𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟐𝟐

ARZO

Today is the day we get engaged.

The thought makes a fit of butterflies take off in my stomach.

After the first meet up with Faizan, we invited his family over for dinner to finalize the decision of our marriage.

Everyone was thrilled. Faizan’s mama kept hugging me and saying how happy she is for us.

Since I’m getting married into the same family as api’s, we knew them very well and didn’t need much investigation. But, of course, abbu did his investigation with Faizan when he came with the proposal and also met with him few days before our family dinner.

Ammi woke me up earlier than I wanted to. And when I tried to sleep for few minutes she threatened to use her flying slipper so I jumped out of my bed and went to the bathroom to fresh up.

Thankfully I didn't fall asleep while washing up.

We haven’t spread the news of our marriage to our relatives. More specifically, Shoaib and his mother.

I’m worried that they will do or say something that will upset Faizan or his family and it will change their decision.

I discussed it with ammi and abbu and they agreed that lets me and Faizan at least get engaged before we announce it.

After finishing my breakfast, I help ammi clean around before the maid arrives. Then ammi tells me to hurry back to my room and start getting ready.

I lock myself in the bathroom, shower and do my skin care. After I’m done, I step out of the bathroom and open my closet. I take out my dress for the engagement and lay it on the bed.

My engagement dress is a pastel blue kurti and trousers. The kurti has beautiful silver embroidery on its sleeves and end of the shirt. The rest of the kurti has few small silver beats on it making the whole outfit look beautiful.

The dupatta is made of blue net with silver embroidery on its side and silver beats in the middle. I’m going to wear a pastel blue hijab to complete the look.

Simple but beautiful.

I quickly change into the kurti and trousers and tie my hair in a low bun.

“Arzo, beta-”

I turn around at ammi’s voice just when she halts in her steps.

She's dressed in an pastel green kurti and trousers with light silver embroidery. A pastel green hijab on her head and dupatta on her shoulder.

A smile takes over her lips as she says, “Masha’Allah.” she steps closer to me and holds my arms, “you look beautiful.”

I smile and sign, “thank you,”

“May Allah bless you and Faizan with happiness and success.”

Ameen.

“We are so proud of you, beta.” ammi says, “you’ve accomplished so much through the years and you never let those negative things ruin your path to success.”

I smile and wrap my arms around her, she hugs me back.

“Who am I going to scold when you leave?”

My body vibrates with a silent chuckle. I pull away and sign, “you still have days till I leave. Scold me as much as you want.”

“Do you really think your mother is that cruel?” she asks, raising her eyebrows.

I press my lips together and earn a playful hit on my shoulder, I grin. Our conversation gets cut when the bell echoes in the house.

“They must be here,” ammi says, “put on your hijab, I will go check.”

I nod, ammi smiles then leaves. I debate going out and sneaking a peek downstairs but ammi will spot me and give me a scold. I quickly shove that idea back in my head and turn to do my hijab.

“Assalamu Alaikum!” I quickly turn back around at api’s voice and find her step in, wearing beautiful pastel purple trousers and a kurti with light silver embroidery and purple hijab.

We love pastel colors.

“Wale Kum Assalam,” I sign before she engulfs me in a hug.

She pulls away, “you look beautiful, our new bride.” she says with a smile.

I smile back, feeling my cheeks heat up, “thank you,” I sign.

“Aww, look at you. You’re already blushing and you haven’t even met Faizan yet.”

I hit her arm to which she laughs and I sign, “I am not blushing.”

“Mhm, sure.” she says, nodding, “because I’m so stupid and will believe you.” I roll my eyes and place the hijab on my head, “want my help?” I nod and api smiles before she helps me with perfecting my hijab.

Yes, I could do it by myself but why not let my api do it? Who is also the one who taught me various ways to do my hijab and which one suits me the best.

“Done.”

I turn towards the mirror and smile at my sister’s work.

“My baby sis is getting married,” my sister sniffs.

I scrunch and sign, “I am not a baby.”

“Shut up. You’ll always be a baby.”

I’m about to argue but then abbu walks in the room.

“Masha’Allah,” he says, smiling, “my two beautiful daughters.” api and I smile.

“Is Arzo going to come downstairs now?” api asks.

“Yes.”

“Okay then I’ll wait downstairs,” api pecks my cheeks, “I love you.”

“I love you too,” I sign. She smiles then leaves the room.

“Ready, beta?”

I nod and place my dupatta over my shoulder. I wrap my arm around abbu’s and he kisses my forehead.

“Do you have the ring?” I sign.

“Ammi has it, don’t worry.”

I nod then we exit my room to go downstairs.

Light chatter hits our ears as we descend the last stair. The same chatter dies down as we step into the lounge area where everyone is seated.

I force myself not to look at Faizan whose seated on one of the sofa chairs.

I greet everyone and they greet back. Faizan’s mama tells me to sit with her so I take my seat on the sofa between her and api.

“Masha’Allah. You look beautiful.” she says with a warm smile.

I smile and sign, “thank you,” there are few phrases that Faizan’s family understands through my sign language so I don’t always have to type it.

Everyone falls into a light conversation. Faizan talks with his brother and his friend, Farhan- or more specifically, they talk and he just listens. Abbu talks with Adnan uncle while the mothers talk with me and api. Api translates all of my replies so I don’t have to type.

After a while, ammi says, “should we let the kids exchange the rings and make it official?”

“Yes, of course. That’s a great idea.” Soniya's aunt replies and smiles at me.

Api and Faizan exchange seats so he's sitting beside me with a respectful distance while holding the ring. Farhan stands behind the sofa as a moral support for his friend maybe.

Ammi hands me the ring box then I turn towards Faizan with a small smile. The side of his lips lift up as he looks down and opens the ring box revealing a beautiful ring with a huge rock on it which shines even in such bright light.

I try not to stare at the beautiful ring so much and open my box revealing his ring then we exchange the rings with each other and put it on.

Ammi and Soniya Aunty start clapping in excitement while everyone else says congratulations to us.

“It’s official!” Farhan announces, “bhabhi, you can’t run away from him now.”

I let out a silent chuckle at his statement, Faizan looks at him, “what is that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing,” he nervously chuckles, then looks at me, “don’t leave him or he will blame it on me.”

“Ignore him.” Faizan tells me.

“How dare you- okay, I’m tired of standing.” Farhan changes his sentence when Faizan looks at him with a boring stare and goes back to his seat.

Faizan looks at me, “do you like the ring? I can have it changed if you don’t like it.”

I shake my head and sign, “it’s beautiful. I love it.” he nods.

Api makes an “awww” sound earning mine and Faizan’s attention.

“What?” she says, “that was so sweet.”

“I agree,” her husband says, “it is very weird seeing him like that,”

“Zahid!” Soniya Aunty scolds.

“Kidding.” he says.

“Let’s head in the dining area for lunch now,” ammi says then we start to head towards the dining area.

Soniya Aunty, api and I help ammi and the maid bring out all dishes and drinks before we sit down.

“Saeed, can you bring some extra chairs?”

“We’ll bring them, don’t worry.” Faizan suggests.

“No, no, it’s okay-”

“It’s okay, aunty. We insist.” Farhan says then he, Faizan and Zahid bhai leave the room to get extra chairs.

Api scoots closer to me and whispers, “your fiance is winning points from ammi and abbu.” I blink at her and she grins, “isn’t it romantic?”

I roll my eyes and playfully push her away earning a chuckle from her. The men return with the chairs and place them near the table. Api goes to her husband and they take their seat.

“Arzo, you can sit.” Faizan says then steps away from the chair.

I sign, “thank you,” to him then take my seat. He takes his seat beside Adnan uncle.

We recite “Bismillah” before we start eating. The whole table is full with arab and pakistanis dishes to try. The atmosphere is enjoyable and comfortable. Everyone eats together and makes small talk. I try my best not to glance at my fiance.

“You can’t go inside like this!-”

I freeze midway at the maid’s panicked voice and the sound of angry footsteps. Just then Shoaib enters the dining room earning everyone’s attention.

The maid runs in after him and says, “I am so sorry. He wasn’t listening.”

“It’s alright.” ammi says, softly, “go back and finish your food.” the maid nods and leaves.

“What do we have here?” Shoaib asks, “having family dinner without us, chacha?” he makes a ‘tsk’ sound, “never expected you to be this disrespectful.”

“Watch your mouth, Shoaib.” Api snaps.

“You’re not entitled to say anything. You can take your attitude back to your house."

“Who do you think you are to talk to my wife like that?” Zahid bhai says, anger coating his voice.

“No one needs her opinion or presence. You can take her back to your house.”

Api grabs Zahid bhai’s arm when he starts to get up and tells him to sit down.

“Shoaib, go back home.” abbu says, firmly, “we will talk about this later,”

“Why not, now? What’s the special occasion for which you all are dressed up for?-” his eyes land on my engagement ring and his jaw clenches, “I see.”

Shoaib glares at me and my whole body turns frozen from it.

“Who’s the unlucky guy?”

“You pronounced it wrong.” Farhan says, “it’s lucky. L-U-C-K-Y.”

“Who is it?”

“Me.” Faizan says, calmly.

“Of course.” Shoaib looks at me, “you aimed for the money.”

“That’s not true!” I sign and api translates it.

“You got defensive real quick.”

Suddenly, Faizan gets up from his seat, “let’s talk outside, shall we?”

“No need. Shoaib is leaving.” abbu says.

“I wouldn’t mind a talking session.” he says, “And it’s nice to get to know your new family member.”

I look at Faizan but he doesn’t look back at me. He and Shoaib leave the room and soon we hear the front door shut.

Zahid bhai and Farhan exchange a glance before they abruptly stand up making us flinch.

“Excuse us.” Farhan says before he and Zahid bhai rushes outside after the two men.

I bite my lower lip debating what to do then get up from my seat and rush out of the room.

“Arzo, wait!” I hear api call me before she follows me.

We hurry upstairs to my room and pull up the curtains of my window revealing the outside lawn where we find the men standing by Faizan’s car.

Shoaib is talking with a furious face while Faizan stares at him, boringly with his hands tucked in his pocket. I stare at him enough to notice his jaw clenched.

Zahid and Farhan say something in between but it does nothing and Shoaib almost starts yelling.

Suddenly, all men get quiet when Faizan says something. Their heads turn to him slowly, Zahid bhai and Farhan stare at him shockingly while Shoaib glares at him.

He speaks again then after a moment Shoaib makes his way to his car.

“What did he say?” api quietly asks.

After Shoaib car finally leaves the house, Farhan and Zahid bhai release a sigh while Faizan keeps staring at where Shoaib’s car.

He turns back around when Farhan and Zahid bhai start to return inside the house.

“I’m going downstairs.” api tells me and rushes downstairs.

As if feeling my gaze, Faizan looks up and locks eyes with me. His face immediately softens, giving me a different kind of comfort.

“What happened?” I sign.

He shakes his head and lifts his head to sign, “don't worry. Everything is fine.” When I still don't look convinced, he changes the subject, “come downstairs so we can finalize the nikkah date.”

My cheeks suddenly start warming up and he must notice- even from so far away- because the side of his lips turn up.

I nod and he makes his way inside the house. I release a sigh, relaxing myself and pray that nothing bad happens.

More importantly, nothing bad happens to Faizan.