Unedited.
•ASLAM
I texted Amna earlier and she mentioned they were at the mall shopping for their graduation. We spoke again on the phone, and she said they were now at her mom's hotel. So, I decided to head over and meet them there. When I arrived at the hotel, I found a parking spot nearby and sent Amna a message letting her know I was there. She replied almost immediately, telling me she'd come to get me in a bit.
As I walked into the hotel lounge, I scanned the room, and then I spotted her. She looked effortlessly beautiful, dressed in a casual summer dress.
"Heyyy," she greeted me as she walked toward me.
"Heyyy," I spoke, matching her grin. I reached out and handed her a bouquet of pink peonies. Along with that, I had two paper bags in hand, one with a gift for her mom and the other filled with little gifts for her nieces and nephews.
Her eyes widened in surprise and delight as she took the bouquet from me. "Thank youuu. Now I'm shyyy," she laughed lightly. "My siblings are definitely going to tease me about this." She shook her head, still smiling. "And you know you didn't have to get Maama anything, right?"
I chuckled, stepping a bit closer to her. "Your opinion is irrelevant, with all due respect," I placed my hand on the small of her back, gently pulling her closer.
"I missed you though," I whispered.
"Aslam! The elevator is see-through," she scolded. "What if my siblings see us?"
I laughed, enjoying her reaction. The elevator arrived at the floor with a soft ding, and she quickly stepped out, motioning for me to follow.
"And you saw me like four days ago, no?" she asked.
"And so?" I replied with a shrug.
She shook her head in disbelief.
We stopped in front of the door and she turned to me. "Are you ready?" she asked.
I nodded, my heart beating a little faster. "Always," I replied confidently.
She giggled, leaning in close as if sharing a secret. "Warning! My siblings are crazy," she said with a playful wink.
I chuckled. "I'm sure not as crazy as mine," I replied with a grin.
She patted my arm slightly then pressed the doorbell.
A man opened the door and stepped aside. He was tall, with a calm demeanor. As soon as we stepped in, she introduced us.
"Uhm, this is Ya Adnan," she said, pointing toward him.
I recognized him from the photos she had shown me on FaceTime just the day before. She had pointed out each family member, explaining who they were. Adnan had been in the photos, standing beside her sister, Sa'adah.
Adnan smiled and extended his hand to me.
As I stepped inside, I noticed that most of the family was gathered around the dining table having a late lunch. The atmosphere was lively, filled with the chatter of little kids.
"Maaa," Amna called. A middle-aged woman, who looked like an older version of Amna but a couple of shades lighter- turned her attention to us.
"Ga Aslam, ze gaishe ki - Aslam is here, he wants to greet you," Amna whispered close to her mom's ear, but loud enough for both her mom and the lady sitting beside her to hear. The lady beside her mom smiled, a knowing smile.
Her mom's face lit up with a warm, beaming smile. "Ohhh MaShaa Allah," she exclaimed.
I approached her, kneeling to show my respect. "Ina wuni Hajiya - Good Afternoon, Hajiya,"
