Incandescence

Chapter 46

"Sadaf, I really need a break from all this chaos. Want to go out and get a burger from McDonalds?" I asked Sadaf, who was sorting my clothes which I was going to take with me tonight to Anis's home.

Today was my wedding day and I was getting jittery as hell. In two hours time, I was supposed to leave for the parlor to get ready for tonight. Sadaf turned around and faced me, taking in my pale complexion.

"Give me just ten minutes, Alisha, I'm already done then we'll leave." She said as she threw an armload of clothes on the bed and sorted through them. I nodded and picked up my phone. Yester night was my Henna function and I'd enjoyed it a lot. As soon as we reached the venue, I entered the hall under the beautiful sheet made up of yellow, white and blue flowers. All the lights were dimmed as I entered and I could almost see Anis, standing on the stage wearing a matching green and white kurta. This was the first time I'd seen him traditional clothes and I loved it. Thankfully, today my face wasn't covered in a veil. Today I could see, hear and observe everything around me.

I stepped near Anis and sat on the make-shift swing that was decorated with matching flowers for us. The decorations were an idea of my artistic minded best friend, Sadaf, who had come up with the colors of my dress as well as the decorations around me. I wore a frock, the color of clear blue sky with some green sprinkled on it. My dupatta was pinned to my head in the traditional bridal style. I felt Anis sit beside me but I couldn't turn around and look at him.

"I just saw a fairy walk inside." Anis whispered close to my hair. My lips curled into a smile.

"Thank you!" I whispered back. I didn't see his reaction but I knew that he had smiled at that. Soon afterwards, the program for the night started and we watched as my cousins opened the evening with their dances. I saw Sadaf between them, dancing with Shahmir. Her ever-present exuberant smile was present on her face and I smiled for my friend. She looked so happy down there. Once the dance ended, Anis's friends moved on the dance floor for their traditional folk dance. It was amazing as they revolved to the rhythm.

Once the music ended, I waited for Maira, who was supposed to dance next but was nowhere to be seen. Anis stood up from the swing and took me by the hand. I looked at him questioningly but he nodded at me only. The lilting music of the song reminded me of those carefree university days when I used to love RDB. This song was named "Lal ghagra" which meant "Red skirt". Anis stepped on the dance floor, with my hand in his as he twirled me around, dancing to the beats. I felt so shy in the beginning but then I picked up the beats as well, and I danced with Anis. I twirled and clapped as his hand went to my waist and he drew me closer to him. I saw the shock in his eyes as he looked at me. He didn't know I could dance so well.

As soon as the music ended, I stepped to the side and watched as Anis walked towards me.

"Amazing, sis-in-law!" Maira whispered in my ear as she took the cue for her dance and moved in the center of the stage. We both returned to the swing and sat down. Sadaf was sat down beside me, smiling.

"That was wonderful!" she had said. I just smiled while four photographers took our pictures.

As soon as the dances ended, the tradition of applying Henna and oil started. Mom sat beside me and applied Henna to my hand while she applied oil to Anis's hair. Then we were forced to take a bite out of the sweets offered to us. Slowly, one after the other, everyone came up on the stage to apply Henna and oil. At last, a cousin of mine sat beside me. She offered me sweets but I shook my head. My mouth was so sweet from all the sweets I was forced to eat.

"I can't stomach this anymore!" I said to my cousin, Ayesha, who was offering me a pink colored sweet.

"But you have to take a bite." She grinned at me.