The Perfect Union

Chapter 3 - The First Meeting

Aliyah’s POV

All three of us waited about 10 seconds before we burst out laughing.

'Oh my god, that was so embarrassing. He must think we are so crazy. We have guests in the house and we are all hiding in the kitchen. We better get the dishes ready or mum will think we have gone AWOL' I said still giggling.

It was only after about 10 seconds when I realised that Sam and Rabs were staring at me as if I was an alien. 'What' I said looking at them all confused.

'You just saw your, maybe husband-to-be for the first time and the only thing you're worried about is looking like a bad host. Seriously Aly sometimes I wonder if you are a girl. I mean if that was me I would be enjoying the moment, you know how this is the first time you have seen him. I mean what did you think' Sam said.

'I didn't think anything, now are you guys just going to stand there or help me get the dining room ready' I said picking up the dishes and walking out the room.

Little did my sisters know that I may have pretended like I didn't care but right now my heart was beating so hard I thought it would burst out of my chest.

This was the first time I had actually seen him. I mean Samaa had given me a description and urged me to look at her wedding photographs again, but in the pretext of not being interested, I had refused. I was leaving everything to Allah SWT. I didn't need to see him to decide if he was right for me as long as he was a good person like everyone kept telling me that was that was enough.

I knew better than anyone that just because someone was beautiful on the outside it didn't mean they had a good heart. I quickly shook myself to get the thoughts of the past out of my head. This wasn't the time to think about Raihaan.

Before I knew it, everything was set up in the dining room and it was time for the guests to be called in. Just as I was about to leave the room I heard the men approaching.

In walked my dad followed by another elderly gentleman who I assumed was Ahmed's dad. 'Asalaam Alaikum Uncle jee' I said hoping to quickly escape.

'This my eldest daughter Aliyah' my dad said.

'Walaikum Asalaam' said Ahmed's dad as I slightly bowed my head so that he could put his hand on my head as a way of giving blessings. 'Mashah Allah have you prepared all this food. It smells delicious' he said.

'But I don't want rice I want trifle. I want trifle now' I heard a voice behind uncle. I realised this must be Ahmed's youngest brother Ali. Fatima had told me all about her youngest brother who had learning difficulties.

'Beta' uncle said 'what have I told you. You eat all your dinner then you can have desert'. Uncle turned to my dad 'I'm sorry Ali normally behaves well but sometimes in new surroundings he gets anxious very easily'.

'Would it be OK if I spoke to him Uncle' I asked. 'Sure why not. But please accept my apologies in advanced. Sometimes he doesn't realise what he is saying and can easily offend people'

'You don't need to apologise. He is like my younger brother nothing he will say will offend me.' I told him.

My dad and uncle went to take their seats and started discussing Pakistan politics. I turned towards Ali and was quite annoyed as I had a bit of an audience. Haider and Ahmed were standing behind Ali trying to reason with him.

'Asalaam Alaikum Ali. My name is Aliyah. See our names start the same A L I. Will you be my friend?' I asked smiling while I put my hand forward.

'Walaikum Asalaam. A L I' he repeated pointing at me and then pointing at himself ' same same'.

'Yes same same. And you know what else is same? I like trifle too. But I didn't know you were coming and I didn't make any trifle but if you have a little bit of rice I promise to make you some special trifle and you can take it home with you. Do we have a deal? I asked holding my hand out again.

He thought about it for a few seconds and I thought he was about to get angry but then all of a sudden he had a big smile on his face as he grabbed my hand enthusiastically. 'Deal' he said happily and quickly went and sat down.

'Thank you' said Ahmed as he smiled at me and followed Ali to the dining table.

As I walked out the room I had to endure Haiders goofy smirk as I could tell he was bursting to go tell Rabs and Sam what had just happened. I then made my way back to the living room and I saw that the women had also been served.

'Do you need anything else' I asked.

'No everything is perfect. I was telling your mum that she didn't need to go to all this trouble and she told me how you made everything. Mashah Allah Aliyah everything taste lovely' said Aunty Razia.

'Please come and join us. I feel bad that we are eating and you guys are not' said Fatima.

'Thank you but we normally eat quite late but I will keep you company' I said.

The rest of the evening just flowed nicely. I quickly made a start on the trifle so that it would be ready for when they left. We cleaned up the dishes and sent out the tea. Over tea me and Fatima discussed a number of lectures that were coming up and how much we looking forward to them.

I then took Aaminah to show her my room. While there I showed her how I tied my hijab and when I had finished tying hers she looked even more beautiful than before.

Finally it was 9.00pm and it was time for them to leave as they had the long drive back to London. We all said our goodbyes and they thanked us for our hospitality.

I gave Ali he's special trifle and he was so happy. I loved children with learning difficulties. They were so innocent.

The evening had passed really well and it was only when Aunty Razia told my mum that she would call her in the next few days did the realisation of why they had come hit me again and the anxious feeling with which the day had started returned.