Noorie giggled at what a friend of hers was saying. It turns out that coming outside had been her best decision ever. She had successfully buried the thoughts of Iman deep into her soul, he merely peeks out and she had been able to ignore the need to think of him.

Soon, Maryam came to her table with a pad and immediately dampened Noorie's spirits with her presence. It irks her so much that Maryam was always going right by her family. It made her wonder what Maryam was made of, how could someone be good?

How could anyone just swallow everything and pay back in kind. The moment Maryam picked up the stupid book, decided to take people's order for this event had put her in a bad light. Her mother has been shooting daggers at her, and for that reason she had turned her chair away from her mother's view. She wasn't going to stand up and help even if the world would blow up into pieces.

"What would you like to eat?" Maryam had asked and Noorie's friends quickly stated what they wanted. It wasn't Noorie's turn yet but Maryam felt the need to serve her sister's friends first, for her reputation. Though her intentions were clean, turns out Noorie felt she was being hypocritical. When Noorie did not say anything, Maryam turned to her. "Aren't you eating?"

"Is it any of your business if I and my friends eat or not? Did I tell you, I had no legs to go get our food?" She spat back making Maryam cower. The friends shifted uncomfortably, one of them even tried swatting Noorie but ofcourse it did nothing to Noorie's raging spirit. She hissed angrily and shooed Maryam away like some fly. Maryam felt her eyes blur with tears, but she did not allow it drop. Infact she had swallowed it and went ahead to go serve others.

This had happened moments before she moved to Iman's table where Ya Tahir's dumb friend agitated Iman.

Noorie noticed a small crowd dispersing, and the place was eerily quiet. One of her friend who had entered the building witnessed what had happened, so she had swiftly moved to her own friends who had waved her over. They all waited expectantly for her to tell them why a crowd was formed.

"Your sister's fiance is the coolest guy ever!" She squealed and all the girls giggled. They all moved closer to her to listen. Noorie felt a pang of jealousy stab her heart, knowing they were referring to Maryam's fiance. She sat admist the girls and started relaying what had formed the crowd.

Apparently, Mama had saved the day seconds away from them engaging into a fist fight. Actually when Maryam had ran away from them, Mama had been kind enough to notice the guys, she had walked over to them and asked them to move away from each other. The dumb guy had successfully irritated Mama when he talked back at her. Tahir and the other guys had removed him from the vicinity seeing he had no iota of respect.

The girls fanned themselves as soft giggles escaped their mouths. And then the praises about how lucky Maryam is to have someone who stands up to any of her oppressors. Noorie gripped the handle of the chair tightly, as anger clouded her vision. She hated how the conversation had taken a turn to how good Maryam is, it made her feel incompetent. The girls continued talking in hush tone, giggling as some of them wished they were her.

Once again for Noorie, Maryam has successfully outshined her.

Meanwhile, Tauhida and the other girls had seen everything that  had unfolded, they each started staring at Tauhida skeptically, seeing she's been telling them all that Iman could not seem to leave her out of his sight. She had been telling the girls how they had met at the airport, and how he calls her often. Tanzeel used the opportunity to seal the deal when one of them had asked why he had called Maryam his wife.

"You guys don't know?" Tanzeel had stated eagerly, forgetting how Tauhida had always been there for her, forgetting how Tauhida would stand up for her. A fight with Tauhida today had suddenly clouded her judgement and she needed to be the alpha of the group. Tauhida must stay a beta, talking back at her and conniving with others to desert her during the preparation had done it it. She was going to get to the top even if it meant sacrificing a friendship that was supposed to mean so much to her. "He's engaged to my sister Maryam, they have actually been engaged for quite a while now"

The girls shifted uncomfortably, each mumbling a thing or two. Tauhida cowered in shame, she could not believe Tanzeel threw her under the bus, just like that. She felt tears starting to blur her vision, she looked up at Tanzeel who had smug look on her face. Tauhida stood up in defeat, she tried smiling but if felt strained. Tauhida left Tanzeel's house with a promise to sever all ties with Tanzeel.

Meanwhile, on Janan's table, Mommy was beaming as she and her new friend discussed how the would want the event of their children to be. Janan had been concerned when she noticed a crowd forming where her son was seated, but after Mama dispersed the crowd she felt relaxed. Maryam's mother had a frown plastered on her face as she watched Mama move around fluidly thanking people for attending her child's party. The women had crowded the boxes and we're counting each item proudly.

"You really don't like your co-wife, do you?" Janan had asked making mommy smile a little. She had no idea the disdain was obvious for the whole world to see.

"She poisoned Maryam against me, I'll give you those details when we meet during the weekends" she had said, seeing a relative had sat with them. Maryam's mother knows the loyalty of her husband's relatives does not really lie with her. Mama might be mean and rude to them, but they would all pick Mama a thousand times before they think of picking her. To them she is nothing but a home breaker, a miserable pawn used by her mother to ruin her bestfriend's life.
Janan nodded in understanding.

The guests dispersed, and soon only a few people were still present. Iman was seated with Maryam, having a heart to heart conversation with her. Not before he pleaded with Zarah to hear Bash out. Zarah had been adamant not to listen to Bash at first, Maryam had to plead with her before she agreed to hear him out.

To avoid Mama's detective eyes, Zarah and Bash had gone out of the house, stood by Iman's car and started talking things out.

Meanwhile, Noorie and her friends moved out of the house too. It was actually a better opportunity to get to meet new men. The elderly guests would not allow them the freedom to talk things out. When she saw Zarah and Bash standing outside, she had winked at Zarah giggling like a school girl before they moved further away from the gate, awaiting the drivers to come pick up the girls.

"Why do you do this?" Iman had asked Maryam who stared at him aloofly. He looked down at her legs which were stretched out. She was flexing her toes in an attempt to ease the cramp of moving around. The peep toe shoes she had had to wear added to her discomfort. Iman cocked a brow and kept staring, waiting for her catch up.

When she did, she beamed shyly.

"I do it for the sake of Allah"

"Allahu Akbar, my very own Shaykha!" Iman teased widening his eyes. Maryam hit him playfully as she beamed shyly. The were both laughing hard, unknown to them Mama stood beside them. She had cleared her throat, making Maryam sit up immediately. Iman greeted Mama curtly, not knowing who she is. When Maryam introduced him to her, he found himself forcing the pleasantries out. Tanzeel and Tahir's behavior is definitely a mirror of the home training their mother gave to both of them. He did not like the woman at all, even when she joked and teased them, he could not find himself laughing at the jokes.

When Maryam's mother and Janan saw the older woman hovering above their children, they both stood up in reflex and walked towards them. Mommy was scared Mama would come and ruin everything, to her Mama is up to no good.

While Janan was bothered, seeing the obvious dislike the women have for each other, she did not want her son to be involved. After a little introduction between Mama and Janan, the older woman excused them and the two women immediately started asking what the woman wanted.

Iman and Maryam relayed how nice the woman was being, but neither of the women were having any of it. Infact, Maryam's mother had advised they leave to save them from Mama's hypocrisy.

With the two women infront, talking about their next meeting. Iman had swiftly slid Maryam's hand into his own. He squeezed it a couple of times because it felt surreal. Even though Maryam has not opened up about liking him, he believes he has a very big chance. Due to the fact that the guests were much and Iman and his family arrived a little bit late, the car was parked farther away from the gate.
As they walked hand in hand, Iman used the opportunity to know a thing a two about Maryam. He had asked her shoe size which Maryam had asked him to guess. As he stood peering at her legs, Maryam giggled trying to hide her legs under skirt. Iman had bent down and grabbed her legs making her squeak softly. As he was examining her legs, Maryam had both her hands on his back laughing eyes out.

"Maryam?" She heard a voice call. A voice she knew too well. She went rigid, then looked up only to see Khalid holding a duffle bag beside Noorie who was peering at Iman with so much interest.

Maryam moved her legs away quickly, making Iman look up. He followed her gaze, to an actually okay looking guy and a girl that is oddly familiar. He stood up with a smile, he searched for Maryam's hand but the moment he held her, she snatched her hands away in reflex. She moved a step away from Iman making him frown. The person who had seen them laughing like school children kept clenching and unclenching his fists.

"Who is this?" The guy had asked giving Iman a once over. Iman widened his stance a little, slid his hands into his pocket and gave Khalid a once over too. They were both having a stare down, unlike Khalid, had Iman calmed his nerves down, he would have realized it was Maryam's very own potential suitor which her mother dislikes so much.

Maryam could not find the appropriate words to describe I'm to Khalid. Instead she stood transfixed, obviously wondering why Khalid showed up all of a sudden, out of nowhere and today of all days. Zarah kept telling her to do the needful but she avoided it, yet here she is.

When Khalid noticed Maryam was being hesitant, he left Noorie's side with long strides to Maryam. He placed his hands under her chin, tilting her head up so she could look at him. The moment he saw the apprehension in Maryam's eyes, he confirmed his worst nightmare. Maryam's feelings were wavering and he needed to fix it.

"You don't need to answer in front of him. Let's go home and talk things out" Khalid had said making Iman scoff. Iman could not believe he was being addressed this disrespectfully. He and Maryam are meant to be, even a blind man can see it. "Let's go to Mama. She described here, knowing it was easier to locate you than her place, she said you would bring me to her place. Go and pick up your things, the Uber is wa....."

Iman saw red, when Khalid started dragging her away without sparing him a glance. Iman had grabbed Khalid's hand angrily.
"You literally met us here" he seethed in that very scary cold manner he had spoken to Tanzeel which gave her the shivers. Khalid was already irritated, seeing his competition was literally his superior, Khalid snatched his hands away and was very ready to go physical but Maryam intervened.

She shoveled her way between the two guys. She placed each of her hand on each person's stomach, and tried shoving them apart. Knowing Iman is the reasonable when ever it came to her happiness, she looked up at him pleadingly.

"Go" she had stated making him stumble. Iman felt like someone had used a blunt knife to stab him in his chest. Maryam grabbed Khalid's hand and walked back into the house without another glance towards Iman's direction. Iman inhaled loudly with his mouth, because the air passing through his nostrils had suddenly become too little for him.

He bowed down, then stood up swiftly hitting his chest to dull the pain. Noorie remained in her position, watching him. She wanted someone to come pinch her so she would know if she was dreaming. It had to be a dream. How could the only person she fancies, fight with another guy over Maryam?

She staggered towards Iman with a heavy heart, she tapped him and he turned to her with furrowed brows.
"I know you" she had whispered softly.

Iman was in too much of pain to register what she was saying. He only saw her lips move but he could only hear the beep sound.

"It's me, Noorie! I called you alot and you did not pick" she had explained, he nodded slowly trying to get a grip of himself. He inhaled deeply as exhaled loudly. Giving himself pep talk on how to address this current issue, he listened to Noorie.

When he finally realized where he knew her first, he cracked a fake smile.
"I called you a lot, you're a busy person" she had said licking her lips in a way that was supposed to be seductive. "I am Maryam's sister" she added with a sly smile.

"Listen Noor. I have to go. We'll talk some other time" he had said seeing where she was headed with her foolishness. For some reason, Noorie felt like a real threat to him. Tanzeel had hit Maryam, yet her aura doesn't scream evil. How could Maryam have such a sister? It felt like she had some loose screws, if she was Maryam's sister, why would she make a very obvious pass at him knowing fully well his relationship with Maryam.

"Wait, let me have your number...."

"Listen Noor, Maryam and I are getting married. Other than the brotherly in-law relationship, I don't think there's anything I can do for you" he had said. He left a perplexed Noorie and jogged to his car, knowing fully well his mother and Bash would be waiting.

He bade Maryam's mother farewell, masking his grief pretty well. When he got into the car, he squeezed the steering wheel tightly, saying all the prayers he had mastered for grief. Bash noticed his discomfort, bit he did not say a word seeing how happy Janan looked. Her happiness was short-lived though when she saw Junaid standing on her porch with his hands in his pocket.

Meanwhile, mommy had happily walked back into the house only to find her daughter Noorie screaming the whole house down. Apparently, the very moment Iman had stated his relationship with Maryam, Noorie had lost it. With no care in the world about some of the relatives around, she had started screaming Maryam's name even before she got to the front door. Maryam was with a smaller duffle bag which she had used from the hostel for this event. She had planned to take Khalid back to her grandmother's house knowing how unwelcomed he is in Alhaji Matazu's compound. She knows her mother would throw a fit, but it seemed like Noorie had taken the wheel to drama.

"You're a witch!" Noorie had yelled grabbing Maryam's duffle bag. She flung it to the other side of the living room. "You have crawled your way into my life and you want to snatch every single thing I hold dear. Maryam you're a big fat liar, I will never ever allow that!" She had yelled pushing Maryam, who staggered to find her balance. She was already light-headed for having Khalid here, Noorie seemed not to care at all.

Maryam's mother had barked on Noorie to respect herself, seeing how ever ready the other family members were to see her children tussle and disgrace her name. She knew how they have gossiped about her and the girls, she had no respect already. Yet, Noorie was bent of stomping on the little she had left.

"Allow me! Let me say it for the whole world to hear. Maryam, you're a big witch!" She had yelled and for the very first time ever, Maryam's mother had slapped Noorie.

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