"Ammi mujhe chodkar na jaaye", she cried as she shook her head, clutching onto her mother's arm tightly. Tears streamed down her face, and her voice quivered with desperation.

Her mother's face softened, and she knelt down to be at eye level with her daughter. Gently, she brushed away the tears from the girl's cheeks and spoke in a soothing voice.

"Beti rukhsat karrhey hum, yaha kaise reh sakte", Anila tried to comfort Mahjabeen by placing her hand on her head.  Mahjabeen wiped her tears and hugged her mother before they bid farewell leaving her in the Khan mansion.

Maa Begum pushed Murtasim towards her, to comfort his wife as the venue cleared.

"Mahjabeen", he whispered her name to grab her attention, she turned towards him and placed her head on his shoulder.

"Wo mujhe chodkar chale gaye", she cried now realising how far she was from her home, Murtasim didn't say anything letting her cry her heart out.

"Kal tumhe tumharey ghar lejaonga mai", Murtasim promised and at that moment a smile spread over face.

"Sacchi?"  She asked in excitement her head still resting on his shoulder as she tilted her neck. Murtasim laughed and took her hand in his, with utmost sincerity said to her.

"Haan meri jaan, ye mera waada hai tumse", at this Mahjabeen smiled and detached from him, her mood did a complete three-sixty as she twirled around in her lahanga showing him it's frills.

"Chalye abhi dulhan ko apne kamre mai lejana hai", Maryam interrupted as she placed her hand around Mahjabeen, and helped her to the mansion.

Murtasim sighed as he looked up at the sky, gazing at the same moon as yesterday.

"Aapki aankhon se nazar hataney ka man nahi karta"

Her words echoed in his mind and for a moment he wanted to twirl around just like his bride did a moment ago. That impulse was interrupted by Hasan and Haya.

"Murtasim", Hasan called him, Murtasim turned towards him. He had worn a black sherwani while Haya wore a black saree.

"Hasan bhai, aap meri shaadi mai shirkat hoye mujhe bohot accha laga" , Murtasim said with a smile, he truly respected his brother. Hasan laughed and they started talking about their business and lands when Haya interrupted them.

"Bhai aap bhaley hi Murtasim ke taraf se ho, magar mai ye shaadi Mahjabeen ki taraf se attend karrhi hu. Aapko aasani se kamre mai jaaney nahi dungi", Haya said with  a mischievous smile on her face, and this was true she was attending the marriage only for Mahjabeen. She loved him, care for him but why did he never felt the same for her? And today she saw how much attention he gave to Mahjabeen, it burned her heart.

"Kya chahiye tumhe?" Murtasim asked with a smile, this ritual was pretty common and Maa Begum had asked him to keep the money in his pocket beforehand.

Maryam joined them as Murtasim negotiated, "Bhai hum Mahjabeen ke cousin hai, pacchis hazar se zyada haq nahi humara"

Haya's eyes widened, as the two siblings exchanged a look. In a way, Maryam was right, they were merely cousins who didn't even grew up together, although at this moment she was merely helping her brother. They bantered not realising when Hasan slipped away and walked inside the mansion.

He knocked on Murtasim's door and heard Mahjabeen replying.

"Murtasim?" She asked in a gentle voice, her hand on the knob but she didn't receive any reply. The knocking continued, Mahjabeen's heart stifled as she backed away from the door.

"Naam bataye warna darwaza nahi kholungi", she declared sitting on the bed, not planning to open the door any sooner. This was something her father had taught her when she was a kid, Mahjabeen could sense something was wrong until Hasan whispered her name.

" Mahjabeen", he called out her name, his voice taking a haunting tone as he stood there.

"Hasan bhai?" Mahjabeen replied and with a heavy heart walked towards the door. She was confused, whether to open the door or wait for Murtasim, but maybe be had came to offer his blessings and if she didn't open the door it would be rude. Her fingers trembled as she opened the door a bit, and asked him by peeking through the gap, she was leaning against the door putting all her body weight against it.

As Hasan stood on the other side of the door, his demeanor was calm and composed, but something about his presence sent a chill down Mahjabeen's spine. There was an unsettling air of secrecy and hidden intentions that lingered around him, causing her to feel uneasy.

"Mahjabeen," Hasan's voice was soft and gentle, almost too sweet to be genuine. "Kya mai andar aasakta hu?"

Mahjabeen hesitated, her instincts whispering warnings in her ear. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Hasan's intentions than he let on. She clutched the doorknob tighter, keeping herself partially shielded behind the door.

"Hasan bhai, aap kyun aaye hai? Aur Murtasim kidhar hai?" she asked, her voice quivering slightly.

Hasan's smile remained polite, yet there was a glint in his eyes that made Mahjabeen question his true motives. He seemed to enjoy the uncertainty he was causing.

"Mai tumhe pareshan nahi karna chahta hu magar tumhe ek baat batani thi bohot zaroori hai," he replied, his voice laced with an unsettling charm.

Mahjabeen's heart raced as doubt gnawed at her. She couldn't ignore the feeling that Hasan was intentionally keeping her off balance, enjoying the power he had over her emotions. She weighed her options, torn between politeness and self-preservation.

"Nahi aap kal batayega, ya toh jab Murtasim wapas aaye tab" she said, her voice faltering slightly. Mahjabeen was genuinely terrified now, she dialled Murtasim's number on phone hoping he would pick it up and he did on the first ring.

"Mahjabeen? Sab theek haina?" He asked concerned, Mahjabeen didn't say anything just handed the phone to Hasan.

Hasan's smile wavered for a brief moment, replaced by a subtle expression of frustration as he took the phone and made an excuse of Mahjabeen crying in her room.

At this moment Mahjabeen locked the door, and hid under the bed whispered to herself, terrified of the person behind the door.

"Ya Allah ye kaisi jagah shaadi hogayi meri"

****