Once Upon A Lifetime

Chapter Twenty-nine ~ Where is he? Why isn't he here?

AN: I love those dresses. The peachy/pink one with all the ruffles is Taalia's and the pink one is Misha's. Remember to add higher necks and long sleeves because, as you can see, these dresses don't have them :P. Now, on to the chapter!

Taalia's POV~

"Taalia, did you get the food?" My mom called from downstairs.

"Isn't Raza calling the caterers?" I called back.

"Raza!!" My mom and I both shouted.

It was finally the day of my engagement with Daiyan and so far, things were not going accordingly. The party would start in two hours and there was still so much to do; get the food at my house, get ready, help my nieces and nephews get ready, and send someone to pick up Misha and Saqib because their car was in the shop.

Some time to get your headlights broken.

After getting Raza to call the caterers, I rushed up to my room to put on my dress. Thank Allah that Nadirah made me put on the makeup ahead of time!

"Alif! Waahid! You two get back over here!" Laibah called after her nine and six year old sons. "Habibti, would you be a dear and go get Aafiyah? She's in the living room with Yasmin." Laibah asked and I nodded and rushed down to fetch her daughter.

I dropped off the little nine month old Aafiyah to Laibah and rushed to my room to finally put on my dress. After getting dressed, Sahra called me downstairs. I put my scarf down on my bed and rushed to her.

"Yes, Sahra?"

"Have you- oh habibti, you look beautiful in your dress MashaAllah!" Sahra cooed and I smiled.

"JazakAllah, Sahra."

"Anyway, have you seen Tariq and Ibrahim? I have been looking everywhere, they're playing hide and seek." I thought for a moment.

"They might be in Raza's room. I'll go look."

"Thank you, Taali!"

I opened the door to Raza's room and found Sahra's three and one year old sons playing around with Raza's game controllers... and Raza wasn't in the room.

"Habibis, what are you two doing in here all alone?!" I picked up little Ibrahim in my arms and took Tariq's hand.

"Uncle Raza no play!" Tariq complained. I chuckled and squeezed his little hand.

"It's okay, baby, he'll play with you later, InshaAllah!"

After giving the kids to Sahra, I rushed upstairs to put on my hijab before my brothers-in-law came. I finished putting on all of my bracelets and rings and jewellery in record time and hurried to help my sisters get their kids ready.

There was less than an hour left until Daiyan and his family would come. His parents wanted to bring one of Daiyan's cousin's families so we would be having one extra family for the party.

The engagement would be held in my house since most of the guests lived close by and Daiyan's home wouldn't fit everyone although I heard he had a big house.

After getting the kids ready, Misha and Saqib arrived with Raza, who had went to go pick them up.

"Finally, ya Allah!" I cried, throwing my arms around Misha.

"Misha could hold the world record of taking the longest to get ready." Raza muttered and Misha rolled her eyes.

"Not my fault I couldn't find my makeup!" She protested.