The relatives had started pouring in and with that the excitement levels were also on a rise.
Mahnoor's cousins from her maternal side had also come and now the whole house was on fire.

"Zain bhaijaan aap cheating kar rahe hain...dice to roll hi nahi kiya aapne..." Mahira caught Zain's hand midway

"Chal oye...chhe(6) aa gaye mere toh natak kar rahi hai....hata haath" Zain pulled Mahira's hand away and again threw the dice.."Waah phir se chhe(6)"

"Haya begum humse aap ek chhe udhaar le sakti hain....." he winked at Haya who threw her cushion at him.."cheating ki hai aapne"

"Dekha aapi bhi bol rahi hain......ab hataiye token yahan se " Mahira was not allowing him to play holding both his hands.

"Ye kya ho raha hai" the loud voice made everyone sit in their places. Zain started brushing his hair with his hands as it was dishevelled by Mahira.

"Insaanon ki tarah rehna bhul gaye ho ......ghar rishtedaaron se bhara hai aur tum log" Riyaaz's voice was strict

"Riyaaz bhaijaan ... " Mahira was about to complain about Zain when she was cut off by a harsher tone "Mahira chup".

Mahira got startled by his tone and the way he called her. Everybody else was equally surprised. They had not expected him to be so angry..that too on his Maru. There was silence for a few minutes and then Riyaaz walked out mumbling something.

Zain, Haya, Ramsha and Shehryaar( Haya and Mahnoor's maternal cousins) looked at Mahira who looked very upset as she was scolded by Riyaaz infront of everyone.

"Acha chal .. maine wapas kar li token...Motu chal ab" Zain pulled Mahira's cheek to cheer her up but she ran away.

"Tch...ye aaj Riyaaz bhaijaan ko ho kya gaya...." Haya asked Zain who had no clue.
"Is ghar me aane par bas inka hi dar laga rehta hai ... " Ramsha shook her head making Zain and Haya laugh "Wo itne bhi bure nahi hain......."

"Ya yun kahen Rayyan bhaijaan se zyada bure nahin hain" Zain said and ran out, perfectly knowing Ramsha would kill him now.

-----------------

"Mahi.......tumhari favourite biryaani bani hai..." Haya pulled Mahira out of the room
"Aapi hume bhook nahi hai"

"Achhi baat hai Haya...motapa thoda kam hoga toh acha hai " Zain said in a serious voice taking Haya's hand in his.

"Aapke khayal se hum mote hain" Mahira's face was red

"Mere khayal se nahi.....aap sach me bahut moti hain" Zain started laughing only to be pushed on the bed and beaten up by the pillows.

Zain and Haya were successful in bringing Mahira out of her room and now they were enjoying the Biryaani.

Everyone was there including Riyaaz who didn't spare even a glance towards Mahira who was expecting a Sorry from him.
"Saari tayyariyan ho gayin ya aur bhi kuch baaki hai" Rukhsar asked the girls who were busy in discussing something.

"Nahi Tayi ammi...sab ho gaya" Haya replied with a smile.

"Nahin hume abhi tak naye sandals nahi khareede" Mahira pouted

"Apne nikaah me tum sab nayi nayi cheezein pehenna....haan" Zain patted her head..."tumhara ghar me aakhiri din jo hoga....jo bologi wo dila doonga" Zain's voice was laced with humour.

"Haseen khwaab na dekhen bhaijaan......humse peecha chhudwana namumkin hai.......HUM IS GHAR SE KAHIN NAHIN JAYENGE" Mahira started sweetly but then spoke every word in a peeved tone making Zain roll his eyes.

"Zain kyun tang kar rahe ho use " Rayyan said twisting Zain's ear.

"Aur zor se bhaijaan" Mahira hooted

"Acha acha bas .... tumlogo ka bachpana abhi tak nahi gaya" Rukhsar said and her tone was unusually happy.

---------

"Maan gaye Begum aapko......humne kabhi socha nahi tha ki ye hoga... " Sarfraz was praising his wife with an open heart making Rukhsar smile "Kal raat jab Riyaaz kamre me aaya toh thode nervous to hum bhi hi gaye the .... "

The night before (Flashback)

"Abbu...." Sarfraz and Rukhsar were a little surprised to see Riyaaz on their door so late in the night. It was past his bedtime.

"Wo kuch baat karni thi......" he came inside closing the door and occupying a seat on the small sofa opposite to the bed.

"Haan bolo" Sarfraz frowned as he was not able to fathom the reason for which his son was here.

"Mai nikaah karna chahta hun" as soon as the words were out of Riyaaz's mouth Rukhsar jumped in glee "Begum aaram se".

"Kisi ko pasand karte ho" Sarfraz asked in a calm tone which was not liked by Rukhsar.

"Jee....mai bahut time se janta hun use aur maine socha ki" Riyaaz paused and his words had already started making his mother sulk.
"Riyaaz tumhari zindagi me koi ladki hai aur tumne humein nahin bataya"

"Ab to bata raha hun Mama" he smiled

"Lekin hum chahte the" before Rukhsar could spill the beans, Sarfraz interrupted her "Koi baat nahi beta...hum sab unse milna chahenge". Sarfraz didn't want Riyaaz to compromise because of his family.

"Hmmm  mama aap nahi milna chahengi ......" Riyaaz could feel the drop in his mother's excitement levels.

"Kyun nahi...mere bete ki pasand hai " Rukhsar replied getting a glare from Sarfraz. Riyaaz got up from his seat and held his mother's hands "Naam nahi puchengi apni hone wali bahu ka"

Rukhsar melted "Kya naam hai ?"

"Mahira"

"Acha naam hai " She smiled......silence.....Riyaaz was counting the seconds ..was his mother that slow.....and it happened... Rukhsar's head lifted with eyes shining with love and happiness. Her eyes wanted a confirmation.

Riyaaz arched his eyebrows "Aapse achi acting ki ...nahi??" and next second he was engulfed in a bear hug by his mother.

Sarfraz smiled seeing the scene. He was pleasantly surprised seeing this side of Riyaaz.

"To agle mahine " Rukhsar was about to say something

"Nahi....pehle Maru se puch len " Riyaaz said

"Razia ne baat karne ki koshish ki thi lekin Mahira k ek hi jawab hai.... uske mama baba ki pasand hi uski pasand  hogi" Rukhsar happily shared the information.

"Hmmm.....matlab Chachu Chachi bhi mile hue hain" Riyaaz smiled shaking his head.

"Razia ke toh ladle ho tum......." She caressed his cheek.

"Theek hai phir aap logon ko jaisa theek lage..." Riyaaz gave them the free hand..."Shabba khair".

Flashback over

"Toh kya socha hai phir"

"Ek baar Hoor ki mangni ho jane dein..phir plan karte hain" Sarfraz sighed and got into bed.

-------------

"Pata nahi Mahi Riyaaz k naam par kaise react karegi......" Razia was a little tensed.
"Thoda toh time lagega use......." Haider turned towards her

"Mama....aapne bulaya...." Razia saw Mahira on the door and beckoned her to sit next to her.

"Mahi humne kisi ko pasand kiya hai aapke liye" Razia caressed her hair with a smile

"Ammi itni jaldi kya hai" Mahira started squirming in her place.

"Beta nikaah toh karna hi hai na...aur phir itna acha ladka dhoondne par bhi nahi milega"

"Aisa kaun hai" Mahira furrowed her eyebrows

"Riyaaz"

Silence

The loud roar of laughter brought Razia and Haider back. They had certainly not expected this.

"Mama .. bas karein"

"Hum mazaak nahi kar rahein hain Mahi" seeing seriousness in her mother's eyes, Mahira looked at her father who nodded in a yes.

"Mama....hum Riyaaz bhaijaan se kaise" Mahira exasperated

"Bhai nahi hai wo tumhara Mahi.....aur usse achha ladka tumhe nahi milega " Razia tried to make her understand cupping her face " Dekh bacha.....tum hamare aankhon k samne rahogi....taya abbu aur tayi ammi tumse kitna pyaar karte hain tumse hume batane ki zaroorat nahi hai"

"Aur Riyaaz bhaijaan" Mahira asked with innocence.

"Ye toh tumhe puchne ki zaroorat hi nahi padni chahiye " Razia said pressing her hand warmly.

"Aur hum...kya hum " Mahira was cut off by Razia " beta bas nazariye ki zaroorat hoti hai.......aur Nikaah me bahut takat hoti hai.....hum jante hain hamari Mahi humein kabhi niraash nahi karegi"

Mahira looked at Razia and then at Haider whose eyes were carrying a hope. She didn't want their hopes to be crushed....
Her mother's words had every ounce of truth in them...she would never get a family like this. Heck she wouldn't have to leave her family only.

"Beta khushiyaan khud chal kar aayin hain...." Razia whispered caressing her daughter's cheeks.
"Hume manzoor hai ..." Mahira's words echoed  spreading a  wave of happiness in the room.
Razia kissed her forehead while Haider patted her head with love.

----------------

"Ramsha aapi ye sandals theek hain?" Mahira asked trying on a pair of sandles.

"Ache lag rahe hain..tum comfortable ho na...."

"Haan.....ek minute" Mahira took a call "Haan bhaijaan hum bas bahar aa hi rahen hain..."

"Aapi bhaijaan office se aa rahe hain pick karne" Mahira informed picking up the sandals for billing.

Getting out of the mall Mahira and Ramsha saw Zain with Riyaaz in office attire waiting for them.

"Riyaaz bhaijaan ko kyun le kar aa gaye hain" Ramsha blabbered making Mahira giggle. Almost everybody was scared of him.

Riyaaz was driving with Zain on the passenger seat while the girls were at the back. Everytime Mahira's eyes met Riyaaz's through the mirror...she averted her gaze making him smile. He, by this time, had come to know that Mahira had said yes to the proposal. Her behaviour with him could speak for it.