Chapter three: Dinner

"Can I get some rest first?" I asked my sister, feeling suffocated by the conversation, 

"Sure," Ruqayya said, "Just make sure to come down in time to prepare dinner" she replied, as I took my things and rushed upstairs, as I got upstairs, I prayed and crashed onto bed, falling asleep almost instantly,

After an hour of rest, I felt a little refreshed and able to go back downstairs, 

I could hear Ruqayya and Jidda talking about something and giggling, Ruqayya had a gentle and calm voice but my friend Jidda was loud, if Jidda was in her comfort zone you could hear her laughter from a mile away,

I walked back down stair and the room suddenly became silent they were obviously talking about me, 

"Jidda, you're going to stay for dinner, right?" I asked, resolving to meet the Mukhtar's since I clearly had no other choice.

"Of course" Jidda replied glancing and Ruqayya as though requesting permission, Ruqayya smiled and Jidda continued  I would love to see how handsome my best friend's husband-to-be is," she replied with a smile.

"Zahra, we've helped you by cutting some of the spices, but you have to do all the cooking yourself," Ruqayya said.

Zahra was my nickname, Ruqayya called me that whenever she had work for me, and knew I was in for a challenge.

"Why? I'm tired!" I exclaimed, wondering why I had to do all the cooking when I wasn't the one who invited anyone for dinner.

My sister gave me a warning look. "They are your visitors," she reminded me. It was our culture to treat our guests with the utmost respect.

"Alright," I said reluctantly, accepting my role as the host.

I picked up the pot and started frying the spices they had cut. I was going to make a variety of dishes—basmati rice with fried chicken, spaghetti with Bolognese sauce, coleslaw, fruit salad, and so much more. The list seemed endless.

"Please tell me you ordered some snacks," I pleaded with my sister, hoping I didn't have to make samosas along with everything else.

"No! I was hoping you would make cupcakes," Ruqayya said, adding another item to my already long list of things to do.

I sighed trying to maximize my time, "What time are they coming!" I asked my sister wondering how I was expected to finish all that and dress up to meet them.

I wasn't sure if I was still going to accept the proposal but yet I felt the need to make a good first impression.

"After maghrib" Ruqayya replied, Maghrib was the fourth prayer Muslims did in a day, it was usually done after sunset around 7 pm most times, although the time varied in locations. 

"Okay, I can do it" I convinced myself as I continued with the preparation.

 

"So how was the interview" Ruqayyah asked as I got to cooking 

"Yeah, you didn't give any feedback" Jidda added, 

Ughh the interview, I didn't want to even remember how awfully the HR treated me, 

"Well, honestly it didn't go well"...

"I am sure you did better than you think," Jidda said, 

"There wasn't even an interview, the HR just kept me waiting for nothing, very unprofessional," I said luckily for me basmati rice and fried chicken, didn't take so long to cook and I was done, 

    

Ruqayyah brought out a cooler and poured it in,

 I boiled the spaghetti while making the rice it was done in no time. 

Leaving me with the sauce, cupcakes, fruit salad, and coleslaw,  which I did one after the other, I had finished earlier than expected, just in time for evening prayer.

    By the time I was done Ruqayyah and Jidda were upstairs, leaving me alone to put everything in its appropriate place, set the table, and clean the kitchen before going to my room to pray. 

I entered my room to find  Ruqayyah and Jidda sitting on my bed talking,  They laid a red dress on the bed both chattering about it,  "Zahra, get ready, they are coming by 7:30" she said, I nodded playing along with everything she was saying, I knew at the bottom of my mind that I wasn't going to agree to the arrangement, 

I peeked to see the dress, but Jidda pushed away from my gaze, "What are you hiding?" I asked, "Get ready and you will see" my sister replied. 

I did as I was told, I was a mermaid when it came to baths, as I loved to take my time in the bathroom, but this time around I made sure to hurry, time wasn't on my side either as it was already 7:20. 

I came out of the bathroom to find Jidda holding up a beautiful red dress, It was a glittery red dress, with silver lace around the neck and hand, was beautiful 

"You bought a new dress for this?" I asked my sister nodded with a smile.

"Isn't it too extra," I asked, The dress was very beautiful but I felt it was too extra considering I wasn't interested in accepting a proposal, 

"No, it's not, we are talking about the Mukhtars here," Ruqayyah said, taking the dress off Jidda's hand, and handing it over to me, "Try it on, I want to see". 

I tried on the dress and it was perfect, It was the perfect fit for me, the perfect length, and size, and it rested on my body without exposing too much of my figure, Use this scarf, my sister said handing me a silver scarf to wrap around, the blended perfectly, 

"Ibrahim wouldn't be able to take his eyes off you now" Jidda teased, making me blush, I looked at myself in the mirror and not to toot my own horn but I looked good, 

"Makeup time or no makeup?" Jidda asked They both stared at me like a doll on display, "How good is your makeup skill" Ruqayya asked Jidda, "Very good" Jidda boasted, "No makeup" I answered for myself. "Not that I am accepting the proposal, but he should like me for my natural self," I said.

"sure" "sure" they both sync with smirks on their face, the doorbell rang, making my heart skip a beat, "let go, let go!!" Ruqayya rushed me downstairs, 

"Stay in the kitchen, I will tell you when to come out, she said pushing me into the kitchen with Jidda, 

Jidda and I leaned against the kitchen door, listening to them exchange pleasantries, I heard a nice deep voice say "Asallamu Alaikum" sending shivers down my spine, "Is that him" Jidda said, holding my hands as I began to feel nervous, different thought flooded my mind.

Amidst the panic, I heard my phone start to ring, tightening my grip on Jidda's hand as I picked up the call. "Hello, Am I speaking to Fatima?" the male voice on the other side of the phone said, "Yes" I replied, My name is Kabir, We met earlier today," he said, "Okay…. I said trying to remember if I met anyone that day, "The HR from NPC" he explained,