~Shayad Khushi ka bhi daur aa jaaye ek din, Dukh bhi to mil gye the tamanna kiye baghair.
-Ahmed Faraz~

The garden of Usman mansion embellished with tiny fairy lights seemed like a bride itself. Giant Gulmohar tree in the middle showcased its beauty adorning the strings of lights. The Gulmohar flowers shone in the white light, as the whole backdrop looked ethereal with small chandeliers of the same color. Just in front of it was the seating arrangement for guests, maybe for a hundred people.

Wedding planners planned a subtle entry for the bride and groom, hand-in-hand they had to walk the faintly lit path towards their backdrop. Idris fixed his tie and gave himself a final look. He looked crisp with a black silk shirt, tuxedo and trousers. It all finished with a silver brooch pin. Raaya finalised his attire and he didn't regret it.

Amazing choice, Raaya!

Raaya was getting ready in his mom's room. Taking a last glance at himself, Idris moved to mom's room only to stop in his tracks. She was in front of him, busy fixing her bangles, with no idea that her husband was shamelessly staring at her.

That pink attire suited her, and that make-up and jewelry, Idris had to just ignore her else his mind would again conspire many things.

"Perfect!"

Michelle, their wedding planner clapped, grabbing their attention. She was a middle aged lady, a fast friend of his parents. She looked quite aged for her age with a slightly wrinkled face and her white hair framing her face in a short bob.

As she spotted him, Raaya gave a small smile. Her blue orbs laced with dark kohl was enough to throw his heart in dance.

"Both will look perfect together, okay so now," she rubbed her hands together, "Raaya, come beside Idris. Idris, hold her hand."

Idris gave his hand to Raaya that she accepted with a hesitance and then he held it tightly. Her sweaty hand told the secrets of her nervousness as she puffed a breath.

"No need to stress." He put another hand on hers, as they began to move on the lit path towards their backdrop. "I'm here."

She nodded with a smile. The guests clapped when they took their spot. He could see Hamida, Nani and some man with them at one corner table. The person that brought an ill feeling in his gut was sitting just two tables across them.

Fauzia Rafa.

A girl in her twenties with her silly crush on him. He remembered, she made his life living hell with her stalking and those love letters were terrible. Who invited her?

She smiled at them with her crooked tooth showing. Idris nodded and hoped that would be it. He didn't want to ruin his image and reputation, not in front of Raaya.

***

"Even if the sky falls down, you won't look at Fauzia."

Raaya was confused with all that information. What would she do about it? It was his life, he could do anything he wanted. She tried keeping that faint hurt at bay. A girl attached, quite not, forcefully trying to attach herself, with her husband.

But it also amused her. Idris Usman was somewhat worried and scared of a girl. He fiddled his brooch one more time, taking Raaya's glances here and there. It became hard for her to stop herself from laughing.

"What's so funny?"

She pursed her lips, "Nothing," composed herself, "you didn't check the guest list?"

"Not thoroughly. But her parents are close friends with us, can't avoid her much."

"She's coming to meet us!"

Idris facepalmed and whispered, "Don't pay attention to her, not anything she says."

Raaya watched him for a moment, then held his hand tightly, facing Fauzia, fully ignoring Idris' shocked expressions.

"Congratulations to the lovely couple." She giggled. Her round face brightened with her big smile. To Raaya, she looked simple also not over extravagant with her attire or anything.

"Thank you." Raaya smiled genuinely while Idris remained silent.

"I didn't want to come," She looked at Idris, "I have made his college days too difficult." Fauzia laughed, "He's a decent man, you know."

Raaya nodded, she couldn't agree more. Idris Usman was a decent man, man of words, looks and manners. He squeezed her hand and as she looked up, his eyes were dancing on her features, filled with so many unsaid emotions.

"You're one lucky girl, Raaya." With that said, she left after congratulating them again.

"Not a blunder as I was thinking," Idris huffed, "I didn't know she would be honest."

Raaya chuckled, "Well, I don't have to pay any attention to what she said."

Idris' eyes held sparks of amusement. The coming guests broke their link of conversation as next was her family, in addition to Zahir Mirza.

"AsSalamuAlaikum Baji."

Zahir came sprinting towards her, her gaze flickering to Idris who watched them cautiously. She nodded with a small smile, and moved forward to meet Hamida and Nani.

"I'm Zahir Mirza, their first cousin." Now he greeted Idris who shook his hand, but a little skeptically.

***

"How come you call her Baji and not me?" Hamida punched his shoulder when they got back to their seats.

"Because she's my Baji." He rubbed his shoulder, taking the starter of Paneer Tikka on his plate.

"Behave you two."

It was all well and good. They were or more like their family was invited to the reception. But there was no need for Zahir. Especially when her whole day went in getting bugged by that man.

She again looked at the couple standing in the glory of small chandeliers. They looked happy. Hamida didn't know when she felt this kind of calmness. Her sister got something good out of her life, something she could hold onto and something she deserved.

The flowers of happiness and peace in her heart made her realise that it felt really good to have someone looking at you, like Idris was gazing at Raaya every now and then.

Her gaze shifted to her green clutch on the table and then to the person sitting across, Zahir, who was looking at her with a smile.

"What?"

"Nothing." He shrugged and drank from her glass of water.

She slapped his back in annoyance, slightly confused why her heart was beating in a weird way, "behave yourself, Zahir, you idiot."

"Stop being childish, you two."

"Are you seeing any proposals for Hamida, Nani?"

Her brain bursted with fury at Zahir's question. He was making her day terrible with his presence. Didn't know when this night was going to end?

"It's none of your business, idiot."

"No proposals right now. Also she's studying."

Nani shared as if she was talking to some of her old best friends. He didn't have any right over her life, her marriage. And her mind always went off on the gossip about her marriage. She knew all trouble began after marriage and her life was already in turmoil to get into that trap.

Another wound. She watched from afar as her mother put the turmeric paste on her own wrist.

Another ordeal that happened when she was in school. Another ordeal between her father and mother. Her drunk father, who was a black spot on her life, on her heart.

***

It was awkward. The reception went all well and now Mum sent them to their room. They weren't strangers anymore like on their wedding night. They weren't like husband and wife either. They were on some weird mid path, not knowing where this relationship would go.

"I'll change first, please." Raaya seemed quick with her actions, grabbing the dress from the suitcase, "This dress is too heavy."

"You didn't put them in the cupboard?"

Idris opened his cufflinks, loosening his tie. He noticed Raaya shifted her weight to another leg and he got up, coming near to her.

"You didn't tell me to."

She said from under her lashes, those blue orbs pulling him in with their beauty. Idris failed miserably tonight. He wanted to ignore her, to put reins on his heart but instead, he ogled her shamelessly.

And that punch of jealousy. He was confused and in guilt to feel such emotions. Idris had no idea about Raaya's family except for Hamida and Nani. So when Zahir Mirza behaved so joyfully with his wife, he couldn't bottle up his jealousy. He felt it like a ton of bricks on his heart.

"We're married, Raaya. We're sharing this bedroom together, we can share the cupboard as well."

In between his statements he remembered it was because of him that they were sharing the bed, and it was now clear Raaya wouldn't do anything without his say.

She nodded and turned when he held her wrist, pulling her a little closer. Their height did not differ much, but she came near to his shoulder.

"What happened?"

Raaya blinked, trying to take a step back which he stopped, tightening his hold.

"You look beautiful, Raaya."

He needed to get a grip on his heart, mind that was running at the speed of a tornado. Idris tucked the loose tendril of hair behind her ear. Her cheeks colored as she looked down. Their heartbeats and breathing in sync, as he leaned closer. 

"Idris…" His name could sound that beautiful, he wasn't sure until now, her voice wavering as she put her palm on his chest, "I think you should just stop."

"I'm not doing anything…" He kissed her forehead, lingered there for a moment, relishing the faint fragrance around her. It was just a kiss, a touch wouldn't matter.

A slow push, "yes, you are. Please." Again a push that made a distance between them.

"Are you still waiting for Kashif?" That was the hurt of that push, that rejection which didn't stop his poisonous words. "He left you, Raaya. He's not coming back."

Those blue orbs at that moment resembled the ocean at the darkest night. She pushed him some more, "I know that. I can't afford your lust, Mr. Idris Usman. I can't afford getting played by another man's desire."

"Does it seem I'm that low of a person?"

They went back to that square one or maybe some more back. They both were hurt and now there was no awkwardness, it was graveness that was surrounding them.

"It looks to me. You weren't happy with this marriage and now you're taking the next step all of a sudden." She stepped away from him, "Don't you have any concern for my feelings? Care for what I feel, what I want?"

He drowned in shame. Really that was lust! That lust pushed him so low. It cut him in two halves, one that was unhappy with this marriage two weeks ago and the other wanted to take the rights of a husband. How would he get up from this?

"Just when I started trusting someone." He wanted to say something but his voice was lost, his soul was screaming.

"I can't stay here anymore. I can't stay in a place that is a danger to my safety."

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