Chapter 57 - The Runaway Bride

There are moments in life that define us, there are also moments that divide us into two different beings; who we were before an incident and who we are after.

Whether happy moments or sad moments, they change our lives forever either for good or for bad or for worse.

The same could be said for Najmah Haroun as she stared at herself in the full-length mirror, reminiscing over the past couple of weeks.

Her life had changed for good the morning after her reconciliation with her husband. It was a whirlwind of family gatherings, dress fittings, cake tasting, event preparations and much more.

If it came down to her, she would rather skip the festivities, sign the marriage certificate and just take off to Puerto Rico.

Lale would probably kill her; she thought smiling. The fashion diva would not miss a chance to party and if Najmah were to deny her that, only Lord knew what would happen to her.

She stared at the clock mounted on the wall opposite her with a sigh before flopping down on the bed. There was still an hour before the civil ceremony, and she wondered what she would do before then.

She had locked herself up in the room after dressing up with an excuse of needing a few moments to herself. Thankfully, no one had objected.

"What to do before time runs up?" she mused, looking around the room. She could read, but there was no book in the room, and she had no interest in using her E-reader.

An idea popped into her head, and without wasting any time, she slipped out of her wedding dress and donned on a burqa she found in Lale's closet. She grabbed Aslan's car keys and slipped out of the house through the back door.

{••}

She bobbed her head to the sound of the music blaring from the stereo of her car as she weaved her way through the streets of Istanbul, scooping Nutella into her mouth as she controlled the wheels with her left hand.

She was in a euphoric state as she allowed herself to let loose for the few minutes she had been away from the festivities. It felt nostalgic, like she had transported back to the time of her first nuptials when she snuck out to watch a movie.

She rolled her eyes when the screen of her phone flashed with Aslan's caller ID, a smile dancing on her lips as she accepted the call.

"Before you say anything," she chuckled, placing the phone on speaker. "I am almost there, I had to go out and get some stuff."

"Where are you?" he sighed through the phone. "Lale thinks we ran away together, said she's been trying to reach you, but you weren't answering."

"Yeah," she chuckled. "Just needed a few moments of quiet but don't worry, I'm just around the corner. Will be there in a few secs."

Najmah hung up the call and swerved to the next lane that would take her to her in-laws'. She just could not wait for the day to be over, she thought. She longed for the peaceful nights where she could cuddle and watch movies together with her husband.

'Soon,' a voice in her head said. 'Very soon.'

Her phone was ringing nonstop, but she paid no heed to it as she reached the gate of the mansion, the sheer amount of cars lining up the pathway was enough to jiggle up her thoughts.

What was she thinking when she left the house? She shook her head and parked the car in an empty space. She picked up the supplies she had bought and alighted the vehicle, making sure to duck her head as she moved towards the entrance, praying that no one would recognise her.

She rolled her eyes at her stupidity, of course, no one would recognise her, she was wearing a burqa.

{••}

"Really, Najmah?" Hajiya Salma shook her head, staring down at her daughter. "This again? When are you going to grow up?"

"Ummita," Najmah whined, taking off the burqa. "I just couldn't stay and wait for an hour doing nothing."

"Whose car keys did you steal this time around?"

"I didn't steal any key Ummita," she groaned. "I just borrowed the car for a few minutes, and besides, he left the keys here."

"What if somebody saw you? A bride walking around the streets in broad daylight."

"Nobody saw me," she responded, keeping the bags on the bed. "Well nobody saw me, Najmah," she corrected when Hajiya Salma glared at her. "They only saw my eyes and it's not like I'm the only person with brown..."

"Spare me your sass," she cut her off. "Now, put on your dress and wait for me here. You have only five minutes to do so, I will be back by then."

"Okay," she nodded solemnly. "Right away."

"And Najmah," Hajiya Salma called out when she reached the door. "No games."

Najmah's lips curled up into a knowing smile as her mother left the room. She wouldn't be playing any games then, she only had five minutes but who was to say she wouldn’t when she found herself alone again?

{••}

"You have some serious explanations to do," Lale burst through the door, holding a red sash in hand. "How could you pull off a runaway bride on me? You had me worried."

"I didn't run away," she responded, straining to pull her zipper up. "I was getting restless and I needed a breather."

Lale furrowed her brows before helping her with the zip. "And you weren't answering my calls," she accused.

"Guilty as charged," she smiled ruefully. "What's the sash for?"

"Your chastity belt," Lale responded.

"Chasti-what?" Najmah choked, staring at Lale as if she had uttered blasphemy. "You can't be serious. Please tell me you're joking."

"Dead serious," Lale grinned. "It's the maidenhood belt which symbolises..."

"I know what it means," Najmah cut her off. "Why do I have to wear it though? Or is wearing it also a big Turkish culture?"

"Not necessarily," Lale shrugged. "You can choose to wear it or not, it's your choice. Your brother has to tie it around your waist."

"Thank God," she grinned. "That would have been embarrassing, I'm not wearing it."

"Your call," Lale shrugged, throwing the sash on the bed. "Although I don't get why it bothers you that much unless you and my brother..."

Lale trailed off, seeing the horrified look on Najmah's face. "You so did," she danced gleefully. "Oh my God, you naughty, naughty lot."

"It's not what you think," Najmah face palmed.

"Then what is it huh?" Lale taunted, smirking at her.

"We didn't."

"Did too," Lale stuck her tongue out at her.

"Did not," she groaned, rolling her eyes.

"Did too."

"Did not."

"You so did," Lale accused. "Stop denying it. I see the chemistry between you both. Anyone within a mile radius could attest to that. Then how can you deny that you didn't do the deed."

Hajiya Salma cleared her throat to alert the girls of her presence. Najmah's eyes widened as she stared back and forth between Lale and her mother, hoping she hadn't caught up on their argument. Being an arewa lady, that was a conversation she would never engage in, in the presence of her mother or any relative of hers.

"I will leave you two," Lale kissed Najmah's cheek then left the room after greeting Hajiya Salma.

"I know I do not say this much, but I love you, and I am really really proud of the woman that you have become. You are strong and brave, you have been fighting a war within you since you were a child, and as your mother, I was so blind I wasn't able to see that. You have come a long way, and I hope that nothing will disrupt the happiness that you have found, that is my prayer for you.

Marriage, as you know, is not a bed of roses. Love is not enough to form a stronghold on a relationship, you need patience, endurance, trust and above all, understanding. A relationship with neither faith nor understanding is doomed to fail. Practice patience in your marriage and no matter what happens, trust your partner unless it does not adhere to the teachings of Islam."

"Thank you Ummita," Najmah threw her hands over Hajiya Salma. "You are the best mother anyone could ever ask for. Thank you for being you Ummita."

"Now come on," she raised Najmah's head and cupped her face, wiping the tears that flowed down her face with the tip of her veil. "Stop crying, we wouldn't want them to think that I assaulted the bride now or would we?"

"These are happy tears Ummita," Najmah grinned, hugging her again.

"I pray that this smile never wipes off your face."

"Ameen Ummita and yours too."

"I wouldn't want to interrupt the mother daughter bonding time but don't I deserve a hug too?" Ferah called out from behind, startling the duo.

"There's enough to go around Anne," Najmah chuckled.

"It's time," she smiled, taking Najmah's hands into hers.

Hajiya Salma nodded at the two and together, the three of them ambled out of the room after using a veil to cover Najmah's head.

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