The Perfect Union

Chapter 13 - Time has flown by

Aliyahs POV

I looked up at the clock at work. 12.45pm. Just before my last ever lunch at work. It was Friday and today was my leaving day so not much work was being done. I had just finished doing my daily check list of weddings things that needed doing. I couldnt believe it. This time next week I would be officially married. The last four months had just flown by.

I still remember that sunday afternoon in november when Ahmed and hes family had come down. It was a crazy day, my parents had told them that I had accepted the proposal. I didnt realise everything would happen so fast. Ahmeds mum wanted a christmas wedding but we decided against it seeing Samaa and Samira were so heavily pregnant. Taking that into account we settled on an Easter wedding instead.

During then and now it had been crazy planning the wedding as well as having the arrivals of the two beautiful bondle of joys into this world. Samaa had a baby boy at the begining of December who she called Mohammed. Samira gave birth to my beautiful niece Suhana, everybody said she looked just like me.

These were the only two occasions when I had seen Ahmed too, once when I went to london to see Samaa and when hes family came to see Samira and Suhana. I still didnt know how I felt about him. I hardly knew him to have any romantic feelings for sure but there was some thing there but I didnt know what.

Either way we are getting married in one week. I thought to myself.

'Come on bride to be....its time for your work hen party. Time to get you all dolled up.' Amy said with a glint in her eye and a mischeivious smirk on her face.

'Oh no' I groaned thinking why had i agreed to this. I had decided against having the now traditional asian/english hen parties because most of my closest friends were married with kids. Instead I promised my work mates that we could have a small work lunch party instead.

Another reason was that my sisters had badgered me into having a mehndi party which was more cultural then religious. To be honest I didnt want any frivilous cultural functions that had no religious reasoning to them however my sisters had convinced me by saying it would be like an unofficial hen party with all my friends.

It was one hour later when we were still sitting in the indian restaurent just down the road from work with me wearing a crazy bride to be banner, crown and badge. Yup I had finally given in, you only get married once dont you.

Hometime

As I said bye to everyone in the office, the feeling of bitter sweet emotions swept over me. I was sad to be leaving, I had worked there for 3 years and really loved my job. At the sametime I was happy and excited just thinking about the next chapter of my life that was going to be starting soon. As soon as I thought that a quick pray escaped my lips, I prayed again for guidance and for Allah SWT to make it easy for me. With that I would just feel all my worries wash away.

I had too many presents and bags so couldnt get the bus home, instead I had managed to emotionally blackmail Haider into picking me up.

'Asalaam Alaikum' he said opening the door for me 'looks like you got a good haul there. Wow if I knew you got so many presents and special treatment from getting married Id get married tomorrow' he said jokingly as he put all the bags in the boots.

'Walaikum Asalaam big bro. Wow your way of thinking amazes me. You sound like such a gold digger.' I joked.

'Talking about gold. Mum and dad went to pick up your gold. Seriously the amount of money they spent its crazy. And all your clothes and other stupid things. I mean whats with the whole bedroom furniture?? Im sure Ahmeds got a perfectly fine furniture in hes house' he said with a confused look on hes face.

'Dont worry bro Im sure when your wife comes she will bring all this stuff with her too. To be honest i wish mum and dad hadnt brought so much stuff. I mean Ahmeds mum has said not to on countless occasions but she cant exactly stop mum and dad, they are only giving me all this stuff out of love. All I really need is duas'.

'Dont worry Aliyah. Trust me you will be fine. I have got to know him quite well. Ahmed is a good decent guy and Im sure he will look after you'.

I hope so I thought to myself as a plastered a smile on my face for my brothers sake.

Ahmeds POV

Just one more day I thought to myself as I sat there as my mum showed me yet more things they had brought for the wedding. This wedding was getting more and more complicated by the day. But I didnt care anymore. Tomorrow was the Nikah and two days later I would be bringing Aliyah home with me.

It was thursday afternoon and my mum was sorting out the things we would need for tomorrow. We had decided to drive down this evening and stay at Fatz house. This would make things so much easier for tomorrow. Firstly the Nikah was before Jummah and had we stayed in London we would have to leave very early. Secondly most of my close family who were invited for the nikah lived up north anyway, it would be easier for them to travel to Birmingham too.

There was one last thing I had to do before we left and with that thought I went looking for Aaminah.

Aliyahs POV

I sat down quite content. For someone who was getting married tomorrow i couldnt believe I was not freaking out. But thanks to my amazing organisational skills and even more amazing family and friends everything was ready.

I was quite enjoying my mehndi/hen party. Surrounded by friends and family who truely loved me made me feel blessed. The party was in full swing. My hand mehndi had been finished and was beginning to dry. The mehndi artist was just having something to eat before she started on my feet.

Although I liked the elegance of keeping things simple, mehndi was the one thing I was going all out on. After the food it had been decided there would be some singing and dancing. Although that wasnt exactly islamically allowed seeing as there were just girls here I thought i would endulge my sisters this once.

Just as I was wondering where Aaminah was I looked down and saw that she was ringing me. I smiled. Over the last 4 months I had built such a firm and beautiful relationship with both Baji Fatima and Aaminah.

I picked up the phone, carefully answering the phone while holding it between my ear and shoulder.

'Asalaam Alaikum Girly. Its already 8.30pm and the party is in full swing. I thought you would have reached brum by now. Dont tell me you are changing sides just before the wedding. Remember your my lickle sis now. Team Aliyah all the way' I said jokingly trying to get up as it was too loud to hear anything.

I heard someone clear there voice on the other side. Its only then that I realised it wasnt Aaminah on the phone but someone else.

'Ahmed?' I asked quitely walking out of the room as I didnt want anyone to hear me.

'Asalaam Alaikum. Sorry Im guessing this is a bad time, I thought......just give me a second' he said.

'Sure' I said walking back into the room.

I called my cousin Hafsa and saw Samaa looking at me enquiringly. I mouthed to her that it was Ahmed. She couldnt contain her excitement but I shot her a look that said keep quiet.

I quickly went to my room whilst hafsa carried my phone. Once there I sat on the bed and told her to put the phone on speaker and leave.

Just as she walked out the room I heard abit of the conversation on the other side of the phone.

'I told you to text her and let her know I would call' Ahmed said quitely trying to make sure I didnt hear.

'Ooops well I forgot.....anyway surprises are nice' I heard Aaminah say teasingly.

'Well heres a surprise how about no mehndi party for you'

'It was a joke. Im telling mum' Aaminah cried.

'Im kidding now go away' Ahmed said jokingly.

'Lets start again. Asalaam Alaikum.Sorry about that I told Aaminah to text you to say I was going to call but she .....erm.. conveniently forgot. Do you have 5 minutes? He asked.

'Walaikum Asalaam. Its no problem. So you wanted to talk??' I asked still amused by the sister/brother convo I had just over heard.

'Why do u sound so far away. Aaminahs phone is so rubbish. Yeah I just wanted to ask something. Ermm how are you? Hows everyone and everything at your end?' He asked nervously.

'Well apart from being completely covered in Mehndi right now Im great Alhamdulillah. Thats why I sound so far away I have got you on loudspeaker as I cant hold the phone. Anyway yeah everyone and everything is fine too Alhamdulillah. What about you and your family. All good I hope Inshah Allah.'I asked and then added teasingly 'Im just abit surprised with the call. Not getting cold feet are we'.

The words were out of my mouth before I could think but as soon as I said them I wanted to take them back. What if he was getting cold feet. What if after everything he didnt want to marry me and was having second thoughts. Since the very beginning I knew it was too good to be true. He was like this amazingly perfect guy. Why would he want to marry me. All these questions that I had firmly shut away in a deep dark corner of my brain starting filling my head. It was only a few seconds after that he replied but in that few seconds I had driven myself crazy with worry. But there was no need at all.

He laughed. It was one of those genuine laughs. The sound of hes voice was all it took to calm me down.

'That was going to be my question...but guessing with all that you have just said now I realise there was no need to ask it at all. In answer to everything you asked Alhamdulillah everyone and everything is fantastic. As for myself I cant remember the last time I was this good. And finally cold feet let me think about that.....it is abit colder in Birmingham than London so you could say my feet are abit colder but Im sure by tomorrow they would have fully acclimatised.' He said jokingly. I laughed with him thinking I didnt realise it would be so easy to talk to him.

'Now that I have got that out of my system Ill let you get back to your mehndi party and I have a boys game of football to go join. See you tomorrow Inshah Allah. Allah Hafiz.'

'Yeah sure. Enjoy the football game. Allah Hafiz.' I said then ended the call.

For a few seconds I just sat there getting rid of the last nasty thoughts that had entered my head. I knew I said I didnt want to talk to him again before we were officially married but a small part of me was so happy he had called.

I was lost in my thoughts and only when the door rang did I snap out of them. Then I heard rabz running up the stairs.

'Come on bridey, your sister in laws are here.' With that I got up and went to rejoin my mehndi party.

Ahmeds POV

Khuram left the room telling me we would be heading to the park in 10 minutes. As a sort of stag do well as islamic a stag do as possible the boys in my family had decided on a game of footy against some guys from Aliyahs family then a bite to eat to celebrate my last night as a single man.

Thinking this would be the only time I would have to myself tonight i decided it was finally time to make the call.

I picked up Aaminahs phone and found Aliyahs number. For two seconds I was blown away by her contact pic. Telling myself to hurry up and call I pressed the button.

She answered after the third ring. It was very loud in the background.

'Asalaam Alaikum Girly. Its already 8.30pm and the party is in full swing. I thought you would have reached brum by now. Dont tell me you are changing sides just before the wedding. Remember your my lickle sis now. Team Aliyah all the way'she said....wait she thought I was Aaminah.

Aaminah hadnt told her I was going to call. Wait til I get my hands on her I thought. What should I do. I just did the one thing i could do. I cleared my throat to let her know it wasnt Aaminah.

'Ahmed' she said my name so quietly but I could still hear the surprise in it. The way she said my name, I was nearly lost in another daydream but told myself this wasnt the time.

'Asalaam Alaikum. Sorry Im guessing this is a bad time, I thought......just give me a second' I told her as I went in search of my naughty little sister.

She said sure and I could hear her waiting patiently on the phone.

When I found Aaminah she was laughing her head off thinking it was hilarious. We spent a few minutes where I told her I wasnt happy with what she did. Finally I thought I better get back and explain to Aliyah.

I looked at the screen. Damn I thought I had put the mute on. Oh well time to face the music.

'Lets start again. Asalaam Alaikum.Sorry about that I told Aaminah to text you to say I was going to call but she .....erm.. conveniently forgot. Do you have 5 minutes? I asked.

'Walaikum Asalaam. Its no problem. So you wanted to talk??' I could hear the amusement in her voice. Yup she had heard everything.

'Why do u sound so far away. Aaminahs phone is so rubbish. Yeah I just wanted to ask something. Ermm how are you? Hows everyone and everything at your end?' I asked trying to mask the nervousness in my voice.

'Well apart from being completely covered in Mehndi right now Im great Alhamdulillan. Thats why i sound so far away I have got you on loudspeaker as I cant hold the phone. Anyway yeah everyone and eveeything is fine too Alhamdulillah. What about you and your family. All good I hope Inshah Allah.'oh Im so stupid of course she is having her mehndi done today how is she supposed to hold her phone I told myself 'Im just abit surprised with the call. Not getting cold feet are we'.

She said that last bit with abit of a laugh but what followed was an uncomfortable silence. Did she really mean that as a joke or was she trying to tell me something.

No it was just a joke I told myself and decided to carry on with the joke.

Laughing I added 'That was going to be my question...but guessing with all that you have just said now I realise there was no need to ask it at all. In answer to everything you asked Alhamdulillah everyone and everything is fantastic. As for myself I cant remember the last time I was this good. And finally cold feet let me think about that.....it is abit colder in Birmingham than London so you could say my feet are abit colder but Im sure by tomorrow they would have fully acclimatised.' I heard her laugh at my joke. That laugh I thought.........

I heard Khuram call my name so decided to finish the call.

'Now that I have got that out of my system Ill let you get back to your mehndi party and I have a boys game of football to go join. See you tomorrow Inshah Allah. Allah Hafiz.' I said.

'Yeah sure. Enjoy the football game. Allah Hafiz.' She said as she ended the call.

It was only when Aaminah came to get her phone a few minutes later did I remember that Khuram had called me. Feeling on top of the world I left the house to go play some football.