Chapter 3

-------------Indonesia, Palembang

------------------------A month later

She was looking like an angel sent from above. Her dress fitted her perfectly. I looked at her dress in the full length mirror, she was in a white long sleeved flay and full satin long dress. It looked pretty tight from the belly up and flay from the belly down.

There was a small white veil styled on her head. She looked really stunning, I couldn’t believe it. I have never imagined that I could ever look this beautiful. I was left in shock as I looked into the mirror taking in all the makeup Firdaus made me wear. I didn't like how I looked even though I looked so pretty, I was so used to my plain abayas and baggy skirts and shirts. This was a really big change.

Time honestly was fast.

It felt like it was just yesterday I agreed to get married to a stranger. I have never thought of getting married, and now that I knew more about it, I never thought I was going to get married to a Christian. These thoughts never crossed my mind, not even once.

It was really heart breaking that I was getting married into a Christian family, I knew nothing about them. I looked at myself in the mirror and watched my eyes water up. I was not going to gain anything from this marriage, it wasn't going to increase my Iman even a little. I really hoped they were as nice as what grandpa said. I really hoped they weren't going to maltreat me cause of my religion and disability, cause I could only cope with Firdaus's bullying. I couldn’t adjust to someone else's.

Well I trusted my grandfather, he knew what was best for me, he wasn't going to tell me to go for what would hurt me. I needed to trust in Allah. I could handle this.

"Faryah!" I heard Ummi call as she walked into the room. She looked really pretty in her purple, flower printed Abayyah. She was wearing little make up too, she looked so nice. " My dear, you look so beautiful" Ummi complimented and pulled me into a warm hug. It saddened me that I was going to leave her after the wedding today, I was going to miss all her warm motherly hugs, but hopefully were going to keep in touch. In sha Allah.

"I'm going to miss you sweetheart, So much, but remember even though we're not with you, Allah is and he always will be" She said as she cleaned my eyes smoothly and looked at my reflection in the mirror. I badly wanted to speak up and tell her how I really felt, I badly wanted to pour my heart out to her. I was scared, very scared. I was not sure of what I was going to face there, and I couldn’t handle anymore abuse or assault from anyone. I had a very fragile heart, it was very weak, I've been hurt before and it was more than enough.

Please.

" You don't know how happy Abbah is with what you're doing, but Faryah, if you don't want to push through with it just nod, be honest with yourself okay" She said whilst smiling sweetly at me in the mirror. She really looked nothing like me. Not even our lashes are of the same length.

This was my last chance, it was either now or never. This was my last opportunity, even though I didn't get married, grandpa was going to understand but it was a promise he made and I had to help him fulfil it. I had to make this sacrifice so he won't see himself as a hypocrite before he leaves us. It was the best thing to do.

I shoom my head at Ummi and watched her tear up. "Never stop being considerate sweet heart" Ummi said and pecks my forehead. " Ummi, oh come on we're getting late" Firdaus grumbled as she walked into the room.

She was wearing a high-low, red lacy dress. She was wearing a black hijab today, thankfully. The heels she was wearing looked so uncomfortable. "Here Faryah, we shouldn't forget the cape" Ummi said and wore the white lace long cape around my shoulders. " This is the first and last time I'll compliment you Faryah, you look okay" Firdaus said and smirked at me. This lady, deep down kind of has a nice spot for me.

We only needed to kindle it.

Grandpa was waiting for us in Firdaus's small but expensive car. GrandPa suffered a left hand side Paralysis from his shoulder downwards. He was using a wheel chair now. He was allowed out of the hospital, only for today and he was accompanied by a nurse, in case if anything unexpected happens. I got into the back of the car with GrandPa and the nurse and Ummi rode in the front with Firdaus. The wedding was going to be held in Taran Jeremba Kaŕan, Jeramba reefs. It was a recognised garden here in Palembang.

"Faryah" GrandPa called silently as the others talked about how beautiful the garden was. He intertwined our hands and smiled gracefully at me. "Thank you very much Faryah, thank you for fulfilling my last wish" I smiled back at him as he let those words loose. I was not planning on ever disappointing him.  " Always trust in Allah and you'll be good to go okay, did I tell you you're the most beautiful woman in the world?" he made me laugh this time. My laugh only showed my perfect set of white teeth. I shook my head as he kissed my forehead. All this was totally worth it.

"Faryah, you can do this, we love you so much okay, Allah is with you" Ummi said as I stood in front of the red carpet that was laid on the grass that demarcated the left hand side of the seats from the right. The chairs were arranged well and not much guests were seated, ten on the right and ten on the left.

There was a small shade that was decorated with flowers, with two seats and a table for the Judge. We were having a civil marriage, of course.

Ummi handed me a beautiful bouquet of roses and leaves to go sit down. GrandPa was still beside me. "Faryah I know this isn't easy but I also know this is right for you okay, you can handle it, thank you" GrandPa said after I knelt down to meet him on his wheel chair and hugged him. The tears were profusely pouring out of my eyes, they couldn’t stop, they didn't want to stop.

I heard a slow, kind of romantic song play in the background. That was my cue to walk down the carpet. I never pictured this happening to me, I was not getting married the islamic way. I kept my eyes peeled to the carpet as I walked down it slowly, I tried looking and I noticed how all eyes are on me, well of course.

I was the bride.

I locked eyes with Ummi and she smiled at me, giving me a thumbs up.

"You can do this Faryah" I said to myself as I stopped at the bottom of a few stairs. I lifted my eyes from the carpet and stared at the masculine structure standing a few metres away from me, stretching a hand out to me. He seemed nice at least. I shyly placed my small hand in his, it was like putting my hand in that of a gorillas' , except for the hairy part. He held my hand tightly and somewhat aggressively and I rose my head up a little bit higher to get a clear view of his face.

He had brown hair, with slightly full eye brows. His nose, long and pointy, defining his small brown eyes. His lips, small and well shaped, giving his bare chin and moustache a very fine definition. Masha Allah, he was very handsome. He was also tall and his suit outlined his masculinity, you know, the muscles and all. He really looked like a nice man but then I couldn’t judge him by his face right. He pulled my seat for me and I sat carefully, normally when I want to sit, I was always careful, it was either I fell or the chair broke, all cause of Firdaus's mischievous plans. He took his seat beside me and the ceremony began, there was no going back. I wrote down my signature on the space set for it and there, we were officially married. The guests cheered loudly and Khalid helped me get up from my seat, nice name for a fine man. He smiled at me sweetly as I got up and Oh My Allah, I couldn’t deny how handsome he was.

There was no going back now, I was officially married to Khalid Myles Olyster. I had high hopes about him and his family. I was going to be joining them tomorrow in Los Angeles. I really hoped I could adapt to this new change. My classes and all my schooling, I was going to figure it all out once I get there.

I turned to look at GrandPa, he was all smiles, he looked so happy and I felt so relaxed. His happiness was certainly worth it.