Her Unwanted Husband

I8I

EMAD

That damned woman is driving me ragged. What is wrong with having a few functions? It's just for fun. Why did I get married to an extremist?

That black shawl of hers is enough to make the man in me die. And her jilbab. God, she only has two jilbabs. Black and blue. Oh, and she has just one scarf.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it's also black!

I have no idea how I'm supposed to spend the rest of my life with her. I swear I'm going to be embarrassed by being seen with her in public.

With these thoughts looming in my head I remember that I haven't talked to my girlfriend since I've come to Pakistan.

Okay! I don't have just one girlfriend. But can you blame me? I'm a young man. It's my age to break hearts.

Not to be freaking married! And to my cousin! God, we used to play together.

Finally deciding to call one of my girlfriends, who has been calling me every single day, I dial her number.

She picks up on the first ring. 

"Heyyyyyyy!" Her squeaky voice rings in my ears.

"Hi, babe," I say.

"What's up, Emu?"

I manage to swallow the vomit forming in my gut. Love the nickname.

"Great. I'm getting married." I say, praying that this will get her to stop calling me from now on.

She falls silent. Then I hear a high pitched sob. Followed by another. Then another.

"We can still talk, right?" She squeaks.

"Um. . . sorry." I say and hang up.

Then I block her number.

—

The mehndi passes by easily. But my mood is sour all the way through.

Maria has literally not stepped of her room since yesterday. I knocked and knocked on her door but she didn't open it up for me. She didn't even respond.

And everyone kept asking how she is and where she is and blah blah blah. I had to be like 'she's tired' 'she's stressed out because she has to move to another country' and blu de blah.

As I lay in bed all I can think about is tomorrow. It's my nikkah day. s**t! Am I expected to be with Maria?

I don't think I can do that. I've never committed to anyone in my life. Is it possible that I will now?

Moreover, do I want to commit to Maria?

God, no.