Here for me

one shot

Vocabulary you may need !

Muqabala : This is a meeting between the suitor and his future wife, in the presence of a guardian (mahram). This is usually a close relative of the woman, such as her father or brother. The purpose of this meeting is to allow the two parties to get to know each other before the wedding. It is a crucial moment when the two future spouses can openly discuss their expectations, fears and ambitions for their future life together.

Mahram : A mahram refers to a male family member who is considered legally or culturally unmarriageable and, therefore, constitutes a barrier to potential marriage or any form of physical or emotional intimacy. These male relatives, typically identified in Islamic and other traditional societies, include a woman's father, brother, son, paternal and maternal uncles, etc. Their presence ensures protection, guidance, and support for women in various personal and public settings, particularly within the context of social interactions and religious regulations. Basically a guardian for a muslim woman.

Mehr : is the dowry, according to the prescriptions of Islam, that the husband must make to the wife.

Inou : mine in tamazight.

Khtob/Khtoba : Khtob, also called Khoutba, is a term used in Arab-Muslim cultures to refer to the marriage proposal. It's a tradition that goes back a long way, and is still very present in many parts of the world.

Ramer : Uncle

It was an ordinary day for Mariam and Riadh. Two ordinary person going through their day as usual. One worked a the end of the metro line and the other worked three stops before the end of the metro line. They don't know each other, yet they share their travel from the first station of the line to their final destination.
It happened three months ago, when my eyes met green hazel eyes at the other side of the metro wagon. He was leaning on the metro wall looking at his phone with a frown, his hair was in a man bun even though some little streaks escaped it. And then as if he felt a gaze on him he looked up and shared a smile with me. It was a small tentative smile that a stranger would give to another one. Nothing more, nothing less. That was the first time that the two actually exchanged a look. For Mariam it was the first time that she noticed him but for Riadh it had been a few months now that his eyes couldn't seem to move apart from her, when they found her among the masses in the metro wagon. She was always dressed well, matching her hijabs with another part of her outfit and smiling to people who talked to her. Even after a tiring day he would sometimes see her holding up a conversation with an elderly person that sought company during these metro rides.
Today was different thought, she seemed sad. He found her sitting in the seat in front of him. No smile or even light in her eyes were shown. It should have warned him as he never saw her on the metro line during their usual work hours after that day. Riadh spent all of his itineraries looking for her to no avail. He even tried taking the line at unusual hours during his breaks but no charming girl with a brilliant smile was waiting for him. After two months of searching, defeated he finally let go of the hope to see her again.
He should have tried talking to her when he had the opportunity these last few months.. He felt dumb as he never felt that way for anyone else. Yes, he had never spoken to her but the goodness of her heart could be seen from space and so he had no worries about her character. He was afraid that if they ever talked she would not find him enough or worse think badly about him. The reason he thinks this way about himself all stems from his mother that never found him enough and even belittled him when he was younger. She always told him that he was too clingy and not a man enough. After the divorce, his dad took him with him but the damage of his mother's words were already done on him. All throughout his life he tried to show how his mother was wrong by not being clingy and going to the gym often to appear like a "manly man".The only muqabalas he had done, he spend them trying to appear manly and not attached to the prospect of a great partner relationship were he could be vulnerable and clingy to them. He even lied to himself because deep inside him, he knows what he wants in someone. He wants someone that he could pamper and would be attached to him by the hips.
He huffed in his metro seat. It  was another day without seeing the charming lady. Another day without seeing her beautiful smile that lighted up the beginning of his day. At work, people noticed that Riadh became a lot more grumpy in the morning these last two months. His thoughts were soon interrupted when a familiar figure sat in one of the available seats in front of him. Sitting there was the object of his thoughts and remorse of the last two months. It was surprising for him because it was not the usual station she would come in from. Usually, the two would be waiting for the metro from the same station which was the first one the line in that way. Even thought he swore to himself that the day he saw her again he would try to talk to her immediately, he couldn't because he was frozen. Her beautiful face was adorned with a violet and greenish black eye. She wasn't smiling but looked defeated. Looking in her bags for something, a paper slept out of her lap, before she could stand up and get it back Riadh jumped up and took it to give back to her. On it was a list of different lawyers and crosses next to three names already.
" Here." He said while giving the paper back.
It was the first time she heard him talk. His voice was velvety and deep. It made her feel some type of way. She looked up at him and took the paper back.