Third Person's POV.

Water droplets woke Zara from her slumber. Blinking groggily, she opened her eyes to see Amina standing over her with a mischievous grin, holding a water bottle poised to sprinkle more water on her.

"I'm awake, I'm awake!" Zara groaned, leaning on her elbows and slowly pulling herself into a sitting position. She looked around the room and saw her friends still lounging in Zainab's room. Zainab had begged them to stay the night, and it had turned into an impromptu sleepover.

Nana and Fatoo were on the plush pink sofa, animatedly discussing something. Zara couldn't quite catch the topic, but their expressions were intense. Zainab, the hostess, was perched on the edge of her bed, her fingers flying over her phone's screen, no doubt chatting with her husband.

"It's your wedding morning, rise and shine, princess!" Amina said with exaggerated cheerfulness, flopping onto the bed beside Zara and nearly pushing her off in the process. Zara struggled to find her balance, her feet tangling in the sheets.

"I woke up earlier for Fajr prayer and then had to endure the nonsense and torturous gyaran jiki Umma insisted on. She said it's the last one," Zara complained, making a face. The others burst into laughter at her expression, the sound filling the spacious room.

Zara shook her head and walked into Zainab's enormous walk-in closet. The closet was a marvel, with rows of neatly hung clothes, shelves of shoes, and drawers for accessories. She quickly changed out of her robe into a pair of baggy sweatpants and a loose t-shirt, deciding to lounge around until it was time to dress up.

Still in the closet, Zara felt a strange numbness. She wasn't nervous or excited—just there, waiting for her fate to be sealed.

"Princess Zara, come out now. We're watching *Sofia the First*!" Amina's voice echoed from the room.

Zara walked out of the closet to see all her friends huddled up on the pink sofa, their attention fixed on a flat-screen TV she had never noticed before. The room was bathed in soft morning light, giving it a warm, cosy feel. The walls were adorned with delicate wallpaper, and the furniture was a blend of modern and vintage styles.

As Zara approached, they automatically made space for her in the middle. She sat down, and the show began to play.

"This Jade sef dey vex me, I swear," Nana's irritated voice broke the silence, making everyone laugh. The episode ended with Nana still annoyed, and the others chuckling about it. Zara, however, was quiet and lost in thought.

Zainab's ringtone brought Zara out of her reverie. "Okay, love. I'll wait for the video call," Zainab said into her phone, her face softening as she spoke to her husband.

A knock sounded at the door, and Madam Aliya walked in, her presence commanding the room. A maid followed, pushing a trolley laden with Zara's wedding dress and jewellery. Another maid entered with a tray filled with an assortment of snacks and juices.

Madam Aliya looked at Zara, who had been standing still, staring at the trolley with her dress. With a gentle smile, she patted Zara's head, sighed, and left the room, leaving behind an air of calm and reassurance.

"They just concluded the Jumma'a prayer and the Fatiha is about to start. Whoever wants to watch should come; it's a video call," Zainab announced, setting up her iPad so everyone could see.

Zara excused herself and walked to the en-suite bathroom to take a hot shower and perform ablution. The bathroom was as luxurious as the rest of the house, with marble countertops and a large, walk-in shower. The hot water soothed her nerves, and she took her time, letting the steam envelop her.

After her shower, Zara performed her ablution with meticulous care. She walked back into the closet and selected one of Zainab's jilbabs. She spread a prayer mat on the floor and began her prayer.

"Ya Allah, surprise me in this marriage and give me strength to face all the challenges, obstacles, and dangers that lie ahead, for there are many," she prayed earnestly after offering two nafila raka'a.

As she rose from her prayer mat, Zara felt a strange mix of calm and anticipation settle over her. She knew the day ahead would be challenging, but she also felt that something wasn't right. Is it okay for a person to feel all that at once? She folded her prayer mat and walked back to her friends who began squealing and Jumping up and down when they saw her. That made her realise that the knot has been tied.

"An daura aure tsakanin Ashraf Suleiman Abbas da Zara Muhammad Imam da sadakin miliyan biyu." Amina replayed the recording of the video call from earlier.

~*~

Zara stood in front of the large floor length mirror situated in Zainab's closet, her eyes tracing every inch of her reflection. The dress she wore fitted her perfectly, showcasing her curves in all the right places. The fabric, an elegant ivory silk adorned with detailed embroidery, shimmered under the light, enhancing her natural glow. Her skin was radiant, almost ethereal, the result of several days of gyaran jiki.

Zara was all alone in Zainab's room. The girls left not long ago letting Zara get ready by herself as per her request.

A knock came at the door, breaking Zara's train of thoughts. "Come in," she called, her voice steady, despite the nerves fluttering in her stomach. The door creaked open, and Asma stepped in, her presence immediately unsettling. She closed the door behind her and locked it with a click that echoed in the not so quiet room.

Asma's face bore a smug look, her eye gleaming with something that made Zara disgusted and uneasy. Zara saw her through the mirror and briskly turned around, her dress swishing softly with the movement. "What do you want, you Tamanian rag doll?"

Asma laughed, a low, mocking sound that seemed to reverberate off the walls. She moved closer to Zara, her steps were slow and deliberate. "Oh, nothing much," she said, her voice dripping with false innocence. "I just wanted to congratulate you on your big day."

Zara wasn't afraid, nor did she feel threatened. She simply stood there, watching Asma with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. "Well, you've done that," she said, her patience wearing thin. "You can leave now."

But Asma did not leave. Instead, she continued to advance, her eyes fixed on Zara's face. What Zara didn't expect was Asma's sudden quick movement. In the blink of an eye, Asma pulled out a white cloth and pressed it on Zara's face.

The scent hit Zara instantly. Chloroform. Realisation dawned on her too late. She struggled, her hands clawing at Asma's arms, but the world around her began to blur. Her strength waned, her limbs turning heavy. Asma's face, which had a sinister grin, was the last thing she saw before darkness claimed her.

When Asma was sure Zara had passed out, she let out a breath of relief. She didn't show it but she was scared and her heart was beating faster than normal because of the probability that her plan might not work. She unlocked the door and beckoned the two figures waiting outside. They entered quickly, their faces masked with urgency and secrecy. Without a word, they lifted the unconscious Zara and carried her out of the room.

~*~

Zainab, the elder sister of the groom, was bustling around the house, shouting orders at the workers, overseeing the final preparations for the wedding reception for Ashraf and his friends. The house was a hive of activity, filled with the laughter and chatter of family and friends. The scent of delicious food from the outdoor kitchen where the local chefs masu aikin biki were conversing.

Zainab decided to check on Zara, wanting to see if she was okay and if she needed anything. As she approached her room, where they left Zara earlier, a sense of unease crept over her. The door that was slightly ajar, swung open with a gentle push.

"Zara?" Zainab called out, expecting to see her new sister-in law's radiant face. But the room was empty, the only sign of presence being the nikkah dress discarded on the floor. Panic gripped Zainab's heart. She opened the bathroom door and it was empty. She rushed to the door and called out, "Zara bata daki. She isn't in the room!! Help!"

Zainab, Fatoo, Nana and Amina spread around the house looking for Zara but she was nowhere to be found. The news spread like wildfire. Guests and other family members began to help look for her. They searched every corner of the house, but to no avail. Whispers and speculations filled the air. The joyous atmosphere turned sombre. Some were suspecting that the bride had run away seeing she did not want to get married from the beginning.

But her friends knew better. Zara wouldn't run away just like that. Not when everything was fine the day before. Something was terribly wrong. 

~*~

Hello good and bad people of the world.

The runaway bride or the kidnapped bride. I should have made her runaway ma. Anywayssss...I'll seriously carry my tear-tear slippers and wrapper and majestically go away and never show my face on the face of the earth and then come back after I graduate university which is in three years time. sigh

Who else hates this Asma of a Human? she gets on my nerves wollah!

anywooo, our dearest Zara is missing. we still out looking for her. even my torch light battery wan die and my throat had dried up because of the way I've been shouting ZARA!!! I've checked almost everywhere in my house too. the closet, toilet, under the bed and she's not there.

I sha hope they find her...alive and well.

*Laughs maniacally* 

The tires in my brain are turning backwards.

Aiit, ciao, adios,  sai gobe, sai bari, buh bye.

With love and hatred, Minaarfo🎀