The Eid Engagement, and Other Weddings # 42

COVER STORY

With all the motor skills she possessed, Hina laid her left hand on Sameer’s shoulder, her right one on his chest, craned her neck back to look up at him and tried not to fall under the weight of her bridal dress as Sameer tipped her backwards.

‘Beautiful, beautiful!’ said the photographer. Click. ‘One more! Click, click.

‘I thought the walima photo shoot was never going to end,’ Hina said as they made their way to the stage.

‘The photo shoot may be over, but you still need to smile for the camera,’ Sameer said, taking her hand and bringing her onstage.

‘I’ve had enough cameras to last me a lifetime.’ Hina posed for the camera, then sat down on the sofa next to Sameer.

‘Now everyone in the family is going to come up for a photo,’ Sameer said. ‘It’s not over.’

Hina’s family came onstage for a family photo. Ray and Gohar sat next to Hina. Ammi and Abbu sat on the other side. Hina had never seen Ammi look so satisfied with her in her life, and doubted whether she would ever see her in this state ever again.

Sameer’s parents joined them for group photo. Sameer’s mother put both hands on Hina’s shoulders and held her close.

Amani came hurrying onstage to attach herself to the group. ‘We wouldn’t be complete without you,’ Gohar said.

At the walima dinner, Hina tried to eat as much as she could without ruining her lipstick. ‘Don’t worry, Hina, we can always get more food later,’ Sameer said.

‘It won’t be my walima food, though!’ Hina said. ‘I want to be able to say that I ate my own walima food!’

‘What do you want to eat?’ Ray asked. He had been hovering around them this whole time.

‘Everything is on the table here, we’re fine, Ray,’ Hina said.

‘I’ll get the dessert for you,’ Ray said. He soon came followed by a man bearing a platter of fried sweets and several servings of rice pudding.

Hina picked up a piece of the fried sweets. ‘Jalebi, my favorite,’ she said. ‘Whose idea was this?’

‘Mine,’ Sameer said, grinning broadly.

‘Break it with me,’ Hina said. Sameer broke the piece Hina was holding in half.

Soon, the walima was over. Hina and Sameer stood up amidst a throng of photographers.

‘More cameras,’ Hina said.

‘Just these last ones to go,’ Sameer said, taking her hand. They walked out of the wedding hall together. Sameer opened the car door for Hina and she sat down, arranging her bridal dress around her. Sameer got in and took the wheel.

‘Where to?’ Sameer asked.

‘Home!’ Hina said. Sameer started to drive.

Hina threw her head back and laughed. ‘Freedom! Sweet freedom!’

‘No more cameras,’ Sameer said.

After a while, Hina asked Sameer, ‘Where are we going?’

‘Where are we going indeed,’ Sameer said.

‘No, seriously, this isn’t the way to your parents’ place,’ Hina said.

‘Who said anything about going to my parents’ place?’ Sameer asked, grinning.

Hina stared at him. ‘Sameer, where are we going?’

‘You’ll see,’ Sameer said. ‘I didn’t have time to tell you about it with the ban on our communication before the wedding. I wanted to tell you about it myself properly or not at all. I went with not telling you until the last second.’

‘This is the last second, I got in the car with you after our walima and I don’t know where we’re going,’ Hina said.

‘Do you want me to ruin the surprise?’ Sameer asked.

‘I’m surprised!’ Hina said.

‘I want you to see it, though,’ Sameer said.

‘When you said we were going ‘home’, you meant…?’ Hina asked.

‘We’re almost there,’ Sameer said.

They drove into an apartment complex and parked outside an apartment building.

‘Hina, will you follow me in here?’ Sameer asked.

‘I have no choice,’ Hina said.

Sameer helped her out of the car and helped her carry her dress indoors. They went into the elevator and Sameer pressed the button for their floor. Hina looked at Sameer expectantly.

Sameer led Hina down a corridor and stopped in front of a door. He took out a key from his pocket and unlocked the front door.

‘Sameer, is this really…?’ Hina began to ask, but Sameer just said, ‘Shh.’ He led her inside. Inside was a mostly empty apartment. There were two lounge chairs in front of a large TV in the living room, with a small tray between them. The master bedroom had a king-sized mattress on the floor, with a lamp beside it. Sameer went to one of the windows and drew back the curtains. Hina saw the balcony outside, open to the stars above.

‘This is really not what I was expecting,’ Hina said, kicking her heels off.

‘I know, I know,’ Sameer said. ‘I just couldn’t go furniture shopping without you.’

‘What?’ Hina asked.

‘I had the choice to furnish the whole place myself,’ Sameer said, ‘but it wouldn’t make any sense to choose everything without you and then expect you to like it. This way, we can go shopping and set up the place together.’

Hina walked into the master bedroom and the guest bedroom, then back into the living room and kitchen. ‘It’s a nice apartment,’ she said. ‘It will look nicer when it’s furnished.’

‘Yes!’ Sameer said. ‘I knew you would like it! Now we’ll just have to stay at my parents’ place until this place is set up, but that won’t take long.’

Hina’s eyes sparkled. ‘I have a crazy idea,’ she said.

‘No,’ Sameer said.

‘Yes,’ Hina said. ‘If we set up at your parents’ place first, then take our time setting this place up, we’ll never get a proper beginning in the apartment. I say we stay here. You have the bachelor’s equivalent of necessities in here already.’

Sameer laughed. ‘I just thought there should be some things in here when I show you,’ he said.

‘Get our bags here,’ Hina said. ‘I’m sleeping here tonight.’

‘Are you sure you want that kind of adventure from day one of our marriage?’ Sameer asked.

‘Why not? The place will be furnished soon enough,’ Hina said. ‘We can visit your parents when we need a break from the adventure.’

Sameer smiled. ‘I like your idea,’ he said.

***

Furnishing the apartment did not take long. Hina and Sameer, with the support of Ray, Gohar and Amani, took to the markets, searching high and low for what they wanted. Soon, they had the apartment mainly furnished, with some decorations on order that would be delivered later.

Amani was on Hina’s case about the honeymoon. ‘Where are you going for your honeymoon, then?’ Amani asked.

‘We’re not going,’ Hina said.

‘What kind of nonsense is this,’ Amani said. ‘First no moonh dikhai, then no honeymoon. What has gotten into you?’

‘We’ll go later,’ Hina said. ‘We don’t think it’s necessary to go straight after the wedding.’

‘Ah, it’s ‘we’ now.’ Gohar smiled.

‘Of course, it is,’ Hina said. ‘You started it, Gohar.’

‘I don’t think I say ‘we’ that often,’ Gohar said.

‘You say it often enough,’ Amani said.

‘On the contrary, you say it most of all,’ Gohar said to Amani.

Amani giggled. ‘I can’t help it,’ she said.

‘Even though you’re not married yet,’ Gohar said.

‘I told you, I can’t help it,’ Amani said.

‘When are you getting married, Amani?’ Hina asked.

‘Oh, see how high and mighty you are with your questions now! Yes, I know you’re married and all now, but don’t rush me,’ Amani said. ‘Though I do have something to tell you.’

‘What is it?’ Gohar and Hina asked together.

To be continued…