I would like to dedicate my first chapter to the girl who always supported me. She is with me from the very beginning. Thanks Maryam.

Sufyaan looked in the mirror one last time before leaving the room. He pulled his phone out of his pocket after he closed the door behind him of his room. He saw a message from Afzal and laughed.

"Come fast Sufyaan. Couples are killing me!"

"There are many singles there as well."

"None of them are here yet. Come fast!"

Sufyaan laughed shaking his head.

"Coming wife." 

"Come fast hubby!" 

Sufyaan laughed again and opened his car door. He kept his phone back in the pocket before entering the car. It's Adnan's walima today. He got married to his cousin last month in Pakistan. Now that they are back they are having their walima here. 

All Sufyaan can think these days is how life changed in these few years. It feels like yesterday when they were planning things to do for their summer break and now many of them are married. It's been a month since Kehara and Aman's Walima. Sufyaan misses Kehara A lot. Dinner with His father and sister was his favourite part of the day. Now he has to not only cook dinner but also eat it without Kehara. It is not like he is living without her for the first time in his life. He lived without her before she shifted to America and then three and a half year when he was in London. But still this time it feels different. He never felt this lonely in his entire life. There is something missing in his life and he assume it to be Kehara. Although he meets her on Tuesdays, Thursdays , Saturdays and then whenever he misses her but he still misses her and hopes to see her more often. Only if he knew it was not Kehara who is missing but someone to whom his heart belongs.

After twenty minutes he reached the venue. He saw Yunus and Yasmin with their son Yaqub and smiled. According to him they are the cutest family. They are expecting their second child soon InshaAllah. Sufyaan saw them entering the hall but did not come out of his car. He thought about Marriage again but then after few minutes he shook his head and came out of the car. Forgetting the topic of marriage he entered the hall.

***

"She is so beautiful!" Noor exclaimed.

"MashaAllah." Kehara said smiling.

"Oh yes MashaAllah." 

Kehara chuckled shaking her head. 

"I love her dress." Eman said.

"Me too." Sarah said.

"I love her jewellery." Zulaikha said. 

"And her Makeup!" Yamina exclaimed.

"I'm tired." Yasmin said.

"Aww habibti sit and rest for some time." Yalina said and Yasmin nodded.

"I will bring you a chair."Wafa said and ran to her left to get one chair. After few seconds she returned with a chair.

"JazakAllah habibti." Yasmin said sitting down.

"Coming back to the bride. She is new in the group. Adnan is the only one who got married to someone who is not a part of our group." Sarah said. 

"Yeah. Up till now Everyone got married to someone from the group. Yasmin got married to Yunus, Yalina to Yusuf and Kehara to bhai! And Now InshaAllah Zulaikha will get married to Azhar!" Noor exclaimed happily. 

"InshaAllah!" Everyone exclaimed to tease her and she blushed.

Azhar went to Zulaikha's father last week and said he wants to marry her. Zulaikha's father asked her and she instantly said yes. It was very unexpected for Azhar to propose her but what was more shocking was Zulaikha's instant reply. Zulaikha is a very choosy girl She takes few days to buy a dress. She thinks she is giving her money so she don't want to waste it on a wrong dress. Not only about dress but it's same for all things. She thinks if she is investing her time and energy in something it should be worth it.  Her instant reply clearly showed that she likes him. 

"So when is the big day girl?" Yamina asked.

"InshaAllah in few months." Zulaikha said trying not to blush.

"Wow!"  Noor exclaimed.

"Congratulations again Zulaikha." Kehara said smiling widely.

"JazakAllah habibti." 

"I can't wait for an other wedding!" Eman exclaimed.

"Me too!" Wafa exclaimed like her cousin and everyone laughed.

"Now only Yamina is left from our bestie group to get married."Yalina said.

"Shut up Yalina."

"What did I say?"

"You are teasing."

"No I'm not." Yalina said trying to suppress her smile.

"I don't know when she is getting married but she is definitely getting married to someone from the group." Yasmin said with a wink and Yamina narrowed her eyes.

"Shut up Yasmin!"

"That's obvious Yasmin." Kehara said smiling.

"Kehara!"

"Of course it is!" Zulaikha exclaimed making Already red Yamina more red. 

"Ok girls stop."

"I can't wait for their wedding."  Noor said clapping her hands together.

"Same here!" Sarah exclaimed.

"Ok I'm out of here." Yamina said and was about to go but Yasmin stopped her.

"Ok. We are sorry .wait."

"Yeah don't go." Wafa said. 

"We are just excited Yamina." Yalina said.

"Excited for a wedding that is not going to happen. " Yamina said rolling her eyes and everyone frowned.

"And this wedding won't happen because?" Zulaikha asked.

"Because it is nothing like what you all think." 

Everyone chuckled and Yamina crossed her hands over her chest,

"Yeah right." Eman said rolling her eyes.

"Yamina it's obvious Afzal is interested in you. And your blush shows that even you are interested. Then what is the problem?" Kehara asked.

"Who told you Afzal is interested?" Yamina asked frowning.

"Does that mean you are interested?" Sarah asked smiling.

"Answer me first."

"Well You both are super awkward around each other. And it's not something that started now. You guys were like this even when you both were small kids." Yasmin said.

"Excatly! You both avoid talking to each other and if you both talk you both never look at each other or even in that direction where the other one is standing." Yalina said.

"And That smile which you both try to hide while looking at each other." Sarah added.

Yamina is looking down avoiding looking at them  and trying to control her blush. After few seconds she looked up and said "So the bride."

Everyone laughed shaking their heads.

***

"Thanks Sufyaan for coming. If I had to stay with couples for one more second I would have died!"

Sufyaan rolled his eyes before saying "You are such a drama queen."

"Shut up Sufyaan." 

"Where is Aman?"

"With your sister."

"Afzal!"

"What? Are you expecting him to be with someone else?"

"Afzal call him."

"No need. He is coming see." Afzal said pointing behind him. Sufyaan turned around and saw his best friend coming. 

Aman smiled and Hugged Sufyaan.

"Salam boys."

"Walekum assalam." Both said together and then Aman hugged Afzal.

"Where were you Aman? With Kehara?" Afzal asked looking at Sufyaan who rolled his eyes.

"We came here together,so yes I was with her. Why?" Aman asked raising his eyebrow.

"Ignore him. You know he is mad."

"When you prove people  wrong they insult you."

"Stop." Aman said before they start fighting again.

"Let's go there and meet everyone." Sufyaan said  looking where the rest of the male  group members are standing. 

"Yeah." Aman said and they started walking.

"So Aman how was your day? Did you select anyone?" Afzal asked.

"Yes. There is a new Addition in your department Sufyaan."

Upon mention of his name Sufyaan looked up and said,

"Ok." 

"Salam everyone."Afzal said.

"walekum Assalam." Everyone said together.

"So what are you guys talking about?" Afzal asked.

"You know Azhar proposed Zulaikha right?" Yunus asked.

Sufyaan and Afzal nodded but Aman frowned. 

"What? When did that happen?" Aman asked.

"Last week." Yusuf said.

"Why I'm not aware about it?" Aman asked.

"Because you are too busy with your wife." Azhar said.

"Oh yes! I totally agree!" Afzal exclaimed looking towards Sufyaan, Smiling mischievously and Sufyaan rolled his eyes. 

"Shut up guys!" Sufyaan said  and everybody laughed.

"So when is your Nikah?" Aman asked. 

"InshaAllah in few months." 

"One more wedding!I'm bored of them." Rashid said. 

"Same here bro." Dawood said and everyone laughed. 

"Now I think everyone should get married. Afzal and Sufyaan only you two are left ,who are above twenty and unmarried. When are you two planning to get married?" Yunus asked.

"Are  you jealous of our freedom?" Sufyaan asked.

"Jealous? I feel sad for you two."

"Oh please! We are happy singles!" Afzal said.

"But you have to get married." Yusuf said. 

"Sooner or later." Aman added and Yusuf nodded.

"We don't need anyone." Sufyaan said shrugging his shoulder.

"Sufyaan marriage is important. It's Sunnah." Azhar said.

"Exaclty!" Yunus excalimed.

"You know when Adam(AS) was all alone Allah gave him a wife. Not a friend or any other relative but a wife. This is how important your life partner is. They completes half of our deen." Yusuf explained.

"Yeah. And if you won't get married you will always feel lonely. Even though we are here and Kehara is always just a message or call away And your dad is with you still you will feel lonely."Aman explained further.

"I won't feel lonely, I have Afzal!" 

"Then what will happen when he get's married?" Azhar asked.

"He is my wife. He is not going anywhere." Sufyaan said giving Afzal a side hug.

"Ok you guys talk. I have to go and check Yaqub. AllahHafiz." Yunus said and after everyone said their AllahHafiz he left.

"Oh so where were we? Yes marriage. Afzal and Sufyaan you need a partner." Yusuf said.

"As Sufyaan said I'm his wife and he is mine. We don't need anyone."

"Then what will happen to Yamina?" Aman teased and Afzal's eyes widened.

"Shut up Aman. Yunus is not so far. he will hear you."

"As if he has no idea about your interest."Yusuf said rolling his eyes.

"Yeah! Even we can understand you like her." Dawood said and Rashid nodded.

"What are kids doing in this conversation?" Sufyaan asked.

"We are not kids." Rashid protested.

"Yeah whatever." Sufyaan said. 

"Yeah back to Yamina. It's obvious Afzal. No one is blind here." Yusuf said.

"Ok again. Yunus is not standing far from us. stop talking about her."

"He knows Afzal. chill." Aman said.

"You are talking about his sister Aman."

"So what? one day she will get married." Azhar said.

"And Yunus won't mind. He is cool. You know how he reacted when I proposed Yalina."

"You are his best friend Yusuf. He won't be that good to me."

"Are you indirectly accepting your love for her?" Aman asked with a wink.

" Aman!"

"Yunus won't do anything." Azhar said.

"That's easy for you to say. He always scares me. even when I was a small boy ,I was afraid of him."

"That's because he is Yamina's brother." Aman said.

"Aman shut up."

"Afzal just go and talk to her parents." Yusuf said.

"Oh stop brainwashing him! Afzal don't listen to them." Sufyaan said.

"Sufyaan let the right girl come. Then I will see what you will do."Aman said.

"Aman nothing of that sort will ever happen. I will never fall for anyone."

***

"I'm so tired." Kehara said.

"Me too!" Noor exclaimed.

"And you both were still not ready to leave." Aman said.

They are going back home from the function. Mr and Mrs. Khan left hours ago so Aman and Kehara are dropping Noor home. 

"Bhai Thanks."

"For what?"

"For selecting my friend."

"Your friend?" Aman asked in confusion. "Noor I don't understand, What are you talk about?"

"You employed a girl today. Zyva. She is my friend."

"Oh. No need to thank me. She qualified for the job. And  we need an intern."

"She is very happy."

"That's good. She is a very sweet girl." Kehara said smiling.

"I know. She is amazing. Bhai be good to her! She is my friend!"

"She will work under sufyaan. So talk to him"

"Sufyaan bhai will be good to her. I know that.I'm sure They will make a good team!"