Daniel and I were hanging out  with my sisters and Maria at  the mall just outside of town. Not that I was shopping or anything, Baheera and Maria were doing most of the shopping, Baheeja was applying for a job at a few clothing store.

"Daniel before we meet your parents your parents tonight I want you to meet my dad even though he's in a coma I want you to meet him. can you meet him with me today." I asked nervously once we were left alone in a booth by the food court as the others got food.

"Sure I'd be very honored to meet him." he smiled with a genuinely sincere smile.

"Thank you Daniel your the best." I smiled brightly back at his reply

After we all ate Maria dropped my sisters back home and dropped me and Daniel at the hospital.  Maria loves driving her car a lot thats why we always carpool with her. Her car used to be Zubairs but he gave it to her as a gift on her seventieth birthday. she severely attached to her car as she's attached with her heels.

when we got to baba's room Daadii was there she was

"Salaam Daadi Kya heal hey?"

"Wa'alaikum Salaam Poti I am fine Alhamdullilah. Salam to you Daniel"

"Wa'Alykum Salam Daadii. I came to meet my future Father-in-law." Daniel sat down on the chair on the other side of my da's bed "Hello Mr. Balasubramanian My name is Daniel Morton and In  Sha Allah I will soon marry Your daughter Aziza thank you for raising her to become an amazing woman she is today." he introduced himself and after that Daniel started to talk about himself as though Baba was listening to him. Daniel talked about revert, his blindness his family not in a boasting manner but in a manner to address concerns any father would hover their future son-in-law. seeing Daniel talk to Baba like that really touched something beautiful deep within my heart and I knew I made the right choice saying yes to Daniel. "Kareem would have loved to be at your wedding poti." Daadii said wiping tears that escaped from her eyes as she watched Daniel talk to Baba.

"Daadi I know." I responded trying my best not to cry. Baba I miss you. Only God knows how I would deal with life now without him by my side. he was always there for me and I pray he gets better soon. 

We stayed at the hospital until an hour before magrib. Time passed as Daadii told us story of Baba growing up. Who would have thought baba was such a sneaky troublemaker as  a teenager. Chacha picked me and Daadi up. Daniel's driver was already waiting infant of the hospital when we got outside

"See you later tonight." he called out as he got in the  backseat of the car.

"You too." I waved forgetting he couldn't see me wave.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Both Baheeja and Baheera were dressed similar; Baheeja wore a pink pastel tie bow blouse with a waisted grey trouser while Baheerah wore the same the only difference was Baheerah blouse was baby blue. Ami Daadi wore a anarkali, Daada was a kameez chacha wore a white dress shirt and blue jeans. While I wore a flared red maxi skirt a white t-shirt grey cardigan, red hijab and grey flats to match all put together by Maria.

I was anxiously nervous Officially meeting Daniel's family. The last time I met Daniel's mother it didn't go well. I hope that this encounter wasn't as disastrous as the last one. the door was opened by what I think was the family Butler. He lead us to the sitting room were Daniel's Family was.

other than Daniel's Mom, Aunt and Yessica there where four other people I haven't met yet. One of them who looked a lot like the older version of Daniel introduced himself as Daniel's Father. the other older man was Yessica's father and the younger guy was Yessica's older brother Jacob. The girl who looked around my age was Yessica's younger sister Yasmin. once we were all introduced to each other we all sat down for some tea and drinks. I had Baheeja sit next to me. My palms were sweating anxiously. I tried to participate in the discussions. but soon it was time for dinner

"I understand many of us here eat our meat a certain way. and some of us don't eat meat so don't worry I've taken all of that in account."

"Uncle Mason you remembered that I don't eat meat." Yasmin beamed.

"Yasmin Daniel also told me Aziza Is a vegan as well."

"No way!! we're Vegan sister." she smiled beamingly

"what is wrong with kids your age I could never give up meat."  Jason stated

"If only you knew ho much healthier being a vegan was."

"I'm gonna live life to the fullest."

"Who says we down live life to the fullest."

"True that tell him like it is you could be the daughter I never had." Daniel's Father said smiling at me

"I don't want to sound rude or anything I genuinely curious I want to more understanding your culture or religion why do you cover your head and your sisters don't?" Daniel's mom suddenly asked and everyone was looking at me waiting for how I would answer that question

"it is a choice I made because I believe that Allah asked us to cover up and me wearing this to cover my head is my way of covering up. My religion has no compulsion and me choosing to wearing this is a personal decision I made that's between me and God it doesn't make me any better than my sisters and vis versa."

"Interesting. Is that the same for those who cover their face."

"Yeah, pretty much."

"That's why Dr. Malik covers her face because it's her interpretation of covering up."

"I think so."

"So Aziza Daniel here tells me that you two are going to to have a small wedding."

"yes that's because my dad is still in the hospital..."

"And we decide to have a small quiet wedding like you and Dad." Daniel inserted.

"Romantic isn't he." Yasmin teased Daniel which caused everyone else in the table to laugh.

"That's nice. well cheers to my son and aziza."

Dinner Daniel's family went very well. Daniel's father was really nice and his cousins were funny and his mother and Aunt were both lovely as well despite our first meeting. No one had mentioned the prenup they wanted me to sign last time. By the time we went back home I was in a really good mood.

Daadi and Daada were the first to crash followed by Ami Chacha went back to were ever he was sleeping tonight. but Baheera and Baheeja decide to stay in the living room with me. We talked in low voices and tried our best not to wake up the others as we munched on chips.

"Aziza I'm going to miss you." Baheeja said suddenly as she hugged

"Im going to miss living with you too, but I'll still be living close by you can come visit me and I'll do the same we'll still be able to hang out." I told her as I hugged her back.

"its not the same you wouldn't be here." Baheera informed me looking down at her phone avoiding eye contact I knew it was her way of saying she'll miss me. Baheera doesn't express how she feels through words much.

"It might not be but you guys will always be my sisters. I love you guys" I told her she looked up and for the first time in a while we had a group hug.

"we love you too." Baheeja said as we broke off

"yeah I could never ask for a better older sister than you."

"Hey I'm your sister too." Baheeja exclaimed as she hit Baheerah

"your my twin so it doesn't count. Plus I'm older than you."

"Thats very debatable."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I can't believe I was already getting married tomorrow. It's been a week since the family meeting and everything at home was hectic. I hadn't gotten the chance to see Daniel since that day. Daadi was on a mission she made sure everything was in place. She hired a mehidi expect and to apply beautiful mehindi designs on my legs and feet after cleaning me with  turmeric paste.

Even with Ami's protest I made sure the dress I wore was my real mom's wedding dress. I found it in the storage unit were Baba was Hidding it. I know that it might seem ridicuouls but wearing her dress made me feel closer to her like she was her with me. It was a classic red and gold Indian tractional wedding dress. and it was a perfect fit like it was made for me .

We had the nikah in the mosque and Hanaan's Dad was the Imam who officiated it. he verses from the Quran and complete it after the Ijab-e-Qubul after the Meher was settled and we signed the mariah contract. Both our families were their mine being very extend as well as my friends and some family friends of Daniel. which included a girl with a niqab.

the Dinner is looked very delicious but I couldn't eat anything with my stomach full of so many butterflies. After dinner, Daniel and I sat together our heads are covered by a dupatta while and and everyone read prayers for us for a happy prosperous marriage.

"Your beautiful." Daniel whispered in my ear as he held my hand

"How would you know you can't see me."

"When you fall for someone's personality everything about them becomes beautiful. I don't care how you look like because I already know you're beautiful." he answered and I think at that moment my heart did a double flip.

"Azi this is my wedding gift to you?" Maria said handing an open envelope with a papers inside when she cornered me as I took a bathroom break just before Daniel and I left to my new home.
"Oh my God." I said as I stared at the content of the papers
"I know. He is your uncle."
"Oh My Allah."

That night even though the soft bed seemed very uncomfortable as I tossed and turned trying to settle in. I'm not sure if it was because I was used to sleeping on a futon that I couldn't sleep right or that fact that I had Daniel sleeping next to me which got my heart facing or even the fact that i found my mothers family. Racing through my head. I wasn't sure if Daniel was a heavy sleeper or if he was worn out for the day and crashed but he didn't seem to wake with all my tossing and turning that night

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