§§§§§§§§==Chapter 38==§§§§§§§

Unexpectedly, the event of Salaar and Zarmeena's Nikkah reached its conclusion without any commotion. The time for departure arrived. Zareena and Sajida escorted Zarmeena back to her room. Salaar became restless as he watched Zarmeena leaving the drawing room.

"Stop it, brother, control your emotions. You've got your stamp on her now. She's not going anywhere," Jawad exclaimed impishly.

"Yes, brother, what luck you've got! From the deathbed, you've landed straight in heaven. But my oh-so-naive brother, this heaven will soon turn into hell now that the deadly devil Zarmeena has entered your life as your wife," Fahad said, trying to terrify Salaar, though he himself was scared of Zarmeena.

"Okay, dear brother, can you tell me where your fever has gone? Oh, it must've been blown away by the wind, horrified by your new life partner," Jawad joked, putting his hands on Salaar's shoulders, which Salaar immediately brushed off. Normally, Salaar disliked being the target of jokes and mocking, but today he didn't mind any of it.

"Okay, boys, time to leave. Salaar is still not feeling well. You can continue the rest of your banter at Malik Villas. Now, get going," Warda said with a sweet, motherly nag, urging them to leave.

"Feeling unwell? That might be true for anyone but Salaar. Just look at his face-it's glowing like the moon on a dark night! And those bruises? They look like freshly blossomed roses," Jawad said hilariously, making funny gestures that filled the room with chuckles.

"Aunty, just look at him-the arrogant Salaar that campus girls are crazy about. Nobody ever saw his thirty-two teeth because he never smiled. And the man who wouldn't let a fly touch his nose is now smiling enough to fulfill his lifetime quota. Does he look unwell from any angle?" Fahad added, not wanting to miss a chance to comment on Salaar's unusually pleasant behavior.

"Okay, okay, leave now, or both of you will join your friend in having marks on your face," Warda pretended to warn them.

As they were leaving, they saw Sajid and Sajida coming toward them.

"Congratulations, Salaar. You probably know us as Zarmeena's best friends, and this is Ahmed-your brother-in-law and Zarmeena's brother," Sajid said politely, shaking hands with Salaar in greeting.

"Hello, brother! I am personally very thankful to you for taking this 'twister girl' of our house to your home. May God save your house," Ahmed greeted Salaar, mockingly referring to Zarmeena. Salaar gazed at Ahmed, then let out a friendly smile at the dark-skinned teenage boy with innocent features before hugging him.

"I am Sajida. I can also give a hug if you want," Sajida uttered excitedly, stepping forward with open arms.

"Oh, Sajida Baji, keep this hug for your future husband and give it to me as your younger brother if you don't want it to go to waste," Ahmed said instantly, taking her hand before it could reach Salaar.

Everyone chuckled, leaving Sajida blushing all over.

"Yasmeen, when should we come to take Zarmeena to her new home?" Shameen asked politely, patting Yasmeen's lap.

"Shameen, I don't know, but I have a feeling that I have little time left in this world, and before that, I want to see Zarmeena's Rukhsati (departure)," Yasmeen exclaimed, her voice deep with sorrow.

"Oh, Yasmeen, God forbid! You have a long life ahead to play with Zarmeena and Salaar's kids. But your idea of a soon Rukhsati touched my heart," Shameen replied in a meaningful yet reassuring way.

"Okay, listen, dear ones. The Rukhsati will be on Friday, the Mehndi (bridal shower) tomorrow, and the Walima (reception) on Saturday," Shameen announced, rising from her seat. Her words brought a wave of happiness among everyone, and they expressed their approval through claps, chuckles, and hoots.

Salaar, unable to control his nervousness, started blushing all over. Fahad and Jawad were already plotting how they could get revenge for Salaar's past sternness toward them.

"Okay, Shameen, we'll be waiting," Yasmeen answered, approving the dates of Salaar and Zarmeena's wedding. With that, everyone congratulated each other.

"Salaar Baba, you are great. From now on, you are our leader. Just tell me one thing-at which shrine did you pray that a girl already marrying someone else in a week ended up marrying you in two days?" Jawad joined his hands and bowed his head before Salaar with exaggerated respect.

"Stop it, boys. There's a lot to do and little time left. Fahad, you and Jawad go select dresses for Salaar for all three functions. I'll send you the location to meet with the wedding designers," Warda said hurriedly.

"Aunty, at least give him some time for his face to return to its original position," Fahad quipped, still not ready to let Salaar be in peace.

"No, my brother, Zarmeena left him with no position for his bruises to heal in a month. It's better to let him get married now, or I'll make a movie about his biography named Runaway Bride," Jawad added, seizing the opportunity for another jab.

"All you jerks, leave now! We have very little time," Warda said, her voice tinged with a mix of exhaustion and excitement. Reluctantly, the three left in Salaar's car.

"Zubair, call Manager Owais to arrange the venue, prepare a guest list, and tell him that Taimur will personally invite the guests." Zubair nodded respectfully. He was also very happy for Salaar finally getting his love. Seeing the smile on Salaar's face, he silently prayed that his happiness would last forever.

"Amma, let's go. There's a lot to do. I'll go with you in your car. I have no other option but Nazli to select dresses for Zarmeena. Amma, let's go. I'll assign some responsibilities to Samina too." Sensing Warda's anxiety, Yasmeen and Zubair accompanied her, leaving the once-bustling house in silence.

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"Salaar, now select something! No matter what you wear, it won't change your destiny. You're married now, and we, as single men, are far more eligible than you," Jawad quipped, hinting at Salaar's changed marital status, pushing him to his limits.

"Yes, at least have some mercy on that poor receptionist and the salesman. They also have homes where their families must be waiting for them," Fahad added, clearly exhausted with Salaar's picky behavior.

"I'm looking for something a little formal. All the dresses they're showing are too fancy," Salaar replied with a hint of annoyance, pointing out flaws in every dress the salesmen presented.

"I have an idea," Jawad said suddenly, excitement lighting up his face.

"What?" Salaar and Fahad said in unison, their hopes high.

"What about borrowing from late Sir Quaid-e-Azam or Nehru Ji? Or better yet, why not just head to a sports shop and grab some tracksuits? I doubt there's anything more informal than the options I've just mentioned," Jawad said sarcastically, gritting his teeth in frustration.

"For God's sake, you're choosing outfits for your wedding, not a funeral! If you waste another minute, I swear I'll collapse from exhaustion and miss witnessing this eighth wonder of the world-'The Wedding of the Century: Wounded Salaar Malik Weds Hulk Zarmeena Khan,'" Jawad couldn't stop himself from ridiculing.

"He's right. Aunty Warda won't let us live in peace. By now, she must have a list of tasks lined up for us and is probably roasting us over our delay," Fahad chimed in, equally annoyed.

"Okay, okay! I admit I'm terrible at choosing things. Let Zubair do it for me, as he always does. He knows my taste," Salaar conceded and called Zubair. Within minutes, Zubair arrived.

"Okay, Zubair, Salaar is giving you the privilege of selecting his wedding dress," Fahad announced casually, but Zubair froze, stunned. Could he really be so lucky to have this honor? Choosing the wedding dress for Salaar, someone he loved deeply and cared for like a father would, overwhelmed him. Tears welled in his eyes, and he felt his face grow wet.

Salaar noticed Zubair's emotional state, the tears, and the unspoken gratitude. Stepping forward, he hugged Zubair tightly.

"Zubair, you hold a very special place in my life. You've been more than a friend whenever I needed support. My teacher, helping me differentiate between good and bad, my protector, shielding me not only from others but also from my own sorrows and misdeeds. You were like a father to me, and I received your love as a son would. I'm so lucky to have an angel like you in my life. Zubair, I would be honored if you selected my wedding dress," Salaar said, pouring out his heartfelt gratitude and hugging him again.

Zubair closed his eyes, cherishing the embrace.

"Yes, Zubair, you taught him everything except how to tie his shoelaces," Fahad quipped, trying to lighten the emotional atmosphere.

"Indeed, Zubair, you're an angel to all of us. Now hurry up, Salaar! I'm staying at your place tonight. If I go home at this ungodly hour, my amma will never let me in," Jawad added.

_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_

When Warda and Mrs. Shameem entered the house, Faizan and Taimur were eagerly waiting for them. They already knew about the sudden nikkah of Salaar and Zarmeena, as Warda had called them on the way home.

"As-salamu Alaikum," Warda greeted them weakly, collapsing onto the sofa in exhaustion. Mrs. Shameem also sank into the seat beside her, moving slowly as her old body protested.

"How is this nikkah even possible? Wasn't that girl supposed to marry someone else?" Faizan asked, flabbergasted.

"Faizan, let us catch our breath first! We'll explain, but today has been a rollercoaster of emotions," Warda replied, her voice wavering with exhaustion.

"Warda, I hate this habit of yours. Instead of giving a long prologue, just get to the point. I'm sure the answer will be much shorter than your preview," Faizan said with a hint of irritation.

"Dad, why are you in such a hurry? At least let Mom explain properly," Taimur chimed in, siding with Warda.

"Okay, okay, don't make a fuss. I'll explain," Mrs. Shameem interjected. After a brief pause, she began recounting everything, the years of friendship with Yasmeen, the incident that happened long ago, the letter, and finally, Salaar and Zarmeena's nikkah.

Everyone in the room was taken aback by her honesty, bravery, and the strength of her friendship. After a moment of silence, Faizan rose from his seat and knelt in front of Mrs. Shameem.

"Ammi, I'm so proud to have you as my mother. Your resilience is inspiring, and Baba was truly lucky to have such a true and understanding partner. You've endured so much from a young age and never let us feel your pain," Faizan said, gazing at her in admiration.

"But, Faizan, I bargained with her, my friend who always protected me, not only from bullies in college but also from a man who was a menace to society. She returned Salaar's happiness, losing much herself. How will she face her own daughter and grandson? I'm scared she'll pay a heavy price. If something happens to her, I won't be able to bear it," Mrs. Shameem confessed, her voice heavy with guilt and worry.

"Oh, Ammi, don't burden your heart like this. She accepted the proposal because she trusted you deeply. And you know how much Salaar loves this girl. He was in terrible condition. I'm just glad they accepted Salaar; otherwise, I was terrified of what might happen to him," Faizan reassured her.

"Don't worry, Dadi. Everything will be alright. Oh my God, Salaar is a married man now!" Taimur exclaimed in excitement. Just then, Nazli entered, returning from her parents' house.

"Who's a married man?" Nazli asked, puzzled.

Everyone fell silent, exchanging glances, their thoughts turning to Leena.