DECE-P-TION

DNVI

Alya's gooier of view.

I sniffle, Amna hugging me then pulls away. She wipes the tears that rolled down her cheek. "Stop crying, Allah knows best so just leave this to Him." I look at her without a single tear in my eyes.

I nod before she pulls the veil forward to slightly cover my face. "I'll lead you in." She wraps her arm behind me, leading the way. She opens the door and  closes it. We walk for a bit then sat. The room silent like nobody is present.

"Alhamdulillah. Mr Khaldoun, we are grateful for giving us the opportunity to let my son marry your daughter. Hopefully this unity between them will create a goods relationship between our families."

I hear a man that seems like Falah's father speak. "I agree, hopefully we create a good relationship." My father replies.

"We are here today to unite Falah and Alya today. Marriage is not something that should be taken lightly, it takes patience, respect and also honesty. There are good and bad days and there are days that you won't agree on things. Patience and communication is key."

I'm really getting married, this isn't a joke. I'll have to be living with him till I die? A man that practically forced me to marry him and now he's to be my husband. For years, I used to wonder how my husband will be but now I know and I would rather stay unmarried than to marry him.

".....Alhamdulillah, now that you're husband and wife, please let us not hear any bad news like divorce or so." I close my eyes, crying internally.

"Falah, take care of her. Put her needs before yours, value and respect her." His father reminds him, making me clench my jaw. "Insha Allah." I hear his voice.

I've never heard a voice I repulsed like his, goosebumps all over my body. I tug on amna's clothing to notify her that I want to leave. She clears her throat, standing up first. "Excuse us." I stand up, walking out of the room. Immediately the door closes, I take off the veil aggressively.

I take deep breaths to control myself before walking up the stairs. "Alya." Amna follows behind me. I enter my room, seeing how empty it is makes my insides turn.

"I can't be his wife." I whimper, looking at the mirror. "You're married already." Amna reminds me. "I know, Amna but I rather jump and die than to share a bed with him."

I hear a knock on my door as amna turns to open the door. "Baba." She glances at me and widens the door for him to come in. He walks in, his hand held behind him.

"Could you please excuse us, amna?"

"Ofcourse, excuse me." She leaves the room. I sit on the bed, unable to look at him. "Alya, you are officially a married woman and you're married to no other than falah. You need to respect him."

His words riling me up. "What about me?" I look at him, locking eyes with him. "I'm to take care of a man I don't like, a man I despise with no complaints. When will I be happy?"

He furrows his brows. "Before this, you were and this is for your own good." I shake my head. "It doesn't seem that way and I mean truly happy? Sincerely, not what I made you think. The last time was before mom was disgnosed, after that, it became a dark hole for me."

I feel my eyes sting. "As if that's not enough, this. Why does it seem like I'm being punished for staying back?"

His eyes widens. "Don't ever say that." I sniffle, holding back the tears. "I will go with...him, I'll do it since you said so but I believe I'm independent after this." I take my veil and wrap it around my body.

He keeps silent and walks out of the room. I close my eyes to hold back the tears.

*********

I walk down the stairs, not seeing my father. Falah's father walks ahead of us. "Unfortunately, I need to attend to something. It is quite urgent so you can go ahead." He informs Falah who stood about two paces beside me. "Alya, welcome to the family." He smiles widely at me and I smile back.

"Okay, we'll head over to iya mí." His father nods, walking to the car waiting for him. I turn to face the car I'm supposed to go in. I take a deep breath, chewing on my bottom lip.

Falah opens the door and I get in before shutting it. I wish it was possible for him to get another car instead of getting into this car. The door opens, Falah getting in.

I look through the window as we drive out of my residence. I close my eyes, leaning back.

********

The door opens as I step out of the car. I look at the enormous front door, dreading to go in and greet his mother. I walk up the small flight of stairs with Falah leading the way.

He looks at me before opening the door. He walks in after I do, closing the door. I wait for him so he can show me where I'm supposed to meet his mother.

He takes a right turn to the parlor and I follow.

Falah's point of view.

I enter the parlor, seeing my mother sitting with her legs on the sofa while flipping through the pages of a magazine. I glance at Alya who stood behind me. I hold her hand, getting a reflex action of almost tugging it but she doesn't. "Good afternoon, iya mi." I say gaining her attention before squatting to greet her. I could feel Alya squat behind me.

"Afternoon, how are you doing? Where's my daughter?" She places her feet on the carpet, closing the magazine. I stand up, walking to the carpet with her following behind. We sit down side by side then I release her hand.

"Good afternoon." She hangs her head, making my mother chuckle. "Afternoon, you must be Alya. I am delighted to finally meet you, come."

Alya stands up and sits beside iya mí. I sit on the sofa beside them, observing. "Open your face." She says and Alya pulls her veil back. "Where did you find a gorgeous lady, Falah?" Iya mí chuckles.

Alya smiles. "I want to welcome you to this family, Alya. We might not be much but we love each other dearly. You are family and hopefully, you take us as one." She nods.

"Thank you." She says making Alya smile wider. "Ofcourse, now, I took it upon myself to get you a dress. A dress you would be comfortable in, shall we?"

"Yes, we should." She softly replies as iya mí stand up. "Let's go, you have a room here too but I know you'll prefer Falah's so..". They walk out of the room, Alya not even sparing me a glance.

Why does it feel like I'm already regretting my choices?

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