Loving You

Chapter 16 - Meet the in laws

After a quick but heated kissing session, me and Ali got ready for the day. I wore my long light pink kurta with a pair of leggings with my hijab on my head and a dupatta draped delicately around my shoulder.

Ali looked incredibly handsome in his blazer and smart clothes. "Sweetheart, you look lovely as always." "Baby you look so handsome." "I'm so blessed to be able to call you mine." Said Ali in his gentlemanly voice as he gently kissed my hand , my lips and my forehead .

He gently helped me into my wheelchair as he picked me up and placed me in. We left the hotel room and walked a short distance to Ali's parents house. Ali put the key in and opened the front door. I got inside and so did my husband.

I instantly saw a "Welcome home" banner and as we went to the living room, my mother in law, father in law and sister in law jumped out from the behind the sofa and yelled "surprise!" simultaneously. This was followed by rose petals being showered upon the two of us from three corners of the room.

"Beta, though I know you have visited our house many times when you were engaged and I know you will be staying at your parents house this evening after the Walima, and going on your honeymoon soon after but when Ali told us that you both would be coming over, we thought it would be the perfect opportunity to welcome you to our home, to our family as our new daughter." Said Ali's mum sweetly.

"Baji I have made some Pakistani dishes that Ali told me you like and Mummy brought your favourite sweets: barfi!" Said Zainab , my 14 year old sister in law excitedly. "Thank you all so much but honestly, this is all too much. You didn't have to do anything. This has always been my home, from the moment I got engaged and I started treating it as such." I said, smiling at my new family. "Of course child but our son has found a woman worth celebrating and so, we are so happy." Said Uncle, putting his hand on my head in a gentle fatherly manner. "Now if you need anything at all, please don't hesitate to ask us. We are also your parents now so this is your right. In fact, we would feel so honoured if you were to address us as Mama and Baba, just like Ali does." "Of course, thank you so much for your kindness." I replied.

"Ali come here please, I want to feed my newly married son a sweet with my own hands." Said Auntie, picking up a milky white barfi and gently placing it in Ali's mouth. "Mm mum that's really tasty." He said as he gently hugged his mom and kissed her forehead. He whispered softly. "Thank you Mama Jaanum for everything." She simply smiled in return. "Son, do I have your permission to feed your beautiful bride or do you want to do it?" I started blushing as Ali's mum finished that sentence. Ali was blushing too, smiling as his face concentrated on the floor below. "Look at that, Ali's speechless. Here you are dear." I opened my mouth and eagerly ate the sweet with gusto without seeming too unladylike. "Delicious." I said smiling. Next Zainab picked up a sweet, gave a bite to her big brother, gave him an affectionate hug and gave me a bite and a squeeze before finishing the rest herself. "Well sweetheart, now I believe it's my turn." Said Ali as he picked up a sweet and I did too as we fed each other. "May God bless your marriage always. Now then lets go to the dining table and eat together." Said Mama.

Zainab had made several different traditional dishes such as birayani, chicken legs, samosas, spring rolls and seemia for dessert. We ate and laughed together. "My darling can I show you the garden?" Said Ali as soon as we finished eating, excitedly. "Sure."

We left the dining room and went to the garden where Ali gently kissed my lips. "Sorry sweetheart, it's just I really needed to steal a kiss from my bride." Said Ali after several moments of locking lips. "Please don't apologise my love." I replied and captured his lips in my lips in a passionate kiss.

"I can't blame you I too have been thinking about your touch since I last felt it. How long will you be satisfied with mere kisses that lead to nowhere?" "Hey." Said Ali in hushed tones sas he held my face in his hands.

"I will always be satisfied with this. Yes I want you, but I want to wait for you. No matter how long it takes. You are worth so much more to me than that. You are worth everything. But in the meantime, this will suffice quite nicely." I simply nodded and smiled as Ali's lips touched my lips in a passionate kiss.

"Ali I think we should go inside, your family will be wondering where we are." "If you insist, my angel." Said Ali with a smile as he kissed my forehead gently and we went inside. After dinner, it was time for Zohur and Asr (the two afternoon prayers) so everyone performed their ablutions and we stood in front of our Lord to thank him for all our blessings.

Glossary
Kurta - A long embroidered Asian/Pakistani shirt.
Hijab- The covering worn by Muslim women concealing their hair, neck, ears, chest and breasts, as a symbol of their connection to God, their devotion to their religion and their modesty.
Dupatta - A piece of cloth, like a scarf used by Pakistani women to preserve their modesty.
Beta - 'My child' in Urdu
Walima - The feast hosted in celebration of a marriage between Muslims taking place. This is hosted by the grooms family and they welcome the brides family. Takes place a day or so after the wedding and is the equivalent of a wedding reception. The bride and groom go the brides house afterwards.
Baji - 'Big sister' in Urdu
Mama/ Mama Jaanum - Mum/Mother dear in Farsi.
Baba - Dad in Urdu, Arabic and Farsi.
Barfi - A milky flavoured Asian sweet, cut into blocks and sometimes flavoured with different nuts.
Birayani- Yellow/Golden coloured rice cooked with chicken/other meats and seasonings. An Asian dish.
Seemia - Sweet noddle like strands boiled in milk. Served as a dessert in Pakistan.
Amma - Informal way of saying mother in Urdu.