With Love, FEMINISM

The Beginning

She was dressed in the most beautiful bridal gown designed by one of the best designers in India. Her make-up made her already beautiful face look unrecognizable and as she descended, the crowd that had patiently waited to see this mysterious bride, gasped in awe. Everything was perfect, the decor, the avenue, the groom as well as the bride and not to forget the most important aspect of an Indian wedding, food.

The hall was lit with bright colors and everyone was truly happy all except one, the beautiful and breathtaking bride.

As she made her way towards the aisle where her husband awaited, who was equally dashing, her gaze met with Rumana's and she felt her heart constrict. She tore her gaze away for she knew she would not be able to maintain the eye contact. And why now? What's done is done.
Qadrullah ma sha'a fa'ala.

She raised her gaze towards the man who had taken care of her for the past  18 years of her life and didn't miss the tear that escaped from his eye.
He was her father at the end of the day and whatever he had done was what he thought was best for her.

She raised her hand that was adorned with the most exquisite jewelry and beautiful mehndi designs and wiped the tear that trickled down her aging father's cheek. He took her hand in his and led her towards the groom who had been waiting patiently.

She raised her lehnga and ascended the few steps that led her towards the man who'd take care of her now, for her entire life until death. Her father placed her hand into her husband's.

"Beta, I am handing a piece of my heart to you. Take care of her and love her the way I did and even more."

Tears streamed from her eyes as her father placed her hand into her husband's who entwined his fingers into hers at once as If assuring her that he's there for her.

"I will sir, I promise you that" Reassured Fayaz.

Fayaz looked at his wife and knew that he was smitten by her. Her innocence appealed to him the most and he couldn't take his eyes off her.

To say that he was happy would be an understatement,  he was elated and ecstatic, maybe 'over the moon' would do justice.  He had just finished his degree in Pharmacy in America and was now married to a beautiful girl. What more could he want?

As the night proceeded with people congratulating the new couple,
Sumaiya started feeling calmer and decided to leave everything to fate.

"Mubarak Sumi"

She looked at Rumana who was smiling not so genuinely.

She rose to hug her best friend who was more of a sister. She knew her friend did not agree with her decision but there were many things that Rumana didn't know and she was better off not knowing.

During dinner, Fayaz tried to make a conversation with his wife and to ease her nervousness but despite his attempts he was unable to.

"The food is delicious, your father has done a great job" he complimented.

She just smiled and nodded.

At this rate, he thought, it's going to be a long night, a really long one.

After dinner it was time for the bride to bid farewell to her parents. She had promised herself not to cry but why couldn't she keep it? Her tears betrayed her and her chest heaved mercilessly especially when she hugged her mother.

If she had it her way she would have never left her parents. Never!

                   *************

The honeymoon suite was decorated with vanilla scented candles and roses making it smell no less than a florist. She sat on the king size bed, her ghunghat (long bridal veil) covering her face and torso. She sat with her knees close to her chest as expected of an Indian bride and waited for her husband who had to deal with his sister-in-law's to let him in. After a while, the door clicked and opened. Striding in came Fayaz his heart fluttering. How much he had waited for this night only Allah knew but he did so patiently.

He unbuttoned his sherwani( Indian groom attire) and placed it on the nearby couch.

She almost stopped breathing when he entered, and was close to having a heart attack when he removed his sherwani.

He rummaged through his sherwani looking for something, and when he found it he smiled.

Confidently, walked towards his bride, his nerves playing like the strings of a guitar.

He took her hands in his as he sat next to her.She flinched slightly then allowed him to hold it. You couldn't blame a girl who had never allowed a guy to touch her, to be nervous on her wedding night. I mean she was only 18!

He smiled when she flinched.

"I know this is new to you, believe me it is new for me too. You are the first girl in my life that has stolen my heart right from my chest and I couldn't do anything about it. Maybe because I wanted it that way".

He raised her hand and kissed her fingers.

"My heart belongs to you now."

She blushed at his words and at the tingling feeling of his lips on her fingers.

He then raised her veil and smiled when she didn't raise her head to look at him. She was nervous and he could see that quite clearly from her expressions that looked more like her wincing. He inwardly groaned but decided not to push her, he wanted her to be comfortable and the fact that she was young didn't make anything better.

"Look I won't force you to do something you don't want. Take your time and I'll try to be a little more patient. I mean I've been patient till now, just don't make me wait for too long " he told her calmly although he was hoping that she would comply and do what most married couples did on their first night.

She heated up when he said that but was grateful that he understood and was ready to wait till she was ready. But she knew better than to break the customs laid out for her. Her mother had explained to her everything in detail the night before,she was terrified but knew that she had no way out. Little did the naive girl know that Fayaz was not one who would adhere to culture and complain to her parents if she did not follow what old-age traditions expected her to do.

"I'm fine...I...I think we can go ahead". She told him meekly as she fidgeted with her diamond ring.

"Are you sure?" He asked so warmly that it melted her heart and she couldn't help but wonder if she was falling for her husband already.

She nodded her head in agreement while her heart beats stated the opposite, and as he leaned forward, she realised her fate was sealed and there was absolutely nothing she could do to stop her life from being a horrible mess in this world that was dominated by ruthless cultures and barbaric traditions.