“Shabana, I was just telling Jamila what a nice boy she has found for her Meena, masha’Allah,” my mother remarked. “As mothers, what more can we ask for?”

“Yes, yes.” Shabana aunty nodded in agreement. “We are very lucky to have gained such a lovely daughter as well,” she said, lifting Meena’s hand and giving it a kiss.

“So tell us, Shabana, is it true what we hear?” Jamila aunty interrupted with a teasing wink. “When is the next wedding going to be?”

Shabana aunty waved her hands and laughed. “We must get through this one first!”

I stood next to Meena as the makeup artist carefully applied another layer of dark kohl above her upper lash line. I tried to appear occupied, but my curiosity was eating away at me. What was this talk about another wedding?

“A second wedding? You never mentioned this,” my mother asked eagerly.

“Oy, everybody’s talking about the good news!” Jamila aunty exclaimed. “Shabana, you really must confirm . . . is Hisham engaged?”

Meena popped open her eyes and turned in my direction.

“Beti, you must sit still,” the makeup aunty scolded her, shaking her head in irritation.

“Sorry,” Meena muttered as she leaned back in her chair. I turned toward Shabana aunty, holding my breath, desperately waiting for her response.

Shabana aunty gave a sly smile. “Haan, it’s true. Hisham has recently been engaged!” She beamed with pride.

Jamila aunty squealed.

My heart dropped to the floor.

“Mubarak! Mubarak!” my mother exclaimed. “When did this happen?”

“Just less than a month ago, with a girl we have selected for him. Alhamdulillah. We could not be happier,” Shabana aunty replied.

“You are a very lucky woman indeed!” my mother said, a tinge of envy wrapped around her words.

I pressed my body against the vanity mirror. Every muscle tensed with shock. Hisham is engaged. He’s getting married. To a girl his parents have selected for him. The noises around me faded into one long whirring sound. My head spun in circles, and I started to feel light-headed.

“Leila,” Meena said, touching my hand gently, her beautiful eyes fraught with concern. “I-I-I’m so sorry. I had no idea—”

“I know,” I whispered, nodding weakly. Meena’s eyes glistened with tears.

“I’m going to get some air,” I said, rushing out of the room. My mother was so busy discussing wedding details that she barely took notice of the fact that I had left.

I ran to the living room and leaned my head through the open window above the ledge. The sound of cars whizzed past from below. I could feel the warm air against my face.

Breathe.

Breathe.

I kept repeating this mantra in my head.

Hisham is engaged! I can’t believe he’s engaged. It felt like I had been kicked in the gut.

What did you expect to happen? Another part of my brain screamed. You just met him two days ago!

I squeezed my eyes shut, drowning out the voices.

It wasn’t like I imagined us getting married tomorrow . . . I just thought . . .