I had a few friends over at my house in Marina as well as Yassine’s family, so I was busy entertaining them and making sure everyone was having a good time.
This kind of added a shit load of stress on me because everyone wanted to do something different and wanted me with them. I was trying so hard to please everyone, especially Yassine’s siblings since it was their first time here and I wanted to impress them so badly.
It was taking up a lot of my energy and, at the same time, it was pissing me off because I wasn’t able to give his family my full attention. I was basically running around like a chicken with its head cut off.
On top of all of that, my mom was picking fights with me because I wasn’t all smiley and happy 24/7! She was convinced that I was being a drama queen and whenever I tried venting to her about being stressed she would get even angrier.
“I’M THE ONE WHO SHOULD BE STRESSED HERE!” she’d say.
This woman never gives me the chance to take the victim role, even if it’s just to make me feel better. Never!
She was kind of right, though. She was handling all the grand preparations for this grand party that was our fat7a, from catering to extra furnishing to decorations. She was like super mom, which I’m SO glad for.
So while juggling between pleasing friends and Yassine’s family, I tried to take as many deep breaths as I could and just power through it.
THANKFULLY, I had my go-to people to vent to and keep me sane, my cousins Sarah and Salma.
The big day came and I think everyone could tell that I’d reached a high level of anxiety, so they decided to be less demanding and more easy-going that day.
We went to the beach and then I excused myself for a little ME time (the only two hours I had to myself this whole vacation) to go do my hair and whatnot for the party.
It was MUCH needed, I tell you. I felt so relaxed afterwards and ready to once again entertain everybody.
One of my best friends, Farida, was at my house taking care of things here and there for me while I returned and planning a few surprises she’d had up her sleeve for that night.
I was so glad to just be with my girlfriends, getting ready and just having some good old girly time.
While getting ready, it sort of felt like an out of body experience. This was my fat7a. All of these people were here for me and my future husband was downstairs waiting to officially ask for my hand for marriage in front of my whole family.
At that point, I didn’t really think of it that way, I just thought it was a regular family party, but when all eyes are on you, and you’re the center of attention, it starts to hit you!
So I was having a mini panic attack, especially when it was time for me to go downstairs and everyone was already in the garden waiting.
I wasn’t going to be the single Lenah who was young, wild and free without a care in the world. My main concerns would no longer be where I was going out with my friends this weekend or what party we were going to hit up.
I would be Mrs. Arbel. Married at 23, visiting my family-in-law, taking care of my house, checking up on our finances and paying bills, worrying about if my husband had a good meal today. Your typical, nice, well-poised wife.
But then I envisioned Yassine in my head and what a wonderful, easygoing guy he is. This was my soul mate, and I couldn’t imagine anyone else being in his place. I would totally not be the typical good Egyptian wife. I would be all over the place! And he would accept me and love me for that.
I snapped out of the daydream, and with zaghareet and whistles filling the air, I walked downstairs to the love of my life, standing in between the people that mean the most to me on this planet.
It was definitely a beautiful night to remember and it was all worth it. The garden was beautiful with lights everywhere, high tables and couches and flowers. My grandpa, 3amo Rachad and Yassine made some pretty touching speeches (I cried like a baby of course) and the lovely Farida revealed her surprise in the form of amazing fireworks and cupcakes with Yassine’s and my face on each one!
My other best friend, Malak, also brought the cutest little metal tree that you could write and hang little notes on (that’s totally going to be propped up in my future house).
Afterwards, all the younguns headed to the club and we danced the night away. It was official, Yassine and I were together (in a halal way lol) and this amazing vacation was over.
It was an emotional farewell, the female Arbels cried (and I did too of course) and I felt a strong connection to this kind, down-to-earth, wonderful family. They fit into mine like a puzzle, and I could not have wished for anything better.
You would think that the hard part was over now, right? Well, no. The next part of our journey includes a lot of traveling with the whole family (yes, the whole family) planning the engagement and, of course, the bridezilla in me starts to appear as we begin to plan our big, crazy wedding.
WE SAID THIS: In case you missed it, check the first two parts of Reading the Fatha: Parts One and Two.