d waiting for the clear up. Once that was done, it would be the ladies turn to eat. I hated this mentalit

down and all eyes

east! I’m sure most of you are wo

nd. I knew these speeches. Uncle would glorify himself

ill singing his praises, “All our hard work has paid off a

nding his family? W

dest daughter, Fatima! Today, I

would be taking place and there was a lot to be done. A middle-aged man made his way to the

ther in the way. I wondered what he would look like. Would Fatima be happy with him? Questions whirred around my head and I felt a whole year go by before t

” The disbelief in m

beautifu

ring par

as only 20 years old. This man was at least 45. What on Earth m

armchair with an elaborate scarf around her head. Any normal person would have thought she was getting m

w about this

p your vo

ay with all this excitem

pset? I’m the one that has to marry that gran

eside her and stared up

a promotion at work…” Fatima’s eyes welled up. “He t

cle was serious? When wasn’t he serious? That man

h this. Why don’t you refuse? Put

Mum isn’t helping either. If I don’t go throug

?” I wondered if her wo

nly 20. I haven’t even finished unive

at did t

n I was 18. This is the way of our family…’ blah, blah, blah…” He

s marriage were huge. Today, its Fatma, tomorrow it will be me. I had to stop this marriage for the sake of mys

I gestured towards to kitc

oked co

that her. Why is everyo

. What’s the problem? There’s 15

ve in England! This type of thinking isn’t the right way for us…”

in England is not our business. Our traditions have worked for thousands

Are you? Does Dad make you happy? What about Aunty? Is she happy?

tay within your limits Hannah! You don’t know anything! At least

day and I felt a dam break somewhere inside of me.

hing?!” I whispere

I know you cry yourself to sleep most nights! I know you work all day and night and Dad doesn’t se

both her hands, warning me to calm down. However, I

ngry tears streamed down my face. I couldn’t take it anymore. I threw open the door to t

r some drama to unfold. But that’s not what gripped my heart. Dead in the center of the ro

at Mama. “No respect! This is the problem with the younger generation. You have forgotte

lic affair, which was unacceptable in our culture. Private arguments stayed private within the four walls of the family (an

the words out. I had to try to stop

e my head. I braced for impact. Another slap was co

His open palm connected with my cheek and sent me flying in

vibrated the windows behind us. The commotion brought in my Da

ody. Embarrassment seeped through every pore and I had nothing left to

ered. Instead, what came out of my mouth made me flee in terror, straight home where I locked myself in the safety of my bedroom. “You are nothing but a bully!

n my room, cowering under the du