"Faiza, please do not add that."

"But why? You know right I love to have chilly food!"

"It will only result in a disaster I am telling you."

"I am sure it won't."

Rida and Faiza both were in the kitchen preparing lunch. Mrs Shaikh had now started with her boutique again that she had left a year back when they had shifted to London and since she had gone to check a few things related to the boutique, Rida had planned to make lunch for everyone but Faiza had been irritating her throughout her cooking asking her to add things which were of no use as she considered herself as an amazing chef.

Irritated by her sister, Rida had stepped aside and let Faiza continue cooking the chilly chicken that they were preparing. Rida had added chilly to it but Faiza was abandoned on adding a little more as she had found it sweet when she had tasted it.

Rida sighed when she noticed Faiza add a spoon of red chilly into it. She first was not sure how the dish would turn out to be but now she was sure, the dish would be a complete mess.

Faiza smirked at Rida, proudly raising her collar making Rida to roll her eyes at her.

Mumbling a few words, she left Faiza to let her work on her own, plopping herself on the couch with her phone in her hand. She had just logged in into wattpad, wanting to read some books when she heard a loud bagging noise from the kitchen making her realise that Faiza had dropped down an utensil.

She smirked, her gaze on her phone reading a novel that she wanted to read from a very long time. She had heard a lot about the novel from her friend and she was getting impatient to read it but every time she would read, something or the other came up making her leave the novel hanging and today was not any different. When she was sure that she wouldn't be disturbed by anyone, she heard Faiza cough as if asking for her attention.

She looked up from her phone, and raised her brow when she saw Faiza standing a little too far, smiling nervously looking at everything except Rida.

"Faiza what did you do?" Rida asked completely aware of her sister's tactics. She closed her phone and after throwing her phone on the couch, she ran to the kitchen to only gasp loudly at the scene in front of her.

The chilly chicken that she made with so much effort was now laying aimless on the floor. She turned to Faiza to see her standing behind her with her head hung low.

"How did this happen?" Rida asked annoyed, while Faiza looked up her eyes almost filled with tears.

"I just wanted to keep the thing down but I did not realise that it was hot." Faiza mumbled a tear escaping her eye and Rida read her face before looking down at her hands that were behind her.

"Show me your hand." Rida demanded walking towards her and she nodded her head, agreeing like an obedient child.

Rida looked at the burn on her hand and hissed in pain. Her fingers were almost red while she understood what pain Faiza would be going through because such encounters were her normal ones.

"Come, I will clean that up and cook something else." Rida said and after making Faiza to sit on the dining table, she applied the ointment on her hand and after asking her to rest, she walked inside the kitchen and sighed at the mess.

She bent down and started cleaning the mess on the floor. She took the mat and kept it for washing as it was stained too. She washed the cloth after she had wiped the floor, and again mobbed the floor to satisfy that there was no stain remaining.

After she was done she sighed and looked around the place to find something to make. She sighed in relief when she realised that the rice that she had cooked was still remaining at its place.

"Thank Allah for not letting her touch the rice." Rida mumbled to herself and after she had placed the rice a little away from the stove, she looked for something in the refrigerator.

She sighed when she did not see anything, but then an idea stuck her mind. She took onions, tomato and daal that was kept on the shelf. She thought of making fried daal and she was glad that she had kept some chicken pieces aside so taking that she washed and after adding everything needed for the chicken fry receipe, she kept them to marinate in the refrigerator.

After half an hour everything was done and she glanced at the time thinking whether she should just fry the chicken or leave them for later. Thinking otherwise, she checked everything and walked out to the living room to see Faiza on the couch snoring slightly.

She smirked and taking her phone from her sister's hand, that had some makeup tutorial playing, she opened the camera and started shooting her. She giggled in between when she saw her mouth ajar while drool coming out from her mouth. She moved closer to Faiza to get a better view of her face when she heard the front door open.

She stopped shooting and stood up to see her mother walking inside with few bags. She walked inside the kitchen and got a glass of water and handed it to her mother by greeting her.

Rida started frying the chicken when she realised that her father was home too. She giggled when she saw Faiza entering the kitchen, looking drowsy.

"Why are you giggling?" Faiza asked and Rida opened her mouth to tell her what was funny when she heard her phone's notification. Rida took it and smiled while Faiza smirked thinking to have a little fun with Rida.

"Say my salaam to jeeju too." Faiza said and Rida looked up at her confused.

"What? Don't try acting innocent. I would have asked you to read what he sent out loud but you know I don't want my pure ears to become impure." Rida gasped at Faiza's words, her cheeks heating up in all shades of red while Faiza giggled.

"You are blushing." Faiza said looking at Rida while laughing loudly and Rida narrowed here eyes at her ignoring what she said.

"Faiza ki bacchi you wait." Rida yelled and ran after her while Faiza yelped out loudly before running out. Faiza was laughing loudly while Rida was running behind her, her face still red.

"Faiza let me get a hold on you." Rida screamed, forgetting why she was behind her laughing loudly when she saw Faiza stumble on the couch, in the process hurting herself.

"Okay I am sorry." Faiza said sitting down holding her leg and Rida smirked informing that it was her punishment for troubling her.

"But you enjoyed my teasing!" Faiza exclaimed at Rida's retreating back and Rida did not turn back to answer her question because she was sure she wouldn't be able to hold her blush that had been constant from the time she had heard about their marriage.

It had just been a day that their marriage had been fixed but Rida was still unable to believe it. She felt it was a beautiful dream and she had always had her dreams ending badly but she did not wanted this beautiful reality to end ever just like her dreams. She felt more positive about this marriage after she had prayed ishetaakar last night. She did not wanted anything to end up brutally and she knew if Allah's answer was positive nothing could go wrong. And she was happy when she got her answer in the form of a dream.

Rida smiled when she remembered the dream she had dreamt about. She was about to go back to recollecting her dream when she was disturbed by the ringing of the bell. Confused who would be at the door at this time of the day, she wrapped her hijab loosely around her head to actually be surprised to see almost everyone grinning at her with Safa and Aafia at the very ahead.

"Woah what a pleasant surprise! Assalamualaikum." Rida greeted and moved aside to let everyone in.

"Congratulations." Aafia said engulfing Rida in a tight hug. Since Rida wasn't sure about the marriage that could be fixed with Kaif as she had thought, she hadn't informed Aafia but after the surprise engagement with Rehan, she had called Aafia and had filled in every details to her. Aafia was a little upset that she wasn't there with her on her engagement but she had nevertheless ignored it.

"JazakAllahu Khairan Khair." Rida said breaking the hug and Rida was about to turn when she heard a voice. She turned around to see Farheen standing with her hand in the air to shake hands with her, with a small smile on her face.

"Congratulations." Farheen said in a small voice, devoid of any emotions and Rida smiled at her before replying.

"Come inside." Rida said and started walking while leading Farheen. She quietly followed Rida with Safa's bag on her shoulder.

Farheen had felt her heart ripping into pieces when she had heard the 'good news' of Rida and Rehan's Nikaah. She did not know why she felt bad when she knew it would be coming. It was very clear at the way how Rehan looked at Rida but she never had it coming from Rida but when she heard about their marriage, she felt heart broken.

Farheen knew if she tells Rida about how she felt about Rehan, she was sure Rida would prioritize Farheen over herself, but she did not wanted to be selfish and so she was trying her best to be happy, not for herself but at least for Rida who have always been the best and Rehan was very lucky to have her in his life.

She followed Rida to the living room where Safa and Aafia were sitting with Faiza engrossed in talking.

"Come let's have food." Rida said and they shook their head, informing that they were there for some work and had lunch.

Realizing something, she hurriedly ran to the kitchen to see that the chicken was almost on the verge of burning. She sighed and turned off the stove and asked her parents to have their food, who now were talking to Safa and Aafia.

She served her parents and informed them that she was outside eith the girls. Her parents asked her and Faiza to join but she told that they had already ate the pizza her mother had prepared.

Rida came and sat with the girls listening to what they were talking.

"Okay so Rida tell us what are you planning to wear for the Nikaah?" Safa asked and Rida looked confused.

"Dress?" Rida asked looking at the girls who were glaring at her.

"We thought you were gonna wear a cocktail dress." Aafia said making Rida to giggle while she adjusted her hijab.

"Seriously, tell us." Safa said and Rida thought for a few seconds before saying,

"The black dress that Dad got me from Delhi." Rida said referring to a wedding outfit her father had bought for her, for her cousin's wedding but since she couldn't attend it she hadn't worn it.

"Black? Definitely not." Aafia said making Rida to raise her eyebrow at her and Safa and Faiza nodded agreeing with her.

"It's your wedding and you are not going to wear black or any other dull colour till your reception." Safa announced and Rida looked at her wide eyes.

"You got to be kidding me!" Rida exclaimed and Safa gave her a challenging look.

"I cannot do that Safa, you know right I have almost everything in black and there are hardly any colours in my wardrobe." Rida explained and Aafia and Safa exchanged a few glances.

"We will see about it later but for now let us decide on your Nikaah outfit." Aafia said and Rida agreed to it, because she knew they would not remember it.

"Lets go shopping." Faiza suggested and Aafia and Safa nodded their head while Rida shook her head.

"Why not?" Faiza asked glaring at her sister who in return glared back at her.

"You know why not." Rida said aloud to let everyone to hear but they did not listen to her and made Rida to wear her hijab properly.

"I'll go talk to mom and dad." Faiza said and after wrapping her hijab she ran inside to talk to her parents while the girls stood up almost out of the living room.

"Dad said okay and that we can even take our car." Faiza said and kept the money securely in her purse while throwing the car keys to Rida winking at her.

"Oh no I am not driving." Rida said looking at Safa shaking her head scared.

"Nothing will happen." Safa said assuring her but Rida was still not ready to listen until she was not threatened by Safa.

Rida sat in the car and adjusted the seat. She recited ayat al kursi, feeling her hands trembling while her knees weak. She started the car and smoothly took a reverse and she sighed in relief. She had learnt driving but was not regular and that made her scared when she would take people as it would be all her responsibility if something happens to anyone.

Safa took the passenger seat while the girls arranged themselves behind. They read ayat al kursi, making fun of Rida's driving while she glared at them. Rida started driving her speed almost at 40. She did not wanted to rush because she had a pregnant lady and if something happens to her, her husband wouldn't hesitate in killing her.

"Rida I know you are driving slow for me but trust me you can speed up a little." Safa said assuring Rida and when Safa nodded her head at Rida and she took speed.

They reached the mall almost within 20 minutes. The girls were glad that they reached without any difficulty and mumbled a small 'Alhamdulillah'.

They started searching for a simple dress that wouldn't be very heavy nor very light for the Nikaah. Rida would stand with the girls while they would show her the dresses, they would like.

Finally after alot of searching and roaming Rida settled for a pista coloured dress. It's salwar had a little embroidered work on it while it's pant was straight reaching till ankle. The dupatta was heavy making the dress look more attractive. Rida was forced to buy a rouge colour hijab that perfectly looked good with the dress.

"Finally she could go with something." Aafia said swirling the lime soda that she was drinking.

"Yeah but still I am telling you guys I wouldn't wear it anytime after.... that day." Rida mumbled, a blush creeping up her face and everyone coughed looking at her face.

She avoided the three pair of eyes that were looking at her with a mischievous glint. She coughed a little trying to cover up her blush when she glanced at Farheen who was sitting quietly all the while.

"Farheen what is wrong?" Rida asked and everyone turned their attention to Farheen who looked startled.

"Me? Nothing is wrong. Everything is perfectly alright." Farheen said smiling at Rida but Rida could see the sadness in her eyes and her smile not reaching her eyes.

"I think we should leave." Safa said and after everyone were done with their drinks, they stood up to leave when Rida felt her breath hitch.

She stood frozen on her spot her heart hammering in her chest when her eyes fell on the person who was coming their way with Saif and Kaif along with him.

"I'll just be back." Rida said and turned around to run when Faiza caught hold of her hand making her eyes go wide.

She wriggled her wrist from her hold but she did not leave instead all the girls giggled.

"What happened Rida running away? Huh?" Aafia asked with a smirk and Rida pretended to be confused shaking her head.

"Assalamualaikum ladies." Kaif said chirply while everyone greeted back.

"What a coincidence everyone present here." Saif said wrapping his arm around Safa making her to smile at him.

"Well I can clearly see the coincidence." Aafia said looking at Safa and Saif, making them to grin at her.

Rida had her eyes casted on her legs the entire time her heart beating rapidly in her chest. She didn't knew why suddenly her body had started to react so much with his mere presence when she had known him from a quiet long time.

"Rida what's wrong?" Safa asked raising her eyebrow and Rida looked up at Safa and shook her head at her, narrowing her eyes at her.

"Nothing." Rida mumbled and smiled at Saif and her eyes found a pair of black eyes gazing at her. Just as she was about to avert her eyes, he gave her one of his most charming smile showing his dimples and Rida almost forgot to breathe. She smiled at him and averted her eyes not wanting to get lost in his eyes that were so intense.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, while trying to calm her heart beat that she was sure could win a marathon.

And as sure she was about her heart beat wining the marathon she was sure that she was slowly falling in love with him.