Khadeeja's PoV

So Baraaq said he was facing some financial difficulty but he won't be pushing out the wedding for us. So one rumor was corrected,the second one was that Ibrahim wanted a Reception out of the town. That however came out to be true.

We stacked the shopping bags in a corner but they keep falling down,a big pile and heap of clothes have accumulated in our rooms,three wedding costs a fortune. We are either guilty or greedy,there's no in between. So far Janaziah has shopped her share completely, me and Raidah still have a 20% left,which is not that less. Shoes and Abaya. We have a cousin from Saudi who had texted us a few choices; regardless of his fine shortlist I am unable to choose one.

As swim around in the flood of our shopping beach my phone blinks,a text. I check on cautiously as to not open it. Qahtan!

'I've booked an Abaya,don't trouble yourself on that one and yeah a bag too...'

Oh my---

I run over in the living room and sit beside Raidah and tilt my head to my phone when she looked at me.

"No freaking wayyy!"

She gasps!

"And that too when I was thinking about the Abaya!"

I shyly shook my head.

Later that night I got another text saying

'If you need anything else please text me,I really want to'

I cannot believe it is happening,I stare at my phone for a few minutes, this is surreal rather a dream. Yes this was a dream for me,Qahtan texting me...woah.

The relatives gathered, wedding in two days. How did time fly so fast,I want to pause in between. But how? With all this shopping and preparations and rushing,I've hardly kept on with my parents so have the girls,we didn't had any time on our hands for Dad or us.... This is getting sad now....how can I just leave....

Things were far off now,the girls were all getting ready. I don't know how I feel now...there's no mystery or secret. No anxiety or fear..,because I know now he loves me and I know now who is 'the one'. It's funny how we always talked about these days and now they have passed,the much popular dress is here,the cards are here,the venue is decided and the Much awaited groom is there.

"Jana just keep the phone!"

Raidah scolds Janaziah,it's all we do these days. Jana can't keep away from her phone. We always have Ibrahim bumping into us whenever we are out,it is kind of annoying even but can't do anything about these brand new lovers. MashaAllah though.

"Janaziah!!"

Mum comes in slamming the door open.

"Yes..ma"

"Why is Ibrahim here again!?"

She asks her flaring her nostrils in anger.

"I'll just see"

She rushes outside to send him off.

We roll our eyes, monotonous.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

It was our wedding the next day,

I was dealing with anxiousness and fear but why fear...? He was a known face,a know soul and a known companion...I looked at Raidah,I could see much more than fear,worries and unsure countenance. Then there was Jana, extremely happy. How is everything is different for all of us. Baraaq is a stranger but then so is Ibrahim,it's all about acceptance, isn't it?

Rumii looked in vain as she spoke all the things low and sad.

"Cheer up you! Aren't all your dreams gonna come true tomorrow!"

Jana teased her.

"...how can without you..I"

She started crying.

"Stop your are making me emotional Rumii"

Raidah faced away.

And when Jana starts crying,there's no way tears can contain themselves. We hugged each other,consoled each other but it felt as if we were losing each other,things won't be same from tomorrow, we won't see the sun rise from our rooms,we won't pray together won't tell each other everything possibly and we won't be near each other like this. Mum came in and we wanted to stop but instead Rumi hugged her and let herself open in her arms,we couldn't control ourselves,we cried too.

I don't know...why do I have to leave...

The whole night,we were restless. Asking each other why the other was up yet,advicing the other to sleep well and not being able to sleep at all. We could all;I'm sure could her soft sobs at little intervals and then just empty stares at the window or the at the ceiling. How comforting is to have sisters and how is brutal is to be taken far away from the them with a good occasion.

The day,

We woke up horrible. Mum came and scolded us in a major tone.

"You girls are acting like tomorrow is the day of your deaths and you won't ever see each other again,if your dad married y'all to separate countries what would you all do to yourselves,stop crying now!"

Felt good!

Then it was the busiest day, we went to dad's room like we do whenever he goes to a wedding to get him ready. We set his things up,matched his tie to his suit and stood till he was ready.

He smiled at us.

"Don't cry please,these girls are carrying an ocean to just cause flood "

Mum warned dad before his sparkling eyes could bless us in a way.

Our brothers kept hurrying us to get ready.

We sat in our rooms and the artists came in.

And soon we were ready to exchange our vows!

-_-_-_-_-_-

I was accompanied by Samara and a few of his cousins to his room. My heart is thumping vigourously. The scent of his room is similar to the fragrance of rose. I look around neevously,Samara sets my dress evenly. A few of them re-set my makeup. A awkwardly smile to all. Just then Qahtan enters the room dragging my suitcase and bag. My lashes shoot down.

The girls giggle and leave.

"If you need anything Khadeeja I'm in the next room"

Samar says as she shuts the door.

I'm uncomfortable being left alone with him and really nervous.

I tuck my hair behind my ear within my loose scarf. I heard him claer his throat and sigh.

"Looks like someone has troubled Baba a lot even after I told not to"

He said looking at me.

I smile slightly.

He sat beside me cross smiling.

"It's a little dreamy to me I wont lie, always thought I couldnt have you for me"

As he said these words a almost natural sigh left me cause I now for the first time I realised this is actually happening,needing to be pinched.

"Khadeeja.... I can't count the days I have waited to have you know that I love you..."

A tear dropped from my eye and he laughed. I laughed too but it was by time I handled it all well being sentimental.

"I knew you wanted me to say it,I couldn't I didn't knew how would you react!"

He said pondering over our past time,now past time.

"So do like me or--?"

He asked raising both his eyebrows.

"Yes.... Yes I do"

I said laughing.

"Water?"

He asked.

I nodded,he filled the glass of water an passed it to me. I drank half and gave it to him he raised his glass and drank the rest.

"Oh nearly forgot this--"

He pulled out a small box from his pocket.

It was a pendant. A beautiful floral design, a single mianature flower connected to a branch and small leaf.

He moved closer looking me in the eyes and asked "how is it?"

"It's the most beautiful gift I've ever recieved"

He smiled and helped me wear it.

_-_-_

I look at the side table. A little silver Alarm clock is reflecting the moon light in the dark room.

It's 1:45 am.

"It's been 2hours"

I said

We bith laying side by side staring at the celing talking about so many things we never could talk about. Like that lottle bike accident we had when we were 14, he said it hurted his ego a lot because well he failed as a biker to me. I kinda dont remember it.

"I know, hey do you remember Daniah's wedding you looked very great that day!"

"Really! What did I wear? I can't remember "

"It was silver and blueish"

He said thinking hard.

"Oh no no! No way i looked the worst, that dress was a nightmare!"

"What!!"

He said as he sat upright in surprise.

He kept staring me.

"I guess i have that dress, I'd wear it someday"

I said,he smiled.

We kept talking and I kept fidgeting with my pendant.

"What does this resemble?"

I asked him.

"The flower must denote you and the branch is me supporting you like I promise always do"

My spirits were high.

"And this little diamond at the side?"

I wondered a little before asking

"That's still to come i guess"

He said.

Raidah's PoV

I'm sitting in the car, his house is farther away from the city, on the outskirts of the township he parked the car near a house. I looked at him. He got out of the car, we haven't talked the whole way. His eldest brother is seated on the front. An awkward situation indeed. However it wasn't a plan but a last minute suggestion that landed him in the driver's seat. I do not know what kind of suggestion that was. My thoughts started to run wild on our way they soon ended,the way was tiringly long. We exchanged few secret smiles on our way. I look around,the house is in rough state,that's alright anywhwere with him would be excellent for a stay. He smiled from outside. The winows are closed and the smell of the car is distinct and very vile. I shift uncomfortably in my dress. I look out,it is raining. The street have pudlles of water collected and it's very dark to see anything around.

Time is passing by and I am still sitting in the car looking at him talk to different guys that come and congratulate him,he's cute.

I sigh. The smell in the car is going get me sick quick. One by one cars get parked in front of the house and the ladies and the men get out of them but nobody takes me out. Baraaq isn't looking at me.

I now feel suffocated in the car,the windows shut and the smell causing nausea to me. I look out and see him completely busy. Why isn't he taking me inside. I look up to the lampost across the street and a digital clock attached to it,blinks a bright red 1:45 am in it. It's too late.

My dress is biting every inch of my body,the sound of dogs barking at a distance is shaking me a bit. I look at Baraaq, look here...?

A last car parks behind mine and her sister and brother's wife get outside and anxiously now wait for them to get me out but they without looking at me get inside the house. A punch I feel in my stomach,what's wrong? Did I do something?

Another set of minutes passed by and now it was enough I was just about to bang the car window when opened the door for me.

"I'm sorry,come out"

He spoke softly.

He gave me his hand and got out. I felt a little weak and dizzy as I shook in my heels.

For a moment my whole body leaned on him and then I stood upright.

He instead took me towards another car???

I followed him and I am so confused as he opened the door and asked me to sit inside.

Before I could enquire anything he left to his house and now again I am in a car,suffocated. I open the door of the car,the breeze is cold. The wind carrying the soft shower sprinkle on my face,maybe I should close the door.

It's been over an hour but he is just wasting time here and there, at least he could send me in the house also his family,they should get out from here. So far I am pursing my lips and folding my anger,I do not want to be angry by everything is evoking me to just leave now,a few strange faces stare at me from afar. What's wrong with Baraaq!

He finally comes in and opened the other door of the car and sat inside,what now?

Before he could start the car,my patience lost it's seat.

"Baraaq where are we going?"

I asked in disappointment, nobody wanted such mere words of question to be their first phrase to their husband.

"Hotel"

He answered.

What! It would be last possible worst thing to happen to me! I hate the idea of hotels for a first night! The place where you first see each other,know each other,emotionally, spiritually, physically cannot be at a strange rented room! I'd rather have my wedding night spent with him in this car he owns than a rented hotel room for Allah's sake!

"No!"

I uttered in surprise.

"Some relatives have occupied my room and it's just a lot of things. I can't explain right now--"

He said as he started the car again.

The very fact that mpthis thing isn't even a matter to him was pulling me off. He just looked like he didn't care,he didn't plan this...it doesn't matter?

"No,I do not wanna go to a hotel, I would sleep I'm the house anywhere please"

I said trying to calm down.

"No we're going"

He said dryly,adding fire to the blue fumes of my anger.

His brother's wife threw a bag at the back seat and looked at me and said "enjoy your night"

I was too mad to react,I didn't even look at her.

It was something I asked for the first time,he didn't even bother to explain me.

He parked at a nearby hotel and I hate how things are going. We walked to a honeymoon suite and how much I wanted to tear down the whole stupid decorations around. I pushed off my scandals furiously and sat at a side.

"Raidah look,my room is packed"

He said again lightly.

I didn't say anything, I have a bad temper. The best I know is to shut myself.

He sat beside me but when he came nearer to touch my cheek I freaked out and walked back.

"Raidah are you mad?"

He asked.

Is he mad? Foolish for sure!