( the attached picture is of how I have imagined the nikkah set-up to be! also to note, that is not how Zarrar and Fidah were dressed for their nikkah )

•••
•| chaos |•
•••
dekha ek khwab to ye silsile hue
dur tak nigahon mein hai gul khile
•••

The Hamidi Villa was alive with energy, a harmonious chaos of people bustling from one corner to another. The sprawling estate was a spectacle, adorned with cascades of flowers in every hue bathed in the gentle glow of bright fairy lights that danced along the walls.

The air was heavy with the mouth watering aroma of biryani, sizzling kebabs and rich aromatic gravies weaving their way through the corridors.

The men of the house were dressed in their finest pathani suits, moving with quiet elegance, while the women adorned expensive salwars and flowing robes.

It was decided that Fidah and Zarrar's nikkah would be a day before Arsalan's as to give both the couples their special day. The other ceremonies were to be followed in due course. The hum of the conversations came to a hush as all eyes turned to the staircase, where the bride made her entrance.

Fidah descended with a grace that seemed almost ethereal, her every step a spark of elegance. She was draped in a simple yet breathtaking off-white gown, the satin-silk shimmering with intricate flower zari embroidery that caught the light like dew kissed by the morning son.

A delicate diamond maang tika rested on her forehead, its brilliance complimenting her soft makeup and enhancing the beauty of her khol-lined hazel eyes which seemed to hold galaxies within them.

Zarrar's heart leapt at the sight of his wife, she was his bride. Never had he thought this day would leave him so spellbound, not when he had first seen her in that siren red bridal gown, not even when she lived with him. He rose to his feet instinctively, his breath hitching at the hoor who was walking towards him.

"Zarrar, close your mouth." Dada Jaan nudged him, smiling teasingly, his happiness knowing no bounds as if all the wrongs of the past had turned right this moment.

"Not today, Dada Jaan." Zarrar whispered back, his voice barely audible. His fists clenching together involuntarily. His gaze remaining fixed on Fidah, as if she were a mirage who he couldn't risk losing.

Fidah was escorted by Layla and Dina and made to sit on the opposite of the flower adorned divider. The vibrant bloom that separated them only added to Zarrar's frustration. He found himself wishing he could rip them away, just to see her clearly.

"Lala, itna na ghoorein, aap ki hi nazar lag jayegi Baji ko " Dina interjected, breaking Zarrar's glares on the divider.
(Don't stare so much. You are going to give her the evil eye.)

Laughter erupted in the room, lightening the tension. Zarrar noticed Fidah's lip curl into a shy smile, though her head remained bowed. The sight made his own lips tug upwards.

Just then, Abraar Hamidi, Zarrar's father cleared his throat gaining everyone's attention.
"The Qazi is here. Let's begin the nikkah."

The mention of the Qazi snapped Zarrar out of his daze, but his expression quickly darkened as he recognised the man who had just entered.

"Aye haye, yeh toh woh zaleel aadmi hai!" The man beside the Qazi screeched out loudly pointing his finger in Zarrar's direction.

Fidah's head shot up in surprise upon hearing the sudden outburst by an eerily familiar voice. Her eyes widening in recognition, beside the Qazi stood Nazakat Ali, a man they both knew all too well.
Biting down on her lower lip nervously, she abruptly stood up.

"Tumhe zara bhi sharam nahi aayi. Tumhari biwi hote hue tum dusri Shaadi kar rahe ho?!" Nazakat Ali's voice boomed as he stormed towards Zarrar.

(Didn't you even feel an ounce of shame ? You have a wife and yet you are marrying again?!)

Gasps filled the room as everyone turned to Zarrar, disbelief etched on their faces.

"Zarrar, What is he saying?!" Abraar Hamidi demanded his voice a mix of anger and confusion.

"Baba, I haven't done anything wrong!" Zarrar replied firmly, his voice steady despite the chaos. How dare this stupid man show up out of nowhere when everything was finally falling in place?!

He had completely forgotten about these pairs of nuisances because the nikkah was the best thing that had happened to him despite it being conducted forced. Now that he thought of it, he regretted letting them go so easily!

"Zarrar! What is this nonsense?" Dada Jaan demanded an explanation, his face turning crimson with anger. Not a juncture of peace he had even in his happiness.

"Uncle! What nonsense are you uttering?!" Ibrahim questioned interrupting all the accusations, addressing the culprit himself, coming to his brother in law's rescue.

"I am stating the truth, meri amma ki kasam . Yeh ladke ka nikkah is Qazi ne kuch mahino pehle karwaya tha." Nazakat Ali declared dramatically, his pot bellied frame trembling with indignation.

( I swear on my mother, the boy's nikkah was done a few weeks agao by this exact Qazi)

The Qazi nodded his head lethargically, opening up the book in his hand, that had the records of all the nikkahs conducted as if to solidify the claim.
Dada Jaan looked at Zarrar with disappointment while the others were just as awkward or angered.

Zarrar's jaw tightened but before he could speak Fidah decided to intervene. She couldn't tolerate the look of disappointment in everyone's eyes for her husband.

"Nazakat Chacha!" Her voice rang, silencing the murmuring in the room.

The pot bellied man looked up surprised, his eyes lightening up.
"Yahi hai, this is the girl he married."

Another wave of gasps rippled through the crowd, and so the plot thickened.

"Fidah, please go inside." Zarrar said, a silent plea in his expression but she held her ground refusing to back up. He sighed, removing his pokal, and running a hand through his dark brown hair.
"Yes, he's telling the truth."

The room dwindled away at the unfolding drama as Ibrahim brought forth the Qazi's record book to confirm the marriage. Now it was Nazakat Ali's turn go cower behind.

"We didn't marry by choice." Zarrar broke the heavy silence, his glare piercing through Nazakat Ali and the Qazi. "They forced us into it."

The room was in shambles at this point, so many things happening so fast, the accusing stares left the crooks stammering to explain themselves. While Fidah and Zarrar heaved a sigh of resilience and ease, a promise that they were going to over come this together.

——

Fidah sighed sitting down at the dresser, her delicate fingers trembling to remove the stubborn bangles that were caught up in the embroidery of her dupatta. Her reflection revealed swollen eyes and streaks of smudged mascara—a stark contrast to the radiant bride she had been hours ago. Her mother in law had sent her upstairs to take rest while they interrogated the cause of the chaos.

The day had been a whirlwind full of unexpected confrontations and emotions that felt never ending. Things never came easy for her and she was fool to think otherwise.

Suddenly a knock echoed through the room, as she quickly shook her head refusing to look up, assuming it was either Dina or Layla.

"Can you help me with these?" Her voice shaky as she tried to mask her earlier tears. "These bangles they are stuck and just.."

Her voice trailed as she felt the familiar strong hands gently take her wrists. She looked up startled by the softness in his touch, the way he always seemed to know when she needed him the most. His gruff exterior, melting away the second he was near her, like a switch that flipped, revealing the soft man he became for her.

"Aap?" She blinked, startled at his presence.

Zarrar frowned, untangling the bangles that were distressing her with ease, his fingers brushing against her skin.
"You are fine?"

She sniffled, smiling softly, her heart beating wildly at his concern.
"I am fine."

Zarrar didn't buy it, he never bought it. The frustration he felt every-time she cried consumed him again. The helplessness to be rendered useless. He removed her bangles one by one before rubbing his thumb on the inner part of her wrists, trying to calm her down.

"I'm sorry.."She whispered, unable to hold back. "I am a mess, the day was a mess."

Zarrar shook his head, wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her to his chest. "You look perfect to me, the day was a mess but it still hasn't ended yet, I'll make it perfect, I promise."

"I look like a ghost, Zarrar." Fidah chuckled shaking her head as she buried it under his chin.

"Then I must be dead too, because I am still here." He replied, a playful edge in his voice.

She laughed again, the sound a melody. Zarrar's heart warmed as he couldn't help but smile at how easily she smiled despite the shitty pick up line. He hated seeing her cry, but he would never complain. He would sit through each tear, every sob, just to see her smile again. It was like the sun rising after a thunderstorm.

She pulled away, it was clear the tears had passed, her lips trembled as she tried to hide the smile but it slipped through anyways. "I think i've ruined your suit.,"she muttered, her eyes dropping to the cream coloured fabric of his pathani suit.

Zarrar smiled glancing at the dark mascara and eye shadow streaks that decorated his right side, proudly like an armour.
"If you are going to smile like this then I wouldn't mind wearing this suit covered in tears."

Fidah gave him a watery smile as butterflies fluttered in her stomach, "I am such a cry baby. I am sorry."

"It's okay, come here cry all you want, I'll always be here to catch your tears." He pulled her to his chest again, wrapping his arms around her, protecting her from everything, even her own tears.

"Abhi nahi aa raha hai rona." Fidah giggled, tugging her hands around his neck.
(Now i don't feel like crying.)

"Accha?" He acted oblivious, brushing her hair with one back.

"Jee."

"Zarrar?" Fidah mumbled a beat later, "What is going to happen now? Are they going to be angry with us?"

"We didn't do anything wrong, Fidah." Zarrar replied, his fingers continuing to play with her hair.

"We hid the fact that we are married from your family."

"And that is a choice we made. It's none of their concern."

"Oii." Fidah distanced her face from his chest meeting his gaze while her arms remained looped around his neck. "Aese nahi bolte, family hai wo aapki."

"Toh? Sar pe chada loon?" He smirked finding her reprimanding tone amusing.

"This is why they call you a grump." Fidah murmured thoughtfully.

"I am a grump, jaanum."

"No, you are not! You are a big softie." Fidah refused to believe what the world did, to her he was the most kindest person.

"Just to you." Zarrar smiled, his voice teasing now. "To others I am tch tch... what does Yaseen call it? Yeah, Khadoos Laash."

Fidah gasped scandalously, her palm covering his mouth. "That's so rude, Zarrar! Don't talk about yourself like that."

He sneakily kissed her palm, eliciting another gasp from her causing her to blush red.
"Aapko ye mazaak lag raha hai?"

"See just like how you only cry in front of me, I am only nice when I am around you. My body's natural response is to just melt into a puddle when it comes to you. It's how we function, Fidah. Nothing wrong in that."

"Wow, what compatibility. Wife is a puddle of tears and Husband is a puddle of niceness." Fidah mumbled sarcastically causing him to laugh out loud.

Just then a loud knock resonated on the door, with Layla's voice echoing from outside.
"There is so much going on downstairs, Fidah. I meed to tell you everything. Open up!"

Fidah groaned out loud, hiding her face in his chest once again, causing Zarrar to smile.
"I have no energy to face this."

" Fidah Maami, open up. I need to pee!" Wardah's voice boomed next, followed by Yaseen's
"No! I want to pee first, get in line, shorty!"

"Yaar!" Fidah protested breaking away from the comforting arms of her husband. The warmth lulling her to indolence.

Zarrar slowly wiped away the remnants of tears and mascara left on her rosy cheeks and kissed the crown of her head softly . He couldn't believe his luck, he had gotten such a beautiful wife.

"Ohh wait, I think the door isn't locked." Layla mumbled as the door swung open revealing Layla with Izzah on her hip, Yaseen, Wardah and Dina following suite.

"Ewww, get a room both of you!" Yaseen screamed dramatically covering Wardah's eyes as she brushed him away rushing to the washroom, while Layla and Dina giggled.

" YOU ARE IN THE ROOM, you deranged jerk!" Zarrar roared snapping at Yaseen alone, as he kissed his wife on the forehead again.

___

a/n

my man Nazakat Chacha is back in the house and he is here to stay for a few chapters ya'll

the chemistry between Zarrar and Fidah is going just as i had planned.

please do leave your feedback and drop a vote!!

this is the last chapter for the year, happy new year you guys :)

love you
bye
~ flawfully