Ameerah (Queen).

Chapter Six.

أسلم عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته.

Hello to my non-Muslim readers.

Enjoy. < 3

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وجعل بينكم موذة ورحمة.

(And He has created between you love and mercy.) Quran: (30:21).

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Ameerah got into the car with her mother and Hayat at the back seat. Their grandmother, Umu Mabruk was at the passenger seat next to Yasin. It was the Laylat-al-henna for Asiya. It was two days prior the wedding and this part of tradition was a must before a wedding. It was where both the groom's family and bride's family were introduced officially. To impress the opposite party, people dressed in their latest attires and showed them off. Ameerah wore a violet evening dress that swept the floor and the sleeves went to her wrist. A sheila securely covering her hair to her shoulders. Her makeup was professionally done but was minimal to retain her natural beauty.

Hayat was in a super-teasing mood that got Yasin all riled up. The eighteen year old could talk more than a news reporter and annoy more than a paparazzi hungry for some hot rumour. Ameerah was glad all Hayat did during her engagement was squeek and overly joyed. Khalid was inviting Yasin to his worn out club of little sisters are annoying. It was two weeks after Ameerah's engagement and the Mabruks were unusually busy with preparation of festivities.

After five minutes of driving, Yasin drove in to parking space. Asiya Al-Rashid's house was located in a nice neighborhood. There were cars parked in the space indicating guests have arrived. The Laylat-al-henna was a ceremony for women only so Yasin left after dropping off the women of his family.

The four women were greeted by an elderly women by kissing for times on the cheek as costume. Ameerah led her grandmother inside the house and their entrance was met by loud music and women making weird noises, hands cupped over their mouths. She found her grandmother a far place from the dancing people. Her mother sat beside them and watched the dancing Arabs. Alot of people were there all from both sides.

Soon the bride-to-be was led down stairs by two young girls who she assumed were her sisters. Loud drums, shakers and tambourines beating. The women started cheering even louder, their hands still cupped over their mouths. The bride was covered in a cloth, securing her face and hair up to her middle. When she was standing in the middle of the dancing people, her cloth was uncovered and there stood the bride in a navy blue dress with gold knitted on the wrists, waist and neckline. Her black hair cascaded down her shoulders in slight curls. She looked beautiful, outdoing every dressed up female who was set out to be the best.

Asiya danced with the dance in a traditional getting a very supportive audience who were dancing either by seats or had joined her on the dance floor.

"Ya bint. You are not joining?" Ummu Mabruk inquired gesturing to the dancing.

"Laa yaddati. Am not into it." Ameerah declined.

"I remember you loving to dance before you left. What happened?" Umu Mabruk raised her eyebrows drinking her black tea.

"I guess I grew up." Ameerah answered her eyes trained on Hayat who was dancing wildly.

Her mother chuckled at that as Asiya was led to her corner where she sat on cushions and throws. Women gathered around her and started congratulating her gifting her money and jewelery. Ameerah got up with her mother and grandmother and they made their way to the bride.

Asiya stood up as she saw them approach. She first greeted her mother-in-law, kissing her four times on each cheek. She then greeted Ummu Mabruk by kissing her forehead and the back of both the elderly woman's hand.

"Allah yahfidhk, Asiya. This is my other daughter, Ameerah." Fatimah introduced. "Ameerah, this Asiya. You new sister."

They hugged and kissed each other on the cheek. The small group was sorrounded by henna designers and other females who were interested to get henna applied on their hands and legs. Ameerah moved away from the fuss as Asiya sat back on the cushions and a designer started on her hands while food was served to the guests. Occasionally, the bride was fed with healthy food as instructed by her soon to be mother-in-law to keep in shape for her wedding day. The night was celebrated with music, food and ofcourse henna.

Ameerah and Asiya talked alot after the designer was finished with the bride. They discovered their mutual love for poetry and children leading to a series of girly shrieks which was met by disapproving looks. Asiya like Ameerah had studied in UK majoring in gynaecology. Asiya couldn't eat with her hands because the henna was to stay on till morning so her immediate relatives took turns in feeding her. Among their society, it was believed the darker the henna the more your new mother-in-law likes you. The henna staying overnight would darken it.

It was almost 2 am in the morning when Yasin came to pick them up. Her elder brother looked like he was sleep deprived which caused Hayat to tease him even more resulting to an annoyed Yasin which was a sight worth seeing. They dropped Ummu Mabruk at their uncle's house where she lived and proceeding towards their own house. Hayat was a human replica of a chatterbox that couldn't shut up about the Laylat-al-henna and how beautiful the bride is causing their elder brother to blush and a disapproving lecture from their mother.

Ameerah looked down at her blank hands. Her mother has instructed her to not apply henna because of her upcoming Laylat-al-henna. She remembered the dark brown eyes that haunted her piece of mind for a fortnight now and couldn't help but smile. She had never talked to him and the only memory she had of him was the simple glimpse of his picture on instagram. The thought of him brought a feeling in the pit of her stomach and warmed her ever cold heart that had only recognized family up to now. It was a good sign that Yasser was her other pair.

Yasser. The mere thought of his name made her cheeks taint pink slightly. She prayed he would be her partner in Jannah too.

Hayat and Yasin were still bickering when they arrived home. Well, Hayat was the one doing all the bickering. Their mother excused herself complaining of headache and retired to her room.

Tonight her father wasn't home but at his other wife, Ummu Amir. Her stepmother had three of her other siblings. The eldest being Amir, he was Ameerah's age and thus the pairing of name. Amir was followed by Alia who was two years older than Hayat and two years younger than Ameerah and Amir. The youngest was Faris who was a year younger than Hayat. Ameerah loved them just as much as her full siblings. She loved Amir most because he was her twin and they were inseparable when they were younger until she left the country.

Unlike other Arab co-wives her mother and Ummu Amir didn't have an ongoing fued between them. She realized she hadn't seen them in a while and decided she would do the following day after work.

Praying Witr, Ameerah drifted into sleep with one name replaying in her mind.

Yasser.

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Am finally done with Highschool.  ALHAMDHULILAH.

Vote? Comment? Follow? Fan? Share? Jazaka'Allah, guys.

Laylat-al-henna: it's a night where women dress up to show their latest outfits and fashions but none can outdo the bride. The night is filled with music, food and ofcourse henna.

Henna: check the media box.

Sheila: headscarf.

Ya bint: daughter.

Laa yaddati: no grandmother.

Allah yahfidhk: Allah protect you.

Jannah: paradise, heaven.

Witr: prayer that is performed between dusk and dawn consisting of odd number prostrates such us 3,5,7,9,11.

Much love, BG.

Aishah.