Incandescence

Chapter 40

The entrance door opened on it's own as we neared it. Anis smiled and took hold of my hand as we entered together. The foyer was also lit numerous candles as well as white and pink lights. A light fragrance of roses and petunias wafted from the entrance, tickling my nostrils. I inhaled deeply and smiled at Anis. He smiled back and turned the handle of the nearby door. Pushing the door open, he literally pulled me inside a room that was cast in darkness.

Instantly, the room was illuminated and cheerful voices chanting "Surprise!" shocked me into immobility. I looked in surprise as all my family was there, my aunts and uncles while his family was present as well. The room was decorated with lemon yellow and white flowers, exactly like my dress. Anis took a dandelion stem from the nearby bouquet and pinned it in my hair. I was still in a shock and unable to speak even a word. Maira detached from the crowd and came towards us. I watched her send a glare towards her brother and then took my hand.

"It's alright, Alisha, Anis can sometimes go overboard." She said, giving me an understanding smile. "He just doesn't think about other people." She made a face towards him and took my hand in hers.

"I'm right here to support you because they are going to bear down on you like wolves now." I managed a weak smile at her and sure enough all of their relatives were swooping down on us.

"Not so fast!" Anis said with a wolfy grin and dragged me towards the end of the room where his parents sat with my parents. His father was still recovering from his heart attack so the doctors hadn't allowed him to exert himself a lot.

Mom and dad smiled at me as Anis dragged me to a stop in front of his father. I said a quick greeting.

"How are you feeling now, uncle?" I asked as I sat down on an ottoman beside him. With grayish-black hair, sharp, intelligent eyes and soft features, Rashid Mughal was what I would call the ultimate father. I could see that Anis got all his features from his father. He was loving like him as well. Taking my small hand in his big ones, he asked me to take a seat beside him.

"I'm well now that my son is back where he belongs." He smiled proudly at Anis. "He's stayed away from all of us forever now, I think it's time he stayed here."

"I agree with you. There is no place like Pakistan." I commented.

"Right you are. Now that you are here, I'm sure he won't be going anywhere." He chuckled as he said that. "I'm happy that he chose you, Alisha."

I smiled at his father. He was so sweet like Anis, himself.

"Stop it, Rashid, you are embarrassing the child." His mother said as she turned me towards her.

"You are prettier than your pictures." His mother said and took off two of her bracelets that she was wearing. Pushing them over my hands onto my arms, she said.

"I had never imagined a more beautiful girl than you, Alisha. We don't care about your burns, what we really cared about was your heart and it's pure as gold. Welcome to the family." She smiled at me.

I blushed. So much love.

Before she could say something else, Sadaf and Maira towered upon me.

"Okay enough of introductions, we are going to steal Alisha." Maira said cheerfully while the elder laughed at her. Taking my arms from both side, she retreated from the room and towards the staircase. I looked at it in awe. The staircase curved and rounded on both sides of the room, almost Gothic style. It felt like I'd come inside some palace.

"Guys, where are we going?" I asked as we ascended the stairs towards the first story.

"To get you ready for the function ahead." Sadaf said with happiness. I looked at her as if she'd lost her mind.