CONNECTED HEARTS

45: A Promise Of Forever!

Paradise by Maher Zain.

I remember when I first met you
I felt that God answered my call
There was that one place I always thought about
And I just wanted to be there with you
The place that no eye has ever seen
The place that no heart has ever perceived
I had a great feeling inside of me
That one day I'll be there with you
And now that we're here, feeling so good
About all the things that we went through
Knowing that God is pleased with us too
It's not a dream, this is so true
Feeling the peace all around
Seeing things, we could never imagine
Hearing the sound of rivers flow
And we know we'll be here forever
The feeling is indescribable
Knowing that this is our reward
Do you remember the hard times we went through?
And those days we used to argue
But there was not one thing that could bring us down
'Cause we always had in our minds
The place that no eye has ever seen
The place that no heart has ever perceived
The place we've been promised to live in forever
And best of all, it's just me and you
And now that we're here, feeling so good
About all the things that we went through
Knowing that God is pleased with us too
It's not a dream, this is so true
Feeling the peace all around
Seeing things, we could never imagine
Hearing the sound of rivers flow
And we know we'll be here forever
The feeling is indescribable
Knowing that this is our reward
I remember us praying at night
And just dreaming about this together
I'm so blessed to have you in my life
And now we can enjoy these blessings forever
Paradise is where we are now
Paradise, a dream come true
Paradise, oh, what a feeling
Paradise, thank you, Allah

Adyan's POV

The words "Allah yasanya albarka, yabada zaman lafiya", pulled me out of my reverie, but my mind was still caught up in the wedding fatiha. Every word the Imam spoke felt like it was carving itself into my heart and soul. When the Nikkah was finally pronounced, a calm washed over me tranquil, grounding, almost divine. It felt like the universe had written this moment long before I existed. I stood there, humbled, grateful, and deeply moved.

This wasn't just a ritual. It was a shift, an awakening. A promise to share a life, to walk through trials hand in hand, and to nurture a love built on trust and faith. In that instant, Kaltoom became mine.. my wife. Subhanallah, what a feeling that was.

The weight of it all sank in slowly,the responsibility, the commitment, the surrender. I wasn't just a man anymore; I was a husband, a partner, a guardian. The title carried both love and duty, and I felt honored to bear it.

I remembered my father's words from the night before. He had called me into his room and spoken about the sanctity of marriage, the patience it demands, and the barakah it carries when done right. My mother had joined in, her tone softer but firm, reminding me that a husband's strength lies in compassion. Their words echoed now, clearer than ever, and I realized how right they were.

A lump rose in my throat. My eyes stung. I bit the inside of my lip, holding it all in. I wasn't just entering a new chapter; I was becoming the man they'd raised me to be.

Minutes later, congratulations and duas filled the air. Camera flashes, laughter, handshakes I smiled through it all, my heart still spinning. Stepping outside the mosque, I took a quiet breath and dialed Kaltoom's number.

She answered almost immediately. The silence on her end told me she was alone, and the faint hum of the air conditioner was the only sound between us.

"Assalamualaikum, my wife," I said, grinning.

Her soft reply Waalaikumus Salam"carried warmth I could almost feel through the phone. We both went quiet again, but the silence wasn't empty; it was full. I could hear her smiling.

"Hellooo... Adyan, are you okay?" Murad's voice broke in, dragging me back to the moment. He was staring at me like I'd lost track of time. "Oh wait, you're talking to the bride! The newlywed thing, I get it. You'll have all the time for that later. Come on, people are waiting," he teased with a grin.

I chuckled, still holding onto the calm in my chest. "Hey, wifey... I'll see you in an hour, I love you," I said before hanging up.

Murad just laughed, shaking his head like he'd caught me doing something ridiculous. We joined Afdal for pictures my hand getting sore from all the congratulations. I nudged Afdal playfully. "Ango, Ango, ansha kamshi!" I called out, making him laugh.

⸻

The brides looked breathtaking. Afeeyah and Kaltoom. Ammi's golden girls glowed like they'd been kissed by light itself. No heavy makeup, no overdone glamour, just natural beauty wrapped in gold and grace. The henna on their hands told stories, their jewelry caught the light, and their scent lingered softly in the air.

They sat on a plush carpet in Ammi's room, surrounded by her, Mah, Aunt Sabreenah, Maimoona's mom, and a few others. The air was thick with emotion, prayers, advice, laughter through tears.

"My babies are married women now," Ammi said, her voice breaking as tears rolled down her cheeks. "Going away... just like that."

Both girls fell into her arms, crying. Mah tried to lighten the moment. "Well, my baby's still with me. Perks of the arrangement!" she said, making everyone laugh through their tears.

When it was time to go, the energy shifted. The veils were fixed, the women's voices rose in joyful yodelling, and the grooms, stood waiting.

Ammi walked forward, her eyes red from crying, and placed Kaltoom's hand in Adyan's, and Afeeyah's in Afdal's. "Amana, Amana," she said shakily, "I've given you both my precious jewels, as trust, before everyone here as witness."
______

The room erupted music, laughter, camera flashes, naira notes fluttering through the air. When I unveiled Kaltoom, her eyes met mine soft, shy, full of newness. I lifted her chin and smiled, then pulled her gently into a hug. For a moment, the noise faded, and it was just us.

Halal, I thought. And beautiful.

Afdal mirrored my gesture with Afeeyah, but I caught the subtle difference hers was a hug of confusion, not comfort. Their story, I knew, would take a little more time to unfold.

Soon, we were ushered to Abee's parlor for a short sermon. His words were deep reminders of faith, patience, and the trust placed in a union like this. We left with prayers ringing in our ears, hearts heavy and full.

The goodbyes that followed were the hardest Ammi clinging to her daughters, her voice breaking with love and pride. Even Afeeyah, who had known her for only a few months, wept into her arms.

And as they were led to the cars, the weight of what just happened truly sank in.
It wasn't just a ceremony, it was the start of everything.

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