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Tulba
Jamil never thought he’d be here. If anyone told his highschool self that he’d be asking for Kalim’s hand in marriage, he’d have laughed in their face. That would’ve HAD to been a joke. Not only did he hate Kalim at the time but he was also still a servant. That action alone would’ve been a HUGE offense.
And yet, here he is.
He was nervous. He had started to be romantically involved with Kalim after highschool and during his time traveling. In fact, he literally just came back from traveling not even a week ago. He’s no longer a servant due to Kalim setting not only him free, but his family and all the other servants as well. Jamil’s parents prided themselves in being servants, however, and chose to stay as attendants to the Asim family like a lot of other attendants. Najma decided to instead focus on her schooling and hang out with friends more. Though she always has the option to be an attendant if she needs a part time job (like a regular teenager). Despite no longer being servants, Kalim still took care of Jamil and his family. It was sweet and Jamil was thankful.
While Kalim is now the one in charge, tradition is still tradition. So here he was, waiting just outside the room where both his and Kalim’s parents sat. He had set up a meeting with all of them. Kalim walked up to Jamil as he was taking readying breaths.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes. I am. Just nervous,”
“It’s okay, I’m sure baba will say yes! After all, you’re Jamil. I can’t think of a better fit,”
“Thank you, Kalim. Let’s go inside now before I lose my courage,” At that, Jamil and Kalim stepped into the room and returned their parents' smiles and greetings as they joined them at the table.
“Alright, Jamil. You called all of us here so please, take the floor,” Tahsin, Kalim’s father, spoke. Jamil smiled at him and took another deep breath before speaking.
“The reason all of you are here today is because I have become infatuated with Kalim. I was wanting to ask for your blessing for marriage and to formally join our families together,” As Jamil spoke, he could feel doubts fill his head. Kalim had so many BETTER options for marriage. More powerful, richer suitors to marry him off to. Yes, Kalim had rejected each of those suitors in favor of Jamil but what if Jamil gets rejected by his father? Would Kalim marry him anyways? He probably would but that would make him look SO bad.
He felt his hand being grabbed and looked to see it was Kalim. It made him feel better knowing Kalim was there and he wasn’t alone. Jamil looked at his parents, who seemed just as paralyzed with anxiety as he was.
After a moment of consideration, Tahsin nodded slowly, leaned his head closer to his wife so she could whisper her own opinion into his ear and then smiled. “Jamil, you always have been closer to our son than any other servant. As children, you both played together day in and out. We consider the Viper family as our own and it’s time we formally make that so. You have my blessing to marry my son, if he so chooses to accept your proposal,”
“I do!” Kalim responds excitedly. Tahsin claps his hands and one of the other attendants walk over and hand him the Quran. Jamil could hardly believe it. He was getting their blessing! He felt dizzy.
“We will now read the Fatiha and join in prayer,”
As Kalim’s father continued the prayer, Jamil’s mind was in overdrive. He really couldn’t believe this was happening. Was this another dream? He remembers having a dream like this before he came back home (mostly because he was anticipating doing just this). But Kalim’s hand in his felt too warm for it to be a dream. He squeezed and Kalim squeezed back. Definitely not a dream. After prayer, Tahsin clapped once more. This time, being brought Arabic coffee. It was served to each of them as conversation sparked back up.
“So, Jamil, when did the interest for marrying my son first spark?” Tahsin asked and Jamil answered easily.
“After we graduated and while I was traveling. Kalim and I stayed in touch while I was away, of course, and sometime throughout my travels, I wished to marry him,” It wasn’t a lie. But it wasn’t the first time he wanted to marry Kalim. The very first time was when he was still a child. Way before he was pushed into a servant role and urged to treat Kalim differently.
As a child, he and Kalim would spend hours together. Jamil would attend to him as a servant, yes, but then it was more like “he’s my best friend who just so happens to be considered my master”. Kalim would treat him that way too, he still did! Kalim and him would play all throughout the day and then at night, they’d sneak off to carpet rides or sneak in a sleepover if they could.
He wanted to marry Kalim as a child. So many times he’d have that thought and he’d daydream about their future wedding. He thought it was possible even at a servant/master status because of the princess who married someone beneath her regardless of status. Maybe that story in and of itself was filling his head with fantasies as a child with Kalim taking on the princess role.
He slowly lost those feelings as they grew, of course. Resentment and misplaced hatred replaced anything good he felt for Kalim. He was thankful that his feelings for him came back, this time even stronger.
He couldn’t say that though. He was still a servant as a child and it’d have been inappropriate to admit that to anyone else other than Kalim. Though, Jamil knows that Kalim assumed every “I love you” he said as a child was friendly.
More questions followed from both Kalim’s parents and his own until coffee was finished. Tahsin thanked Jamil and gave him a hug before flashing a big grin at him.
“Welcome to the family,”
———————
Radwa
Ever since Jamil had gained Tahsin’s blessing to marry Kalim, the Asim household has been nothing short of lively and eventful. Almost every single one of Kalim’s siblings have come up to Jamil at some point to ask if they’re really getting married and some of the younger ones asked who was the bride if they’re both boys. If Kalim was with him, he’d always respond that he is since Jamil asked for his father’s blessing and not the other way around. Jamil always answered that they were both grooms though. When he’d say that though, sometimes he’d get the response
“I thought you’d be, since you have long, pretty hair,”
Kalim would laugh, entertained by his younger siblings while Jamil would grow embarrassed. They had even less tact than their oldest brother.
Jamil and Kalim worked on invitations with dates and times and sent them out to their friends that they went to school with as well as friends residing in their hometown. Some of them, as soon as they received the invitation, called up Kalim or Jamil to make sure it was true. After all, the last most of them knew, Jamil hated Kalim and their relationship was only just fixed by senior year.
Azul also called them but he had known their relationship this whole time due to his constant hounding of either Jamil or Kalim (Jamil’s magical power or Kalim’s business power, he didn’t care). He had called them to offer catering for the wedding. He and the tweels had opened their own actual restaurant that grew so much popular than the Monstro Lounge. Jamil doesn’t think those three would be leaving each other anytime soon. Kalim declined though, saying that they already had that covered but, of course, Azul and the tweels may still attend as guests.
Silver called as well, having kept up with Kalim even after highschool. He, too, knew that he and Jamil were looking into marriage and told him how excited everyone was for the wedding, especially Malleus, considering he got an invitation.
Two days before the wedding, they had a Radwa. All male relatives from both the Viper family and the Asim family were gathered together and mingling. Jamil’s male family members were greeting each of Kalim’s and basically making sure everyone was okay with their union. Kalim and Jamil mostly stayed with each other during this time so as to not feel too overwhelmed. After all, Kalim’s family is big, even with just male relatives present. It’s almost intimidating. They’re about to be Jamil’s relatives too though.
Jamil’s grandfather ended up congratulating everyone in the room about how their families will be joining each other.
————
Henna
It’ll take a lot of getting used to. As a servant, Jamil was always supposed to be seen and not heard. Kalim had always treated him like a person so it was only Kalim’s other family members who would expect him to abide by those rules.
Now, he is being treated differently. The other servants, both older than him or around his age, would refer to him as “Master Jamil”. It was such a culture shock. He was even offered to have his own personal attendant, just like how Kalim used to have him. However, Jamil declined. He didn’t want a personal attendant at all. He was comforted to know that everyone still working at the Asim household was there by choice and, of course, paid. Still, he didn’t wish to have a personal attendant.
He wasn’t the only one. After Jamil was set free, Kalim didn’t have anyone else fill his spot. Jamil had asked him once before, while he was still traveling. All Kalim said was:
“I can’t imagine having anyone else fill your spot. You’re the only one I could imagine being by my side, servant or not. Besides, I don’t need one! I know how to take care of myself now,”
It was true. Kalim had learned how to be more independent after Jamil’s overblot in their second year. He knew how to care for himself, what point would a personal servant have?
Besides, Kalim’s view on a personal servant is super skewed after having Jamil for so long. Kalim was so much closer to Jamil than what was truly appropriate for a master and servant, he wouldn’t know how to treat a new personal servant. He wouldn’t really know what was appropriate and what wasn’t.
“Master Jamil!”
Jamil was pulled out of his thoughts by an attendant. She caught up to him with a smile and bowed.
“Please don’t do that,” Jamil said. Kalim didn’t require any bowing either and Jamil honestly felt like it wasn’t needed. He was literally just marrying into power, it’s not like he was born with it.
“Apologies, Master Jamil. But we need you now! It’s time to apply henna onto your skin, Master Kalim has already started,” That was right. Henna was to be applied at least two days before the wedding for it to reach its peak. Jamil nodded.
“Okay, thank you. Lead the way, please,” She turned and started walking to one of the rooms in Kalim’s home that’s specifically for this purpose. Kalim’s father had so many weddings in his time, it was hard to keep track of to Jamil.
While Kalim could have multiple spouses, Kalim had already told him that he’s not too interested. Sweet? Yes. Smart? Not really. Kalim needed heirs and plenty of them. And while Jamil knows he and Kalim could use magic to have their own heirs or adopt children for an heir, he can’t imagine having as many children as Kalim’s father had. Nevermind that, but assasination attempts are something that happens to Asim heirs. Kalim had nearly been killed many times as a child and his only saving grace as a teenager was the fact that he was at NRC, which is a super protected school. Having a lot of children (mostly from a lot of different spouses) ensured that at least one would make it to adulthood and take their place as heir.
Still, Kalim said he didn’t want a bunch of spouses. Nor did he want as many children as his father had. Jamil knows that Kalim would like to have SOME children but not a whole bunch.
Maybe Jamil’s worrying for nothing. Most assasination attempts made on the Asim children were due to the other wives wishing for their own child to take place as heir. If Kalim only has one spouse, that removes most of the threat there. But kidnappings were still a very real thing. When Kalim and him had children, Jamil decided he’d keep them inside the palace as much as possible without trying to suffocate them too much. He wanted them safe but also he wanted them to have freedom. Maybe he could keep their identities a secret for as long as possible? Maybe he could keep the children themselves a secret for as long as possible? Say to the media that they do not have any children even if they do?
It’s a possibility. He’ll talk to Kalim about it when the time comes.
He was sat beside Kalim for the henna designs and Kalim smiled at his future husband.
“Hey, Jamil!”
“Hey, Kalim,”
————————
Zaffe
The wedding was about to start. All that had to happen now was The Zaffe, then he and Kalim would sign the Nikah. There will be other ceremonies after the signing, of course but that’ll be after he and Kalim are officially married. The Zaffe was loud but that was to be expected. Everyone was shouting, dancing and celebrating. Jamil watched as the male folk dancers performed in harmony with the belly dancers. He was patiently waiting for when he’d be incorporated into the performance so that he could be presented to Kalim. After that happens, they’ll both be escorted to a different room to be officially wed. They’ll sign the Nikah together in front of their guests.
They’ll be married.
Jamil didn’t have to wait long. Before long, he was incorporated into their dance and presented to Kalim. Kalim smiled and held Jamil’s hand as they waited for the dance to finish. Once it had, they were ushered into the next room.
It was time.
——————
Nikah
If Jamil said he was nervous before, he’s a wreck right now. He wants to marry Kalim so badly, don’t get him wrong. But he had to take steadying breaths as they went over the Nikah together and set out rules for their marriage together. There weren’t many that they had set for each other. Kalim put that he’d like if Jamil didn’t marry another spouse while in a marriage with him, to be a good father to their future children, always tell him if he was feeling trapped or suffocated and to always communicate with him if something was wrong. He knew that last two were because of how their second year of NRC went.
Jamil’s rules were similar. The only real difference was that Jamil didn’t set the rule for being Kalim’s only spouse. He still had a duty and what if he changes his mind in the future? Jamil had to give Kalim a bit of wiggle room.
They both signed the Nikah and gave each other a kiss, even if that’s usually not required in the ceremony. Jamil offered a mahr to Kalim in the form of jewelry and trinkets he had collected from his travels. Kalim smiled and accepted it.
As he and Kalim moved on with their ceremonies and listened to the amount of congratulations from guests and family alike, Jamil knew this was only the beginning. He was… happy. The same happiness he felt when he started traveling and spreading his wings. It was a new page in his life that he was excited to start and it was even better because he had Kalim there to share it with.