Forever Yours

Chapter 3

3| Nawal

Saturday had come in the blink of an eye and before I knew it, I was standing in front of the mirror, getting ready for my engagement dinner. After mutual agreement yesterday, both sets of parents had decided to have a normal dinner and then the engagement of Ahad and I. I didn't argue because we had to get married anyway, might as well get done with things quicker.

Mama had chosen an emerald green dress for me to wear today to the dinner. It was slightly fancy but nothing over the top, it's not like we were having a proper function for today. Mama and Rauf bhai had also went out and picked an engagement ring for Ahad that I hadn't even seen yet.

My dress was full length with my feet barely showing and had a light golden design on it's sleeves and the dupatta was mesh with a gold lace border. I had bought the dress before because I liked it but didn't think I'd be wearing it on my own engagement. Mama and my best friend, Sarah, had approved my choice. Underneath the dress, I was wearing gold heels and one gold ring in the middle finger of my right hand and a pair of gold and green earrings to go along. My hair were long so I had slightly curled them and clipped some from the front at the back of my head.

I was setting my dupatta on my shoulder when Rauf bhai came in. He didn't have to knock since my door was left wide open.

"Masha Allah. You look very pretty, Nino. All grown up." He kissed the top of my head and gave me his arm which I gladly took and went downstairs with him. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to reach down safely without tripping in these heels.

"Yet you still call me 'Nino' even if I'm grown up."

Bhai was wearing a navy blue suit with a button-down but no tie. Baba had decided to wear black pants with a maroon dress shirt and mama wore a magenta kameez with matching trousers to go along.

Rauf bhai decided to drive and baba sat in the passenger seat next to him while mama sat with me in the back.
I was gazing out the window silently, thinking about how my life will change after tonight. I wasn't getting married yet but I would be a woman engaged to a man I had only seen once, that also in pictures. Yesterday, Rauf bhai had shown me a picture of Ahad. He was very good-looking, like the guys I wrote about. I could only hope he was just as nice as my fictional characters though I doubt he wouldn't be nice since my father had picked him. He would only choose the best for me, I was sure of it.

Earlier today, Sarah had called and given me a pep talk to tone down my nerves. It worked pretty well at that time, now my nerves were just rising. Not bad enough to make me throw up because that had happened several times before on result days and my graduation ceremony.

Somewhere in between the ride to Ahad's place, mama had kept her hand on my shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze to which I smiled to show her that I was okay.

Bhai had parked the car in the driveway of the Iftikhar house and Iftikhar uncle had personally come outside and welcomed us. Ahad was standing with him and to Ahad's left was another man I did not recognize. My bet is that he is Zoha appi's husband, Sameer bhai.

Ahad was wearing a suit like bhai, except his was a darker shade of grey and his dress shirt was black instead of white. The pocket of his jacket had a black handkerchief to go along with the shirt.

Baba and Rauf bhai hugged the men in greeting and they moved aside to let mama and I pass through where we were engulfed in hugs by the three ladies of their house.

We were all taken to their living room where I sat with mama and aunty on my either sides. Zoha Appi was sitting with her husband and Rumaisa while Ahad was with baba and bhai and uncle was sitting on a single sofa next to them. The dinner was still cooking so everyone sat and talked for a while.

Up close and in real life, Ahad was much more handsome than in pictures. I was relieved to know that cameras did not only play me, but with everyone else too.

At the end of the conversation, before dinner, I had absorbed that Ahad had recently shifted into a house of his own which wasn't very far. Zoha Appi was expecting though it definitely didn't look like, most likely because of how loose her dress was, concealing the shape of her figure. Rumaisa was a year younger than me and Ahad was a year older than bhai and that back in college, baba and uncle had jokingly said that they'd get their children married to each other, not knowing that it would actually happen. Well, whatever happens, happens for the best.

About half a hour later, the dinner was set up and we all moved to the table. The elders insisted that Ahad and I sit next to each other so on my left was Ahad while on my right was Rumaisa. Mama, baba and bhai were on the opposite side of the table.

"You went all out. This is a grand dinner!" Baba complimented.

"It's the engagement dinner of our only son, it has to be grand." Instinctively, I looked over at Ahad who was looking at his father, completely unaware of my eyes on him.

Rehana aunty told us that most of the food was cooked by her with the assistance of Rumaisa and the salad and dips were made by their maid. She even told us how she had a passion for cooking and loved to cook for her loved ones whenever she was given the chance to.

The ladies got up and cleared out the dining table and mama and I helped them out despite their protests against it. The coffee table in the living room was emptied out with a chocolate cake sitting in the middle with white icing that read 'Nawal & Ahad' and two ring boxes sat on either sides of the cake where Ahad sat on the sofa in front of the coffee table and everyone else around it.

Zoha Appi came and guided me into the sofa next to her brother. Rehana aunty opened the ring box that sat on Ahad's side of the table and he gently took out the delicate diamond ring. The ring was silver, lined with small diamonds and a big yet elegant diamond was placed in the middle. He spread out his hand and I placed mine in his where he slid the ring on the right finger.

Next, mama came and handed me the ring she purchased for Ahad which was twice the width of my ring and small stones encrusted all over it at a distance from each other. We hadn't separated our hands so I took his ring finger in my hand and slid the ring on with ease. At least, both rings were the correct size.

"Nawal, Ahad, cut the cake now." Rehana aunty said with a big smile as I reached forward to hold the knife. Ahad placed his giant hand on top of mine and we cut the cake together while everyone else clapped. Rauf bhai and Sameer bhai hooted as well which made everyone laugh. I noticed how deep Ahad's laugh was which just made me smile like a crazy fangirl.

Bhai took a few photos of us together then a few selfies of the entire family. Rumaisa even tried to smear some of the icing from the cake on Ahad's face but he kept moving around the entire time which resulted in the icing getting smeared on my face instead and I let out an over dramatic gasp to which everyone else chuckled. Zoha Appi, not wanting to miss out on all the fun, came sneaking from Ahad's side and did what Rumaisa failed to do– put icing on his face, except she put a lot more than what Rumaisa was trying to put on and I failed to stifle a laugh when I looked at his face and he glared at his two sisters.

Despite the nerves eating me alive before the dinner, the night turned out to be beautiful and one no one will ever forget.

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(A.N): And they meet! Drop your thoughts in the comments ♥