Written In The Stars

Officially Yours

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Anaya

I watched as the mehendi artist adorned my hands and forearms with mehendi (henna), almost up to my elbows. It was the night before the Big Day, and I was nervous.

"...Kasani dupattay waliye, munda sadqe tere te..." The girls around me were singing.

*"The girl with the lilac dupatta, the guy is crazy about you." It's an old traditional wedding song. I love this one.

Kiran was amongst them, truly enjoying the music and liveliness of this festive household, as was Sumbal.

"Last night as Miss Anaya Yasir." One of my cousins teased me as she passed me by. 

I swallowed hard. It is hard to describe the feelings of a bride. While it's exciting, the main emotions are nervousness and anxiety. I know that I will still have some months, maybe more with my parents, until the paperwork comes through, but I will be a married girl after tomorrow. Everything will change. Faiz will have the first right over me, and vice versa. It was all a bit overwhelming.

Ammi and Chachi were running around, being good hosts to our guests. Baba Jaan and Chachu were outside with the males.

Suddenly, Saleem rushed inside and said, "Gul Aunty is here with one of her daughters!" 

My eyes widened. Why hadn't anyone told me that she was coming? I looked like a slob, with my messy braid and the plain shalwar kameez suit. "Ammi!" 

My mother looked at me, absent-mindedly.

"Please adjust the dupatta over my head. I look horrible!" I told her.

"Faiz Bhai drove them over, and he's outside with Baba Jaan and Taya Jaan right now." Saleem grinned cheekily at me.

Faiz is here? I began to panic.

Ammi adjusted my dupatta as Chachi went out to greet my future Saas and Nand. When my mother followed her out, my heartbeat increased and I felt even more nervous now.

"Husband-to-be is here, apparently?" Kiran had overheard Saleem, and came over to me to tease me.

"Stay by my side, Kiran. Don't you dare move!" I warned her. "I'm nervous." 

My mother and aunt returned with my soon-to-be mother-in-law and sister-in-law. 

"Assalam Alaikum." I greeted them, my gaze lowered like a typical shy bride.

"Walaikum Assalam!" Gul Aunty reached down and kissed the top of my head. "Ma Sha Allah! Our Bahu looks very beautiful." She held out her hand towards her daughter, who handed her a wad of cash. Aunty waved the cash around in circles over my head, to ward off evil eye, and returned it to her daughter. "Beta, tell Waqas or Faiz to drop it off at the mosque for her sadqah."

A sadqah is given to ward off evil eye, or for good health of a person. 

"Yes, Mamma." The girl turned to me. She had a round face, with curly light brown hair and dark brown eyes. She was clearly pregnant, and I guessed that this was Rida, the second eldest Jamshed sibling. "I'm Rida, second in line." She confirmed.