"Are you going to a fancy dress show?" Zubaida joked, when Zanobi appeared at her doorstep the next evening, dressed up in a sherwani° .
"No, we are going to a wedding ceremony." He said sternly, "Our wedding ceremony."
"Argh!" Zubaida said irritatedly, "I clearly explained it to you yesterday that you are a Christian Zanobi and I...."
"Masha'Allah, I am a Muslim now." He proudly announced, cutting Zubaida in mid sentence, "Call me Abdullah."

Zubaida was aghast at his revelation.

"Are you out of your mind?" She scolded him, "How can you take such a drastic decision without even consulting me?"
"I am as sober as a judge. I am neither drunk nor high," Zanobi declared, "if that is what you want to know."
"What will your parents think?" Zubaida asked, ignoring his rant.
"They are fine with it because I am happy." Zanobi replied, "Now go and change. Here is your wedding dress." He said, handing a shopping bag to Zubaida.

.....................
They went directly to a hotel from the masjid, for their honeymoon. A lot has changed in the past half hour, Zubaida was now Mrs. Abdullah.

As soon as they were in the privacy of their room, Zanobi pulled her close to himself.
"I always wanted to do this." He confessed, his eyes dark with desire.

They made love in the darkness of the night.

"Are we leaving?" Zubaida asked curiously, leaning on one elbow.
"I am leaving," Zanobi declared, "just so you know, I don't give a damn about you."
"Ha ha! Very funny Mr. Abdullah." Zubaida mocked him.
"I am very serious, miss Ahmed." Zanobi spat, "I never converted to Islam and I hate Muslims, including you."
"This is getting too much, Zanobi." Zubaida said solemnly and sat up on the bed.
"Well, this is the truth." Zanobi replied casually.
"Why would you do such a thing?" Zubaida asked, tears brimming her eyes, "I trusted you!"
"She trusted him too." Zanobi shot back.
"What are you saying?" Zubaida asked confused, "I don't understand."
"Listen then, you have a right to know. I had a younger sister. She fell in love with a Muslim man, his name was Zain." Zanobi told her with disgust, "He promised to marry her, to keep her happy all her life but all he did was use her and ditched her. He left and never showed his face again. My sister loved him dearly and died of grief." He said with a distant look in his eyes. "I pledged on her grave to avenge her dejection."

Zubaida was tongue tied at his disclosure. She opened her mouth to speak but no words came out and she shut it again.

"I sincerely hope that you die with as much suffering as Adriana." Zanobi cursed her, "Good bye, my dear Zubaida."

.....................
°Sherwani: Is a long overcoat like garment popularly worn by South Asian men.