26th Oct, 2023

"No way!!" I exclaimed, my eyes wide open with happiness and surprise. "That's such a wonderful news!!"

"I still remember how you used to run around the house in your underwear, trying to escape from eating your food." Maa made the remark, letting out a laugh.

"Who's the lucky girl? How did you guys meet? Did you guys talk yet? How was your first meeting?" I asked in one breath, too curious to know more about his soon to be wife.

"Okay relax. I'll tell you everything. Just take a breath first." Arham said.

Arham is my phuppo's son. He is a good 5 years elder to me but the bond that we share is very different and special. Me, Arham and Sharmin, Arham's younger sister, who's the same age as me, have always been a team. We three were the worst of the mischievous kids and had pranked almost everyone in the house.

Maa says that when I was born, she was in a critical condition for some days, so phuppo used to feed me her breast milk during that time. Me and Sharmin being born in the same hospital and at the same time, we were literally twins. We both used to do every thing together.

Ah! I miss those good old days!

How we grew up so fast! And now bhai will soon be a married man. Subhan Allah!

"So, her name is Amaira. We didn't really meet yet but In Sha Allah that's going to happen soon..after the Nikah." Bhai spoke up, bringing me back from my chain of thoughts. I can see his ears turning red as he talks about his soon to be wife. He looks so cute Ma Sha Allah. All shy and nervous.

A grin formed on my face and I eyed him suspiciously. I definitely doubt about them not meeting yet. I'll know that soon.

"So, Mami, I'm here to take you all with me for the biggest day of my life. You guys are coming with me."

"But it's still 2 months left for it, Arham. What will we do for so many days there. And besides your Mama have so much work. He won't be able to take so many days off." Maa made a notable argument.

"I don't know about anything. I'll talk with Mama. Let him come back." Bhai didn't want to take No for an answer.

And when Dad was back, and at the dinner table, Bhai made the request again, too determined to be convinced otherwise.

"Arham Sahab, aapki excitement mai samajh raha hu par bete kaam bhi zaroori hai na." Dad said with a teasing smile and that made Bhai scratch the back of his neck sheepishly. "Ohk do one thing. Take Kinza with you and me and your Mami will fly there later on. Yeah?" Dad suggested and I looked at him with a broad excited smile. Yaay!
(Mr. Arham, I can understand your excitement but work is important too, right.)

"Yes that's a good idea. Kinza will enjoy there with all the wedding preparations and festivities. You guys should go ahead." Maa agreed.

"Done! I'll get your tickets booked then." Dad said.

I looked at Bhai with raised eyebrows and he knew he was in so much trouble. I was going to tease him endless and his wedding night was going to be so much fun.

I did an evil laugh, mentally.

The next two days I spent packing all the things I wanted to take with me. I took anything and everything that I thought I might wear, packing everything extra so that I don't regret later, even though I knew half of the things I wasn't even going to wear but just in case.

Just girls thing.

I shook my shoulder and put the last of the things in my bag and I was done. I turned to my wardrobe and it was almost empty. I let out a toothy grin and smacked my head, but I was definitely going to take all that I've packed.

I began to close my cupboard but a certain packet caught my attention.

'Who were you? Where did you vanish to?' I voiced out my thoughts looking at the ring and the blood stained jacket in my hands, belonging to the mysterious man I ran into that night. The ring was an absolute stunner. I really wanted to own it but I knew it wasn't mine. It was someone's Amanah with me and I had to preserve it until one day when I can return it back to its rightful owner.

I placed the jacket along with other things back in the closet, but I took the ring and put in in the chain that I was wearing and hooked the chain back around my neck.

Maybe some day I'll colide with the mystery man, then I'll give it back to him.

But on a serious note, how will I figure out if it's him? Even if we collide with each other in the future, how will I know it's him? His face was all covered with blood that night. I couldn't even make out his facial details, how he looked, how his appearance was!

That thought kept bugging me the whole night. I lied in my bed wide awake and kept recalling that night. Everything that happened was so sudden. I had never thought I will be so courageous to sign as an unknown person's wife just so that I could save his life. What was I even thinking!

I couldn't recall his facial features though. How the man looked, how his appearance was, I couldn't remember.

My lips curled down in an upside down smile and I looked at the ring in my hands.

He must surely love someone with all his heart. He might have wanted to express his love to his lady and that's the reason he might have had the ring.

'What should I do!'

I felt guilty. I shouldn't have taken his belongings with me.

With those thoughts in mind, I drifted off to sleep, without realising. The next morning I woke up with a headache. It was throbbing with excruciating pain.

I freshened up and went down. No one was to be seen. I made my way to the kitchen and began to make myself a strong cup of masala tea. That's the only thing that might help me with the headache.

Maa entered the kitchen minutes later and saw me grounding the ginger in the mortar with the pestle.

"Have a headache?" She asked and I gave her a nod.

"Couldn't sleep last night." I answered with a frown.

"Why? Too excited to go to London?" She said, letting out a chuckle.

"Super excited!! I can't wait for his wedding!" My eyes lit up when I thought about all the fun that we'll be having in the wedding.

"Here. Let me make it for you." Maa offered to make me the tea and I stepped aside, and took a seat on the nearby chair.

"Where's dad?"

"Just left. He was asking if you returned that man's belongings. Did you?" Maa asked, looking at me through raised eyebrows.

"Returned what?" Arham Bhai questioned, stepping in the kitchen, and cut me off even before I could answer anything. I let out a sigh.

He came up to the dining table and took a seat opposite to me. He looked at me with a raised brow. I waved my hand, dismissing his question.

"Nothing, beta." Maa smiled at him. "So, what will you both have for breakfast?"

"Aapke hath ke parathe khila do, Mami. Bohot din ho gaye." Bhai made a request, his eyes glinting. He looked like a little child asking for a toffee.
(It's been so long that I had parathas that you make.)

The rest of the day went by quick but what didn't go was my headache. Eventually I had to take medicine for it.

I was in my room, sprawled on my bed, procrastinating, but my eyes kept travelling to my closet and what I could only think was about the bag with the unknown man's stuffs. I ended up taking it out and getting the cellphone from it. I tried to switch it on but the battery had died so I quickly connected the charger and desperately waited for it to charge.

Minutes later, which felt like hours, the screen turned on and I quickly took it in my hands. It had a screen lock. 'Why do people do this! Urgh!'

'If only this phone didn't have the lock, I could have tried calling the last number.'

With a frown plastered on my face, I turned the cellphone off and placed it back in the jackets inner pocket. I'll take it with me to a repair shop and get it unlocked, if possible.

'For now, I am going to focus on the wedding.'

That thought brought a huge grin on my face. I am so excited to go to London. Arham bhai had applied for my visa and it will take 3 business days for my visa to get approved. Just the tickets remain and then I'm ready to go to London.

Yaay!

All excited for it, I had forgotten about Shahmeer but when at night, after the dinner, Dad called me in his study and asked me about him, I was suddenly reminded of the events of that evening. Dad had a no nonsense expression plastered on his face and I knew I can't escape from answering him this time.

"Dad!" I let out a sigh, my shoulders slumped in defeat. "He's in a mess! He is an amazing human but someone's after him for revenge and he don't even know the reason behind it. All those threat letters, I swear, they all gave me chills." I pinched my eyes close remembering all the threats.

"What! That's absurd!" Dad was shocked to hear that.

"He doesn't want to include someone in his life and put her life in danger. That's what he said."

"But beta.."

"Dad. It's best that we don't talk about it anymore. Yeah?" I urged, my eyes starting to water.

"Okay fine. Forget about it. And here, I got your tickets done." He smiled, while handing me the tickets. "Go enjoy."

A smile came upon my lips and I immediately went in his arms to give him a hug.

"You and Maa have been the biggest support in my life, Dad. Thank you for everything that you've done for me. May Allah SWT grant you good health and keep you safe. Ameen." I said. His hand went to my head and he caressed it softly, and placed a kiss on the top of my head.

"I don't think I need to ask if you've packed your bags, do I?" His lips were curled up in an amused smile. I looked at him with a sheepish smile and shook my head at him. "I knew you'd be too excited and must have packed the whole wardrobe perhaps." He laughed.

Grateful.

That was the emotion I felt, looking at his smiling face.

Parents are such a blessing in our life.

'Alhamdulillah.' My heart whispered.

Sometime we do take the blessings in our life for granted and forget to be grateful to the Almighty.

"That I have." I answered with a toothy grin, and that made him shake his head at me with that amused smile still plastered on his lips.

A knock sounded on my door and Maa walked in. I smiled looking at her.

"So how did you like your new phone?" She asked, and I gave her a confused look.

"What phone?"

"Oh! I almost forgot. Here." Dad handed me a box. "Your new phone. "

My eyes lit up with excitement and I let out a squeal. I put my hands around him and gave her a tight hug. "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much, Dad."

"But don't misplace it this time." Maa warned. I nodded quickly and proceeded to open it.

I had lost my phone the night when I was returning back after meeting Shahmeer, and Dad had promised to get me a new one. It was beautiful. Simply gorgeous.

"Sleep early. You have an early flight to catch tomorrow." Maa said and I quickly nodded, and headed back to my room.

As Maa said, I tried my best to sleep early, only to end up twisting and turning in the bed, too excited to sleep a wink. I tried. But the excitement kept me awake. All night.

And when it was time to leave, the next morning, I was looking like a panda, with dark circles under my eyes. Okay!

I had to hide my eyes with goggles  but the good thing was, the flight was long, around 10 to 12 hours from Toronto to London, and I ended up falling asleep throughout the journey, only waking up in between for food.

Only when we were about to land, I got woken up by Bhai. I had drool on the side on my lips and I was quick to wipe it off.

'That was one amazing nap!' I wanted to stretch my arms and legs, which were stiff by now, but I refrained myself from doing so. I didn't want everyone to give me those weird looks. So called etiquette. Bruh!

I looked out the plane window. We had landed in London. The city of rich architecture and museums.

It was a start of new day. A start of new chapter of life. It was a start of many other things that the future held for me. And I was excited for it.

And more so ever for the wedding.

Assalamualaikum!

Long time no see. I know I am taking so long to update but I have a child now (Yes Alhamdulillah I was blessed with a baby girl)

I'm planning on being frequent not but I don't know if I will.

How was the chap?? Your thoughts on upcoming events?

Just leave a few encouraging words. It makes me happy.

Until next time....ciao!