Father of the Bride

Chapter 19 Part II: Awkward Dinner

Nadiya and her daughters welcomed Mahnoor and Ayaaz to their comfortable Victorian 4 bedroom terraced house. With dated 90's decoration, the hallway was dark and wallpapered in a dull green. A bleached 'welcome' sign hung in the doorway and the vowels of 'wipe' worn out on the rug.

Nervously, Mahnoor looked around the square shaped lounge searching for Khizar. The house was warm with a strong oily smell filling the air. Two year old Saadi and 9 month old Muddasar grappled in the lounge knocking over the floor vase.

Inside, Thaira Begum, Nadiya's mother, was excited receiving her guests. She seated them and sat close to Mahnoor clasping her one hand in her two hands. Conversation began talking about Ayaaz's healing hand and Thaira advised him to be careful when climbing out the bath. She ordered Mahnoor to order a bath math. Mahnoor felt a burden of guilt, lying to the family. But the truth would do more harm. Still, there was no sign of the Khizar

It was difficult for Ayaaz to concentrate on Amirah's grandmother when Amirah was in the room. She looked cute playing with her baby brother, pressing her nose against his. He rubbed his eyebrow. "Is your dad coming?" Ayaaz asked Amirah.

"I'm not sure if dad's coming." Said Soniya. "He's busy at the hospital."

Relief relaxed Mahnoor. She leaned back on the comfortable leather sofa ready to enjoy the evening.

After half an hour of exchanging recipes, discussing diet tips, Ayaaz took Saadi to play football in the garden. Sonya and Amirah showed Mahnoor their choreographed dance for the mehndi night. Mahnoor began to direct the girls whilst a melodious Pakistani music played in the background

"Move your left leg in front and keep right leg behind." She worked on their clumsily footwork.

"Why don't you show them?" Nadiya pulled Mahnoor's arm into the centre of the lounge peeling her off the sofa.

"Oh no!" Mahnoor shook her head with embarrassment covering her face with her hand. But Amirah and Sonya weren't taking no for an answer. Sonya stripped away her scarf and assured her that Ayaaz wasn't going to come in.

"It's your son's wedding. The wedding isn't complete until the mother of the groom dances." Thaira watched with joy whilst knitting her grandson a grey scarf.

Cheeks brushed with rouge, Mahnoor placed her hands on her hips and directed the girls to stand by her side and copy her moves.

"You ready?" She instructed and motioned her head at Nadiya who pressed play on the stereo.

Steadily, Mahnoor began. She swayed her left arm extending it with precision and lengthening her arm out wide. With her nail polished pink toe, Mahnoor led the dance with her right foot. Sonya and Amirah giggled unable to keep up with the steps. Amirah felt clumsy behind Mahnoor's dexterous sway of the arms.

When the drums beat and the music's tempo reaching a crescendo, Mahnoor broke free from the slow speed into a faster, skilled and controlled sequence winding her hips in the shape of an 8.

Nadiya's jaw dropped to the floor and her hands paused mid-clap. She was transfixed on Mahnoor's energetic and rhythmic moves. The music flowed through her body like mercury winding Mahnoor's hips and swaying her body from left to right in tune with the music. Nadiya looked at her mum, both eyes dilated in surprise.

"She's on fire." Nadiya gawped.

Mahnoor's smile beamed with her dance sequence charging the room with joy and happiness. Sonya and Amirah stopped dancing and began clapping with the tempo around Mahnoor feeding her energy as she flirted with the imaginary figure before her.