STORY
“I don’t know,” Hina said to Ray, stretching her arms above her head as she lay in bed in her mehndi dress. “I think I’ll go to the barat tomorrow.”
Ray stared at her for a full minute before responding, “You don’t know’? You ‘think’? Hina, we’re talking about you getting married tomorrow! It’s not a picnic you are talking about!”
“I’ll get married tomorrow,” Hina said, bringing her arms to her sides.
“Are you sure?” Ray asked.
“Yeah, it’s what I’ve decided to do,” Hina said.
“I don’t know what to think about you,” Ray said after a long pause. “You don’t look 100 percent sure and that bothers me.”
“Don’t think about me, think about what a nice event it’s going to be tomorrow,” Hina said, turning over to face Ray.
“It’s more than an event—it’s your life!” Ray threw his hands in the air in frustration.
“I know what I am doing,” Hina said. “Don’t worry about me.”
“I don’t think you know what you are doing,” Ray said. “I’ll keep checking with you tomorrow. If you want to back out one second before signing the marriage certificate, just have mercy on us and actually tell me, OK?”
“What on earth will you do to bail me out of that situation in front of everyone? Don’t say things you can’t do,” Hina said.
“That’s it,” Ray said. “Every time I ask you if you want to leave this situation, you tell me you’re OK with it because you think I can’t actually do anything about it. Hina, I am your older brother! That means something in this world. If I step up and object to the proceedings, there’s no way anyone can make you sign that marriage certificate. I need you to understand this.”
“I understand,” Hina said in a small voice.
Ray stared at her for another minute. “Just don’t do something you’ll regret, OK?” he said, getting up and leaving the room.
The day of the barat was filled with lights and noise. Ray kept asking her if she wanted to leave every time he saw her, which was often, as he made a point not to leave her side for too long. Gohar accompanied him with a tight grip on Hina’s elbow. Hina couldn’t make people’s faces out clearly in the crowd. When she walked into the wedding hall with cameras flashing everywhere, she just saw a sea of white. Walking up the aisle to the stage was the longest walk she had ever taken. At the end of the walk was Sameer, his face aglow in the lights, with the most nervous look on his face. His face popped more clearly in Hina’s vision, so she could see that he was happy to see her. As Hina and Sameer took their places on the stage surrounded by various family members and the person who would conduct the nikah around the stage, Hina mainly looked downwards, studying the pattern on the carpet. Behind her, Ray’s hand rested on her shoulder, and Gohar sat next to her, with Amani not far behind.
The time came for the thrice-repeated question, “Do you accept Sameer Butt in marriage?” She felt Ray and Gohar actively tense beside her. She had a vague feeling that Ammi and Abbu were there on the stage with her, but they were nowhere on her personal radar. She realised she had missed the window to respond to the question when the question was asked again. She felt Ray’s hand on her arm dig into her and Gohar put her hand on hers tightly. Finally, she spoke up. “I accept,” she said. The question came again. “I accept,” she said. The question came for a final time. “I accept,” she said.
Everyone around them erupted in congratulations. The people who came to congratulate her were a blur, but she remembered seeing not only Gohar but Ray crying. What registered with her the most was the look of absolute joy on Ammi’s face. Ammi floated from one relative to another, graciously accepting congratulations, looking as pleased with herself as if she had just surmounted Mount Everest. Abbu looked about as satisfied as he did after reading the morning newspaper. Hina thought to herself how it almost looked like he was having a teatime chitchat with his friends gathered around him. After the wave of people subsided, she registered that she was sitting next to Sameer, though it was hard to focus on him with all the cameras in her face.
Finally, Hina picked up on the fact that Sameer was talking to her. “You look absolutely beautiful,” he said.
“You don’t look so bad yourself,” Hina said automatically.
Sameer grinned. Where before he had been a nervous wreck, after the marriage ceremony he seemed to be brimming with confidence.
Ray oversaw the bringing of the table of food to the stage where Hina and Sameer sat, then left to look after the guests. Sameer helped himself to food. On Hina’s side, an emotional Amani prepared a plate of food for her, handing it to her carefully. “Strategic bites,” she told Hina, dabbing at the corners of Hina’s mouth with a powder puff.
“I know,” Hina said, taking a bite of the food.
Gohar finally showed up. “Have you eaten yet?” Amani asked her. Gohar shook her head. “Too busy playing the dutiful daughter-in-law?” Amani asked. Gohar smiled.
“Where are your friends?” Hina asked Sameer.
“They are off stuffing their mouths with food,” Sameer said. “Don’t expect them to be the protective type like your friends are. In fact, soon they will be here with jokes at my expense.” He paused. “It is nice to finally get to see you and talk to you,” he said.
“Yes, it was so weird to go all that time without any communication between us,” Hina said. “I didn’t know what was on your mind. It was very strange to come here today without knowing that!”
“I agree,” Sameer said. “Also…” He left the sentence hanging.
“Also, what?” Hina asked.
“I better not say it while your friends are still here,” Sameer said. “I will tell you later.”
“What is it?” Amani siad. “We were the ones who stood by Hina when there was a complete communication ban between you two. We deserve to hear what you want to say to her now!”
Gohar waved a hand in Amani’s face. “Don’t talk to him like that,” she said.
“You can tell me in front of my friends,” Hina added.
Sameer laughed. “Not now,” he said.
To be continued…