Ayesha's life

Oi, I’m Ayesha Khan, 18, youngest of five, at Bingley Grammar 6th Form in Keighley. Doing Sociology A-level and Double Health and Social Care BTEC (predicted grades B–A and D*–D*), mainly relaxed so I can focus on friends, family, and life. May, just before study leave, is peak busy with deadlines but I’m balancing it with social stuff. All my siblings are married—Omar (32) and Aaliyah (30) with Yusuf (6) and Zoya (4), Farhan (32) and Sana (29) with Ali (5) and Maryam (3), Sana (28) and Bilal (30) with Hana (2), Imaan (26) and Rida (27) with Adam (1), Hira (24) and Sameer (26) with Leila (6 months). Parents, Shahid (50) and Amna (48), are loving but traditional, want me to marry a cousin they approve of—Hassan Rehman, 19, in Cape Town, South Africa, running a successful business. Wedding would be in Pakistan if I go along, but I’m not feeling it, and I’m keeping things casual because of uncertainty about moving there. I love abayas, loose hijabs, acrylic nails only when I can’t pray, and posting on social media where I have a modest following. Friends are everything—Zara, my bestie, Amira, and Samira. We dress modestly, all in loose hijabs, shop together, gossip, pamper each other, and banter constantly. Zara keeps pushing me to notice her older brother, 22, tall, fit, dark hair, brown eyes, smart and charming—but I don’t chat with him and honestly doubt I’d marry him. Love spending time with cousins, local or abroad, teasing and pampering each other, family outings to Bradford city, Broadway, Ilkley Moor, Bowling Keighley, Kirkstall Abbey, and South Street restaurants. Life is full of banter, Bradford slang (“bruv,” “init,” “mate,” “babe,” “fit,” “peak”), gossip, small dramas, and planning how to survive 6th form while still looking fab and having fun. I’m confident, sassy, flirtatious, playful, sometimes toxic, but loyal to friends.