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*

FLASHBACK

Anabia

I loved my kids more than life itself. But sometimes I loved them just a little bit more when they were asleep.

I leaned against the headboard, legs stretched out as I read a book. My husband did the same beside me. It was our time of peace.

A light knock on the door made me glance up sharply. "Come in."

The door opened and Haya stood there in her pink night-suit with white unicorns printed over the trousers and a glittering one at her chest. She looked pale face. "Mama?" 

"What's wrong, Haya?" I held out my arm towards her. "Did you have a nightmare, jaani?"

She came up to me. "Mama, there's something wrong with Hoor." 

"What do you mean?" My heart almost stopped hearing those words.

"She threw up." Haya's eyes were wide, filled with tears.

Instantly, Rehan and I both got out of bed. As he dashed out, I glanced at Haya. "Stay in here, okay?" Leaning down to kiss her forehead to reassure her, I rushed after my husband.

Hoor stood in her bedroom, staring down at the ground where she had thrown up, shivering and sobbing.

"Hoor!" Rehan picked her up in his arms. "It's okay, meri jaan."

"I t-tried to go to the bathroom." Hoor said, timidly.

My eyes filled with tears as I looked at my daughter. "It's okay, sweetie. Don't worry about this. Are you okay now? Do you want to throw up more?" 

Hoor shook her head, burying her face in her father's shoulder.

"I'll clean this up." I said. 

"It's okay, Anya. I'll clean up. You take care of her. I think she needs your comfort more right now." He handed our daughter over to me and it seemed that he was right. Hoor clung onto me tightly almost instantly, sobbing harder.

"It's okay, Hoor. Come on, I'll clean you up." I took her into the bathroom.

"My tummy was hurting, Mama." She said as I set her down. "And before I could run to the bathroom to throw up, it was too late." She was just six. She was terrified by this experience.

I took her soiled shirt off and cleaned her up. "Is your tummy still hurting, Hoor?"

She shook her head, burying her face against my stomach as I straightened up. Wrapping her arms around my waist, she whimpered. "Mama."

I washed up and dried my hands before crouching down and placing my hands on her shoulders. "It's okay, Hoor. Don't be scared, don't worry. Your Mama and Papa are here to take care of you, meri jaan."

As it turned out, that was just the beginning of a difficult night for Hoor. She had a stomach bug, and finally, Rehan took her to the hospital while I remained at home with the kids. She was given a drip there, and only came back home after Fajr.

But she had refused to sleep in her room once she was back, and had slept between me and Rehan, wanting both of us beside her. 

"Meri bachi." I kissed her forehead as she drifted off into sleep. "May Allah always protect you and your siblings from harm, from any trouble or pain. Ameen." 

*

PRESENT

Fear. I felt powerful waves of it as I saw my unconscious daughter. "Hoor!"

Mama and I rushed towards my daughter, as we saw Zareena rush away.

I crouched down, and held my daughter in my arms. "Hoor, wake up! Mama, what did she do to her, that vile woman?" 

"Recite Ayat-ul-Kursi on her, Anabia." Mama advised me.

My fear grew stronger. The concept of black magic was very much real in Islam. But like other deeds that were considered sins and yet were openly practised, people still chose this too. People still chose to dwell in the worship of the devil, rather than God. People were still willing to risk their soul in order to make others suffer. It was a terrifying concept, but I had no idea why my sweet and innocent Hoor would be targeted.

"That's it." I muttered to myself. "I'm sending her home." I held Hoor in my arms and started crying. "Ya Allah, please keep my children safe. Please." 

Hoor's eyes slowly fluttered open and she stared up blankly for a few seconds.

"Hoor..." I whispered, placing a hand on her cheek.

"Khadija!" Kamran Papa's voice came from the gate. "What's going on?" He came rushing over. "What happened?" 

As Mama spoke to him, I held my daughter's hand, lifting it up to kiss it. It felt ice cold. A tear fell from my cheek and onto her hand. Please protect my daughter, Allah. 

*

Farhaan

It had been two days since I'd last heard from Hoor. I was getting seriously worried. My girl didn't usually stop contact like this. 

Even as I ran the daily business of the B&B, I picked up the phone and dialled her number.

"Hello, Farhaan?" It wasn't Hoor who answered, but her mother.

"Assalam Alaikum, Aunty. How are you? How is everyone?" I asked.

"Walaikum Assalam, beta. Alhumdulillah, I am well. How are you all?" Her voice sounded distant.

"Alhumdulillah, all well. Aunty, I was trying to call Hoor, or even message her, but there's no reply from her." The worry in my voice was obvious even to myself.

"Farhaan, beta, she's not well. She has come down with a high fever." Her voice broke. "The doctors found no reason as to why she had a fever..."

My worried frown deepened. "Aunty, is there any chance that I can speak to her?" 

"I'll see if she's awake." She said. 

A few moments of muffled voices later, Hoor finally came on the phone. "Assalam Alaikum."

"Walaikum Assalam. Kya hogaya hai, Hoor?" 

*"What happened, Hoor?"

"Kuch nahin, bas thoda sa bukhar hai. Mama panic hogayi hain." She laughed weakly. But she didn't sound like herself. The only way I could describe her tone is that it lacked her usually bubbliness.

*"Nothing, it's just a little fever. Mama's just panicking."

"It's natural for her to be panicked, Hoor." I spoke softly. "I was already so worried about you myself, and am even more worried now."

"Farhaan, I'm okay. Don't worry. Mothers tend to be a little too paranoid when it comes to our health." 

"Pakka theek ho na? Kuch chupa to nahin rahi mujhse?" I asked for confirmation.

*"You're really okay, right? You're not keeping something from me?" 

"I'm fine, Farhaan. Alhumdulillah." 

I wasn't really convinced. Something was off in her voice and it was worrying me deeply.

*

"Mama, don't you have shopping that needs to be done from Lahore as well, for the wedding I mean?" Aizah brought up the topic randomly as I had dinner at my parents. "And you have been saying that you want to meet your Chachu and Chachi as well, as well as Sumbal Khalla and Saleem Mamu?" 

Mama's Arif Chachu and Hafsa Chachi had always been like parents to Mama, and Sumbal Khalla and Saleem Mamu were their children, both younger than Mama.

Mama sighed, almost dramatically. "What can I do? My husband can't go, and my jawan aulaad is not willing to accompany me..."

*Jawan aulaad: grown-up kids, basically.

"I can go with you." I casually volunteered. "It's my wedding too, right? Might as well get something from Lahore." 

Papa smirked knowingly at me.

"Oh really, Farhaan? In these thirty-one years, suddenly you're interested in shopping?" Mama asked, dubiously.

"Shaadi ka mamla, ya Bhabi ka mamla?" Aizah teased.

*"Is it because of your wedding, or because of Bhabi?"

"Yaar, Anaya, apne din yaad agaaye." Papa smiled fondly at me. "Tumhare visa ke chakar ne kitna intezar karwaya tha."

*"Anaya, I remember our days."
"Your visa process made us wait so much."

"It's going to be really hot..." Mama glanced at Papa, a small smile on her face. "We can go later."

"Later when? After the wedding?" I blurted out.

My family burst out laughing. Fortunately, Faizan was absent otherwise I'd never heard the end of it.

"Bechaini dekho bete ki." Papa chuckled.

*"Look at our son's restlessness."

"Baap pe hi gaye hain hamare sahabzade." Mama gazed adoringly at him.

*"He's gone after his father."

Aizah grinned at me.

"Shut up." I muttered in her direction, making her giggle harder.

*

Hooriya

"Tumhari wajah se kisa ka dil toota hai. Tumhara bhi tootay ga." 

*"Because of you someone's heart broke. Your heart will break too."

The words were repeatedly ringing out in my head, piercing my mind like needles, making me wince every so often.

I had never intentionally hurt anyone. I'd wished the best for Farhaan and Sophie even though I was hurting on an almost unbearable level. I never wanted to hurt Sophie, and I'd never done anything to cause her to get hurt. 

That woman, Zareena, had spoken out such dark words without even knowing me.

"Hoor?" 

I turned to glance towards the doorway. I had been sitting on the floor, leaning against the bed with my knees pressed to my chest. 

"Why are you sitting on the floor?" Mama frowned as she walked over and sat on the bed just beside me, running a hand over my head before pressing the back of it against my forehead.

Nano also came into the room. "Kaisi hai ab hamari Hoor?"

*"How is our Hoor now?"

Mama took the thermometer from the bedside table and held it to my ear, waiting for the beep, before glancing at the screen. "Alhumdulillah, the fever has decreased."

"Rehan ko bataya?" Nano sat on Mama's other side.

*"Did you tell Rehan?" 

Mama shook her head. "All I told him is that she has a fever. I didn't tell him about..." She swallowed hard. "He's already worried because of Haya's injury, and now to tell him about all this happening with Hoor...?" 

"Under the protection of Allah, nothing or nobody can harm our Hoor. Don't worry, okay?" Nano reassured her. "You need to tell him, Anabia." 

"What does that woman want from me?" A tear fell down my cheek. "What did I ever do to her? I don't even know her!"

"Listen to me, Hooriya Rehan." Nano said, firmly. "What that woman is doing is basically business for her. First they say generic things like that to scare people, things that could be applied to anyone. Then they lure the same people by promising them a solution to their problems, conning naïve people out of their money. These things are getting common these days." 

"But what she said...about me causing someone's heartbreak?" I whispered.

"Some of my close friends know that you are married to Farhaan, who was previously engaged to someone else." She sighed. "Unfortunately, sometimes these things get leaked out, and I feel that this is what has happened here." 

"Mama, what was the need to tell anyone that he was previously engaged?" Mama asked, wearily.

"You know how people are, Ana. They dig things out. They wanted to know who our lovely Hoor got married to. Zareena is always around in the neighbourhood. She must have heard it from somewhere."

"I didn't do anything!" I cried out. "I'm not a homewrecker!"

"Hoor, my love, of course you're not." Mama kissed the top of my head. "My pure, innocent Hoor was happy in his happiness, don't we all know that?" 

"Kamran spoke to the police. He said that Zareena has been threatening and intimidating Hooriya. Zareena would be arrested if she wanders around here again." Nano reassured me and Mama both. 

I rested my head in Mama's lap, and both my mother and grandmother began to caress it.

*

I tried to push aside my fears and worries in the excitement of my impending wedding and its preparations. And fortunately, it wasn't too hard. Before long, after I had recovered from my fever, my mother and grandmother had taken me shopping again.

"Shop to your heart's desire. Today we are going to buy the outfits that your father and I will be gifting to you." Mama smiled. "And Mr Rehan Tariq is paying for it, so spend openly."

The three of us laughed. 

Mama and Nano took me to a shop in a mall where I fell in love with so many outfits that my greedy heart wanted them all. But I restrained myself. "I want them all, but my daughterly heart isn't cruel enough to waste Papa's money like that."

"Your father would happily tell you to buy whatever you want, as would I...well, I would only do so on this occasion, since its your wedding and all." Mama's tone was teasing.

"Look at this one, Hoor!" Nano called me. "What a beautiful colour!"

I walked over to wear my grandmother stood and gasped at the heavy peach maxi dress with silver embroidery. "Wow!" I glanced at the shopkeeper. "Can you open up the dupatta, please? It looks gorgeous!" 

The two shopkeepers unfolded the dupatta and held it up from both ends. With a stunning silver border and silver beads dotting it, the dupatta was definitely the showstopper of the dress. A smile appeared on my face as I stared at it. 

And then my heart almost stopped.

Through the dupatta, by the entrance of the shop, I saw someone unexpected. "Farhaan?" 

He stood there giving me an adoring smile and winked when our gazes met.

"Hoor, what's wrong?" Mama placed a hand on my shoulder, making me jump. 

I turned to look at her. "Mama, he..." I turned back. The shopkeepers had lowered the dupatta, but Farhaan wasn't there.

"What?" Mama looked confused.

"I'll be right back!" I hurried towards the entrance of the shop, and stepped outside, glancing around frantically. 

Either I'm delusional as an after-effect of the fever, or my imagination had run seriously wild.

I unlocked the phone and saw the last message from him...from yesterday.

<Farhaan: Going for a meeting. Talk to you once I'm done, In Sha Allah.>

Itni lambi chali yeh meeting?

*The meeting ran this long?

My heart pounded hard. I think I have been watching too many romantic films, reading too many romance novels.

"Hoor! Come and try on this dress!" Mama called out. 

Sighing, I headed back into the shop to try on that beautiful peach outfit. 

I stepped into the changing room and changed. The undershirt of the dress clung onto me, but the maxi itself was the perfect fit, not figure-hugging but not too loose either. I stepped out of the stall and Mama and Nano gushed over me.

"Ma Sha Allah! This colour looks so beautiful on you, Hooriya." Mama sighed.

"This dress is from me and Kamran, no arguments." Nano told Mama, firmly.

"Mama..."

"You and Rehan can get her whatever else you want, but this dress is from her Nano and Nana." Nano kissed my cheek. "Anabia, I said no arguments. I'm your mother."

I giggled as I headed back into the stall to change.

Nano paid for the dress and we headed out of the shop. 

"You guys are spoiling me so much." I said.

"Always." Replied Nano.

"Only until the wedding." My mother replied.

Here, ladies and gentleman, is the difference between a mother and a grandmother.

*

Haya

<Roshni: Bela is out of the team for good. She tried to deny that it was intentionally, but everyone witnessed it. It was too obvious!>

I  read the message and tossed my phone aside. Who cared about Bela? Yes, she didn't deserve a place in the team, but right now I couldn't play either! I was frustrated beyond words. 

"Here." Rohaan held out a brand new sketch pad and my pencil case. He had come over to Dado's house, stating that he was bored at home. 

"Did you actually just buy me a new sketch pad?" I asked, awed.

He shrugged. "If it means that you shut up and don't bother me, yeah, why not?" 

"How touching." I muttered, sarcastically. "Thank you for your unkind kindness."

He laughed. "Be grateful, Behaya." He flopped down on the armchair after grabbing the TV remote.

"Bela has been kicked out of the team." 

"Good. In fact, she should face legal circumstances as well." 

"You know, when you stand up for me, mujhe lagta hai ke main shock se marjaaongi. Yeh wohi, mera dushman Rohaan hi hai na?" I smirked at him.

"...I feel like I'll die of shock. Is this Rohaan, the enemy of mine?"

"I may be a lot of negative things, but I am also loyal to the core. And there's no bigger loyalty than family loyalty." His eyes and words contained a protective fire that warmed my heart. 

"Nobody else is allowed to mess with my sibling but me?" I asked.

"Exactly." 

 I couldn't stop smiling.

"Shut up, Behaya. Don't get overexcited. You and I are still lifelong enemies."

I laughed. "Oh, don't worry, Ro, that won't change. Ever."

*

Third Person POV

"Mr Tariq?" 

Yasin looked up and saw Mohib Naveed standing in the doorway of the staff breakroom where the former was getting coffee. "Mr Naveed." He gave him a smile and a respectful nod.

"Please, call me Mohib." The younger man said.

"As long as you call me Yasin."

Mohib laughed. "It's a deal." He cleared his throat. "Yasin, your niece is very talented, Ma Sha Allah."

"They both are, Ma Sha Allah." Yasin smiled with pride. "But which one are you talking about?" 

"Well, I have seen Haya's artwork, so I'd say both, but I was actually talking about Hooriya." Mohib looked uncomfortable. "I was wondering if she's..."

For a brief second, Yasin couldn't figure out what the man was trying to ask, but when he did, he wanted to facepalm. "Yeah, Ma Sha Allah. Hooriya is brilliant when it comes to English Literature." He was trying to think about how to let down the man without embarrassing him. "She got her love of reading and writing from her parents, but it's funny because her mother-in-law loves reading and writing too, so I suppose they'll bond over that, huh? Rather than having a typical Saas-Bahu drama."

"Mother-in-law? Baat pakki hogayi hai Hooriya ki?" Mohib looked confused.

*"Has Hooriya's marriage been fixed?"

"Nikah ho chuka hai, Alhumdulillah." Yasin feigned ignorance to the man's intentions. The man must feel bad enough as it is, why embarrass him further?

*"She has had her Nikah done."

"Congratulations!" Mohib looked a bit taken aback.

"Thank you!" Yasin reached forward to shake his hand. "I apologise, I must go. I have to go to my daughter's school for a function. In Sha Allah, I'll see you around?" 

"In Sha Allah." Mohib nodded. "Allah Hafiz."

"Allah Hafiz." Yasin speedily left the room. He could understand Mohib wanting to step forward and ask for Hoor's hand in marriage. Both were brilliant in English Literature, and one could easily picture them having long discussions on books. But Hoor's destiny was planned with Farhaan, and they were perfect together, Ma Sha Allah.

*

Hooriya

After shopping, Mama and Nano took me to a rooftop restaurant for dinner. We sat in the centre of the restaurant, right beside a jaali divider wall. 

*Jaali: a perforated or latticed screen, usually with an ornamental pattern.

I was waiting for them, as they had both headed off to the bathroom to wash their hands, which I had already done upon entering the restaurant. I was reading the messages from my siblings, a smile on my face. I missed those three nutters a lot.

<Haya: Hoor, can I ship Rohaan to you?>

<Hooriya: What did I ever do to you?!>

<Rohaan: Ha ha. Don't ever go into comedy, you two.>

<Haya: He's chewing my brains out...>

<Rohaan: I don't chew non-existent things.>

I giggled softly.

<Arsalan: See what you and Mama left me with?>

<Rohaan: Oh, you go to Pakistan, you maa de laadlay.>

*Mother's beloved.

I set my phone down, shaking my head, when I received another message. Ready to read more of my siblings' banter, I picked it up.

<Farhaan: Hum pe bhi dehan dedo...>

*Pay some attention to me as well.

I bit my lip shyly.

<Hooriya: You are the one who didn't contact me after the meeting!>

<Farhaan: Naraaz ho?>

*Are you mad at me?

<Hooriya: It doesn't take much to placate me.>

<Farhaan: Vaada hai, manaloonga tumhain...In Sha Allah>

*It's a promise, I'll pacify you.

<Hooriya: How?>

<Farhaan: The peach colour suited you, but your simplicity is your beauty, Ma Sha Allah. The mint green colour is also exceptional...>

I glanced down at my simple mint-green long kameez with white motifs, and matching mint-green trousers, that I had paired with a lace white dupatta. I glanced around, heart pounding hard. He wasn't here...right? But I saw him in the shop! Allah! I did see him! I stood up sharply, gasping softly.

I turned three-sixty degrees, until I realised something. Turning back slightly, I peered through the jaali. It was a filmy moment, a scene that took my breath away. His blue green eyes were locked on mine, the jaali being the only thing between us, rather than the thousands of miles.

I quickly got out from behind the table and headed towards the other side of the jaali, but stopped in my tracks. He was not there. What...?

I'm seeing things. The small smile on my face transformed into a disappointed pout.

"Farhaan, kyun tang kar rahe ho usay?" Anaya Aunty's voice made me realise that it was all a reality.

*"Farhaan, why are you teasing her?"

I turned to see Mama, Nano and my mother-in-law walking towards us, smiling.

I felt his presence behind me without even turning around.

"Bada maza aata hai." His deep voice was filled with amusement.

*"I enjoy it."

"Assalam Alaikum, Aunty." I walked over to my mother-in-law and gave her a warm hug. "What a pleasant surprise, seeing you." 

"Walaikum Assalam, Hoor!" She hugged me back. "How are you, beta? I heard you were unwell!"

"It was just a fever, Aunty. Alhumdulillah, I am okay now." I replied.

"Assalam Alaikum, Hooriya." Farhaan's voice was still filled with amusement.

"Walaikum Assalam, Mr Farhaan." I replied, politely and formally. 

"Itni narazgai, Allah Khair kare." He whispered.

*"So much anger, Allah help me."

"Now listen." Anaya Aunty said. "You two go and eat on a separate table. We don't want you two at our table."

Mama and Nano laughed.

"Why am I being kicked out?" I asked in disbelief.

"We have important things to do, and you lovebirds have your own important things to discuss." My mother-in-law said. "So please excuse us." She nodded at my mother and Nano, and the three headed off to the table that I had saved for us.

"Yeh acha hai. Chodh gaye hain mujhe akela." I muttered, loud enough for him to hear.

*"That's nice. They've left me alone."

"So why are you mad at me? Because I didn't contact you or because I was teasing you?" He placed a hand at the small of my back and gestured towards a waiter.

"Samajhdar hain aap. Khud hi samajh jaayein." I replied.

*"You're sensible. Figure it out yourself." 

"Samajhdar? Remember how long it took me to figure out my feelings?" He pulled me closer discreetly.

"Yes, Sir?" The waiter approached us.

"A table for two, please." Farhaan told the waiter, who nodded and led us up to the raised level, before handing us two menus.

I set the menu down at the table and looked up at Farhaan as he pulled back a chair for me. "I can't believe you made me think that I was imagining you!"

"Why? You often imagine me?" He teased.

The warm breeze ruffled his hair and tugged at my dupatta. 

"I'm not talking to you." 

He grabbed my wrists. "Hoor..." His touch sent sparks through my skin. He stepped closer.

My eyes widened. 

"Are you still mad at me?" One corner of his mouth lifted up in a smirk.

I pulled back and he pulled me closer by pulling at my wrists lightly. Gasping, I slammed against him, my hands on his chest. He took one of my hand, clasping it with his own, palm-to-palm. The warm atmosphere with the coolers set up, the aroma of the food and the scent of his cologne, the gentle breeze, the gentle lights, the serenity despite the crowded restaurant, it was all a beautiful, perfect atmosphere. But most important, him. His presence.

"I'm too hungry to argue." I sat down and he tugged in my chair, leaning down to discreetly kiss my cheek.

Oh, my traitor heart.

"Will we continue this argument after dinner then?" He sat down opposite me, picking up the menu.

"Depends on how much I enjoy the food." I glanced through the laminated pages, hearing him chuckle.

"How are you feeling now?" 

How was I feeling? Well, even now when I stared past the lights, into the darkness of the night, I felt a shiver go through me. But I forced to bring my gaze back to the light and warmth around me.  To Farhaan, who was looking at me with a concerned gaze on his face. I forced a smile on my face. "Alhumdulillah, the fever is gone." 

"I sense that the fever was the least of your problems, but it's okay. We'll talk when you're ready to talk." He said. He reached for my hand under the table, and I slid my hand into his.

It was a matter of disbelief. How my one day had changed from an utter nightmare to absolute bliss. From the grip of the wicked sorceress, to the arms of my prince charming; a real life fairy tale. I almost laughed at my thinking. I had to thank my mother for it. While both Mama and Papa had given me the love of fiction, my mother had added her love for fairy tales in the mix as well.

*

FLASHBACK

"And...they...lived..." I frowned down at the fairy tale book I was reading, full of colourful drawings and easy words. "Papa, what is this word?" I looked up at my father, who was trying to read beside me, but was constantly getting interrupted by me and my questions.

"Happily." He said, glancing down to where I was pointing my finger.

"Hooriya, I told you to let Papa read in peace. This is the only time he gets during the day." Mama came into the room. "And come on, get ready for bed. The rest of your siblings are already asleep."

"It's okay, Anya. I don't mind helping her read." Papa wrapped his arm around my shoulders, and I leaned against him beaming up at Mama.

As always, I had come into my parents' room to join in their reading session. Today Mama was busy, and Papa had been on his own, but I had taken my usual seat in the centre of the bed anyway, carrying my fairy tale book.

"Can we go and buy another book tomorrow, Papa?" I asked.

"Hooriya!" Mama said with disapproval. "How many books do you want, beta?" 

I whimpered, burying my face against Papa's shirt. 

"Anya, she always does her homework without complaining. She always gets golden stars and certificates in class. It's okay if we buy her another book." 

Mama took a seat on my other side, running a hand over my head. "What are you reading?"

"The princess is happy with the prince and the dragon is gone!" I excitedly told her the plot.

Mama laughed. "You and your fairy tales."

"Look who's talking." Papa teased her. He kissed the top of my head. "Come on, my little angel. Bed time." He lifted me up in his arms, making me giggle.

"I want a fairy tale too." I told Papa as he carried me to bed. "I want to be a princess!" 

"May Allah make your reality as close to a fairy tale as possible, with only the positivity and no negativity. Ameen." He kissed my cheek.

"You're such a good boy." I ran both hands through his hair, smoothing them down.

He burst out laughing, but upon my confused expression, he kissed my cheek again. "Thank you, my Hoor, my angel."

And as I got into bed, Mama also came in to help tuck me in. As Papa adjusted the duvet over a sleeping Haya, Mama ran a hand over my head. "Sweet dreams, my fairy tale princess. May Allah always keep you under his protection. Ameen." She sat down beside me and kissed my forehead.

Papa came and stood behind her, placing his hand at the back of her neck. "Good night, Hoor." 

They were the ones who taught me that we could have our own realistic version of fairy tales in our lives. They'd taught me that a beautiful love was possible. They'd made me wish for a fairy tale of my own.

In all these years, my mind started weaving dreams for my future. Maybe I was being unrealistic, maybe I was fooling myself...but all I know was that I'd wanted. 

I wanted my own happily ever after.

*

PRESENT

"How's the food?" Farhaan asked me, grinning. After all, my narazgi depended on the food.

I glanced down at the chicken pilao that I had drenched with the curry of the koftay (meatballs). It was, without doubt, absolutely delicious. Slowly, I took a sip of my cold drink, as if contemplating the answer.

"Acha ji? Nakhre?" He chuckled, sitting back in his seat.

*"Oh is it? Tantrums?" I don't know if 'nakhre' has a fitting definition in English, not one that can accurately describe what it actually is.

"Bohat mazay ka khana hai." I admitted begrudgingly.

*"The food is delicious."

"Meaning that I'm forgiven?" 

"You trouble me so much!" 

"Jab pyar hai, to chair chaar bhi to hoti hai na." He explained simply.

*"When there's love, teasing has to be present."

As the waiter brought along the bill, he offered us some mints. I began to take my card out of my purse.

"Kya ho raha hai?" Farhaan asked me. "Leave it. I'm paying."

*"What's happening?"

He smoothly took his credit card out of his wallet and scanned it on the card machine that the waiter was holding up. 

As the waiter walked away, I popped a mint into my mouth. Upon Farhaan's raised eyebrow's, I said, "It's not for the //purpose that's in your mind right now."

He had a mint as well. "It is for that purpose." He gave me a wink and a cheeky smile.

We got up and Farhaan placed his hand on the small of my back as we made our way towards the table where our mothers and my grandmother sat. 

"Ready?" He asked his mother.

Anaya Aunty looked up. "Almost."

"Ma Sha Allah! May Allah protect you both from evil eyes. Ameen." Nano said as she looked at me and Farhaan. 

"Have you guys paid yet?" Farhaan asked his mother, who shook her head. He took his wallet out again and handed her the card. "It's on me." 

"Farhaan, beta..." My mother began to protest.

"Anabia." Anaya Aunty looked at her. "Accept it. In fact, let's order the best dessert in the restaurant, since my son's paying for it." She teased Farhaan.

"Anything you guys want." Farhaan nodded.

Anaya Aunty cleared her throat and looked at my mother and Nano. "Waise, agar aap log bura na manain to main ek baat poochon?" 

*"If you guys don't mind, can I ask something?"

"Anaya, what is this formality, beta?" Nano shook her head.

My mother-in-law smiled. "The formality is it that this is about your granddaughter. I would like it if she comes with us for the night. I want to take her out to meet a few very close relatives, and then later, we'll go and buy her Valima dress."

Mama and Nano exchanged an uncertain looked.

"If you want, Faiz can call Rehan Bhai and check with him as well." Aunty added.

"It's nothing like that, Anaya. The two are married, there's no such issue." Nano looked at Mama.

Mama glanced at me, nodding. "That's fine." 

As the waiter came around with the bill, Farhaan walked away with him, talking to him about something.

"Rest assured, I'll have a separate room arranged for Hooriya. I respect our culture as well as our religion." Aunty spoke softly to Mama.

"Hoor?" My mother looked at me.

"If you guys are okay with it, I have no issues with that." I spoke softly. I knew her pointed expressions and I gave her a discreet nod. I excused myself and headed away and out of side before messaging Papa.

<Hooriya: Papa...Farhaan and Anaya Aunty are here. They want me to spend the night with them. Would it be an issue if I do?>

He answered a few minutes later, as I nervously paced around.

<Papa: You are married, Hooriya. I have no issue with it, as long as your mother and Nano are okay with it.>

I smiled. Even now I got satisfied knowing that I was doing something with parental approval. Was I too childish?

*

I had jumped into the back seat of the car before Anaya Aunty made me sit in the front with Farhaan.

"Aap Pakistan main bhi drive karte hain?" I asked in wonder.

*"Do you drive in Pakistan as well?"

He chuckled. "Yes, I do, Hoor. Otherwise it would be very weird for me to be sitting in a driving seat right now." 

"Hoor, beta, aap aage aajati." Anaya Aunty glanced at me in the rear-view mirror. "I don't feel right sitting here, and with you at the back."

*"Hoor, dear, you should have come up front."

"It's okay, Aunty." 

"Sharmati hai mere saath bethne se." Farhaan glanced at me in the rear-view mirror as well.

*"She's shy about sitting beside me."

I felt my cheeks burn as I pretended to rummage in my purse through something, but I still managed to scoff. "No!" 

First, we were going to Nano's house where we were all going to have tea and I was going to grab my necessities, and then we would go to the Faiz family home in Lahore.

"Kyun tang karte rehte ho bechari ko?" Aunty lightly scolded him.

*"Why are you always teasing her?" 

When I'd gone out for shopping with Mama and Nano, I'd never imagined that I'd end up going home with Farhaan and Anaya Aunty. But here I was, in the backseat of my husband's car.

Husband.

I squealed internally, a grin automatically lighting up my face. I looked up and met Farhaan's gaze in the mirror again, and saw him smile. 

*

The Faiz family home was something out of a Pakistani drama, designed for the rich and the wealthy with an endless garden and a stunning swimming pool.

As I got out of the car, I suddenly felt uncomfortable. I was from a well-off family as well, so that wasn't the issue. The issue was that I'd suddenly realised that I was at my in-laws' house for the first time since being Farhaan's wife.

Anaya Aunty turned to look at me and seemed to understand how I felt. She reached her hand out. "Come on, don't hesitate. This is also your home now, Hoor."

Farhaan locked the car and walked around to my side. "Come on, Hoor." 

Aunty looked from me to him and then back, smiling. "Farhaan, I'm going to have everything sorted for her room, okay? Make her feel at home, and no more teasing." She walked up towards the front door.

I expected endless teasing, and I stared at the ground waiting for it. Instead, he slipped his hand through mine.

"Aajao. Ghar aayi ho apne, itna formal na bano." He said, and started leading me inside.

*"Come. You've come to your own house, don't be so formal."

You know how it goes: heart pounding, butterflies in the belly. The feeling of new love, of new marriage. Unconditional and irrevocable love that ran through your body like the blood in your vessels. I secretly enjoyed his teasing, but his caring and welcoming words made my body react in a completely different way. I felt like I was amongst the clouds, on top of the world. I felt like I'd found the meaning of true happiness. 

We stepped into the foyer with the marble floor, holding hands. I could immediately see a wide spiralling staircase that led to the upper floor. I looked up at Farhaan, who gazed back at me with a smile.

*

Anaya Aunty had immediately whisked me away to show me my room. I noticed that the room was close to Farhaan's. 

"Akele darr to nahin lagta?" My mother-in-law asked me, gently.

*"Do you feel scared alone?"

I shook my head in denial.

"If you do, of course you can contact me...but I will not be offended if you contact Farhaan. I'm not going to be that stereotypical Saas." She gave me a soft smile. "He's your husband. He better take care of you." 

"I'll be okay."

She placed a hand on my cheek. "Welcome to our family, Hoor." 

She headed to her room for the night after that, and I stepped inside 'my' room. It was a large, contemporary state-of-the-art room with its own ensuite, and my mother-in-law had also stocked water and snacks in it. I changed into my night-suit (periwinkle trousers with floral patterns and a plain periwinkle t-shirt) and decided to call Mama to let her know that we were here safely. But then something occurred to me.

Hurriedly, I headed out of the room and knocked on Farhaan's door, nervously stepping from one foot to another.

He opened the door a few seconds later. "You okay, Hoor?" His shirt was halfway unbuttoned, as if he had just been in the middle of changing.

"What's the Wi-Fi password?" I asked.

He laughed in surprise. "Are you serious?" 

I nodded. "Yeah. I wanted to message my siblings back home, and of course I'd rather save my mobile data and..." Good God, Hoor. Please shut up.

"Shohar ke kamre main pehli dafa Wi-Fi password maangne aayi ho?" He looked amused as he reached out for me. Taking my wrist in his hand, he pulled me into the room before closing the door behind us.

*"You came to your husband's room for the first time to ask for the Wi-Fi password?"

He wrapped his arms around my waist, and I placed my hands on his shoulders, staring up at him wide-eyed. He leaned down and I inhaled sharply, as if trying to remain composed. His lips softly brushed my cheek. Then he moved over and kissed my other cheek. I then leaned up and kissed his cheek, loving the feel of his stubble against my lips. 

"I missed you." He whispered.

"I missed you too." I wrapped my arms around his neck. 

He placed his hands on my waist and I felt them against the bare exposed skin as my shirt rose up. He kissed my forehead and I let out a content sigh. He pulled away. Our bodies were pressed together, but our lips were still inches apart.

 And then that distance was gone... all distances were gone. Our lips met in a long-awaited kiss. I moaned softly this time as I felt our mouths unite, expressing our intense love for each other, our yearning for each other in the most passionate, romantic way possible. I soon felt myself unbuttoning his shirt. I then wrapped my arms around his bare torso, breaking apart our kiss to rest my forehead against his chest, sobbing quietly.

"Hoor..." He sounded worried.

"Farhaan..." I burst into tears and his arms tightened around me.

*

I woke up in the morning, cuddled up in Farhaan's arms. We had stayed up till Fajr, and I had told him everything: about the experience with Zareena, how she had made me feel, and the words she had said. He had reassured me that nothing that had happened between him and Sophie was my fault; he said that if anyone was to be blamed in all of this, it was him- Sophie and I were completely innocent.

I'd cried in his arms, expressing my fears and paranoia, and he had reassured me with the same soothing words that all my loved ones repeatedly reminded me: there was no threat to me from anything or anyone under Allah's protection.

I'd gone to my room to pray Fajr, but had returned to his room because I was in the mood to talk some more. Since he was still in British time, he wasn't too sleepy, and he was more than eager to talk as well.

We leaned against the headboard of his bed, with me snuggled up against him, my foot brushing against his, and we talked and kissed for a long time, completely comfortable with each other. We were newly married, but I felt completely at ease with him.

I guess I must have fallen asleep, because I woke up beside him. 

Feeling mortified at the idea of being caught by my mother-in-law- who had especially arranged a room for me, I sneaked out of the room and rushed straight into mine before I was seen.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror and saw my cheeks were pink and my eyes were sparkling with pure happiness. I'm so much in love.

*

I thought you guys deserved cuteness and happiness, so here you go. No cliffhanger. 

So Mohib wanted to ask for Hoor's hand! 🤦‍♀️

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