Today was the mehndi ceremony. Everyone was running around to add the final touches to the decorations so that in the evening the could get ready without hassle. The lawn would be reserved for the women while inside for the men. The huge lawn was decorated with clourful streamers. Huge vases made of white clay were put all around and had the most gorgeous bouquets of white and red roses placed in them. Fairy lights of the softest gold hue were wrapped around them. A carpet was laid out from the entrance to the backyard till the point from where the wooden stage began. The stage was made of dark chocolate coloured wood with glass on top of it. It was surrounded by four beautifully decorated pillars each having a heater on top of them. In front of the stage, was a raised platform with cushions for the bride and her mother's to sit on. Right behing the main stage and the birde's sitting area were huge tables with vessels in which the food would be put in.

Meanwhile, their house had been decorated with equal taste. From lights enough to light up the dark December sky to the regal looking lamps that started from the driveway to the main door. Inside, jasmine flowers were wrapped around the beautiful staircase and on every table a huge bouquet was placed which caused the place to smell heavenly.

Earlier in the morning, the mayun ceremony of Zain and Mahrukh had been held. Where the two were applied ubtan in order to enhnace their natural glow. With Akbar not letting the chance go to waste and covering the duo in ubtan, more like giving them a bath with it. Mahrukh was wearing a sleeveless yellow coloured shalwar kameez with her hair in a bun. Once the ceremony was over, her mother took her to her room for a shower and was told by her to not come out until the Mehndi and instead to have a power nap. Downstairs, Aliya had once again reminded Zain that he could not see  Mahrukh till their baraat to which he replied
"This is unfair."
His whiny tone had everyone pull his cheeks. Who would've thought he would throw a tantrum when it came to meeting his wife.

It was the afternoon. Mahrukh had just woken up from her nap. Feeling thirsty as well as hungry, she called her father to send her mother upstairs with food. After which she fell on her bed with a thud. The entire room was bare. All her possessions had been shifted to Zain's room last night. She had kept the bare minimum in the room and this would all be taken to his room tomorrow as well. Her life would be different starting tomorrow. She would be sharing her everything with him. A bed a bathroom a closet. They were becoming one. And eventhough the idea made her all giddy and happy, she was scared for herself as well. With the major question being would she be a good wife?

Shifa entered her daughter's room with a small smile on her face. Seeing her daughter so deep in thoughts she immediately knew what Mahrukh was thinking about. She was a mother. She had been attached to the girl physically for nine months. Their bond was so strong that they were transparent to each other. Putting the heavy tray loaded with different sorts of snacks, she sat next to her daughter running her hands through her hair in order to provide comfort.

"Mahrukh my child what is the matter?" Shifa asked her daughter. She knew it was something to do with being married. Mahrukh looked at her mother and sighed before speaking
"I am leaving the life I have known for so long. I am not just changing my room but going away from everything that has been a constant. I keep thinking wether I will be a good wife or not?"
Shifa smiled at her restless daughter and kissed ger forehead before speaking
" Mahrukh you will be a great wife. You love everyone without limits. Look after them. Make sure everyone is satisfied with the work you do. Most importantly you love Zain. And that is all that matter to him and should matter to you," looking at her mother with open eyes, Mahrukh asked with a small voice
"How did you know I love him?"
Smiling at her naive daughter she just said
"A mother knows everything".
Talking to her mother reduced the burden on her heart.

Shifa then brought forward the tray and started to feed the snacks to Mahrukh with her own hands. In the tray was all kinds of fried food from fish to prawns and french fries. As well as some freshly cut up oranges for Mahrukh to munch on. Saad who had witnessed the entire scene, wiped the tears that had fallen from his eyes and came to sit with his daughter telling her how he felt.
"Mahrukh you could not have chosen a greater partner for yourslef. I am content to know that for the rest of our lives you will be infront of us. Zain loves you and Aliya cherishes you. They will not hurt you in any way and that calms this father's heart. Love Zain unconditionally look after him but never forget to love yourself."
Mahrukh nodded her head, eyes full of tears. She began to cry in his chest. And as the sobs subsided, the child in her heart decided to nap for an hour in the embrace of her parents.

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The mehndi was in an hour. From the past forty five minutes, Mahrukh had been locked in her room with the makeup artists and hair stylist. The tugging and teasing at the root of her scalp caused her head to ache. The straightners heat could be felt by her skin when it was brought close. The makeup artist did her job, occasionally instead of blending she would begin to slap the harsh lines of foundation away. It was pure torture. Things she did for her mother. Eventhough Mahrukh wanted to get herself ready her mother had straight up refused claiming that she should not tire herself out more than needed. After what seemed like a century, the makeup and hairstyle duo left and Mahrukh wore the lehnga. Having already worn her choli before the beauticians arrived.

"MashAllah," her mother in law said as she came to help her with the placing of her duppata. Mahrukh turned to the woman and cheekily said
"Looks like Taya is going to fall in love again!"
Aliya looked lovely in the velvet outfit that she wore. The green really brought out her eyes and the organza heavy dupatta was the cherry on top. Aliya blushed and then helped her and after she has forced a glass of juice down her throat she told her to relax and when time to come out came, she would send Akbar.

Mahrukh was a vision in her outfit. Her blouse was a parrot green colour with heavy zardosi work in golden and pink on it. The sleeves were a darker green but followed the same design pattern. The blouse stopped a gew inches above her navel and eventhough it was a short size, seeing as only women and mehram (men Islam allows you to move, talk and act freely) of Mahrukh would be present, she felt comfortable. The lehnga was  high waisted and the smae shade of parrot green as the top. There was an occasional addition of the lightest shade of orange with an exquisite zardosi work on it. She had opted for a natrual base and glimmery eyes with dramatic eyelashes. Her hair in a sleek bun on top of which her dupatta was placed. As for jewelry, Mahrukh went for a thin gold necklace and jhumkas that reached the middle of her neck.

Aliya, true to her word had sent Akbar to get her. Who whistled seeing her which resulted in her face flushing.
"Yaar today is your wedding. Now stop blushing,"
to which Mahrukh gave no heed instead grabbed his hand and headed out. Once they were down the stairs, everyone praised her beauty while Zain who had a blindfold on his face felt frustrated by the silly traditions.

Akbar led Mahrukh to the place where she was to sit in the lawn and helped her sit comfortably on one of the cushions before spreading out her lehnga and kissing her forehead. He then ran inside before his mother could shout at him. The event began with a fun event where a beetle leaf was placed in her hand. The women came one by one and applied some henna on the leaf and oil in her hair, before feeding her something sweet. They would then circulate money around her head to ward off any evil eye and hand it to her mother who would distribute it to the poor in the morning. Naturally as time went by she felt thirsty after eating all those sweets, her mama ordered Amna to get her some water who did so with a bitter smile on her face. Hating how everyone was constantly pampering her jethani.

In the middle of the event all her cousins came on the dance floor. No matter how much they disliked her how could they let a chance to dance go? Anf that is exactly what they did. They had planned performances on almost of not all new Indian and Pakistani songs. Their energy was amazing causing everyone to be hyped up. Their dance was truly exquisite. Their delicate hand movements and twirls stole the show and tied the atmosphere together.

Everyone turned and ran towards the food area as the covers were lifted. The scent if biryani and qourma heavily clouded the air and Mahrukh felt ger own stomach growl. Which resulted in her mother laughing at her.
"Mama bhook lagi hai,"
(Mama I am hungry)
she looked to ger mother in law showing attitude to her ammi who was still laughing. Aliya ran her hands with love on her head before calling the waiters to serve them. Mahrukh initially felt uncomfortable as aunties kept coming to talk to her add to that the fact that her outfit was very heavy and she was scared of runing it. And she she somehow convinced Shifa to feed her with her hands.

Once the dinner was finally over, the henna artists came. The rolled up Mahrukh's sleeves which was easy thanks to the tich buttons at the ends and began applying a very intiricate pattern. The floral design full of geometry started from her elbows and ran the length of her forearm till her fingers.

Inside the house there was a whole other atmosphere. The men had gathered round Zain who was wearing a red kurta with white trousers. They had just eaten and seeing as the women currently had no need of the dholki they brought it inside. And started to tease him. Akbar and Faheel led the group followed by Saad and Akram. They were busy singing old punjabi folk songs.

'Chitta kukar banare te
Chitta kukar banare te

Kasni dupattay waliye
Munda ashiq teray te'
(A white cock is sitting on the wall
A white cock is sitting on the wall

O girl with the violet scarf
The man is madly in love with you)

The boys sang in loud, high picthed voices, mimicking women. And it seemed that the women had started to play the dholki as well since they could hear their loud voices singing

'Aloo matar pakaye huway ne
Aloo matar pakay huway ne

Saday nalo button changay
Jeray seenay naal laye huway nay'
(We have made potatoes and peas
We have made potatoes and peas

The buttons on your shirt are better than us
They are next to your chest/ heart)

And in his mind he -Zain- could imagine Mahrukh blushing. He couldn't wait for tomorrow when finally she would be in his arms.

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