18. Leap of faith

...

The preparations for Dahlia and Kaveh's wedding were on full swing.

The families were already discussing dates and venues. The ideal time to host a wedding in their country was December, anytime before that was impractical due to the year-round humidity and heat. However, neither parties wanted to wait that long, as the disadvantages of a long engagement were hefty, so a date as soon as the first week of August was being considered.

Dahlia Ahmad was sprawled on her bed, lying on her belly with her legs in the air. In front of her lay several boxes of antique jewelries. Some belonged to her grandmother, some to her mother, now being shown to her as her own day for wearing these pieced was looming ahead.

The rest of her sisters were in the room as well, going through different pieces of ornaments as they chatted amongst themselves. Dahlia found a black and white photo of a woman dressed as a bride. The clothes and the makeup on the girl, not just the development of the picture, told her it was an old memory.

She picked it up and let out a gasp. "Is this Dadimaa?"

Dahlia asked, showing the picture to her mother. Junaina Ahmad nodded in reply. Both Lily and Rose moved to her side.

"She was gorgeous."

"Let me see," Lily said, as Dahlia turned the photo straight again.

"I mean, she still is, but my God; she looked like an old Bollywood actress or something."

"How old was she here?" Dahlia asked.

Junaina furrowed her brows as she tried to recall. "Since this was her wedding, I would say fourteen or fifteen."

"This is what she looked like at fifteen?" Lily cried. "Couldn't she have passed on her looks to me?"

"Instead of her attitude problems." Dahlia uttered under her breath, earning a look from her sister.

"That certainly would have made my life easier, at least," Junaina rolled her eyes at her daughter. "Nargis Khatun was quite a sight back in her day," she continued. "And it caught the attention of all the men in her area. She used to receive so many love letters that her mother was afraid to let her out of the house."

"Is that how she met Dadaji?" Dahlia asked. "Was he one of her suitors?"

Their mother's eyes sparkled as she let out a laugh. "Unfortunately, no. They were in an arranged marriage and they didn't even learn each others' names until their wedding day. But your Dada did not hold back in writing her letters afterwards. I found them in her attic one day, and he was quite the romantic, I tell you."

There were sighs across the room. "That is just adorable."

"I would have never guessed, by the way she kept bickering with him all the time," Lily added.

"That's what marriage looks like after sixty years."

"No, this is what marriage looks like after five years," Rose added with a chuckle.

"I refuse to believe that," Dahlia pouted. "I don't think every marriage turns out like this." She shook her head adamantly.

"You try staying married for a couple years first, and then come and repeat that to me," Rose retorted.

"I think the issue with most people is that they just stop trying," she argued. "If Dadaji kept writing her poems even after sixty years, Dadimaa wouldn't have turned bitter. If you want something to grow and sustain, you need to nurture it constantly and consistently."

"But that's not realistic, is it?" Rose said, eyes turning tired. "You have to start maintaining a hundred different responsibilities after marriage, and keeping up the romance is the least of your worries. I mean, you don't expect Kaveh to keep sending you flowers after every single fight, do you?"

Dahlia simply pursed her lips and the argument burnt out. It was around afternoon again when her mother mentioned Kaveh again, saying he and his father were visiting them for dinner.

As the date for their wedding loomed near, Kaveh's entry to their house was completely banned and was supposed to remain that way until the nikaah; but the exception was made as this visit was regarding work.

Dahlia's mother was over the moon. She dropped everything else on her schedule and started planning the menu. Junaina believed her son-in-laws were the most precious gifts from Allah sent from the seventh heaven.

Ibrahim informed her that he was accompanying Kaveh to the jewelry store a couple hours before dinner. Kaveh was going ring-hunting for Dahlia. It was supposed to remain a surprise, but Ibrahim told her the moment Kaveh requested his company.

Ibrahim pretended to take great joy in ruining her surprise, but Dahlia knew that was not the case, he was just having trouble processing everything.

Ibrahim would never say that out loud, of course. To her face, he kept saying stuff like, "haha, why would any sane man agree to marry you?" However, Malika informed Dahlia that in secret, he was getting emotional quite frequently these days.

Kaveh Fayyad went straight to the Fayyad family jeweler from his office.

Ibrahim was supposed to meet him at the venue. Kaveh began leaving the man reminders via calls before he himself left for the destination; because if there's anything he had learned from his time with the Ahmads - it's that they were always late.

It started raining outside, and it was the first rain of the year. Kaveh's eyes were a perfect reflection of the gloomy sky above, and so was his mood. Ibrahim Ahmad came sprinting within seconds and they stepped into the posh store together. The place was nearly empty, only with exception of a few selected customers. The glass shelves displayed both minimal and statement pieces.

Kaveh swept his eyes across the gleaming jewels. Ibrahim asked, "You got an idea of what you want to get?"

"I was hoping you'd be able to help me with that."

"I guess I can do that."

"So far from what I know of your sister, I think it's best to take the simple route?" Kaveh asked.

At that, Ibrahim let out a laugh. "Dahlia thinks she likes simple thing. True she doesn't like extravagance, but the girl does have a taste for the finer things in life," he said.

Kaveh shot him an utterly confused look. "Are you trying to pull a prank on me again by trying to confuse me?"

Ibrahim chuckled at his words. "Not today, my man," he said playfully. "Look, why don't you just ask her?" Before Kaveh could argue, he added, "You and I both know she already knows. Nothing stays a secret in this neighborhood."

Kaveh look turned flat. "You spilled to her, didn't you?" But then his expression showed exasperation. "I actually already tried. Just go to our group chat and see for yourself. She's refusing to speak to me."

"Why?"

He looked absolutely clueless. "I would know if she agreed to tell me."

"Dahlia's not one to get angry without reason." Ibrahim furrowed his eyebrows. "Okay, walk me through your last conversation," he said, already fishing for his phone in his pocket.

"She asked me out of the blue if I would bring her flowers every time after a fight."

"What did you say?" Ibrahim asked tentatively.

"I answered, of course I wouldn't. That's not practical."

He lets out a sigh. "Why would you say that, Kaveh?"

"Because it's true. Look, she tells me the thing she likes about me the most is my honesty," Kaveh said. "So why would she get upset if I do just that?"

"Point."

The men made their purchase and left the shop again. Kaveh managed to find a ring that was simple yet elegant. It did not catch attention easily, but it most definitely took a portion out of his pocket that would live up to his family name.

Ibrahim found his youngest sister a couple hours before the guests were due.

"Why are you fighting Kaveh over flowers?"

"We're not fighting," she bit out. "I'm just astounded by his lack of effort in our relationship."

"What on Earth are you talking about, Dels? I literally just watched the man lose his head trying to find the perfect ring for you." Before Dahlia could respond he added, "okay, walk me through your side of the story. I really need to pay more attention on WhatsApp," he sighed tiredly.

"You know after every fight we had so far he so far he got me flowers. I asked him if he'll keep up the practice after marriage as well."

She flared her nostrils. "He acted like it was the most absurd idea on the planet. So you tell me, he goes above and beyond to apologize to a girl who is nothing to him, but won't bother to do the same for his wife? How is that fair?"

"Okay, you have a point too."

"This is so typical," she said with exasperation. "He gets my name monogrammed on a ribbon and writes me letters now, but once he has my attention he'll stop trying?"

"I think you're taking this the wrong way, Dels," Ibrahim reasoned. "I think he just meant your relationship after marriage will be different from how it is now."

"Why does every married person keep telling me that." She threw her hands in the air.

"Because it's true!"

"But I don't want it to be true! Most couples around me can't stand each other. Alhamdulillah you and Malika are happy; but look at the relationships of our other siblings. Maybe they don't hate each other, but I also don't remember the last time any of them have exchanged words of affection."

"I think you're letting your nerves get the best of you." Ibrahim grabbed her wrist and pulled on it to make her sit next to him on the bed.

"The first thing you need to know is that every marriage is different, so do not compare your relationship to others and make predictions based on that. The second thing you need to remember is just because some couple do not display their affection in public, doesn't mean they are not happy."

"It's not about that. It's not even about the flowers. It's just, I don't want us to turn bitter and become strangers to each other," Dahlia said miserably.

Ibrahim let out a deep breath, eyes shimmering with emotions as he gazed at her. "You need to have Faith. It's up to you and Kaveh to make your marriage work, and I pray you guys do it well. That's all you can do at the moment. And from what I have seen of him so far, I think he'll genuinely try to keep you happy. I wouldn't have agreed to this union otherwise," he said playfully, but his tone was assertive.

She lifted her head to meet his gaze.

"And instead of giving him the cold shoulder, try telling him all these things you have just told me. I think that would bring more fruitful results."

"Okay," she said at last, looking still beyond overwhelmed but significantly calmer.

"I need to get going, they'll be here soon." Ibrahim stood up and patted Dahlia's head. "I have to get dressed for dinner. Stop freaking out, okay?"

He strode to the door and then turned around again, "and for God's sake, if I'm going to turn into your counsellor, tell your future husband to pay up. I can't give out free services, I have a child to feed.

...

What do you guys think of the book so far?

I know you all love Kaveh and Dahlia, but I would like to know your thoughts on Salman and Katrina as well.

How are you liking the new characters? In which direction do you think the story will progress?