Arranged or love?

Chapter 8: A wedding, a dance off and past revelations

Sorry for posting this chapter so late, I had hit a brick wall- meaning for this book I had writer's block, but now I'm back. Although if I don't get votes or comments I might not continue this.

Please vote and comment and maybe even follow......

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After greeting almost everyone, I made my way to the stage where Husna sat with her husband Ali, she smiled at me warmly as I approached her and then jumped up into my arms. I missed talking to her so much and after we finished squeezing the life out of each other, I held her at arms length and stared at her from to toe.

Her deep red and gold wedding lengha (skirt and blouse) was decorated with diamantes that twinkled as the light hit them; her scarf with its thickly embroidered borders was placed on top of her head. Her make up was applied perfectly and her hands were adorned artistically with dark brown henna. She wore the traditional heavy, gold jewellery which added to her beauty. She took my breath away.  I whistled when I finished checking her out, which earned me a smack to my arm.  Husna was always modest and any form of compliments made her uncomfortable. She stroked my cheek lovingly, pain flashed in her eyes and I knew she was worried for me, worried that I had to gather all my courage, face my past demons to come here and face my fear head on. I smiled at her reassuringly letting her know that I was going to be okay, but the funny question was who the hell was going to reassure me?

 It was as if God had answered my question instantly, a hand was placed on my shoulder, I turned around to face Ruksana and she gently squeezed my shoulder, letting me know she had my back. How I loved these two! “Please someone get me a bucket, I think I’m going to throw up!” exclaimed the obnoxious, bitchy, nasally voiced Faiza. I wanted to throttle her. It was as if Ruksana had read my mind, she squeezed my shoulder again a silent warning not to ruin Husna’s day. Husna rolled her eyes at Faiza and Ali chuckled from behind. “Oh dear Faiza, is it a side effect of the laxatives you’re taking, you’re not that fat!?” I said while looking at her from head to toe, Ruksana sniggered, Husna was having an internal battle not to laugh and Ali laughed out loud.

Faiza scowled, “no it’s the effect of seeing your plastic face and body here, covered in that red and green tacky Christmas tree style dress and who did your make up, did you apply it in the dark” she sniggered,  “you do remember this is a wedding not a fancy dress costume completion where you’d win first prize”. Oh hell no- oh no she didn’t. Okay that’s it to hell with being nice for Husna’s sake.

I looked at her from head to toe, and then laughed loudly, walking straight up to her, toe to toe. “Tacky or not, that’s based on your opinion, but if you want to hear a fact, it’s that your dress is a size too tight, you have bits hanging out where there shouldn’t be any. Oh and I think you’re mask is flaking off, go put on another one,” I snapped at her.  She gasped at my insult, whilst Ali roared with laughter behind us, Ruksana joined him and even Husna giggled.

“You bitch” she hissed

“Rather be a bitch, then a pin up…” I trailed off, her face went red- I didn’t know it was possible under the layers of make up. Adam, Rahim and Adnan had also joined in with Ali’s loud laughing, they too had heard our exchange. “Atta girl, I’ve taught you well” Rahim whispered with glee, I had a feeling he didn’t like her either. Adnan smacked him at the back of his head, “you moron, stop encouraging her, anyway I’m the one who taught her the insults not you” he scoffed. This lead to the argument between my siblings, I rolled my eyes. Men-what idiots!

“You are so fake, I mean it was you who said no to getting married when you’re dad asked you to wasn’t it?” she retorted loudly, the silence in the wedding hall after her remark was painful, especially because it was all focused on me. Ruksana and Husna looked like they wanted to throttle her, Adnan was refraining Rahim and Lyba had Adam by the sleeve pulling him back. I completely understood everyone’s protective reaction towards me but I found Adam’s reaction weird but at the same time sweet. Shaking my head I focused on the problem at hand- Faiza. We now had everyone’s attention and I wouldn’t be exaggerating if I said you could hear a pin drop. It was that quiet. Shit.