FAIZAL'S POV

Today was the day! Finally, the day had arrived. I kept strolling around the room, waiting patiently for a single message.

"You are allowed to sit," Zain muttered from the corner. He was enjoying my state, I passed him a glare. "There isn't any such ritual yet invented," he was attempting hard to suppress his chuckle.

"Can you just walk out of the room?" I groaned in annoyance.

"Haye, Allah!" I heard Ammi's displeased voice as she walked into the room. "So much anger," she stared at me in disappointment. "Today is your Nikaah, behave!" She glared at me in the end as she glanced at my outfit, her orbs softening and her anger fading away.

I was wearing a navy-blue sherwani, anxiously tapping on my mobile screen. She narrowed her orbs glancing at the cell in my hand, "at least leave that mobile away for today."

"He can't," Zain jumped into the conversation. "He is waiting for the confirmation whether he looks presentable in the attire or should he change?"

Ammi frowned at Zain's statement, "who is going to confirm it?"

"Apki hone wali bahu," Zain winked while I threw a pillow in his direction. Why couldn't he just shut his mouth?

"Faizal," Ammi glared at me. "You're not allowed to see her before the Nikkah," her orbs were shooting daggers at me. "Respect some of the rituals," she shook her head as she walked out of the room in disappointment.

"Couldn't you just shut your mouth?" I glared at Zain as I dialled Nivi's number.

"You should listen to Fufo," he advised. "You're going to see her in just few minutes, why are you getting so desperate."

"Shut your mouth before I decide to just announce your secret to our family." That did the work, he grumbled something in his breath as he walked out of the room.

I sighed in relief as the phone was picked but instead of Nivi, I was gifted with Zoya's presence. "What are you doing with her cell?" I glared at her.

"Bhai, don't you know the rules. Stop troubling her," she glared at me. "You both aren't allowed to see eachother before the wedding," she repeated same words.

"I need to talk to her," I grumbled. Why were everyone so annoying? "At least just allow her to see me. Nivi, I want to know if I am looking presentable," I was almost pleading in a hope that she was listening.

"Aww..." Zoya teased while I passed her a glare.

"You are looking handsome, Faiz." Nivi's voice calmed my frustration, "just comb the hair in backward," I could hear annoyance in her voice. She didn't adored my mess hair yet she accepted that I looked hot when it was messed up.

"Okay," I smiled.

"Now, that your work is done shall I end the call?" Zoya inquired, I passed her a glare. Always coming in between!

"Can't I have a glimpse of you?" I was staring at the screen in hope.

"Just few minutes, Faiz." She requested and I nodded not wanting to force her.

"Fine," I ended the call.

Shaking my head at my stupid self. She had wrapped me around her fingers. As I was on the verge of taking the comb and combing my hairs, a notification popped on the screen and it was from Nivi. Without wasting a minute I opened the chat, a picture was waiting for me.

A picture that had only her eyes, her beautiful, round black orbs. She was so unaware about the effect she had on me. About the effect that gorgeous orbs had on me.

"Be satisfied with just the smallest glimpse."
"I wasn't going to sent you this but I can't see your gloomy face."

I smiled at her message. She didn't wanted to break the rules yet she didn't wanted to upset me.

"I love you," I responded to her. She knew the charm to make me smile bright.

•••

As usual, two different session was arranged for the males and females. As I arrived into the venue, I could get a slight glimpse of the female already seated on their respective place. It was a wide hall, a thin white cloth, much like a curtain separating the female session from us.

Qazi was sitting at the centre, Abu greeted him while I offered a smile as I got seated on my assigned seat. The ritual started with Qazi asking Nivi if she was ready to accept Islam as her religion.

I sighed, I never wanted her to do that! We could have done register marriage and come before our parents, they would have accepted us but according to her it was wrong, she never wanted to force them to accept us, she wanted them to accept us on their own so we had to accept their certain demands.

Typical South Indian marriage and a proper Islamic Wedding. Both family didn't accepted each other cultures that's why Nivi's parents has opted not to be present in the wedding. Her mother was still against her converting into a Muslim. Though we had gotten married yet there was a long way to travel, a long difficult route waiting for us but if she was beside me, I would manage it.

Nivi didn't took a minute as without hesitating she accepted that she wanted to convert into a Muslim. Satisfied with her answer Qazi asked her to read Phela Kalma.

Her soft-sweet voice filled the venue, "la illallah muhamadur rasulullah..." She read the text given to her.

{There is none worthy of worship except God (Allah) and Mohammad is messenger of God.}

"Kya ap dil se qubool karti hai?"

"Ha..."

Satisfied with her answer Qazi started reading the chapter from Qur'an, Surah Al- Fatihah. I was listening carefully to those verses. Praising the Allah, reminding that he created us. And we need to fear and listen to his command.

The verses in Qur'an explaining my responsibility as husband and the way I should treat my wife. As he was done with reading it, he asked our decision. Was we ready to spent our rest of life together, accepting each other as husband and wife for the rest of our life. Being together during thick and thin.

"Faizal Shoaib Qureshi, Bin of Shoaib Farhan Qureshi kya aap Nivi Subash Khurana Binteh of Subash Khurana ke sath 1 lakh Meher ke sath yeh Nikaah Qubool karte hai?"

"Qubool hai," I repeated it thrice.

"Nivi Subash Khurana, Binteh of Subash Khurana kya ap Faizal Shoaib Qureshi, Bin of Shoaib Farhan Qureshi ke sath 1 lakh Meher ke sath yeh Nikaah Qubool karte hai?"

"Qubool hai," I heard her soft melodious voice and I couldn't stop from grinning. And she repeated the same thing thrice.

Qazi handed the book towards me, I sighed in relief as I held that paper in my hand, my finger grabbing onto the pen as I signed on the paper. I felt as if a burden was lifted off my chest, as if I was finally allowed to breath. I had finally married to the woman I had fallen for, maybe all the efforts were worth it.

The book was taken from me and handed over to the other side. As the hall was filled with silence, I heard the jiggling of her bangles, my heart warming up to the sound. Just few more minutes and she would be offically called Nivi Faizal Qureshi. I had dreamt about this day from so long.

"Nikaah mukamaal hua," Qazi announced, my orbs locked on the thin curtain separating us. I wanted to glance at that face. The face which had turned a source of my peace. A human who I want beside me whether I am sad or happy. I was going to live my rest of life with her.

Qazi started with prayers, I lowered my head in prayer and soon it was over. I stood from the chair, raising my hand in salam, "Assalamualaikum."

"Mubarako," Zain hugged me while I patted on his back.

"Finally," Ahmed muttered in my ears as he pulled from the hug. "You need to give me a party," he pointed out and I offered him a slight nod.

He had being a constant support system during the toughest journey of convincing my family for the wedding.

"Thank you," I mumbled as he patted on my head in a gesture of blessings.

"Mubarako," Abu's voice forced me to avert my gaze from Jiju. "Wish you a happy married life," he sounded uncertain about the statement as if he still doubted about my decision to get married to Nivi.

I passed him a smile not wanting to mutter a word to convince him, maybe time would brush the doubts he had on our marriage.

•••

"Can't I meet her?" I groaned on finding Zoya standing outside the door, her arms folded around her chest.

Walima was going to be held in few minutes and I was yet to glance at my bride. "I want to glance at her," I groaned in displeasure at her.

"You both are going to be seated beside one another for the entire night." Zoya shook her head, "you're going to get bored of her presence around you."

"I have taken a oath to spent my rest of life with her beside me," I mumbled. "I am never going to get bored of her presence."

"Wow! Just wow!" Farya commented as she opened the door and stood on the entrance of the room. "She surely process some magic, I can't believe I heard those words rolling out of you." She joked while I was attempting hard to suppress my frustration. Why was everyone so adamant in testing my patience?

"Can I be offered with some moment of peace?" I raised my orbs in question, "I want some rest before Walima."

"Okay," Farya raised her hand in surrender. "Don't spoil your mood, we are not going to irritate you further," with that as final statement she dragged Zoya along with her.

I shook my head as I moved my hands over my messy locks. As I grabbed the knob and opened the door. My orbs scanning the entire room for the presence of my wife, my bride.

A frown appeared on my face when I found the room empty. Where was she? I sighed in exhaustion, I didn't have any energy left. I walked towards the bed. Maybe they were here to decorate the room for the night and not along with Nivi. I shook my head at my foolishness, I was so desperate to meet Nivi that I was constantly making a joke of myself among my siblings and cousins.

A smile appeared on my face as I properly glanced my room. Not bad! They really worked hard to keep it a romantic look. Rose petals were spread around the white sheet of my bed. A small heart shaped red pillow was placed on the centre, in between both of our pillow. "Nivi is going to find that pillow cute," that was my first thought as I glanced at the pillow.

Numerous candles were placed around the room, the smell was amazing as well.

"Sorry, it took me long..." That gulity, soft voice forced me to turn and I was dazed for a minute.

I smiled as I took a step towards her. She was wearing white heavily embroidered salwar kameez, a red embroidered dupatta flowing on the ground. Her orbs were looking extra large due to eyeliner used on it. Her pink lips pouting as if complaining to me about her heavy clothes.

"Next time I won't let you decide any of my clothes," she mumbled, voicing her frustration. "I am not even allowed to change it for more few hours."

"Aww..." I couldn't help myself from smiling at my childish bride. "But you look like a princess in this," I attempted to cheer her mood up.

"I had being dying to glance at you in your bridal outfit," I mumbled as I leaned towards her face and placed a kiss on her forehead. "And your looking more beautiful than I imagined, even my imagination can't do justice to your beauty."

Her orbs soften, her complains fading away to distance as a sweet smile appeared on her face. "I can't believe you're offering me compliment. It proof that I nailed it," I laughed at her conclusion.

"You always nail it," I smiled and she leaned towards as she wrapped her arms around my waist, pulling me into hug.

"I was so damn nervous," she grumbled. "I was trying so hard to act strong. You weren't even there beside me with your encouraging words, I felt so alone. Zoya was constantly beside me so I couldn't even call you or message you," I could imagine her pouting. "You were just a room away yet so far from me."

"I am was never far and will never be," I was getting stunned with my expressive spirit. I wasn't ever so vocal about it until I found her in need of assurance. I could walk out of my comfort zone for her, to assure her anxious heart, to make her beautiful self smile. I loved her so much! I loved her more than I have loved anyone before. But I wasn't sure if I would ever be able to express it in the manner she did.

"I know but still," she shrugged her shoulder while I placed a kiss on her hair. "I was getting married again," she added. "I didn't had mom, dad or Shruti beside me but only you. So..."

"I get it," a attempted to assure her anxious heart. "You can call or text me without minding anyone's presence beside you. You're calling your husband and there isn't anything wrong in it. I have told you before," she raised her head to glance at me. "I am just a text or a call away."

"I know," she nodded. A smile on her pink lips while mischief radiating from her orbs.

I stared at her in suspicious, what was her devil mind up-to? She giggled as she attempted to lean towards my face but her small height wasn't cooperating with her. She groaned, "Faiz ..." Whinning at me in protest.

I laughed as I bend a little to help her but my orbs widen in horror as she peck on my lips, I saw her flashed cheek for a minute before she nuzzled into my chest in shyness. I was taken by surprise to react. Did she? Really? Or I imagined it?

"What was that Mrs Nivi Faizal Qureshi?" I inquired as I wrapped my arms around her shoulder pulling her into a hug.

"Your wedding gift as promised," she mumbled into my chest. I had almost forgotten about our stupid conversation regarding it.

"Oh..." I hummed in response.

"Won't I get something in return?" She inquired after a minute of silence. "I need a promise that maybe you have turn my husband but you will always be my best friend."

"I will," I muttered. "Promise," with that there was a knock on the door and we were forced to pull away from each other.

~ •| END |• ~

E

nd to another beautiful book, as I had promised, you will get bonus chapters as some were requesting me about it. Glimpse of their life after marriage.

I never intended to hurt anyone through the words and situation described. I keep humanity over caste and other belief, and just attempted to display the same in the book.

Thanks for reading, thanks for choosing this book. Thanks for those votes. Feel free to share your views.

I hope, you enjoyed the journey of two strangers that met online, became friends and despite being born in two different states, succeed in convincing their parents.

The journey of Nivi and Faizal, the journey of NiZal.