A novel I started more than 7 years ago....

A small part of chapter 3 of my novel........


It was the first time Frank was to see his wife, and see her without her scarf . He was looking forward to it, yet wondering at the strangeness of it all. A tiny part of him had it's doubts. Why was he so attracted to this woman when he could have so many other women without going through so much trouble . And it seemed to him he was taking a big risk, almost like gambling by getting married to a women he had not even seen properly.He had mentioned it to Sofia and she had just said that he could always free himself from the marriage contract , and be free to leave , it was easy, she had said to him. And then he knew of the ease of divorce in a Muslim marriage.

The room was filled with women of all ages, aunties aunts cousins and her sister's family, his mother in law.... Many of the women avoided looking at him but stared at him when he was not looking. They felt embarassed and did not know how to treat him , and they were not trying to be rude. He finally saw his Sofia. She was beautiful., more than he had imagined and fantasised.Her black hair was allowed to fall naturally without any fancy hairdo, her oval face was framed by her wavy curls , with only ribbons and flowers pinned to her hair making her look like a fairy princess. Her slender neck which he also saw for first time was fairer than her face because it was always covered when she left the house. She had on golden and lacy evening gown that draped her slim body and for the first time, he saw his wife's lovely figure, for she only wore lose clothes every time he had seen her before the were married. He was in front of his wife and she smiled a shy and trembling smile. He slid the ring handed to him onto her finger and was told to give her a kiss. He had been briefed to kiss her on her forehead which he dutifully did.
After the photo session together and then wth the relatives, everyone was sheperded out of the room, giving Frank and Sofia time to change into more comfortable clothes to have their wedding lunch with th guests. They had an hour alone together, their first hour as husband and wife. Sofia quickly whisked herself into the attached bathroom showered and changed into a soft silk baju kurung. She handed Frank matching shirt and pants, although his were not silk, and told him to shower and change.He did so and emerged from the bathrom to find Sofia resting on the bed, exhausted by the ceremonies and the emotional strain of the marriage to him. He looked at her with her eyes closed. He knew she was not asleep .He lay down beside her and held her, bringing her to him. Sofia opened her eyes and looked at him shyly. " How are you feeling?" he asked her tenderly " I should be asking you this , she said. I m at home and this is my family, It is you who are the foreigner and all this must surely feel very strange to you."" Frank nodded, not saying anything, agreeing that it had been strange and alien and he had been uncomfortable. He got up on the bed looking solemn. Sofia sat up too, concerned. " Are you all right Farid?" she asked, using his Muslim name."Any regrets?"

" Sofia my darling wife, you are beautiful, I love you." he responded, not really answering her question. He could not answer for he did not know whether he was all right or not.He stopped her questions by kissing her for the first time on her lips. It was a sweet kiss that spoke of their longing for each other, their passion and their love and it was only reluctantly that they ended the kiss for they had to continue dressing and go to have lunch with their guests. It was going to be a very long day.

After the evening prayers, the couple asked to be excused and retired to their bridal chambers.Sofia had instructed Frank to perform sunnah prayers together with her, to ask for blessing from God for their marriage, so that it starts on the right footing. Two righteous human beings starting on their lives together , each as a half of the whole. And she frequently remembered the verse in the Quran in Surah Ar Rum.".And among Our signs is that we created from among yourselves your spouse and we caused there to be between the two of you passion and compassion."The couple busied themselves praying together and finished of with the Isya prayers, the last prayer for the day finishing which they were finally left to deal with each other, nothing could put off this moment anymore, not that either of them would want to indeed!

Sofia seemed to be spending far too much time in the bathroom changing and cleaning and washing Frank was thinking as he waited for his wife She finally emerged in a pink nightie looking sweet and demure,, her face clean , without any make up, her hair in two plaits. She sat herself in front of him, imitiating his posture, he was sitting cross legged on the bed. She was smiling at him, as she said ," Well?" And Frank echoed what she said imitating her tone gesturing with his hands indicating a question with the word .Sofia took his outstretched hand in hers and kissed his hands. My beloved husband, she said and he kissed her hands in turn saying My beloved wife.So in tune were they that night that they were mirroring each other. They started talking about the events of the day, each had the unspoken need of consumating the marriage on their minds but taking their time as they had a whole lifetime ahead of them. Sofia ended on Frank's lap finally surrendering herself to his arms, and, the last of the ice around her heart, which had been put there to protect herself in her widowhood , melted. Sofia's naivity was virginal, delighting her husband so used to experienced hardened women and for Sofia, this man of the world was her hero evoking in her new heights of pleasure she had never in her wildest dreams imagined possible. The soft relenting Eastern woman had her perfect complement in this man, one who would treasure her, never taking advantange of her softness and obeisience , always honoring and respecting her , never taking her for granted, nor taking her acknowedgement of his leadership as a license to rule over her arbitrarily ..as most men were wont to do, given the power a woman like Sofia would give to them.