HER WORTH ✓

31~The preparation

Habiba's POV:

After my dawn prayers, even before the sky became bright and clear, big trucks were already driving in and out, supplying materials for Najib's party.

Through my room balcony, I could see Zaitun and mother-in-law supervising the truck men as they unloaded their supplies.

Zaitun and Mother-in-law were getting closer by each passing day to the extent that anywhere Mother-in-law was, Zaitun seemed to be there too, and it made me feel a bit envious, as I wish she gave me a chance and accepted me as she did with Zaitun.

"Good morning ma'am." Emma greets with her usual smiling face.

"Morning," I smiled in return.

"Grandma called for you, and the caterers just arrived."

"Ok, let's go."

Together, we strolled out to meet everyone, including the house servants, all involved in one thing or the other, joining Grandma, Mother-in-law, and Zaitun at the front porches. I greeted them with a smile, but both Zaitun and mother-in-law ignored, pretending as if they couldn't see me, and suddenly Zaitun began to smile while she stared at me; she made me wonder.

Why is she smiling? I thought before Grandma called my attention.

"Habiba, why didn't you come down for dinner last night?" She asked which made me fumble for what to say.

"Hmm... I stuttered, re-collecting Najib and I both bailed on dinner to consummate our marriage,e, and the thoughts of it made me feel hot and smiley all of a sudden as I recall our steamy night.

"You didn't feel like eating?"

I tried to hide my blush but it came out while I replied.

"No Grandma." I chuckled. "After I returned from shopping yesterday, I slept off waking up this morning...

"Really?" Mother-in-law gasped even before I could complete my sentence.

"I must say you're indeed lucky to have joined my family. I bet you  hardly get to sleep back at your village; after all, you sleep on a torn mat, but now you get to sleep on a queen-sized bed?" She says in a mockery tone while Zaitun smiles in satisfaction; I join them and smile.

She never misses the opportunity to look down on me, and I never miss the opportunity to also ignore her taunts, so with a smile I pretended she didn't even exist.

"The only person keeping us here is Amina, where is she?" Grandma sighed.

"Speaking of the devil and the devil appears." Amina laughs as she joins us with a big smile on her face.

"Finally, Well, I called for this meeting to specifically inform you all that it's not just our regular guests we're expecting tonight, but we're also expecting our top investors and guests from all over the country, irrespective of your tasks, everything must be perfect and ready before 6 pm." She announced.

"The party will commence at 8 pm, so I will be expecting everyone at the venue waiting to receive our guests. Zaitun and Habiba, you're both new to our family. You may not be familiar with all this, but I want you to play along, okay?"

"Yes Grandma, it's already a pleasure being part of your family." Zaitun smiled while I nodded in response.

"You're welcome, and you all can go back to your task; Habiba, wait behind," Grandma says.

While everyone left, Grandma pulled me closer, taking my hands into hers,s, and smiled.

"Habiba, firstly, I want to thank you for being a perfect daughter-in-law to Khadija because only an ideal daughter-in-law will patiently take in all her insults; I'm grateful for that." She smiled.