Islam Is My Diamond

Chapter 17- Cupcakes are Sweet

After we told Aunt Nancy our decision she started making a few phone calls right away. It was like she knew that we would choose it. When I texted my uncle and told him the news his reply was, "As long as you are happy, I am too." It was short and brief, but it was enough to know that he approves.

I wonder what he is doing now in London?

It was getting late and I knew that was my cue for me to go, so I prayed my Isha prayer and started to get ready. Before I was out the door, Ella asked me if I could stay over, but I knew that would only tick off Aunt Nancy after what happened earlier so I declined nicely.

"Next time, Insha'allah. I need to get home and do a few things," I hugged her and said my Salam, and then I was out the door.

As soon as I got home, I changed and went to sleep for a new day tomorrow.

*****

It's been over two weeks, and each passing day makes me more anxious then the day before. Right now me, Ella, and Laila are at the mall looking for a nice dress and shoes for me to wear at the Katb el-Kitab (Nikah/ marriage contract), which by the way is next week. There really wasn't much to do since we already planned in doing it in the masjid.

Yasmin was coming on Saturday so she can help with the Nikah, but in this moment I really wish she was here with us. It would have been wonderful to have all my three best friends with me. I miss her so much and at this point I felt like hunting down that Jaydean dude for making her go all the way to the end of the state.

I honestly did not want to go shopping for anything, because I felt like I could faint at any given time from how much stress I am in right now. Right now, we had been shopping in at least 5 stores and still we could not find anything that caught our eyes.

We were about to give up looking and try another mall tomorrow, but while we were making our way to the exit Laila gasped and was looking at a dress displayed behind the glass window of a random store.

"That's it! That's the one, it will look perfect on you, Amal." Laila had the most excited look on her face; I couldn't tell her no and plus the dress did look pretty.

The color of the gown is a rose color, and it looked fit on the top with lace circling the abdominal area with a few beads here and there. The whole entire skirt was ruffled and puffed out. I almost felt like a princess just looking at it.

When I turned to Ella to ask for her opinion I couldn't find her, "Laila, where is Ella?" I asked.

"I don't know, but now that you mention it. No wonder it was so quiet," Laila said with concern.

"I won't tell her you said that."

"I know."

I looked around trying to look for any sign of a red hijab. In the end, I saw her at a little cupcake store in front of Hollister just a few steps away from us.

"I found her," I called to Laila.

"She is over there buying cupcakes," I pointed to the direction we're Ella was standing so Laila can see her.

"I am gonna go and pull her from her neck. How can she buy cupcakes at a time like this?" Laila looked so frustrated right now. I honestly don't blame her we have been walking for hours and I am 100% sure my feet has blisters.