She Is My Hayaat

Chapter 8: Diamonds and Rose Gold

Happy OCTOBER!

It had been a week since our date, and tomorrow I was getting engaged to him. I worked till seven in the morning and though I was tired and groggy, I helped Mama with the preparations around the house. Sabr hadn't been to school for over two weeks since the weather had not loosened and the snow was still building up. Bhabi had work till five today and Bhaiya had a full day of work.

Mama had been in the kitchen for what seemed like the past three days. It was going to be us, their family, my Khala and Khalu who were driving from Cape Cod, Izhar's Chacha and Phuppo, his best friend Adam, and Anam. I hadn't met Adam, but from what Izhar had told me, they were best friends. Izhar was older by two years, and they had known each other since they were kids just like Anam and me.

I had vacuumed, wiped the furniture, and bought fresh flowers to put around the house. Mama rarely trusted me to buy flowers since I really loved them and usually ended up buying more than she wanted. As I took the white peonies and blush pink roses out of the plastic covering, Sabr walked into the kitchen, her hair a mess and glasses askew. She slumped into one of the bar stools and put her head down on the black countertop.

"Hey, what's wrong with you?" I asked over the vase.

"I'm so tired," she complained.

"Says the person whose not getting engaged tomorrow," Mama chortled.

I cut the tips of the roses and filled the vase with cold water, "Mama, please don't keep reminding me."

"Well you better start believing it, because it's going to happen soon insha'Allah," Mama said back.

I poured in the powder that came with the flowers and placed them in the vase. I knew it was happening, but it hadn't fully hit me. After the rings were exchanged, both of the families were going to talk about the wedding preparations.

"Mama, how much time should we assume we have left before the Nikah?" Sabr asked.

I kept working on my flowers, perfecting their position when Mama chirped,"Well, they want to have it as soon as possible. If it had been their way, Izhar and Nouran would be married tomorrow not engaged. But Adeel and I told them we'd need time to prepare, so a month I'd say the least."

I stopped midway and looked at Sabr. She nodded her head assuringly, "Mama, a month? How are we going to get everything ready?"

"Maybe we could get some more time?" I said quietly.

"No, we agreed on at least a month. I don't like long engagements. It doesn't allow you two to get to know each other. Insha'Allah we'll be fine. And Izhar beta, can hardly wait," Mama teased.

I placed the vase on the glass table in the living room and I could hear Sabr quietly talking to Mama, "What if Appi isn't ready Mama jaan? We can't just throw her into this! And what if she has only a month to prepare herself? It's not like her and Izhar Bhaiya will talk or go out in that time period."

I lingered in the living room, not wanting to eavesdrop nor wanting to walk in on them. "Sabr, she'll get used to it slowly over time. And they can still talk to each other and go out. They just need someone their like last week," Mama said cautiously.

"Mama, it isn't the same. This is an arranged marriage! He might be falling for Appi but she needs time," Sabr said angrily.

"Sabr enough! I know my daughter, she is strong. She's going to be fine insha'Allah!" Mama said upset.

Before anything else could happen or any other words were exchanged I walked into the kitchen, "Sabr, come upstairs with me? I want you to help me choose my outfit for tomorrow."