C H I N A cups were brought out from behind. Hoor could only imagine that the kitchen was that way. She had arrived at this place, that she would now call home around thirty minutes ago. Since then she had been sitting in the living room, listening to the family talk and create laughter. She would occasionally laugh with them, still feeling the awkwardness radiate from everyone's behaviour. Well except for Mustafa and Alia auntie's family. They had been doing all that they could to make her feel at home.

The maids placed the tray on the expensive glass coffee table. Serving everyone tea, asking the amount of sugar each person required as they were served. Hoor had never seen anything so lavish. At most she had seens sugar being served along tea, never had her eyes seen people pour in your sugar for you.

All of this was new to her. The realisation of her and Mustafa not belonging to the same world becoming magnified times ten. She cursed herself in her heart, wondering why fate had played such a cruel joke on her. Perhaps her initial feelings of reluctance when Rehman asked for her hand in marriage, were infact true and not just another "brides nerves".

"Baaji kitni chamach?" The young girl stared at Hoor.
Hoor was shocked at first, never having been addressed so formally.
"D-do kaafi hain," she whispered.
Her heart was beating a mile a minute. She knew that in the upper class of society where money rolled out of their pockets as effortlessly as cheap cigarettes did from the pockets of the lower class, a fitness regime was mandatory. She could not help but be hyper aware of the gazes that were cast towards her. Making her shiver deep to the bone.

Luckily, as she was handed the fine china cup, no one made any comment. Making her relieved. The white porcelain cups that had the famous blue pottery designs, looked royal. A stark contrast to her, a peasant. The cups were hand crafted in Multan and were part of her mother-in-law's wedding gifts. Atleast that was what Alia aunty had told her. And Hoor had no reason to believe that the kind woman would lie to her.

"So Hoor what did you study at university?" One of Mustafa's distant cousin asked.
The look of arrogance in her eyes was a dead give away to the fact that the question had been asked deliberately, so that she could humiliate herself.
"Mujhe kuch samajh nahi aai," Hoor gave her a sheepish smile.
Feeling her palms sweat up with anxiety. Allah, what had she signed up for?

"Lagta hai aap parhi nahin hai," the same girl replied.
Hoor nodded her head in agreement. Feeling the tears fill up her eyes.
"Chalo saarey koi aur baat karo. Yeh kaisi baatein le kar beth gai?" Alia steered everyone away from the topic.

Hoor was grateful and gave her a smile. Before finally taking a sip of her chai. The milk tea rolled into her mouth as she took a small sip. The hotness of it causing a momentary burn to the tip of her tongue. Hoor savoured the taste. It was exceptional. One like she had never had before. She could identify the hints of the daar cheeni and saunf that had been added. She sighed in content. Feeling the fatigue of the day wash away.

It was a few hours later, that everyone having stared at her enough, finally began to leave. Hoor who had been sitting up straight, finally relaxed her back, letting it rest next to the cushion. Mustafa had been wheeled away by Raees. Raees had claimed that the two needed to have a heart to heart. Meanwhile, Sajid left aswell, feeling tired. He asked Alia and Raees to come together. He gave the new couple plenty of blessings before leaving.

Hoor played with her fingers. Finding it awkward to be all alone with Alia. Alia smiled at the anxious little bride, taking a seat next to her.
"Hoor beta mein aapse kuch baat karna chahti hun. Bura tou nahin maanain gi?" She asked.
"Nahin aunty. Aap kahein jo kehna hai," Hoor gave her a smile.
Alia took a deep breath, gathering courage to speak.
"Hoor beta aaj aap ki shaadi Rizwan sai honi thi. Magar khuda ka koi aur irada tha. Rizwan tou bas aapko aur Mustafa ko milanay ka eik rasta tha. Dekho beta mein jaanti hun keh aaj jo aap par ilzaam laga hai woh jhuta hai. Par yeh rishta saacha hai. Isko puray dil sai nibhana," she explained to her the importance of the Nikkah.
"Par aunty mujh mein aur Mustafa mein zameen asman ka faraq hai!" Hoor voiced out her main concern.
"Dekho beta, Allah ki nazar mein sab barabar hain. Mein samajh saakti hun keh aap iss waqt eik zehni kashmakash ka shikar hain. Likin khuda par bharosa rakhein. Woh jo karta hai, achay keh liye karta hai," Alia tried to reason.
"Han par..."
"Par war kuch nahin. Hoor apnay aur Mustafa ko iss rishtay keh saath adjust honay ka waqt do. Donon mill kar baat karo keh karna kia chahte ho. Magar eik baat meri yaad rakhna, tumhari kamzoori tumhara anparh hona nahin. Aur Mustafa ki kamzoori uski mazoori nahin hai. Tum dono eik dusre ko balance out karte ho. Isliye usko kabhi tum apni ilm sai mehroomi eik taana na bannay dena. Aur tum uski mazoori ko eik taana mat banana!" Alia explained.
Hoor nodded, remaining silent. Alia smiled at her. Kissing her forehead, she led her to her new bedroom.

As soon as Hoor entered her new bedroom, she was in love. It was perfect. It held everything one could desire for. She was absolutely excited to sleep on the fluffy bed. She could already imagine how heavenly it would feel like, unlike her mattress back at her maternal home.

"Hoor aap betho, mein Mustafa ko behjti hun," Alia gave her back a soft pat.
"Aunty, jai namaz kidhr hai?" Hoor inquired.
"Eik second," Alia opened one of the built-in cupboards, handing a prayer mat to her and telling her about the direction of the qibla.

Hoor entered the en-suite bathroom. It was the first time she had a room with an attached bathroom. She could not have been happier. Hoor opened the tap water. The water gushed out with such pressure that it drenched Hoor's sleeves. Sighing, she rolled them up, grabbing the makeup remover the makeup artist had given her before wiping it all down. After which she performed her ablution. Standing infront of her Lord.

Hoor was deeply engrossed in her dua. The tears rolled down her cheeks one after the other as all the frustration from the day came out. She had been holding herself strong in front of everybody so as to not become a joke. She had already lost most of her respect. She did not want to become the laughing stock of the night.

As Hoor cried to her Creator about the pain she had felt all day, Mustafa silently rolled into his bedroom. He saw Hoor covered in a big chaddar praying. The devotion with which she prayed, moved him. And he almost wanted to ask her to tell him about what she was talking about. After a few minutes of silence, with Hoor having no plans to get up from where she was, Mustafa had no choice but to clear his throat, in order to get her attention.

"Assalamualikum," Mustafa greeted her.
"Waalikumassalam," Hoor replied, folding the corner of the mat, standing up and walking to him. Sitting down on the ottoman placed next to the foot of the bed.
"Kaisi hain aap Hoor?" Mustafa asked.
"Bilkul waisi jasia koi bhi meri halat mein ho ga!" Hoor snapped.
"Mujhe maaf kardein mujhe aapse aaise-" Hoor immediately began apologising, only to be stopped halfway.
"Na meri Hoor. Apne shohar sai kaisi maafi. Mein samajh sakta hun keh aap kiss takleef sai guzri hain. Mein aapki izzat karta hun aur iss rishtay ki ehmiyat bhi samjhta hun," Mustafa smiled, before continuing, "mein aap ka muntazir rahun ga. Jab tak aap khud iss rishtay ko dil sai na qabool karlein. Aap keh kapray almari mein hain. Aap change kar lein," Mustafa smiled.
Giving her the space she needed.

Hoor smiled, visibly relaxed after he had openly admitted to wait for her. She immediately opened the closet, thankfully not finding anything scandalous. She grabbed a plain black cotton suit. Upon stepping out, she saw Mustafa already changed and in bed. Hoor hesitated not sure about where she should sleep.

"Hoor aap bhi bed par aajain. Mein sofay par so jata magar doctor nai mana kiya huwa hai. Iss waja sai aap meray saath compromise kar lein. Kasam sai raat ko aapko tang nahi karun ga," Mustafa smiled at her.
Hoor, having no option, lay in bed with him. Maintaining a distance from him. So as to not even touch him by accident. Mustafa laughed at her behaviour. Thinking she was very cute.

That night the newly wedded couple slept on the same bed, with an oceans distance between them.

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