The next morning, Shehnaaz woke up in down spirits. She could almost hear the familiar enough voices of her mama and mami in the hall and she didn’t want to face them so early in the morning. After the stunt that Harnoor had pulled on her last night, she wasn’t sure she wanted to see them at all throughout the event. But this was more than what she thought or felt. This was her best friends’ marriage and she was here for them. 

She took her phone from the nightstand and tapped on Sidharth’s chat-head pinned at the very top of her messages. She didn’t want to trouble him so early in the morning, but she knew if there was any chance of her getting through today with a sane mind, it would be if she saw his face first thing in the morning.

So, unabashedly, she video-called him and he picked up on the first ring. “Good morning meri jaan..”

He was in a car, and the car was not his. “Kahan hai tu?” She asked curiously. “Itni subaah kiski gaadi me baitha hai?”

“Bahar aaya hoon darling, kuch bahut important kaam hai. Tu bol na, kya hua? Itni subah kaise uth gayi, raat ke tamashe ke baad? Sab theek hai?”

Shehnaaz shrugged. “Tamaashe karna toh unn log ka kaam hai.” She scoffed. “Ghar pe shaadi hai woh bhi punjab ki shaadi, subaah se poore ghar me halla mach rakha hai. Uth gayi chatter ki wajah se.” 

Sidharth cooed, “Mera baby..”

Shehnaaz sighed. “Naashta dhusne aa gaye woh log subah subah, merko bahar nahi jaana.” She cribbed to Sidharth, making him laugh. “Toh tu un ke chakkar me aloo ka paratha miss karegi? Dimaag kharab hai tera?” He asked, sternly.

Shehanaaz whined. “Woh log shakal dekh ke phir koi drama kardenge yaar..” 

“Tu pura time chupti thodi rahegi unn se meri jaan.” He explained to her patiently. "Bola tha na tujhe, dhyaan mat de unpar. Koi baat mat kar kisi se. Apne kaam se kaam rakh.'

Shehnaaz nodded. 

"Ab ja, breakfast kar jaake." He urged her. "Mai tujhe thodi der me call karta hoon, kaam khatam karke." 

***

"Janviiiiiii…" Shehnaaz called out for her. "Baaz kahan hai?" 

Janvi looked back at her and smiled looking at her. She was wearing a simple off-white suit, her hair were left loose, reaching just below her upper back and absolutely no makeup on her face. Yet, she could outshine almost half of the girls present in their house today. 

"Tu bahut pyari lag rahi hai Sanuuu.." She cooed at her excitedly. "Bilkul nona sa baccha lag rahi hai. Agar jiju dekhte na, toh ek dum flat ho jaate." 

Shehnaaz grinned. "Thank you. Shehbaaz ko dekha kya?" She asked her, once again and Janvi shook her head. 

Just as Shehnaaz was about to turn and leave when Janvi stopped her. "Yaad aaya.. woh toh subah apne ghar gaya tha.. bola aunty aur uncle ko leke aayega." She informed her. 

Shehnaaz's eyes brightened. "Amma aa rahi hai? Haayee.. bataya bhi nahi mujhe uss kaale kauwe ne." 

"Bata deta toh itni badi smile kaise dekhti me tere face pe?" Janvi cooed at her excitedly and she rolled her eyes. 

"Tum dono hi over actor ho!" 

Before Janvi could retort, they heard her mother call out for her from the kitchen. Both the girls turned towards the aforementioned room at once. 

"Bacche.. bahar naashta ho gaya sabka?" She asked her daughter. "Kuch kami peshi na ho jaaye puttar, dekh le."

"Nahi hogi kami-peshi aunty-ji. Hum dono sambhal lenge.  Aap bhi bahar aake kucch kha lo, jo kaam hai mujhe boldo." Shehnaaz offered politely. 

Janvi's mother smiled at her. "Kada parshad bana rahi thi beta ji, bas gurdwara jaake, parshaad laga ke phir araam se apni beti ki shadi enjoy karenge. Aaj sagai aani hai na Sameer ke ghar se." She explained. 

"Mai help karu, aunty?" Shehnaaz asked hopefully. "Mujhe sikha do kada parshad banana." 

"Kyon nahi puttar.. aaja, dekh." The older woman agreed at once and Shehnaaz grinned, pulling her dupatta over her head before taking the spatula from Janvi's mother. 

Janvi on the other hand grabbed an orange from one of the fruit baskets and began to eat.

"Mumma.. saare mehman honge kya sagai pe?" Janvi asked her mother. "Abhi toh time hai na ussko, toh matlab.. yeh log sab yaheen rahenge?" 

The older woman nodded. 

Janvi scoffed. "Kya sayappa hai."

"Naak kyon chadha rahi hai mehmaano ke naam pe? Teri shaadi pe hi bulaaya hai humne." She frowned.

"Kucch bina bulaye mehmaan bhi aake baithe hue hain." She mumbled, full of distaste. "Mene toh pehle hi kaha tha ki destination wedding kar lungi." 

Shehnaaz chuckled. "Tu pagal hai, destination wedding me raunak aadhi ho jaati. Pind ki saari daadi-naaniyan kal se geet gaa rahi hain. Jodhpur jaati, ya italy yeh raunak nahi lagni thi teri shaadi pe."

Janvi chuckled. "Baat toh hai." 

"Rahi baat mama-mami ki, toh unnka muh pe koi tape toh laga nahi sakte ab. Jhelna toh hai hi." Shehnaaz added. "Shehbaaz aur mummy daddy aa jaaye ek baar.. formality ke liye bhi muh nahi lagaungi unko." 

Janvi nodded. 

***

A couple of hours had passed. Shehnaaz, Janvi and a couple of the bride's other friends had accompanied her mother to the gurdwara with a huge vessel full of "kada parshad" 

The half hour that they had spent there, praying and listening to the "gurbani" were some of the most peaceful moments that Shehnaaz had had in a long time. 

This trip was never going to be easy and what happened last night was essentially a cruel reminder of the fact that even people related to you by blood and family don't owe you any love or respect, not even if you do everything in your power to earn and deserve it. 

A few years ago, she would have hyper fixated on the reason for their rude and insensitive behavior, their treatment of her during the years when she stayed with them, but now she knew what love and affection feels like. 

Real and genuine adoration, protectiveness and love can not and should not be forced. It should come to you, naturally.

She didn't care if they didn't love her, but she did care if their dislike of her made those around her suffer.

Shehnaaz clicked a picture of herself standing in the front courtyard of the Gurudwara and put it on as her instagram story. Peace and Good health to everyone. 

Next, she called home to talk to Rita Maa. It had almost been a whole day since Shehnaaz had had the chance to talk to her and she was now missing her Maa.

She was almost 90% sure that Sidharth had talked to his mother about the happenings of last night and even if he hadn't, Shehnaaz knew her "Maa" would have wise advice for her, full of love and warmth to soothe every one of her worries and put her mind even further at ease. 

***

They returned almost two hours later and were almost immediately greeted by the guests arriving to witness the engagement ceremony. "Shehbaaz aa gaya hoga kya?" She wondered aloud to Janvi who shrugged.

"Ander chal, dekh lete hain." Janvi responded. "Parshad bhi baat-na hai." 

Shehnaaz nodded and the two girls ran into the house after the bride's mother. The older woman had already started to put the kada parshad in small bowls. Seeing girls, she pulled out two huge trays and placed the trays in front of them. 

"Katoriyan rakho inn trays me aur bahar sabko deke aao." She instructed them. "Bahar sab auratein geet ga rahi hain na, pehle unko deke aa jao."

Obediently, the girls got to work and within minutes, they were out of the kitchen carrying ladden trays of the sweet prashad for the ladies. Janvi purposefully took the charge of the side where Shehnaaz's mami was sitting with some of the village elders. Even if she was more than capable of handling herself, Janvi had had her lesson last night. 

These people were incapable of keeping their mouths shut even to save their lives, let alone another person's dignity. 

Shehnaaz looked at her gratefully, mouthing a small "Thank you" to her once they were back into the kitchen. Janvi smiled and smacked her head playfully. 

The girls rearranged the plates and went towards the verandah where the men were sitting, chatting. Shehnaaz's mama-ji was sitting on the cot right next to Janvi’s father, deep into a conversation. Janvi, yet again took charge of their side, saving Shehnaaz from an awkward encounter that would bear no fruit to anyone but of course that wasn't acceptable to her mama or her mami, who had walked out of the house to scrutinize and judge the girls' every action, right after she had seen them walk out with the bowls of prashad. 

When Shehnaaz walked away from her mama and began to serve the other guests, Navdeep exclaimed, literally from the other end of the verandah. "Milna nahi humse, puttar?" 

Shehnaaz's grip on the tray that she was holding, tightened for a few seconds. Another drama in the making. She couldn't let this happen. Shehnaaz closed her eyes, reminding herself that she's going to be okay. 

Tu pura time chupti thodi rahegi unn se meri jaan, She remembered Sidharth saying to her that morning. He was right too, she was here for her friends. She will not let this affect her the way her aunt and uncle so desperately want.

She handed the kind gentleman in front of her the bowl of prashad before turning to her mama with a smile. "Yeh kaam kahatam kar loon. Phir aati hoon aapke paas, mama-ji."

"Arrey.. ehsaan karne ki koi zaroorat nahi hai humpar." She heard her maami screech. "Bhaav badh gaye hai iske Navdeep ji. Apno ko apna nahi samajhti hai ab yeh."

Shehnaaz chuckled. Typical. "Kya chaahte ho, mami-ji? Aapko kal tameez se, tehzeeb se mili.. aapko tab nahi pacha. Aaj aap ko akela choda hua hai, aapko woh raas nahi aa raha. Kisse paase taan ji lagao." She looked at her pointedly.

Harnoor fumed. "Apne mama ko milne me tu aisi bhi kitni choti ho jaayegi? Paala hai tujhe humne teri aadhi zindagi. Kucch toh sharam rakh. Iss pind ki galiyon me badi hui hai. Yahan hi hamaari matti-paleet kar rahi hai." 

Shehnaaz sighed, walking over to them. "Sat shri akal, Mamaji." She joined her hands in front of the man and handed him the prashad. "Rabb tuhaanu lambi umar deve."

Navdeep nodded. 

Shehnaaz looked at Janvi. "Tu udhar parshaad bant de. Mai yahan kar leti hoon." She said softly. Harnoor was mumbling to herself still and glaring at her. 

"Mamaji.. rabb na kare kabhi aapki koi zaroorat ho, toh mere darwaaze bejhijak aa jaana. Saari zindagi uss ek zaroorat ke gunn-gaan nahi karungi, waada karti hoon aapse." She told her mama and moved on, just as she was about to hand the next gentleman the bowl, she saw Sidharth standing at the gate with a small smile and a carry-on travel bag. 

"Sidharth.."

"Finish this." He said softly. "Mai kaheeen nahi ja raha." 

Shehnaaz's eyes widened as she saw a similar expression of surprise on Janvi's face. "Aap kaise aa gaye? Aap toh busy nahi the?" She asked surprised.

Sidharth shrugged. "Mai ab bhi tera guest of honor hoon na?" He asked, teasingly. Janvi chuckled, "Of course. Aa jao ander."

Sidharth walked in and touched Janvi's father's feet, ignored mama-ji's presence thoroughly and walked into the house. He then greeted Janvi and pulled her into a side hug.

In the background, Shehbaaz walked in with his parents and a couple of bags of their own. Sidharth took a bag from Shehabaaz. "Idhar drama shuru ho raha tha ek aur. Sorry.. waapis nahi aaya bags lene." He mumbled in a quiet whisper. 

Shehbaaz frowned. "Kya hua?" He whispered back.

"Kucch nahi." Shehnaaz responded for him and tugged Sidharth's travel bag off him, in favor of pulling him into a tight hug. Sidharth laughed, wrapping his arms around her, almost hiding her small frame against himself. Of course, they heard Harnoor scoff out "Besharam" quite a bit too audibly but Sidharth only pulled her closer at that and kissed her forehead affectionately.

"Tu theek hai na?" He asked her gently. "Sorry.. subaah bhi acche se baat nahi ho payi. Raste me tha airport se." 

Shehnaaz nodded. "Ander chal ja. Mami dekh rahi hai ajeeb se tareeqe se. Merko nahi chahiye ki terko kucch bole."  

She tried to pull away, mumbling to him in a small voice, but Sidharth held her tighter only. "Farak nahi padta. 3 maheene me shaadi hai humaari. Ab bhi agar inn log ko judge karna hai tujhe, toh yeh log, ek ek insaan mujhse sunnke jaayega." 

Shehnaaz sighed. "Accha thak gaye hoge tum log. Ander toh chal. Paani waani deti hoon." She said softly. 

Sidharth pulled away. "Parshaad de. Merko bahar gaadi me se utarte hue bhi itni acchi khushbu aa rahi thi. Isiliye toh sabse pehle bhag ke aaya idhar. Bechaare chote ko saara samaan lana pada." He said sheepishly 

Shehnaaz giggled. "Chal ander. Bahot sara rakha hai. Deti hoon. Mene banaya pata hai.." She informed him excitedly. 

Sidharth smiled as Shehnaaz led him into the house and asked him to sit while she fetched some water and the kada parshaad for him and her family. 

A few minutes later, she returned with the aforementioned and pulled her parents into hugs one after the other. "Aap log kucch khaoge?" She asked them. 

They all shook their heads and Sidharth pulled her to sit beside him. "Ab mujhe bata. Kya ho raha tha bahar?" He asked sternly. 

"Kucch nahi. Janvi aur me parshaad baant rahe the. Mai Mamaji se alag jaake baant rahi thi.. unko aur mami ko accha nahi laga toh.."

"Toh woh tujhe suna rahe the." Sidharth finished for her.

"Kaise bhai bhabhi hai mumma aapke? Nani ki toh itni sweet sweet stories sunaati hai Shehnaaz. Aap aur maasi bhi itne pyaare hain. Yeh kahan se defective piece aa gaye?" He asked.

Shehnaaz's mother looked away from him, embarrassed. Sidharth sighed. "Mera intention aapko ya aap ki family ko hurt karna nahi hai, mumma. I swear.."

"Mumma bulate ho na aap, haq se mann ki koi bhi baat bhi kar sakte ho uss naate se aur kya galat bol rahe ho, jab issey unn logon ke saath rehne bheja tha, socha tha iski acchi zindagi ki neev rakh rahe hain. Hume kya pata tha saari zindagi ka ehsaan ho jaayega." She scoffed. 

Shehnaaz shook her head. "Koi nahi. Jiska haafiz rabb hota hai, uski zindagi kaise na kaise bann hi jaati hai." She said quietly. "Aap faaltu me tension leke mat baith jaana ab. Kucch hua nahi itna khaas." 

Sidharth chuckled sarcastically. Shehnaaz frowned at him. "Kya hai tujhe? Ho gaya na ab?" 

"Chup baitho tum. Mere hathe charhe na yeh log toh tabiyat se bajaunga innki mai."

New chapter. I know I keep promising early chapters and then don't deliver it.
SO so sorry. I hope to do better. But y'know. No promises.

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