Hawwa's Paradise

Chapter-25 #Rewritten

Wali: Guardian

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Wearing a red headscarf and the veil of the sharee over her head and shoulders, Hawwa came out of her room. Shaima was sitting on a plastic chair outside the drawing room with Asma and Marium. While watching the people in the dining room speak, she noticed Hawwa.

"Hawwa Apu has come out." Shaima announced looking at Hawwa in admiration. "You look so beautiful." All the heads in the drawing room and outside of it, turned towards Hawwa. Hawwa gave them a sheepish look as she started walking towards the room. Qibriyah's breath was taken away at the sight of Hawwa. Catching his intense gaze and his handsome sight, Hawwa blushed.

"I want to convince Chachi again to attend the wedding." Hawwa looked from Khadija to Qibriyah as she stopped by the entrance. Khadija's eye softened.

"I will come with you." She got up. "Come with us." She turned to Qibriyah.

"I don't have high hopes of him agreeing. I am just going out of courtesy." Qibriyah stood up placing the empty glass in his hand on the center table.

With her heart racing, Hawwa stopped at the door of Kabir's room. She knocked.

"Who is it?" His voice was heard. Hawwa looked over her shoulder and gesturing them not to speak. Then she knocked again.

"Kabir, open the door!" Hawwa looked behind again. This time, she saw Ruponti approaching them from her room. Her face was decorated with make up and an orange scarf was wrapped around it. The door opened revealing Kabir. Then confusion etched on his face seeing the three people with Ruponti.

"Chachu." Hawwa addressed with her hopeful eyes.

"You look beautiful Hawwa." Kabir smiled, his eyes softening. He then patted her head. Hawwa smiled in gratitude.

"I want you to attend my kabin as my wali."

Kabir sighed. "It's not possible for me." He shook his head. Hawwa's stomach sank, hope flickering in her eyes.

"Kabir, I had also opposed Hawwa's marriage with Qibriyah. But I had realized, her happiness was more important than what other people would say. She had liked him for many years and Qibriyah is not a bad man. So their age gap and marital status are negligible." Ruponti firmly stated.

"I am not stopping Hawwa from getting married to Qibriyah. Then what's wrong with me not attending the wedding?" Kabir crossed his arms, his face showing signs of annoyance.

"After papa died, you and Chachi helped Dadima in raising me. So, your presence is important for my marriage."

"Hawwa didn't ran away to marry Qibriyah. She maintained the honor of our family." Khadija stepped ahead to put a hand on Kabir's shoulder. "So listen to her wish, my son." The door bell rang. Kabir removed her hand.

"Can't you-" Hawwa joined her hands in front of Kabir.

"Dadima! Imam Shaheb has arrived!" Shaima informed.

"Can't you do it for my papa?" She pleaded. The she gulped as Kabir stared at her with conflict in his brown eyes. Time suddenly ran uncomfortably slow.

"Don't waste the imam's time." After a moment, with guilt appearing on his face, Kabir closed the door. Hawwa's eyes turned blurry.

"Let's go Hawwa." Ruponti wrapped her hand around Hawwa, as the later was staring at the door. Tearing her eyes off, Hawwa headed to the drawing room along with the others. Hasan and Kashfia's children were outside the dining room, pulling three plastic chairs near the other three females who were sitting outside.

"Assalam Walaikum." Entering into the drawing room, Qibriyah greeted the imam who was a bespectacled man in his 50s wearing a paijama-punjabi and a topi. He was sitting on the leftmost plastic chair, a black side bag hanging from his right shoulder was resting on his lap. Kashfia and Daniyah were occupying the single sofas.

"Walaikum Assalam." The imam replied with a nod.

I am the groom." He addressed himself before sitting in the empty plastic chair in the middle. Hasan was sitting on Qibriyah's other side.

Hawwa and Ruponti were the last to enter the drawing room. Hawwa gave the imam salam in a low voice lest her voice broke. He returned the salam.

"This is the bride." Khadija introduced.

Then Hawwa sat down on the double sofa, between Ruponti and Khadija.

"I will begin the kabin." The imam informed unzipping the black bag resting on his lap. "Have you selected the witnesses and wali?"

"We two are the witnesses." Khadija gestured to herself and Ruponti.

"I am the-" Hasan started to speak when he got interrupted.