When days are flying by all too quickly, it means that the person is busy.

~Unknown

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the days to my wedding flew like air. Soon it was thursday, the prayer day. Today as ammi and abba had decided will be a small dua (Prayer) before the wedding.

"Ammi can yuo-" siad Talha but Ammi was too busy to hear him

"Madiha!!" he screamed but she also did not come

I let out a chuckle.

It was my wedding but these boys were over reacting.

Since everyone was busy, I decided to do things on my own. Ammi had said since it was just Dua today, i could wear anything since it will only be the immediate family that is just the ones living with us so I agreed.

I took out my black skinnies and white tees and went to the bathroom for a long shower. After shower, i changed into my attire and then walked out of the bathroom.

Talha bhai was sitting on my bed with his phone and playing with Fawaad's hair.

I smiled as I walked to them. I picked up my blue and black button up shirt and wore it. Simple but nice.

The two looked up at me and craked their famous smiles.

"You look handsome bro!" said Fawaad and Talha bhai nodded

"Ah... thanks?" I said not actually knowing what to say.

"BOYS!!!! get downstairs!!!" screamed ammi and we got up to make our way to the courtyard.

Everyone was seated on the chairs there and the imaam started the dua.

He gave a small speech on dua before wedding, explaining the meaning of nikah in islaam. Basically the topic was on nikah, which i really enjoyed.

One thing that i really liked in his speech was the saying that "The kindest of them all is one who treats his wife well"

Insha Allah I would be able to treat my wife-to-be well. Well she was already my fiance as our nikah was done but as per ammis orders we had to wait until the official nikah day.

I smiled to myself thinking about life after nikah.

The dua concluded with the imaam asking for Allah's blessing in the nikah.

That night, i could not go to sleep no matter how hard I tried so I decided to call the one I knew would understand, Madiha bhabhi

"Seriously Arshad, you call me in the middle of the night to ask that?!!" she said over the phone.

"Yes Bhabhi! I am feeling restless and annoyed and-" I started to say but she cut me off

"Okay I get you! But wait, since your bhai is asleep and you call him! He will tell you!" she said

"I can't! You are suppose to understand me!!" I whined.

I am so scared and nervous for this nikah! I mean not that I did not want it to happen and all but I am nervous.

"Look Arshad, I know you are nervous but calm down, its gonna be fine! Trust Allah and he will do good!" she said "Now go to sleep!"

"Okay bhabhi, Allah Hafeez!" I said before i hung up.

I checked the time and it was 2am! Great, I can offer Tahajjud salah. It was a salah said at night usually to calm down oneself or to talk to allah (S.W.T)

I remember Ammi explaining its importance to me, saying "Arshad, at night when you wake up all of a sudden, be sure to do your whudhu and pray Tahajjud, you want to be with your beloved Prophet (S.A.W) in Jannah, don't you? and then I would smile and nod.

I grew up listening to prophets stories that ammi and Abba would tell us. I always wanted to be a good guy and go to Jannah. I still am! and Insha allah I will be together in Jannah with Ahaya.

I got up and did my whudhu.

Soon i was standing on the prayer mat, saying my Tahajjud salah.

In my dua, I asked allah:

Ya Allah, you are the most beneficent and most merciful

Ya Allah you understand what I am going through

Ya Allah please grant me peace for my nikah

Ya Allah you know that I am distressed over this whole situation

Ya Allah please let me be on the right path

Ya Allah please do not attach me to something that is not mine

Ya Allah you know my doubts over this nikah

Ya Allah please prevent any mishappening from happening

Ya Allah please bless me with happiness and knowledge to guide Ahaya and myself to your path

Ya Allah please let my parents all the happiness and health

Ya Allah let those worriors in Gaza fight and win the battle again Israel

Ya Allah please make this dua acceptable from your mercy and blassing

_____Ameen______

With those final words, I concluded my Tahajjud prayer.

I walked over to my bed and cuddled with the pillow since I left my huge pillow in Dubai!

What? I sleep with the huge long pillow at night

The next morning, I woke up by the adhaan for Fajr, that is the call for fajr prayer.

I bathe and did my whudhu to pray in my room since it was pretty late to go to the masjid.

After prayers I worked on the Singhania project that was in hand for my business currently.

A knock came at the door and I yelled a "Come in". Who could it have been at this hour of the morning!?!

"Arshad bhai, why did you not come for breakfast?" asked Azma coming in my room with a tray.

"What-wait- breakfast already?" i aksed her

"Yes bhai, its nearly 8 in the morning!" she replied

I checked my laptop time and it was 7.50am. Woah, I must have lost track of time! Work!

"Uh.. I have brought you breakfast!" she said setting the tray of food on the coffee table near the couch.

"Jazak Allah!" I said to her and she smiled

I closed off my laptop and walked out with the food tray to the kitchen.

"Arshad? why are you late today? and did you-" said Madiha bhabhi

"Yes bhabhi I got the tray of food, can I sit here and eat?" I asked her and she nodded.

The house was busy as today was Ahaya's henna function. I do not know about the boys but it was for sure there ain't gonna be henna on my body!

Ammi was running for flowers while Masi was calling people up. Fawaad and Ahdia were checking the decorations and Talha bhai and Rehaan Bhai were trying to help the people out. In short eveyone was busy.

I smiled and continued to eat my breakfast.

'Stop smiling and eating bro! Hurry up and help!!!" screamed Talha bhai

I looked up to see im holding the stack of clothes of allah-knows-what!

"He won't do a work! He is the groom, my love!" said Madiha Bhabhi.

"No sweetheart, it is his wedding, he must do something!" replied bhai putting the stack down.

"No and you come here and do things with me!" said Madiha bhabhi smirking

"Oh I will do anything for you!!!!" was bhai's reply

Argh! Too much PDA. Have they forgotten there is a smaller brother is the middle? I thought so!

"Ahem ahum!!" I said

"Oh don't worry Arshad, in a days time you will be exactly like this!" said bhai hugging madiha Bhabhi

"I wish i am not like that!" I muttered

"What did you say?" asked bhai

"Nothing!" I replied while stuffing the rest of the food in my mouth.

*******

Finally the night all were waiting for had arrived, no not the nikah but the henna night. I was told to wear anything and stay upstairs.

Although ammi is not Turkish, she prefers the turkish traditions. I do not protest but I follow for allah has said "Do not use the sharpness of the tongue on the mother who taught you to speak!"

I loved that line and I always try to obey it.

In turkish traditons, grooms are not exactly allowed in the henna cermony. But since the ceremony was practically at my place, i had to say upstiars. ammi did not say that I cannot watch the ceremony though so I decided to watch it form upstairs.

Hmmm.... it was already 8, after Isha, alhamdulliah, and Ahaya was not out yet! Currently I am standing infront of my room waiting for Ahaya to go downstairs so I can see her but no, she is not coming out!!

I sighed but as soon as i heard foot steps I peeked out of my door.

There walked out my ahaya wearing a long length kameez with hijaab and bangles. All dressed up for her henna night.

Her kameez was off white with peach colored that had designs. It suited her really well. Her hijab was done nicely and she looked stunning as ever, masha Allah!

She walked down the stairs as I looked at her in awe.

"Stop checking her out and stay upstairs!" siad Talha bhai's voice

I flinched at his words.

"I am not checking my fiance out!! I was just looking at her beauty and thanking Allah for her!" I said

He shrugged

"Okay what ever helps you sleep at night!" he replied smirking and walked downstairs.

i smiled at him and set on the chair with my laptop, trying to do my work but i was too distracted to do so.

I looked at Ahaya who was sitting in between Ahdia and Madiha bhabhi. Ruhi bhabhi and Azma were beside them as well. She laughed at something Azma told her.

Then the songs started to play and the henna ceremony started.

I smiled at the scene unfolding infront of me.

Badi mah and ammi applied some henna on her hands and then people went to her and gave her money. That was traditions.

The henna girl made her henna designs.

Ahaya smiled at them and laughed with my family. She seemed to know all of them. Wow! I did not think she would be able to cope up with my family, let alone all the other relatives! I guess she was good at this!

I laughed when Rehaan bhai tried to talk to her but ammi and them stopped him so he wrote a letter in front of them and gave it to ahaya who read it and started seaching for something.

She suddenly looked up to me and smiled. Her eyes shining with amusement. I blushed and smiled back.. i hope she did not see me blush.. please tell me she did not!

She then looked down and when her henna was done, all lights went out

The hall was cleared and the spot light was on Rehaan bhai. He did the intro to the programme that was the couples dance and to those who were engaged, they were also asked to come, if they wanted.

The couples danced and then Talha bhai, Rehaan and Adnaan did their performance. To tell you the truth It was HILLARIOUS!

By the end of the performance everyone was laughing.

Ahaya was dragged in the middle with "The Squealing girls"; Ahdia, Madiha and Ruhi bhabhi along with Azma and ammi, masi and badi mah.

They made a circle singing the song in urdu "Aap ko hamari family mubarak ho!" translated, congrats to you upon getting our family!

I smiled at their simple gesture.

The night ended all too quickly and before I know it, I was called to have dinner. What they had no idea about was that I had eaten 4 packets of chips, a bottle of water with two packets of oreo biscuits! Yes i love eating!

At dinner everyone was smiling and lauging. It was like they were happy as ever!

I smiled at them.

I am smiling too much these days! eh, not my problem! Its my nikah tomorrow!!!

I scanned for Ahaya when Azma whispered.

"She already had her dinner, is in her room where you can't go" she whispered

I blushed but kept shut.

Soon after dinner, where thankfully no one questioned me about where I was during the ceremony, I went up to my room to get some sleep before anything else.

I sighed as I lay on my soft bed in my sweats. I usually sleep with my vest but from tomorrow I need to have a habit of wearing tees to sleep! Oh darn.. But it was for a good! ;)

I wonder what she is doing? Is she nervous? Hack I am nervous! and she is the bride!

Arshad, stop thinking and go to sleep! Leave it to Allah to prove everything right.

yes that is the right thought so yeah... Lets just go to sleep....

My mind replayed todays event and I slowly zoned out to my world.