•||Ch17: Nikkah||•

||Maheen POV||

Next day was my wedding and I was not ready to be marry someone to whom I didn't love. I sat on the window and looked down at sketch of my love. My tears fell on his picture. I looked at the two birds who were sitting on tree in their nest. They both were glued with each other and clippering at lot.

“Look at those love birds who are looking so happy. I wish you were here with me and we both were like these love birds but I guess fate doesn't like the fact of us being one and together,” I talked to the sketch. My eyes were swallowed because I cried from the past few days.

I was also missing Zoya who didn't visit me after her return. I guessed everyone in the family prohibited her. “I will try to forget to you but I know it is impossible to get you out of my heart. I will try to accept Shahmeer my husband,” I said looking at the sketch with a heavy heart after putting a stone on it.

She didn't sleep properly the whole night because she was not feeling well. Her eyes was not closed since past few days for the sleep. She put the prayer mat on the floor and fell down in front of her Lord. Her forehead and nose was touching the floor and her eyes was flowing water. She cried and again asked the apology for her bad deeds.

When I felt my heart was at peace, I got up from the wet prayer mat which was drenched because of my tears. I raised my hands in front of her Lord and prayed,

“Oh My Allah! Please help me to get my love out of my heart. Please give me enough strength to fight against my heart. You are The All-Aware and I know You are aware of my heart condition. Please help me to accept Shahmeer as my husband with all my heart when I married him. Please ease my heart and soul. Please take me enough energy to give my soul to Shahmeer after the wedding. You are the only One who is aware of my tears and cries in the night. I just ask You the happiness of my love which he will get with whom he marry and love. I ask You the happiness of my family which they will get after my wedding. I ask You the happiness of my brother and Zoya which I snatched. I asked You the happiness of Shahmeer which I knew I will unable to give but please make me strong enough to make him happy. Please Allah don't snatched anyone happiness because I can't bear to see them in more pain than I gave them.”

I folded the prayer mat and put it back on its place. I laid on the bed and let all the tears fell on the pillow. Only I knew how painful it was to let forget the love of your life. Only I knew how difficult it was to accept the man as your future and life partner who was going to marry you in few hours which you didn't love.

I badly needed a shoulder to cry on but was not getting any shoulder. I wanted to screamed but my lips were sealed. I wanted to die but my heart was not letting me. Only my Allah knew what I had to bear at that time.

There was a knock on the door of my room and I opened it. Masooma appi entered in the room with my other cousins but Zoya was not here. Appi looked at me and said, “This is your dress. Go and change in it.” Masooma appi handed me dress and I went in the washroom.

I changed in the dress and looked at my reflection in the mirror. The dress was beautiful and I tried to smile but my smile was dull. I closed my eyes and mumbled, “I can do this just to satisfy my parents.” I opened my eyes and again tried to smile and this time I succeeded to fake my smile.

I came out of the washroom and entered in the room. Appi sat me on the chair in front of my small vanity and started doing my hairstyle. I was telling my heart over and over again to accept everything.

I closed my eyes when they moved to my makeup. Once they done, I opened my eyes and was shocked to see myself. I blinked severely times to control my tears. The door of my room opened which snapped me out of my shock state.

I turned around and saw Zoya. She came near me and pulled me in a hug. “Where were you?” I asked her. “I had some work to take care of. Look at you. Masha Allah! Maheen, you are looking gorgeous,” Zoya said looking at me. I smiled in return.

The door of my room opened again and Mom entered. She stopped in her track after seeing me but quickly looked away after three minutes later. “Girls, it time to leave,” Mom said to all the girls. Mom turned to Zoya and looked at her. “Zoya, come after five minutes with the bride,” Mom said her but didn't take my name.

Everyone left me room one by one and mom was the last one to leave. She turned around again and looked at me with tears in her eyes. Zoya pushed me gently towards mom and I hugged mom without wasting time.

I cried and sobbed on her shoulder and felt her also crying on my shoulder. “Sorry, mom. I didn't want to give any of you pain. Please forgive me today,” I said in between my sobs. Mom pulled away and wiped my tears. “Don't cry my daughter. I forgive you already a long time ago. Don't ruin this beautiful face of yours,” Mom said with a smile which was just for me.

I hugged her one more time and said, “I am really sorry. Please don't stop talking to me and I promise I will not do anything in future to put you down.” Mom rubbed my back and said, “Apologize accepted, my dear daughter.” I felt an other pair of arm wrapped around me.

“I don't want to ruin this cute mother daughter moment but I can't stop myself,” Zoya said. We trio didn't move for five minutes but when there was knock and mom was called down, we had to pull away. Mom looked at me and kissed on my forehead. “Zoya, please make my daughter princess again because she ruined her cute face,” Mom said turning to Zoya.

Zoya smiled and said with a salute, “Yes, ma'am.” Mom gave me a last kiss on my forehead and went out of my room. I turned to Zoya and hugged her with a smile. “I am very happy to finally have my mom back,” I whispered and again my tears started flowing.

Zoya pulled away and wiped my tears. She sat me down in front of my vanity and again did my makeup which I just ruined. When Zoya was done, Rehan entered in the room. He looked at me with tears in his eyes. Zoya excused herself and went out of the room, leaving me alone with my brother.

I slowly stood in front of him and hugged him. “Aye my monkey, don't try to ruin this pretty face of yours because I don't want to scold by Zoya and you will look like an ugly monkey if you cry with a makeup on your face,” Rehan teased me. I pulled away and slapped his shoulder playfully.

I giggled at him but then I remembered what I did with him in past. “Sorry, bro. I am really sorry for everything that I did with you and Zoya.” I said looking down. He grabbed my face and made me look in his eyes. “It was not completely your fault. Forget it because it was just a past. Burn it and enjoy your present,” Rehan said. I nodded my head and smiled.

“I am still not believing it that my sister is going to marry. How much you grow so fast sissy. I am still considering you a little four years old Maheen who came to me whenever she needed anything. I am still considering you a little seven years old Maheen who fought me whenever I hid my PlayStation from her. I am still considering you fifteen years old Maheen who was clothing like tomboy.”

I was in tears after listening to him. Zoya entered in the room and gave Rehan an annoy look after looking at me. “Didn't I tell you not to make her cry?” Zoya asked him in stern voice and put her hand on her waist. “Sorry, ma'am,” Rehan said with a smile.

Zoya looked at the clock then back at us. “I think we should leave now,” Zoya said. Regan nodded his head and they both took me down. I was getting emotional again but I tried my best to control my tears at bay. Zoya held my hand tightly and squeezed them.

When we reached the porch, Regan opened the door of the car for me. I sat inside and Zoya also climbed in with me. Regan sat on the driving seat and started the car. Zoya held my hand again and whispered, “Don't be nervous. Everything will be fine and remember Allah never do anything wrong.” I nodded my head looking at our hands.

When the car reached at the open area hall where my Nikkah was, Zoya climbed out of the car and Rehan also climbed out but I was sitting inside the car. Few minutes later, Zoya opened the door of the car and said, “Maheen, come. Its time for your entry.” I slowly jumped out of the car and looked down.

Zoya grabbed my hand and said, “Maheen, please don't be scared.” I took a deep breath and said, “I am ready.” But in reality, I was not ready. The wind was blowing like it was happy for my life. I closed my eyes and opened them again and looked at Zoya. “Let's go,” I whispered.

My other cousins also came out of the hall and they all took me inside. I looked down at my steps which was getting heavy and heavy. I wanted to turn back and ran away but I guessed it was too late.

I was seated on the couch which was arranged for me and for the groom but my groom was not here. Soon, Immam came for the Nikkah and started my Nikkah. My ears started ringing when Immam was asking my answer. I was feeling numb and lost.

Someone shook me which snapped me back to reality. A big reality of my life where I was going to be someone's. I took a deep breath and whispered,

“Qabool hai!”

(I do.)

I repeated three times and closed my eyes after answering. Everyone applouded with congrats and gave me congrats. They all were happy but I was not. I told my heart to forget him now completely.

After five minutes later, I felt someone sat beside me when I was busy in weeping. I knew it was my husband because I heard girls calling him brother in law. I didn't look at him because I was scared to look at him.

“Shaadi mubarak ho!” I heard a voice which made me look up with a jerk and in shock. I was shocked to see the person in front of me who was smiling widely.

(Shaadi mubarak ho! Means, Congrats on your wedding!)

............

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