After a long journey, Hasan and Anisa, the bride- and groom-to-be, finally arrived at the Manalo house in the harsh light of midday. The sun beat down intensely on everyone present. ☀️
True to his carefully crafted persona, Hasan emerged first. Playing the part of the consummate gentleman, he circled the car to open Anisa's door and help her out. Together, they walked towards the front of the house, which was a hive of busy, pre-wedding activity.
What followed was a series of introductions to friends and relatives. With each new face, Hasan performed his role flawlessly, his arm possessively around Anisa's waist or shoulders, presenting her as his prized belonging. The gesture felt stifling and objectifying to Anisa, but unwilling to create a scene and disrupt the delicate social atmosphere, she endured it with a forced smile, playing her own part in the public charade. 🙂
Soon, Anisa's mother arrived and whisked her daughter inside, away from the crowd and Hasan's performative grip. Her mission was to have Anisa try on her bridal gown one last time, to check for any final fitting issues.
It was a brief, welcome respite for Anisa, a moment away from the watchful eyes and the heavy, claiming weight of her fiancé's arm, a small island of normalcy in the sea of mounting pressure. ✊️