"I am not taking no for an answer", said Saira plonking herself beside Maa on the bed as Dayima made tea.

"Saira, please. I am not interested. Dayima say something", I whined.

Dayima got the tea cups on a plate and served me one. "I say you ought to go. Don't you think so Haleema?"

Maa sipped her hot tea and nodded.

"Yay! Get ready Saeed we are going!" Saira did a little jig. I got up with a sigh accepting defeat. "I'll get ready then".

I sat in the backyard drying my hair in the bright sunlight after taking bath. Saira was busy dressing herself inside. What will I do at the wedding? It seemed too boring to attend. I will be better off taking care of Maa at home. But everyone had teamed up against me telling I needed a break from the household chores and attending the wedding would do me a lot of good. Duh! We'll see about that.

"You are wearing this", said Saira handing me my best dress. Much as I would like to go in my present dress I put on the one she has handed me. I did not want to disturb what little peace I had with another argument. I quickly put on my abaya and niqab so Saira doesn't force me into more fineries. She looked pretty with a floral dress and a locket. Her hair tied in an elegant updo before being hidden behind the hijab. I wanted to look pretty as well but nothing motivated me enough to take the pains of beautifying myself. I found the job troublesome.

We walk to Aaminah's house hand in hand. Saira has a spring in her step. What's wrong with this girl? "Saira, walk slowly"

"I can't help it. My friend is getting married". It made me smile to see her so happy. Her excitement was infectious.

Aaminah's house had been decorated beautifully with seating arrangement for males in the lawn. I follow Saira faithfully, literally stepping into her footsteps. I am not very comfortable at social gatherings. She spotted someone and squealed. "Naajiyah! Maryam! How are you both?". After the initial greetings and hugs I sat with a flock of girls surrounding Aaminah.

"MashaAllah Aaminah! Daniyal Akhi will not be able to look away", exclaimed Maryam.

Saira noticed Aaminah pale under the pressure of the compliment. "She is already nervous don't make her more".

Falah came running in. "Qazi Saheb is here. Aaminah Ukhti, Maa is calling you in the main hall".

She looked tensed and happy at the same time. We helped her to the hall which had been separated in between by a long see through curtain. The males of the family with the groom and Qazi Saheb were already seated behind it.

After the bride took her place Qazi Saheb gave a small sermon. Finally it was time for the bride and groom to give their consent. It made my hair stand on end. Silly how I was reacting to someone else's wedding but my heart continued to thud as Aaminah said Alhamdulillah in a teary voice. And they were married!

Marriages are such a blessing. Allah knew we would find it hard to journey through this life alone. So he made sure we get paired up through marriage so there is a constant companion by our side that can divide our worries and multiply our joys. I know it must be strange to hear all this from a girl who does not favor marriage but hey, I am not to blame because people have forgotten the actual meaning of wedding. The society has complicated, twisted and turned it so much that I can't process the thought of marriage until and unless I find a spouse who is ready to do everything exactly like how it should be done and will uphold all the values like how they should be upholded. If this was guaranteed, then who wouldn't want to get married?

I am not very interested in the gossip around me. I tucked in a few morsels and looked forward to leave. "Saira, can we go now?"

Though she wanted to stay back, she took one look at my miserable face and got up. "Aaminah, may Allah bless your married life". Even I hug her goodbye.

"Barakallahu lakuma was baaraka alaikuma was jama'a bainakuma fee khayr".

I gave her the dua Prophet had advised to give newly weds and made my way out with Saira. Falah ran by me and I quickly held his hand.

"How is your health after the poisoning?". He pulled his sleeves to show me fading rashes.
"Alhamdulillah! You are recovering. Do they still itch?"

He shook his head. "Not now. The first week was terrible though". I let him go. "Take care".

"Are you going home?", he asked. I nod. "You may not want to after you hear there is going to be a session of poetry in that tent". I jumped. "Saira! We cannot miss this! Let's go".

She gave me a murderous look. "So says the girl who wanted to go home a minute ago". She wiggled her eyebrows.

"Not when there is poetry!" I pulled her into the tent which had been partitioned to accommodate ladies in one half. I noticed a man enter bearing a striking resemblance to the Shehzada. I turned once again to confirm but he had disappeared. May be my eyes are playing tricks on me.

Once we were seated comfortably the poet went on the small platform designed for him. "This poem is not my own. I am reading it on the request of its writer. I enjoyed it a lot hope you will too". I took in a deep breath and smiled waiting for the words to hit me.

In a world of my own
No one existed but me
In a vast wilderness alone
Emptiness was all I could see

Flowers had no fragrance
The bees did not hum
The Mynah had no acquaintance
And the Nightingale was dumb

I was a loner
A complete goner
Merely existing
Just breathing

And then she came!
A bursting light full of energy
Challenging me to a game
With a swish she dispersed my lethargy

Her guiding hand pushed me
A new purpose surged in my life
I had been a lock, she was my key
Like a caged bird she set me free

And just like that the flowers were fragrant
The bees were humming
Mynah had an engagement
And the Nightingale was singing

My world came alive
To strive
To thrive
And to revive

I await the day I can see her face
With no barrier call her my mate
Love has left me in a wanting state
I hope it all falls in my share of fate

People roared and appreciated while I sat shocked. Saira was all dreamy eyed. "It was beautiful", she wiped a silent tear. She was awaiting my response but I could give her none. "Saeed, are you alright?". I nod "Let's go home Saira".

"There are more poetries to come", she said bewildered. I sigh "This one poem has filled my soul. Even if I don't listen to any poetry for the rest of my life I won't mind for I just heard the best one among them all".

"You are so unpredictable! You change like the days of the week. Even faster than that, for the day changes once in 24 hours but you change every hour". She muttered more under her breath something along the lines of wants to go home... does not want to go home.... wants to go home.... does not want to go home. I did not mind at all for I was the happiest person on earth right about then.

I had no doubt Shehzada was the writer. How he had attended without anyone noticing him I did not know and maybe I will not know for a long time. Even Hammad Chachu had not updated me on what's going on. I missed being in the thick of action but it was my own decision. Though I regretted it, I was being patient for I believed what I did was right.

Walking by Saira's side, I looked at her. She was still frustrated. "It must be hard to be my friend", I said. "Save those emotional dialogues for someone else. You know they do not work on me". She flung her hand dramatically and we laughed.

We now entered lonely part of the city. Out of nowhere a masked man jumped in front of us and attacked Saira. It took me a while to understand he was trying to abduct her and I jumped to her aid. I had no weapons with me and I regretted not having brought my dagger. In a minute another masked man joined us and I tried to tackle him as well. He pushed me aside and said, "Saeed! Stay out of this".

Shehzada! I moved aside, more out shock than out of obedience. He easily freed Saira and I helped her recover as he bashed the fellow into a pulp.

"Who sent you?", asked Shehzada.
"Mir Tabrez", he replied. "Why?", he gave another punch and the man doubled over. "To abduct her".

It was as plain as day that Mir Tabrez had come to know about Mir Saleem. He either planned to get Saira out of Mir Saleem's way or wanted to threaten him using her.

"You are coming to the palace with me", said Shehzada tying the man's hands. He turned to face us. "Are you alright?" I nod. He came forward and stopped right in front of me. Our eyes met. He did nothing to show he knew me.

"Thank you for helping us", said Saira from beside me. "You're welcome", said Shehzada. He gave her a brief smile.

"Shehzada! Were you following us?" I asked. "Allahu Akbar! Is he Shehzada Sher Shah?" Saira was startled. "It is my duty to take care of my subjects..... and my queen". The last bit was said slowly and was meant just for my ears. The lines of his poetry started ringing in my ears and my heart beat increased. If this is my condition every time Shehzada came near me then I am sure I will end up with some heart disease.

"Saira, let's go". I hold her hand and walk away.

"You have forgotten a pouch", Shehzada called from behind us. "Saira, wait here I'll get it". I walk back to Shehzada and hold out my hand.

"Saeed! How is your Maa?", he whispered on the pretext of handing me the pouch.

This one sentence won my heart. I had been to a huge gathering and not a single person had inquired about Maa's health and here was this man who had the responsibility of the kingdom on his head yet he managed to remember my mother in most dire circumstances.

My eyes welled up with tears as I took the pouch. "She is still weak". I looked in his eyes. This was the man who really cared for me and this was the man who deserved to know me for who I am. "And Shehzada, its Mayera not Saeed". I turned and walked away before he could react.

"What took you so long and why was Shehzada following us?". Saira is full of questions. "Maybe he followed us to see if we reached home safe", I replied. She shakes her head, "Doesn't make sense. Why should he follow us among all the hundreds of people that attended the wedding? Didn't he want to make sure they reached home safely as well?"

I cluck my tongue. "Its because he cares of me.... I think", I hastily add the last bit seeing her expression. "I am missing out on a lot here", she said with narrowed eyes. I have no choice but to explain her that my mission involved working with Shehzada and in the time I had spent with him we had developed a bond of sorts and now Shehzada was planning to marry me which had caused me chicken out and back away.

"Why don't you just marry him and end this game?", she asked.

"He has a lot on his head with crowning coming up and I have enough on my head taking care of Maa. Both of us are not in a position to take the responsibility of marriage. If I continue to visit him even on the pretext of teaching him it will be unlawful considering our feelings for each other. So the best solution is to stay away and let things work out by themselves".

"Wise words Grandma". Saira slaps my arm. "What took you so long to just bring the pouch then? Did he tell something special?" She is teasing me now. Well, let her.

"I told him my real name", I said. "What? I really don't understand you! One minute you want people to call you Saeed while the next you want them to call you Mayera!"

"Not all of them. I just want him to call me that". She gave me disbelieving look so I explained. "For the world I am Saeed. Strong and hard. But that is not my reality. I need someone to recognize the femininity in me. To see me as a girl with emotions. For once I want to be protected rather than being the protector. I may put up a strong fight but at the end of the day I just want to fall into someone's arms and be comforted".

Saira understood perfectly. "Your life has been a continuous struggle. Don't worry very soon you will be loved and comforted as well".

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A/N

Let's all develop the habit of giving newly weds the above mentioned dua. It's really easy to learn. Here is a nasheed to help you!

This version is without music and I had sung this in my bestie's pre-wedding party. Brings back memories :)

My poetic skills were put to a test in this chapter. Tell me what you think of the poem.

If you guys like the story then its just right that you show it by voting!

Lots of love!
Dr Mystic