The proposal's aftermath was nothing like Ana had expected. Her imagination had always strayed to two extreme scenarios: she would either be so ecstatic that she carried Kamilah all over Cairo screaming that she had a wife, or backflip into the waters in despair, never to be seen nor heard from again. Granted, both were improbable from the start, but even a little fuss would be unsurprising.
But there was none. At least, none just yet. Any fleeting whims ebbed with a growing calm, anchored by a gentle hand leading her towards the cushioned seats, the sight of their rings keeping her enraptured. She sat, basking in her partner's presence, reciprocating each caress on her skin, contemplating the present and future. What had, and what would soon come to pass. Gazing at Kamilah's soft countenance, Ana had no doubt their happiness would last for a while yet.
The night drew to a gentle close, both of them mellow from the champagne. Neither seemed able to take their eyes off their rings until they lay in bed, head-to-head in a close embrace. Ana watched as Kamilah drifted off to sleep, running her fingers through wavy tresses, fighting off the urge to close her eyes as well. She didn't need to; she was already living a dream.
Ana's squad respected her request for them to not spring a surprise upon their return, and to give Kamilah some space. That was why the boisterous well-wishes came not the same night Ana had proposed, but the morning after. Honestly, Ana could barely process half of those wishes. After the roar of 'Sis-in-law!' in the mess hall, Ana's face quickly found refuge in her hand, while Kamilah was stunned into silence. Not for long though; she had stared at her 'in-laws' before breaking out in a chuckle, and took a seat beside Ana. They shared a glance as their squads started talking about a party, content to let them steer the boat for now.
After the day was done, Ana made two important phone calls. Zaid had denied any crying on his part, but Ana clearly heard sniffling between his giddy laughter and congratulation. He spoke with Kamilah briefly, then advised them on how to plan the wedding and its legalities. Before ending the call, he promised to discuss the details with them on a later date. Safiya let out a shriek that almost ruptured Ana's eardrum and, after she was put on speaker, pulled Zahra into the call as well. She accused Ana of showing up her older sibling, grilled them on their wedding plans, and was quickly hung up on when she started talking about children.
They took it slow at first, looking up wedding ideas and plans on the web, watching the video of Zaid's wedding, chatting with their friends and each other. By the time they met up with a wedding planner, they had a rough idea of what they wanted.
"Hm." Yamina looked between the two of them. "I do know a couple of imams who are willing to officiate gay weddings. They are very, very nice people and have done it many times before. And in their own mosques too. You'll feel comfortable with them. So there's no need to feel restricted, ya? If you'd like to consider a more traditional ceremony…"
"Ah, no. A simple civil ceremony is just fine," Ana said. Then she caught herself, sharing an amused glance with Kamilah. "We were thinking of a military wedding, actually. You know, with the sword arch?"
"Oh!" Yamina brightened up even more – if that was even possible. "You're in the military?"
"Both of us, actually."
"Very nice. It's been a while since I've done a military wedding, but even then…" She tapped her lip thoughtfully with a finger, then unlocked her tablet on the table, swiping through some files. Tapping on a photo, she turned the tablet towards them. "You have quite a few options. Now this one was traditional."
They peered down at the photo of two women sitting together in a kosha, beaming at each other.
"Discussed the mahr – which was kind of tricky because they're both technically brides," Yamina laughed. "Had their henna night, then their whole ceremony in the hotel. Signed their contract, exchanged rings, had drinks and food – all very smooth. Ah! And the zaffa at the venue of course."
She swiped through a few more photos of the women's wedding, explaining the themes and processes as she did so. Then a new couple appeared on screen. Two men this time, both in dress blues and walking down the front steps of a building.
"This one was Christian, had their ceremony in the army base's chapel – do you know them?"
Ana cocked her head. "Nope."
"I see, I see. Well, these two exchanged vows at the altar and walked through the sword arch after… There we go." She stopped at a photo of the men kissing under the arch. "This is what you want, hm?" Yamina smiled when her clients nodded. Then she looked thoughtful, fidgeting with her hijab. "Truthfully, you'll be my first civil wedding. But don't worry – I'll give you the best." She flipped through a few more photos of the men, commenting, "This one's more Westernised, as you can see. And based on what my colleagues have done before, most of the civil weddings resembled this a little more."
"That's fine," Kamilah said.
"Good. We can adjust anything and everything as we go along, of course. It's your wedding, after all! So let's get into the nitty-gritty, shall we?"
The more Yamina grilled them for information, the more they felt like fish out of water. Ana had been to a few weddings herself, but they have been traditional for the most part, and she definitely did not ponder too much over their styles and themes. It was common knowledge that planning a wedding took a lot of time and effort, but one did not understand the whole truth until they experienced it themselves.
Deciding on the type of wedding was more than a little tricky – trying to fit a mix of modern and traditional customs caused quite a headache. They met with Yamina many more times over the next few weeks, discussing the location, guest list, dates, themes, outfits, procedures, photo shoots, caterers, and a whole plethora of items that made Ana's head swim when she thought about it.
"Maybe we should just elope," Ana said, scrolling down Yamina's photos on her tablet. Her legs were stretched out under the covers as she leaned against the headboard.
"It'd be much easier," Kamilah concurred, throwing her towel into the hamper before joining Ana on the bed. "Elope and go straight to our honeymoon."
"Now that's another question." Ana looked up from the photos of wedding venues. "Where do you want to go?"
"I want to see snow."
"Winter, huh. Do you wanna ski too?" She grinned at Kamilah's eager nod. "Then…Switzerland?"
"I don't know. You're the one who's traveled everywhere."
"Yeah, never skied though. But I'd like to try." Ana shrugged. "We'll ask Yamina about it."
"Mm." Kamilah hugged Ana's arm and leaned on her as they read through the proposed timeline in Yamina's email. The tentative wedding day was in January, which fit nicely with their winter dreams.
"Ana?"
"Yeah?" There was a pause, and Ana glanced at her partner, who was looking at her with an almost somber expression.
"Can I…take your name?"
Ana blinked, cocking her head. "Why?" she asked reflexively. Though there were more spouses starting to take each other's names, it was still a very uncommon and untraditional practice, mostly due to religious beliefs. Those who did it – like her father – still earned the occasional double-take.
"Why not?"
"Won't it be confusing with two 'Ana's? Ah!" She winced at the pinch on her arm, chortling with a grin on her face.
"You know what I mean."
After allowing herself a few more laughs, Ana calmed down and said, "There's no need to, you know. Besides, Shadid is…so you. It's your name."
"It's my… It's not mine. And I don't want it anymore," Kamilah said quietly.
Giving herself a tight mental slap for catching on so slowly, Ana squeezed her arm and smiled. "Kamilah Amari," she acceded, rolling her tongue around each syllable. "Kamilah Amari. Mm. Beautiful. Almost like these two names were made for each other." She grinned at Kamilah, and was rewarded with a gentle smile. "Kamilah Amari. I love the sound of that."
Kamilah gave a wan smile, resting her head against Ana's. "I love it too."
With Yamina getting to work snapping up their wedding venues, decorations, and making appointments at bridal boutiques, their overall schedule was now set in stone after getting a feel of their guests' availability. Their wedding was slated for the second weekend in January, and their honeymoon at the end of the same month. Now that one concern was out of the way, it was time for them to rush around and get everything else in order.
"Think your relatives would be scandalised?" Kamilah asked as she emerged from the changing room.
Ana turned away from the long rack of wedding dresses, setting eyes on her fiancée yet again. This was the fourth dress she had tried, a sleeveless V-neck which left her arms and a decent amount of back exposed, hence the question.
"Who cares? I'm the one you're marrying. Not them." Ana walked over, running her hand along Kamilah's waist to get a feel of the taffeta's texture.
"Still… Some might think it's too revealing?" Kamilah shrugged. She turned this way and that, looking herself over in the mirror.
"Then those old crones can shove it. Besides, neither of us ever cared about that before. Why start now?"
"Because it's our wedding?"
"That's right, love. Our wedding."
Kamilah raised a brow, and looked back into the mirror uncertainly. "What do you think about this one?"
"Lovely. Honestly, you look good in everything," Ana said, touching the dress as Kamilah cocked her head thoughtfully. "This feels a little stiff though. Do you like it?"
"So-so," she sighed. "Time to try another."
"Chin up, sweetie. We'll get there."
But not that day, it seemed. Or rather, 'night' was more appropriate, as their work schedules had them occupied seven days a week. With what little time they had to breathe, they spent it all on planning and shopping and food tasting. Thankfully, with the one weekend they had free, they found the dress in the second boutique they entered.
According to Kamilah, it was a rather easy decision. She felt comfortable in it, and Ana's loss for words sealed the deal. Ana remained transfixed as Kamilah spoke with their assistant, discussing several alterations to help flatter her physique even more. Then she made eye contact with Kamilah in the mirror, and groaned out loud when reminded they still had the evening gowns to look for.
"Do I have to?" Ana asked.
"You want to wear your dress blues the whole day?"
"Well, I could. I have to wear it for half the reception anyway," she said half-heartedly, stepping forward when Kamilah tugged on her hand.
"I want to see you in a dress."
"I know," Ana sighed. She had already lost the battle, she knew. Not that she even fought it in the first place.
"I'll pay for yours."
"That's not the point, habibti."
"Please?" Kamilah said with a smile, catching onto Ana's game.
"Fine."
Though they stayed two more hours in the boutique, the search for their gowns felt much shorter. The variety of colours kept their interest piqued, and Ana herself was busy trying on different dresses, finally understanding Kamilah's struggle to find the right one. It was when Kamilah smiled and nodded, eyes roving appreciatively over her figure that her search had ended, and they could sit back to take a long needed breath of fresh air.
One thing that they had the utmost freedom over, was the search for their rings. No concern about other people's opinions, nor having to match the colour theme of their wedding. It was just the two of them, looking for the token of their commitment. And, it was a much easier process than when Ana had hunted for their engagement rings.
They went into a few shops that Ana had been to before, getting greetings and well-wishes from some of the staff who had memories longer than Ana thought necessary. They tried on a few simple rings, then some with more modern patterns, and even a few with intricate engravings and inlaid gems. But what truly charmed Ana was a plain gold band with a strip of silver in the middle, and judging by the glint in Kamilah's eye, it was the one for her too.
With Yamina's help, everything had been settled in record time. The bustle slowed down just one month before their wedding day; most of what they needed were already in place. All they had left to do was take it easy, look forward to the rehearsal, and have mini panic attacks whenever they realised they had forgotten something, only to have Yamina assure them it was already taken care of.
The peace was almost surreal, considering the rush and stress of the months before. It left Ana with a niggling feeling that she had forgotten something, though reading through Yamina's comprehensive brief and listening to Kamilah reassurances set her mind at ease.
They cruised towards the end of the year and celebrated Ana's 25th with little fuss, opting to leave the excitement for their wedding itself. And a few days before the big weekend, the excitement did arrive in the form of Safiya and Zahra, whom they fetched from the airport. Safiya swooped in on Kamilah first, lifting her future sister-in-law from the ground in a hug. Zahra managed to steal Kamilah from Safiya eventually, the bride and her maid-of-honour finally meeting face-to-face after months of video calls.
Zaid arrived a day after the two, and they managed to steal some time together as a family, looking through the album from their pre-wedding photoshoot in Ain Sokhna. They had chosen to add some beach scenery into their collection of photos taken by the Giza pyramids, and the sight of bright blue waters turned out to be a good contrast to the desert sands. Ana's favourite – which they had set as phone wallpapers – was of them sharing a kiss on the beach, silhouetted against the orange hues of a setting sun.
They had a rehearsal in the park two days before the wedding on Saturday, mostly to practice the sword bearers' procession, and Kamilah's walk down the aisle. After the sword bearers had their coordination straightened out, they headed straight for the hotel, which was just a short drive away. They had a dry run with key performers from the zaffa troupe, learning the route to the ballroom for the evening's celebrations.
At the end of the day, the Amari relatives gathered in Ana's house, where they had a chance to catch up with one another and congratulate the couple. Ana spent most of the night introducing Kamilah to her elders and cousins, and fended off the more gossipy ones to give Kamilah some space to breathe. The house was kept active and noisy until midnight, when they finally dispersed to nab some rest themselves. There was an occasion to save their energy for, after all.
On the eve of their wedding, they went through every detail in the itinerary with Yamina again. The planner looked just as excited as they were, despite having organised many weddings of her own before.
Ana spent the entire day by Kamilah's side, entertaining relatives who had dropped by for another visit, before they were separated at night for their own bachelorette parties. Kamilah's was held in Ana's house with Zahra, her own squad – who were her bridesmaids as well – along with some of Ana's cousins and aunts. Ana hung out in a pub with her half of the crowd – those who wanted down as much alcohol as they wanted without judging looks from their elders. Ana invited the men to her party as well, taking pity on them for having no actual 'bachelor' party to attend. Safiya made noise in Ana's stead, regaling the guests with her own share of stories, and matching Ebo drink for drink.
After nursing two glasses though, Ana started getting restless. The noise, alcohol, and boisterous chatting all held no appeal to her anymore. She looked over the group, glanced down at her own glass, and came to a decision.
"Ana!" Safiya said. "Come on, why are you going so slow? Better get smashed tonight before you have to behave tomorrow."
"Nah, she can't afford to have a hangover tomorrow!" Khalid clapped her on the back. "Gotta be sharp for the wife."
"…I'm going home."
Safiya leaned in. "What?"
Ana stared right at her sister, then knocked back the rest of her beer in one go. Glass landing on the table with a thud, Ana announced, "I'm going home."
Those sitting around her turned to stare as she stood up from her chair.
"Mesi," Ana said. "Drive me back home."
"Your home?" Mesi asked incredulously.
"Yes. Let's go."
"You're not supposed to see her tonight, Ana."
"Yeah. Just sit down and enjoy your last night of freedom." Safiya tried to tug Ana back down, but failed.
"I don't want to. Come on, Mesi." Ana started walking away. "Either you drive, or I drive."
That did it for Mesi. She got up from the table immediately, following Ana through the pub. And when Ana reached their car parked behind the building, she turned around to find not only Mesi, but Safiya, Layla, and the rest of the girls in the group.
"What…"
"Get in," Safiya said, yanking the door open with a smirk. "Let's crash the henna party."
The women sang along to the radio in their alcohol-induced high, while Mesi drove them back to the Amari residence in no time at all. Ana stumbled out of the car and made a beeline for the door, getting surprised looks from the much more mellow party goers in the house.
"Ana!" Zahra stood from the couch, where the henna artist was working on her cousin's hand. "What are you doing here? You're not supposed to see Kamilah before–"
"Too late," Ana said, eyes falling on her bride-to-be, who had walked out of the kitchen with a cup of tea in hand. Kamilah's eyes widened as Ana strode over to her, barely getting her question out before Ana drew her in for deep, loving kiss. She ignored the furor that broke out behind them, smiling at Kamilah when they parted.
"You're so beautiful," she murmured.
"And you've been drinking," Kamilah said, smiling fondly back at her.
Ana chuckled, dipping in for another kiss. Then she loosened her hold and lifted Kamilah's inked hand, admiring the intricate red patterns arcing up from the wrist, over the back of her hand, and across her fingers. Ana kissed Kamilah's knuckles gently, feeling her agitation ease into calmness. She was where she belonged.
"I love you so much."
"Come on, girls," Safiya interjected, with an arm around her own partner. "You have the whole day tomorrow to be mushy."
"Can't wait," Ana said. She followed Kamilah's lead, obeying the tug on her hand until they sat down on the couch together, joining in the conversation with her relatives and poking fun at Safiya for being slower at getting hitched.
When the party ended, she had to be pried away from her fiancée, pouting as Mesi pulled her towards the car.
Tomorrow could not come fast enough.
The morning started with a short, thoughtless haze after the alarm rang. Then, remembering what day it was, Ana's mind sharpened within seconds. She shot out of bed and stood in place for a moment, anxiety working through her veins as she forgot what her morning routine was. Her phone buzzed, and she picked it up to read a 'wake up' text from Safiya. Firing off an acknowledgement, Ana double-timed into the bathroom, washing herself up with vigour. She had just put on her crisply-ironed dress pants when someone knocked on her door.
Mesi stood in her own dress blues, raising her brows at Ana, who was buttoning up her shirt. She entered the room, helping Ana put on her uniform and making sure no creases escaped her inspection. Then she made Ana sit down, pulling her hair back into a regulation bun, and tamed her fringe with gel. By the time Ana was ready to go, Layla appeared at her door along with Safiya and two cousins – who had to travel from the Amari house to the barracks. Entrusting her gown to Safiya, Ana was escorted down to the rented black Chrysler, and driven to the park for their ceremony.
They reached the destination early, but stayed in the car longer as Kamilah's party had been delayed a little. Ana's foot had started to tap on the floor when Safiya handed her phone over. Her heart leapt at Kamilah's name, breaths growing short as she answered it.
"Ana?"
"Yeah?" Ana answered, and they lapsed into silence. As she waited, she realised there was no sound from the other end at all. "Milah? Are you alright? It sounds pretty quiet on your end."
"I'm fine. Just sent them out for a while. I…wanted to hear you."
"Are you nervous?" Ana asked gently.
"Yes."
"Me too," she laughed, relieving some of the tension in her body. "Maybe we should've just eloped."
Kamilah chuckled. "I love you, Ana."
"Love you too. Can't wait to see you."
"Me too. Speaking of which…" Ana heard rustling in the background, and a chair moving. "I'm coming."
"Not without me, I hope."
"If I can help it."
Ana waited with the imam at the wedding arch, standing at parade rest as she grappled with a heart threatening to burst through her chest. The noon heat was starting to sink in through the layers of her uniform, despite the shade of the pavilion and its ceiling fans. Chalking the heat up to her own nervousness, Ana took a discrete breath and stole a glance back at Safiya, taking comfort in her wink. Then she looked over the seated guests, all chatting with one another in polite volumes. She recognised half of them to be from the military, and the other half were their spouses and dates for the day.
We need to make more friends outside the army, Ana thought drily, though her attempt at humour did nothing to alleviate her anxiousness. Safiya would be of no help; her sister was on her best behaviour today, and probably wouldn't want to trade funny faces with Ana at the moment. That was a blessing in disguise – there were too many officers among the guests for Ana to safely make a fool of herself.
As though to stop her from actually doing something stupid, Yamina waved at Zaid from behind the guests, signaling Kamilah's arrival. Ana locked her legs in place, so her weak knees wouldn't send her to the floor when Zaid announced the arrival of the bridal entourage. Those gathered turned to watch the bridesmaids walking down the aisle - a train of deep purple led by Zahra, who stole a few glances at Safiya as she did so. Ana didn't think much about it. In that moment, she thought about nothing at all, her eyes fixed on the figure standing away from the pavilion. The only one that mattered.
The bridesmaids soon took their place on the left, and then came time for Kamilah's entrance. The guests rose at Zaid's behest, and Ana's breath caught at the sight of her bride, standing at the back of the aisle with a bouquet in her hands. The sheath wedding dress they had chosen graced Kamilah's form. A strap sat on her right shoulder, leading down to the sweetheart neckline, from which white chiffon wrapped over her torso and gathered at a silver brooch sitting on her left hip, accentuating her curves. From there, the dress flowed smoothly down, ending in an elegant court train. Combined with hair styled into a braided updo, tasteful makeup, and elegant poise, Kamilah was every bit as stunning as Ana had expected and more.
She found it difficult to breathe as Kamilah walked down the aisle by herself, one calculated step flowing into the next as a hush fell over the pavilion. Ana swelled with pride, watching her love bear the attention with chin held high. Their eyes met; Ana swallowed thickly, enraptured as Kamilah's gaze softened, smiling almost shyly at her open adoration. Ana stepped forward when Kamilah reached the head of the aisle, offering a hand for her bride to take. Her fingers closed over Kamilah's, and they stood hand-in-hand as the imam spoke.
It was difficult to keep her eyes off Kamilah, but Ana somehow managed. Her voice, steady when declaring 'I do', wavered dangerously during her vow. She paused, swallowing again as Kamilah's hand squeezed hers lightly.
Then she finished, "…and I pledge myself to you, from this day forward, and all eternity."
She breathed an inaudible sigh of relief when she finished without cracking. There was an amused quirk on Kamilah's lips as she slid the wedding band onto her finger. Ana held onto Kamilah's hand a little longer, before her view of the ring was stolen when it was her turn to rest her hand in Kamilah's.
Kamilah made it through the vows without a single quaver in her voice, wearing an affectionate smile as she gazed into Ana's eyes, only breaking contact to slip the ring onto her finger.
"By the power vested in me, I affirm your vows and pronounce you married. You may now kiss the bride."
Ana broke out into a grin, and Kamilah's lips parted in a fond smile. With a hand on Kamilah's waist, Ana leaned in for her first kiss with her wife.
Her wife.
She beamed. Her muscles that had been coiled with tension relaxed for the first time that day. As Zaid and his brother joined them to witness the signing of their marriage certificate, Safiya marched out with Ana's uniformed entourage in tow, and took their places by the aisle with sabres at ready.
Paperwork done, the couple turned to face the aisle. Another bark from Safiya, and the bearers raised their sabres, tips touching to form the arch. Ana offered her arm to Kamilah and, at the subtle signal from Yamina, they strode forward together. They passed smoothly through two arches – the first formed by Khalid and Ebo, the second by Layla and Mesi. At the third, however, Safiya and Hakim lowered their sabres before the couple, forming a barrier. The key to which was a kiss, and Ana was more than happy to press her lips to Kamilah's again. Safiya smiled when Ana caught her eye, and lifted her sabre in sync with Hakim, allowing them through.
Ana walked out of the pavilion with Kamilah as the bearers were dismissed, and the guests followed them out into the afternoon sun. Kamilah let go of Ana's elbow, turning around to watch their female guests gather behind them eagerly. When Kamilah turned away from the crowd, bouquet at ready, Ana already knew who would catch it. The moment the bouquet was tossed high into the air, Safiya sprinted around the group and leapt up, snatching it like a Frisbee before it even began falling. Ana burst out in laughter when Safiya stumbled on her landing amid a chorus of hoots and cheers. Patting off her shoulders and shaking off the embarrassment, Safiya grinned and went to hand the bouquet to Zahra.
Taking a deep breath, Ana exhaled through her mouth, feeling lighter than she had ever been in her life. As Zaid helped to usher the guests towards the light reception set up in the pavilion, Ana took a moment to embrace her wife.
"Finally," Kamilah said, face warm and radiant.
"Finally." Ana touched their foreheads together, closing her eyes to enjoy the peace as the noise moved farther from them.
"There's still the celebration later though," Kamilah reminded her, and Ana laughed softly.
"Bring it on."
Though the post-ceremony reception was a light one, the Amari family managed to make a party out of it, and stayed in the park well into the mid-afternoon. Then they dispersed to catch a breather before the night celebrations, where the real fun would begin.
Ana and Kamilah retreated into their house with Zaid and Safiya, resting their feet and changing into more comfortable attire. Wearing a tank top and shorts felt like the sweetest liberation after spending most of the day in dress blues. At least it would be much cooler at night when she donned it again.
"Your auntie's already making noise about how Westernised you are," Zaid said, taking a big gulp of water from his mug.
Ana kept her eyes closed, body still as she remained lying on the couch. "Nasira?"
"Who else?"
Safiya snorted, shifting in her armchair near Ana's head. "Yeah, I heard her too."
"She can shove her noise up her ass," Ana groaned.
"Ana," Zaid warned.
"It's true! That's where her head is anyway." She raised a hand when Safiya shrieked, meeting her sister in a high-five.
Zaid sighed. "At least try to keep things civil with her later, okay?"
"Only if she keeps away from the alcohol."
"Which is never," Safiya chipped in.
"What?" Zaid looked at his daughters curiously.
"You don't know?" Ana turned her head to raise her brows at her father.
"Know what?" Kamilah asked, having just entered the living room. She had changed out of her dress, and was clothed comfortably like the rest of them. She took her place on the couch with Ana, who rested her head in Kamilah's lap.
"Auntie Nasira. She complained about our wedding," Ana explained quickly, then continued speaking to her father. "You don't know she sneaks alcohol during weddings or whatever?"
"No…?" Zaid said tentatively, watching his daughters share a glance.
"You know how during every celebration she always walks around with a glass of 'tea'?"
"Yes?"
"It's fucking alcohol."
Zaid stared at her dubiously. "How do you know?"
"Um. Because of us, actually," Safiya said, gesturing at Ana and herself. "She caught us pouring out our tea and replacing it with whisky. She thought it was fucking genius."
"Well, it kind of is," Kamilah commented.
"Thanks, babe." Ana smiled up at her, getting a pinch on the nose.
"You know," Safiya continued. "Mama's cool and all, but her side of the family is just full of bitches."
"Hypocritical bitches."
"Alright, that's enough," Zaid cut in. "I'm not a fan of your mother's family either, but I want you two to keep it under a lid. Especially you, Ana. This is your wedding."
"Fine."
"By the way, where's Zahra and the rest?"
"At Adil's place. They'll come over later," Safiya said, standing from her chair. "I'm going up. Wake me up if my alarm doesn't go off."
Zaid downed the rest of his water, and went up to his own room as well. Kamilah was trapped in the living room by a wife who refused to move, and eventually fell asleep on the couch with Ana.
Ana sat in the backseat with Kamilah, their hands entwined as Hakim ferried them to the hotel for the evening celebrations. After the bridesmaids arrived at the Amari house and gussied Kamilah up for the evening, they had left along with Zaid and Safiya to prepare the couple's welcome. Kamilah rested her head against Ana's, and they closed their eyes until Hakim told them that they had arrived.
There was already a large group of guests gathered at the entrance, and at the head of the crowd was the zaffa troupe waiting to receive them. Hakim brought the car to a smooth stop, and Ana alighted first, straightening her dress jacket as she rounded the car to help Kamilah out. Her wife wore a wine-coloured halter dress, somehow looking even more stunning than she did in the morning.
The gentle tap on Ana's chin broke her reverie, and she looked up to find Kamilah smiling at her knowingly.
"Just a few more hours, amar. Then I'll be all yours," she said, taking Ana's arm.
Ana could only manage a smile, before they were surrounded by the group of belly dancers and drummers, who sang one lively song after another. The guests gathered around them, joining in the dancing as they moved slowly through the hotel, up the stairs towards the ballroom. Ana had a bright grin on her face, bobbing along to the energetic drum beats while they walked. The entourage's loud singing and dancing attracted the attention of others in the hotel as well, and a few tourists took photos of the festivities.
They entered the ballroom to a resounding cheer – which was initiated and carried on by their squad mates. The audible high filled the room until they reached the kosha, walking up the stage and taking their seats in the simple white couch. The music died down as each guest was served a glass of rose-coloured sharbat. Then they stood quietly, as Zaid came forward to give his speech. Ana's hand found Kamilah's, the both of them listening raptly as the man thanked their guests for coming, then spoke briefly about the joy of watching his daughter find happiness. Ana straightened herself unconsciously when his eyes fell on her.
"Ana. As your father, I wish for you nothing but the best. I want to see you happy and successful. I want to see you live a life that you have built for yourself. In all the years that I have raised you, I have never seen you smile as brightly as you have today. And I am glad, and so very proud of you." He paused when his voice faltered, taking a moment to collect himself. Ana clenched her jaw, gazing back at her father with a lump in her throat. Zaid took a breath, and continued, "You are starting a new life of your own, and I have no doubt that you will make it a fulfilling one with Kamilah."
"And Kamilah, my new daughter. I have only known you for two years, but I already consider you to be my own flesh and blood. Let me tell you, in all my years of raising Ana, I have never seen her as devoted to anyone as she is to you. She will be there for you through thick and thin, and I hope you will be there for her as well." He smiled when Kamilah nodded. "Rest assured, my dear. You will be well taken care of, and find nothing but love and joy with her."
"I can safely tell the both of you, that this is not the happiest day of your lives. There will be much more to come in the days ahead, much more happiness to be found and made with each other." He took another steadying breath, blinking away the moisture in his eyes, and turned towards the guests.
"To the brides, and their everlasting love."
They downed their drinks in unison.
The music started up again, a cue for the guests to clear the way for the couple, who strode down the stage together. Ana stopped in the middle of the crowd, turning to look at Kamilah, sharing playful smiles. The drummers bounced on their feet near the couple, and Ana caught onto the beat of the music, easing into the first dance of the night. As Zaid had taught them, Ana bounced on her feet in time with Kamilah, enchanted by the sway of her wife's hips. Then she took Kamilah's hands in an impromptu duet, losing herself in the dance and Kamilah's bright smile, until the guests started trickling onto the dance floor as well. Ana pouted when Safiya stole Kamilah away, sticking her tongue out at her younger sister. Zaid was now Ana's partner, leading his daughter in the dance and looking the happiest Ana had seen him in years.
Ana danced with a slew of partners – Safiya, Khalid, Ebo, Layla, and many others who passed by in a blur, until the dancing gradually died down. She engulfed Kamilah in a hug the moment they laid eyes on each other again, getting a hearty laugh from her wife. Zaid came forward to guide them towards the stage, where the two-tiered wedding cake had been set up on a table. Khalid was standing at ready, handing the unadorned sabre to Ana when the guests were all seated. Laying the flat of the blade on her left forearm, Ana presented the hilt to Kamilah. She took it, waiting for Ana to rest a hand over hers, and they cut into the bottom layer of the white and gold cake together.
They returned the sabre to Khalid for a thorough cleaning, as a slice was properly cut and handed to them on a plate. Kamilah cut off a small piece with her fork, delivering it into Ana's mouth. Ana did the same, feeding Kamilah a piece of cake. Then she swooped in for a kiss as the guests applauded, getting hoots of laughter from their squad.
Ana escorted her wife to the table where her family sat, then slipped away to change into her evening gown. Her cousin – their charitable stylist for the day – was already waiting in the changing room, curling iron at ready. She released Ana's dark locks from its bun, combing and curling at top speed. Before Ana knew it, her makeup was applied flawlessly, and she received a slap on the butt as she walked out the door.
Ana reentered the ballroom in a scarlet off-the-shoulder number, with her hair swept over one shoulder. She caught Kamilah's appreciative gaze, and the beginnings of warmth bloomed in her cheeks.
"You look damn amazing, Ana!" Ebo boomed when she passed by her squad's table.
"You're welcome," Ana replied with a grin. When she reached her table, Kamilah rose from her seat and pulled her in for a deep kiss, turning her knees weak.
"You are stunning," Kamilah breathed, keeping her arm around Ana's waist.
"I know. But you should see me out of the dress."
"I already have."
Ana received a second slap on her behind that night, and she turned her head to see Safiya's crooked grin.
"Time and place, ladies."
And so they sat and ate, before making their rounds through the ballroom to mingle with their guests. With Safiya's help and Kamilah by her side, Ana kept them entertained until all the guests had departed, and Zaid left for the comfort of his own home.
Ana and Kamilah nipped up to their hotel room, shedding their gowns and pulling on casual jeans, then gathered with their squads and cousins in the hotel's bar. As expected, they plied Ana with glass after glass, though Safiya did help by bearing half of the burden. Kamilah was let off easy because – as Layla put it slyly – someone had to be sober for the horizontal tango later.
But when they finally made it back to their room at two in the morning, neither had much energy left for any kind of dance at all. After a quick shower and scrubbing their faces clean of makeup, the exhausted newly-weds fell into bed, and went right to sleep in each other's arms.