A Thing, Beyond Forever

18.

"Wow, wear this. It's blue and it's your favorite color too!" Noor chimed. 

I yawned as I stretched my hands behind my back. Mumma had left for Kuwait last night and I had to get up by 6 in the morning to receive the door and find Noor standing in front of me. She decided to get herself and me dressed for the farewell party.

I took a shower and also blow-dried my hair as well as hers, she wanted to keep her hair straight but I wanted to curl mine a little bit towards the end. We wrapped our hair up in a loose bun and were now discussing my dress. I had quite a few traditional dresses to wear to the party but  I could never imagine myself wearing something like that to school where everyone would see me. No. Never.

"Nope" I shook my head in denial.  "I don't feel like wearing that show me the next one!", I said as I was simply trying to give her a hard time so that she eventually gives up on selecting a dress for me and I would be able to wear anything that I want.

"No Zukroof! I know you're simply taking advantage of me & I swear if we get late to the party, I'm going to kill you right this moment irrespective of your 16th birthday" She lashed out at me and I laughed.

"Okay" I pulled my hands up. "I guess..." I stood in front of my wardrobe looking at all the dresses. I wanted to go with something simple than extravagant so I chose a black one.

Her eyes grew wide looking at the dress. "Zukroof Hussain, you are so gonna wear this!"

"Okay..." I shrugged,  "It's not my fault. If everybody laughs at you saying your bestie looks like a joke!", I scoffed.

"And who can have that  much audacity to say something like that to the Zukroof Hussain?"

I chuckled. "I don't know...I have never worn anything like that to school. Nobody has seen me dress up like this" 

"You just relax," She said as she made me sit on the bed and then placed her makeup box beside me,  "I'm going to make you look like a princess and all the boys will just keep gawking at you"

I laughed. As if that was really going to happen. After the makeup was done, I went to another room to change my clothes. When I was done and satisfied, I let my hair down and knocked on the door of the room she was changing in.

She opened the door and stood there with her jaw half opened as she continued to stare at me from top to bottom. I looked at her, she was wearing a maxi-dress lemon yellow shirt and from the waistband, it came down as a gown with floral prints on top of it. She literally looked like a tulip.

"You are so beautiful Noorie!", I said as I pinched her cheeks.

"Says the beauty herself! look at you! I mean...just look! Seriously, why have you been hiding your beauty behind all your baggy t-shirts and jeans?" She asked.

"I..." I smiled as I shrugged. "I...I don't know".

"Okay, I am almost done just a little touch up is remaining then I'll call dad to drop us. Wear your sandals and..." She turned around as she narrowed her eyes at me. 

"What?" I laughed seeing her face. 

"DON'T YOU DARE SNEAK IN YOUR CONVERSE ON THIS!" She said pointing her finger at me.

I laughed throwing my head back, "Okay, alright, I'm waiting in the hall. Get ready and come quickly! and yes, thank you, "I said as I threw a flying kiss at her.

I went and had a look at myself from head to toe. I couldn't identify myself. I kept my hands on my mouth as I yelled, "Noor!!!" She came running towards me holding her gown in my hands, "What happened?"