"Are you nervous?" I asked her and brushed her hair for the tenth time now. Not that my brushing made her hair any straighter than it already is. But it was nice doing it for her, she was worried it was not straight, but I did it anyway, she was just anxious. So I did what any good sister would do, comply to her wishes on this very special day that means a tremendous lot for her.

"What do you think?" She looked at me, through the mirror. I smiled, she looked stunning. The makeup artist did a great job with her eye make up. An amazing job really.

"It's going to be okay." I said. "And if you're going to ask me how I know that. It's because I have been through this with Rayana. I was Rayana's Maid of honor not so long ago."

"Yes you've mentioned it." She commented sarcastically.

"This is a blessed occasion." I told her. She agreed with and finally after an hour of being anxious and worried she finally smiled, and it wasn't a wide grin, but I was grateful she did. "Once you see your betrothed, I am sure all your worries will leave your mind."

"Betrothed?" She questioned and laughed. "I am not going to forget this. I am definitely going to bring this up in your own engagement." My own engagement, hearing her say that made it sound so improbable. There was a moment in my life where this seemed so very plausible. But now trusting someone and being with them, even Allah s.w.t terms marriage as a heavy contract, because it's not always a walk in the park and it's definitely not rainbows and sunshine all day, every day. There's even an analogy that says, marriage is like a television, sometimes you switch it on you will see the program clearly and sometimes when you switch it on all you will hear is static and it's ups and downs. Now to find someone to bare with through the roughness life has to offer, that's something that is rare and very much beautiful. And I am glad my sister found it.

"I heard Naveed is coming." Anisa said and brought me back to the present.

"Uh that's nice."

"Now that it doesn't matter, Naveed had a crush on you back then."

"He had what? And why doesn't it matter?" I asked her.

"Because he's married and with a child, of course. Anyway he accidentally confessed to me years ago, he thought I was you. I could tell it was a hard thing for him to do and embarrassing because he confessed to the wrong person." I place the brush on the table and start to pace back and forth in the room. Anisa stood up. "What's wrong?"

"He's not married, he divorced his wife a couple of years back. And how come you never told me this?"

"It was not my secret to share. I thought he would tell you. I really did. He's divorced?"

"Yeah he is. This changes everything." I said, stressed over fictional scenarios that formed in my mind.

"What are you talking about?" I stopped pacing and looked at her. Explained how we were now friends and talk occasionally online. Not that he's become my confident or anything, I haven't fallen for him. No. Just that we talk, and that I like talking to him.

"Are you worried it will turn out like how it did with Jamal? Because I know how you felt about that..." She walked towards me and hugged me. "Listen not every man is like him, I should know. You don't have to worry. I am not saying trust easily, but don't make it very difficult for people to come close to you."

"I will try and thank you, hopefully I don't have to worry about that today. But this your day..." She stopped hugging me.

"Hah it's okay. We shared a womb, I can share some moments from my day with you." She said and smiled.

When Imad put the ring on my finger, I instantly realized how real this situation is and how right it felt that he be the doing so. He's going to my husband and I plan on spending the rest of my life with him. There wasn't a doubt in my mind nor my heart that urged me to second guess Imad and this union between us. I loved him, that is the simple truth and he loved me, as clear as day and night.

My father was pleased, when we first shared the news with him. Cheekily smiled and then almost into tears, of pure joy he assured us. He did not need to say much because only by seeing his first expression when we first told him, it was obvious he was happy about it. However, he did share his concerns, worried that we rushed into marriage without evaluating what marriage is all about. For a moment, I might have questioned myself if I really was ready for marriage and this huge responsibility but knowing Imad is going to be my partner, yes was my answer every time I questioned myself. Yes to being Mrs Imad Abdullah, yes to being his partner and his love.

I observed Imad's manner throughout our engagement ceremony, he was gleeful nothing less than happy. A little nervous when he held my hand and told me how beautiful I looked, I made him speechless he said to me. The engagement ceremony was a small gathering of a few friends and family, aunty Hudaa was present plus her husband, my father and Naveed. Not many people could attend, but the people who could make it were more than enough. All very close to my heart.

I spent some time looking at my ring, it's simple and elegant. Nothing showy, it's an antique ring. It is a diamond ring with baby blue stones embedded around it as well diamond stones. I love it.

Whenever I look up from staring at my ring, I see Naveed sitting alone on the sofa with his phone, busy texting. Amal standing adjacent to him, stealing glances to watch him. It's adorable, and a bit sad. She's never going to make the first move and neither is he. I went to stand next to Amal, and purposely bumped into her.

"Hey there stalker," she looks up from her phone and looks at me, raising an eyebrow and holding back a smile.

"What are you talking about?" Amal played dumb.

"You obviously want to talk to him, just go say hi. You guys text all the time."

"Lower your voice Anisa." She shushed me.

"Okay fine, go say hi." I said in a low tone, obliging to her wish.

"Go to your husband." She said and looked away. Naveed stood up and walked towards us and smiles at Amal, she keeps quiet and almost loses sense of reality, I could tell. She was staring at him and he at her, I felt like I was disturbing, obstructing something.

"Congratulations Anisa." He breaks eye contact with Amal and briefly looks at me.

"Thank you Naveed." I reply.

"I have to go now." He said.

"So soon?"

"Yes I have to go pick up Manayer." He explained. Whenever Naveed got the chance to look back at Mal he did. It was so obvious yet so discreet, I felt like an analyst. Was I reading too much into this? Or was I actually right?

"Thanks for coming. It meant a lot to Imad and me."

"Thank you for having me." He replied.

"Amal walk out Naveed." I instructed and smirked. He chuckled. Naveed walked towards the exit once he said his goodbyes to my father and Imad. It was still awkward between Imad and Naveed, but it was better than them being estranged. I watched Amal and Naveed walk side by side. Imad approached me, and stood by me.

"Naveed and Amal?" He asked.

"Naveed and Amal." I repeated what he said and looked at him, grinning like a cheeky girl.

I caught a glimpse of her, modestly almost shyly walk besides me. Like a disciplined student she walked without random movements, steadily and regular. I opened the door and before I walk out I looked at her one last time, imprinting her face in my memory.

"I'll see you around." I told her. Why couldn't have I come up with something better to say, complimented her smile or dress or even her scarf.

"Yah I'll see you." She replied.

"No witty reply?" I said.

"Nope."

"You're mad?" I could tell from her tone, she was upset about something.

"No I am not." She said looking away from me.

"Amal." She looked at me and spoke;

"Why didn't you tell me?" She asked.

"Tell you what?"

"Tell me that you had feelings for me." She said.

"Uh.." I was caught off guard. "It wouldn't have made a difference," I said, defensive over her statement.

"I would have liked to know."

"Anisa finally told you?" I asked her.

"Yeah." She replied.

"Listen Amal, that was a long time ago." I tried to deflect, because I knew this would open a wound neither of us could handle. Especially me.

"You don't anymore? That's all I need to know," She spoke hesitantly.

"I ... I don't know." I really didn't, I haven't reflected on this for a long time.

"It's a yes or no question Naveed," She spoke in a stern tone.

"Amal don't make me do this." I told her, looking at her eyes. Desperation lingered in her eyes, and the need to know.

"Just answer the question." She insisted.

"Okay fine, no I don't." I said, and sighed.

"Okay good." She said and walked away.