That envelope contained something that I never expected.When I opened it jerks went down my spine. It contained a list of things like 'Two grinders,air conditioner, bed set etc' and a lot more.
I think a total of 24 things were written down and that things did not made sense to me. Suddenly I remembered an episode from a criminal serial that too had the same plot, I mean in that too the girl who was going to get married, found out a day before her marriage, that her in laws have demanded a car and a cash of 50 thousand rupees or other wise the marriage would be called off,in that case the boy did not stand up for her because it was a arranged marriage and the girl and her family had to face a lot, but it's complicated in my case. It's both an arranged cum love but neither from my side.

After the marriage was fixed I asked this question to myself many a times that was it an arrange marriage or a love marriage?.

This only I knew and a best friend of mine. The confusion of the status of marriage still annoyed me and made me furious.

I closed my eyes and started to think what this marriage ment for me but then I remembered about the envelope in my hand and the list of things that it contained. Opening my eyes, I jumped from my bed and adjusted my full length frock and duppata. Just then the room's door opened, Zara entered, asking as to why am I up here.
"Just like that ,why are you asking?", I replied , trying my best to avoid Zara's attention from the envelope.
She told that every one is asking for the bride and gave me a poke in my stomach, I blushed a little.I liked my sister teasing me although she is 5 years younger to me,I am 22 years and she is 17 but the thing I like the most about her is she know's to be in limits.Although we are very close and she shares every detail of her life with me, she knows where to draw a line,she never hesitates in telling me anything ,actually I sometime think that she is more close to me rather than with ammy.

The incident in my life which changed my personality totally affected Zara more than me. I got a bit sad remembering the incident,"Aapi,what's wrong why aren't you happy?", I looked at her innocent face, so delicate her big hazel eyes her sharp nose and the delicate cut of her face made me think anyone could fall for her, I feared what if she too had to go through the same things that I went through?.

I hug her tightly, "What's the matter aapi? Don't worry,we are not going to send you with Omar bhai now!" She said it with a hint of teasing.
"Stop it! Zara. By the way where is ammy and abu? Did chahu and all other went?" I asked with a tensed tone.
"No,they are about to leave that's why I came here to call you".
"Oh", I said with a grin and asked her to follow me downstairs, "Yup, aapi I am coming,just a minute",and took her tablet from the side table of her bed.
"Where are you taking that?" I ask.
"Nowhere, just wanted to show something to Zainab".
"Hmmm, come",I told her and remembered Zainab a cute little girl of 13 years she is my cousin,daughter of my dad's sister. My dad's family was rather small when compared to ours,including my dad they were only three my dad being the eldest. Rather my mum's family was of the same size as ours , my mum being the second one, an elder brother and two younger brothers ,yup my mum is the only girl and had received a lot of love from her family that's why I think she loved boys more because she received more love from them. Although I thought it to be a funny theory but Zara too agrees with me in it.
"Allah Hafiz",is what all my aunts and uncles said to me with loads of feelings and gratitude in it.I felt a choke in my throat I didn't wanted to cry in front of all. Although when the whole family gathered there is happiness around but as every family,my family too had secrets. All my little cousins jumped on me and gave me hugs and kisses, that's the way how brides are treated. As a child I always wondered why brides were treated in special way, maybe now I could understand that. I hugged them back, cousins which where of my age and a year or so younger to me hugged me and passed comments to make me blush and as usual they were successful.
After they left I went to kitchen to get some water and thanked Allah that my sister did not noticed the envelope in my hand,but she was a keen observer and that thought made me realise that even if she had, she would never ask me what it was, that's my sister and I loved her and admired that quality of her ,she knew that personal space is an important thing that every person needs. After drinking water I went straight to my parents room which is the place I like the most .

Although my house is not that big but is enough to hold six members giving privacy that every one need.
Entering the room I said salam to my mum who is busy  making a braid, 'Aww' I thought seeing her long thick beautiful hair,age did not touched them.

"Ammy,where's abu?" I ask.
She pointed towards the bathroom just then abu came out. "Our daughter is here",he said with a smile on his face that reached his eyes which were filled with tears and I knew the reason for it.
"Abu who was here at noon?" I ask. He looked at me with a frowned face and replied with a laugh,"Your Uncle and aunts with their children".
"I am not talking about them abu, you know what I am talking about!". My dad and mom looked at each other and my mum replied,"Driver from your in laws house".
"For what?", I asked with a bit of tension in my voice hoping that my fears would not take the shape of an ugly truth which I couldn't be able to handle. "Nothing serious",she said with a strain in her voice."Mum please do not hide any thing from me",I said moving towards her, holding her hand. She kissed me on  forehead, whilst dad hug me. "There's nothing serious beta" my dad said with a smile.

"Abu please!".

My parents laughed together "Okay, then listen, the driver came to give us the card that they had printed and .... " he stopped to rub his clean trimmed beard that had white hairs here and there.
"And I know what next is!" I said with rage in my voice, continuing,"they gave you this thing",I said holding the envelope in my hand, "and I know that you have agreed to their terms",saying this I lowered my head and covered my face with my hands so that they couldn't see me crying. My mum came close to me, "Why aren't you still satisfied? See I told you not to utter a word till you have listened to the whole thing and you stared with that habit again". I looked up and my face gave a confused look to her. Dad said,"No beta,that's not what happened!" He exclaimed. He took the envelope from my hand and said "this is the list that we prepared of the things we are going to give you".

"Why?" I asked .

My mom explained me that it is a part of the marriage, traditionally it has a lot value but Islamically none.
"But you know what?. You are very lucky,Allhumdulliah!" She said.
Confusion all over my face ,dad continued further,"When we asked the driver to take the list with him, he called your mother in law and she was so mad at us for this, that's why you are lucky my child! " he exhaled a sigh of happiness. Hearing that I became happy.

'You should have known this,Iqra!.Stop being a depression being and start realising what good has come into your life!',the little yet correct voice inside me spoke up.

I excused my self and came out from the room, I could hear my parents giggle.I knew my parents loved me a lot and so did I. They also knew  I would never allow them to do anything thing that would burden them, that is the only thing I loved about my self!
Feeling proud of it, wiping off the tears I went to my brother's room.

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Hello! Guys this is my first attempt. Plzz feel free to comment.

Loads of love

Ur Amateur Writer.