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*

Rohaan

"I disown you. You are not my brother." I looked at Arsal in disbelief. "You gave your shoe, voluntarily to Yamna?" 

"I mean, technically she's the groom's side as well." Arsal laughed.

"Don't teach me technicalities! You traitor!" I shook my head at him, even as Tahira also laughed.

The moment I had approached my mother and wife in the courtyard, they both had practically dragged me out, saying that we needed to get back to the wedding. Something was up, and I was definitely going to be questioning them about it. But first, I needed to deal with this situation.

Yamna appeared beside me on the stage, grinning. "Why the long face, Rohaan? Did you lose something? Or did Arsal Bhai?" 

I glanced down at her. "You're so cute, it makes me feel almost bad."

"Bad? About what?" She looked confused.

"That you just started a war with me."

"I'm not afraid of you, I've told you that before." She looked at me, challengingly.

"And I'm not Arsalan. I will not be handing you the victory as a pity gift. True champions fight for it." 

"Haven't you heard? All's fair in war. It doesn't matter how I got the shoe, but I did. I win." She turned to Arsal. "And you're not taking Tahira anywhere until you give me the money." 

Arsal began to reach into his pocket. 

"Don't even think about it." I warned him. "You can't fight for yourself, but I can fight for you." I turned to Yamna. "I will win this."

"Yamna already has the shoe, Ro. She's already won." Haya Appi pointed out.

"You accept that. I won't." I looked at Arsal. "I'm coming. Do not even think about surrendering any money until I'm back." I looked at my troopers. "Ali, Arham, Maham, it's your duty to make sure he doesn't give up any money until I say so, okay?"

"Yes, Mamu!" The kids replied, excited to be assigned such a huge duty.

I got off the stage.

Yamna followed. "Where are you going?"

"To get a drink." When she continued walking with me, I looked at her. "Where are you going?" 

"Nowhere." 

"Just tell me where the shoe is, hamster, and things won't get messy." 

"Define messy." She asked.

"You know me. I don't need to define the word." I poured myself a glass of water and sat down on a chair to drink it. Bismillah and drink in three gulps.

"You're too calm." She looked at me suspiciously.

"I don't freak out. I do things calmly unless I'm p***ed off." I smirked. "And I have no reason to be p***ed off."

She took a seat facing me, our knees brushing. "I have the shoe."

"So you do."

"Why are you not worried?!" 

"Why are you so worried if you have the shoe?" 

She was looking annoyed now. "I don't know what you're planning, but it's not going to work. I won." 

"Sure, you did."

She stood up. "Whatever. I won, fair and square."

"Fair and square is debatable." I stood up as well, towering over her.

But the once shy, timid hamster looked directly up at me, boldly and confidently.

I made my way back towards the stage, and Yamna followed once again.

"Right, Arsal Bhai...where was I?" She started. "The money..."

"What money?" Arsal looked at her blankly.

"For the shoe." Yamna looked uncertain.

"What shoe?" My brother asked.

"The one you gave me, for this ritual." Yamna pointed towards his feet and froze when she saw him wearing both shoes. "H-How?" 

"The thing is... I decided that my brother should have an extra pair, just in case." I again smirked at her. "And Arsal kindly decided to give you a shoe from the spare pair." I high-fived my brother. "He knew that you'd believe his kindness because that's how he is."

Everyone laughed and cheered, celebrating the Team Groom victory.

"Sorry, Yum-Yum." Arsal told her with an apologetic smile.

"Alright, that's enough." Haya said. "I hated this idea anyway, but you guys are mean. She's on her own. Arsal, I didn't expect this from you." 

Arsal reached into his pocket and took out his wallet. "Here you go, Yamna. You've more than earned it." 

"I don't want it." Yamna rushed off the stage.

My sisters glared at me. 

"Rohaan!" Mama looked at me with disapproval.

"Why is everyone glaring at me, when you were all accomplices in this crime?" I looked around the stage.

"Because you were the mastermind, and you are her husband." Behaya said.

I glanced around and saw my father was too busy talking to Yasin Chachu and Saim Mamu. He hadn't noticed this. Alhumdulillah.

I got off the stage and followed Yamna, guilt eating away at me. She was at the back of the hall, sitting at an empty table. Her cheeks were red with embarrassment, and her gaze was lowered as she played with her dupatta. I pulled up a chair and sat right in front of her, taking her hands in mine. "You played well, hamster. I have to give you that." As she began to stand up, I grabbed her wrist. "Yaar, hamster, it's all fun and games. Ultimately, we're all on the same team."

"Everybody was in on the plan. They were just playing along to make me feel like I'd won." 

"You did win. You are from the groom's side too." I pointed out, still holding onto her wrist.

She looked at me. "If this is how it's going to be, then no. I'm only from the bride's side." 

"Are you mad at me?" 

"No. It's all fun and games, right?" 

"Is that sarcasm?" 

She stood up and headed back towards the stage and I followed. Along the way, I grabbed a rose from a vase on one of the tables. I joined Yamna by the stage, standing right behind her, as Arsal handed her the money.

"You guys won. There's no need for that." Yamna shrugged.

"It's your right. Take it, Yamna." Hoor said, softly.

"And Ro will give you more to compensate for being a dummy." Behaya glared at me.

Yamna accepted the money. "Thank you." As she moved back to stand in front of me again, I brushed the rose against the back of her hand. She glance down and then up at me. I gave her a small smile.

"Truce?" I whispered.

She took the rose, but didn't respond. But her accepting the rose was enough for me to know that I was forgiven.

I stepped closer to whisper. "Yamna, meri jaan, you have a lot to learn from me. I'll help you become someone nobody can ever mess with again, not even me."

Her cheeks turned pink, and a small shy smile appeared on her face.

"Nobody should dare mess with my biwi." I placed a hand on the small of my back, as I looked at the stage where everyone was still laughing and messing around.

*

Arsalan

For tonight, the best suite of the hotel was booked for me and Tahira. We entered into the living area, and around the corner, down a narrow hallway was the bedroom. 

Hira had already been brought here by my sisters, and was settled on the bed as I walked through the narrow hallway.

The bedroom was decorated with beautiful flowers and artificial candles, but it was simple elegance, rather than over-the-top. 

"Assalam Alaikum." I greeted my bride.

"Walaikum Assalam." 

I sat down on the bed facing her. "We've already had our wedding night, technically speaking."

She burst out laughing. "Aslan!"

"What, it's true!" I grinned. Her laugh was contagious, her smile lit up the room. I reached out an grabbed her mehndi-adorned hand. "You look beautiful, Ma Sha Allah." 

"Thank you. And you are very handsome too. Ma Sha Allah." 

I kissed her hand. "Hira, I'm not too confident. I guess, I'm a little shy. My previous boldness with you has actually surprised me too, but somehow you gave me the strength to be bolder. I feel comfortable opening up to you." 

"Aslan, I've known you for ten years. I love you as you are. I know you are a sweet, shy guy with a heart of gold." 

I placed my hand on her cheek. A silver hoop nath hung from her nose, over her red lips. Her bridal look was stunning, Ma Sha Allah. Everything about this beautiful woman was stunning. "I have two things for you, for your moun-dikhai." I reached into the drawer of the bedside table, and pulled out the ring box that I'd left there earlier. Opening it, I held it out for her to see. It was a crown-shaped diamond ring, highlighting her significance in my life. Since I was a teenager, I'd had a habit of saving money from my pocket money, Eid money, birthday money, etc. Over the years it had increased greatly, and I'd used that as well as some of my earnings to get this ring. I wanted Hira to feel how important she was, something that she had admitted that she had never felt before she met me.

"This is going to sound cheesy, but you're no less than a queen in my life." I blushed.

She had tears in her eyes and she held out her hand. "Well, I'm going to sound cheesy too, but this queen wants her king to put the ring on her finger."

We both laughed, and a tear rolled down her cheek.

I slid the ring onto her finger, before lifting her hand up to kiss her knuckles. "Now, the second gift isn't as sparkly. But I hope you like it." I headed to the wardrobe and took a piece of paper out of my bag. "I wrote a speech for you." I returned back to the bed and sat down. 

Fresh tears filled her eyes. "Aslan." 

I unfolded the piece of paper and started reading. "Hira, first of all, I'm sorry if my voice breaks as I read this. When it comes to you, I always let my emotions overwhelm me. I've waited ten years for this moment, and now that you're here with me, I didn't trust myself to make this speech from memory. You have made me realise the value of several important things: love, patience and courage. In regards to love, you have made me realise that it isn't just romance and sweet moments. It is seeing the pain of your loved one, and feeling it as deeply as them, if not more. Looking into your eyes, back at uni, seeing the pain in them shattered me. It broke me. It made me wish that I could take the pain instead, but of course, that's not how life works."

She put her hand over her mouth, sobbing silently.

"Love is the willingness to happily wait as long as necessary. Only love can have the patience of a decade. And I'm glad we waited, because you became the person that you wanted to be: strong, independent, a true lioness. Ma Sha Allah. Never once did I want to give up in these ten years because I knew that you were worth the wait. But before love, before patience, you taught me courage. You showed me that I wasn't just a stupid, shy bookworm, and you made me want to find courage within myself. You made me want to be a lion, your Aslan." I looked up at her. "I love you so much, that words will fall short but I won't be able to fully express it. Love, yours and only yours, Aslan."

"Aslan!" She got up on her knees, difficult as it was in her lehenga, and moved towards me to wrap her arms around me, sobbing. "I don't know what I did to deserve you. You're too good for me."

I wrapped my arms around her waist. "I'm going to give you all the love that you can imagine, and much, much more. In Sha Allah. You'll forget your sad times."

She pulled back and placed her hands on my cheeks. "I already have." She leaned down and softly kissed my lips. "Your love is so pure, Aslan. You are the definition of true love and loyalty for me."

"And you're my everything, Hira." I kissed her back, eagerly.

*

Anabia

I was the last one out of the hall, and as I came out I stopped in my tracks.

Rehan and Rohaan were both standing there waiting for me, both with their arms crossed over their chests and grim expressions on their faces.

"Um... may I help you two?" I asked.

The two exchanged a look and I wanted to laugh. It was so cute, Ma Sha Allah. Rohaan was strongly resembling his father, more than ever, especially in these matching sherwanis.

"We need an explanation." Rehan walked over to me and placed a hand on the small of my back. "Let's go."

"Rehan, I'm tired and..."

"Nope." Rohaan shook his head. "We need an explanation, and there's no other choice."

"You remember who you are talking to, Rohaan?" I smiled at him.

"He has my support. And I also need an explanation now." Rehan said, firmly.

"Sorry, Boss Woman. This is the one occasion where you have been overruled." Rohaan shrugged.

The two led me up to Rohaan's room.  

We saw Saba in the hallway along the way, and she looked at me a little confused. 

"I'm being kidnapped, Saba." I told her. "If you don't hear from me by the morning, make sure Saim avenges me."

She smiled. "As you wish, Bhabi."

Me, my husband and Ro entered Ro's room and I turned to face them as the door closed behind us. 

"Who the f**k hurt you?" Rehan asked, striding over towards me.

"Okay, that was my question, by fair enough. You have more of a right to ask that than me." Rohaan said.

Rehan traced his fingers over my neck. "Who did this, Anya?"

Rohaan walked closer to stand right beside his father. "I thought I saw an unknown guy at the wedding hall. I was much later informed that he had been escorted from the premises by a woman who attacked you. I was pi**ed that nobody told me then and there. How dare anyone hurt you?" 

"It was Tahira's mother." I sighed. "She found out that Tahira was marrying into our family, and she came to... I don't know, take advantage of it. She tried to snatch my necklace." 

"Why didn't you tell me?" Rehan asked, quietly.

"Or me?" Rohaan asked.

"They were escorted away and the police was called. It was done. I didn't want to cause more scene at Arsal's wedding."

"But you got hurt!" They both said in unison. 

I blinked up at both of them. Apart from the age difference, they might as well have been almost-identical twins. "Look, the police got involved, so you can deal with this later, Ro. But right now, let's just focus on getting the Valima done tomorrow. I will not have anything ruining my Arsal's wedding functions." 

"Mama..."

"And please don't tell Arsal. He has waited ten years for this day, and I'm not having it overshadowed by stupid drama." I looked at my husband and then my older son. "Please." 

They both exchanged a glance, and for a second it felt like they were having a telepathic conversation.

"You will deal with this, right?" Rehan asked. "Find out about this as soon as the Valima is done. I'll speak to the hotel security. Those people should not come anywhere near the property as long as we are here."

"What if she tries to get to Tahira?" Rohaan asked. 

"A part of me feels that this should be Tahira's decision, whether she wants to see her mother or not." I said. "But I also don't want to spoil her occasion."

"The woman who attacked you should not come anywhere near our family again." Rohaan said from between gritted teeth.

There was a knock on the door.

"Yo, Ro!" Shayaan's voice came from the other side. "Want to go downstairs to the chill-out room? We got some snacks."

Rohaan scoffed. "Am I the most brilliant out of my siblings? Bunny, is that even a question?" He glanced at me and Rehan. "Don't worry. I'm on full alert now. Anyone who tries to hurt any of my family members, I'll shoot them on sight."

"Absolutely not!" This time Rehan and I spoke in unison.

Ro chuckled. "God, it's fun to mess with parents." He said. "I'm leaving. Don't mess around in my room, guys." Chuckling again, he left, closing the door behind him,

My jaw dropped open. "Allah! How is he so besharam?" I turned to look at Rehan, my cheeks burning. But he was lost in his thoughts. "Rehan?" 

He silently took me in his arms, holding me tightly for a few moments. I wrapped my arms around his waist. "Anya, why do I repeatedly feel that I can't protect you?" 

I looked up at him, stunned. "Don't you dare say that!"

"You keep getting hurt and..."

"Rehan, I feel the safest when I'm with you. You've always protected me, our kids, everyone." I reached up to place my hands on his cheeks. "You've done nothing but protect me, Mr Rehan Tariq, and don't you dare think otherwise." I hugged him again, resting my head against his chest. "Now, let's go. Ro said not to mess around in his room."

Husbands are husbands, because now he was paying full attention. "You're in the mood to mess around?" 

I smiled cheekily at him. "You look very s*xy in this sherwani." I turned to leave my son's room, but naturally the mood disappeared when I saw the mess Ro had made of his room. "Haye, mere Allah! Rehan, I'm not bring Yamna home until this boy sorts this mess out. Talk to him." I saw his shoes tossed about, as well as socks. The bed was a complete mess. His colognes and watch were just tossed about on the table. There were two empty mugs of coffee, one on the bedside table and one on the desk. 

"I'll talk to him. What were you saying?" He wrapped his arm around me, leading me out of the room.

 I laughed. "Typical husband."

"Typical whipped husband who is heads over heels in love with his wife, you mean?" He grinned at me.

The two of us walked to our room, his arm tightly wrapped around me, and mine across his stomach. For once, I didn't even care that our entire extended family was here. I was loving the comfort I felt being this close to Rehan.

*

Yamna

"Thank you." I took the bag of food from the delivery driver in the hotel lobby and made my way to the lift.

I was hungry so I had ordered halal chicken nuggets and chips.

I had just returned to my room and was sitting down at the desk to eat it, when there was a knock on the door. I got up and looked through the peephole before opening the door. "Yes?" 

"You want to come and hang out with us downstairs?" Rohaan had his normal charming grin on his face. "I smell food."

"I ordered some. I was hungry." 

"You should have told me." He rubbed his knuckles against my cheek. 

"It's okay." 

"You still mad at me?" He stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

"There's nothing to be mad about. I was just embarrassed, but I'm not angry." 

He began to unbutton his sherwani. 

"What are you doing?" I gasped. 

"I should have left this in my own room, but forgot, and now I can't be bothered to go back. Can I leave it here?" 

"Sure." I moved back as he took the sherwani off, revealing a black kameez underneath. He took a hanger from the cupboard and hung it up inside.

He then placed his hands on my cheeks and kissed my forehead. "Just remember, hamster. No matter what the technicalities, you're always my team. So, if I won, you won, okay?" 

"I know, Rohaan. I'm first and foremost from the groom's side." 

"You are first and foremost on my side."

"You are on the groom's side." 

"These wordings sound better." He smiled. "Go, eat. I'll see you later."

"You want some?" 

"No, thanks." He kissed my cheek. "I'll message you. If you're up, we can meet later?" 

"Sure."

He kissed me then, softly but deeply. As he turned to go, he paused. "Let's make sure that Papa doesn't hear about this incident, shall we?" 

I laughed. "Now I'll make sure that he will."

"You hamster..." 

Since he'd already stepped out in the hallway, I closed the door, giggling. "Good night, Rohaan!"

*

MATURE CONTENT

Arsalan

"Whoa." I breathed out.

From the bathroom,  Tahira stepped out after a shower, dressed in a knee-length black slip dress with a spaghetti sleeves and a low neckline. Her chestnut brown hair flowed loosely over her shoulders, and her gaze was lowered as she came out.

We'd had our (culturally) forbidden night already, but it was a whole other feeling now that she had officially married me and was now going to live with me.

I'd already showered while Tahira had taken off her jewellery and pins from her hair. I was wearing black trousers and a black vest. I stepped towards her, breathlessly. 

We stopped inches away, and she glanced up at me. I placed my hand on the back of her neck, and leaned down to kiss her. I felt a little more confident this time. Last time I had been trembling a little. She gripped my vest in her fists as she deepened the kiss.

I took her hand and led her to bed. "I have protection today."

She giggled softly. "Good to know. I was terrified."

I sat her down on the bed, leaning down to kiss her again. As the intensity of the kiss increased, I lay her down on the bed, leaning over her. Hira and I were finally going to be together! She was going to be with me in my room, in our home, a part of our family. I laughed.

"What?" She pushed me back slightly, looking bewildered.

"I'm so happy." 

She smiled. "So am I." 

"We're one, Hira."

"Yes we are, Aslan." 

"Finally."

"Finally." 

We continued kissing, and the hours o the night passed by very passionately.

My Hira.

*

Yamna

I was the first one at breakfast downstairs. There was literally nobody else there from our group.

I was actually a little grateful. My head hurt and I wasn't in the mood to talk.

I took my usual pancakes and went to take a seat in a hidden corner, where I wouldn't be obvious to anyone entering the dining hall.

As I was eating, someone passed me by.

"Hey, cutie." 

I looked up startled to see a man grinning at me, winking when I looked directly at him. I had no idea who he was, and he seemed close to forty.  Eww. I glanced around and saw that there was nobody else that he could be talking to. I ignored him, continuing to scroll on my phone.

He had the audacity to knock on my table top as he made his way back, and say, "Beautiful."

"Stay in your limits, Grandpa." I snapped at him.

He just laughed as if I'd told him the most amusing joke, and I saw him sit on a table...with what seemed to be his wife and kids. 

God, this world is full of perverts.

I was questioning why nobody else had shown up yet, when I remembered the last minute decision of everyone deciding to have breakfast in their rooms.

Suddenly someone sat down opposite me and I jumped, reaching for the butter knife.

"Whoa! Easy!" Rohaan's voice made me relax.

"Rohaan!"

He looked at me, amused. "Why are you so surprised to see me?"

"Assalam Alaikum."

"Walaikum Assalam." That half-smile of his appeared on his face. "Attacking a police officer, Mrs Rohaan. Do I need to arrest you?"

I got up and moved around to sit beside him. "There was a man in here who called me 'cutie' and 'beautiful'." 

He stiffened. "Who?" He glanced around. "Is he still here?"

"Doesn't matter. But that's why I was jumpy."

"Of course it matters! Where the f**k is he?" 

"Did you also forget that everyone was going to have breakfast in their rooms today?" I placed my hand over his cheek, trying to get him to meet my gaze.

"You can't distract me." 

"Rohaan, please." I didn't want Rohaan to confront the man with his young kids around. I suddenly realise how close we were, so I stood up and went back to my original seat. 

"Let me guess, no scene at Arsu's wedding events?" He sighed.

I smiled. "Exactly." 

"Just tell me who it is. I'll handle it calmly. People like him should not be let go for their acts." 

I nodded towards the man, where he sat with his young daughter and son.

Rohaan turned to have a look. "F**king pervert." He turned to look at me. "Don't worry. I'll have polite word with him at some point."

"Polite word?" I raised both eyebrows dubiously at my husband.

"Don't worry. I do know how to handle things calmly, Mrs Rohaan." 

*

Rohaan

"Hey, mate." I approached the middle aged man just outside the dining hall. "I need to speak to you."

Yamna had already gone up to her room.

The man asked his family to go ahead and turned to me. "Yeah?"

"Just be careful about being a little perv here, yeah?" I kept a smile on my face, trying to remain casual. "We don't want any legal trouble, do we?" 

He looked startled. "I...I don't know what you're talking about." 

"Let me add something else: we don't want your family finding out your deeds, do we?" I lowered my voice. "You messed with a policeman's girl. You try anything like that again, and your wife or girlfriend or whoever she is, will receive a little tip off...with evidence." 

He looked scared now. "It was just a harmless comment, bro. You can't ruin my family life just because I complimented a girl." 

"Unwarranted compliments make people uncomfortable, especially females. You may think you're flattering them, but you're just creeping them out. Even for compliments and praises, there is an unspoken requirement of consent. You don't make such statements to anyone when you don't know if they will approve or appreciate it." I kept my tone light. "I'm not going to have to warn you again, I hope?" 

He swallowed hard. "N-No. Just don't tell Nancy." Pale-faced, he rushed away.

I cleared my throat, straightening my shirt. I turned and saw my parents walking in my direction, looking at me suspiciously. Grinning, I waved at them. Nothing to see here. I wasn't just casually threatening a person in the middle of a hotel lobby. Just being social.

*

VALIMA

It was time for the Valima, and this time, Mrs Rohaan was with me, naturally.

We were at the stage, the first family photo during the Valima.

Papa, in his black shalwar kameez and black waist coat.

Mama in her floor-length cream dress with a multicoloured traditional-patterned dupatta with a gold border and mirror work.

Hooriya in her long green dress with a silver and pink embroidery, and a plain green lehenga.

Haya in a tea pink lehenga and blouse with gold-silver embroidery, heavier at the end of the lehenga and the blouse, and a sheer dupatta with a border that matched the embroidery of the dress.

Me, in my black suit, with a black shirt and black tie, because I had brilliantly managed to misplace the original shirt and tie.

And then there was Arsu in his dark-grey suit. Originally, he was meant to have a tie that complimented the bridal outfit...but yes, you guessed it, he had misplaced it too.

Ladies and gentlemen, Mrs Anabia Rehan had not taken responsibility for our Valima wear...and this is what happened. Arsu and I were overdue a huge lecture. 

Meanwhile, Yamna wore her signature pink. Plain pink lehenga with a net layer, and a knee-length kameez with white embroidery. The sheer dupatta was also covered with white embroidery.

Needless to say that I couldn't keep my eyes off my girl.

And there was Mrs Arsalan Rehan Tariq. She wore a heavy light blue maxi gown and lehenga with golden embroidery. Her dupatta had a golden prominent border and was dotted with golden beads.

Needless to say that my brother couldn't take his eyes off his girl.

"Arsu." I leaned down from behind the sofas where I stood with Yamna, my sisters and their spouses.

"What?" 

"What happened to your tie?" I asked loudly enough for Mama to hear.

Mama glared at me and then Arsu.

"The same thing that happened to your shirt and tie." My brother replied.

"Chup ho jao." Behaya whispered to me from beside me. "Otherwise both of you will be scolded by Papa in front of your wives." 

*"Be quiet."

"Boss Woman is scarier, and she won't tell us off publicly." I chuckled.

A glare from Papa reminded me that if Mama was Boss Woman, he was Boss Man, and no, he wasn't less scarier than Mama. Despite putting my life at risk, I still chuckled.

Once the photoshoot was done, I headed off the stage to talk to Shayaan, Ahmed and the other munday. 

*

I was heading to the dining hall, when I overheard a conversation.

"I'm Yamna, Rohaan's wife." 

I turned to see her speaking to a few family friends.

"Anabia's elder son's wife?" One of the ladies asked. "Ma Sha Allah! They choose beautiful daughters-in-law."

I moved directly into Yamna's line of sight and when she looked up, I winked at her. Grinning, I turned and continued walking towards the dining hall.

"Rohaan." Yamna suddenly caught up to me and placed a hand on my elbow. 

"Yes, hamster?" 

"Meet me at the courtyard at around eleven forty-five." 

"Wow, that's precise timing!"

"Will you come?" She slid her hand in mine.

"If I have nothing better to do."

"Good. Then I'll see you there." She grinned, refusing to be teased.

*

At eleven forty-three, I was there. The bride, groom and most of the people our age were in the 'chill-out' room, laughing and chatting. The elders had gone to their rooms. 

Yamna was sitting on a bench closest to the fountain, and I walked up to her and sat down beside her. She turned to look at me. In the fairy lights, she looked even more stunning, Ma Sha Allah. She was holding a present in her hands, wrapped in silver wrapping paper. 

"It's not my birthday yet." I said.

"I realised that I didn't give you anything for your pay rise." She moved closer and held out the box.

"You didn't have to, Yamna."

"I wanted to." 

I took the box from her and kissed her cheek. "Thank you." Carefully, I tore open the wrapping paper. Normally, I would have ripped the hell out of it.

Inside was a beautiful wooden box, with my name carved on it: Rohaan Rehan Tariq. I opened it an saw two tickets in there.

"Technically, it's a two-in-one gift. The tickets and the box." 

"What are the tickets for?" I lifted them up and stared at them in disbelief. "The Crime Nation tours?" It had been a tour that I had discussed with hamster before, that I really wanted to go on. But she had refused because it was too creepy and scary for her. It took us on night walking tours underground, depicting the crime history of England, including live actors and jump scares. "There are two tickets." The only one who would go with me was probably Ahmed.

"If you want, I'd like to go with you." She said, shyly.

"You?" 

She nodded.

"I thought you thought it was too creepy." 

"I want to go with you, Rohaan. I'll be fine with you." 

I grinned, wrapping my arm around her shoulder and kissing the side of her head. "This is an amazing gift, sweetheart. Both gifts are perfect. Thank you." 

"So, will you take me?" 

"I'd rather not take anyone else but you." I leaned down to kiss her deeply. "I love you so much. You are so considerate, so thoughtful." 

"I love you too. May Allah give you more and more success. Ameen." 

I kissed her again. "Ameen. I wish the same for you, Yamna." 

For a long while, we sat there in the courtyard together, holding onto each other. 

*

A LITTLE WHILE EARLIER

Arsalan

The wedding planner greeted me and Hira goodbye. "I wish you all the best." 

"Thank you so much. Your organised it all so well." Hira smiled at her.

"One sole wedding planner would find it really hard to manage without the support of the families involved, so thank you all." The planner said. "Everything went smoothly, apart from when your mother attacked Mrs Rehan and attempted to take her necklace."

I looked at her, bewildered. "What?"

The planner winced, as if she had said something that she shouldn't have.

"My mother?" Hira asked. "My mother was here and she attacked Anabia Aunty?"

"Mama was attacked and nobody told me?" I asked, simultaneously. 

*

How will Arsal react to finding this out? 

I didn't write much on Valima because honestly, I have written weddings so many times that I might as well be a wedding planner myself. Seriously, it gets boring.

Favourite part?

FYI: I didn't want to or intend to write this much about Tahira and Arsal, but everyone wanted to read about them, so they will have more of a role in this story now.

Thoughts and comments?

Thank you for reading and don't forget to vote!