" It's at this moment that I truly understand why Allah tells women to cover up because not  just anyone should be allowed to see their undeniable beauty." -Omar Ali, CSL.

C H A P T E R  S I X: Our Forever Starts Today

Bayan Ameer

Five more days until the nikkah and everyone is at my house.

When I say everyone I mean everyone! All of my aunt's and uncles and cousins are here to celebrate this occasion. To be honest I think it's a little bit too much. They act like they'll never see me again after I get married to Omar. My mom was the one who got the word out to everyone in less than a week. Today we are having a bridal shower for me and my parents beautifully decorated our backyard with a humongous tent that was big enough to fit over 100 people and beautiful decorations everywhere.

They had decorated everything with my two best friends while my brothers did their best to keep me out of the house. Right now I am getting my make up done by a professional makeup artist along with my friends and family. For the bridal shower I am wear a gorgeous two piece lahenga that is baby pink with beautiful ruffles around it and a shaw. After I was done with my makeup along with everyone else, the girls blindfolded me and led out to the backyard.

"I'm so nervous." I muttered to Amira.

"You look amazing, Mashallah." Amira responded. "And you're going to love this."

She then took my blindfold off of me and that's when I saw the beautiful backyard that was lit up everywhere

Wow this must've cost a fortune, was the first thing that came to mind. After that all of my family and friends jumped out and screamed congratulations. "You look so beautiful!" Mama exclaimed as she came up to me and gave me a hug. "Thank you, Mama." I responded as I hugged her back. After that a whole lot of my cousins and Aunties came up to me and gushed about how excited they were for me. Also how I was finally becoming a woman to quote my Aunt Samiya.

"You look gorgeous, Mashallah!" Alima stated as she engulfed me in a hug. "Damn look at my beautiful cousin."

"Thanks cuzzo." I responded.

"Let's get this party started!" Amira shouted as she plugged in the stereo.

* * *

It was after an hour or so when my mom and aunts left and it was just us girls that were left behind.
"Are you excited?" My cousin Munira asked for about the 15th time today. I'm getting sick of everyone asking me the same question over and over and over again. I resist the urge to roll my eyes and smile at her. "Kinda. So enough about me, what about you? How's life?" I ask while sitting down next to her. I really do love my cousin but I'm not going to lie sometimes she makes me want to scratch my eyeballs out. "It's good. I'm starting to get used to University now Alhamdulilah." She said with a smile. "That's great." I replied while smiling back. We talked for a while until we went where Alima were sitting and talking with one of our other cousins. "Okay I have something to tell you guys."Alima said while her brown eyes glinted with joy. I could tell by the look on her  face that it was something big.

"I'm getting married next month! So set your calendars!" She squealed.

I smiled widely while giving her a hug. Wow she's getting married too! That's amazing. "I'm so happy for you!" I exclaimed excitedly. "Who's the lucky guy?" I added. "His name is Harun. He's only a year older than us and he was the one who asked for my hand. Apparently he saw me at a local Starbucks a couple of months ago and he wanted to know me. At least that's what my parents told me after they talked with him." She squealed once again. All of the girls congratulated her while I was deep in thought. Harun... why does that name sound so familiar?

I was in my car driving home when my phone started ringing. I looked at the caller ID and noticed it was an unknown number. I cautiously pick up the phone.

"H-hello?" I said through the phone. There was silence for a while until I heard loud music booming in the background.

"Bayan? Is that you?" A male voice said through the  other line.

"Yeah, who are you?" I asked with furrowed eyebrows. I know that voice I just can't point it out...

"It's Harun, you remember you gave me your number so we- uh could w-work on that p-project? Look I uh need help and uh y-you're the only one I can ask for because I know y-you want judge uh me. So can you help m-me? I uh feel woo-woozy, I uh think I'm dr-runk," He said in a weary voice. Is he at a party? I quickly back out of my driveway and put my phone on speaker. "Harun I'm going to need to tell me where you are, okay? Can you do that for me?" I say as I continue to drive.

"I'm at uh a uh house. All I uh r-remember is it's on uh wickery..." His voice fades.

"Wickery road?" I asked hopefully.

"Y-Yeah."

"Okay Harun wait for me. Don't do anything stupid! Just wait outside the house for me. I'll be there soon In Shaa Allah."

I haven't heard his name in a while... it's like for a moment there I almost forgot what happened. Like for a moment there, I was myself again. Then again again it was only for a moment. After what happened I completely lost touch with him. I started ignoring his phone calls and turned around every time he tried to approach me in school or anywhere else. Besides that, it can't be that Harun that Alima is marrying right? I mean Harun is a pretty common name. There should be more than one living in Detroit, right?

"What's his last name?" I found myself asking.

"Basheer, why?" Alima asked curiously.

"No reason." I said calmly. On the outside I may look calm but in the inside I was freaking out. It's him that she's marrying! How's that possible? It's not like he's a bad person he just made bad decisions. I also can't blame him for what almost happened that day... It's just after that day I didn't want to face him again, because if I did it would just remind me of what could've happened. I really don't want to think of that day again.

I smiled sincerely at her. "I'm so happy for you!" I gave her a hug, putting my personal feelings aside. All in all if she's happy then I'm happy. "Why do I feel like I'm the one getting married in five days?" She said playfully. Suddenly Amira comes back inside the tent and walked towards where Alima and I are sitting. She finally reaches us and sat down right beside me.

"Okay so tomorrow I'm stealing you both okay? I just need one day with my girls! Just the three of us." Amira looked at us with a sad expression. Why do I feel sad all of a sudden? It feels like after I get married to Omar everything will be totally different even though I know it won't be. I looked at both Amira and Alima feeling nostalgic.

"Yeah that sounds awesome." Alima beamed. I smiled widely and hugged them. "Tomorrow is our day!" I added. I already can't wait for tomorrow!

* * *

I woke up super early today because there is much to be done. Such as, check out the venue for the wedding with my mom, stop by Omar's house and talk with my mother-in-law to be and then hang out with my girls.

As I walked into the bathroom I grabbed a towel and stepped into the bathtub. I then turned on the hot water and let the warm water wash over me. Once I finished I stepped out of the tub and dried my long brunette hair. I look into the mirror and saw my reflection, a lot of people say I'm a spitting image of my mother when she was my age. Well we do have the same hair and the same emerald green eyes. After drying my hair I roll it up into a bun and wrap my towel around me.

I quickly run into my room and look into my closet.

* * *

"I really liked that place." Mama said for about the twentieth time today. After we left the venue we ended up going to StarBucks to get something to drink. While mom was talking I couldn't help but think of Alima and Harun. I mean you can't blame me for worrying right?

"Honey?" Mama waved her hand in front of my face.

I quickly snapped my head up and looked at my mother. "Yeah sorry ma I just have a lot to think about." I said truthfully. Mama sighed as she looked at me with worry in her eyes. "I'm sorry habibty I know you're going through a lot of stress with the wedding and stuff. What can I do for you?" She asked as she held my hands.

I just love my mother, I swear I don't know what I would do without her. It's like every time I'm having a hard time she knows exactly what to say to cheer me up. "You're already doing it. I love you, Mama." I got up and hugged her.

"I love you too sweetie."

* * *

I couldn't help but gasp the moment I looked at myself in the mirror in front of me. I was wearing a traditional long white saree that my mother and I picked out, I had beautiful henna adorned on both of my hands, and my makeup was done to perfection. Usually I don't think of myself as being pretty but today, right now, I couldn't help but be stunned as I saw the girl in front of me. The girl I never thought I had the potential to be. It's crazy, isn't it? How much dressing up and putting on makeup can give someone so much confidence. "You look amazing mashallah, my baby girl isn't a baby anymore." My father said as he walked in my room. Behind him were all of my family members, my mother, two brothers and baby sister. All of the girls left to the other rooms so they could get ready themselves after I was finished. "I'll always be your baby girl, Baba." I said as I walked up to my father and gave him a hug.

"I love you, beti." He said as he planted a kiss on my forehead.

It took everything in me not to break down in t tears as I stood in front of the people I love most in the world. My parents, the people who gave me life, took care of me ever since the day I was born, knowing that I will leave them eventually broke my heart. My mother must've noticed that, I don't know how she could've. "There's no time for tears sweet heart. You look too beautiful to mess up your makeup, plus if you did Amira wouldn't be too happy now would she? The girl spent hours on it." She joked.

"No, I wouldn't!" Amira shouted from across the hall. That immediately made everyone burst out into laughter. Ah I love Amira, I thought to myself in amusement. "I love you so much, Ma." I then gave her a hug as well.

"Can we get going now? Enough with this mushy stuff." Abdullahi added.

"You know what! Just for that," I smirked at him. "Come here big bro!" He tried to resist my hug but it was hard. Yes even though I'm wearing an extremely heavy saree, I could still kick his butt any day. "Fine!" He gave up. I grabbed both him and Mohamed and tackled them in a purposefully bone crushing hug. "Love you my annoying and irritating brothers!" I smirked wider at their reactions. What are siblings for if not to annoy each other? "You remember what I said about being sad that you're getting married? I take that back." Mohamed joked. I shook my head as an amused smile graced my lips.

"Too late baby bro, I know you love me."

After a couple of seconds of teasing each other passed my baby sister tugged at the bottom of my Saree making me snap my attention towards her. "Bay, you look like a pwincess!" Amina exclaimed in awe. "Thanks Mina, you always look like a princess." I responded as I gave her a hug. Pretty soon it was time for us to go to the masjid so the girls helped me put on a hijab and a shaw to help cover myself up from head to toe.

This is it, after today I will officially be a married woman.

I don't know if I am more excited about that or scared.

Omar Ali

"You got this dude." Harun said as he clapped my shoulders.

I nodded slightly at him as we walked inside the wedding venue. To say I was nervous would be the biggest understatement of the century. But I'm also very excited as well, I don't know how to describe the feeling. There's something about this girl that makes her seem so different from the rest. I know that I am already starting to like her which is great. I have to say that my parents were right about this and I am happy that I agreed to it.

"Come on, let's get you married." Hakeem said as he gave me a light push. I jokingly glared at him and made my way into the wedding venue. All of our parents, friends and family were already there, waiting for the bride to come. The nikkah had already happened earlier on in the day so Islamic-ally, Bayan and I were already married.

That's when I saw her descending down the stairs. She looked stunning as always but this time, I saw her in a different light. It was like a scene in a movie, everything was in slow motion and suddenly there was no one else but us. Before I only thought she was beautiful on the inside but now I can see that her outside matches her insides. She then made her way to where I was and our eyes connected.

"Y-You look amazing, Mashallah." I said once she was close enough for only the both of us to hear.

"Thank you, you don't look too bad yourself." She had a glint in her eyes when she spoke.

"Why thank you." I responded then we were both told to sit on the heart shaped sofa.

* * *

After a little while I grabbed Bayan's hand and told her that we should go somewhere more private when everyone else wasn't looking. I wanted a moment alone with her. "I think we should hurry before everyone wonders where we went." She said with shyness in her tone. Normally I would be really shy too but I don't know where this new found confidence came from.

"This will be quick." I responded. "I just wanted to thank you for saying yes to me. I know that that was brave of you to do and I promise I will be the best husband I possibly can be to you and I want you to feel comfortable around me. I want to be best friends first before husband and wife." I told her sincerely. I really want to make this work and with Bayan I'm confident that it will. I just want her to know that I won't ever expect certain things from her or want her to feel pressured. It's important for me to build a connection first and right now, we don't know much about each other.

She looked taken back when she heard that then a smile started creeping its way on to her face. "I will also be the best wife I can be to you and I'm happy that I said yes. Thank you for pulling me aside and telling me that, it means a lot." She then slowly started to remove the hijab around her head and that's when I saw her beautiful brown hair flow down her back.

Whoa, she's stunning. It's at this moment that I truly understand why Allah tells women to cover up because not just anyone should be allowed to see their undeniable beauty.

"Anytime." I responded with a smile of my own.

"My mom told me something earlier today that has been on my mind all day." She started off. "She said that marriage is a life partnership, someone to sail through life with and I'm happy that I'm sailing through mine with you." She added as she looked down on the floor. Without really realizing it, I lifted her chin up with my finger.

"So am I."

After today the way I looked at Bayan changed and I felt reassured by her. Because we're in this together. Like her mother said, we're life partners now.

And Allah did create us in pairs.

I'm sorry I didn't update when I said I would! This is to make up for it:)

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