Shehnaaz Shah

"Ammi will they stay at Sidharth's house?" I asked my Ammi who was in rush.

"Toh kaha rahenge?" Instead of the answer of my question I recieved another question. Meh.

"Idhar tumhari Nani, Mama aur Mami hajam nahi hunge unko bhi jamin pe bistar bichakar rehna padhtha hai toh tumhari Dadi aur woh sab bhi ajayege toh bathroom k andar rehna padhega" She was totally annoyed at me as she was busy in house cleaning.

It was not like that I was sitting puting leg over leg. I was opening the curtain from hock to put them in washing machine.

One minute one minute. How stupid of me I forgot to tell u guys tomorrow was a dawat, u can also say that it was Dawat-E-Nikah. It always has been organised in the day of nikah usually.

It was arranged after 3 months bcz our nikha was a sudden affair as our parents decided to effectuate it with lil preparation in the mosque. They decided to held the wedding after my studies would be complete.

But my Abbo wanted to arrange the Dawat in time as ritual. But Sidharth's one and only Kahla lives in Oman(a country in the middle east) And she would not be able to come in one week if we held the Dawat that time.

In Dawat after nikah only very close relatives r invited. Lala Ammi didnt want her sister to miss the dawat so the date was decided tomorrow as Lala Ammi's sister came this morning. Sidharth called a minute ago letting me know about their arrival.

My dado along with Aru's family would come tomorrow morning. And I was asking Ammi where would they stay. My Nani and Mama-Mami would also come for sure. As our flat was inadequate for so many people to stay so they would must be stay at Lala abbo's flat.

Lala Abbo had two flat in same building wait he owned the whole building. So there was one for the guests. Lala Ammi had two brothers, they lived in Delhi here. So they would directly come in the venue same as my Khala also lived here only. So nothing to worry about their whereabouts.

While doing work I heard the ringing of my phone coming from my room. It was Alya Api, Arya's sister. Ohh that girl, I was trying to contact her from last three hours, but that madam wasnt recieving my call. Finally she got time.

"Assalamu alaikum." I heard her giving me salam but I was so way frustrated at her that I didnt care to reply to her salam.

"Are u coming tomorrow?" I asked, didnt want to start any chit-chat with her.

"Where is ur manners Shehnoo?" There she goes, trying to distract me from my anger. "U have to say Walaikum assalamn first."

"U keep your manners with u Api. Now answer me quickly if ur witch mother-in-law give u permission to come." Her mother-in-law was really a witch. She was pain in neck.

"Not yet. I will try to talk to her at night again."

"What is the problem of her? Why she have to act like a villain every damn time? Abbo and Lala abbo went there to invite in person. Yet she is doing drama." I snorted. When Abbo told that her mother-in-law didnt assure that they would come I was sure she would do dramas.

"I dont know yaar. She is not gonna let me live in peace until she is alive and in one piece." Her voice cracked.

"Why Talha bhai never say anything to her?"

"That same excuse." She sighed but next her voice was found with adoration. "And I love his that quality the most."

I felt so bad for her. She was in love with someone before her marriage. That bastard left her showing his middle finger and at that time she was forced into this marriage.

I saw her crying and breaking to that extent that I sweared I would not loss my heart to someone at any cost before marriage. And when there was so many handsome hunks on your tv screens and big screens why u have to crush over some random guy?

After she got married she again fall head over heels in love with Talha Bhai, her husband. He was the one and only son of his mother, when he was young she was divorced. His father married another women. He was devoted to his mother as his mother spent her rest of life looking only at him. His image was set like that she never moved on for him, for giving him her all love, so he had to bring all the happiness at her foot. She could take his life, but he wouldnt say a single word against her.

I knew it was a good thing that he loved his mother to no end. But when his mother was an evil then there was no mean to blind by her love. I didnt know when my Alya Api would get her happiness back. Her mother-in-law made her life hell. She cut her all relationship with her maternal family making some disgusting excuse. It was a long story. However I hoped she would let my Api come at the Dawat tomorrow. She hardly attend any functions of her own family.

"Ok now let my matter go. U tell me did u ever meet Sidharth's maternal family before. I mean after your nikah" Alya Appi removed the sadness in her voice being all cheery.

"Yeah. I met her Mama-Mamis. They came one time after nikah to meet me, but didnt get a chance to meet his cousins as they came without children. I didnt meet her Khala maybe I saw her once or twice when I was young and I dont remember it." I replied.

"So it is going to be the first time u two's whole family's meet with."

"Yup" I streached the 'p'." So how is my lil kid?" She had a four months cutie. Then we ended up with a long chit-chat session. I cut the call hearing Ammi was calling for me. I came her leaving all the work behind for Ammi to do alone.

Coming out of my room I saw Abbo coming. There was some bags in his hands. Abbo handed those to Ammi saying to keep them carefully. When I asked what were in those bags, abbo said there were some gold rings to give to my in-laws,meant those would be given to Lala Ammi's brothers and sister and also to my Abbo's brothers and sister-in-laws. Too many people.

'Abbo why u have to give that much costly things? Why u have to follow those damn rituals? Blah blah and blah'- according to tv serials an ideal daughter would say those things to her father if they would spend their money like that in her wedding or wedding related any ceremony. But limbo I was not one from any drama.

Huh. Like if a father wants to give a grand celebration to her daughter so why not. I didnt know what was the problem of those ideal daughters of tv screens. If my abbo had the ability to buy diamonds for my cause I would surely ask him to do so. After all he was my father and I had my every right on him and he could fulfill his wishes of my wedding according to his will.

"Shehnaaz do u remember there will be the ring ceremony also?" Abbo's words broke my trance. Shit!

"It slipped out of my head." My hand automatically reached to my head as a result of my foolishness.

Abbo shook his head at me, passing a lil lip pressed smile to me. "Sadia Bhabhi is still there at shop. After helping me to Choose those rings she didnt leave as she wanted to u two to go there and choose per your taste."

A "Oh" left my mouth as soon as I was given this information.

"Get ready. Sidharth will be there anytime to pick u." As abbo said I turned towards my room.

Being married at 19 was too early. But it didnt feel like that as I was at my  home only. There was no differance between my life that was going on and my life before nikah. Yeah I felt a lil change when we went to our village.

Firstly at Sidharth's behaviour I felt suffocated but then it all became normal. And Badhi Ammi's taunts and Taya Ammi's teasing made me remind a lil, rather than these, it didnt seem to me that my life took any drastic turn. Maybe our parents planned everything like that only as our nikah at an early age shouldnt effect our life.

These thoughts were running through my mind when I was stepping into new clothes. A sigh escaped from me. I was really excited for tomorrow as it was the first time my maternal and paternal family was going to be together.

While setting my hijab around my neck my eyes fall on the anklet laying my dressing table. My face cracked a smile.

Flashbacks

It was the day when we were returning to Delhi, the day after we visited my Nani's house. While I was about to sit beside the window, Sidharth came flying from where I didnt know and pushed me aside to sit where I wanted to. I glared at him for his kidish behaviour and he shrugged in return.

Yeah it was almost unbelievable that we were the both who were not talking to each other while coming here.

When we were moving towards our destination slowly Sidharth said me to forward my hand. I looked at him wanted to know the reason.

Sighing he shook his hand and pulled my hand in front and placed a beautiful anklet on my hand. I was so fond of collecting anklets of different designs. And believe me maybe I went every shop in Delhi whenever I felt like buying one, but I had never seen one like that.

"From where u discover it?" I looked at that anklet and then looked at him. I repeated the act twice.

"U ask too many questions." He replied. "And madam this beautiful things can be find there in village also. What do u think that things only can be in cities?"

"Wow." That one word only came out from my mouth.

"And it was ur Eidi. So u can never say that I didnt give ur Eidi in ur furst Eid." I only gave him a smile."
-----

Giving a last glance at my own slef in the mirror, I hurriedly descended only to see his car arrival. He parked the car and greeting him a salam, I got inside.

"I heard from Arya Api." He stated as soon as I put the seat-belt. The whole ride passed talking about Alya Api and her sorrows.

After we reached at that specific store I didnt find Lala Ammi there. That store's manager informed us that she left fifteen minutes ago. He showed us many rings, and us being wanted her suggestion, as she wanted to chose personally, Sidharth gave her video call.

We picked our respective rings when Lala Ammi was yet at call. So Sidharth passed me his wallet to pay. Opening his wallet I saw there was a picture of mine. He roamed around with my picture? I looked at him being amused.

I showed him that picture turning the wallet mouthing, "what is this?"

He shrugged saying, "Sab rakthe hai."

I repeated inaudibly,'sab rakthe hai.'

I glanced at that picture once more it was around three years back. If he wanted to keep a picture of mine like husbands keep their wife's pictures, he could keep an adult pic of mine at least. What was that? Okay I was keeping my way of thinking in a zigzag way aside only not wanting to make things awkward again. So let's dont mention anything about this awkwardness. Uhum. 'Take a deep breath and remember only the good things." I chanted this to myself before going back to my normal self.

After packing that two rings when the manager himself handed us( as this store was Lala Abbo's, he gave it on rent) we decided to go to a restaurant, umm actually it was the restuarant we always did meet ups. Those old days!

Entering inside when I found the table we used to seat always was blocked my mood turned sour. Noticing the sudden change in ny mood he decided to speak, "Come. We can sit there." He pointed at a middle seat.

But nah I was in no mood to sit other where. "Nope. I will not." I didnt like to be in the centre as I didnt like the to be the centre of everyone's attention.

"Wait karna hai kia tuje?" He said that statement lightly but I took it seriously.

"Yeah actually good idea." I stood there grinning at him.

He gave me 'are u serious?' look and I only grinned more. Shaking his head he leaned on the nearby wall. I was feeling a heavy gaze on me, maybe I was just feeling. I looked everywhere but didnt care to look at my side. Bcz why was he going to stare at me?  After five minutes he pulled me making me lean on him completely. I blinked several times at his sudden action. He caressed my hair letting them in my hijab which accidently came out. How much I was puting effort to ignore the sounds of my beating heart, I couldnt.

I felt the air entering my veins when we hear a click sound of camera and we turned facing the sound's source.

Next a girl squeling in aww. "I swear I never saw any romantic couple than u guys. Sry I clicked a pic without letting u guys know. But I couldnt help it. This sight in front of me was so catchy---"

She was busy blabbering herself. We looked at each other, then at her and again I looked at him horrified. What the girl was blabbering? Couples can be romantic while kissing and we were romantic and the cutest without being intimate. Ok that was enough. Seriously she said the last thing? How? And that too we? I would nearly to faint.

"Madam can u kindly delete our pic that u have taken recently. I think we are not comfortable u having our pic." I commented politely. I thought Sidharth would be also agree with me. But he didnt.

"Let it go Shehnoo." He pulled me when only I noticed that that table was empty now. I also didnt say anything as I didnt want to drag the matter.

I ordered a pizza where he just ordered one coffee. Our order was arrived in moments. Picking a slice I offered him when he denied.

"Am I going to eat a whole pizza?" I insisted him again. He took this time.

"What will happen if u eat the whole pizza. Abhi maintain karnahi kio hai? Abhi moti hujawogi toh problem kiya hai koyi ladka dekne thorina araha." He exactly repeated the words of Tayi Ammi, those two or three lines which made me embarrassed like hell. I cringed, closing eyes, remembering that situation again.

Sidharth let out a loud laugh seeing my reaction, I opened my eyes to see him rolling on the floor was the only remained thing to do in his laughter.

I fumed throwing a ''shut up'' at his face. He passed me a "sorry" trying to suppress his laugh.

"Tayi Ammi bhi kiya item haina?" Agreeing with him I started to finish the remaining pizza.

I noticed that a girl was staring at him like he was some kind of showpiece decoring any store.

"Look there." I told Sidharth, pointing at the table where was that girl sitting. He turned back to look and said, "what?"

"That girl will be perfect for u, wont she?" I wanted to play a lil. He looked at me bored, " Really?"

"Yess. U both will look cool standing beside each other. No?"

"Shehnoo I also find someone for u. Wanna see?" He said when we were getting up after finishing the food.

He pointed towards a uncle maybe in his mid 60. I gave him a flat look. "Tere liye mene kitni sundar ladki choose ki aur tuje ek uncle mila mere liye. Kitna kamina hai tu." I punched his shoulder as we both laughed together.

I payed the bill and we headed to his car. If that was any man other than him he must be want to pay that bill himself for being a gentleman. That thing sometimes seems fake and to be honest I always found it fake. But Sidharth was not like that he undestand that a woman also can be gentlewoman. Right? And I loved the way he was.

As soon as Sidharth started the car his phone buzzed. It was a video call from an unknown number on whatsapp. He told me to recieve and put it on the handle of mobile.

"Hey Sidharth." It was a girl. I didnt know who she was. And yeah she surely wasnt seeing that I was also there.

"Hi." He greeted back. "Is Pink Lips missing me? U find time to call me?"

"Shut up Sidharth. Dont call me that." She snapped.

"What? Pink lips? But that was your favourite. Wasnt it?" He was flatly teasing that girl and playing all innocent.

"Yeah u r right. That was. It is past so dont." She warned. "And I called u as I saw u r online and also to let u know that is my new number. And-"

She couldnt finish her sentence as Sidharth already spilled what she was about to say." And I m not going to send her pictures."

"Please please please. I will do with only one picture of her. Only one." She plead only to meet with his disagreement.

"Yaar I have never seen her. Please one photo. U said u will show us ur wife only when we come India. And we are here. So dont show tantrums." Now I was more eager to know who she was. As she was asking for my pictures.

"Nah. U will see urself tomorrow. So wait for just one day. And tell Khala to wait also. Bye bye." He cut the call. By now I guessed she was her cousin sis who lived in Oman.

"She is Faiza. My Khala's daughter." Actually though she was his cousin but I never met her nor I knew her as he didnt talk much about his maternal family while I always kept chirping about them.

"U know what when she was lil kid she used to dance on the song Pink Lips like it was the last day of her life and we got a chance to give her a nickname 'Pink Lips'." He shook his head maybe remembering those days.

"And she didnt like that name. That's why u still call her by this name." I completed knowing him well, how he loved to do leg pullings.

"Btw how years old is she?" I asked wanting to know more about her.

"She is 20. Will turn 21 in next month."That meant they both were almost same age.

"Wow." I exclaimed.

"U had too many options when Lala Ammi wanted u to get married with one of your cousins. Arya, Hafsa, Me and also Faiza." I didnt know if I said something wrong. That was just a subject hit my mind, so I shared it with him. I never wanted to know why he chose me as I wasnt sure that if he got a chance to make a choice.

The car stopped and I halted in my seat. Then I realized he stopped the car as we reached at the basement of our building where I lived.

He came out of the car and opened the car door of my side. I thought he didnt want to discuss about the thing I stated a moment ago. So I was about to move to go to the lift when he hold my hand and took my hands in his.

"You are right. I had many options. But always remember it u had been always the selection." He cupped my face next and kissing my forehead he got into the car. Next moment I was standing all alone there.

I was frozen, my mind was blank. Why? I didnt know it that time. But It was happening as I never shared such moments before with anyone. Also I was confused about what he said and I also didnt want to emphasis my mind to think about it knowing well that it would only lead me to behave like the way Sidharth did at village.

My mantra wasnt changed. Going with the flow was the path I was following. And seeing it was going well till now I was adamant to follow this hoping for the good things only.

I went inside the lift slowly not wanting to replay the scene which happened a moment ago. Little Did I knew in that talk of options and selection he gave a lifetime assurance of staying by side.

-----

Dawat- It's special feast arranged or offered to celebrate any joyous occasion.

Shehnaaz's look

▪ The next update is upto u guys. I will start typing seeing the response only.

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PS:- It was more pretty with my book 'Want To Live'

~Fari❤