A Promise From My Heart

50.

Our families met again after my father's agreement. This time, it was to pick the wedding date over a video call. Amir's maternal family wanted to come back to Nigeria but dad had refused telling them it was not really necessary. There was a little difference in what both families wanted. Amir's family wanted the wedding sooner but my family had objected. We wanted the wedding ceremony towards the end of the year.

"December is fine." Auntie Nabila said. "It is a holiday season. Everyone will be free."

Everyone agreed to have our wedding December with my father constantly asking Amir and I if we were okay with the chosen month. He made sure our opinions mattered and were not ignored. It was four months away. Four months to plan a wedding! My head reeled. There was a lengthier talk on the events to happen then the dates they would be conducted. We reached a decision. The engagement which will be a Yoruba themed occasion would take place two weeks before the nikkah and reception.

Amir and I had a discussion about the number of guests we wanted at our wedding. Understanding our families would want a large wedding, we needed to convince then to agree with our need to have just fifty guests. We wanted an intimate and enjoyable affair. Less crowd will make it possible to focus on ourselves and loved ones.

"Noorie and me have something to say." Amir said.

"What would that be, beta?" Aunt Sabr asked.

"Amir and I have decided we want fifty guests at our wedding." I voiced out.

"What?" Many chorused.

I knew this would happen. I came prepared. What kind of wedding do you expect when you are Nigerian? A big wedding with a battle of asoebi and colours. Food in excess. Everyone trying to be the best dressed and lot of dance and dance and dance. Before I forget, souvenirs. I was not familiar with Pakistani weddings. However, the few videos I had watched online made me realise they also love big weddings. Now, we have these two races and cultures coming together as a family again. It would be a wild affair.

"We want it to be an intimate affair. We would have chosen less numbers but we considered the kind of families we come from." I defended.

"It would be better than wasting money on an event where we have guests we barely know. We just want it to be a private and fun filled event." Amir added.

Big Mummy was the first to object. Although, she had not spoken out immediately, her facial expression said it more. "Ah! That's not possible o." She started. "If I am to count those coming from my side alone, they are over that fifty you just said. I have three sons and ten grandchildren. All of us from my side are already sixteen with my sons' wives."

"I have five children and they are all married." Auntie Nabila chipped in. "Their spouses would want to be there too."

"We don't have to invite so many people. I also do not see the need of having kids at the wedding."

"What rubbish are you saying?' She fired at me.

I smiled and with a calm voice said. "Also, we can invite our closest family members. The distant relatives do not have to know about it." I said.

"I've to object with that." Aunt Sabr stated. "Meri Jaan, you've no idea how long I've wished for you to be part of our family. We want to welcome you in a grand style. The last thing I expected was fifty guests. His father's family is so large and close knit like us. It would be unfair not to invite most people."

"I understand, Aunt. But we should all know by now that we can't please everyone. You can always explain to them and they would understand."

"We should go with what the children want." My father supported me. My heart warmed and I passed him a grateful smile. "It is their day. They should do it the way they want. Our responsibility is to support them and make everything easier for them."