THE LOVE CONTRACT (ON HOLD!)

The love contract- The nikkah

It's been a while so enjoy!

The smell of burnt toast filled the apartment as I waved the kitchen towel frantically under the ringing fire alarm. It was only a day after Amelia had left and I was already putting out fires.

Isaac burst through the door with a fire extinguisher his hands, out of breath and coughing from the smoke filled air, "WHERE'S THE FIRE?!" He screamed.

I had no option but to burst out in a laughing fit on the floor with a very red Isaac looking down at me shaking his head.

"YOU!" I laughed trying to catch my breath, "SCREAM," cue breathing- "LIKE," oxygen intake, "A" exhale, "GIRL!" I wailed with tears running down my face. You should've seen Isaac's face when he busted through the door-absolutely priceless.

See when it came to basic stuff like omelettes and toast I was rubbish and burnt almost everything to crisp, but weirdly enough I could make a killer chilli con carne and whip some pasta up in no time, mother taught me well.

Isaac came over yesterday night after picking me up from the hotel, things got a bit heated when he started a small argument with Khalil. It felt unusual saying his first name; the man I was going to 'marry' -well sort of. I mean...it's not like I was lying or anything, I was going to tell my parents the truth, just not all the details-Like how much money he had actually offered me.

Yesterday we agreed on having the nikkah* through a Skype call to his parents and family, who I had learnt were staying in Jordan for the holidays.

I was extremely nervous and put off as I imagined my nikkah being face to face and not a video call to people miles away. Apparently he informed his parents the 'good news' that he met someone and now they wanted to meet her.

"Yeah Isaac go easy on him, please," I pleaded for Khalil's life seeing as they weren't on good terms right now. He stubbornly grumbled and muttered something but I ignored it.

Khalil tried talking to Isaac yesterday once he came to pick me up, trying to get his approval too; although Isaac wasn't my blood brother, our families knew each other very well, so getting his approval was only the right thing to do.

"Could you talk to Dad, about him? Just so he accepts too," I persuaded, feeling embarrassed talking to him about another man but do so seeing as I needed my parents approval.

So right now me and Isaac were sat around the table having a long conversation about the guy I was going to marry in less than 24 hours.

"I don't see why you want to marry him, it's too rushed Ali," he said rubbing his neck.

I don't either bro.

"He's a...good man, Islamically maybe not so but I intend on changing that." It was hard coming up with something nice to say about a person you've known for less than 48 hours.

"You've only just met him,"

"Look aren't you glad I told you and didn't keep it a secret or decide to elope with him?" I said with a bit of humour in my voice.

"Aaliyah," he said seriously, whenever he used my first name, it was serious.

"Isaac please. mom's not well, she's in critical conditions and her last wish is for me to get married. If anything happens, Khalil will be able to provide for me and look after me if worst comes to worse, I have so much to balance including work and uni, it's costing my parents too much they can't afford further treatment for my mother, so please," I practically begged.

He sighed, giving in and I knew I'd won. "Okay okay, I'll speak to Uncle, but I can't promise anything, sorry about your mom Ali, I didn't realize it was that serious," He looked at me sympathetically and smiled reassuringly.