Destiny Counts

Black,Green or red henna?

Morning came faster than the night lasted, she was beyond exhausted. It felt like she only slept for two minutes.

The henna ceremony was to be held today by noon, my friends didn't spare me even for a minute, i had to eat , bath , do this , do that and that went on and on till it was time to get ready for the event of the day.

The house was minimally decorated, my friends parents, their mothers specially arrived earlier to help around the house while their daughters bugged me upstairs.

This is the moment where I regret agreeing to this alliance, I could not feel any of my bones.

My dress was a plain mustard anarkhali with a matching arm length blouse and an army green veil that came with the set.

I protested against makeup and i was lucky to get away with my face having zero make up.

As i sat in my room waiting for when i will be called, a message popped up and it was from 'you know who' so after much debate with my head I decided to open up the message.

It says 'Good morning habibti, how are you ?hope you slept well? I heard that men are banned from the house starting today till after the nikha has been solemnized that means I can't get to see you please can you do me a favor and send me only one picture of you ? Xoxo

If my heart was a marathon runner, it would have gone round twice and won, 'habibty ?' Who gave him the right to call me that? The nerve of that man.

I punched at my keyboard furiously typing my reply when something clicked in my head, I remember that I'm trying to be civil with him so I typed the easiest reply 'No' and hit send.

Seconds later he send another message 'please dear'

Annoyingly, i flung the phone across my bed, the nerve of him, i huffed.

It was almost two o'clock when the girls came up to get me as the place was finally ready, i was instructed to use the bathroom, drink water or eat before the artist starts designing my hand.

I got my manicure and pedicure done the previous night, credit goes to the night cap-ers, so my nails are perfectly ready for the event ahead.

My phone was on my lap after Yusrah found it on my bed she decided to bring down Incase of an emergency,like i asked her to, internally rolled my eyes.

We all were sitting on the lightly cushioned mats when a message popped up again, unfortunately the artist had rubbed something on both my hands saying that it will help darken the henna.

I gestured husna who was sitting closely to help me with my phone, I regretted it the moment she read the message out and all the girls busted into laughter, i cant believe he sent that, and the most annoying thing is im blushing over it.

Urgghhhh,i growled , how much more embarrassment will he subject me to before we finally wed.

My annoying sisters took the phone out of husna's hand to read the message for themselves, just as the artists was about to start, like one choir, they all shout 'wait'.

She looked puzzled at first but she stopped.

Yusrah came closer to her , her face holding a mischievous smile and teased," my would-be brother-in-law just messaged saying he would like the red henna to be designed on her"

And they all laughed again.

Afrah was about to argue when iman stuffed her mouth with a piece of vanilla swissroll.

That was how she sat and watched her extremities get designed with red henna. The girls all took rounds to get theirs done but none of them had the red the all went for either the green or black.

After hours of sitting, her behind was soar, though her legs were propped up on a low cushioned ottoman, it was time to finally wash off the henna and every one gushed at how beautiful it looked on her pampered skin.

In the seclusion of her room, afrah stared at her design and couldn't help but fall in love with it and like he wrote in his message earlier, 'red is the color of love.'

And without doubt, she loves her red henna.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~