The Hooded Hijabi

Nikah

Rachel gently places a white, net dupatta (long scarf) with peach embroidery on my head making sure that my hair stays in its place.

Ali then holds my hand and walks carefully down the stairs with me. Ma's eyes tear up again as she sees me but wipes them away and takes me to her room.

As Ali and Rachel joke around with me, Fatima and Aunty Ayesha walk into the room a few minutes later.

"Amina! Oh my God, you look ravishing!", exclaims Fatima as she rushes to sit by my side. "Come to think of it, it's the first time I'm seeing you without your hijab. Right?"

I nod and smile, meanwhile Aunty Ayesha takes Fatima's place. She holds me from my arms and tilts my body slightly towards herself.

She looks into my eyes, smiling and says,"Beauty was never my threshold for choosing a daughter-in-law but my Allah! He gave us more than we asked for." She kisses my hand gently and I blush crimson in embarrassment.

She takes out a delicate bracelet of gold and begins to put it on my wrist saying,"I wish I could give you the bangles my mother-in-law gave me but they're back in Pakistan. They were oh so beautiful!"

I place my hand on hers and say softly,"I wouldn't trade this for anything in the world. It's beautiful just like its giver."

Ma comes in the room with Becky behind her and announces,"Becky's here, Amina" and then leaves.

"Becky! You made it!", I say, bug-eyed.
"Of course! I wouldn't miss it for the world.", she says as she hugs me.

"But you said your brother was sick.", I say.

"He took his medicines and went to sleep. Don't worry about him. Oh, you look so amazing!", she says jumping up and down in excitement.

"Thank you!", I say holding her hand excitedly.

Everyone leaves the room after a while except Rachel who stays with me to keep me from hiding in a closet out of nervousness.

A few minutes later Ma comes back in and puts a black chaadar (a really long scarf) on me, covering me all the way down to my chest.

We all reach the mosque in a few minutes in separate cars and I head to a small room along with all the women, Ali, Moulvi Huzaifa (Religious scholar) and a lawyer.

As we all settle down, Moulvi Huzaifa starts the nikah ceremony and asks me if I accept Azan Mohammad as my husband with mehr of "five hundred pounds and a promise of being taught recitation of the Holy Qur'an by Azan Mohammad, son of Mohammad Bashir".

I had conveyed my mehr's demand to Azan through Fatima and he was over the moon when he heard it.

I repeat "qubool hai" (I accept) thrice and everyone begins to clap happily. Ma hugs me followed by all the ladies and Ali.

Once the signatures are taken by myself and the witnesses (Ali and the lawyer), Moulvi Huzaifa gives me a du'a and leaves with the men to repeat the process with Azan.

A few minutes later Ali comes back and announces,"Mubarak!" (Congratulations) and hugs me.

We get back home in fifteen minutes and Rachel takes me to Ma's room to fix my hair and dubatta after taking off my chaadar.

Ali and Ma walk me out of the room into the living room decorated with fairy lights and white flowers. I keep my gaze lowered as I reach the sofa where Azan is seated.

I look at his black, leather shoes and white, cotton shalwar (trousers) as I sit down beside him. I feel so nervous I can't even think of raising my head to see how he looks. Fatima comes and forces herself between us so Azan and I scoot a little to give her space to sit.