Alone

Baraat

Aleena's POV

Here I am standing in the bathroom while trying to blow-dry my annoying hair. My Baarat is in 3 hours. I'm going to be late I swear.

"Aleena hurry up we are going to be late." Amira yells. Ha I just said that.

"I'm coming just give me minute!" I yell over the hair dryer while looking at the dress that Zaryab gave me.

It's red and backless, it has a sweetheart neck line and it screams ugly. For Allah's sake it barely covers my butt. But I have an idea for it.

I put on full sleeved red shirt to cover my arms and back. I then put on one of my long red maxi skirts and I put on the dress over all that. Instead of the maxi skirt making it look bad it makes the dress look perfectly poofy and it goes right to the hemline of my dress. It all looks perfect except the shirt, that looks a bit weird. I grab a black shawl and put it over myself and put on a black hijab.

I quickly text Zaryab that I changed it a bit.

Z- I thought you would. You better look good.

A- I always look good :P

Z- ....

Z- Ya you do

A- Was that a compliment?

Z- As my future wife you should get used to it.

A- ???

Z- I was awful to you before. I guess I'm just realizing you're going to have to put up with me for the rest of your life so I should be better. I'm sorry.

Wow. I can't believe he's apologizing for before. I'm so excited about how this marriage is going to start. I thought I would be so unhappy with him but I get to have a happy mother and be a doctor!

I twirl in front of the mirror happily admiring my dress. 'It all works out perfectly!'

"Ugh, Aleena stop posing in front of the mirror!" I hear Amira say through the door. She knows me so well.

"Who says I am?" I reply cheekily.

"I just know you that well!" she says as she bursts through the door. Suddenly she gasps.

"What? Too much cloth?" I say surprised.

"No, of course not. Aleena you look amazing, and that dress is just...wow, Zaryab has some good taste."

Hmm if only she knew how the dress really looked... -_-

"Aleena you look great!" Amira says to me with tears in her eyes.

"I know!" I say excitedly. She rolls her eyes.

"We better hurry up we are going to be late and I still have to do your makeup and hair. Sit! Sit!" she says.

I do as she says willingly because I know there is no arguing with Amira.

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

"Done!" Amira says with a smile on her face.

"Thank you so much Amira!" I say while looking myself in the mirror.

"Don't thank me just yet." She says with a playful smile, Amira walks over to my bed and bends down, she reaches down and pulls out a shoebox. What is she doing?

"Here open it." She says while holding out the box.

"Oh! Amira you didn't need to do this!"

I open the box and find a beautiful pair of red stilettos.

"Amira?" I say amazed.

"Well, duh." She says while laughing.

I put the heels and twirl around. "How do I look?"

"Still beautiful!"

I follow Amira out the door after one more twirl. What can I say, they are beautiful. Just...really tall. 5 inches exactly.

"Amira..." I say very quietly.

"Yes." She whispers back.

"Will you hold my hand; I think I'm going to fall." I say while stumbling.

Amira grabs my hand and we make our way to the car. I sit beside Amira and Hina, though Hina seems very uncomfortable. I try to shift over so she has more room but she seems to  be acting weird. She's probably sick or hungry or something. I hope she feels okay later.

"Aleena, I'm really going to miss you." Hina says under her breath while looking out the window. She doesn't speak again.

-----------

"Aleena let's go already." Amira orders, I'm sitting in the brides room in the hall we booked.

"Amira, I can't, I'm scared." I say truthfully.

"Aleena you better get moving or else." Amira says in a threatening tone.

"Or else what?" I answer.

"Ugh please hurry up." Amira begs.

"Amira you hurry up" I say while smirking at her. We both walk out of the room when I run into someone.

"Sorry, I didn't see you there."I say. Oh, it's Yahya.

"It's my fault I'm sorry," He says. "I was told to get the bride."

"Here I am." I reply and start walking away with Amira. I look back and see him looking at me. Why is even here anyway?

Oh Hina must have invited Ali and then Ali must have brought Yahya. That's okay, the more the merrier, right?

We walk into the room that we rented and see everyone is dancing, singing and laughing. When they see me they all get in a circle and dance around me. I laugh around in the middle of a circle banging a little tambourine until someone else is pushed in too, Zaryab.

He looks at me and then looks me up and down and then immediately pushes himself out of the circle. Everyone dances around him and doesn't let him leave until he gives up, dances around and actually looks like he is having a good time.

He dances around with me and even bangs the tambourine a bit. Suddenly the circle stops and they lead us to a stage where Zaryab proposes and we both sign a marriage contract. After we both say 'qabul' (I accept)  there is more dancing.

We are then seated and I get stuffed with even MORE sweets. Honestly where are these people getting all these sweets.

I don't notice that he is staring at me until I look at him. Zaryab is staring at me. "We're married!" he whispers.

"That we are." I say with a smile.

"A bit shocking, no?" he replies.

I nod in response. "Terrifying."

"I'm glad I'm not alone in the terror. I'm sorry I was so awful before. I was angry about a particularly stressful business deal. It's all over now." he smiles. "Also I'm sorry but you need to enrol in some cooking classes."

I start laughing, "I know!"

We both laugh. He takes a sweet and puts it in my mouth and out of the corner of my eye I see my mother nudge my father and smile. Zaryab and I will be as happy as they are someday inshallah.

After we are led outside we see so many different fireworks it feels like my eyes are about to blow up. Zaryab hugs me the whole time. Well, until he sees his business partner.

He lets go from me and walks away from the festivities and towards his partner. I understand he being an important business man he can't stop working. Just like how I'll be busy when I'm becoming a doctor.

This is a momentous occasion nonetheless. A momentous occasion indeed.