Life, Arranged: The Visit

By Anonymous

Part One

“We’re going to visit your aunt and uncle.”

“Why?”

“Because your Auntie knows lots of boys there for you.”

And the next thing I know, I’m packed into the car and cruising towards the “Land of Many Eligible Men.”

A measly five-hour car ride turned into seven as we were stuck in a traffic jam for about two hours and didn’t reach my aunts house until after 9 pm. I casually started unloading my luggage only to be ushered into the house to quickly eat , without any idea why.

My parents, my aunt, and my uncle kept throwing glances at each other, almost uneasily. I was perplexed.

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing darling. Just eat your food.”

I sat there in silence watching as their eyes peered over me like a moth staring into a light.

“Wouldn’t you like to freshen up darling?” my aunt questioned.

“Why? I’m only going to sleep now.”

Oh that’s right we were going somewhere. FML.

I had absolutely no clue where we were going, but to meet some guy, that’s all I knew.

As I begrudgingly freshened up, my aunt told me to fix my hair. “Why?” I asked, “I wear a hijab anyway.”

I cover up my hair for a reason, but when meeting a suitor it’s okay to take the scarf off? No thanks.

I unconvincingly got into the car headed to a house where there was some guy whom I was to meet to see if he was the “right material.”

This was the first time I was going to “meet” a guy like this. I cried the whole way there.

This is the first installment of “Life, Arranged,” a series of true stories about a young Muslim student unwittingly in the process of finding a husband. New stories will be posted every other Friday and you can follow us on twitter @jerkmagazine to check for updates.

Continue to Part Two: Better Luck Next Time.