Chapter 52: Wedding Preparations.

*

"With 

tears in her eyes,

and withheld sobs.

She smiled at them. 

Seeing

how far they had come,

from 

the 

start"

-2am-

*

Things moved on real quick. One moment Nahal was at work in Manchester, the next she was planning her sister's henna night with The Zaeef's. She didn't know whether she should be awkward or comfortable around such people. They were really nice, don't get her wrong. But they still were her sister's in-laws. Which made them a little intimidating. To Nahal anyway.

It was a bright morning and she was awoken by the rays of sunshine streaming into her room from the curtains she forgot to close the previous night. Serves you right, she groaned into her head as she pulled the comforter over her face to avoid the light. Just when she was beginning to fall back asleep, loud knocks on the door interrupted her. Is this death? Because if it's not, I will throw hands at you right now! Only death is allowed to disturb my sleep!

"NAHAL!" Ah it's my sister. Why is she up anyway?

"Nahal! Get up! It is part 10am!" Aanabia yelled from outside. Nahal let out another groan as she pulled a pillow over her head. Sleep.

"Nahal! Breakfast is ready!" Aanabia tried again but to no avail. Nahal was already slipping into la la land. But of course Aanabia had other tricks under her sleeve.

"Nahal. Yahyah will be here in 5 minutes to meet you. If you are not ready by then, he will leave you home and go-" Nahal set up on her bed immediately. Why wasn't I told of this before? She let out a whine before running her hands through her hair and it got stuck halfway. Great. Now I have to wash and dry my hair all over again. Should've dried it last night.

"Nahal? You up?" Aanabia called out again and Nahal called back a yes. She got off the bed, pulling her hair in a messy bun. She made the bed before walking to the attached bathroom.

Ten minutes later, she walked out of the bathroom with a better hair and fresh face. She had changed into jeans and a lose dress with silver stud earrings. She then tied her hair in a ponytail and stuffed her phone, wallet and headphones into her jean pockets (Thank god for men's section jeans having her size because women section had very small pockets). She picked up her white sneakers and made a run downstairs. With barely any makeup save for an eyeliner and Nivea Strawberry Chapstick, she seemed okay, to herself anyway.

"I am awake and ready" she said as she entered the kitchen where she knew everyone were at. Kulthum and Amyrah were here, with the kids while Kayan and the other brothers would arrive a two days before the henna night. Qaidah and Aahil along with the grandparents would also arrive with the brothers. 

"As salaam alaikum!" Kulthum said, looking up from her plate of toast bread and sunny side up fried eggs.

"Wa alaikum mus salaam" Nahal replied, blowing her a kiss. She walked towards where her sister and Amyrah stood, talking.

"You both will burn the egg!" Nahal commented, causing the girls to startle. Aanabia hit her head playfully while Amyrah let out a small laugh.

"Good morning dearest" Amyrah teased her and Nahal blushed slightly.

"I need sleep okay. I don't know how you guys function without it" she muttered in defense causing the sister-in-laws to exchange sly smirks. Amyrah placed an arm over her shoulder while Aanabia turned to the sink to wash the dish.

"When you are married, it will be easier" she said, causing Aanabia to choke on her saliva and Amyrah to burst out laughing. Nahal blushed tomato red and slide out of Amyrah's arms before turning to the two.

"I only came to get breakfast. Not to know about your private lives" she told them and the girls let out a small laugh.

"Sure you did. Yahyah is outside by the way" Amyrah told her and she rolled her eyes and turned to pick up a plate from the dish drainer. She dished out her food before walking back to the dining hall and taking a seat beside Kulthum. The two girls shared a smile before she dug into her breakfast. Food felt good.

-

The wedding of Yazdan and Aanabia was a week away. Everything was chaotic. Kayan and his parents, along with the grandparents were due to arrive in Adelaide any day now while Aanabia's mother and Zaiha and Zul had already arrived. Everyone was busy with the preparation. From caterers, to decorations to the bookings. Luckily, they had enough helping hands.

Zamaairah, after much persuasion from Qaidah, had come over to Australia for the sole event of Yabia wedding. The said couple were happy as ever. Yazdan was more smiling now, a drastic change that seemed to have surprised a lot of people while Aanabia remained the giddy self of hers.

Nahal was busy with the decorating group, recreating Yahyah's barn into a beautiful wedding destination site. They were now finalizing the walkway decorations at the barn itself. Yahyah stared at the woman in front of him with a fond smile. She is amazing and beautiful. He thought, as he watched her tug away the lose strands of her dark hair behind her ear. There was a single purple flower behind her left ear, the one he had given her a while ago.

"The color themes are purple, pale pink and white. Please, please stick to it. We do not want anything out of place. Also, the small gifts that would be given at the entrance, need a table. Please place the square one there" she explained to the decorator who nodded at her words. Yahyah rolled his eyes as he looked around.

They had cleared out the barn, cleaned it and re-painted it. There were lights handing inside from the ceilings with creepers in the middle. She had divided it into three sections. The middle was the walkway, which would serve as the aisle for the couple. The other two sides had multiple white chairs for the guests. There was a buffet dinner table set to the sides. All they had left to do was to decorate the place with flowers and what not.

Yahyah felt proud that he had helped set this place up.

"Lets go" he turned to Nahal with a smile. Nahal mirrored his expressions.

"You are happy with it?" she asked him, walking towards the entrance of the barn. He walked fast until he fell into steps with her.

"Of course I like it. You turned this place upside down" he told her and she laughed. Yahyah stared at her laugh. Angelic.

"So when are we getting married?" he asked her once she sobered up. Upon question, she halted her tracks. He did too. He shoved his hands into his jean pockets, awaiting her answer. He had asked her this very question multiple times, yet she had one answer every time. Not yet.

She smiled at him and he sighed, running his hand through his hair.

"Ask my mother and we just might be married before I leave for UK" she told him and with that, she walked off. More of ran off. Yahyah let out a small laugh and stared at her retreating back. Who knew this woman would run off after telling me such a thing.

But that was a signal. One that gave him a green light to get his family and Qaidah ma involved.

"When would she arrive?" he muttered to himself as he walked out of the large barn towards his house. He felt more comfortable telling this to Qaidah than Zaiha, and his own mother knew that.

-

Aanabia stared at her sister with a questioning look.

"Why are you red?" she asked, raising an eyebrow and folding her arms over her chest in an intimidating manner. Nahal rolled her eyes, despite her embarrassment.

"I just came back from working, Aapa. What do you expect me to look like?" she sassed and Aanabia frowned at her. This whole time, she was not allowed to work. Some custom of brides should not work at their weddings stuff that she clearly did not understand.

"Alright. Whatever floats your boat." She replied, shifting off the railing of Yahyah's verandah and walking inside the house. She was waiting for Yazdan to pick her up so that she would go home. Their houses were a few minutes away, which to Yazdan was right next to each other.

Nahal stood at the front porch, staring out into the open yard that now had wooden posts arranged in a diagrammatic manner. Why did I tell him that? Why could I have not stuck to my usual not yet responses? She heaved a sigh and turned away, leaning back onto the railings and facing the house instead.

"Are you alright?" she turned to see Zaiha smiling at her. She nodded hastily at her before turning back to stare at the large window in front of her. Zaiha smiled at her antics and walked over to stand by her.

"You know.........." She stared and Nahal tilted her head to face her. "I know my son loves you a lot" The sentence itself stunned Nahal into silence. She knew. Of course she knew. Nahal cleared her throat to speak but no words came out. What am I supposed to say? Thank you? Yes? No?

"But he would not tell me. He would not dare. Of course Qaidah is another story. He would tell her about you before me, I know that. But I wish to request you one thing Nahal" she said causing Nahal to turn to her with a confused expression. Request? Zaiha smiled at her warmly.

"My son has gone through a lot alone. If he loves you, it means he is dedicated to you. We may not be that close but I know him well enough to say this. Please take care of him" she told her and Nahal found herself nodding at Zaiha's words. Of course I will. I am not letting him go anytime soon.

"So" Zaiha clapped her hands together, snapping Nahal out of her reverie.

"Yeah?"

"When should I get the proposal to your place?" 

*****

As Salaam Alaikum dearest people. Sorry for the late one. I was busy with BTS. hahahaa. 

You guys know the drill. :) 

| R - C - V |

xx, 

-Aalihha.