Chapter 10 Wedding Functions-Mehndi

After Two months.

AHLAM.

As I stood in front of the mirror in my room, I thought to myself "Do I look good enough?"

I have had insecurities because of not venturing out enough but now, on this special day, I am willing to do anything for that one special someone "I think I look great. Alhamdulillah!"

Just the mere thought of him and I started to feel a blush creep up on my cheek. Ya Allah! This guy will make me go crazy. If he was here, he would have enjoyed seeing and teasing me in such situations.

Wearing a prestigious Pakistani mustard and ruby red Anarkali dress; with heavy but beautiful displayed hand stitched embroidery and matching dupatta, I allowed my long dark wavy hair to hung freely down my back. Glancing at my reflection in the mirror, I smiled to myself and dropped my gaze to my hands playing with the heavy scented red rose and white lily bangles on my wrist.

Today was my pre-wedding celebration; my Mehndi. I will be having red-orange mehndi applied to my palms, back of hands and feet. The fresh flowers on my wrist, that will also be handpicked individually by the women attending was traditional for a mehndi function. Today I will officially be treated as a bride.

I was told they were combining the Mehndi ceremony by percussion instruments; Dholki being the main (Asian style drum) with traditional Mehndi and Dholki songs.

Staring around my room, I breathed in the scent of the Kashmir roses, white lilies and jasmine that was planted everywhere and then admired the gorgeous rose earrings and necklace Aahil gifted me. I ached for his presence but it was tradition for the two of us not to meet until after our marriage Insha'Allah. Quickly muttering "Alhamdulillah"

Not wanting to disturb Hania, I managed on my own to cover my aching left hand and arm with my dupatta when I suddenly heard a sharp knock on the patio window. Thinking nothing of it, I turned away and headed towards the door in search of Hania but as I walked, another sharp knock occurred and Aahil's face came into view. Ya Allah! I was just thinking about him and now he is really here

Gasping in shock and not knowing what to do, I just kept pacing to and fro. We were not meant to meet until after our marriage and he just stood there calmly waiting for me to open the window. This guy will surely put us both in trouble "What was he doing here?"

I hastily locked my bedroom door in case Hania appears and at a fast pace walked towards the patio doors to let him in. Gaining entrance, he wore a huge grin plastered across his face as he regarded me up and down. Turning away in embarrassment, he reached out and embraced me into a warm snuggle.

"You look so beautiful Ahlam, just like the moon in the sky, Subhan'Allah" he murmured into my ear

It felt so nice being embraced by him but I pushed him away and he accepted distance.

"What are you doing here?" I whispered in concern

"Meeting my wife of course!" He replied seriously

"Ahlam are you ready? Open the door!!" Hania's voice called out, crashing our peaceful moment.

"Wait a minute!" I replied back.

Turning towards Aahil I whispered, "You know we can't meet right?

"Tomorrow night is rukhsati, (leaving home to live with her husband) until then we are not meant to meet. It is ritual. You shouldn't have come here. What if someone finds out? What would I say? Please, you must go"

I pushed him towards the patio but he just leaned against the door casually and calm.

"I will come again my dear wife" he said, then winked and disappeared over his side of the patio.

Closing the door, I rushed over to allow Hania in.

"What took you so long! and why lock the door?" She questioned me curiously

Ignoring her previous question, she wolf-whistled and said in excitement "Ahlam, you look absolutely beautiful Masha'Allah. If Aahil were able to see you, he would have fainted at your feet".

If only you knew, I thought to myself with a hidden smile, feeling the heat rush to my cheeks.

"You do too Hania. Maybe someone might ask for your hand after my wedding" I told her but she just shrugged and told me she was not ready. Lost in her thoughts, I gave her a little nudge.

"Hey! You okay?" I asked

She shared a bit of detail about a guy she likes, which made me tease her a little but I promised it'll be our secret.

Hania checked the time and like a boss, ordered "Now, you need to go downstairs. I will explain more to you at the right time okay?"

I replied by faking a cough and she just smiled and looked away shyly.

Holding her hand tightly with my right hand, we walked out of the room and towards the hall and the ladies waiting and prayed they would be no backbiting. They were wearing colourful colours ranging from yellow to green and all beautifully made up. I was the only one who wore no makeup, for I was the bride. Was it just me or every girl that during this phase, when suddenly the attention is on one girl? Me.

Feeling my hands shiver with fear and my throat turning dry from the unexpected, Hania guided me into the room where all relatives and close friends were waiting. Stepping into the room, the entertainment immediately began and the dholki started. I really don't like being centre of attention but it's a once in a lifetime event Insha'Allah, so I went with the flow.

Face to face with Aahil's mother, I gave her special kisses, which made some of the ladies' crack jokes and even through a woman photographer was hired for the ceremony, Hania excused herself to take photos of her own, presumably for Aahil I thought smiling.

Being led to sit in the middle of the plush pink carpet by aunty Faiza, a professional henna artist began to work her magic on my right hand. Feeling the nerves from earlier fade away, happiness and excitement took its place.

I watched in astonishment at the festive women wearing flower petal bangles similar to mine, gathered around on one of the many colourful pillows. Some even began singing and dancing to the Asian tunes, while some took turns in feeding me various foods and desserts.

There were colourful patterned iced cookies; similar to henna designs, cupcakes, baklava, kebabs and chicken tikka, halwa puri, palak ghasht, kheer and so much more. The décor and design of the room itself was gorgeous with bright colours of pink, yellow, blue, orange and green bouquet of flowers, cushions and fabric awnings. There was even a scooter bike covered in flowers and a photobooth.

Hania took hold of a dholki and started to play as I watched with admiration, all the while being fed by the women. I truly felt like a princess sitting there with my hand outstretched for the henna artist, who was applying a design that Aahil picked out personally for my hands and feet Masha'Allah.

Outstretching only my right hand, the henna artist looked at me with a confused face then at aunty Faiza who just glared at her and warned her to follow my orders. She didn't dare ask why but I wasn't lifting my left arm and she didn't ask again. I heard whispers but ignored them and then a smile appeared on my face remembering how aunty stood by her words and supported me.

The mehndi function continued until the majority of women had simple henna designs over their hands and all took to the dance floor. They tried on many occasions to pull me up to dance too but each time I resisted with aunty Faiza's support.

Soon the guests slowly bid me goodbye with hugs and kisses and left for their homes. Hania nudged me with her shoulder and poked out her tongue childishly,

"I'm sleeping with you today sis" she grinned.

I looked at her in surprise "oh no! what if Aahil returns like he said he would?" I thought to myself.

I tried to talk to Hania about it but it was no use because as soon as uncle Firoz came from the men's function at the other side, he started to describe how much fun it was.

He walked towards me and told me, like a father would say to his daughter a few responsibilities I needed to know and I nodded in agreement. With my right arm full of Aahil's beautiful chosen crystal embedded henna design, he stood there smiling at me and kissed my forehead lovingly and patted my head telling me how stunning I looked and that his son is a very lucky man indeed.

I could see his eyes shining and prayed he doesn't start to cry but he just blessed me and informed me to remember that whenever I decide to take a step forward, always hold respect first and never turn away from problems. Hinting that guys can be very stubborn and I was his wisest soon to be daughter Alhamdulillah. Was he trying to warn me about Aahil? I just smiled in response and nodded.

"Come on Ahlam!" Hania yelled from the stairs.

Smiling at her family, I said "ahlamun saeeda" meaning sweet dreams and kissed aunty and uncle's hand before running upstairs towards Hania.

Hania was standing in the middle of the room with her back towards the window. She was about to turn when I saw Aahil's face emerging.

My eyes widened in shock, causing me to act spontaneously by hugging Hania so she couldn't turn.

"Wow, sis! Don't get too emotional. It's alright" she laughed.

"I love you a lot Hania!" I whispered.

The things I do for you my Aahil. WHAT!? Did I just say 'My Aahil'? Ya Allah! This guy.

I glared at Aahil and he just laughed at my misery

"You can let me go now Ahlam!" Hania said but I felt awkward.

"No! I want a big long hug!" I replied.

I stared at Aahil who gave me a flying kiss and signalled me to call him later.

Instead of shaking my head to tell him I wouldn't be calling him, I nodded and he responded with a wink and disappeared. Letting go of Hania, I smiled at her shocked expression and called me crazy.

My bed was placed right in the middle of the room with the window towards the left and the bathroom towards the right. After painfully trying to change my cloth.

After painfully changing our clothes in an attempt to avoid ruining our henna, Hania jumped in bed towards the left.

"No Hania! would you mind sleeping on the right?" I ask her.

Her eyes widened in confusion since I never minded before but rolling her eyes, she obeyed and rolled towards the right.

Hania instantly fell asleep after we discussed the day's event, informing me to try and sleep too; an order from Aahil the boss. Switching off the night light on the bedstand, I laid there waiting for my nearly died henna to dry a little more... or was that just an excuse? A smile not leaving my face.

Feeling restless, I noticed my henna started to crack but was ordered not to wash it till the morning. Slowly creeping out of bed, I opened the patio doors and breathed in the night air and noticed a figure waving at me below.

"Was it Aahil?" I asked myself. "Not again! Can he not wait until our Nikkah?"

My phone beeped and I quickly run to the nightstand to pick it up to see a message from Aahil.

Yes, it was him.

I turned to go back to the patio and gasped in shock. Aahil was standing there and I shook my head in disapproval and walked towards him.

He grabbed me from my waist and softly kissed me on my cheek.

"Aahil, you should leave" I whispered in his ear.

"Two months you made me wait, never talking more than three sentences. I kept myself busy at work to try and avoid you. It's fun to see your reaction when I meet you in secret" he teased, while I kept glancing back at Hania. She kept moving but remained asleep.

"The wait will be worth" I whispered back to him without looking at him directly.

"Is that so? I came to see how you were doing after mom told me how some ladies questioned you about your hand" his voice held concern. So, he heard.

I looked down hiding my hand. What must he be thinking? It's so odd, only one hand is okay while the other can hardly move. How will I manage when we are officially married?

"I will be by your side," he said as if he read my thoughts.

"You know you still have time. You can back out of this marriage and marry any girl you want" I said painfully, without looking up at his reaction.

Anyone can hold a grudge but it takes a person with character to forgive.

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