Mina's POV:

It's Friday. Tomorrow I will get engaged to my best friend. It seems utterly surreal to me. All my life I had a very vague idea of what my wedding would be like. This isn't actually the wedding but I will be the center of attention and it's happening at a pretty grand scale so it does feel almost Shaadi-like.

for the past two nights I had wordlessly crawled into my parents' bed at night. I am the baby of my family, so my parents just ended up snuggling with me. I didn't cry. I saved all the tears for my showers.

Seriously ladies. Showers are the best places to cry your eyes out in. The water just washes away your tears as soon as your eyes produce them. No one can hear your sobs and sniffles with all the running water. And if your eyes are red after all the sobbing, you can always blame it on the shampoo.

Anyways, the guitar night is like a bad dream that I keep reliving whenever I am free. The moment when Shehzer realized about my Non-single lady status, I felt my heart break alongside his. I never wanted to hurt him. Ever.

Areeb had never openly displayed his affections to me like he did on that particular night. This made me kind of annoyed at him. The guy barely went lover-boy on me in private, but that night he just had to go all casanova to impress my cousin. That too in front of Shehzer. Ugh. Misfortune never comes alone they say.

I stare at the tiny pearl threaded around my neck. It is absolutely lovely. Areeb knows my taste so well. I don't like gaudy, fussy jewelry and he got me the most delicate, simple necklace ever. He truly was a perfect fiance.

EMV sneers; 'Is he perfect for you though?'

Yes he is. He has to be. He knows me better than most people. We cannot "Not" be good together, as a couple. The math just made sense for us.

...........

Dad's watching a cricket match when I enter the TV room.

"Want some Tea Dad?"

He looks at me like I have sprouted horns. I never ever go out of my way to make him tea, and he knows that. In fact brewing tea is one of my least favorite chores of all time. Followed closely by ironing clothes and washing dishes.

"Is that even a question beta (child)?" He peers at me, TV remote in hand.

"Erm..I guess not....I'll go make some"

After I hand him piping hot tea in his favorite Mug, he pats his hand beside him on the sofa. I sat.

"Are you happy with the dress Mina?"

"I have just seen photos of it, and it seems gorgeous." Areeb's Mom had insisted on having my dress made for me. She longed to do shopping for a daughter as she didn't have one herself. My parents had insisted on ordering Areeb's suit in exchange for this.

"Hmm...Good good." He slurps noisily. "Did you know your Mom is planning to go to Adiba's parents soon, for your brother? We might just marry both of you together, if everything goes smoothly...."

I nodded, cheering up at the thought. We talked a bit about this and that. Mostly we argued over politics, one of our favorite pastimes. I supported a popular youth movement while he was overall skeptical of political parties altogether. It was fun, to debate with him.

"Daughter....I haven't outrightly asked this, because I let your mother handle all that type of talk...But...I need to know. Are you truly happy with Areeb's proposal?" He asked tentatively.

"Why wouldn't I be happy Daddy? He is perfect for me no?"

He nods slowly; "You don't know how happy you've made your mother and me. You let us make this important decision for you, and we're humbled with this honor. We have prayed our whole lives for you to marry someone who loves you, and respects you. I'd really like to believe we've made the right choice for you."

I hug his free arm to me; "You made the best choice you possibly could have. Inshallah Areeb will make me happy. You'll see."

He kisses my head softly, then makes a move to put his Tea mug down, but stares it for long minutes instead.

"What's wrong?" I narrow my eyes, he is usually annoyingly nit-picky about his Tea's color, taste and temperature.

"Nothing. Just realized that pretty soon, you won't be around to bring me tea anymore." He frowns at his cup.

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

"Everything's about the Tea isn't it?" I end up doing a little bit of both.

"Damn right it is"

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

Ali took off with my car, and left an empty tank in his own car. If it hadn't been for an emergency at his office, I would have totally kneed him where the son doesn't shine. As it were, I was stranded at home with no way to pick up my dress from the designer's place. I was worried that if I didn't pick up the order today, it might be too late to try it on, and check out the fitting and such, before the ceremony.

I debated calling Adiba, but she was already swamped with work from Ghauri. I had pleaded a couple of days off from work, so my best friend had stepped in and shouldered some of my own work.

Mom and Dad were visiting the caterers today for the payment and stuff. I could grab a Taxi or a Rickshaw I suppose, but I hated traveling in public transport by myself. So now I was stuck at home with the dragon. Hmm maybe she could take a rickshaw with me.

I find her dozing in a chair; cane clutched tightly in her claws. I give her a tiny nudge. "Kulsoom Nani?...wake up." I whisper.

"I SAID NO MORE SUGAR!" She yells, causing me to stumble backwards.

Soon, she overcomes her sleepy disorientation. "Hmmph, what do you mean by going around watching people nap girl? downright creepy it is." she glares at me.

My jaw falls. She watched me sleep not two days ago....crazy old lady.

"Well then what do you want?" she grumbles.

"Umm, I need help picking up my dress. I was wondering if you could come with me. There's no car at home right now, so I'm thinking of taking a rickshaw....."

"Non sense. I don't travel in rickshaws. Most unreasonable vehicle ever made. We'd be in constant danger of it overturning with the weight of my personality dear."

EMV is rolling her eyes like crazy.

"Ahaan....what about a cab then?"

"Hmmph, why on earth would we take a cab, when we can take MY car?"

"YOU HAVE A CAR?"

She snorts; "DO you think I walked from my house to here?....I'll tell my driver to bring around. He hasn't been earning his keep all that much for the past few days."

....

I. Am. Speechless.

Her car is a beauty. She owns a Lexus. A FREAKING LEXUS. Gleaming black, and spotless. I think I may be drooling. Sometimes, I forget how filthy rich my relative is. Her penny pinching attitude tends to make us forget that.

The dragon smirks knowingly at my expression; "You were expecting an old lady's car weren't you?"

"I was expecting a broomstick." I whisper.

"I heard THAT."

"Oh you were meant to." I shoot back.

"Hmmph. I do like that tongue of yours."

My dress fits like a dream. I feel like a fairytale princess wearing it. Everything about the stunning ensemble is just perfect. I should be ecstatic about it right now. But my mind just won't quit worrying about Shehzer, and the fact that he was roped into accepting an invitation to my engagement.

That night, on the eve of my engagement party, I lay awake in bed thinking about all sorts of impossible things that I should say to Shehzer.

I end up texting him;

Me: Hey, You don't have to come tomorrow if you don't want to.

His reply comes after a while.

Shehzer: If you don't want me there, just say so.

Me: No. I didn't say that. I do want you there.

EMV is tearing out her hair right now; 'WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? You DON'T WANT Him THERE' she screeches at me.

Shehzer: Then I'll be there. :)

Me: Shehzer....I am so sorry.

Shehzer: What do you want me to say to that?

Shehzer: That you should have told me the truth?

Shehzer: That I hate the fact that he beat me to you? Or the fact that I wish you'd still pick me? Will it make a difference?

Oh. My. God. I moan in anguish. Everything is going crazy in my life, ever since he came.

Me: ......

Shehzer: I thought so....

Shehzer: If you're happy with him. Then I guess I can learn to deal with it. So I guess I HAVE to be there. I need to see you two happy together. For my own peace of mind...I don't know if it makes sense to you.

Me: It does. It makes sense.

Shehzer: Well then you better get some sleep now. :) big day ahead of you tomorrow.

A/N:

Hello all you lovely folks.

:)

Just wanna say that seeing your comments makes me laugh my head off. :D You guys are so vested in the story, it's adorable. <3

As usual...DO let me know what you think. I'd like to laugh some more. ;)