Previously:
7amad: e7lfy enty bas you wake me up to remind me you hate me.
Mai whispered: He'll either roll his wheelchair down the aisle or walk it towards me.. Either way I'll be there, waiting..
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Amal:
It seemed like a black out, but a sudden spotlight hit the doors of the entrance to the ballroom. The woman stood up in impatiently, in hopes of spotting her.
To the solo of her song appeared an agile fox walking in crystalized shoes. The ballroom suddenly grew silent, everyone was starstruck by the stunning scene.
She struggled with every two steps & stopped to have a picture taken.
3asha: Help her up the stairs from the right side, I'll be on the left!
As elegantly as I could, I held the bride's right hand and lifted up the lower part of the gown for her to take a step. 3asha was on the left, smiling to me, translating a good job.
It was the time Mai stole spotlight. The second she lifted her head, the ladies held their gasps of astonishment and glee filled the room.
"Who knew such a wild child would ever decide to get settled. Poor thing the groom, he must've been living under rocks not to know about her troublesome life." said a woman as she stared at Mai in jealousy..
"Why hasn't he chosen your daughter?" asked a woman next to her.
"I've suggested that to his grandmother but, as you can tell, it wasn't agreed upon." the first woman replied.
In turns, I've asked the ladies to get on stage to have their pictures taken with the bride. 3asha was on the phone most of the times making sure everything goes smoothly.
One of the ladies pulled out a phone and started taking pictures without Mai's permission.
It wasn't anything to worry about if the bride wasn't Mai, but we weren't going to be gossiped about.
Me: 3asha! The lady!
3asha walked towards the woman and pulled the phone before she left.
3asha: Taking pictures is not allowed here.
"It's just to keep you know, or are you trying to steal my phone? Oh my! Help! Help!"
3asha: Hey! Stop. Let me erase the pictures, then do whatever you wish.
"I've been to too many weddings young lady, I know when I'm getting robbed!"
3asha: You know me too well to think that's the case, let's talk outside, NOW.
I got up on stage, smiling apologetically to Mai. Once I sat next to her, I had to know.
Me: Who is she?
"Madaam don't forget to smile!" the photographer interrupted. I smiled and got a "Magandaaa!" from her.
Mai: She's our neighbor, a gossip, and scandals are the only thing she's after.
Khalid:
I was groomed and all dressed up. I looked down at my shoes, moved my toes, and looked up to my father laughing. He helped me with my bsht and then we walked to the ballroom.
The doors opened and a light hit my face. The photographer had to use the flashlight, I was almost blinded.
Father had his hand on my back, guiding me to the stage. I looked up to see Mai look so angelic, I was blown away. Amal helped her stand, congratulated us too.
It was just a dark room of ladies dining, but sitting next to Mai, looking the way she did, made me stumble over my words.
Me: Umm.. Aaa..
Mai giggled, I thought she got it. I just sat quietly, starstruck maybe.
Mai: Usually the brides have a conversation with their grooms. Say something?
Me: Umm.. I don't know what to say..
Mai: Awkward..
She looked at the women all sitting on the tables in front of her.
Mai: Now we have to fake a conversation.. Look, we pay for all this and we don't even get to dine.
Me: Hahah!
There were two screens on both sides screening.. Well, us! Live. Then that screen changed into our childhood photos up to the engagement party.
Amal:
They were beautiful together. They didn't stop giggling and laughing.
3asha came from out the ballroom.
3asha: I cannot believe her!
Me: Oh! Yeah, what happened with her?
3asha: She's going home.
3asha had worn her shaila and abaya.
3asha: Let's go take pictures with them! They are adorable!
I was a bit hesitant, I stared right into Khalid's eyes.
He didn't get it, because 3asha covered her face with her shaila, but when she stood next to Mai, she pulled it off her face and Khalid turned his head towards me
Khalid: Don't worry. I'm sitting next to the right one.
I sighed. Yadoh came up with little 3osha, in a grey dress and a floral little tiara.
Me: 3osha, come here!
3asha: 3osha? Her name's 3asha?
Me: Umm.. Yeah! That's going to be confusing later on!
3asha: Allaaah, baby 3osha come to me!
She fell in love with 3osha. Even after taking pictures and off stage they were playing. 3osha seemed to enjoy her company as well. She had a wide smile whenever she spotted 3asha between the tables.
Once the bride and groom left, there were only the ones from our family around. 3asha was exhausted, having her dinner when it was midnight.
The rest of the night I got "Aren't you the groom's sister? I'm going to suggest you to my son!" & "You're beautiful! 38balch!"
It seemed that they all had intentions & that they believed that I had no point in life. They thought I was just waiting for a husband to "buy me."
It was a culture where ambitious women were never supported, but brought down and held back until they got married.
The myth "A woman belongs in the kitchen" was much supported, in fact, the ladies who did cook and seemed housewife-like were the first to get married.
I believed in a woman who was able to hold a house together, but also chase after her dreams. If I ever got married, I thought, I wanted someone who did not fear ambition, but would support mine instead. In the end, wasn't marriage about sharing lives? Why couldn't it be about sharing dreams and hopes as well?
Salma cut my thinking off.
Salma: Amal, guess what!?
She seemed excited.
Me: Yeah?
Salma: I'm transferring to your school!
WHAT!? Salma used to attend our school until she failed a year. 3amy Rashed got so frustrated with her, she was sent to public school, all girls, just so she could focus on her studies.
Salma: Are there any guys there for me!? I wonder!
She started daydreaming. She thought it was all a dating place?!
This couldn't be happening!
