The next week went by quickly. Rahemat was trying his best to convince his brother and Abbas was testing  Sufyaan is as many ways as possible.

Today is Qailah's Mehendi. A function where bride and all the girls in the family apply Henna on their hands. Last moment they changed the venue from Zyva's house to the house where they all are staying. All were busy in some or the other work. Zyva and her family came early to help them. Abbas was checking all the preparations when he saw Sufyaan taking big boxes in the house. 

From past many days Abbas was thinking about what he should do and what is right. But his heart and brain are not together. Zyva is his first child. He loves her a lot. Staying away from her is the most difficult thing for him. Only he knows how he stayed away from her for those two years when she was in America. He had decided then, that he will never stay away from her. But now things have changed.

He was very confused and to increase the confusion and tension in his head there was someone entering the house. Abbas raised his eyebrows for a second before going towards him. 

"Assalamu Alayekum." Abbas said.

"Walekum assalam Abbas. How are you?"

"Alhumdulillah I'm fine. How are you Khurshid?"

"Alhumdulillah I'm fine."

"When did you come?" Abbas asked.

"Early morning today. I was at Qailah's house.Come here I will introduce you to my daughter's in law's."

Abbas nodded and they started walking towards the door where Mr. and Mrs. khan were talking to Qailah's parents. They smiled at Abbas and Abbas smiled back.

"Abbas they are my daughter Kehara's Mother and father in law. And he is Abbas. Zyva's father."

"Assalamu alayekum."Abbas said.

"Walekum assalam."They said together.

"MashaAllah your daugther is a very nice girl. She is my daughter's best friend." Mrs. Khan said.

"Noor is a very nice girl as well. Please come in."

They all went inside and sat on the couch. They were drinking water when Qailah came in the room. She saw Khurshid and smiled widely. Khurshid smiled at her and she started walking towards him. 

"Assalamu alayekum Phuphajaan! You are finally here."

"Walekum assalam. How can I miss your wedding Qailah?"

"You are the best. Wait I will inform everyone that you are here."

"No, let them work. And you tell me what should I do?"

"Eat something first then think about work."

Kehara came in the room with a big plate in her hand.She kept it on the table and looked up.She smiled widely before saying,

"My family is finally here." 

Mrs.Khan stood up and Kehara went to her.

"How are you Kehara?"

"Alhumdulillah I'm fine Ammi. How was your journey?"

"Very tiring." Mr.Khan said.

"Dad we have so many things to do and you are already tired."

"What things?" Mr.Khan asked.

"See first this wedding.Then We are going to Mumbai for Amy and Addy's wedding. Then we are going to your home town to meet your and Ammi's family. Today is just the first day!"

"Now I feel more tired."

Kehara smiled before going to her father. 

"Daddy you are late."

"I'm sorry."

"Kehara come fast I need your help."Qailah said.

"Yeah, one minute.Ammi I will come back soon."

"Take your time Kehara. We have some relatives here so we are going there now. But InshaAllah before the function starts we will come back." Mrs.Khan said.

"Ok. Come back soon."

Kehara left the room with Qailah after Mr and Mrs.Khan left.Abbas and Khurshid were sitting on the couch. For some time they were quiet but then Abbas said,

"I don't really like your son."

Khurshid smiled before saying,"I was expecting this. I love Aman and he is a great guy but somewhere deep down I hate him for taking my daugther away."

"And your son wants to take my daugther to a different country."

Khurshid smiled,"I will make sure he takes good care of her.Even I have a daughter Abbas. Zyva will be my daughter after their Nikha.I will take care of her."

"Your son is just like you." 

Khurshid smiled again before asking,"What did he do?"

"His confidence and attitude."

"That's ten times more than mine."

"I know that now."Abbas said.

"Ok, I think it's time. Abbas Hassan I want to ask your daughter's hand in marriage for my son. I promise to keep her safe and happy.Sufyaan will always keep her happy. He will never treat her like a maid. He will always respect her and her dreams. I'm not saying this because Sufyaan is my son but because I know him well. Even you know how your family is. Be honest You want that for Zyva?Give my son a chance and I will make sure you never regret."

Abbas kept staring him and Khurshid smiled. They were sitting quietly in the room when someone came in the room.

"Daddy."Sufyaan said coming in the room.

Khurshid smiled again and stood up. They both hugged each other, smiling.

"How are you?" Sufyaan asked.

"Alhumdulillah. How are the preparations going?"

"Alhumdulillah everything is fine."

"That's good. By the way I just asked Zyva's hand for you."

Sufyaan looked at Abbas before looking at his father. 

"Thank you." Sufyaan said.

Khurshid winked at him and Sufyaan smiled.

"Now Abbas you sit and think, I will go and meet all the kids."

Khurshid and Sufyaan left the room but Abbas kept sitting there. As expected khurshid confused Abbas more. Abbas took a deep breath and started working again. All he knows now is that he needs to make the big announcement of Sufyaan's proposal.

***

"No, you are looking beautiful. "Kehara said Noor.

"Kehara when will the function start?" Noor asked.

"Soon InshaAllah. As soon as all the boys leave, it will start."

"But why are you kicking us out of the house?" Afzal asked.

"Because it's only for girls.What will you do here? You want henna on your hand?" Zyva asked.

"That would be amazing. Afzal go for it." Sufyaan said.

"Wait let me take my camera out." Aman said.

"What are you all doing here? All the boys will be at Qailah's house. Everyone come on." Rahemat said coming in the living room.

"Wait first let's take few pictures!"Qailah exclaimed.

"Bride to be is very excited."Zynah said.

"Where is Hadee bhai?" Qailah asked.

"I don't know." Kehara said.

"Ok let's take few pictures now. Then we will take few when he comes back." Zyva said.

They all agreed and took few pictures.Haajar was upset about something so she did not take any picture. After few minutes Rahemat was standing with his nieces and Sufyaan was taking a picture when Hadee entered the room,looking worried.

"Why is my mom talking to Maira's parents about our marriage?" Hadee asked.

"Mom is doing what?" Qailah asked.

"Who told her?" Zyva asked.

"It's definitely not me."Hadee said.

"Why will anyone of us do that Hadee? Maybe it's just a coincidence."Sufyaan said.

 "Or maybe it's not."Rahemat said.

"Mamujaan!"Hadee exclaimed.

"You're welcome." Rahemat said smiling.

"Chachu you are the best." Zyva said.

"What the best!? As I said, it was just a crush."

"Shut up! You think I was never young?"

"Mamujaan but."

"No ifs, no buts. Your mom is ready be grateful for that."

"Yeah Hadee. Here we are struggling and you are getting everything served in a well decorated plate." Sufyaan said.

"Come on Hadee. You are lucky. Not everyone gets the opportunity of spending their whole life with the person they love. Don't miss this opportunity or you will regret it your whole life." Rahemat said.

This made everyone sad and they all started looking at each other. But Haajar was staring Rahemat from past five minutes. Rahemat noticed it but decided to ignore at first. But she kept on staring him and this time he finally looked at her and frowned.

"What happened Haajar?" Rahemat asked softly.

Haajar kept looking at him for few seconds before saying,"I was just three days old when my dad got married to my step mom. He did not bring Ammi home after I was born. He took me directly from the hospital leaving her alone. He refused to divorce her and never allowed her to see me. He told me that my mom left me alone. It was Sufyaan bhai who told me the truth three weeks back. I left my dad's house and came here with Hadee Bhai and Sufyaan bhai. That was the first time I saw my mom.I forced my dad and he is now giving my mom a divorce. We all know everything about you two. From past two weeks they all are trying to convince me to allow you two to get married. I know your mom was against it. So let's work together. You convince your mom, I will convince my mom. Wait let me officially do this. Mr.Rahemat will you please be my father. Please be my role model and hero like all fathers. Please." 

Haajar had tears in her eyes by the end and Rahemat was just looking at her without moving his body. 

"Kehara is your family on a mission to give my family a heart attack?" Zyva whispered Kehara. 

Kehara smiled before shaking her head,"No,My family is in love."

After few more seconds of not reacting Rahemat said,"Excuse me." Before leaving the house.

Haajar looked down and tears started flowing. 

"Haajar I love you." Kehara said before giving her a hug.

"You are so brave my girl."Qailah said.

"Now we know Sufyaan and Haajar are from the same family. You both are same!" Afzal said.

"No, she is ten times stronger than me."Sufyaan said.

"He will agree, right?" Haajar asked.

"InshaAllah.Jazaki Allahu khairan Haajar." Zyva said.

"So many weddings!" Zynah exclaimed. 

"And we are leaving in three days!" Noor exclaimed.

"What, in three days?" Qailah asked and Noor nodded.

"We will leave the day after your waleema. We have to visit few more places before going back."

"Sufyaan bhai is also leaving?" Qailah asked looking at Sufyaan.

Sufyaan looked at her before saying,"I'm going to Mumbai for Kehara's best friend's wedding and then I will leave. Kehara and Aman will stay for some more days."

"Why?" Qailah asked frowning sadly 

"Qailah it's your mehendi! Don't be sad please."Kehara said.

"Yeah! You are getting married and InshaAllah my mom as well." Haajar said.

Kehara smiled widely before saying,"I'm so excited. This time I will ta..." Kehara stopped talking when she saw someone coming in the room. 

Aman frowned and followed her eyes. Everyone looked at where they were looking. Hadee instantly pulled Sufyaan back before saying,"Sufyaan please behave."

"Who are they?" Noor asked frowning.

"Shazia and Noman." Qailah said.

"Who is Shazia and who is Noman?" Afzal asked.

"Kehara's ex fiancé and our cousin."Hadee whispered him.

Aman who was standing next to Kehara placed his hand on her waist before looking at her. Kehara slowly looked at him and smiled.Aman smiled back before they both looked at them again. Shazia saw them and smiled but no one smiled back. Noman looked at them and instantly looked down. Kehara saw a baby boy in his hand and rested her head on Aman's shoulder. 

"Assalamu alayekum."Shazia said.

"Walekum assalam."Everyone replied.

"Everyone is here. We are late I guess."

"No, you are early for the wedding."Qailah said softly so that they don't hear her. 

"Qailah MashaAllah you are looking beautiful."

"Thank you." Qailah said looking down.

"I see new faces. You won't introduce?"

"They are my cousins Zyva and Zynah." Qailah said pointing towards them. They smiled at her and she smiled back. "She is Noor,kehara's sister-in-law. And He is Afzal,Sufyaan bhai's friend. And he is Aman Bhaijaan,Kehara's husband."

"Kehara is here with her whole family. Nice to see you Kehara." Shazia said.

Kehara did not say anything and just kept looking down. 

"I have heard a lot about you Noor. Ever since my grandma came back from America she cannot stop talking about you. You are the reason they are together, right?"

"No. My Brother is the reason. He was in love with her since the day he saw her. And after he started his own company, he proposed her. And Alhumdulillah now they are together." Noor said.

Qailah,Zyva and Zynah smiled before looking at each other. 

"That's nice." Shazia said smiling. "I will go and meet everyone else." 

Shazia started walking to the other room and Noman looked at Sufyaan before saying,"I'm sorry. I tried stopping her but you know her. we will leave soon."

Then Noman left the room and everyone turned to Kehara. Her head was still resting at Aman's shoulder and Aman was still holding her close.They all started walking out of the room and soon Aman and Kehara were alone. 

"You are fine?" Aman asked.

"Yes."

"You are sad?"

"No. I just don't want them near my family."

"Don't worry nothing will happen." 

"You are upset because they are here?" Kehara asked looking up at him.

"As long as they are away from you, I don't have any problem." 

"Aman." 

"Yes?"

"I love you."

"But I hate you." Aman said smiling.

***

All the men went to Hadee's house and where talking,eating and laughing. Sufyaan,Hadee,Aman and Afzal were discussing about cricket when cousin Sufyaan came towards them. He was looking angry which made them frown. He looked at Sufyaan before asking,

"You proposed Zyva?"