Ameerah (Queen).

Chapter four.

أسلم عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته.

Hello to my non-Muslim readers.

Enjoy. < 3

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She said yes? Without even meeting him, once? That evening after he got back from work. He didn't think she would agree this early. All the women he had been matched with wanted to meet him first. He always refused to agree because of their absurd behaviour but Ameerah had blindly allowed her parents to choose her life partner for her.

It was two days to their engagement and he was out with his mother and sister getting the Zehbah. His mother had ordered to buy fine pieces of dimond and perfumes. The clothes had been ordered and had been delivered to their house this morning. The Zehbah was fine elaborate of trousseau for the bride. It was supposed to be delivered to the bride's house on the engagement day.

The only thing in the Zehbah he was allowed to choose was the diamond jewelry and he had great taste in it. Although the clothes were chosen by Umulkheyr and he wasn't allowed to glimpse at it.

Ameerah had requested they do not meet until the Nikkah and he was surprised considering you could meet your future spouse in the presence of a chaperone.

"Don't you think this is enough?" Yasser asked as they stopped in another section of the mall.

"A bride needs a lot of clothes for after marriage." His mother told him.

"A girl will always need more clothes." Umulkheyr emphasized as she checked a stall of abayas.

"She'll be my only daughter in law. Everything has to be perfect." Khadija said.

He kept quite. He never knew how to win a fight with the women of his life. After a couple more shops and more shoes, jilabiyas and abayas bought, they left for home. The one person who was overjoyed about this whole wedding was Umulkheyr. She was eager to see the bride as if she was the one to get married. His mother had said they were going to follow the whole wedding ritual, that meant the two families were not allowed to interact with each other until the wedding. He didn't understand the whole concept of that ritual.

He just blindly went along with it.

After reaching home, they found his aunts waiting for Zehbah so that they could inspect the gifts. It was another traditional.

The whole evening was spent with women inspecting the gifts they bought except for the engagement ring.

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"Amee, get up."

Someone shook her and according to the annoying voice, it was Hayat. Hayat was waking her up? What did the world came to. Last night she had slept very late as she was busy decorating the house with the family for today's feast. She got only two hours of sleep when the Azan woke her up. After praying she drifted back to sleep and here she was now. A miracle occurred, Hayat was waking her up.

"Am up. Salam." Ameerah yawned as she pushed the duvet off her. "What time is it?"

"It's Zuhr time. You slept enough. You have to prepare for today. The whole house is in chaos. I was the only one available to wake you up." Hayat told her.

"I don't know why it has to be like this. Simplicity is sunnah." Ameerah complained.

"Ask aunt Khadija. She is the one who suggested the whole ritual to be done." Hayat shrugged as she placed Ameerah's new dress on her chaise lounge.

It was a navy blue dress with sleeves upto the wrist. It had a sweetheart neckline and had netting upto the color bone. It had been sewed with golden jewels around the wrist and waist.

Ameerah got into the bathroom and took a shower, brushed her teeth and did ablution. She prayed the four prostrates of Zuhr with her hair wet. If she did her blow dry she would be late for prayers.

After finishing prayers, she ate the late breakfast Hayat got her which she was very greatful for. She didn't want to meet her parents or any family member until the time for the engagement.

Salma and Khaleed had arrived and Khaleed was immediately assigned with errands. Salma arrived at her room with Zuhur and the battle to look good started. Ameerah had refused any artists this day much to Khadija and her own mother's dismay.

Zuhur was placed and forgotten on her bed. Hayat and Salma started doing her hair. The good thing was Ameerah's hair didn't need any extensions and it was haram so she had refused it. Ameerah sat on the vanity stool as her hair was attacked with hair sprays, blow dry, bobby pins, straightener and then the curling machine while she sat there drinking safron milk that her mother had ordered for her to finish.

When her hair was done, her makeup was next and to say it was hard work was an understatement. Twice, her eyes got poked by the kohl. Salma left thrice to feed Zuhur and got back with new orders. After two hours of misery, they were done and were squeeling with happiness at their handiwork.

"You are so beautiful, Masha'Allah." Salma exclaimed. "May Allah protect you from evil eye."

"Ameen." Ameerah and Hayat muttered together.

"It's Asr. I have to pray." Ameerah announced.

She had done her ablution earlier and was relieved she wasn't going to destroy the masterpiece they had created. It took her five minutes to finish the four prostrates. Once she was done, she got into her dress. It was heavy but she fit in properly and it covered her modesty well except for her hair. She slipped into her navy blue heels and was ready to see herself.

She stood infront of the floor length mirror. What she saw caught her breath. She wasn't going to compare herself with an angel but she was beautiful than before.

Hayat and Salma got back all dressed up and it all felt like a dream. It hit her. She was getting married to someone Allah guided her to.

"You are beautiful, sis." Hayat said almost in tears.

"Don't cry. Or else I'll cry too." Ameerah warned.

"The guests have arrived. Mom wants you down." Hayat told her.

Salma held Zuhur who looked adorable to her side. The went downstairs to the women's majlis which was completely transformed. The whole place was lit up with candles and had traditional sittings. In the middle was her stage. She was going to sit there all alone.

"Salma can I hold Zuhur, the whole evening?" Ameerah asked as she was lead to the stage.

"Why?" Salma asked confused as her eyes followed Ameerah's. "Oh. I understand. Here."

Ameerah sat on the lit up chair with Zuhur on her lap. Just then she had firing of guns outside her house.

The grooms family had arrived.

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Zehbah - it's a fine elaborate trousseau for the bride consisting of jewellery clothes and perfumes.

Zuhr- the second prayer of the day usually prayed at noon and consists of four prostrates.

Asr- the third prayer of the day prayed when the shadow is pointed to your west consists of four prostrates.

Much love, BG.

Aishah.