Engagement

On the second day of the war, we heard that the hospital in Gaza where our friend, Ahmed, works had been slightly damaged in an airstrike. I called Ahmed immediately to check if he was okay.

Indeed, he was fine, and he had some happy news to share. He had become engaged the previous day, 14 November 2012, the day the war began.

Yesterday, Ahmed called to the office to hand-deliver invitations to his engagement party. He showed us the engraving on his ring, which bears the date '14 November 2012'. He said that, for him, this will always be a happy date.

We arrived for the women's part of the celebration at about 5.30pm. The female guests of the future groom sat on one side of the hall, while the female guests of the future bride sat on the other. The men had already enjoyed their celebration of the occasion in the same hall, leaving shortly before the women arrived.

After a little while, the lights were turned down and the newly-engaged couple entered the hall, preceded by photographers and a videographer, and followed by their female family members who threw confetti over them.

We were anxious to have a look at Ahmed's new fiancée. She wore an enormous, bejewelled, bright red dress and looked like a beautiful little doll. They made their way, arm in arm, to the dance floor, where they danced in front of the crowd. They looked very happy.

Their female relatives took turns to dance around them, enthusiastically bellydancing, shimmying their hips and shoulders and ululating with glee. The couple are hoping to be married next summer.

Out of a time of great hardship came a story of hope. Life is both bitter and sweet.