"Kya hota agar Shyra hume yeh sab pehle bata deti. Yun jaldi jaldi ki taiyyari mere samajh nahi arahi." Rehnuma was helping Rukhsar to wrap gifts for Shyra, and mumbles angrily.

(What would've happened if Shyra had told us this before. We wouldn't have been preparing everything on last moment.)

Rukhsar just looked at her daughter but didn't say anything.

"Mere naseeb mein toh jaise bhaiyyo ki shadi enjoy karna likha hi nahi." Rehnuma was busy in complaining.

(It seems like I cannot enjoy any of my brother's wedding fullest.)

"Kaisi baat kar rahi ho, Rehnuma." Rukhsar didn't like her choice of words and scolded.

(What are you saying, Rehnuma?)

"Galat toh nahi keh rahi. Kaif ka nikkah mere nikkah ke kuch din baad hi tha, nayi dulhan thi iss wajah se kisi cheez mein hissa le hi nahi payi. Fir Kaif ki mehendi ki raat Ayat ne itna bada tamasha banaya fir accident ho gaya uska aur shadi bhi kharab. Uss chakkar mein mahine tak toh walima nahi hua aur jab hua toh itni sadgi se." Putting the box down, Rehnuma said.

(I am not saying anything wrong. Kaif's nikkah was just after mine, I was a newly bride couldn't enjoy everything. Then in his mehendi, Ayat created such a scene then her accident happened, whole wedding was ruined. Because of it his walima was on hold for month, and when his walima happened, it was such a simple ceremony.)

Putting her hand over her other hand, she looked at Rukhsar. "Aur ab Kabir ki shadi, itni jaldi jaldi ki shadi mujhe nahi samajh arahi. Agar Shyra pasand hi karti thi ussey toh bata deti na fuppi ko kya zaroorat thi apne cousin ke liye haan kehne ki. Itne saal se Basim se engaged thi..."

(And now Kabir's wedding is happening in such a rush. If Shyra liked him then she should have told her mother about it. Why did she say yes for Basim? She was engaged to him for years...)

"Achha bas." Before Rehnuma could say anything else, Rukhsar stopped her.

(Okay, enough!)

"Dubara yeh baat mat karna. Jo hona tha ho gaya." Rukhsar didn't like how Rehnuma took Shyra and Basim's name. They were engaged, but now Shyra is getting married to Kabir, and Rukhsar doesn't want anyone to mention Shyra and Basim name together again.

(Don't say it again. What's gone is gone.)

"But mere sasural mein sab itni baatein kar rahe hain. Aap janti hain meri badi wali nand bahar rehti hain, unhe toh jaise mouka mil gaya hai."

(But everyone in my family is talking about it. You know my eldest sister-in-law lives out of the country, she just got an opportunity to talk about me.)

"Tumhare papa ne baat ki toh thi na Saif se aur unki family se."

(You father talked to Saif and his family.)

"Haan, but meri nand ko toh mouka chahiye hota hai baat karne ka." Putting her hair behind her ear, Rehnuma said, and again started wrapping the gifts.

(Yes, but my sister-in-law needs opportunity to talk about me.)

"Saif ne tumse kuch kaha kya?" This made Rukhsar worried.

(Saif said anything to you?)

"Nahi, woh toh mujhe kuch nahi kehte." Shrugging her shoulder, Rehnuma informed. Rukhsar Relaxed.

(No, he doesn't say anything to me.)

"Mummy, main thakk gayi. Maids ko bhi apne bhej diya, kam se kam Ayla aur Ayat ko bula lein."

(Mummy, I am tired. You have sent maids away too, at least call Ayla and Ayat.)

"Ayat ki tabiyat theek nahi rehti, aur Ayla Azrin ko chorhke aye mujhe yeh nahi chahiye."

(Ayat is not healthy, and I don't want Ayla to leave Azrin alone.)

"Maine bhi toh Arsalan ko kamre mein chorha hai." Rehnuma mumbles in her mouth.

(I've also left Arsalan in my room.)

"Achha tum jao. Baki main kar lungi." Taking a dress from Rehnuma, which she was packing, Rukhsar told her.

(Okay you can go. I will do everything.)

"Kar toh rahi hoon." But Rehnuma didn't want to leave either, she took the dress back and started packing it.

(I am doing it.)

•••

Taking off the earrings, Ayla placed them on the dresser and looked at her tired reflection in the mirror. There was time when she used to enjoy wedding and these functions, but, they all tires her to no extent. Mainly because in whole function, she have to run behind Azrin, stopping her from harming herself, or other kids. Today, she found Azrin challenging Arsalan that he can not swing while standing on it. And when he proved her wrong, she was about to push him, but Ayla stopped her before she could.

Massaging her neck, Ayla stood up from the chair and went to sit on the bed. She hadn't changed yet, she doesn't have any energy. She decided to sit down for some moment, she can change later.

Azrin was soundly sleeping, with her hands under her cheek.

Her little daredevil, looks so innocent right now. A smile fall on Ayla's face seeing her daughter. Azrin did lots of mischievous things today, but after she applied mehendi, she sat down in Kaif's lap and didn't do anything, trying to save her mehendi filled hands. Azrin's small hands were red with mehendi's colour now. Caressing Azrin's head, Ayla placed a kiss on her cheek.

In the last five years, so much has happened, but whenever she sees Azrin, she feels like everything is right. And even if it isn't, she could do anything for her daughter to make everything better for her. In these five years, there was only Azrin whose mischief brings joy to the whole house.

A loud sound startled Ayla, as she looked at the window side, and saw Azrin's stuffed toy have fall off from there. She went there to pick it up, window was open, and wind made it fall. Before she could place the toy again on the window sill, her eyes fall on the backyard, where the tall jasmine tree was.

Hugging the stuff toy to her chest, Ayla sat down on the window sill and looked at the tree. So many memories were attached to it.

Rubab has told her that her grandfather planted this after she was born. Shahzain has put a plank swing on it for Kaif, Ayla and Rehnuma. How they all used to hurdle there together, waiting for their chance to swing. Rehnuma was bossy, she used to take more time, making Ayla upset. To cheer her up, Kaif would always gave his chance to Ayla.

Kaif had sensitive nose, Ayla got to know this very later on when she was in highschool. She has heard from Rukhsar Kaif likes soft fragrance. Ayla used to pick flowers from this very tall jasmine tree and placed it in his room always.

"Yeh motiyo ke phool mujhe bohot pasand hain." One evening, when they were on terrace, Kaif suddenly said, looking at the jasmine tree, he was standing while Ayla was sitting on the railing. "Yeh mujhe tumhari yaad dilate hain." Looking at her, he said.

(I love this flower a lot.)

(They reminds me of you.)

"Yaadein kisi mohtaj nahi hoti, Kaif." Looking down, she mumbles.

(Memories doesn't need to be dependent on things, Kaif.)

Ab toh woh darakht bhi sukh gaya tha, unn dono ke rishte ki tarah, but no one has cut that tree down. It was the last tree Behroz Khan planted, and shortly after it he passed away. No one wanted to cut that tree. The tall, dried tree was still there in backyard. Uske mazi ki itni sari achhi buri yaadein sameta hua wahi ka wahi kharha hai.

Ayla's vision blurred, realising that tears have fall on her cheek, she quickly wipes it. Standing up, she closed the window.

•••

What have I done? Ayat couldn't sleep, her mind keep flashing of her kissing Hanan, making her embarrassed.

"Kya soch rahe honge Hanan?" Sating up, she brought her knees close to her chest, and put her head down. "Isra kya soch rahi hongi?" Another thought came in her mind as she raised her head.

(What's Hanan thinking?)
(What's Isra is thinking?)

Then she quickly shook her head, doesn't matter what Isra thinks. Ayat don't like her. But what is Hanan thinking.

"Itna kya sochna. Kiss hi toh tha, aur humare shohar woh." Sitting in criss cross position, Ayat said in her empty room.

(Why are you overthinking. It's just a kiss. And he is my husband.)

"Woh kya kehte hain Hanan?... Haq Halal ke shohar..." Ayat tried to remember what he once told her.

(What does he used to say?... lawfully rightfully husband...)

"Kya baar baar biwi biwi Kar rahe hain? We are outside of my college."

(Why are you calling me your wife?)

"Toh? Biwi hi bol raha Hoon woh bhi apni haq halal ki biwi ko jissey maine pure khandan ke samne shariat mutabik nikkah Kiya Hai. Isme Kya galat Kiya Maine?" His innovative ways of telling her they are married. This made her lips curved upward.

(So? I am calling you my lawfully rightfully wife, whom I got married with the consent of the entire family according to the law. What wrong have I done?)

"Apse baat karna hi bekar hai." And her thinking of it as his new way of embarrassing her. Why she never took him seriously?

(There is no use of talking to you.)

Before going to America, Hanan was never serious with her.

"Tum mujhe pasand nahi karti? Ayat, aisa toh mat bolo, main toh tumhari mohabbat bharose to jee raha Hoon." How much he used to irritate her, finding peace after ruining hers.

(You don't like me? Ayat, don't say that. I am living because of your love.)

"Main bhi koi bohot bada fan nahi hoon tumhara." Why he never told her he was happy with the marriage? She always thought that like her, he is also forced by his parents.

(Neither I am a big fan of yours.)

Ayat shook her head to remove those thoughts. No need to sulk over the past, what's gone is gone. Beside, one person is enough to sulk over the past.

•••

He never slept easily anyway, he would just lie on the bed. But this time, his hiccups wouldn't let him rest. And then, what Ayat did in the evening, he couldn't forget it

Sitting up, he pours water in the glass while thinking when or how she become bold. She was the same Ayat who got so flushed when he kissed her in the trial room. Hiccups interrupted his thoughts, Hanan shook his head and drank two glass of water. He doesn't want to think about her.

Hanan decided to go to lawn, when sleep isn't about to come, what's the point in staying in the room. Maybe the soothing environment of the lawn will clear his mind.

But when the heart is not at peace, even the most beautiful sight of the world seems suffocating. He doesn't even remember the last time he took a peaceful breath, or when his heart was last at ease. For the past six years, he has been living every day suffocating.

Sitting on the chair in the lawn, he put his feet on the table.

•••

Ayat has went to her window, opening it, she let the cold air get in. A.c was on, but it was nothing compare to the soothing air of the wind. Her hair fall on her face, huffing she put them back when her eyes fall on the figure in the lawn. Hanan, he has fallen asleep while sitting on the chair, his elbow placed on armrest, and with his forehead in his hand.

A rush of wind passes through the window, making her shiver, rubbing her hands over her arms, she left the window side and went to her cupboard to take out extra pair of blanket from it. Leaving her house silently, she went to the lawn where Hanan was sleeping. Covering his body with the blanket, she sat on her knees, his hair fall on his forehead, taking her hand to his hair, she brushes them back.

"Ek baar apne humse pucha tha, itne nakhre kyu, Ayat, ab toh tumhe bewajah satana bhi band kar diya maine." She cupped her cheek and tried to mimicked his way of speaking, which she was good at.

(Once, you asked me, why so much tantrums, Ayat, now I have stopped bothering you.)

"Aaj hum apse puchte hain, Itna gussa kyu, Hanan, ab toh humne bewajah nakhre karna bhi band kar diya." Then she softly asked. He is sleeping, he won't even hear her low voice, she knows, but she still asked.

(Now, I am asking you, why are you so angry with me, Hanan, I have stopped throwing tantrums.)

After looking at him for some moment, she stood up and left.

When her footsteps disappeared, Hanan opened his grey eyes. He first looked at the comforter, then at the glass door from where she left.

Itna gussa kyu? Ayat's voice nagged him. She had a whole diary written why she doesn't like him. He didn't have anything like that. Why can't he forget everything? He wants to, Ayat's tears bothers him, he wants to be with her, hold her, tell her about his feelings which he never openly expressed before, but his heart stops him. At first, he was angry that why didn't Ayat talked to him when he asked her so many times, then, he thought Shahzain doesn't want him near Ayat, but now, everything seem to fall together. Why can't he forget everything? Why can't he be with his Ayat?

"Yeh sirf apki hawas hai jissey apne mohabbat ka naam de diya." His elbow slipped off from the armrest as Ayat's voice echoed in his empty ears.

(This is just your lust which you call love.)

All these words he has kept hidden in somewhere deep inside his heart, he never wanted to think about this, but his heart, it could never forget that Ayat insulted his love.

Lust! That's what she called his love. He had pure feelings for her, but she, she named it something as disgusting as lust. Hanan suddenly felt his blood rushing into his head, as he angrily pushes off the comforter from his body and returned back to his room.

Itna bhaga tha ek shaks ke peeche
Ki pairo se zyada, dil thakk gaya mera

It seems like no one from the younger generation in Khan haveli could sleep that night. All awake for different reasons but same feelings. Mourning over the loss of their beloved.

Shyra keep looking at her wedding dress, she is going to get married tomorrow, she will be Basim's bride, but her heart keep thinking about Kabir.

Kabir had to take a warm shower to relax his nerves. The thought of Shyra marrying Basim disquiet him to the extent where he thought his heart will stop pumping.

Tum Paas Hoke Bhi
Tum Aas Hoke Bhi
Ehsaas Hoke Bhi
Apne Nahi Aise Hai
Humko Gile Tumse Na Jaane Kyun

Kaif was on the terrace, same place where Ayla and he used to meet with tea, drinking tea alone. All these years, he thought he did the right thing leaving Ayla, she was better without him, but Ayla's words, that he should have waited for her to gain her consciousnesses, nagged him. If he had been calm that night, life would have been different. And that ladies words, how they taunted Azrin being without a father was haunting him too, just how many times Ayla and Azrin have heard it, how does Ayla handles Azrin if she ever asked about her father? Kaif knows Azrin knew him before, she have seen his pictures, he used to send her gifts, but did she ever ask anyone where her father is? He felt like a coward, how could he leave his wife and few days old daughter.

•••

"Ye kya?" Rubab, who was instructing the maids, saw Ayla and Azrin getting down from stairs, going to them, she asked pointing at Azrin, who was dressed in her school uniform.

(What's this?)

"School ja rahe hain." Ayla informed her.

(She is going to school.)

"Aaj toh rehne deti, Ayla. Shadi hai ghar mein."

(Let her be, Ayla, there is a wedding at home.)

"Haan toh isme Azrin kya karengi? Balki achha hai, yaha rahengi toh 10 log inhi ke piche pareshaan rahenge ki kahi kuch ulta seedha na kar de. School mein hi theek hain yeh." Azrin looked up at Ayla with a huge smile, making Ayla cupped her cheeks lovingly.

(What's that gotta with her? In fact it will be good if she will be at school. If she stays here, everyone's attention will be on her what if she do something.)

"Apka bas chale toh Sunday ko bhi school bhej dein inhe." Rubab shook her head in disappointment. Ayla didn't say anything and excused herself for breakfast.

(If you could, you will send her to school even on Sundays.)

"Hum inhe nashta karwa dein."

(I will give her breakfast.)

"Theek hai," Saying okay, Rubab went to the maid, but then again turned to Ayla. "Please, yeh mat kahiyega aap bhi Hospital ja rahi hain."

(Okay,)
(And, please, don't tell me you are going to hospital too.)

"Nahi, mamma, of course not."

(No,)

"Shukar!" Ayla and Azrin just left when Ayat came downstairs, still in her pjs, yawning, and scratching her head.

(Thank you.)

"Ab apko kya hua?" Rubab looked at her disheveled attire and asked.

(What happened to you?)

"Kya hua?" This made Ayat looked down at her clothes.

(What happened?)

"Ankhein dekhiye, surkh hui hain. Zyada derr tak jagi thi?"

(Look at your eyes, they are red. Did you slept late last night?)

Soyi hi kaha payi thi woh raat mein. Ayat thought in her mind, but didn't tell it to her mother.

"Aur yeh kya haal banaya hua hai?"

(And how are you looking?)

"Subah subah aur kaise rahenge?" Ayat whined on her mother's words. Why does she expects her to look perfect in the morning? No one looks better in the morning, except for tv serials protagonists.

(How I am supposed to look in the morning?)

"Achha jaiye nashta kariye."  Before Ayat could go, a maid came there with Ayat's white blanket.

(Okay gi and have breakfast.)

"Yeh bahar lawn mein tha." She told Rubab, showing her the blanket.

(Thus was laying in the lawn.)

"Ayat! Yeh apka haina?" Rubab turned to Ayat and asked to confirm. Reluctantly, Ayat nods her head.

(Ayat, this is yours?)

"Bahar kya kar raha tha?" Putting her one hand on her waist, Rubab asked. "Tum raat mein bahar gayi thi? Ayat, apko health ke liye theek nahi..."

(What was it doing outside?)

(You went out? Ayat, your health...)

"Humne apne liye nahi liya tha isko." Ayat quickly said, before Rubab could scold her anymore.

(I didn't take it out for myself.)

"Toh fir?" This made Rubab confused. If Ayat hadn't used this, then why it was outside.

(Then?)

"Ayat!" Rubab's eyes widened in realisation. "Kahi yeh Barfi, Pablo, Robert ke liye toh nahi nikala apne? Ya koi nayi billi agayi hai." Rubab could imagine Ayat's spreading her blanket in the lawn for cats, who laid on it comfortably.

(Did you put it outside for Barfi, Pablo, or Robert?)

"Nahi, Mamma!" Ayat said it so cutely, that Rubab forgot about her vexed, and felt great adoration for Ayat.

(No, Mamma!)

"Toh Mamma ki jaan kya yeh khud chalke bahar gaye?" Pinching Ayat's cheek, Rubab asked.

(Then my dear, did it grow feet of its own and walked out?)

"Woh... Hanan... bahar so rahe the na.. aur raat mein mousam bhi sard tha... toh..."

(Hanan... he was sleeping outside... and it was a chilly night yesterday... so...)

"Hanan bahar kyu so rahe the?"

(Why was Hanan sleeping outside?)

"Hume kya pata." Ayat shrugged her shoulder.

(How would I know.)

"Achha chorhein, aap jaye nashta karein." Rubab waved her hand in the air and told her.

(Leave it, go and have breakfast.)

There were lots of things to do. She had to go to Rukhsar's house too.

•••

"Kya hua, Khushi?" Standing in front of the mirror, Shahzain looked at her reflection and asked.

(What happened, Khushi?)

Khushnuma was wearing dark purple silk straight kurta and cigarettes pant with golden embroidery, long hair falling on her back. She looked beautiful even when she had no make up on yet. But her face was turned into a frown.

"Hanan ki shadi kab hogi?" She complained to him, not turning to him, as she wore earrings.

(When will Hanan get married?)

"Abhi woh taiyyar nahi hai." Sighing, Shahzain came in front of her, leaning on the dresser table, he held her hands in his.

(He is not ready for it yet.)

"Nikkah ke liye toh yun taiyyar ho gaya tha."

(But he was ready for nikkah.)

"Tab baat bhi toh aur thi."

(That was a different case.)

"Aap bole na ab woh Ayat ko maaf karde."

(You tell him to forgive Ayat)

"Hum ussey nahi keh sakte kab kissey maaf karna hai." This made Khushnuma's frown deepen, as she pulled her hands away from his.

(We can not tell him when to forgive whom.)

"Haan, hum ussey ehsas zaroor kara sakte hain."

(But we can make him realise his feelings.)

"Matlab?" Confusing, she narrowed her eyes.

(Meaning?)

"Jo woh dono Kabir Shyra ke sath kar rahe hain, hum unke sath kyu nahi kar sakte." Shahzain shrugged his shoulder.

(What those two are doing to Kabir and Shyra, we can do that to them.)

Khushnuma's eyes instantly lit up on his suggestion.

"Aur Hanan hai bhi apki tarah..." Excitedly, Khushnuma said.

(And Hanan is like you..)

"Matlab?" Shahzain couldn't understand what's the comparison here between Hanan and him.

(Meaning?)

"Matlab, aap bhi bohot jaldi jealous ho jate hain. Hanan bhi apni feelings pe control nahi karega agar..." Shahzan didn't hear her words except for the fact that he is a jealous person.

(Meaning, you get jealous easily, and Hanan is like you, he won't able to control his feeling if...)

"Main jaldi jealous hota hoon? Tum toh bohot calm aur composed ho na?" Sarcastically, he asked.

(I get jealous easily? As if you are very calm and composed.)

"Aur nahi toh kya." Khushnuma has started doing her make up now.

(Of course I am.)

Shahzain glared at her, then brushes his hair with hand and closed the button of his blazer.

"Theek hai fir. Main niche se hoke ata hoon." Slowly, he said, and took steps away from her.

(Okay then. I am going downstairs.)

"Nigaar ayi hai zara ussey mil loon." Intentionally, he mumbles it loudly.

(Nigaar must have come, I will go and meet her.)

Khushnuma's hand, which were applying blush on her cheeks stopped. "What?"

"What? Cousin hai meri, itni durr se ayi hai, mera farz hai zara dekhu woh comfortable hai ki nahi."

(She is my cousin, it is my duty ti make sure she js comfortable or not.)

"Shahzain, aap!" Vexedly, she looked around to pick something to hit him. How could Shahzain specially go downstairs to meet Nigaar.

(Shahzain, you!)

"Ab batao, kon jealous hai." Smirking, he stood in front of her and asked, crossing his arm behind his back.

(Now tell me, who is jealous.)

Khushnuma has stopped herself from hitting him after hearing Nigaar's name, but when got to know he is teasing her, she couldn't control her hand anymore and smacked his arm.

"Zyada na bola karein." Scoffing, she again turned to the mirror.

(Don't talk much.)

Shahzain went to stood behind her. "You look beautiful." Leaning toward her, he whispered in her ear.

"Chachi!" Ayat's voice made him stand away from Khushnuma.

Startled, they both looked at the door from where Ayat just entered. She wasn't looking at them, she was wrestling with her dupatta, trying to fix it. She didn't see them.

"Kya hua, beta?" Khushnuma called her.

(What happened, dear?)

"Chachi, humare baalo ka kuch karein, inhe khule nahi rakhne." Coming in, Ayat complained. "Api Azrin ke sath busy hain, Mamma tayi jaan ke sath hain."

(Chachi, do something to my hair, I don't want them open.)

(Api is busy with Azrin, Mamma is at tayi jaan's house.)

"Idha aao, main tumhari hairstyle bana deti hoon." Khushnuma said and told her to sit on the chair.

(Come here, I will make your hairstyle.)

"Mere paas bohot pyara tiara hai tumhare dress pe match karega."

(I have a very beautiful tiara that will match your dress.)

"Main niche ja raha hoon." Shahzain excused himself, this made Khushnuma looked at him sharply.

(I am gling downstairs.)

"Bhai ke paas ja raha hoon." He quickly added seeing her angry stare.

(I am going to bhai.)

•••

Shyra didn't know when or how the whole day passed, sitting in front of the dressing table, she looked at her bridal look, but her mind was somewhere else.

"Shyra!" Hamna's voice made her look up, and saw her mother was looking at her with teary eyes.

"Bohot pyari lag rahi ho, Masha'Allah." Drying her eyes, Hamna praises her.

(You are looking beautiful.)

"Maama!" Getting up, she hugged Hamna. "Mujhe yeh shadi nahi karni. Mujhe nahi karni shadi." Her voice got heavy, as she confesses.

(I don't want to do this marriage.)

She thought it won't be that difficult getting married to someone else, she will move on. But can't. The nearer her nikkah ceremony was getting, the more she was getting anxious.

"Shyra!" Hamna hugged her back. This was the thing which Hamna and Hanan wanted Shyra to admit. She could lie to others, but she should have been honest to herself.

"Shyra, ro mat..." Hamna couldn't see her crying, and thought of her telling her the truth, but same time, Maha entered her room.

(Shyra, don't cry...)

"Arey rey! Yeh kya ho raha." She said, pointing at them. Shyra pulled away from Hamna and wiped her tears.

(What's going on here?)

"Abhi ke liye no rona dhona. Come on, rukhsati pe ro lena koi nahi rokega." Lightly, Maha said, and picked tissue paper to pass it to both Shyra and Hamna.

(Don't cry now. Come on, save your tears for rukhsati.)

"Maha, beta..." Hamna didn't know how to excuse her. She looked at Shyra, who shook her head.

"Tum dono baitho, main ati hoon." Hamna left the room.

(You two sit, I will go.)

"Kya hua? Itna na ro ab. Itna toh Adan bhi nahi rota." Maha gave example of her 1 year old baby.

(What happened?  Don't cry. Even Adan doesn't cry that much.)

This made Shyra smile. "Where he is?" She liked that chubby baby.

"He is with his father."

•••

Hanan and Kaif entered Kabir's room together, Kaif holding a sehra behind his back.

Hanan was wearing all black sherwani of sequined embroidery.

While Kaif was wearing plain black sherwani with white pants.

"Ho gaye taiyyar?" Hanan asked, as he looked at Kabir who was ready in beige sherwani, and sulkingly sitting on the bed. He hadn't combed his hair, didn't wear his watch or footwear, shawl thrown on the bed, he was just wearing his clothes as if did a great favour by wearing it.

(Are you ready?)

"Haan, ho gaya." He mumbles, and started wearing his footwear.

(Yes, I am.)

"Aise?" Kaif looked at him with amused eyes.

(Like this?)

"Aur kaise, konsa koi mujhe waise bhi dekhega."

(Yes, no one is going to look at me.)

"Kyu nahi dekhega, bhai? Dulha dulhan ko hi toh sab dekhte hain." Hanan went to his dresses to pick hair brush and went to him.

(Why won't they? Groom and bride are the centre of everyone's attention.)

"Chalo, hooliya durust karo." Passing him the brush, Hanan ordered.

(Noe, come on, make yourself presentable.)

"Aur baal theek karke yeh bhi pehno." Kaif also stood in front of him and showed him the sehra.

(And wear this after brushing your hair.)

Displeasure and disbelief crosses Kabir's face. "Bhai, aap toh na karein aisa." He thought Kaif is making fun of him too.

(Bhai, please, even you don't start now.)

"Kya kar raha hoon? Taiyyar ho, sehra pehno, aur chalo. Barat leke jani hai."

(What I am doing? Get ready, wear sehra and come out, barat will get late otherwise.)

"Kiski?"

(Whose barat?)

"Tumhari." Hanan told him.

(Your barat.)

"Mera mazak bana rahe hain aap log." He looked between Kaif and Hanan, and got up from the bed. He hadn't expected them to do this to him.

(You are making fun of me.)

"Kabir, idhar meri baat suno..." Though Hanan was enjoying Kabir's situation, Kaif didn't. Softly, he went to tell Kabir everything, but Huzaifa's voice interrupted him.

(Kabir, listen to me...)

"Kabir... ab tak taiyyar nahi hue? Jaldi karo, barat nikalne ka time ho raha hai." Pointing at his wrist watch, Huzaifa told him.

(Kabir... why aren't you ready yet? Hurry up, we are getting late.)

"Papa, aap log kya..." Kabir didn't understand anything. When he thought his heart will stop last night, did it really stopped? Is he dead? Is he in heaven? Where he is getting Married to Shyra.

(Papa, you all are...)

"Tum log ne bataya nahi?" Huzaifa looked at Kaif and Hanan. Huzaifa and Rukhsar were coming to tell Kabir the truth, but Kaif said he will tell Kabir, and Hanan quickly volunteered too.

(You didn't tell him?)

"Issey humpe yakeen nahi." Hanan informed him.

(He doesn't trust us.)

Huzaifa went to Kabir, putting his hand on Kabir's shoulder, he told him. "Tumhari shadi Shyra se ho rahi hai."

(You are getting married to Shyra.)

"Sach mein?" His heart leaped. Huzaifa would never lie, he would never make fun of him.

(Really?)

"Haan!"

(Yes!)

Kabir's heart jumped in excitement, he couldn't control his emotions and hugged his father, his eyes brimming with tears.

"Thank you," Like a small kid, Kabir said.

Huzaifa pats his back. "Thank you Hanan ka karna chahiye. Kazim aur Hamna ka bhi. Warna main toh rishto ke samne majboor tha."

(You should thank Hanan, Kazim and Hamna. Otherwise I was helpless in front of the relations.)

Kabir shook his head, he didn't blame his father. Huzaifa was right in his place.

"Lekin mujhe kisine kuch bataya kyu nahi?" Kabir asked, looking between them. He has now composed his emotions.

(But why didn't anyone tell me?)

"Yeh tum Hanan aur Ayat se pucho. Inka idea tha." Kaif pushed Hanan forward and told him.

(Ask Hanan and Ayat, this was their's idea.)

"Achha ab taiyyar ho jao. Late ho raha hai." Huzaifa again said, getting impatient now.

(Now get ready, we are getting late.)

"Aap bas chaliye, hum atey hain." Kaif told his father.

(You go, we will come.)

When Huzaifa left, Kabir called Hanan. "Hanna, idhar ana."

(Hanan, come here.)

Unaware, Hanan went to him. Poor guy didn't know Kabir was angry at him. When Hanan reached him, Kabir punched him on the stomach.

"Ouch! Kya badtameezi hai?" Hanan hold his stomach and asked.

(What rubbish it is?)

"Aur tumne jo badtameezi ki hai uska kya?" Kabir almost shouted. "Kal raat mera dil band hote hote bacha tha."

(What about the rubbish you did?)
(Yesterday my heart would have stopped.)

"Arey Drama, dil band ho jata." Hanan put his arm around Kabir's neck, and making him bent down.

(Drama, heart would have stopped.)

"Itne saal se majnu banke ghoom rahe the tab nahi hua band." Holding Kabir's head in between his arm and stomach, Hanan hit his head.

(For so many years when you were roaming around as a Romeo, it didn't stop then?(

"Hanan! Kabir! Enough." Kaif had to pull them apart.

Hanan fixes his collar, while Kabir quickly brushes his hair with his hand.

"Grow up both of you." Kaif shook his head.

"Jao, Kabir, taiyyar ho."

(Go, Kabir, get ready.)

Before going, Kabir again turned to Hanan, who quickly got prepare to dodge any punch Kabir will throw at him. But Kabir took him by surprise, and hugged him.

"Thanks, yaar!" This made Hanan awkward.

"No problem."

"Kabir, main bhi tumhara bada bhai hoon." Being the only one who didn't get any hug, Kaif complained.

(Kabir, I am also your brother.)

Smiling, Kabir went to hug his brother.

"Ab chalo, hug day mana liya ho toh taiyyar ho jao." Picking Kabir's sehra, Hanan said.

(Okay, enough, if you have celebrated hug day then go and get ready.)

"One minute." Kabir ran to his washroom to wash his face. He, who didn't want to even comb his hair earlier, now was getting ready happily. Pumping perfume's bottle on his body, so much that Hanan had to wave his hand around to remove the strong smell.

After Kabir got ready, taking his sehra from Hanan, Kabir went downstairs. Sisters tie sehra to their brother. Rehnuma was already there waiting for him, along with everyone else there. Except for Hamna and Azlan's family, they have already left for banquet.

"Pehle shagun do mera, yeh tabhi bandhega." Rehnuma has covered his face behind the beautiful sehra, but didn't tie the knot, teasing him.

(First give me money, only then I will tie this.)

"Bas karo, bhai ko satao mat." Mockingly, Rukhsar scolded her, while Kaif gave Rehnuma her shagun.

(Enough, don't trouble your brother.)

"Papa, yeh kya ho raha hai?" Confusingly, Arsalan turned to his father and asked.

(Papa, what's going on?)

"Tumhare mamu ki shadi ho rahi haina." Saif answered,

(Your uncle is getting married today.)

"Shadi kyu karte hain?" Azrin, who heard Saif, asked, loudly. She didn't go with Ayla, as she was playing with Kaif at that time.

(Why one get married?)

"Kyuki shadi bohot pyara rishta hota hai. Jisko aap pasand karte ho, apka dost, woh fir hamesha apke sath rehta hai shadi ke baad." Naziya Begum told them.

(Because marriage is a very beautiful relationship. The one whom we like, who is our friend, they stayed with you after marriage.)

"Hume jo achhe lagte hain hume unse shadi karni chahiye?" Arsalan asked again.

(We should marry whom we like?)

"Haan!" Ruffling his hair, Saif told him.

"Mummy, main bada hoke Shyra se shadi karunga." He looked at his mother and said. "Mujhe woh bohot achhi lagti hain." He said it with a cute smile.

(Mummy, I will marry Shyra when I will grow up.)
(I like her.)

Everyone there laughed on his confession.

"Kabir, yeh toh tumhari dulhan churane ke firaq mein hai." Hanan teased him. Even Kabir laughed at his cute competitor.

(Kabir, he wants to steal your bride.)

No one in the living room had a heart to tell Arsalan his naive wish won't be fulfilled. Shyra will become his mami today.

"Mamma papa ki bhi shadi hui thi na woh dono sath kyu nahi rehte." Azrin suddenly asked, being confused by everyone's words.

(Mamma and papa got married too, why don't they live together?)

Whole living room fell silent. How they are supposed to tell the little girl about separation and divorce. That's would be too much complicated for her.

"Papa bahar the na." Rukhsar told her.

(Papa was away.)

•••

Heri sakhi mangal gaao ri
Dharti ambar sajaao ri
Utregi aaj mere pi ki sawaari
Ari koi kaajal laau ri
Mohe kaala tika lagaao ri
Unki chhab se dikhu main to pyaari

Walking into the wedding hall, the soft music was playing in the background, Shyra was walking with Kazim by her side, her face hidden behind the pink net dupatta. She could see Basim on the stage, hus face hiding behind sehra and beside him Hanan was sitting. (In her anxiety, she didn't notice no one from her paternal side were present on the stage.)

With every step she took, her heart beat also accelerated. She was feeling suffocated. She wanted to run away from here. Her feet stopped as she reached near the stage.

"Kya hua?" Kazim asked in a whisper.

(What happened?)

Shyra, who was looking at Basim with daze, looked at her father. Her vision was blurry,

She didn't know when she started walking again, or when she sat in front of Basim. Between them was a beautiful wall made up of flowers.

Holding her hands together, she tried to calm her heart.

"Nikkah shuru kariye." Kazim said to molvi saab.

(Start the ceremony.)

After greeting everyone, and reciting dua, Molvi saab went to Shyra.

"Shyra Zehra Kazim, apka Nikkah, Kabir Abdar Khan se tay hai, kya apne yeh Nikkah qabool kiya?" Shyra's heart stopped in the mention of Kabir's name.

(Shyra Zehra Kazim, do you accept your marriage with Kabir Abdar Khan?)

Did she misheard it? Shocked, she looked at her father. Kazim was sitting beside her, putting his hand on her shoulder, he nods her head.

"Shyra, sab intezar kar rahe hain." Hamna, who was sitting on the other side of her, said.

(Shyra, everyone is waiting.)

Molvi saab once again asked her. "Shyra Zehra Kazim, apka Nikkah, Kabir Abdar Khan se tay hai, kya apne yeh Nikkah qubool kiya?"

(Shyra Zehra Kazim, do you accept your marriage with Kabir Abdar Khan?)

"Qubool hai," Her voice came out very low and throaty, as tears started falling on her face.

(I do,)

"Kya apne yeh nikkah qubool kiya?" He again her two more times,

(Do you accept this marriage?)

"Qubool hai!" She gave her consent two more times, tears streamed down to her face when Kazim gave her the nikkah paper to sign. With shivering hands, she singed it.

(I do!)

•••

Kon kahega mera kal paper hai? Aur yaha main Sharar post kar rahi hoon 🙃 PrIoRiTiEs.

Khair, how's the update.

-Ufaq

P.S pray for me because I haven't prepared anything for tomorrow's exam.