This is the fifth segment of this story. It's been updated in the last few days, and is longer than the original.
Ella
As I watched the sun slowly rise from my bedroom window, I thought of Sam finishing her morning prayers. I decided I would make pancakes for Sam, one last morning before her life transformed permanently. The sun was shinning brightly by the time I grabbed all the required ingredients and made the walk across our freshly cut lawns. I smiled when I saw Aunty Zareena sitting on her porch with her tea.
“Good morning Beta!” she smiled. “Hi Aunty! Are you ready for tonight?” A fews tears accompanied her smile this time. “As ready as I can be, Beta.” I hugged her before I went in looking for Sam.
“Helloooooo! Here comes the bride's hot friend! Here comes the bride's hot friend!” I sang as I walked into Aunty Zareena's kitchen. Sam was setting the table for the two of us. The henna on her hands had deepened, making the paisley design even more beautiful on her skin. “It's about time you made me breakfast, I am starving!”
I waved the bag of semi sweet chocolate chips in the air as an offering of peace, before throwing it at her. We chatted about unimportant details as I stirred the batter. Sam wasn't allowed to do anything today, Aunty Zareena and I had decided. As I listened to Sam go over the night's schedule for the tenth time, I realized that I was loosing her tonight. By next week she would be moved into Shehzad's parent's home in New York. She would no longer be across the lawn on Sunday mornings armed with her spatula in hand.
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Sam
Her eyes stare back at me from the mirror. She is a bride, waiting for the Imam to walk in at any moment to ask for her signature. Then it will be done. There is no turning back now, her eyes say to mine. There are no words between us, only the quick rhythmic beating of our hearts.
“Sam Beta, I'm sorry but we can't make them wait any longer.” Ammi's voice was calm. I could hear the swelling of tears in her tone. She was right, we couldn't wait any longer. Shehzad had patiently delayed the ceremony for the last hour at my request. I wanted my father to be there, I longed for him to be my wali, my gaurdian. I wanted him to take this one last responsibility of me. But he had not come. I had waited again, and he had not kept his word, again.
“Sam Beta...Summar?” Ammi's voice trailed, and I noded. Yes, it was time.
Within moments, the gentle aging Imam came in with the witnesses to ask for my consent. Ammi hugged me, weeping softly as they left with the signed papers. Ella stayed by my side, she wiped Ammi's tears, fixed her sari. When Ammi left the room to witness Shehzad's half of the ceremony, Ella stayed with me. For a few minutes it was just us again. “You are going to be fine,” she said, my face cupped in her hands. “Now I don't want to see any of those tears, we have to walk down to see your man.” She winked. We laughed, and blinked the threatening tears back.
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Ella
Even in this moment, as I watch Sam sign her consent, I am uncertain of her happiness. There is a sadness that shadows her smile, a hesitancy whose origin I do not know. Perhaps it was her father's predicted absence, but I wondered if there was more. What I did know, is that Sam has never looked more beautiful. The deep red fabric of her mughal inspired skirt floats around her with each step. Even in all her bridal grandeur her simplicity is eminent. Like the glow that clings closely to a full moon.
“Ready? Remember you can't trip today.” We smile. Sam nods, and we walk over to the over sized doors that take us into the banquet hall. Her hands we tightly wrapped around her bouquet of fall colored roses, arranged in perfect circles. When the music began, the doors were opened, and all five hundred eyes were on Sam. But she didn't flinch, she floated with each step, moving closer to meet the gaze of the man she had agreed to spend a lifetime with. From the moment she entered the room, Shehzad was standing, waiting. He had waited a long time for this, his eyes never left her, his smile never faded. And then he did something unexpected - he walked to meet her half way. I saw the shadow linger in her eyes but for a moment, and then as Shehzad lead, Sam followed each step. When his hand found hers, he grasped it tightly, their fingers interlocked, and they walked together.
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