185 - Hope de Luca
Hope de Luca
I looked at my fiancé, who extended his hand and pulled me into his arms. We heard exclamations from everyone present and some laughter too.
“I miss you,” he said, his lips touching my forehead.
“I miss you too!” I nestled into his arms.
We heard our families socializing, my parents talking with my in-laws, who were gifting them with small jewelry boxes. But at that moment, I was captivated by Mahjub's gaze. He seemed to be scanning every part of my face, making me blush and showing that my health was better.
I looked to the side when I felt a subtle touch on my waist. Ruslan was there with the case containing my gift for Mahjub. I took the box and turned to face my prince.
“The first time I gave this to you, I saw you as a fairy tale prince who needed something to remember my existence,” I said, watching him open the case. “Today, we are on a completely different level. This piece is no longer just a reminder but a symbol of my love for you.”
I took the masbaha from his hand and handed him the piece, which had been remade with all thirty-three beads of rubies, ivory, and amber.
“It’s beautiful, and I’ve missed having it on my wrist,” I heard him say.
While Mahjub was still looking at the piece in his hand, I saw my father-in-law, Hassan, approaching with a large box in his hands. Mahjub wrapped his masbaha around his hand, took the box, and stood in front of me.
“When my parents got married, my father Hassan gave my mother something similar,” he said.
The box was tied with a grand bow. I opened it carefully and curiously, then began to laugh with my husband. Given how delicately it was protected, I imagined it was some kind of fabric. To my surprise, when I removed the paper protecting my gift, I saw the delicate fabric.
“The hijab, besides being something instructed by the Quran for our women to keep the beauty of their hair only for their husband, is a small jewel I want to give you.” The fabric was ivory-colored, as delicate as silk, with a weave that was undoubtedly made of gold.
“Hope, you are far more valuable than any of the jewels I will give you throughout our life,” he said, lifting my face with his finger. “Hope, I promise you that I will not take another wife. I want only you, my beautiful swan.”
I felt my cheeks burn with his declaration.
“Can you kiss me to seal this promise you’re making?” I asked, testing my fiancé's resolve.
“Technically, I shouldn't...” He placed his hand on my waist and pulled me closer. “But I will be the sheikh as soon as we are married.”
I started laughing, and his lips touched mine gently and lovingly. I sighed, feeling the soft touch and the light taste of arak.
“Mahjub, let go of your wife!” we heard my mother-in-law say.
“Alright, just three more days,” he complained, making a huge grimace.
We sat on the sofa next to our siblings, who seemed to be having an interesting conversation with their eyes. I knew Zara would torment my brother just as much as she had suffered, worried during the two days she suspected she was pregnant.
“Everything ready for our wedding?” Mahjub asked me.
“Yes, all six dresses…”
We started laughing because it was something we had decided not to do, but I was outvoted by my mother and mother-in-law, who wanted all the traditions. We sat there, talking about the plans and how strange it was to sleep without him by my side.
“The bed is really colder without you,” he said close to my face.
“I wish we could go home today. I miss the warmth!” I said, running my hands over the fabric of my dress.
“Tomorrow, we’ll go home, my swan,” Mahjub said, pulling my hand to kiss it.
Before nightfall, my parents served dinner, as in the early hours of the morning we would be taking the jet to return to my future home. It would be a long journey back.
I would become the sheikha of a beautiful country like Sudan, beside my Desert Prince. Even though the journey was longer than we had wished, we had arrived at a place where our families believed was best for me and my prince.
I was upset when we finally managed to get on my family’s jet. My brother laughed at my reaction to seeing so many journalists at the gates of my parents’ residence. Mahjub hadn’t mentioned that he had released a statement about our wedding, which caused a massive commotion around our car as they tried to get a picture.
“He just wants to show off. Look at our father; he never misses a chance to show off our mother!” Ruslan put his arm around my waist and pulled us into the seats.
“Boys, settle down!” we heard our mother’s voice.
I watched them walk past us to sit a bit further back. I knew that until later, the two of them would be locked in the small suite to enjoy the trip.
“I talked to Zara!” I saw his expression change.
“Do you like her?” I asked curiously.
I watched my brother take off his shoes and stretch his legs to the other seat.
“Of course I do, but not enough to propose to her,” he said, looking at the aircraft’s ceiling.
“Then why do you look like that?” I frowned.
“She said we’d talk after the wedding, and it’s eating me up!” He turned towards me, and I could see how sad he was. “She deserves to marry a man who loves her!”
“I’m proud of the man you’ve become, my polyglot…” I looked at him as he started laughing.
Our journey was long and exhausting as always. I knew it would take a while before I returned to my parents’ home after the wedding. I adjusted my hijab as we headed towards the palace. From the car, I could see how the streets were abuzz with excitement about the wedding. Most people were curious to meet the foreign Muslim wife of the heir sheikh.
This had been widely covered by the local media, which had worried me for a few days. I wondered how I would be accepted since I wasn’t from here and wasn’t born Muslim. But as the news about me spread, I saw how everyone was eager to see my demeanor beside the heir prince.
Our car was surrounded by a few residents and journalists trying to get a picture. But beyond that, I could see the joy of the people around the palace. We knew that everyone was happy knowing that Sheikh Salim Al-Makki’s legacy would continue, as they all wanted the leadership to remain in his hands.
There would be a celebration where Mahjub would become the sheikh once we returned from our honeymoon. I was sure he was looking forward to this moment. After all, Mahjub had been prepared for this role, and I would be by his side, holding his hand and giving him my full support.
Our arrival at the palace was synonymous with celebration. We saw various dancers, both odalisques and dabke dancers. I felt delighted and wanted to dance with all the women who approached me and my mother.
“The party has started…” I said, smiling at my mother.
I was whisked away to one of the rooms and dressed in the first gown, a blue one with light bead work. It was beautiful, I thought, looking at it in the mirror. All the family and friends were there, and soon I would go down to the grand hall where everyone, including Mahjub, would be, though we would be separated by a curtain, as we couldn’t see each other yet.
We danced and celebrated all night long. Whenever my mother, mother-in-law, and sisters-in-law approached, I knew it was time for another dress change. In total, I changed three more times that night. When I was finally tired, I sat near the curtain dividing the two party areas.
The woman applying mehndi on my feet smiled and thanked Allah for being able to sit. I closed my eyes to rest a bit.
"Tired, my swan?" I was startled by Mahjub's voice.
I opened my eyes and looked for my husband, but I only saw his shadow beside me.
"I wish I were in our bed, with you massaging my feet!" I said, laughing.
"I’m tired too, but our parents are far from going to bed and the party on this side is still going strong." I looked at the shadow on the curtain and saw he was wearing a keffiyeh.
I glanced to the other side and saw my mother-in-law approaching with a smile, a fan in her hand. I smiled as I watched her playfully tap Mahjub, who was sitting on the floor on the other side of the curtain. His protests made us all laugh.
I was so exhausted that night that I ended up dozing off right there while the woman worked on an intricate design on my feet and something less noticeable on my hands. Not that I didn’t like it, but I didn’t want anything too large drawn on my body.
“Hope, wake up, my dear…” I opened my eyes to see my mother's smiling face beside me.
“Good morning, Mom…” I yawned and looked around at the brightening surroundings, seeing most people beginning to wake up.
“The day has come, my love, the last dress. It’s time for your wedding!”
I quickly got up, overwhelmed with joy, lifting the layers of the green dress encrusted with sapphires, and we headed to the room where my princess-like white wedding dress awaited me.