Chapter 39: Families.

Amyrah set on the couch in her room, her hair wrapped up in a towel for it to dry (because she was a genius to forget her hairdryer at home in Canada and she borrowed her cousins while she was there), silently staring at the blank TV screen.

She was remembering what being with Kayan felt like. All these feelings were new to her. All these changes she was going through was new to her and at times it felt too fast for her to cope with.

Breaking her terrain of thoughts, a knock came at the door. Immediately Amyrah looked down at her clothes. She was wearing a floral black mumu dress with black leggings. As much as she wanted to wear tees, she knew people would be coming in and going out of her room.

"Coming"

She got up hurriedly, pulled off the towel from her hair and grabbed the nearest hijab, wrapping it around her head on the way. She opened the door and saw her mother-in-law smiling at her.

"Ah salaam Qaidah Aunty" she said and Qaidah replied, as she walked into the room.

The two walked to the couch and took a seat, Qaidah on the long one while Amyrah adjacent to her.

"Amyrah, is your hair wet?" asked Qaidah, looking over her head and Amyrah smiled slightly and nodded.

"Why did you not blow dry them? you could catch a cold like this!" scolded Qaidah and Amyrah smiled sheepishly.

"I forgot my dryer back home" she said, looking away and Qaidah chuckled.

"Borrow it from Kulthum, I think she would be glad to do so" she said and Amyrah nodded.

By now, she was fidgeting with her thumbs. She was nervous as to why her mother-in-law was in her room.

"Oh right, I am here to ask you something" Qaidah said, and Amyrah nodded, looking down at her hands.

"How are you doing?"

The question caught her off guard. She looked up to Qaidah who smiled brightly at her.

"What- What do you mean?" Amyrah asked and Qaidah chuckled. She got up and took a seat beside Amyrah and took her hand with hers.

"Amyrah, I know what a girl goes through after marriage" She explained and Amyrah heaved a deep breath. Finally someone understood what she felt.

"-Its not all about your husband. Its about his family and how you are going to adapt to it. I know Kayan and you are well acquainted from Canada" she smirked at the latter, causing Amyrah to blush slightly.

"-But this family is quite large. You have only met Kayan's own siblings, and his nuclear family. When we return to Australia, you will meet more. Some of mine and others of his father. The family is quite big and would not cover in one go, but its important that you know them. With time, you will. Because Kayan, well Kayan is Kayan. He is well known by all of the families around the world because he meets them every chance he gets. Sure he can be arrogant and egoistic to most people but to his own, he is soft and gentle" Qaidah explained.

Amyrah nodded, surprised how much her mother-in-law could relate to her.

"-You will be the oldest daughter-in-law of the family because Kayan is the oldest amongst all his other cousins" she said and Amyrah nodded.

"And another thing, I know you are scared whether they would like you or not, well, don't worry about that. Whether they like you or not is up to them. So don't worry!" she said and Amyrah felt a little relieved with the information. She had expected Qaidah to go on and on about how she must please everyone in the family and be in their good books.

Maybe she was indeed blessed with such a family.

Qaidah smiled and squeezed her hand.

"I am not much of a bad mother-in-law, you know" she said and Amyrah blushed again.

"-And I would prefer you calling me mother, than anything else" she said and Amyrah nodded, once more.

"-And now, I am leaving" she said and Amyrah nodded, again.

Qaidah chuckled and stood up, before patting her head and walking away.

Amyrah watched her walk out of the room and shut the door. She sighed when she realized what Kayan's mother had explained. She knew it was going to be hard but just how hard were they talking about?

She stood up and decided to pray an extra Rakaat of Naafil prayer for her own peace. She did her whudhu and stood up for the prayers several minutes later.

After prayers, she simply set there, basking in the afternoon sun as it hung low in the sky. The bright hues of red and orange with even brighter rays entering the room lit up the place beautifully. Amyrah muttered a Alhamdulillah at this before standing up and walking out to the balcony.

She stood there, simply thinking.

It was late after the Isha prayer when Kayan returned home with his brothers. He had gone out with Ehaan and Farhaan to get some things that were left over to buy, while his not-so-adequate- brothers were playing around somewhere in town.

"What'ya all buy?" questioned Aaiyla, who was bouncing on her feet from one place to the other. Everyone was convinced she was high on something, just not sure what. It was Amyrah who had sugar issues not her.

The three families were lounging at the Saleh's bungalow's backyard while playing random games or gossiping about the latest happenings.

"Decorations and other things" replied Ehaan, pulling her down on the bench beside him. Aaiyla set down like an obedient child and smiled at him lovingly as he did down at her. The two were glowing!

"Awww" said Amyrah, placing both her hands under her face in a cute-ish manner causing Kayan to laugh.

"Shut up! They are cute!" she said, glaring at him and he hauled in laughter again.

"Guys, dinner is served!" called out Jazbah from the dining hall and everyone gathered to eat.

At dinner, Amyrah set beside Kayan who was in between her and Yazdan. The other siblings followed.

"I have something to tell you all" said Kayan and everyone turned to him, halting the eating.

"What is it?" questioned Aahil and Kayan cast a glance at Amyrah who nodded at him.

"I have to return to Melbourne tomorrow" he said and Noor's eyes went wide, so did everyone else's.

He just got married, Wallahi! And he wants to return home?

"Why? Surely you know we have a wedding coming up in less then four days and-" said Aahil and Kayan nodded, glancing at his grandfather.

"Its actually to do with work. I will be back Thursday before the Duaa"he said and his father sighed.

"You know you-" He started when grandpa Zaeef cut him off.

"Let the boy go, Aahil. He said he would be back, so he will. But before you leave, I want to ask you something" he said and Kayan grew nervous. He placed his hands on his thighs and rubbed the palms to avoid sweaty hands. His grandfather was a pickey man; more of a man of less words. Speak less and impact more, thats his saying. Kayan felt Amyrah's hands on his and she squeezed it tight. He turned to her and she gave him a reassuring smile.

This was just them talking, nothing bad can go wrong.

"Did Amyrah agree to this?"

Kayan let out a sigh of relief because this something he knew his wife could answer perfectly.

He turned to her and she nodded.

"Actually Daadaji, I did agree to it. I was the one who pushed him to go. He did not want to go but I pushed him. I know how much his whole business means to him and I am also in the same profession so I understand what it feels like when everything is under risk. Plus I don't think his absence would make much of a difference here since we all are here to finish work. This wedding will be fine!" she said, smiling brightly at them and everyone was even more shocked.

"Amyrah, you do realize that he is leaving you on the third day of your marriage, right?" said Rushda, Raha's mom and everyone glared at her.

Amyrah chuckled when she felt Kayan entwine their hands under the table.

"Chachi, He is not leaving me forever, merely a few days." she said and Rushda shrugged.

"I would be cautious if i were you" she said and her husband, poor Umar sighed and pushed her shoulder. She glared at him and he gestured for her to keep quiet.

"I was being realistic" she whispered, but the rest heard her alright.

Amyrah looked at Kayan who blinked slowly and nodded his head simultaneously telling her that its okay.

"Lets eat before the food gets cold" said Ruwaydah and everyone nodded, the once joyful atmosphere restored.