At the breakfast, Hadiya inquired about Adil.

"He had left late at night for Dania's place," Haya informed her mother.

Hadiya clicked her tongue, shaking her head, - "I don't understand what magic that Faryal and her daughter have done."

Fareeha climbed down the stairs, Sarfaraz behind her.

"What happened, Aunty?" Fareeha adjusted her dupatta on her hand.

"Adil Bhaiya has become joru ka Ghulam, ghar-jamai." Haya explained. Hadiya scowled at her, and she shrugged.

Fareeha looked confused.

"Arey, beta, you had cut off so you don't know. That Dania bewitched my beta and—and—married him. Both mother and daughter are cunning witches."

Fareeha looked behind at Sarfaraz was his reaction, but he was blank. It was a shocker that he was unresponsive to Dania being insulted. He—Sarfaraz urf Hadi, who couldn't hear a word against his beloved Dania, wasn't reacting. Now, Fareeha was sure, someone kidnapped him and replaced him with a lookalike. Or, or someone replaced his brain or gave him one.

They all sat at the table. Hadiya kept admiring her bahu, and Haya had to remind her time to time to eat her food.

"Okay, I thought to keep walima of both my sons together. But that—" She cleared her throat, - "Adil was insistence that Faryal wasn't well, and any celebration would be odd." She scoffed, - 'That madam hadn't even shown her face to me. I saw her as a young girl, and a long time since I saw Faryal. But because of her health, Adil isn't introducing us," Hadiya ranted.

Fareeha felt hurt at why she was being treated. Hadiya didn't deserve this. She looked at Sarfaraz, who sat beside her and was silently eating his breakfast. Perhaps she was guilty and ashamed?

Sarfaraz sat at the edge of the bed, thinking over his words. What he thought was a harmless action affected Fareeha so negatively. He felt bad about her running behind anyone who gave the slightest of compliments. She stood by him like a rock, and he—she has valid reasons to not trust him over Dania. Without realizing it would shoot this big, he recklessly behaved that night.

The sound of bangles broke his thoughts, tinkling. Sarfaraz flicked his tears with his fingers, and gulped, straightening.

"Are you okay?" Fareeha asked from afar.

Even after so much, she was caring for him. His eyes burned with more tears filling in. Sarfaraz just got up and hurried to her. Before Fareeha could respond, he threw his arms around her bending over to rest his face on her shoulder. She stretched her neck, pulling her face out from his broad shoulders.

She stilled, hearing his sobs. Was this some other manipulation thing? Oh God, why was she being so paranoid?

"I just want to be with you, Fareeha. I know, I am an ass. I deserve this—but for now, please let me be in your arms." He cried, - "Please."

Fareeha nodded, wrapping her arms around him. He was probably upset because Dania married Adil. Right? Even though she was suspicious, she didn't interrupt him. He kept clinging to her until he felt better. A warmth spread through his chest, making him lighter on his feet. Slowly, he parted but kept his arms around her. She leaned back but didn't move her hand from his waist.

He smiled through his tears, - "Thanks."

She nodded. Moving her hands, she stepped back, fixing stray strands of her hair.

"I understand you must be feeling devastated—"

"No, I don't." He interrupted, - "I feel happiest. Because my best friend," He held her shoulders, - "is my wife."

She simply looked at him, expressionless. The tears glossed in his eyes and told her about his genuine contentment.

He hugged her again, this time keeping her head pressed against his chest. Sarfaraz kissed the top of her head, - "I am so happy. And I am so lucky that a kind, sensitive, and beautiful woman like you, is my wife."

Fareeha doesn't hug him back but doesn't push either. 

Hadiya made sure her son's Walima was the talk of the entire country. Almost all the Bollywood fraternity, the media, who's who from the business and sporting world, everyone was invited. The best hairstylist and makeup artist for her bahu. Almas was as erratic as her best friend, and the two ladies could barely stop giggling.

Fareeha wasn't very comfortable with the deep neckline of the golden embellished blouse. The stylist assured her that it was the trend. But after her request, she covered it neatly with the pallu. They did her make-up as per her requirement, kept her hair a little wavy, and for accessories made her wear a large pearl-embedded hair-band. Hadiya got a customized large diamond necklace, matching drop earrings, and two diamond bangles. 

"Ma'am, you are looking gorgeous." The stylist complimented her. Fareeha smiled nervously, looking at the mirror, and adjusted her pallu against the plunging neckline. It made her conscious.

As Fareeha checked her maroon lipstick, Sarfaraz peered from behind the door. He cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. The stylish beamed at him and gestured at Fareeha.

"How is she looking?"

Sarfaraz looked at her, top to bottom, - "Gorgeous."

Fareeha lowered her gaze, checking her manicured nails and her ring.

After they were left alone, Sarfaraz walked towards and tugged on the collar of his golden sherwani.

"Handsome, smart—" He tossed the red shawl on his shoulder, - "Irresistible, tempting." He grinned.

Fareeha observed him up and down, - "Joker." She rolled her eyes at him. He chuckled.

"Chal Jutti." He nudged her to the side. She gaped at him. He coolly gelled his hair.

Fareeha wondered if he had bipolar disorder. Just in the morning, he was balling like a small kid and now playful. Perhaps trying to lighten the mood.

Sarfaraz turned to look at her and noticed she wore a diamond medium-sized nose ring. He frowned.

 "Why are you wearing that—is your nose alright?"

She nodded, - "Yes. Better. Besides, wearing a tinka would spoil the entire look."

He placed a hand on her shoulder, - "It doesn't matter, you are the most beautiful woman present in the function, anyway."

Fareeha raised her eyebrow, - "Tell me, truthfully, what do you want?"

Sarfaraz turned to her, and tenderly took her hands, - "My old Fareeha is back." He said kindly, staring sincerely into her eyes. Mesmerized, she stared momentarily and then pulled her hands from his grip.

"Yeah, you want that door-mat, punching bag again." She said sarcastically.

Sarfaraz's heart dropped. She became so bitter. The guilt rose in his chest once again, but before he could say something a knock disturbed him.

On the stage, Fareeha was confident with him. Though her mother made her emotional. They shared a warm hug and posed for the cameras. Almas felt shy. Feroz was with pride posing with Sarfaraz and eyed the expensive gifts.

"What do these crorepati celebrities gift, Almas? Do they gift the parents also?"

Sarfaraz was surprised how naturally Fareeha behaved and posed. Maybe his company rubbed off on her. And the best part, when Adil approached her, she brushed him off. Completely ignoring him.

Sarfaraz grinned at Adil when he came to his side.

"Jump off your high horse. She doesn't like you either. I think she is done with both us brothers." He commented.

Sarfaraz rolled his eyes, - "Speak for yourself." He whispered back, - "Wait and watch, how I win her back."

"Good luck, Chote." Adil flaunted his dimpled toothy grin.

Hadiya complained to Almas about Dania being arrogant to not attend the walima.

"Even if she didn't want a walima now, at least she should have come. I am sure her mother can manage a few hours. And she isn't going anywhere, just doing drama. And my naïve, Adil, Bechara is too good. The mother-daughter has bewitched him. Totally under their spell. I don't know what answer I will give to Nabil."

"Allah Tauba, Hadiya," Almas gasped, slapping her friend's wrist lightly, - "you aren't going to Nabil anytime soon." She corrected her. Hadiya looked at her friend lovingly and embraced her.

The function went smoothly, and later, after dinner, Sarfaraz and Fareeha headed to her home. The entire society awaited them for a glimpse of the Bollywood hero. Fareeha's eyes began to ache from rolling them too much as he grinned, waving at the crowd.

Almas and Feroz had reached there first and welcomed them with warm smiles and crushing hugs. Almas made the two sit together on the sofa and got them two separate bowls of kheer.

"Hadi, beta, this bowl is for you." She looked at Fareeha and winked. Her daughter, embarrassingly looked away. Oblivious, Sarfaraz cheerfully took it from his mother-in-law.

Almas didn't let him and passed it to Fareeha, - "Arey, arey, your wife will feed you this. This—" She gave him another, - "You feed her."

"Does it matter!" Feroz spoke impatiently.

"It does." Almas snapped at him.

"Ammi, do we have to do this form—"

"Chup!" She glared, then changed her tone to talk to Sarfaraz, - "Beta, you first."

Sarfaraz smirked at Fareeha as he brought the spoon to her mouth. She twisted her lips, then took a little of the home-made sweet.

Fareeha made a face, dipping the spoon into the bowl. Then she stuffed it into his mouth.

"Oh, my, God!" Almas gasped, hurrying to them.

"It is—it is okay, Aunty." Sarfaraz shook his head, cleaning his sherwani with the tissue.

"Fareeha!" Almas scowled at her.

She looked away, defiantly. 

𝒫𝓇𝑒𝒸𝒶𝓅:

Fareeha looked at herself in the mirror again and smiled. Tonight, she was excited to consummate her marriage and confess her love to the man who meant the world to her. 

How was the Chapter, my lovelies? Drop your thoughts in the comments, please, lots, lots and lots. Stay Tuned :*