Please see Author's Note at the end (:
#Chapter Thirty Seven#
"So it's settled then? Two months until the nikah and then another three months until the wedding?" baba confirmed with everyone in the room and we all nodded.
"I think that sounds perfect," khalto said excitedly, clapping her hands together.
"And you are happy with this final decision?" baba asked Tariq and I.
"Yes we are," Tariq answered for the both of us and I nodded along with him.
For the last two hours we had all been discussing the best time for us to carry through with the nikah and wedding and I had to admit that I was quite happy with the end result. Usually something would pop up or coincidentally be in the way but this time, it was like Allah was paving the way for us.
Two months was the perfect amount of time to plan the nikah, which I would most likely do in a nice hall. It would be small just like the fatiha, with only close family and friends attending. However, I still needed time to ensure everything looked pretty and I had my dress. The next thing that I had to take into account was the media. Baba had advised that we pick one person from each media outlet and they would have approval to come and take photos of Tariq and I for a maximum of half an hour before they'd be dismissed.
If it were up to all of us, we wouldn't want them there at all but we had to accept that the media plays a big part in our life and instead of brushing them off - which usually resulted in more violence anyway - we might as well work with them to make things easier.
Hopefully, this way, we wouldn't be bombarded with a hundred people from the same outlet trying to photograph us. It was an attempt to keep things under control and I prayed that on the day it did work.
Three months from the day of our nikah to the wedding gave Tariq and I a lot of time to get comfortable with each other before the big day. Personally, I didn't quite like the idea of signing the marriage contract and then having the wedding soon after. It was too much of a jump when it came to both communication and intimacies. One second you can't touch or say anything out of line and the next, bam, you're married and living together.
The concept didn't sit well with me and I was happy that Tariq had acknowledged and agreed with my thoughts when I voiced them. He also believed that these three months would allow us to grow, communicate and learn about each other more intimately and that when time for marriage and living with each other did come, it wouldn't be a major shock or transition.
Our two week holiday for our honeymoon would lead us into the new year as we were now past the halfway mark, and once we returned, we would have a complete month before Ramadan started.
So it seemed, that everything was working in our favour.
So far.
Alhamdulillah.
I let out a breath of air as I leaned back against the couch, relieved that we had finally spoken about this.
I was in my own little world for a while, just contemplating and envisioning the future, when I was broken from my reverie by baba standing up.
He asked 'amu and khalto to follow him outside because he wanted to show them something. A few seconds later Ziad and Sarah went to check on a crying Abir and Lia left to make us all some tea to wind down with.
That left only Tariq, Elisa, Samir and I in the living room.
"So what's new Elisa?" She was awfully quiet tonight.
She had her arms crossed over her chest and was staring at the floor but when she heard her name, she looked up with a frown. When she realised I was talking to her it was replaced with a hesitant smile.
"Not much to be honest," she answered with a shrug of the shoulders. "Just studying I guess."
"Oh yeah, how did that writing competition go?" Elisa was majoring in linguistics with a speciality in both Arabic and English.
"It was good...fun, y'know." I raised one eyebrow at her curt response and withdrawn body language. I could instantly tell that something was bothering her.
"She won the competition," Tariq said happily, nudging her knee. "Tell them."
Her frown returned. "I was tied with someone else," she said bitterly, crossing one leg over the other and swinging it nonchalantly.
"But you were both still first. That's pretty good, isn't it Sameena?" Tariq asked, turning to face me.
"Of course that's amazing. You came first in a national competition!"
She shrugged again. "Not like it matters."
"Why?" Tariq asked and she instantly turned accusing eyes on him.
"You know why," she spat.
OK, either Tariq messed up real bad or Elisa hasn't had her daily dosage of caffeine.
Samir seemed uncomfortable with the whole situation so he swiftly got up and sent me a 'I'll be back when it's less awkward' look. I mentally shook my head.
Tariq ran a hand through his hair and exhaled tiredly, as if he was about to do something he's already done a hundred times.
"I don't understand why you're still upset," he said, trying to make eye contact with his sister, but she was determined to look away.
"I think you do."
"No, I really don't. I've explained my point of view multiple times already." She didn't reply but kept her eyes glued to the wall and her chin lifted up defiantly. I wanted to laugh because I saw a lot of myself in her right now. Instead I remained silent as the two siblings in front of me talked about...well actually I was yet to find out what they were talking about.
Tariq sighed in defeat and looked towards me with a 'what do I do now?' expression.
I decided I'd help the fella out.
"Elisa, why are you upset? Wanna talk to me about it?" I asked gently.
She stared at me for a few seconds then she suddenly sat up straighter. "No you know what, this is good. Let's ask Sameena what she thinks of all this."
Tariq ran a hand down his face and groaned.
"What's going on with you two?"
"As part of my university course, it's highly recommended - and when I say recommended, I mean you better do it or no one will even think of hiring you - that you study abroad and work in a country that specialises in your language. We already speak Arabic here and since my second language is English, any English-speaking country would be ideal to travel to," she explained.
I nodded my head. "OK, makes sense. So what's the problem?"
"The problem," she began, looking at Tariq icily, "is that my parents aren't allowing me to travel."
"Oh."
"When I asked them they immediately said no and didn't even spare it a thought. So I thought hey, I'll get Tariq to speak to them because apparently he's the only voice of reason between the both of us. I asked him if he would help me convince the parents to let me go and you know what he said?!"
My eyes flickered to Tariq who was shaking his head at his little sister.
"What?"
"He said he agreed with the decision of the parents!" she exclaimed in outrage, throwing her hands up in the air and falling back against the couch with a huff.
"Hmm." One look at Tariq's face and I knew he had had this conversation one too many times. Elisa was exuding anger and annoyance but it was clear as day that she was really upset over this. I couldn't help but feel like she was being a little too hostile towards her brother thought. "Would you be travelling alone?"
She shook her head. "No, I'd be with five other girls plus a teacher!"
"But you'll still be far from home. With no protection, might I add," Tariq said calmly.
"Really, what do I need protection from when I'm with six other adults?"
He lifted an eyebrow. "Ah, a lot of things. Men in general, drug abusers, rape, kidnapping, prostitution, the list goes on..."
"I'll choose a safe area, somewhere where all that doesn't happen," she reasoned and I could tell she still hadn't given up hope over this.
"There's still always a risk..." he trailed off.
Elisa closed her eyes and clenched her fists. "You know what, I can't do this anymore."
"OK you two, just calm down for a second," I said, putting up two hands. "Elisa, look at me." Reluctantly, she pulled her eyes away from the wall. "How long would you be going for?"
"One month."
"And what will you be doing there?"
"We have to spend the month working in a school, disability clinic, learning centre or anything of the likes and teach the required language as well as observe how it's taught in mainstream classrooms," she explained.
"The whole time?"
She nodded. "It's like a day job except we're not getting paid for it. Of course at night we might go shopping and sightseeing, I mean we're travelling after all, but that's the limit to the things we'd do!"
"And this teacher of yours is a woman?" She nodded again. "And she'll be with you all the time?"
"Yes!"
I glanced at Tariq. "And your only objection is her safety?"
"Well...yeah." He suddenly looked like a lost puppy and I wanted to 'aww' at his adorable expression.
"Honestly Tariq, this trip doesn't sound too bad, both in regards to safety and learning. I think it will be a very good experience for her and really, a month isn't too long."
He rested his elbows on his knees and leaned forward in thought. "I don't know..."
"Pleaseeee Tariq," Elisa begged, sounding twelve instead of twenty. "I promise I'll be safe all the time and you can even help me choose the location."
Even I had to hold my breath as I waited for his response.
He took one more look at her pleading expression.
"Fine."
"Yes!" She squealed and launched herself onto him for a hug and I chuckled at the scene. "Thank you, thank you!"
"Woah, woah, I still have to convince the parents OK? I don't want you to get your hopes up for nothing," he said seriously, although he was smiling down at her as she locked her arms around his waist.
"I know you'll convince them, you've always been the best persuader in the family!"
"It's cause he's a doc," I pitched in. "He has to convince people to take drugs everyday." I grinned at him.
"You make me sound like a dealer," he joked.
"I need to learn how to become a good persuader asap," Elisa mumbled.
"Why?"
"Well...you'll be leaving the house soon, then I'll have no one to help me against the parents. Who'll help me convince mum that chocolate is good for you at one am? Or 'no dad, that boy who just looked at me doesn't want to get married'."
"It's pretty easy," he said, ruffling her hijab like he always did. "You just call me up and help will be on the way."
A loving smile played on my lips as I watched the two of them converse with each other. I didn't even care that they had momentarily forgotten I was sitting across from them. They were just too cute and I couldn't help but note that if Tariq treated his sister so affectionately, then I had nothing to worry about.
"Where is everyone?" Lia asked, walking in with a large tray of cups and placing them on the table.
"They all kind of disappeared. They'll be back."
"Can someone help me bring up the tea and mud cake?"
"Of-,"
"Ooh mudcake! I will!" Elisa said, jumping up and following Lia out of the door before I could even offer.
Tariq chuckled as he watched his sister bounce her way out.
"I think she's going to miss you a lot."
"Yeah, I'll miss her too. I guess when there's only two of you, you become very close."
"Yeah I get it. When Ziad got married they decided to live here instead of getting their own house so it didn't feel like there was a big change and Samir had been overseas for a long time before that. But now, I'll be the one moving out and I think it'll hit everyone pretty hard."
"I guess it's inevitable right?" I nodded my head thoughtfully. "So..." Tariq started, breaking the silence that had developed. "It's your birthday soon. Am I allowed to get you a gift?"
I blushed a little under his roaming eyes. "Well...depends," I replied cheekily. "There's a list of things a girl just can't resist."
"So what if I showed up on your doorstep empty handed?"
"Mhmm, well I wouldn't be disappointed."
"How come?"
"Let's just say one thing on that list would be there," I said, speaking on the spur of the moment. His grey eyes lit up as he picked up on the underlying meaning. He chuckled and then glanced at the floor shyly and I felt victorious for once as I made him feel embarrassed.
Let's just say that it was becoming increasingly hard not to flirt.
The struggle was so real.
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A/N
Salam dear readers! I have two points that I would reallly like your feedback on and that would help me a lot! I love getting the opinions of my readers as I feel like it really helps with my writing and story as a whole. It always gives me a more holistic perspective.
1. How do you think the story is developing so far? Is it too fast/slow? Is there anything that's annoying you? Anything you love? And where would you like the story to go from here? Do you want me to fast track to the nikah (high likely) or would you prefer me to build upon the relationship between them a little more?
TELL ME!
2. I want to enter this story into The Wattys, even though there's a very small chance that I will win. Do you guys think I should and if so, would you be willing to help out (through votes, comments, follows and promoting the story)?
Do let me know what you think I would highly appreciate it :)
JazakAllahu khair and thanks!