The reason I've included rings during the engagement scene is because I want to keep this book close to my culture. I don't want to see immature comments telling me if this is right or wrong.

•••

•••

M A R I N A

Today was her brother's engagement and her phone had been flooding with messages from Amira. She couldn't have been more done with life.

Is Saad as nervous as how I am right now?

Does he look like he's regretting anything?

Oh my God I'm so scared

What shade of lipstick does he like?

Marina immediately got up and grabbed her car keys, her feet taking her to the kitchen where her mother was.

"Ammi, I'm going over to Amira's." She voiced while wrapping her hijab loosely.

Her mother was sipping her coffee and scrolling through her phone. Marina always felt uncomfortable when she used her forefinger instead of her thumb when using the device.

"Why?" Her mother asked as she put the cup in the sink.

"She just needs some help."

She was almost at the door when her mother's voice boomed from the kitchen.

"Okay, have fun!"

She was almost out of the door right now, the sunlight illuminated only parts of her, warmth spreading through her body soothingly.

"Totally."

•••

She rang the bell and waited until footsteps were heard and her best friend's mother appeared in front of her.

"Assalamu Alaiykum!" they both greeted and hugged each other.

Marina noticed the place was well-decorated with a purple look. There were purple lights, purple flowers, and purple ribbons here and there. She even found purple macaroons on the table.

"What brings you here, beta?" She smiled and Marina unwrapped her hijab. Amira's father wasn't home at the moment so it was okay for her to show her hair.

"I just wanted to help Amira with some stuff.."

"Oh sure!" she grinned, "After all, you're the groom's sister anyways!"

Marina shared a hearty laugh with her mother and practically ran upstairs to Amira's room and entered without a knock.

"Ammi -- WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!"

"Thanks, I feel welcomed." Marina jumped on her bed and lied down sideways, her eyes on her best friend who gave her a confused look.

"Relax," she brought her hand up in front of her, "I'm just here to help."

She noticed how messy her room was. Jewellery boxes were sprawled out on the floor, make up brushes were oozing out of her drawers and different shades of lipsticks were layed out on the dressing table.

"You know," Marina started, "Saad doesn't have a 'favourite lipstick shade'," she paused to look up at her best friend and smirk playfully, "so just wear one which looks good on you and makes his jaw drop."

Amira blushed and looked away, which lead to Marina teasing her about Saad till they finally got to work.

•••

They were finally done with her make up and there were only a few hours left for the engagement party to begin.

Marina was checking out how she looked in the mirror, her mind drifting off to other places.

It was getting so hard for her to decide who she'll marry that she had finally agreed that she'll grow up and become a cat lady with no future whatsoever.

"I just wanted to get this off my chest... " Amira voiced, snapping Marina out of her reverie as she tied her hair in a loose bun, "but I have a feeling of who you will marry."

"Huh?"

"Yeah.."

"Who is it?" Marina asked, afraid of the answer.

"I'm not gonna say his name," she tucked her baby hairs in her veil and turned around to face her, "but when you both will end up together, I'll come up to your face and tell you I told you so." She winked.

Marina gave her a bored look before saying her part of the conversation.

"And how will I know if it's the same person you were talking about?"

Amira paused for a while before looking up at her best friend with a smile, "Well, I'll give you a few hints," she examined her nails before continuing, "he's got brown hair, in our university, one of the few people you talk to, and has the same sense of humour as yours." She brought her fingers up as she listed out.

"Amira," Marina started, "that's literally everyone at uni." She crossed her arms.

Marina was done with getting ready. Her light pink dress had diamond-shaped sparkles here and there and her hijab was golden with a silver stripe at one end. She felt content with how she looked.

"You'll see, Marina." She said as she made her way out of her room before her voice was heard again.

"You'll see."

•••

All the guests had arrived, and the place was filled with noise and chatters here and there. Marina noticed Saad sitting alone and fidgeting with his hands. She decided to go talk to him.

"Hey, big bro." She slapped his back playfully as she sat down, her intention to lighten him up a bit.

He didn't answer and instead just stared ahead, his mind lost in his own ocean of thoughts. His sister frowned.

"Nervous?" As soon as she said that, his eyes darted sideways, landing on his sister who he thanked was there with him through everything. He gave a sad smile.

"I'm all about it." He gave a forced chuckle and looked down at his sweaty palms and sighed.

"If it makes you feel any better," Marina said as she turned sideways to face him completely, "Amira feels the same as well."

She noticed the slight shade of pink coat his cheeks as soon as she said her best friend's name. He ran a hand though his hair, messing up all the hard work of fixing it in the first place.

"I don't know how to feel about that.." He trailed off and she nodded.

Amira's father came up and told both siblings to join them in the other room as it was time to exchange the rings.

They both got up at the same time, Marina giving her brother a proud smile as he returned her with a nervous one.

"Go get her, brother."

•••

All the cameras were ready as Saad and Amira smiled, both of them sitting close together on the same sofa.

He turned to Amira and grinned, his eyes on her as she covered her face to hide her blush. The camera captured their moment which would be embedded in their hearts for eternity.

Saad took her soft hand in his and slipped the diamond ring which would mark them as fiancé and fiancée.

She took the silver ring and held Saad's hand, her own hand slightly shivering as she slipped it in his finger, her eyes filled with concentration and happiness.

But he wasn't looking at his hand.

He was looking at her.

Marina's smile was huge as she watched the couple's moment to remember. She hoped that she would find a man who would treat her like how Saad plans to with her best friend.

But she'll stick to the cat lady idea for now.

She turned around and noticed a few of her and Amira's cousins smiling. Others had straight faces and some were even scowling but she ignored them.

She turned two of the few important people in her life and made duaa for them to overcome the obstacles that life throws at them in their future and for them to be showered with happiness and much more.

And she had hoped the same for herself when she meets the man of her dreams.

•••

Hey there peeps! I missed y'all so much (even though it's only been one day). I was too busy watching the elections so yeah..

I have watched too much of The Originals that I can literally hear whatever Marina says in Davina Claire's voice lmao.

Okay so ya take care and InshAllah He showers you with His blessings.

-Sana