us, they began shouting out orders. Dr Tahmid, who insisted we call her Rayhana kala, stood hovering around us, making sure we did everything right. Sigh. Old Indian ladies.

Mummy seemed to have forgotten that I couldn't do any work, and was giving me more than enough to do. The kitchen was a mad place, full of ladies rushing around trying to get things done. The boys kept coming in and asking where to put this or that, or where to take things and leave them. all in all, it was wedding house. My grandmother came to help us a little while after Asr, and added to the group of ladies screaming at us in Gujurati, telling us to do things their way.

Finally, we were done. Or so we thought. We had all sat down around the kitchen table, and I poured us all a large glass of passion-fruit and lemonade, as a reward for our hard work. A comfortable silence spread, a big change from the frantic chattering that was carrying on in here for the past hour. Suddenly, mummy jumped  up and ran to the freezer.

'What happened, Gori?' foi asked. Yes. My mother-in-law was famously known as Gori.

'We forgot take out the samoosas and pies!' she said frantically. 

Apparently, this was a big problem, because all four ladies shot up, forgetting about their cool glasses of heaven. Again, we had to get up and help them fry samoosas and make...yes, make!...chutney, because 'How can you expect people to eat savouries without chutney!? What kind of people would we look like?'

Their words, not mine.

Maryam, Sameeha and I were on chutney duty and we had gotten it right...I think. We added too much of this ingredient, too little of that, but managed to balance it out in the end. Maryam's fault.

Finally, we were done, just as the Maghrib adhaan went.

Dihya and Faheem rushed into the kitchen, throwing on their kurtas and putting on their socks and shoes at the same time, their faces and limbs still wet from making wudhu.

'The tables are set, ma,' Faheem said grabbing a samoosa, dunking it into the chutney, kissing mummy's cheek and running out to the car.

'Faheem used all the wrong serviettes mummy,' Dihya said, grabbed a pie, kissed mummy's cheek and my forehead and ran out, jumping into the car and speeding away.

'Stupid boys,' mummy muttered as she wiped the chutney on her cheek.

We laughed and went to perform our salaah soon after.

Half an hour later:

The excited chatter of women of all ages could be heard from Maryam's room. Sameeha and I were sat on the edge of her bed, waiting for her to come out of the bathroom.

I was wearing a sky blue and silvery maxi dress with a similar two toned scarf and silver shoes. Flats, of course. Sameeha wore a yellow dress, with several colours flowing out from the skirt part. He scarf was a mixture of colours: red, orange, yellow, pink, blue, but she still looked beautiful. I wondered where she had managed to pull the outfit out from, on such short notice.

'How long does this woman take?' Sameeha groaned.

'As long as it will take you to get ready when you marry my brother,' Maryam said grinning as she walked out of the bathroom. She looked stunning.

Sameeha blushed and groaned. We were never letting that go.

'Diya, Sam, help here,' Maryam said walking out to us.

Her red dress was dazzling, and had intricate beadwork all over the bodice. A little more appeared here an there, but unlike most Indian dresses, it wasn't too much. The dress had a zip at the back, but also a whole lot of those stupid pearly buttons all the way up the back. Maryam had managed to close the zip, but needed help with the buttons.

'What's the use of these dumb things?' Sameeha asked, after 7 minutes. We were only halfway done with closing them.

Maryam shrugged and I laughed.

'They just look nice, I guess,' I said.

'Gosh, my chest is starting to pain,' I said after a little while. Maryam and Sameeha turned to look at me worriedly.

'Sit down,' Maryam said sternly. Sameeeha nodded and pushed me onto the bed gently.

'You need to be well enough to sit and let the lady put mendhi for you for hours,' Maryam said.

'Oh, no, no! That's you, darling. I already went through that torture,' I told her.

'How did you survive?' she groaned.

'I slept away,' I said grinning.

'You did?'

'Mhmm...'

'How many people are here?' Sameeha asked as we heard a huge crash, followed by nervous chattering. A few minutes later, the noise was back.

'Mummy invited over 400 ladies, I think,' Maryam said.

'Wow. 400 hundred ladies! And the men?'

'I don't know. Go and ask Faheem,' Maryam said and we chuckled as Sameeha's cheeks turned the colour of Maryam's dress.

'Don't...' she said, looking down.

We were silent for a minute, all lost in our own thoughts.

'So. You're staying with us tonight, right Sam?' Maryam said.

'Oh...err... I don't think so,' she said.

'What!? No, no, no! Of course you are! You have to!' I said.

'Yeah. Please? It's so much fun! Diya and I sleep together in this room, yes she actually agreed to be parted from Dihya, surprising I know, and we talk until late. Well, last night we made desserts...But anyway! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!!!!' Maryam begged.

Sameeha laughed.

'I'll ask my mother. In Shaa Allah.'

Maryam didn't look too happy with that answer, so I changed the topic.

'So? Is there a different lady putting your mendhi?' I asked her.

'Not only mine. She'll put for me, for you, for Sam, for mummy, for foi, for Rayhana kala, for Sarah nani and for Zayna, Ihsaan's sister,' Maryam said, ticking off the names on her fingers.

'Ihsaan's sister? She's going to be here too? Isn't there that whole 'Bride and groom family has to be separate thing'?' Sameeha asked.

'Mummy decided that we should have a joint function,' I told her and she nodded.

'I wonder how she's doing now that the excitement in the kitchen's died down... She must be shaken up after this afternoon,' Sameeha said.

'In Shaa Allah she'll be fine. She's more worried about the ugly gash on the side of her forehead. I cleaned it out, and put on a bandage, but she insists that she can't show her face at her daughter's wedding like that,' Maryam said, shaking her head.

Sameeha and I laughed.

'Your mother is so sweet, Alhumdulillah,' Sameeha said.

'And so is yours... She's so helpful, Subhannallah!' I gushed.

Sameeha smiled and nodded.

'Ok girls. It's time to do this,' Maryam said and walked toward the mirror. She applied a little bit of lip gloss and blush, and called us over. All three of us hated make up, but agreed to use some eye liner after the old ladies begged us.

'We look so pretty,' Maryam said with a laugh, making Sameeha and I laugh too.

'Conceited much?' Sameeha teased.

'It's my mendhi, I have a right to be!' Maryam replied.

'Don't lie Maryu. You're always conceited!'

She stuck her tongue out at me, and I laughed. Pain. Ya Allah! Make this easy for me... In every action, ease my pain, Allah! You are Rahmaan, so shower Your mercy upon me.

I looked at Maryam and Sameeha apologetically.

'Would you two lovelies mind helping me down the stairs? My chest is on fire and so are my legs,' I said sheepishly.

They nodded and immediately held onto my sides.

'Are you sure you're fine Diya?' Sameeha asked as I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath after the first few steps.

I nodded and begged them to continue walking. Every few steps, I felt Maryam's and Sameeha's worried gaze on me, but I ignored them. I was fine. It was just a little bit of burning, that's all. Better this than the fire of Jahannum, right?

We finally made it to the bottom of the stairs, and the chattering died down, all eyes on us. Absolutely embarrassed, I brushed Maryam's and Sameeha's arms of me, and tried to control my breathing. After a while, the ladies stopped their gawking and turned their attention back to each other.

'Whose the bride?' a young girl, around 4, came up to us and asked curiously. She had two plaits, a white dress that came up to her knees, silver stockings, silver pumps, and a tiny heart necklace around her petite neck.

I smiled at her, as did Sameeha and Maryam.

'This girl here,' I said pointing to Maryam.

The girl smiled brightly and handed her a rose. Maryam took it graciously and kissed her cheek. The girl grinned.

'What's your name?' she asked. I saw a young lady, around 25, making her way toward us hurriedly. This little girl was probably her daughter. I motioned to her that it was fine, and reluctantly, she stood where she was and watched.

'Maryam.'

'For real?' the little girl asked, with a sparkle in her big round eyes.

'Uh huh! What's yours?' Maryam asked her sweetly.

'Asiya,' she said with a huge grin.

Maryam, Sameeha and I gushed over what a beautiful name that was, and it looked like Asiya couldn't have been happier.

She giggled and asked if she could sit with us tonight. Her mother shook her head, and walked toward us. again I stopped her.

'Sure! Let's go and find a place to sit down,' Sameeha told her, holding her hand and leading her away.

'She is so adorable!!!' Maryam said.

I nodded in agreement.

'I hope my children are cute, In Shaa Allah,' I said, sighing.

Maryam looked at me like I was mad.

'What?' I asked her.

'Are you kidding? Of course they'll be cute, In Shaa Allah! Have you seen their mother and father? And of course, their aunt,' she said fluttering her eyelashes. I laughed, but again the stupid pain came, followed by a tidal wave of nausea.

'Maryu? I need to run,' I said and rushed over to the nearest bathroom as fast as I could.

I emptied whatever contents were in my stomach and groaned. Tonight was going to be a bad one. I could feel it. I walked over to the sink and rinsed my mouth out, before drying my hands and leaving the bathroom.

Debating with myself whether or not I should put on some perfume, I remembered a Hadith that Dihya had narrated to me a little while ago:

The prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam said something to the effect that any woman who applies perfume and then leaves her home and the perfume can be smelt by ghayr-muhrums, the punishment for her will be like that of an adultress. 

I decided against using the perfume, and settled on brushing my teeth about 3 times. No, I'm not weird. 

I felt a little bit whoozy, but ignored the feeling and walked over to Maryam and Sameeha, sitting down quickly.

'You okay?' they asked simultaneously. I nodded slowly, closed my eyes for a minute and then opened them. 

The two were staring at me anxiously, and I smiled at them.

'I'll be fine,' I told them. In Shaa Allah.

Later on that night:

"Ok, almost there!" I told myself as I struggled to take out my dress. Finally, I managed to slip it out without smudging the intricate mendhi patterns that covered my arms, from wrist to elbow.

I breathed a sigh of relief and put on Dihya's shirt and a track pants. The patterns on my feet were dry, and all wrapped up, but my arms were still a little bit wet.

I walked into the kitchen and found Sameeha, Maryam, Mummy, foi, Rayhana kala and Sarah Nani sitting 

around the kitchen table.

Everyone's hands were covered in sophisticated black paste, ready to be wrapped up in cling.

'Diya! Lemme see yours,' Maryma said with a huge yawn. She had taken my advice, and slept right through the duration of her hands and feet being patterned. Mummy originally thought that it was rude, but, after Sameeha and I explained that she had overworked us and that we were all tired, she gave in. Not to mention the fact that she was dozing off herself while her own mendhi was getting done.

I walked over to Maryam and held out my hands.

'Awww, yours is so pretty! I want it! Look... mine is horrible,' Sameeha pouted, holding her hands out for me to see.

'Shut up. Yours is amazing, Subhannallah!' I told her.

'Yeah, ask Faheem. He'll tell you,' Maryam whispered, so only the three of could hear. Sameeha groaned and turned beet red while Maryam and I laughed softly.

'Diya, come here,' mummy called me, frustrated.

I walked over to her and, grumbling, she sat me down on the chair in front of her.

'Haat,' she said to me. I stretched out my hands and she began dabbing lemon juice over the now dry patterns with a piece of cotton wool.

'Why lemon juice Gori?' Sarah nani asked.

'Makes the colour better. When we wash it off in the morning, it will be darker,' Mummy said.

The ladies nodded and as soon as they were done with wrapping my hands, I got up from my seat.

'I'm going to find Dihya,' I told the ladies.

Maryam and Sameeha finally let me go, after I promised them that I would come and sleep with them when they were done.

I dragged myself into the guest room, my body now screaming in pain. Dihya was lightly snoring and I sat next to him on the bed, wondering how his hair could be so soft. I got bored after a while and decided to wake him up. Knowing he hated the smell of mendhi, (who didn't?), I put my hand in front of his face. In his sleep, I watched as his nose scrunched up in disgust.

'Wake up,' I whispered. He groaned and swatted my hand away.

I shook him gently.

'Wake up Dihya,' I said again, this time a little louder.

He caught me by the waist and opened his eyes a little.

'What happened?' he asked sleepily.

'I'm bored.'

He sat up and looked at me like I was crazy.

'You woke me up at half past one in the morning, after I worked for my crazy mother the entire day, to tell me that you're bored?' he asked in disbelief.

'No,' I said. And then, when he looked at me for an explanation, I said:

'I woke you up to entertain me.'

Dihya groaned and lay his head in my lap.

'Where'd you put mendhi?' he murmured, with his eyes closed.

'The top of both my hands and on my feet,' I said.

I saw him grin.

'Good. Whatever makes you happy darling.'

I smiled and, just to tease him, put my hand in front of his nose. Dihya groaned and pushed them away gently.

'You can put on however much of this thing, as long as I don't have to smell it,' Dihya said.

I laughed and we sat like that for a while, before both of us drifted off to sleep.

'WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU WOMAN!!! GET UP!!!'

I groaned and almost tumbled off the bed.

'Whazertime?' Dihya mumbled into my stomach. I smacked his head lightly, and, when he moved off me, I got up tiredly.

Maryam told me that if I wasn't out of the room in 2 minutes, she'd...let's leave that out.

I shook my head and walked over to Dihya. I kissed him on his forehead and told him that I was going to sleep with Maryam and Sameeha. First, he refused to let me go, but after a whole lot of begging, he finally let me. I kissed him quickly before I left, dragging myself up the stairs.

When I got to the room, I immediately realised that I wouldn't be getting any sleep. Sameeha and Maryam were wide awake and yapping away happily. Soon, I joined in and the three of us talked all night long. Well, more like morning! Little did we know, that in less than 48 hours, two nikaahs would be performed, instead of one...

When two Muslim men or two Muslim women meet, they should say salaam first, and then shake hands.

Shake hands again when you are leaving.

Most people only shake hands with one hand and with only the fingers touching. This is against the Sunnah.

Your hands should be empty when shaking hands and your palms should touch the other person's palms.

If someone is hurrying along the road, do not stop him for hand-shaking. Such a person should not be stopped and engaged in conversation. You may be holding him up from something important.

When arriving in a gathering do not make musaafahah with everyone present. Make Musafahah with only the person whom you intend to see.

Some people are under the impression that mere handshaking is sufficient for restoring the peace between two antagonists or people who have quarrelled. While the malice remains in the hearts, musaafahah is of no benefit. Firstly clear the air by solving the dispute. Thereafter make musaafahah.

Musaafahah should be made on arrival and on departure.

When making musaafahah, the hands should not contain anything.

Do not wait in expectation of musaafahah. Do not wish that people come forward to shake your hands.

The Sunnah method of musaafahah is only to shake hands. In some places there is the custom of kissing the hands after making musaafahah. This practice should be discontinued.

When making musaafahah, take into consideration the pleasure and the comfort of the one with whom you intend to make musaafahah. Refrain from adopting a method which will displease and inconvenience him.

Do not make Musafahah after Salaat with one who is engrossed in some work. Just as there are rules for salaam so are there rules for Musafahah. According to a Hadith, Musafahah is the completion of salaam. In some places while making Musafahah the thumbs are pressed. It is claimed that in the thumbs are the veins of love. This is baseless and the narration is a fabrication.

NOTE THAT IT IS HARAAM FOR A WOMAN TO MAKE MUSAAFAHA WITH A NON-MUHRUM...