Chapter thirty seven

The moment Zara and Sumayya entered the house, they were bombarded with glares and questions. Yasmin and Myrah are getting henna on their hands.
"You guys did well. I thought I informed you that the henna artist will come by 10 am now look at the time." Farah ushered peeping at her phone screen. Sumayya and Zara glanced at each other. They have decided on their way back home what to tell them.
"Actually mom, my car wheel got patched and it took time before the repair person arrived. I'm sorry". It seems the woman wasn't satisfied with their statements as she throws another glare in their direction.
"Didn't you see my missed call then? And where is Minal?" She asked again. Zara's eyes slightly widened. Why didn't they think of that? Fishing out the phone and scrolling through her call list, she saw the call from her mom 10 mins ago. She did call. Zara walked up to her mom and hugged her from behind.
"I'm sorry mom, I didn't notice. The phone was in silent mode. Besides, you have nothing to worry about now we are back. Safe and sound. And Something urgent came up for her so she had to leave." She whispered to her ears. Farah inhales a deep breath.
"I hope all is well. Though her clothes are still here. Ma will get them back to her. She's coming tomorrow"
"All is well Insha Allah"
"Now come. Who roam around on their wedding day. She was supposed to start on the bride's hands but you two didn't arrive on time. So, you should go get changed and come down for yours. Everything is ready. Your dresses. The imam will arrive by 1 pm Insha Allah". With that being said, she sprinted away to welcome some guest that are entering through the door.
"My heart almost did a flip. I thought she will notice our little lie" Sumayya uttered.
"Me too but I'm glad everything is settled now let's go and change out of these clothes before one of my Aunty murders us" She saw Aunt Myrah throwing a dagger in their direction and she offered a smile in return before dragging Sumayya upstairs.
"Masha Allah. The henna looks beautiful on your hands" Hajara, one of Sumayya's Aunt said accessing their hands with her eyes. The henna is yet to dry.
"That is because they are the brides" Yasmin chirped. Both broke Into a fit of smiles.
"How long will it take to dry?" Sumayya asked Labibi who was the henna artist as she was packing her things since she's done with the Henna.
"Like ten to fifteen minutes. It should be fully dried up by then"
"Thank you"
"Hajara are you busy? I want you to help me with something" the silence that was maintained was replaced by Farah's voice.
"No, I'm not. Sure" She replied back rising up from her sitting position and Farah disappear once again. This time around, she ambled to the kitchen with Hajara tailing on her back. Zara's thought skims to all the events that transpired. Finally, she's getting married to Fawwaz. By tomorrow, he would be hers. Forever. Her husband. They would leave together in the same house. Her love for Fawwaz is much deeper than she expected it to be. She was closer to Amir than him back in their childhood days. She has never thought a day will come when they would fall in love with each other. Indeed Allah is the planner.
"Thinking about your prince are you?" Sumayya whispered voice beat to her eardrum snapping her out of the thought. She decided to go along with her heart what she is really feeling at the moment.
"If I'm to be honest, then yes. I'm missing him already. I know we just saw each other not long ago but I still cannot get him out of my thinking. I know you will understand. Or aren't you also thinking about Amir?" Sumayya nodded her head slowly and answered back.
"Yeah, you're right I'm feeling the same way too but very soon they would be ours so we have nothing to worry about."
"Of course, you have nothing to worry about" Farah's voice chirped into their conversation which caught them off guard. Are they listening to them all the while?
"Young children nowadays don't have shame. Your elders are here and you two are busy talking about your lovers" She continues.
"Let them be Sis Farah. You know time change and you can't blame them. You know it happens to us too" Yasmin whispered to her sister. A smile made its way to Zara's lips seeing her mom and her Aunt chuckling. When they fought that day, she almost thought their family ties would be razed but her family are way stronger than that.
"Zara and Sumayya you two should go and wash off the henna and start getting ready. It's almost 1" Farah ushered. Both nodded their head and stood up slowly so as to avoid the henna to get spoiled.
They did as they were told. Wash off their henna and started getting ready for the Walima. Zara kept staring at her henna while squirming with excitement. Sumayya who took the box with her name written on it shakes her head as she made her way to the bathroom to change into it.
"Let me change mine too," Zara uttered reaching for her box too. Within a few minutes, they are into the new dress ready to apply makeup on their faces. Zara was glad she decided not to hire a makeup artist. Sumayya will do her makeup and she will do for her too.
"Masha Allah. We look like twins right now" Sumayya smile. The dresses are of the same design but different color. Zara's own is rosy red with white stones stuffed at the edge of the gown with a cape by the side while Sumayya's is peach with the same design as Zara's
"I know right?"
"Yes. Now sit let me start your makeup before Aunt comes and meet us like this" She dragged her along toward the stool that was stationed in front of the vanity mirror.
Thirty minutes later,
'Masha Allah' was the word that could be heard throughout the place as Sumayya and Zara descend down looking dashing in their Walima dress. Their faces were cast down as they made their way towards the family and other few relatives.
"Masha Allah my daughters you two are looking absolutely dashing" Farah started placing her two palms on their cheeks in such a way that their simple makeup wouldn't be ruin.
"Masha Allah" Yasmin also commented her own praises from then everyone said out their own compliments.
"Come with me. This imam is already here and rests assured, this Walima is purely women only. The imam is going to give advice on marriage and all." Hajara explained as they walked outside where the Walima is taking place. A separate seat was kept for them personally.
"Thank you Aunt," Zara said to Aunt Yasmin who helped her with her cape that was tailing on the floor. Silence was maintained as the imam started. Since he was using a microphone, his voice echoes through the whole place.
~~
Fawwaz, Amir, and Siddiq, Amir's brother were seated at the veranda at Amir's parent's house. Each with his own thought. Siddiq glanced at the two seeing their attention was completely off what he was blabbering to them. A smirk form at his lips when an idea implements in his head.
"Zara and Sumayya are here" he exclaimed and both turn their face towards the entrance door instantly. Siddiq broke into a fit of laughter.
"Now you guys will listen to me. I've been blabbering since and you two decided to be in your own thought. So now that I called your wives' name you decided to give your attention. Seriously" before he could react to what was happening to him, he felt a smack on his back which result in him to let out a yelp.
"Brother!"
Amir passed him a dirty glare. "Next time don't joke around like this. My heart almost stopped when you called out their names"
"Exactly. Same to me but man I can't wait already" Fawwaz meekly declared glancing at his phone. The Walima must be over now.
"If you are even thinking about calling them, then don't. Mom made it clear to me that, their phones will be with her. So if you call Zara, either my mom or her mom would be the one to pick up the call" Amir uttered puffing out a sigh as he rested his back on the couch they were seated on. Fawwaz has no choice but to plop the phone back to his pocket. He might not get to see her today but tomorrow surely will be a day he will claim her as his. His wife. Just the thought calm his heart a bit.
The Walima ended smoothly. The imam did a good job in passing out the advice and also reminded them of Allah subhannahu wa ta'ala. Zara didn't get time to rest, her mom constantly introduced her to her friends. From her co-workers to her old friends. When her mom went away to escort some of them, she finally got an escape route.
"Woah. I'm damn tired Sumayya. Is this how getting married feels like? My legs are killing me due to moving from one place to another. Mom said it will be a simple wedding but did you see a lot of people. I'm having a feeling tomorrow's Nikkah will be much more tiresome." Her back was rested on the bed while she stares at the ceiling. A chuckle escapes Sumayya's lips.
"If we can handle today, then tomorrow won't be a problem. And besides tomorrow, you will leave your parent's house." Come to think about it, she was so engrossed in the wedding when her thoughts didn't come across the fact that she would be leaving her parents' house. Forever.