CHAPTER 14 - NIKKAH CEREMONY

'Qubool.'

'Qubool.'

Cyra and Ahmed mumbled, gazing into each other's eyes. Their marriage ceremony happened at her home several days after her mother's discharge. She learned from her neighbours and relatives what had happened but was understanding and indifferent. She loved her daughter and decided that it was best that they get married. Ahmed accepted Cyra's mother's proposal immediately, while Cyra needed to be evaded by her mother to make up her mind. 

Ahmed was drowned in guilt from time to time, but he backed himself thinking even the prophets had multiple wives, and the Quran says you could have up to four wives. Clearly, he has taken only what he wanted, as every man does, while completely ignoring the Quran's other rules. He concluded that he was the reason for Cyra's grief and that it was his responsibility to resolve it. He supposed he could manage both his lives by hook or crook. He assumes himself as the saviour of Cyra and her family while, in fact, they never really needed a knight in any shining armour. Ahmed didn't realise that he wasn't saving her, instead dragging her life into a mess that could have been avoided.

The nikah was simple, with only a very few people. It included the Imam of their mosque and its members, a few relatives who stayed in touch, their business dealers and friends. Cyra's mother couldn't escape her wheelchair yet, but she ensured the proceedings went well. After the marriage, everyone else continued their work, and Cyra and Ahmed carried on as always. There were no celebrations, and it didn't feel like anything had changed. Cyra's childhood friends mocked her the whole time for marrying so soon against their motto. After the rich feast served at her marriage, Ahmed was made to wait in the room upstairs that was Cyra's. Cyra let her mother rest, with the home nurse staying in the other room. The concept of home nursing was very new at that time, and she felt blessed to have had access to one because of her mother's contacts.

Cyra fumbled on her way back to her room. Having a man in her room was strange because she had never been in a relationship before. She feared men and relationships because of what had happened with her mother. But for her, Ahmed was different. She felt safe and included with him. She thought he was the missing piece of their lives. She finally felt complete and loved.

The room was exquisitely decorated for the wedding night with roses and jasmine. Unlike other married women, she did not have to adorn herself heavily with jewellery and embroidered clothes. She had long changed into her regular clothes and came in as usual, only that her heart thrust heavily against her chest that she thought would pop out of her mouth.

'Cyra, do you feel alright? Because this feels so unreal to me.'

'Yes, Ahmed. I am more than happy to now. We are legal, and no one would ever have to talk about us here on.'

'That's true.'

'But Ahmed. Did you marry me just because you feel responsible for all this?' Cyra looked expectantly. Ahmed walked towards his bag and took out a parcel wrapped in a brown bag. He placed it in Cyra's hand and gestured for her to open it. It was a beautiful deep blue saree with silver chamki studs all over. It was her favourite colour, and a piece of paper was stuffed beneath and pinned to the saree. She retrieved it with difficulty to find that it was the bill and it dated back four months in the past. She couldn't believe what she just saw and stared at him bewilderedly. 

'I bought this long ago for you.' He said, removing the bill from her hand, crushing and throwing it into the dustbin. 

'What?'

'Yes. I liked you way long back. Even before all this started. I always knew we were meant to be together.'

Cyra's happiness knew no bounds. She convinced herself that everything was godsent. She failed to notice Ahmed's sudden disappearance a few weekends before their marriage, and his calls to his home stayed highly hidden. Ahmed sometimes wondered if he could take Cyra home and confess to everyone about taking her as his second wife. He believed his parents would accept after a while, and convincing Aliza and her parents would be crucial. But he thought she would finally have to take them because it was within the rules for him to marry another woman. But did Ahmed really know the rules?

To be continued…

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