"I can't breath".
"Relax, you're just freaking out", Taliana's voice soothed at the other side of the phone.
"What am I going to do? What if they don't like me, or don't approve of us? Oh, God!" Laleh breathed out, looking at her dress one more time to make sure it wasn't too inappropriate.
It had only been months since she started wearing an abaya, and tried to dress a little modestly from her previous styles, so she was yet to change her entire wadrobe.
After spending ages looking at her clothes and finding something good to wear, she ended up in a pair of slacks and a white blouse, and threw an abaya and hijab on top, completing her look.
Today was the day she was to meet Zayn's family, all his siblings and mother, to ask for their approval for their wedding.
It had been a month since she came to Malikbahr for Khalid's hearing, and to Zayn. Those few months that she was away from him made her realise how much she loved him. But she knew that what she had done was right. Laleh needed the closure and space to do what she had planned, so those eight months really didn't go for a waste. Besides, she had his letters to keep her company whenever she missed him.
God knew how many times she read each letter, again and again, picturing him smiling at her, talking with her and holding her in his arms.
"Laleh, Zayn loves you. There is no way he would let his family reject you, ok? Just take a deep breath and sweep them of their feet, with your Esf... Esf... Oh, whatever charm!" Taliana huffed, and Laleh could see her throw her arms up in frustration and couldn't help chuckling.
Taliana was still having trouble pronouncing her mother's maiden name, often muddling it up, much to Laleh's amusement.
"It's Esfandiary, bitch. Not Esf or whatever you call it", Laleh smiled, straightening her hijab. She heard Taliana start to say something when Zayn walked in, dresses in the customary white thobe, smiling at her.
"Hello? Hello!" Taliana's voice called out, but Laleh could only look at Zayn as he walked towards her, and pulled her in his arms.
A click on the other side of the phone signalled that Taliana had cut the call, and Laleh wrapped her arms around him.
"Nervous?" Zayn looked down at her, and she chuckled. "Nervous? More like freaking myself out".
"You'll be just fine. My family is going to love you, habibi", he assured her. "Easy for you to say", Laleh mumbled under her breath as Zayn dragged her towards the women's quarters at the palace where his mother lived with his sisters and brothers.
"You ready?" Zayn asked her, taking her hand.
"No".
"Perfect", and with that, he threw the doors open and gently pushed Laleh inside. She was immediately hit by various voices, calling one over another.
"Zayn!"
"You're here?"
"Is she Laleh? Oh my God, she's so beautiful!"
"ZAYN!"
The last was from a small girl, who looked around 8-9 years old. She came running to Zayn, who lifted her and threw her high in the air.
"Haifa!" He laughed and hugged her, both of them murmuring in Arabic, a language Laleh was yet to master.
"Haifa, meet Laleh", Zayn set Haifa down in front of her and knelt next to her.
Haifa asked her something in rapid Arabic, so Laleh could only blink and look blankly at her. Zayn chuckled and whispered something in Haifa's ear to which she grinned widely and vigorously nodded her head.
