Negina | ✔️

Chapter ten: "I've heard so many stories about love after nikah."

Hey baby, I think I wanna marry you
-Bruno Mars
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"Negina, this is the room you'll be staying in." Fereshta says opening a big wooden door that leads to a room, about the same size as her own. Negina thanks Fereshta and minutes later she's left alone in the room.

Negina takes a few minutes to look at her makeup in the mirror. Realizing that Khalid is right, she is ugly. Looking down at her clothes; a simple military style sweatshirt with a pair of black skinny jeans. Negina realizes how boring her style is compared to her new relatives. A few tears run down her cheeks and splash onto the painted wood vanity table.

Even though the door to Negina's room was open she hears a knock on it. Turning around on the chair Negina sees Khalid at the door. "May I come in."

"Yeah, it's your house there's no need to ask me." Negina replied as she quickly wipes off her tears.

Khalid's hand is holding tightly on his neck, nervously. "About what happened in the car-"

"Listen. It's alright." Negina promises getting up from the vanity chair and instead siting on her bed.

"It's not alright, I shouldn't have been such a douche to you." He says torturing himself. "To be honest you're beautiful in your own way."

Negina is stunned by Khalid's confession towards her. Not knowing what to reply back to him when Khalid takes the chance and sits on the bed beside her. "You know, we should at least try to get along instead of fighting."

"Yeah, I guess your right." Khalid breathes. The silence fulfills the room. Not just any silence, but uncomfortable silence. Standing up Khalid offers Negina to go downstairs and do something.

"Sure," Negina agrees. Side by side they go down the long stairs to the living room where there's games set out everywhere on the table.

As Negina soon found out, this family has family nights. Many games are played during that night, and they all stay awake until early dawn.

"First game is called the laughing game." Fereshta explains to Negina. As Negina listens to Fereshta explain the rules of the game, she soon catches onto the theme.

Everyone gets seated around in a circle. Players take turns to say "Ha","Ho", or "Hee". Anyone who starts laughing is knocked out of the game. And they keep going until everyone's out. The person who keeps their face straight the longest wins and gets a prize.

Everyone is soon seated in a circle; Fereshta, Fereshta'a mom, Fereshta'a dad, Ameena, Mansoor, Khalid, and Negina.

Khalid's dad starts off by saying "Hee." His mother says the same thing and it goes around the circle two times before Mansoor attempts to say "Ho" but it ended up louder than it should, so it caused khala to giggle.

They go around the circle saying the three different catch phrases until only three people are left. Mansoor, Khalid, and Negina.

"Hey Mansoor, your a ho."  Khalid jokes which causes Mansoor to burst out laughing. He scoots back from the circle leaving Khalid and Negina facing each other.

"Hee." Khalid says lamely.

"Ho," Negina continues.

"Ha," Khalid says. It goes on for a few more minutes before Negina raises her voice yelling, "HA!" Leaving Khalid in a surprised looking grin. Realizing that he lost the game, he frowns.