Our Space

Chapter 26

A/N: I apologise for accidentally posting my poem here instead of my poem book and then deleting it and confusing everyone about the update. For that reason, I stayed up really late to write this up tonight to make up for last night's mistake. Enjoy (in'sha'Allah)

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The months leading to the wedding went by in a blur. The closer Sami got to the day, the more nervous he felt. Suddenly, it didn't all seem so dreamy anymore as reality kicked in. How was he going to break the ice with Radia? How was he going to keep her happy? Would he be enough for her? Would she be pleased with him? Life was never going to be the same again!

Of course Sami was still excited. But the nerves kept growing. He struggled to eat or sleep. Manahil had him learn the nasheed and every time Sami even thought about singing it to Radia, he got a stomach ache. Then there were the aches from the gym sessions with Ali. That, with a mixture of how Sami was losing his appetite resulted in a lot of weight loss. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite what Ali had planned.

"You were supposed to get toned with muscles, not skinny!" Ali had said on several occasions. For the first time, Sami was beginning to feel self-conscious. Would he repel Radia? Had he really gone too skinny? How could that have happened in such a short period of time?

The only source of comfort was that he was about to please Allah greatly by marrying. That, and Radia's silly messages from time to time. Being reminded of her character and her humour, Sami felt some ease in knowing that he would get on well with her.

Before Sami knew it, he'd waken up to his wedding day. He didn't have a moment to think about the importance of the day and register what was happening as he'd been woken by a knock on the door. He forced himself out of bed and went to open the door, rubbing tiredness from his face.

"Asalamu'alaykum!" Manahil said, coming into the house followed by their mother. "We've come to decorate your room while you get ready for the wedding."

"You freshen up and I'll make you breakfast," Sami's mother said.

"No, that's okay, I'll just shower and make my own," Sami replied, trying to process what was going on.

"Have you ironed your thobe?" Manahil asked.

"Yeah, it's hanging in the wardrobe."

"And where are the new bedsheets you bought?"

"It was still a little damp when I brought it in from the washing line last night so I draped it on the door of my room," Sami replied.

"Well, I hope it's dry now. Have to sort this whole place. Sorry to ruin your last morning alone by the way," Manahil said before heading off to the direction of Sami's room. That's when the enormity of what was going on hit Sami. He was getting married! Today!

He looked around for his mother and found her in the kitchen going through his drawers for food.

"You don't have much food," she commented. "We need to buy food! Radia wouldn't like these empty drawers and bare fridge. Your baked beans have expired!"

"What shall I do?"

"You go get ready. I'm going make breakfast and then go shopping to stock up while I still have time. My mother should be arriving with your aunts soon. We should have done this before."

"It's okay, I'll go after I'm ready," Sami said, feeling guilty.

"Nonsense, you're the groom! You just get yourself ready and...and relax, I guess."