manal | achraf hakimi [COMPLETE]

.27

please pray if you haven't already!

i had a dream that i wrote this chapter and was going to publish it but then i woke up and the chapter still wasn't up OR written 😭 felt so played 😭

also: I HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF MOROCCAN WEDDINGS i just watched this guys explain on youtube so uhm :) please correct me because i know there are many moroccans reading this ❤️

—

31/1/2023

—

[2008 words]

—

'keep your eyes down babe he's not here.' manal slapped away iman's hand as the two friends joked. there was some music playing and some people from the village mostly younger than manal dancing around as iman applied henna to her hands.

'i am waiting for your day iman, i'll see how much you're laughing then.' manal quietly warned, as iman looked up from where she was working on her sister in laws hand with a 'really?' look on her face.

'manal on my henna night i'll be the the first one dancing don't you worry.'

'yeah aunt sadia and co can curse you out for being so shameless all while pretending to enjoy your performance.' manal responded light heartedly, and jerked her hand away to emphasise it.

'stop moving your hand!' she hissed. the girl that was applying henna to her feet looked up quizzically, asking if everything was alright. manal nodded encouragingly and the girl, whose name was halema, continued applying the brown liquid in thin designs in her feet.

'sorry.' manal apologised and iman flipped her hair to the side with her free hand, again to appease her dramatic heart.

'what's the sorry going to do when i mess up writing achraf's name on your hand huh?' iman nudged her shoulder slightly.

'you know, they say that if henna leaves a deep stain on the skin then it means your husband loves you a lot.' manal whispered in iman's ear, who looked at her cautiously wondering what she had planned.

'we don't need to look at the colour of your henna to know that achraf would bring down the moon and stars for you.' iman replied nonchalantly, shaking the tube to get a more even application.

'i know,' manal said with a smile, feeling lucky to have found such a love, 'but i was talking about you.'

iman's face turned a rare shade of pink that manal's previous remarks hadn't managed to cause. for some reason, iman's eyes focused on her own hands and noticed the deep colour. it was a silly little saying, she shouldn't be giving so much importance to it. manal observed her reaction with curiosity, not anticipating the comment to have an impact on her.

'what are you two talking about?' amina and aïcha came to tend to the bride who wore an elegant floor length dress. aunt laila was also behind them, bearing some gifts in her hand.

'nothing, she keeps moving her hand.' iman instantly complained, happy to have the attention off of her now.

'why? there's no need to be nervous my dear.' amina reassured her daughter in law as she sat down by her free side, squeezing her arm.

'nervous? she's jumping in happiness.' iman muttered under her breath, to which sadia and manal replied by giving her a stern look.

'mashallah mashallah may Allah keep you happy.' she said along with some other prayers as the three women looked at the bride in wonder.

—

'i didn't think you would make it.' achraf said as he spotted hakim with a suitcase outside his door.