I was only going to a wedding. A simple evening filled with laughter, family, and music. But life—or perhaps fate—had other plans for me.
That night, I wore my favorite lilac dress, twirling before the mirror while my sister Maha rolled her eyes. "You're acting like it's your own wedding, Fir," she teased.
"If not mine, maybe someone else's," I joked, never realizing how close to the truth I was.
The hall buzzed with energy when we arrived—chandeliers sparkling like stars, the air thick with rose and jasmine. I spent the evening teasing my cousins, Raha and Isha, and stuffing my mouth with too many sweets. It was perfect. But fate doesn't knock politely when it arrives. It barges in, unannounced, turning ordinary moments into life-altering ones.
And that's exactly what happened.
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The Call
The next morning, I was sprawled on my bed, half-asleep, when my phone buzzed.
"Ammi calling…"
"Ammi?" My voice cracked with sleep.
"Beta, get ready by evening," she said, her tone unusually formal. "Someone is coming to see you."
I shot up. "See me? Why?"
A heavy pause. "For…marriage."
My heart skipped. "Marriage? Ammi, I'm not ready! I have my MBA, my dreams—what about my goals?"
"You can still chase them, beta," she said softly. "Just get ready. Please."
I sat there gripping the phone long after she hung up. My dreams, my plans—everything I'd worked for—shoved aside for an arranged marriage. I felt like a bird about to have its wings clipped.
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The Evening Visit
By evening, I stood before the mirror again. But this time, I didn't twirl. My lilac dress was replaced by a simple peach salwar, my face expressionless as Maha braided my hair.
"They're here," she whispered.
I followed her downstairs, my stomach in knots. The living room was filled with polite voices. I saw my parents, smiling tensely, and opposite them sat a man and woman dressed in elegant, understated clothes. Between them sat a young man with broad shoulders and sharp features. His eyes met mine for a fleeting second before I looked away.
I sat quietly, my hands cold in my lap. I answered when spoken to, smiled when expected. I didn't dare meet his eyes again.
After what felt like hours, they left. I rushed upstairs to breathe, to escape the suffocating reality crashing down on me.
"Firdose, come here," Abba called later that night.
With heavy steps, I went downstairs. My mother handed me a phone. On the screen was a photograph of the man who'd been sitting there earlier.
My heart stopped.
The movie theatre.
The tissue.
The attention seeker.
The memory hit me like a slap. He was the same guy who'd tossed me tissues during the movie. The one I'd dismissed as a stranger. And now…he was my fiancé?
My heart raced. My pulse pounded in my ears. How could fate play such a cruel trick?
"His name is Faiz Ibrahim," my father said. "The CEO of Ibrahim Enterprises."
Faiz Ibrahim. The business tycoon. The attention-seeker. My future husband.
I stood there, frozen, while my mind screamed.
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The Breakdown
That night, I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My dreams—so vivid, so possible—felt like sand slipping through my fingers.
Marriage. Responsibilities. Expectations.
I wanted to design AI fashion collections. To create something revolutionary. But now? I'd become someone's wife. Nothing more.
Tears streamed down my face as I hugged my pillow. My parents said I could chase my dreams after marriage. But what if I couldn't? What if I became trapped in a life of hosting parties and attending charity events?
"Ya Allah…give me strength," I whispered into the darkness.
I would marry Faiz Ibrahim—for my parents. But I wouldn't give up without a fight.
Because Firdose Siddiqui wasn't born just to be someone's wife.
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