Someone Else's Diary

13. Mehendi function and a surprise visit.

Mariam

"Even today you're sleeping til nine?" Amina gave a wack on my back.

"Ouch! Are you crazy?" I spoke as I rubbed my eyes and scratched my head.

"Ok, Mariam come down after doing your hai--- what? You're still sleeping?" Khadeeja aunty spoke horrified as she barged into my room with my dress in her hands.

"Haye Allah! Now, what did I do that You both are shooting me with questions early in the morning?" I whined as I got the dress from her hands.

"Hmm, only a few more days and then even if you want we won't be able to wake you early in the morning," Khadeeja aunty said as she smiled weakly.

I just smiled and tied my hair into a loose low bun as I got into the bathroom, shutting the door behind, I blinked back my tears knowing I would be leaving this house after a few days.

The house where I grew, the house where I and my mom were happy before her last few months.

I sobbed more sitting inside my tub, dry tub though., Missing my mom, missing this house... already.

"Come fast! The makeup artist is here!" Hira shouted through the bathroom door.

"Yes, I'm almost done!" I said as I immediately opened the shower drenching myself.

I wore my dress inside my dressing room before I entered my room. My hair still dripping wet as I wrapped it with my micro fibre towel.
It was a long two-piece grey colour set of dress.

I started blow drying my long chestnut brown locks and there my granny came in with the jewellery box in her hand.

"I can't wear this much jewellery Ma!" I whined as she asked me to wear everything which she brought.

"What is this Mariam! at least you young girls should wear jewels while getting married...at least now listen to us,"Granny already started putting the necklace on me.

I sighed in defeat as I allowed her to put half of the jewels on me.

I decided to leave my hair wavy and with a half updo, But my hair was shown completely and it was fine with me as there won't be any men, Other than my mehrams.

I stood tall and thin in my grey long two-piece lehenga and I, finally sat down allowing the makeup artist to do her job. She did a very soft matte mauve cut crease for my eyes and kept the contour subtle as I had asked, Now a deep brownish nude colour for my lips.

I could see Hishma taking pictures of me as the woman put on my makeup. Candids Candids Everywhere.

"Masha Allah Mariam how beautiful you are!" Khadeeja aunt squealed like a child kissing my forehead.

"My granddaughter is always pretty...I hope no one gets jealous of her," Granny spoke proudly as she kissed my forehead.

"Stop smiling I'm jealous of you ugly duckling!" Amina said sarcastically making me laugh.

"Just kidding don't cry hehe, I promise Zahran would give up on life if he saw you now!" Amina said making me turn Scarlett as she gave me a bear hug, As Hira joined our hug.

My ever loving father knocked on my door as we pulled away from our hug.

I ran into his arms becoming his five-year-old princess again.

"Masha Allah!.umm no other words to tell," His eyes were moist and twinkled with tears as bent his head to give me a quick kiss on my forehead.

"Now let's take her down all our relatives have arrived," My uncle's(mother's brother) wife Aasiya aunty said as she walked with me on my side.

I got down slowly as my dress was sweeping the whole staircase.

"It's okay just catch the front side of your dress," Aasiya aunty said, while the photographers took pictures of us coming down.

Alhamdulillah, it was all female photographers as my uncle Yusef was strict in these matters.

I lowered my gaze as people started admiring me and the whole area was decorated with fresh roses, lilies, peonies and other flowers.

As I walked all my cousins (small kids) maybe a group of six or seven kids threw pink rose petals all over me till I reached the couch to sit.

I never knew these many people were invited and I hardly knew them. I wanted it simple but having many relatives made it impossible.
Everyone's gaze rested on me which made me uncomfortable.

My mother-in-law Nihaya aunty came and kissed my forehead as my sister-in-law Ameerah came and gave me a huge hug. these people were too sweet Masha Allah.

"Masha Allah Mariam I hope you and my son will always be happy and smiling like this," Nihaya aunty said as she sat next to me, with her hands behind my back. I got some motherly affection from her...Nice.

Now there were five girls doing the Mehendi/henna and two of them sat on either of my sides as they printed beautiful designs on my hands. And the other girls did for other people

"Don't forget to put a 'Z' on the middle of her hand!" Ameerah told the henna girl I eventually lowered my head smiling without realising.

********

Now it was late evening and my sister-in-law Ameerah insisted me to take some solo pictures as the photographers also needed to leave.

We took the pictures at the backside of our house. Now I was already hungry and starving like anything.

But I didn't wash my hands yet since the designs were too good to be washed soon. And there was a myth among people that if the henna turned deep red then there's lots of love between the couple. So just tried to keep the henna on my hand for a few more hours.

I asked Hira to feed me and she said to let everyone go and then we will eat on the terrace since the weather was good.

I went up as Amina told me Hira was waiting for me with the food.

As I suspected.
Zahran. Hi, Mr Fancy pants.

"My sister said you looked drop dead gorgeous so needed to have a look," He said as he walked closer to me. My breath hitched as I blinked several times.

"Oh but where's Hira,"I asked looking around trying to keep myself straight.

"She also helped me get here," He said cocking his head to one side smirking at me.

"I see...It's a plan, well I was hungry," I said as he tucked a strand of hair behind my ears.

Awkward silence surrounded us.
A tomb full of silence.

Will I ever get tired of looking into the depths of his eyes?

"Oh! Wait I've got your food," He said breaking the silence as he went to take the plate which was covered and kept over the small glass table.

"No! You can't feed me like this before nikkah," I said moving back going behind till the wall hit my back.

"No escaping Dr.Mariam," he said and fed me a mouth.

As Ameerah barged in and started teasing us both making me uncomfortable.

-------------------------------

Glossary:

Mehram: this term refers to the people who are unmarriageable kin.

Henna: it's a reddish-brown dye made from the powdered leaves of a tropical shrub, used mostly to draw and decorate the hands and body.

Yours truly *putting a beautiful henna design*
~storiesfromahijabi