In between Rania's wedding preparations and Feroze's increasing reliance on my opinion, I felt I had zero time to breathe.

"Begum Sahiba, Jamshed is asking for a meeting today" my new assistant, Yahya, muttered from his corner.

"Schedule him at 4 and don't schedule in any meetings for the next week"

"Not even with the Prime Minister Ma'am?" he answered. I turned around to glare at him. "Understood" if he wasn't Rania's pick I would have fired him. The past 4 months had been a struggle. It was taking me a lot longer to get used to the new team.

I missed talking to my sister and getting her opinion on things. She had reassured me that she missed me too. I, however, had a hard time believing that. Rania had taken all hands off the deck and was now working on establishing a new social company with Hussein. On the flip side, Hussein had managed to make sure that he kept me in the loop. There were times that he would show up just to have tea with me. I knew why he was doing that and I appreciated the effort.

I was happy for my sister. I just wished I didn't have a black cloud following me around throughout this process. Weddings were tiresome as is.

"They're here Ma'am" Yahya exclaimed. Excited, I ran towards my window to watch the car drive-in. "No one is to disturb me"

"But the meeting at 4..."

"I'll be there, take the day off" I yelled as I ran down the hallway and towards the stairs.

Nearly leaping off the stairs I reached the main entrance just as they entered the hall. Without waiting for hello, I bounded into his arms, giving him a tight hug.

Izzy swung me around, his arms securely looped around my waist.

"I missed you so much" I whispered, trying not to let the tears fall from my eyes.

"Not much fun when you're on the other side, is it?" I slapped his arm lightly. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." he said with a laugh. I slid back onto the ground, only to see Hussein standing there with his phone in his hand.

Hania moved forward to give me a hug. I gave her a light squeeze.
"You look gorgeous. London clearly agrees with you" I said, holding her at an arm's length. She let out a light laugh, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
"Where's Ammi... salaam Ammi Jaan" Izzy said walking towards her. She smiled and gave him a brief hug.
"Elena, you woke up the whole castle"
"Where's Rania?" Hania asked.
"Right here. Sorry, not all of us can run like that" she said coming down the stairs. Hussein and I shared an amused glance.
"Uncle EJ's supposed to arrive today"
"Is everything done?"
"Yeah, just a week left, I'm so excited"
"And you Elena? How have you been?"
"Busy. Extremely busy"

The cross-talk and catching up continued to the newly refurbished living room. I hadn't changed the furniture. It had too much history. I watched as we gathered around the same old couches and coffee tables, teasing and laughing. A year later, the two new additions to the family fit in perfectly. I sighed, feeling my heart fill up with joy. It was nice to have everyone back.

Uncle EJ knocked at my door and I smiled, nodding to let him in. He looked around the room and sat beside me on the couch.

"How are you feeling Eli? How's everything?"
"I'm holding up"
"I can see that" I stayed silent. "Honey, I'm concerned"
"Ha, so am I."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm concerned that I'm not concerned" he looked at me, confused. "I know what you're trying to say. Believe me, I get it. I've seen it in Ammi Jaan's eyes, I see it on Rania's face every day. I just can't seem to care."I said with a short laugh.
"Why do you think that is?"
"They think I'm miserable because of him. I'm not miserable because of him, I'm miserable for him"
"I get it," He said, his arm coming around my shoulders.
"I knew you would. You raised her son... you might be the only one who truly knows about love" his eyes widened with surprise. "I know" I whispered. "You're the only one who'd understand..."

"She never loved me, Elena. That was different. You can not live your life like this. What if he never comes back? You deserve to be happy, just like all of us"
"I am happy. I may not be content but I am happy. Don't tell me to move on, it almost seems like an insult" I replied, putting my head on his shoulder. "I have all of you and I have Gulzar Mahal, what more could I want?"

"Him" and for that, I had no answer.

I did not remember the week passing by. It felt like a blur. Soon I was watching Rania get ready. She looked like a heart-wrenching vision of a long-forgotten goddess. She wore a Hassan exclusive. It was amazing how everything came back to the beginning. The grooms brother had done an outstanding job. Her light green dress shimmered in the afternoon sun. The gold detailing reflected in rays in a million different directions. I smiled and as she clasped her hands around mine, nervous.

"Everything will be fine" I whispered. She nodded, still not letting go.

It was a summer wedding in the early hours of the evening. Unsurprisingly, Izzy had very kindly allowed the use of his beach house for the wedding. Rania had decided to place jasmine-scented candles hung around the beach and the delicate aroma wafted around us, making this whole event seem ethereal. Spread down the aisle were white leaves, as far as the eyes could see, slightly moist so they wouldn't crack when you stepped on them. We'd invited a small group of close family and friends deciding to keep it traditional and intimate. They sat in white chairs set up for them on the sand, on either side of the aisle.

I looked at Hussein and Ghulam Uncle at the end of the aisle. The small wedding area faced a breathtaking sunset. They were both dressed in traditional shalwar kameez.

The music swelled and I prepared myself. I was walking Rania down the aisle for her nikkah ceremony. Taking a deep breath, I fixed Rania's jewelry and we took our first step together. All eyes turned towards us. We walked down the aisle, which somehow seemed longer than before. I could sense Rania's nervousness and I gave her hand a light squeeze. The guests looked at us, taking pictures of us, waving at us, smiling- one thing was for sure, though... no one made a sound. Up ahead I saw him, Hussein. If I wasn't mistaken I could have sworn tears filled his eyes.

At the end of the aisle, Uncle EJ waited as the officiant. He hugged Rania, said "I'm proud of you" and then presented her to her groom. He placed her hand in Hussein's and smiled. I blinked, trying to keep my tears in check. Taking a step back, I took my place by Ammi Jaan's side. She covered my hand with hers, as we both watched them say their vows.

Applause rang around us at the "Qubool
Hai (I agree)." Ammi Jaan wiped her eyes and Izzy gave me a brief hug. Ghulam Uncle placed a paternal hand on Rania's head and gave her hand to Hussein.

The newlyweds came down the aisle, accepting congratulations and well wishes. As soon as the guests got up for the food, the wedding planner and her team moved around rearranging the area by putting up tables and placemats. Hania and I rushed around making sure that everything was arranged perfectly before the guests came back with their food.

The lazy hum of low conversations carried over the swash of the waves while the golden sand dazzled in the setting sun. Dim fairy lights made the sand sparkle like broken glass. Some people settled down while some moved around interacting with the guests. Ammi Jaan and Ghulam Uncle stood arguing with Aunt Mamo, Uncle EJ was conversing with Aunt Laila and Izzy and Hania chatted with the newlyweds. I stood laughing near the entrance, listening to Maryam's detailed impressions of Uncle EJ's expressions during the ceremony.

"Hi" both of us turned around to see Hamza, Hussein's older brother, smiling at us. Sensing my unease, Maryam excused herself and walked to her table.
"Hi... how are you? Are you enjoying the wedding?" I replied, sipping on a glass of water.
"It's amazing. I was wondering if you had time to talk? You've been very busy the past few months and I..." for good reason. I'd asked Yahya to make sure not to respond to his emails. The guy was a horrendous jerk.

"I thought we left work where it belonged" Feroze interrupted walking towards us. I glanced at Hamza and he gave me a small tight smile.
"Just wanted to get her opinion for something. After all, she represents the south"
"It's a wedding Hamza, schedule an appointment with her secretary" Hamza sneered and looked at me.
"Ghulam Uncle is coming to see me on Tuesday. We'll meet then?" he nodded and walked away, his gaze on Maryam now. Feroze turned towards me, his gaze was uncharacteristically soft.

"What?" I snapped. That look usually meant he knew something I did not.
"You look happy"
"My sister got married. Why wouldn't I be happy?"
"Huh. Thought there was another reason"
"What do you mean? I don't have time for your games Feroze. What is it?" he chuckled at my impatient tone and turned me around.
"Look"

My heart dropped to my knees and I was having trouble breathing. The sound of the sea became a distant hush and I felt as if the whole world had gone quiet. A familiar pair of golden brown eyes met mine and I felt my hands quiver. It couldn't be.

*****************************************************************************