The house buzzed with excitement. My sisters twirled in front of the mirror, trying on dresses, their laughter filling the air. My mother sat cross-legged on the sofa, flipping through catalogs of engagement gowns, her phone lighting up with texts from relatives eager for details.
And Muk—Muk was thrilled.
This should have been the happiest time of my life. The planning, the attention, the excitement—wasn’t this what every bride-to-be dreamed of? But beneath the surface of the laughter and joy, a tight knot of unease twisted in my stomach. Something about this engagement, about this whole process, felt *wrong*.
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In Middle Eastern culture, the traditions are clear: the groom’s family is responsible for covering the engagement party, the wedding reception, the bride’s dress, and he
