"Qabool hai?(Do you accept?)" The moulvi sahab asked her the second time. She hesitated for a moment before choking out the words.

"Qabool hai.(I do)."

The moulvi repeated his question a third time and she responded accordingly.

"Congratulations. The nikah is completed." The moulvi sahab said calmly at which dad and uncle hugged each other, exchanging congrats. I glanced down at the bride who's eyes were glistening with unshed tears.

"Stupid! Its too late to cry now!"I exclaimed gleefully in a whisper and then bent down to hug my stupid sister.

"Shut up." She grumbled as she returned my hug. I pushed away from her with a playful grin on my face and then wiped the corner of her eyes with tissue paper ever so carefully.

"Now now. Stop these water taps will you. We don't want Salman bhai to regret getting married after seeing you like this now do we?" I explained soothingly and earned a slap on my arm from her. I stepped back with a giggle as Papa bent down and kissed her at the forehead.

"Ma sha Allah.May Allah protect you from all evils."He murmured emotionally at which even I felt myself melting away.

"Okay okay.Enough for now. We have a wedding to go to. So if you guys can please pose quickly." Hunain my idiot of a brother interrupted the little emotional moment and for once I was grateful to him.

"Yeah yeah. We know." I argued with him at which he pulled a face, which I returned with my own special one; only reserved for my ass of a little brother. We all stood around Haniya, who was nervously sitting on the sofa while Hunain clicked a picture of us all.

"Done now?" Papa asked Hunain after we did a small photoshoot.

"Yup." he returned popping the P, at which Papa turned to me.

"We will head down first and then you two can come down with Haani."

"Okay Papa." Me and Hooni, both said in unison as Papa left with Mama and the moulvi sahab.

"Okay one last selfie and then off we go to the groom."I said posing with Hooni and Haani.

"How many more do you want Hoor?!" Hooni snapped at me but I ignored him.

"Just this last one. Now! We are ready go. Ready, nervous bride?" I grinned at Haani who glared at me and then tried standing up in her heavy dress. We helped her with her big fluffy heavy dress and left the room after hastily grabing all her stuff.

"Guys. I am so nervous."She exclaimed breathlessly as we stepped in the elevator.

"It will be over before you know it."Hooni added reassuringly at which she nervously chewed her lip while fiddling with her dress and make up and what not!

"Oh for chocolates sake Haani! You are not meeting the guy for the first time! And yes you look perfect so stop ruining it by checking it after every single--"I continued blabbering without realising that two guys had stepped in, until Hooni jabbed his elbow to my side.

"Oww!! You—" I turned around to beat the crap out of him when my gaze fell on the two guys standing ahead, whom I didn't notice coming in. I turned to glare at Hooni who returned with his signature quirk of brows; knowing too well that I can't kill him right now. As I was having these thoughts, the elevator door dinged open. We walked slowly, trying to manage Haani's dress and made way towards the escalator. At the bottom of which a herd of people including the camera crew were waiting for us. I stood on one side of Haani and Hooni on the other as she placed a hand on the nook of his arm. We posed for the photographers standing at the bottom before carefully walking towards the hall.

Just then I spotted the guy. Or the one I guessed to be from the elevator. Since I recognised his back somehow. He was walking into our hall and just before entering he turned around to look at the commotion, I think. A gasp escaped my lips as our eyes made contact for the briefest of moment. Immediately I averted my gaze but his grey eyes were imprinted on my mind.

"Hoor!"I was pulled out of my daydream by Hooni's cry. Turning to him confused, I wondered whatever was wrong now, when I realised that I was stepping on Haani's gown.

"Shoot!"I stepped back to find no damage done to the dress. Before I could heave a sigh of relief, I caught her glare, which I returned with a sheepish grin. Finally we made it  inside of the hall in one piece. I focussed all my attention on being the responsible bridesmaid and helped sis reach the stage without having a nervous breakdown. I was helping her up to the stage when Salman bhai came and relieved me of my duties and grabbed Haani's hand, helping her with her dress and all. A round of hooting escaped in the hall at his gesture. I grinned at Haani who was flushed red. Haani appeared flustered for a while but  Salman bhai conversed and jokes with her, in obvious attempts to calm her.

'Sigh! How dreamy! MashaAllah! I would love to have such a marriage too. I wonder if the guy whom I marry will be sweet and gentle like Salman bhai too?'

My train of thoughts was interrupted by Mama's call. Welp! Best return to my duties.

-------------------------------

"Oh they are using the same straw!" Saniya exclaimed excitedly; which was seconded by Rabia. We turned to each other and broke into giggles. It was dinner time so obviously we were making the couple uncomfortable and watching them have dinner on the stage. I was having fun until I saw that guy walking up on the stage. Salman bhai stood up to gave him a hug.

"Hoori?" Raabi tried to bring me back to Earth but my eyes remained glued to him for a moment longer.

"Well? Who is the hottie?" My thoughts were interrupted by their sneer. I watched them blankly for a moment before shaking my head at them.

"Jej's friends, I guess." I returned blankly without meeting their eyes.

"Really? That's all? Are you being completely honest right now?" Saani asked cheekily and I returned with a smile combined with a roll of eyes .

"Tch tch. Now childhood friends will hide stuff from each other. What is the world coming to!" Raabi added with fake remorse. I could only watch them smiling in response.

"I am going to check on guests. You both can stay here ogling the guys." I got up quickly making an excuse to escape their interrogation.

"Yeah! Run away missy!" They sang in unison at which I turned to them chuckling.

My dummies.
-----------------------------

I was going around the hall making sure everyone was comfortable when Papa called me over. He was standing with Mama and some other people.

'Wait is that—' I wondered watching the back of that black tuxedo. Why am I running into him so much?

"Ah! This is our daughter Hoorain." Papa began even before I had reached in my heavy lehnga and 6 inch heel. I saw the Uncle and Auntie turn around but he didn't.

"Assalamualaikum." I greeted with a smile coming to stand next to Mama.

"Walaikumusalam beta. Ma sha Allah your both daughters are gems." Auntie chided in with a small smile. I accepted the compliment with a slight bow of head. While they continued to ask me questions about my studies and other random stuff, I couldn't help but sneak a glance at him from the corner of my eye. He kept standing in his place quietly; one hand stuffed in his pants pocket. I didn't dare look at him directly, even when Papa called him out.

"Yes please. You should come too Hadeed." Even before Papa could complete his sentence, I had let out an internal groan and almost rolled my eyes. Still, I thought that I had managed to not show it, but when I looked up I caught him watching me with a piercing cold gaze. In that moment, I couldn't look away. His eyes held contempt for me and I felt a cold shiver run down my spine until he looked away.

"Excuse me." he remarked easily with a smile, masking his real intentions before leaving with an excuse to take a call. I willed myself not to watch him leave but my mind was stuck at him.

'What's his problem?'

—————————

"And such great manners! Ma sha Allah. Rehman said that he ranked among top 10 in his CSS exams. What more can a parent wish for their child."Papa exclaimed passionately at which I looked up from my plate of food before bending over it again with a roll of eyes.

"Yes. Truly, Samia baji and Rehman bhai have done justice to their duty as parents--"Mama continued gaily at which I turned to Hooni, who was on his phone and simultaneously busy stuffing himself.

"Hey. Pass me the dish."I called out to him at which he stopped chewing and looked up with arched brows before pointing out to the Macaroni with his eyes. I glared at him through narrowed eyes and grounded my teeth in anticipation of the nonsense that he was about to pull. So, I was surprised when he simply picked up the tray and offered it to me. But when I extended my hands to take it, he pulled away and placed the tray on the other end of the table. I stared at the new position of the tray for a few moments and then slowly turned to him in shock, who was chewing calmly while awaiting my counterstep.

"WHY YOU---!!" I lunged at him getting up from my seat but he pushed back with a laugh which was short lived as the chair fell to the ground with him. Watching him in that pathetic state I let out a loud crackle of laughter.

"Hoorain!! Hunain!" Mama and Papa yelled simultaneously and watched us in horror momentarily before beginning to rebuke our actions. I clutched at my stomach from the pain of laughing so hard and backed away,
grabbing at the wall for support.

"HOORAIN!!" He screamed at the top of his voice.

I ran away at the sight of him coming at me all the way upstairs to my room. He had long legs but I was definitely sharper and quicker. Quickly locking the door behind me, I slammed the door on his face.  He continued banging on my door, with threats to break it down but I laughed him off and sat back on my bed until he left. I am so dead when I get out of this room. I thought, slumping on my bed. The reception had ended few days ago yet, all Papa and Mama talk about, is him.

'I don't like him.'

The thought crossed my mind before I could realise it and along with that an image of his sinister glare flashed across my mind. Almost as if, he had heard my thoughts then. I knew why Mama and Papa had invited them, even before they had told me. I wanted to tell them of what I knew of him, but with the amount of high praise they had of him, I knew they would never believe a word I said. For them, it would only sound like an excuse, which I am trying to pull to get away from marriage. They would never believe me.

I pray they never come.

Assalamualaikum! Hope everyone's doing great. Please comment & share your views, if you enjoyed reading and don't forget to vote. Thankyou❤️