Hurairah (ON HOLD!)

12

I couldn't sleep.

Even if I tried so hard to do so.

How could I sleep when i was getting married to someone I never imagined myself getting married to,especially not so soon.

What was dad thinking?

What if this alliance turned out to be the worst thing I ever experienced?

I kept tossing and turning until I managed to sleep for two hours and my alarm  woke me for Salaatul Fajr.

I performed ablution and prayed the Salaah, I Paused in the last sujood and prayed that Allah would make the marriage good for me.
I knew there were many women out there that'd give anything to be in my position, so i decided to go into the marriage with an open mind. I wouldn't go with the intention of hating Fahad. And i prayed that InshaAllah there would be khair in it.

It was customary to greet the elders of the family, and from the noise that was emanating from downstairs , I knew that our extended relatives had arrived. I gathered the courage to walk out of my room and stopped at the room my aunties were staying and they all gave me their blessings amidst many hugs and tears. Aunty jameelah in particular hugged me till my lungs were about to give out, and released just in time for me to inhale a lungful of oxygen.

Next, was mama and babas room - which I was very nervous to go to. It seemed I wasn't the only one who didn't get a good nights sleep, because, babas eyes were rounded with eye bags. His eyes lazily met my face as I entered the room . he wasn't much of a talker and we were never close, but I couldn't stop myself from hugging him and ruining his thobe with my tears.

It took a while for him to recover from the shock that I had hugged him despite what he'd done to me and began stroking my hair.

"Nina I'm sorry" his husky voice said, making me pull out of our hug.

He looked sick

Very sick in fact.

' I know you're doing what's best for me" I whimpered "I've already prayed to Allah to make everything easier for me'

" nothing will happen to you Nina" he replied " you'd make a great wife. I can promise Fahad that."

L A T E R   IN  THE DAY

I was dressed up in a princess white dress, which had an embellished heart shaped waist. I also wore a hijab in the same colour, but with traces of lace in it. The make up artist had done my makeup and due to my complaints,she made it as simple as I wanted it to be. After the Nikkah, baba decides to have the dinner on the same day as well.. And that was totally uncalled for. Mom had been working extra hard to make sure everything was in place and that all the available resources would be enough for the guests.

I was in my room alone. And due to the amount of work unfinished , neither mom, husna, or my female cousins were able to see me in my wedding dress. I'd received a call from Maryam, saying that her and Aisha were on their way.

And so, my palms were clammy and sweaty as I waited for my tardy best friend to make an appearance.

As if on cue with my thoughts my bedroom door barged open, revealing Aisha and Maryam in hoodie and sweatpants.

"Here's the bride". Aisha announced. And she pulled me in for a hug " How are you little one?"

"I'm fine" I rolled my eyes at her. Ever since we were kids, Aisha always liked to think that she was older than Maryam and I