178 - Mahjub Al-Makki
Mahjub Al-Makki
I felt the heavy hand of my father Hassan on my shoulder, knowing he was proud of everything he was seeing. Even though everything that happened in recent years had caused pain and suffering, we knew it was all very useful for my growth, not just as a man, but as a man of faith.
It proves that now I am ready to assume the place that is rightfully mine. During my exile, my father ended up taking my place at the palace, handling all the responsibilities that should have been mine.
"I am proud of you..." I saw my father Hassan looking at his triad. "We all are!" I heard him say.
I turned towards my father Hassan and smiled, happy to hear this from him. I nodded, and we continued talking for a while until my mother appeared wearing a hijab, with all the women in the family by her side, ready to go to the airport.
Still holding the masbaha, missing a few jewels, I passed the beads through my fingers, praying to Allah to keep my jida well and lucid so he could see that I had reached the place he had envisioned for me.
After all, my grandfather and my father Bruno were the only ones who had always been by my side. They corrected me at the right time and distanced me from the family to help me mature and understand that my behavior was wrong.
With thoughts of gratitude to Allah for returning to me the family I love, I looked in the direction my mother had come from and received the best surprise. Seeing Hope wearing a cream-colored hijab, covering her hair and neck, her mother by her side with a sorrowful, reddened look probably from much crying, moved me deeply.
Hope walked towards me, standing between her parents, who stopped in front of me. I realized that something that should have happened four years ago was happening now. Hope stood with her hands clasped in front of her, her eyes fixed on mine. I knew what was coming, and I was very happy and excited about what was about to happen.
“We did it the wrong way, but somehow, we managed to make them fall in love!” Mattia said, looking at my parents.
“We agree and have already apologized to our son for that,” my father Hassan said, his hand on my shoulder.
“Our daughter said they have understood each other and that they want this relationship,” Alessa said, smiling at Hope.
“From the way our son looks at your daughter, I believe he also wants this relationship,” my parents said.
I smiled at Hope, restraining myself from reaching out and pulling her into my arms to protect her from everything and everyone, as I always would since the moment she said yes.
“We can have a small ceremony, and they can live happily…”
I stopped listening to what our parents were saying and forgot about any protocol, agreement, or what should be right. I closed the space between Hope and me, holding her hand.
“I made my proposal yesterday, but now that we have our families by our side, I want to ask again…” I said lovingly to my little swan.
We heard our family sighing and murmuring about how beautiful we looked together.
"Hope De Luca, today and for all the days of our lives, I want to ask you if you accept to be my wife? To be the woman who will always be in my life, becoming the mother of our children?" With affection, I lifted her chin and saw her expression change.
Her gaze became even softer, and a tear formed. I kept our eyes connected, feeling the lightness of her emotions, making it clear to everyone around us that our commitment was being sealed as it should have been years ago.
"Yes, my prince!" Her voice was gentle.
I looked up to the sky and thanked Allah for the gift He had given me on this birthday.
"May Allah bless us always, my little swan!" That was all I needed to say.
I brought our faces closer and placed my lips on hers in a slow, gentle kiss. I felt her smile and her hands holding mine against her face.
"I love you, my beautiful swan!"
"I love you too!" she said, and I saw her cheeks blush.
"Well, now that they’ve sorted things out, let's get the party ready!" Laís said excitedly, holding a handkerchief.
With our relationship resolved with our parents and everyone who needed to know aware of what was happening, we organized ourselves to head to the airport. We stayed there until a little after lunchtime, while my brother-in-law Henrique and Petter managed to arrange our transportation to the airport.
I don’t know how they did it, but there were six aircraft ready for all of us. This time, Pietra wouldn’t be going to Sudan; she and Guilherme were going to talk to her parents, who were waiting for them at the resort.
We headed towards my country, which, if Allah permits, will be the place where I will prosper alongside Hope, my beautiful ballerina. I wish to be there with all the family, holding my jida’s hand. If it is his time to depart, then I don’t want to miss the last moments in the presence of my grandfather.
It was a short trip, less than two hours, and we were entering the palace grounds. Hope, holding my hand, saw for the first time the grandeur of the place where we would live. The palace was celebrating, and we could hear everyone rejoicing at my return. My heart was racing, and I was eager to enter my grandfather's room and reassure him.
As we entered the palace, I was greeted by my aunt and nieces, who hugged me warmly. I watched my parents and the rest of my family stay in the living room. I felt my mother’s hand on my face, and she gestured for me to go to my grandfather’s room.
I nodded, holding her hand firmly and walking with Hope by my side. I wanted to show my old grandfather that I was where he always envisioned me to be, with the right woman for me.
Hope held my hand, and I could sense her nervousness as we walked down the corridor leading to the sheikh’s quarters. I stopped in front of the cream-colored door with a golden handle and looked at my future wife.
“It’s all right, my grandfather loves you!” I said confidently.
“It’s not that. Will I be able to adapt to all this?” she asked, her voice tinged with insecurity.
“Hope De Luca insecure? I don’t remember the woman who punched me being afraid!” I said.
“You know what I mean!” she replied, narrowing her eyes.
“Then we’ll adapt to the culture and everything else to make my wife happy. If necessary, I’ll abolish the hijab and whatever else is needed!” I said, holding her between my arms.
I hugged her waist and pulled her closer to me, seeing the incredulous look in her eyes. I wouldn’t allow anything to make Hope feel excluded for not being from our culture.
Even knowing that, Hope might have learned much more than many people who spend years around us trying to discover how beautiful our faith is.
“Let’s go, introduce me formally to Sheikh Salim Al-Makki.” she said, her eyes fixed on mine.
I smiled and tenderly kissed her forehead; after all, we were one step closer to finally becoming husband and wife. I nodded and turned towards the door.
I knocked and opened the door slightly, seeing my grandfather lying in bed, being monitored, and looking exhausted.
“As-Salamu Alaikum,” I said, entering the room ahead of Hope.
I saw his eyes light up when he saw me. I smiled at my jida, who looked much more worn out than he did fifteen days ago when he was still hospitalized.
“Alaikum As-Salaam.” His smile grew wider when he saw Hope behind me. “Finally, now I can meet Najla and Ebrahim, you are finally on the right path…”
I held Hope’s hand and approached my grandfather so that he could bless us and give us the wise advice that only a centenarian like him could give to a couple just starting their life together.