When he saw her coming out of the parlor with Unaiza by her side, Haider was stunned for a moment. Ishmal looks beautiful in that maroon-red bridal dress. Since a week he knew her, she never wore or looked anything extraordinary. First, because he never laid a second glance at her because of his hatred for women and second, she was just fine when it came to looks. But right now in that attire, her charm was oozing. So much that it made Haider startled. However soon he regained his composure and stared away.

Haider's fingers curled harshly around the steering as a new surge of anger rose in his veins. All these women just knew how to make a man fool because of their so-called beauty and then they wouldn't waste a second before going towards the better opportunity.

Unaiza brought Ishmal near his car. In all this while, Haider never got out. Unaiza opened the door of the passenger seat for her and held her heavy lehenga to help her settle. Ishmal was about to sit inside when Haider glanced at her way. On the near view, she was looking more stunning. Her big golden eyes were bright yet he was the only one who could see the sadness engulfed in them. Her plump lips were painted red and that nose pin in her nose was making her already straight nose look more beautiful. A few locks of her light brown hair were curled and falling on her temple.

Suddenly he felt doing something to get her out of this scene. If she would remain in front of his eyes, he would become out of his mind. The same innocence and elegance were present on this face. The same shimmering eyes and trembling lips which he now hated to even remember. A way to prove herself naive yet so sly from the inside.  

"Unaiza, make her sit in the back seat," he said sternly.

"Why, Haider Bhai?" Unaiza was confused.

"Just do what I said. Our rukhsati hasn't happened yet so it's better this way," he answered.

From his side, he tried to reason which was fruitful to a great extent since Unaiza nodded and agreed with him. Nevertheless, right now, Haider had no wish to see this face. The similar mask of innocence and chastity on that girl's had irked him. Wasn't it the same in Nisha's case as well?

Ishmal gazed at this powerful and rude guy who was looking so proud and pretentious this time. With his pointed arrogant nose, indifferent black eyes, unconcerned body language, and cold way of speaking, he made her feel like he was the sky. Despite all his handsomeness in that wedding outfit, he seemed too distant to Ishmal right now.

Perhaps that was true; he was the sky and she was just a grain of soil on which he was walking. She just had to abide him and do whatever he wanted. But wasn't it the case with her always? She never lived a life of her own.

Unaiza had helped her sit in the backseat. Ishmal liked this sweet girl. She seemed very much excited for her brother's wedding. Her smiles and talks never stopped till she remained with her in the salon.

                 ____________________

The garden of their mansion was decorated beautifully for a wedding. White and red flowers and lightning were adorning the whole area. Everyone was very happy. And this was a big ceremony with many guests. And why wouldn't it be? Mr. and Mrs. Tashfeen were very delighted that finally their elder son was getting married. It was the first wedding of their family and they were very glad.

Just there was one problem and that was there was no one from the bride's side. However, Haider's position and temperament had shut the mouths of everyone. The same lie that he had told his family was now told to everyone else. Besides he didn't care what would be in the minds of people regarding it. Haider just wanted to get out of this terrible situation by getting himself a tag of a married man and a wife right now.

Haider was sitting on the stage at that time getting totally annoyed and bored. A while later, his Aunt Tabinda came to him. He clenched his jaw and gave her a tight-lipped smile. Whatever her daughter had done with him, she was still like a mother to him and he gave her respect anyway forgetting everything else. He stood up before greeting her.

And he was glad that her daughter hadn't come here or else he didn't know what he would done in rage.

"Masha Allah Haider. Many many congratulations to you. May Allah always keep you happy. May he let you see many happy moments with your bride," Tabinda sounds genuinely happy.

Haider nodded and maintained the smile. "Thanks Khala Ammi....How are you?"

He didn't even say ameen because he didn't want this prayer to get listened to by Allah. The idea of any woman in his life was a big no for him.

"I am good. And today very happy as well. Your bride is so cute and innocent. I just met her. She is such a nice girl," Tabinda explained, in reply to which Haider remained quiet.

After a while, Tabinda left.

             ________________________

Ishmal's palms were sweating and she was cold due to being so nervous. There were so many relatives in Haider's family and every woman came into the room to see her as if it was a ritual. At that time, she realized why Haider had repeatedly warned her. She was never a social person. Perhaps for the first time in her life, she was meeting so many people and this made her anxious. Everyone was bombarding her with questions.

"Is there no one else in your family?" It was some teenage girl who was probably Haider's cousin who asked her this.

Ishmal shook her head. "I just have a brother who is abroad these days due to some personal issues. He wanted me to get married and settle in my life because he has no knowledge when he will come back."

She replied in the same sentence that Haider had made her cram.

Moments later, Huzaifa entered the room where she was staying before the ceremony. She gulped seeing a mischievous grin on his lips.

"Hi Bhabi. How are you? Thank God you met my brother and he finally cleared the path for me. By the way, what did you do to make my stone brother become jelly? He liked your proposal and God that is such strange news." When he started, he had no wish to stop.

Ishmal just smiled in response. What could she say here? But the sweat in her palms was increasing.

"Huzaifa, your tongue starts anywhere and anytime." Aqia playfully held his right ear and twisted it.

He faked a scream and then chuckled. "Of course, my dear Bhabi is at last here. I am so happy."

"By the way, I came here because a solo shoot of Bhabi is due," Huzaifa informed.

Ishmal's jaw dropped. A photoshoot? How would she do that? She was already so bad at masking her apprehension and if Haider were to see it, he would surely kill her for ruining his plan. 

Nevertheless, she did this ultimately like every other thing since she met this guy. She just wished that the ceremony would be over. But who knew that this was just a level one of the difficulty now? The real game would begin later on. 

After a while, she was led by many girls towards the altar. She tried hard to disguise her tension though she felt that her body was slightly trembling and her forehead was getting wet with sweat drops. From her drooped vision, she saw many people around her, looking at her with awe. Some were happy while some were gossiping about why Haider had married an unknown girl who wasn't even that beautiful and there was no strong background behind her.  

Upon seeing her, Haider had to stand up for a show to the whole world of a happy marriage. However, this wasn't what had raised his resentment. That innocence and purity on her face had caused him to clench his jaw and look away. It seemed so familiar and bothersome.

So much that a hatred developed in his heart for this unknown girl just because she had that look on her face that had hurt him in the past.

                 _____________________

The main ceremony had occurred and now it was the time for the body pile ritual which Haider hated right now. At first, he just wanted a private ceremony but since it was the happiness of his family, he couldn't say anything in its reply. To his expectation, there was a craziness here as well. And his dear brother was the one who did this.

"I am acting as a brother of Ishmal Bhabi here. Give me the money, dear brother-in-law in exchange for this milk," he said cleverly as a lopsided smirk wasn't leaving his lips.

Unaiza had brought a glass of milk decorated with flowers in a beautiful tray. But that wasn't where her attention was. Her eyes were fixed on that handsome and playful guy who was out of reach and unapproachable to her. Who was nice and cheerful for everyone except her. When it came to her, he always turned bitter and apathetic. 

"Excuse me? This is the game of girls and since you aren't a girl, so you can't play this," it was one of their cousins who spoke this.

Huzaifa laughed slightly. "There should not be any hard and fast for anything. As Ishmal Bhabi's brother, I am representing her family. So Haider Bhai, your filled pocket please."

Haider was controlling himself from lashing out at everyone present here while Ishmal bit her lower lip in anxiety. 

"Oh, so you can keep all the money to yourself by this. Hmm?" That was Hiba; their sister who mumbled playfully. 

Huzaifa raised his collars. "You have a genius brain."

"But that's not fine. When we will be getting the money after dividing it between us in rasta rukwai then you can't have the whole amount of Dodh pilai when technically you aren't even fit to play this game because you are a guy," Aimen, their uncle's daughter argued.

Huzaifa shrugged his shoulders carelessly. Aiman was about to speak something when Haider raised a hand.

"Stop this childish argument. I feel like I am stuck between kindergarten kids right now," he scoffed and then glared at his younger brother before pushing his hand under the pocket of his waistcoat.

After a while, he came out with many notes of thousands. Haider tossed it towards Huzaifa who shook his head mischievously.

"Not like this. First, do the ritual and then I will enjoy my money." Huzaifa took the glass of milk from Unaiza and forwarded it to Ishmal. "Here Bhabi. Drink this milk."

Ishmal's eyes widened. "Me?"

He blinked his eyes. "Yes, Bhabi. Come on. Hurry up."

She swallowed a bulk down her throat before taking the glass. Dragging her nose pin aside, she took a few sips and gave the glass back to Haider.

"Now it's your turn, Haider Bhai," Huzaifa murmured, sounding like such a professional girl who had attended many weddings.

The veins on Haider's neck got prominent as his eyes reddened. "What are you saying? I don't want to drink anything."

Huzaifa sighed. "Tck Haider Bhai. What's wrong with you? It's your wife's leftover after all. And grooms get so excited to drink from the same spot from where their brides have drank."

Ishmal's cheeks reddened due to embarrassment while Haider tried hard to control his anger. Or else he would have shouted at Huzaifa. But soon he remembered the motive of this marriage and actions like this would undo it quicker than expected without the desired effect.

"Take the money as it is. You know I don't drink milk," he let out.

"Just one sip, Haider Bhai. Not more." It was Aimen who now got on Huzaifa's team. "Besides, now the milk isn't milk. It's a drink of love and a sweet drink because Bhabi had drank it first."

Haider couldn't get to complain more as Huzaifa had placed the glass near his lips and now he had no other choice than to take a sip from exactly the spot where Ishmal's lips had touched.

And at that time, he was feeling such lava rising in his body that he wanted to burn the whole world.

                __________________

AssalamoAlaikum/ Hi guys!

How are you?

Here's a new chapter for you.

Hope you like it.

What do you think will happen next?

*Dodh Pilai : It is a ritual on weddings that the female cousins and sisters of bride makes the groom drink the milk or any sweet liquid and ask him to give them money as per their wish after a lot of friendly argument.

*Darwaza Rukawai: It is a ritual happens after rukhsati when bride is sent to the room while groom is forced to stay outside and is only allowed to enter the room unless he will gives the desired money to his own sisters and female cousins.

If you like this chapter, don't forget to vote and comment. ❤

Till next one, Allah Hafiz/ Bye. ❤❤❤