To Jannah...together

THE WEDDING DAY

Zaara
Ya Allah, it's the awaited day, goodness, Iam so excited...Oh, at the same time, Iam not ready to swallow the situation, Deedi is going, Ya Allah, we'll miss her.

Now, about The Wedding eve...it went quite well, Actually...

I drew Mehendi on Deedi's hands, she was dressed in the Sky blue Frock, and the tiara. She insisted that she wanted to be simple and was not in a mood for a makeup session, so Nadain just drew kajal on her eyes and Lamees pinned her hijab.
Still, she looked beautiful.

She was in the verge of tears, when I completed drawing.
"No Deedi, don't cry, it's your day tomorrow",  said Lamees,wiping her tears.
Lamees ran to the washroom, coz when she started crying, she would burst out uncontrollably.

"Ya Allah, Iam gonna miss you all", Deedi looked at where Lamees headed, and then looked down.
I  and Nadain exchanged looks, and we were about to cry, but immediately changed the topic when Baba knocked,
"Darlings, may I come in? "
We three laughed and said,
"Come in, Baba "
You see,As if being a father and head of our family, Baba could have barged into our room and command us to do this and that...But...No....
Baba is so soooooo good, he has never commanded us to do anything, he would only say, 'Darling, can you come here', or 'Darling, can you please make me a coffee', or 'Darling, can you do this' , he is such a sweet father, and never has he scolded us, instead, he would say,'Darling, you know, Allah doesn't like cheating'(this was when Nadain said that she cheated on an exam) , or 'Darling, you should have been more polite to your sister' ( this was whenever we sisters quarrelled) , or 'Darling, your Salah has to be accepted by Allah, so slow down' (this was when I hastened in my Salah) .
Instead of scolding and creating a problem, he remained calm and evoked our hearts with goodness. And never had we disobeyed him, for he was such a Great father.
And he respected us so much, he has never ever denied our opinions in our family plans...
He always say that we daughters, are his precious gems...
But no Baba, YOU are our one and only Precious Gem, gifted to us by Allah.

Baba came in, and sat near us, He caressed Deedi's head, and said,
"Rai Darling...All okay? ", he smiled.
"Yes, Baba", Deedi smiled and rested her head on Baba's shoulder.
"Maa Sha Allah, Beautiful Henna Art, Zaaru darling", he looked at Deedi's hand smiling more.
"Jazaakkallahu Khair, Baba"
I and Nadain was standing looking at Baba and Deedi.
Baba looked at us and said,
"Come here", he hugged us all.
"You are always my Good girls, and you will have to remain as my good girls all the time", said Baba.
"Yes, Baba", we said.
"Never fall into bad talks and bad thoughts,
Stay humble, serve others and never expect anything in return,  for Allah loves those, who serve others ,only for the sake of Allah, you get me, Darlings? "
"Yes, Baba"
"Say Alhamdulillah all the time, for we are blessed with everything by Allah, be contented in what you have"
"Yes, Baba"
"Never ever compromise in your Salah, for Allah comes first before all your material needs,"
"Yes, Baba"
"Okay, that's enough, for now, you know the rest, right"
We smiled to him. And he kissed each of us in our forehead. And then went away hurriedly to welcome the guests.
After a while,  Deedi's friends and teachers came, we welcomed them all, and Grandma introduced Deedi to her friends and lady guests.
A few minutes later, Ali Jeeju's family came,stayed for a while,  talked with us all, and then handed us the wedding dress and went back.

It's morning, 9 am...Deedi is getting ready, all our cousins and myself are getting ready for the day, Nadain is swirling in her chocolate brown frock, Maa Sha Allah, she looks so cute.
"Zaaru Aapi, look look, my frock, it's turning gold"

What? GOLD?
Oh, yeah, it's because of the sun glare, Maa Sha Allah.
Lamees had stayed with us, and now, three of us are ready. We pinned our Hijab neatly, so that no hair will be out. And we took some selfie pictures...And then,
"Psst...Girls, How do I look? "
We turned from the camera.
It was Deedi,standing gorgeous in front of us, in a rose bridal frock,  which Ali jeeju's family had handed to us yesterday,she has wore a rose beaded white Hijab along with it, and a rose flowered tiara on her head...
We three were dumbstruck, Nadain's mouth was wide open.
"Close your mouth, Nadain,  now tell me girls,  how do I look? " She swirled in front of us.
My eyes had already filled up with the tears of joy,
"Here's Our Beautiful Bride, Maa Sha Allah", I said, my throat tight, and voice breaking.
Tears gushed out from my eyes. And I realised that, It's not only me, who is crying,
"Maa Sha Allah, Deedi", said Lamees and Nadain almost in tears.
"Ohh, ma babies", Deedi hugged us.
We held together like that for a few seconds...and then, let go. We stood like a tiny square now.

"Okay...Okay", Lamees wiped her tears, and inhaled closing her eyes, this is now her new method of controlling emotions, breathe in...breathe out... (her previous method was running to the washroom)....plus...We utter a beautiful Dua,
'Rabbishrahlee swadree, Wa yassirlee amree'
['O Lord, lift up my heart and ease my task for me' - (Surah Taha, 20: 25-28) ]

Now all of us are frantically wiping our tears,  and giggling at each other.
" Silly girls, you are making ma makeup fade away", said Deedi giggling.
I and Nadain immediately gave a touch up to her, while Lamees wiped Deedi's smudged eye.
And tadaa, she is ready again.

"Hurry up, girls, guests are coming", said Fareeda Aunt giving a peek to our room.
"Right", we said in unison.

Lunch will be served in the bride's place, and Ali Jeeju's place will be conducting the Walimah party....or what we call nowadays? Reception? Yeah, right.
But to say, Walimah is better...
Walimah party is done after the bride and groom have consummated as being husband and wife in the name of Allah....It's a part of Sunnah of our Prophet Muhammad ( SAW )...And Allah(SWT) loves the ones,who follows the path of His messenger (SAW)...

As the guests arrived, Deedi sat with Ali Jeeju on the stage. Deedi was smiling continuously, Ya Allah, how Beautiful is she, Maa Sha Allah...Thabaarakallah......
Deedi now, exactly looked like our mom...

I lost in thoughts about our childhood days...
How I and Deedi used to play with Mom, when she was pregnant with Nadain...How she kissed us three ' Good night'...How she hugged us close, when we were upset...
Mom....
I miss you...
I know ,you will be the happiest person to see this wedding...
But....Allah knows what he does, everything that happens, has it's own purpose...
Yaa Allah, Please grant My mom Your biggest reward, Grant her Jannathul Firdous...Aameen

Suddenly, I woke up from my thoughts.
Lamees was nudging me to look at the stage...

Ali Jeeju was saying something to Deedi, and she is giggling looking at him. He had held her hands since she had entered the stage and has not let it go till now, now they are talking and giggling again. These newly wedded couples, you know....it's a happiness to see them like this, May Allah make them always happy...