Bookworms | ✔

sixty

"Hey, have you guys seen my shoes?"

Haroon and Humaid exchanged amused glances with one another, eyes twinkling and lips curved into wide grins, expressions endowed with mirth as their soft chuckles escaped them.

The three walked out of the masjid together, but Nicholas couldn't seem to find his brand name shoes, ones he specifically bought for his Nikkah. The twins could not stop laughing, and the male guests that passed him hid their secret smiles, knowing glints entering their eyes.

His brows furrowed. "I feel like I'm missing something very important," he said, glancing uneasily between the Younes twins. "I'm very lost right now."

Walking out of the masjid, his father-in-law deeply sighed at the realization, at the long held tradition the Younes siblings implemented with the help of their close friends, specifically Dina's. Not knowing how to help Nicholas, he simply sighed, patting his back with an apologetic smile, which only confused Nicholas more.

"I hope you brought some cash with you," his father-in-law said, biting back his own smile. "You're going to need it."

"Cash?" croaked Nicholas with a slight crack to his voice. "Would someone please tell me what's going on?"

Humaid slung an arm around his shoulder, winking. "Oh, sport," he laughed, shaking his head at the helpless white man's innocence. "Don't you know the best desi tradition known to mankind?"

"The only kind of tradition you ever need," added Haroon, a coy smile playing on his lips, hazel eyes warm with jest.

Nicholas scowled, pushing Humaid's arm off and scoffing. "It can't be the best if I don't know about it."

Humaid chuckled. "On the day of the Nikkah, the bride's friends arrange for children to steal the groom's shoes while he prays."

His blue eyes widened with disbelief. "How do I get them back?" he spluttered in horror. I can't walk around with no shoes. I paid good money for those!

This time, the twins exchanged nervous glances with one another. Their brows furrowing at one another as if they were having a secret conversation with facial expression alone, their bond proving to be deeper than he originally thought. When Nicholas cleared his throat to grab their attention, the two men almost winced.

"You pay for them..." trailed off Haroon, looking everywhere but at Nicholas. "Well, there's more to it than that."

"Oh?"

"Humaid, tell him."

Sighing, Humaid stuffed his hands into his golden kurta or panjabi (traditional Bengali outfit for men) in Bangla. "I hate when you do this to me," he muttered under his breath before smiling widely. "Now, don't freak out on me, sport. Her friends and our little sister are going to ask for some cash before you get your shoes back and see your wife."

Nicholas sent him a blank stare.

"Don't look at me like that," said Humaid, laughing. "Relax, all our wallets are about to go broke for you."

"I somehow feel like I deserved to know this before I came here," said Nicholas, half joking as he dug into his trousers for his wallet. He sifted through his cash. "I have about two hundred on me. Is this enough?"

"You better pray to Allah it is. I'm trying to save my money," joked Humaid.

Haroon nudged him. "Play nice. He's our brother-in-law."

At that point, Nicholas realized why his father-in-law gave him an apologetic smile. These desi Muslims knew how to party, how to raise the bride on her throne, how to enjoy themselves without intoxication. Knowing these small games they played on the groom opened his eyes to how different cultures had different traditions, how Muslims could party without the temptation of alcohol.