Waliyah's P.O.V.

Walking around the front yard I watch as my sisters get their mehndi done, as I was the designated person to be on food, water, and bathroom watch. I did not feel like getting Mehndi done, not this time. I knew if I agreed to get Mehndi done, then Amma, Mahira Ammi, and everyone would force me to get his name written down on my hands, and  I was still made at his behavior from last night. . .my lips hadn't stopped tingling from his abrupt but firm kiss, all night.

"Wafa," Amma said coming to stand infront of me, "Tum bhi laga lo." (You get it done too.)

"Amma," I say firmly, "Please," I am done being pushed around, I needed to learn how to put my foot down, and that is what I have begun to do. "I already told you I do not want too."

Amma's smile flattered, "Theek hain," (Okay) She whispered, "Mein, Ayra ki mehndi dekh kar aati hoon." (I am going to see what  Ayra's mehndi looks like.)

I nodd, Amma looked at me one last time before walking away as I leaned against one of our house's posts.  I have decided that tonight I will not be getting my mehndi done, no matter what.

"Khalchi!" Dua said excitedly as she rushed over to me, followed. by the whole Qureshi family,  including Samar. I thought he didnt want to be a part of any of the functions, so why is he making a guest fucking appearance at each one. I leaned down and picked her up, "Khalchi, mehendi?"

I shook  my head, "Khalchi is alittle busy tonight, so no mehndi."

Samar smirked at me as he came to stand infront of me, I looked at him and up and down, confused as to the reason why he was being so weird. "Here give me her," Samar took Dua from me,  "Bhai and I have decided that the men will be doing all the hard work tonight, and the ladies, will be just enjoying the function. So go get Mehndi done."

I give him a pointed look, "Give her back to me," I reached up for Dua but he backed up, "Samar." I say irritated not wanting to deal with his mood swings.

"Wafa," Mahira Ammi said smiling at me, "Bohot mushkil se manaya hain, mood maat kharab karo." (It was really hard to convince them, do not ruin our hard work)

"Ammi mujhe mehendi nahi laga ni." (Amma, I do not want to put Mehndi on.)  I say firmly,  "Sorry," Without hearing her response I take Dua out of Samar's embrace walk over to where Ayra is sitting, and show Dua her mehdni.

I look up slightly to see Samar looking over at me shocked by my behavior but I. do not give two shits, frankly, I have run out of shits to give over the four years that I have had to deal with.

.  . .

"Chalo, abh mehndi ki rasam toh hogi, abh sher aur shayri ki baari." (Now that the henna ceremony is done, let's recite some poems.) Amma said, "Amirah ke shaadi per. bhi kiya tha, aur abh Ayra ki liye bhi karenge." (We did this for Amirah's wedding, and now we will do it for  Ayra's. wedding as well.)

Everyone gathered around where Ayra and I were sitting, "Api," Ayra said excitedly, "You go first."

I shake my head, "Ayra, let someone else go." I say shyly.  No one knew that I liked writing and reciting poems except for well my family, no one outside of it.

"Api," Ayra whined holding my hand, "Please?"

I looked around the crowd, feeling alittle nervous,  I cleared my throat avoiding Samar's gaze, "Fine," Taking my hand out of hers, I adjusted my dupatta, trying to think of a poem. . .when I met gazes with Amirah Api.

"Ek bachpan ka zamana tha," (Back in the old days ) I said softly looking at her, trying to force a smile on my face, but the reality was, I truly did long for those days to come back. "Jisme khushiyon ka khazana tha." (Where there was a treasure of happiness) "Chahat chand ko pane ki thi (We wanted to touch the moon) Amirah Api's eyes filled with tears, as I went on. "Par dil titliyon ka diwana tha," (But the heart loved butterflies) My chest tighten as I t ried to stop myself from crying, "Thak kar aana school se," (I came tired from school) "Fir bhi khelne jana tha," (But still went to play) Ayra came closer to me resting her head on my shoulder as well did Mauli, "Barish mein kagaj ki naao thi," (There were paper boats in the rain) My voice began to quiver as I looked down at my hands, "Har mausan suhana tha" (All weather was beautiful) "Rone ki waja naa thi," (There. was no reason to cry) I whispered as I looked up coquincidentally making eye contact with. Samar, "Na hasne ka bahana tha," (There was no reason needed. to laugh) He took both of the luxuries away from me a long time ago.

"Kyun ho gaye hum itne bade?" (Why did we grow up) Ayra joined me as I said the last two lines,

"Iss acha toh bachpan ka zaman tha," (Our childhood was better than growing up) Amirah Api, Mauli, and Ayra hugged me tightly as we did our group hug as usual.

Everyone clapped for us, and we hugged tightly, "I love you Api," Ayra whispered to me, as we all slowly pulled away from one another.

"I love you too," I whispered back to her, gently brushing her hair away from her face. "More than you know."  There is nothing that I wouldnt do for the three of them, and I know that they know, that this Waliyah Sultan, is always with them.

. . .

Samar's P.O.V.

I keep my gaze planted on Wafa, secretly admiring her from afar. I wonder how many panic attacks she has had since we got married to one another. How many times she has had to deal with them alone, scared in that small room I provided her with four years ago?

"What did you do to piss her off more?" Atif Bhai asked me as Dua played with an empty mehndi. cone in her hands.

I kissed her. . . Even though it was to stop her panic attack, there was something else that I had felt at that moment our lips touched one another. Something unsaid, something. . . Indescribable. After I came home last night I couldn't help but stop feeling her lips against mine no matter how hard I tried to divert my attention away from her thoughts... I just couldn't.

I breathed out heavily, "I feel anything that I do. these days pisses her off."

Bhai chuckled, "Since when did her anger begin to affect you, Samar?" He extended his hand for Dua, as she pretended to put mehendi on his hand.

His question caught me off guard,  "I do not know," I answered honestly,  "I guess, ever since I found the original diary she had written for Amal and I. It is filled with. prayers, and wishes for the two of us to thrive, while she was in pain. I knew from the beginning I met Wafa,  that she was selfless. . ." He looked up at me curiously, "But I had no idea she was this selfless. . ."

"What else is bothering you?"

"Why she didnt try to show-" I go on,

"Stop there." Bhai said, "Amal tried showing you. the original diary. but you were so blinded by your. anger against Wafa, you didn't even take a glance at Samar." My gaze drops ashamed of my actions, "Samar, this. isnt about what Wafa tried to prove, or. what she did or didnt do. It's. about you having blind faith for some psychotic girl instead of the girl who went through hell uniting you with the woman you loved."

"Sorry," I said sitting down beside him, "Bhai?"

"Mhm?"

"Do you think it's better to just let her go?" I ask him, the amount of hurt and pain that I have given her, at times it just seems that it is better to let her go instead of holding onto her.

"Maybe," Bhai answered truthfully, "Look. Samar, it all depends on what you are willing to do."

"Meaning?"

"Do you want her in your life?"  I do not know, but for her sake, I felt it was better to let her go than hold onto her.

"I do not know," I say honestly,

"Bhai," Malli said catching your attention,

I keep quiet assuming she is talking to Atif Bhai, "Yeah?" He answered,

"No," She said, "Samar Bhai,"

I look up at her slightly shocked, "Yeah?"

"Um. . ." Malli sighed, "Amma wanted me to ask you to convince Api to put Mehndi on her hands. The three of us tried everything to convince her, but she wouldn't budge. Please, if you ask infront of everyone then she won't be able to say no, Ayra Api really wants her to join. in."

She is going to be even more mad, "Malli-"

"He'll do it." Bhai interrupted me,

Malli's face lit up, "Thank you!" She leaned over and hugged me, I hadn't received affection from their side for a while. "Hurry!"

"Go," Bhai pushed me,

Hesitantly walking over to Wafa, I stand in front of her, "Why haven't you put any mehndi on?"

Wafa breathed out, "Go away Samar," She tried to walk past me but I held onto her hand, "Samar," Her eyes held so much anger, so much pain in them.  I hold out my hand for a cone, which Malli gives me compliently, "Samar." Wafa tried to get her hand out of my grip but I held on tighter.

Looking down at her hand, I hold the cone downwards, and. gently make a small flower on her palm, instead of putting a small S in the center for my name, I put a W, for her name. "There," I breathed out releasing her hand, "Mehndi done."

Wafa's eyes filled with tears, and as she pushed past me, she ran inside the house, leaving all the guest's eyes on me. . . .I guess, letting her go. . .is the only option, I truly have left. . .if. such a small action of mine makes her so sad. . .than. . .for her happiness., I will let her go.