As I gathered the dirty dishes together, Amir, Fawaz and Uncle Raees walked out of the dining room talking. Mahira who had been very quiet during dinner wiped the dining table. I walked into the adjacent kitchen in Aunt Sabr's house. Aunt Sabr was arranging dishes into the dishwasher.

"Thank you Noorie" she said as I placed the dirty dishes into the sink.

"Aunt, you do not have to thank me" I chuckled as I helped arranged the dishes into the dishwasher.

I looked back at the dining room where Mahira kept wiping the table even though it was clean. It was clear she had something on her mind. Her dull eyes and gloomy face said it all. It was uncommon for Mahira not to speak. She was free spirited like her mother. Since she stepped into the dining room after she arrived from work and noticed Fawaz was there, she had hardly spoken. Her food was barely touched. There was something strange between Mahira and Fawaz. I was yet to find out.

I remembered on mine and Amir's engagement day, Mahira had suddenly lost her glow when she saw Fawaz. On our wedding day, it was the same thing. My first day in London when we had lunch with the family, Mahira had avoided every place Fawaz was.

"Is something wrong with Mahira?" I whispered to Aunt Sabr. Aunt Sabr looked back at her daughter then back at me.

"I don't know" she shrugged.

"She looks dull and unhappy" I pointed out.

"You are leaving for your honeymoon tomorrow" Aunt Sabr said. Those words erased the worry lines on my face and replaced them with a smile.

"Yes, who told you?" I answered shutting the dishwasher.

"Ammi of course! She could not hide her excitement and had told Naimah and me" she laughed.

"Well, that's true" I said with a little hint of red on my cheeks.

"That's just perfect. I think it is time to tell you some things"

"Some things like what?" I questioned my eyebrows coming together.

The day before, Amir and I had finally told the family about our honeymoon and house. They were happy except Shazia and her mother. The two were yet to leave the house. I just pray by the time I come back from my honeymoon, they will be out and the rest of the family will finally get peace. Tubassum was yet to make up with her brothers and father. I don't know what she did but it seems harder than I thought. Khala's smiles were force and I knew she spent most of her time weeping. I heard Shazia telling her mother that a man and his family were to come and seek Tubassum's hand in marriage before the incident about her affair with Aaban. Suhaan khalu cancelled it giving them a lame excuse. They had laughed and made jest of Tubassum.

When Shazia had seen Tubassum and I talk like old friends, she had chocked on her drink. It seemed as if she could not believe it and her ears had brought out smoke due to how angry she was. She had seen us in the family room together with Sahibah bhabi and Zoya bhabi while she entered sipping juice and holding a fashion magazine. Ayat mami and I were not really talking but the little conversation we had had been good. I realised her relationship with her husband had gotten better. The constant glare they threw at each other had seized.

Aaliya khala had followed Tubassum to the hospital for ante natal this morning. It was good. Tubassum needed her family support during this hard phase of her life but it seemed that's far from her. No matter the amount of support Nani, Khala and I or any other member of the family give her, it won't still take away her pain.

"Come here" Aunt Sabr grabbed my hands and took me upstairs. "I got you something" she said as we entered where I assumed to be her room. "It might be embarrassing but it is still going to be useful. I know there are other reasons why people go for honeymoons but I just had to get it" she shoved a box into my hand grinning. I stared at the box then back at her. "Open it"

Bit by bit as if I was unwrapping a bomb, I tore the wrap and opened the box.

"Aunt Sabr!" I screeched mortified and frozen to where I was standing. I could not believe what I was seeing. My face warm with embarrassment. The lingerie I stared at was a sheer black material that would barely cover anything. "Oh my God aunt! I am embarrassed" I looked away shutting the box.

"I know sweetie but don't worry"

"It is lingerie"

"I know. I picked it out yesterday when I went to a victoria secret store it caught my eyes. It is beautiful" she said blatantly when my face got redder with discomfiture.

"Thanks" I said dropping the box.

"It's nothing" she gestured her hand in the air as if to dismiss my gratitude. "That reminds me, do you have a dermatologist here in London?"

"No"

"That's good. You know sweetie, you need to keep your skin smooth and flawless. You have a very good skin" she took my hand "But you need to keep. I have a dermatologist I visit twice in a month with Mahira. She is one of the best in London. When you arrive back from your honeymoon I will take you to her"

"Why do I need it?"

"Because you need to keep your skin flawless for your husband. Men love beautiful bodies" I grimaced. "What's with that look? You won't want to have a cracked or rough skin to entice my nephew"

"Aunt!" I called again to stop her.

"I know this is a sensitive topic dear but I have to tell you because I have gone through all this things. I got this cream when you use it. I tell you, Amir will go crazy"

"Aunt!"

"Stop calling me and listen" she walked to her dressing table and picked something. "I am telling you all this as a mother so don't be embarrassed" she gave the cream to me.

"Aunt, I don't think I need this"

"Don't tell me that nonsense" she clapped her hand. "Why do you use scented soap, creams, perfumes and shampoos? It is to get your husband's attention"

"Aunt, please can we stop talking about this" I said when I felt very uncomfortable.

"Of course! With time you will be open when it comes to those topics. I am not done yet but I will save the rest for later. Whatever I am asking you to do is halal and that is the best thing ever. I will get a bag to keep those things for you"

She got a bag and stored the cream and lingerie into it. Sister Amatullah had done the same thing a day before I left Nigeria. She had said the same thing after shopping for lingerie and sexy dresses for me. It was very discomforting.

We headed back down stairs where the men were laughing at something. I stole a look at Amir who I made eye contact with and looked away immediately. Because Fawaz was an Arabian, the men had spoken in English. At the dining room, Mahira was busy doing her work.

"Mahira" I called.

"You are back. I am sure mama had given you her present" she said with a balm smile, her eyes laced with nervousness.

"Yes, she did" I blushed and sat opposite her.

I stared at her. Her hands were shaking and she seemed to be doing everything fast. The more she writes the more mistakes she made. Maybe due to frustration, she had given up on her writing and decided to go through the magazines beside her.

"Mi Jin's mum called me today" she said. "She told me what she wanted. The woman has good taste. Every part of the house needs renovation" her voice trembled.

I looked at Aunt Sabr who shrugged, stood up and left.

"I will begin work by next week when I am done with my current project. Alhamdulillah, my work is progressing" she stretched to take a magazine but pushed the glass of water in front of her away. "Ya Allah!" she exclaimed getting up. "I am clumsy"

"Mahira" I held her hand. "Is something wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong with me. I am fine" she took a towel and mopped the water. I moved away the wet papers and magazines allowing water to fall from them. Luckily, her MacBook had no water on it. I moved the laptop.

"You are nervous. That's why you are clumsy"

"Am I?" she asked taking another dry towel.

"Yes and leave what you are doing. I will do it"

I cleaned the table and left her magazines under the fan to dry. While I cleaned, I looked at her. She kept chewing her fingers and biting her lips, her face marred with fear and anxiety. After I finished, I took got her a chilled glass of fruit juice and got one for myself.

"You should give yourself a break from your work now" I said handing over her glass to her. "You have to tell me what's wrong" I settled beside her.

"There is nothing wrong with me. I am okay"

"You should not lie to me. Does this have to do with Fawaz?" she choked on her drink. "Sorry" I rubbed her back.

"No!" her voice became raspy.

"You should not lie to me because I have noticed some things" she exhaled placing her drink on the table. Her eyes were filled with doubt whether to tell me or not.

"You don't need to tell me now. But when you want to, I am always here" I patted her shoulder.

Aunt Sabr came back and we began to talk. While we talked at the dining, the men laughed at what they were saying. It was one good night, a night before I went back to Nigeria and a night before my honeymoon. Relieved I left the new family and friends I had gotten in happiness, I was ready for my unforgettable honeymoon with full energy.

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