The streets were finally clear after nearly a week, and the ride from the airport into town took less than fifteen minutes. When the cab pulled up in front of Snow Falls Inn, Maryam told everyone to be ready in two hours for thenikah.
In the meantime, she had a grand gesture to make.
—
After much discussion yesterday, Anna and Maryam had decided that the playhouse, where the Holiday Hoopla had taken place the night before, would be the perfect spot for her surprise. Or, rather, the snow-covered field behind the playhouse, which happened to border a frozen pond. Now all she had to do was wait. And worry that Saif wouldn’t get the reference, or wouldn’t find it romantic, or that he would run away.
She turned to the snowman beside her, complete with carrot nose, coffee bean eyes, scarlet scarf, and woolen toque. “This will work, right?” she asked. The snowman’s curved grin—also made with coffee beans—did nothing to reassure her. A second snowman, two snow cats, and the snow dog she had constructed earlier refused to chime in, so she busied herself by arranging the halal marshmallows Anna had sourced on a platter, and set them in front of the portable stove on the ground.
Just then, a flustered Saif came running up to her, breathvisible in the cold. He frowned at the snow army surrounding Maryam. “Anna said you had an emergency, that I had to get here right away...” He trailed off, taking in the scene more carefully. “What’s going on, Maryam? This looks just like that frozen lake beside the winter cottage, from when we were kids. Did you make all these yourself?”
Maryam took a deep breath and nodded. “I made them for you.”
Saif still seemed confused. “Why?”
“That first morning in Snow Falls, aftersuhoor, you told me you kept dreaming about a place like this: a quiet town, away from everyone, covered in snow. A place that reminded you of the family cottage trip.”
“You remembered,” Saif said softly. He looked around the scene she had created with Anna’s help, seeming to take in every detail: the carefully decorated snowmen and snow animals, marshmallows ready to be roasted over the portable stove, even a stack of neatly rounded snowballs ready for a playful battle. It was a re-creation of a cherished memory, back before their lives had grown complicated.
“I remember it all,” Maryam said now. “Every conversation, all the things I said, every sweet thing you did.” She stepped closer to Saif; part of her was terrified, but another part sensed that she was on the brink of a glorious fall. Anna had been right—it was Maryam who had to decide to take that leap. “You’re right that I’m still broken over my past. But when I look at you, all I see is my future. Saif, when I crushed on you as a child, it was because you were my Muslim Prince Charming. But the man you’ve grown into is so much more than that. You’re strong, funny, supportive, and so kind. You give to others, evenwhen they—I—give nothing back. All because of your beautiful, generous heart.”
Saif’s eyes were intent on hers as if he were memorizing this moment, as if he couldn’t believe it was really happening. Maryam could hardly believe it, either, but the exhilaration of finally telling Saif how she felt—how, on some level, she had always felt about him—was a joyful rush. “I choose you, for who you are,” she said. “If you let me, I promise to choose you, again and again.”
Saif closed the distance between them and pulled her into his strong arms. “I was willing to wait,” he said, his voice muffled. “I wasn’t going to give up.” He pulled back, and his face was haloed by the sun.
“I think we’ve both waited long enough,” Maryam said.
They walked back to the inn holding hands.
—
They settled on a few things during their too-brief walk: First, upon returning to California, Saif would immediately get a long-distance phone plan. Then, Saif decided, he would give notice at his company.
“I’ve been thinking about moving back to Denver for a while,” he reassured her when she protested. “You would just be an added inducement. I want to work on my relationship with my parents. I want to get to know Raihan and his wife, spend time with my nephew.”
Maryam had some changes to make as well. First, she planned to scale back at the pharmacy—her father could hire help, and she wanted time to work on making her writing dreams come true.
As for the dreams Maryam and Saif had for their future, they decided to keep their news quiet for now. Saima deserved to have her big day—though Maryam thought her blissful happiness might be obvious from the beaming smile on her face.
Once in her room, Maryam quickly changed into the outfit she had originally packed for Saima’s wedding in Toronto. She had been particularly excited about the cream-coloredlenghashe had sourced from one of the few Indian boutiques in Denver, and now she admired the long-sleeved tunic and voluminous skirt, both made from flowing satin and embroidered with delicate paisley patterns in black, blue, and red thread. The outfit was elegant and flattering, and also completely wrinkled; with a sigh she plugged in the iron and got to work. Once she was dressed, her matching cream hijab secured, makeup applied, and the last bangle fastened, she went in search of her sister, who was getting ready in their parents’ room.
Anna was already there, putting the finishing touches on Saima’s bridal makeup, and Maryam gasped when she saw her sister.
Saima had chosen to wear traditional red, and herlenghamirrored her sister’s in design, except the lavishzariembroidery work was hammered gold, inlaid with crystal and tiny mirrors, the red a deep maroon that matched her lipstick. Anna had subtly highlighted her sister’s cheekbones with an iridescent blush, shaded her eyelids a darker gold, and outlined her eyes with black kohl. Her jewelry was lavish—a pearl choker necklace paired with a heavy gold chain, gold bangles on her arms with matching rings. The oversized nose ring, with its single pearl and ruby, traditional among Hyderabadi brides, and matchingtikaforehead ornament completed the look. With a luxuriously embroidered gold silkdupattapinned to her hair, Saima looked every inch thedesibride, and Maryam pressed her hands to her mouth in admiration, even as tears filled her eyes.
Anna wore an off-the-shoulder royal blue dress that skimmed her knees and hugged her curves that she had found in one of the stores on Main Street. Compared to the two Aziz sisters in theirdesifinery, her dress was simple, but it suited her. The one nod to the season was a festive crystal-encrusted star pinned near her waist, her dark hair arranged in an elegant chignon with a matching star-shaped ornament.
Saima rose when Maryam entered the room and swiftly came to her side. “You made this happen,” she said, kissing Maryam on the cheek. “How can I ever pay you back?”
“Don’t start crying now. You’ll ruin your makeup,” Maryam said, wiping her eyes.
“Weddings are for happy tears,” Anna said. “Don’t worry, we can always reapply the makeup.”
Behind them, their mother, Azizah, beamed. She was dressed in a dark green sari heavily embroidered with silver, with an ornate lace-filigree silver necklace and matching ear bobs. “Let’s not keep our guests waiting,” she said.
As Saima descended the stairs into the reception area of the inn, where thenikahwould be performed, she was supported by her mother on one side and Maryam on the other, with Farah and Anna bringing up the rear. The chatting crowd quieted as the strains of a wedding song from one of Dadu’s Bollywood movies started. The beat started slow, but then picked up as Saima came into view, and the appreciative crowdburst into raucous applause. Her sister, noticing all eyes on her, spontaneously did a fewbhangra-style dance steps, much to the crowd’s delight. Maryam grinned, nodding at Deb and Kath, Josh and Tenisha, before her gaze landed on Saif—and her breath caught in her throat.
He had changed into a formal blacksalwar kameezsuit that emphasized his broad shoulders, silver embroidery around the starched collar. His hair had been neatly combed, and she noted with some disappointment that he had shaved. He was the best-looking person in the room, and his eyes were focused entirely on her. He winked, before schooling his expression into a serious one.
