The next morning, everyone woke up early. The sun had just risen. The warm glow graced the horizon casting as early morning golden hour. There was a gentle cool breeze flowing. The city was beginning to wake up in order to get ready for the Eid Prayer. The sky was like a big velvety blanket, the blue as brilliant as ever and mixed with the yellow hue of sunshine made it look even more magnificent. The air had a heavy feeling of happiness in it. The birds were extra chirpy as the flew in search of their daily meal.

The ground nearest to their house had been decorated with two giant pearl coloured tents. With a seperator in between. One side was for the women and the other for the men to pray Eid namaz (prayer) in. All streets leading to it had been lined with barriers to prevent cars from blocking and encouraging everyone to walk. The place was heavily guarded to prevent any incident from happening.

Inside the huge kitchens, women were beginning to light up their stoves in order to make something sweet for their families. That is exactly what Aliya and Shifa were doing. It was a tradition. Part of their culture. The duo was incharge of making kheer while Zainab and Hooriya prepared sawiyan (sweet vermicelli). Lastly Amal and Amna were preparing suji ka halwa (sweet dish). The house was full of sweet aromas. All of them worked peacefully. Aliya had forbid Shifa from waking Mahrukh up saying
"She is getting married tomorrow. Let her rest today".
Shifa nodded her head. Continuing to chat with her sister in law. As time passed and they were done, all of them headed out of the kicthen to their portions to wake up their families.

Shifa entered her room, seeing Saad and Mahrukh together brought tears to her eyes. Mahrukh like a little child had placed her head on her father's lap and he gently passed his hand through her hairs.
"Come begum sit with us,"
Saad called out to Mahrukh as he spoke. Shifa sat next to the two and spoke with tears in her eyes
"My daughter is so grown up. You are becoming someone's wife tomorrow," the sentence brought tears into her eyes as she remembered the times when Mahrukh was a helpless child who needed her mother for every chore. Saad too felt emotional as tears filled his eyes. Seeing her parents Mahrukh to sobbed lightly before speaking
"Why are you crying. Ruskhsati is not happening right now. Also I will still be in the same house. Stop being melodramatice and get ready".
Saying that as her final verdict, Mahrukh went to her room.

Meanwhile, Aliya entered Zain's bedroom and opened the curtains. As the soft sunlight touched his face her changed sides. Smiling at her son she sat near his head running her fingers through them. The soft touch woke Zain up. He grabbed his mother's hand and kissed the back of it.
"Subah bakhair,"
said Zain in a heavy voice, getting a silent reply from his mother he sat up a bit and rested his head on her shoulder. Aliya felt happy seeing him content and decided to talk to him about his Nikkah.
"Zain," spoke Aliya
"Hmm," came the lethargic reply.
"Tomorrow you will be married to Mahrukh. She is going to be your responsibility. You must learn to compromise. I don't want to hear any complaint about you from her. She is going to be the most important person in your life. Respect her. And love her". Zain seeing the emotions in her eyes tried to lighten the mood.
"Mahrukh is lucky. She will not have the typical saas bahu drama in her life,"
(Mother in law and daughter in law)
the cheeky grin on his face cused his mother to slap him on his face. Before he rushed into the washroom.

Mahrukh wore the outfit Zain had given her. It was an anarkali frock.  White with gold borders around the end of the frocks length and sleeves. On the chest was a teardrop shaped motif. The frock had some gota work on it aswell. Mahrukh applied a light foundation and a nude pink on her lips. Adding soft curls to her hair and wearing her bangels. She grabbed her duppata and headed out.

Zain had decided to wear a plain black shalwar kameez with sleeves rolled till elbows. His hair was gelled back. Fortunately for him, he and Mahrukh met on the top of the staircase. Seeing his wife to be look so etheral he gently spoke
"Zahe naseeb jann logi kiya?"
(Oh one destined to be mine, will you take my life?)
Causing her to blush almost instantly. And then wishing her Eid Mubarak he headed downstairs.

Mahrukh took calculated steps down the stairs where her parents and the rest of the family was standing. She greeted everyone before standing next to her mother. Who praised her beauty. Aliya looked at the graceful girl and kissed her cheeks
"MashAllah my daughter is looking so beautiful,"
and grabbing a stash of notes she rotated them around her head before asking one of the maids to give it to someone. The family walked to the prayer ground where the prayed and upon returning all of them had breakfast.

Once breakfast had finished the elders began to distribute Eidi. Mahrukh got 5000 from everyone except from Akram who gave her a thick stash of 5000 ruppee notes claiming that
"You are now more than my brother's daughter. You are now my daughter so take it".
And for the first time her mother did not tell her to give it back. Mahrukh then went to Akbar
"Bhai now you are married. So come on give me Eidi,"
and eventhough Akbar tried to reject countless times she did not relent and forced him to give her some. Akbar being Akbar spoke
"Bhai won't you give some eidi to your wife to be?"
Zain smiled at him
"I will. But she must ask!"
and so everyone began hooting and forced Mahrukh to ask.
"Z-Zain my eidi,"
smiling at her he gave her twice the amount his father had given claiming that all he owned belonged to her anyways.

○~○

The next morning, it was Zuhr time. Mahrukh was in her room getting ready for her Nikkah. She was wearing a short length fitted mint coloured shirt with the same coloured gharara (pants that are very flowy) that was full of heavy tilla work of different colours. The duppata was a pastel pink with the same work as the outfit done on it. Her hair was in a bun with a few curly wisps touching her cheeks. With a light coverage foundation and light eyeshadow. Her winged liner was perfectly sharp and all of her good points were accentuated thanks to the highlighter. For her jewelry she wore a heavy gold necklace that had light green gemstones attaced to it. Her jhumkas, nose pin and head band were the same. She looked time less and elegant. She was also wearing thick jasmine and pink rose gajras that her father had gotten for her. She was clearly one of the most prettiest brides.

Their backyard, was decorated in a royal manner. A red carpet had been laid out on which were a few cushions. In the centre was a white cloth acting as a seperator. The rest of the house was decorated with jasmine flowers and fairy lights. The family was all feeling buoyant. Especially Aliya. Her happiness knew no bounds as she entered Mahrukh's room to take a look at her. As soon as her eyes landed on her, a chorus of MashAllah's came out of her mouth. Aliya kissed her forehead and gave her pep talk seeing her be so nervous. She explained to her how she would support her and she must not lose herself in order to strengthen her relationship. She also ordered her to keep Zain on his toes and to not let any third come in between. Usually a mother would tell these things to her daughter but since Shifa could not control herself Aliya decided to talk to Mahrukh herself.

Zain was sitting in the backyard wearing a white shalwar kameez and a waist coat that was exactly like Mahrukh's outfit. He looked regal. He was impatient to see his bride. The seperator was acting as a huge problem. The moulvi had already asked him and he did not even blink an eye while saying
"Qubool hai,"
(I accept)
and signing the most important deal of his life.

As the mulvi asked Mahrukh she felt the weight of the question. Her chest felt all sorts if emotions. She was nervous. Her hands sweating. But hearing the comforting voice of her parents she too spoke
"Qubool hai," and signed the document with trembling hands. As soon as he had done that a series of Mubarak's  rang throughout their home. Her parents kissed her forehead and fed her some sweets. They were so happy. And the seperator was finally dropped.

Zain felt his breath stop and he had to take a few minutes to let her appereance settle in his head. She looked so elegant that he was baffled. All he wanted was to wrap her in his arms and take her away. He was congratulated by everyone but he only wanted to speak to his wife. And that too desperately. The rest of the evening was spent in taking photos and eating the full of oil wedding food. But it was a memorable day for them. One that they will never forget.

○~○

It was around eleven pm when Zain snuck in Mahrukh's room. She was sleeping peacefully. He played with her hair and kissed her nose. The ticklish feeling caused her to wake up and she was startled to see him.
"Zain what are you doing here?"
She asked more like whisper shouted.
"Nikkah ko eik din huwa hai. Started scolding me from now!"
(It has not even been one day since our marriage)
Mahrukh blushed and glared at his comment and slapped his bicep. The two felt content in that moment. Life had come full circle. Mahrukh then remembering something spoke
"Look for you first letter in my mehndi". Zain nodding his head started to trace his fingers over the pattern ever so lightly. The touch caused her to shiver whilst delicious tingles ran down her spine. After a few minutes Zain found it and whispered in her ear
"Found it now kiss my cheek as my reward!"
and proceeded to kiss the shell of her ear. Mahrukh shivered and kissed his cheek so fast that she looked like the flash in that moment. The two spent majority of the night talking and discussing their goals. Unbeknownst to them Akbar had recorded the scene abd knowing how shy Mahrukh was when it came to Zain. He knew it was going to be perfect blackmail material to get her to bake him some of her brownies.

○~○