یہ شرطِ الفاظ بھی عجب ہوتے ہیں

میں پورا اترتا ہوں،

وہ معیار بدل دیتے ہیں۔

"Ye shart-e-alfaz bhi ajab hote hain..

Mai pura utarta hoon,

vo mayar badal dete hain."

It was her mayun.

Faisal, Saima and Hassan had arrived since yesterday. Shahvez's flight back was the day after tomorrow, a day before the nikkah. The arrangements for the mayun were complete except for a few minor things that were taken care of by Fahad. Zaina sent out invitations to her other friends for the evening to attend. Only the ladies were allowed to invite their friends to the function.

Although she didn't want to have a huge event as per her ideal nikkah situation with the least of expenses; gradually it turned out bigger than her expectation. Zaina talked to Shahvez on call several times since morning. Each time, telling him to come back earlier than the fixed day but that wasn't possible. He would encourage her not to worry about him and enjoy the function.

She didn't get a chance to talk to Amina properly since that day even though she had visited once more. Everyone was too busy and over-the-head due to the preparation for the events that they couldn't have discussed without making an issue obvious. Zaina decided to have this conversation after the nikkah when everything settled down.

Minahil's longest wish was to personally interview Hassan Mirza one day to convince herself of him for her best friend. It had finally come true yesterday when he arrived. She was even more excited than Zaina herself.

"Hello, myself Minahil Masood urf Zaina's best friend!" She pushed Zaina aside and introduced herself to Hassan in the drawing room after lunch.

He looked at Zaina immediately, suppressing a smile.

"Ussey kya dekh rahe ho? Permission hai don't worry." She pinched Zaina.

"Minahilllll.. haath thora sa hola." Zaina got close to her and whispered.

"Fikar not!" Minahil had almost yelled.

Hassan was just observing this weird affliction.

"Tum lo ab Hassan ka interview, mujhe mama ne bulaya hai." She left the scene avoiding any more embarrassment.

"Ok so question number one.. apki screen per ye raha!" Minahil mimicked Amitabh Bachan from kbc.

Hassan was amused at Minahil being Zaina's best friend. He had always seen Zaina as a reserved, mind-your-business type girl but this one was a different breed.

"Tum kbc nahi dekhte? Bare hi boring ho bhae." Minahil snapped her fingers. It was her favorite show and anyone who didn't watch it was considered boring by her including Zaina.

"Boring? Pehli baar ye wala compliment suna hai but ok, koi baat nahi."

"Acha batao, Kya kerte ho?"

"Job." He laughed.

"Wow, very funny! Ab pata nai Konsi road se patte hatate ho. Allah hi Jane."

"Un patton ki bhi achi khasi kamayi aati hai. Fikar not!" He copied Minahil.

She gave him a brief look.

"Ok.. temperament kesa hai tumhara?" She looked down at the floor.

"Bohat low. Apni dost ko kehna bach k rahe."

Minahil hid a smile.

"Ammi ya bv?" Minahil asked.

"Ab aap Controversial bhi hain?" He sat up.

"Vo to mei hoon. Aur saare ulte jawab doge to mei shadi nai hone dungi Mr Hassan." Minahil folded her arms.

"Mat hone do. Mei to ker k rahunga." Hassan stood up in front of her.

"Cute!" Minahil laughed.

"How much do you love her?" She asked unexpectedly.

"Jitna ussey lagta hai uss se zyada." His reply was quick.

"Hmm. I hope Tum sach bol rahe ho aur agar ye jhoot hua to phir dekhna." She pointed a finger.

"Ok. Minahil right?" He reminded himself.

"Yes." She said enthusiastically.

"No more questions for now." She said to him.

"Soo.. mei jeeta 1 crore ya nahi?" He replied sarcastically.

Minahil had laughed and walked away.

****

Zaina was in her room when She entered.

"Kya cheez hai banda." Minahil ran into her.

"Tujhe aaj pata chala hai?" Zaina laughed.

"Haan wese lagta hi tha koi cheez hai. Aaj pata bhi chal gaya."

"Kya pucha tune?" Zaina asked.

"Bas pucha hai.. Meri puri approval hai wese."

"Hanji Kyu nai hogi.."

"Bilkul! Jaldi se ker shadi takey phir tere bachey mujhe khala bulaien." Minahil ran out the room.

"Aur mujhe bhiiiiiiii" Noor peaked her head in the room and then ran after Minahil as well.

"Hawww lantiiiyooo" Zaina also ran after them both.

••••

The guests, Zaina's friends and some close extended family and family friends from both the bride and groom's side had started coming in. The setting was chosen by Zaina in their own lawn. A huge square tent had been set up; in between was a flower decorated dome and seatings for people all around. The whole lawn however, was filled with lights, also creating an entrance trail with flower poles on each side.

All of Zaina's friends were upstairs in her room, adding final touches to her makeover.

"Bas karo tum log, extra ho jaoungi mai." Zaina complained.

"O bibiii tumhari apni shaadi hai! Kisi gawandi ki nahii.. Aur shadiyon Per koi extra vextra nai dekha jata!" One of them said.

"Yaar haannn but mai-"

"Chup, Bohat bohattt pyari lag rahi ho MashAllah!" Minahil exclaimed.

She blushed and they all started singing,

"sajna hai mujhe sajna k liye." It was truly cringeworthy and they all burst out laughing at the annoyed face Zaina had made.

"Bichare Hassan bhai ka wese Kya banega..?" Raima said.

"Hum to bas humdardi hi ker sakte hain Yaar." Minahil replied, making a disappointed face.

Both of them received a punch from the "bride" who still hadn't forgotten her kung Fu moves.

She had looked at herself in the mirror one last time before leaving the room. Because it was not an "only ladies" mayun and there would be men including Hassan himself, she observed her hijab. All of them had a group hug moment before heading downstairs.

The ceremony involved everyone sitting with the groom/bride one by one, presenting a gift, blessing them, applying a little oil/ turmeric on them and a moo mithayi rasam. Zaina sat on one side of the dome, opposite to Hassan rather than beside him. The men hadn't come in yet, so everyone had insisted on a dholki and dance session until they arrived. The one thing Zaina didn't want to do was apply henna. Half an hour of forcing and persuading her, everyone gave up. It just wasn't her thing!

Minahil was sitting beside Zaina, now chanting loudly. Sara had taken the dholak while Noor brought out the spoon. Madiha and Zahra were sitting on the edge of the dome and Saima sat beside Hassan's seat. Amina phuppo had also just come in. Her husband was to attend later. Fahad was still wrapping up some of the things with Asif's help in front of the house when she got up feeling bad for her poor brother and went to give him a big hug for doing so much for her.

"Bas ker pagli rulayegi Kya?" He said to her. "Rula hi na doon mei apne bhai ko!" She replied.

All of her favorite people were present except Shahvez. She was thankful for each one of them!

***

Zara dholki bajao goriyo...

Mere sang sang gao goriyo...

Everyone's claps were rhythmic. Alisha was sitting in Zaina's lap while she clapped her little hands together.

Yeh ghari hai milan ki.

Aik sajan se sajan ki.

*She's wearing the clothes/jewellery in the Previous picture.*

"Woooooooooo" Minahil along with everyone else shouted and cheered in her ears.

All of them laughed uncontrollably, deliberately annoying her. But she enjoyed it. The next song had now started, Sara and Noor played a faster tune.

***

Kaala doria kunde naal artaya oe

Ke chhota devra bhaabee naal lartaya oe

Oh jutti oh leyni jeyrti kurr kurr kardee ey..

Ke sohre nai jaana sass burt burt kardee ey..

Everyone had looked at Saima while laughing at this last line. She got up and came to Zaina, hugging her from the side. They both sang together. Now it was time for some performances. Minahil, Sara, Noor, Rukhsar and Zaina's other friends had prepared something.

The song was played by the speaker. Everyone had moved to the corners and created space in the middle.

****

All of them danced and twirled around according to their steps. Minahil pulled Zaina in and Sara went to get Saima, Madiha and Amina as well. Everyone did their own thing now circling Zaina in the middle. Minahil and her also did a little ball dance, dying the whole time at how Minahil was about to drop Zaina while doing a step and she dragged her down with her yelling "kaminiiiiiiii."

••••

The songs were shut down before maghrib time and till after everybody prayed inside. It was also time for all the men to enter so the ladies took their places respectively. Hassan's car had come in and he gave his grand entrance into the tent, everyone else standing behind him.

He wore a plain but decent looking shalwar kameez with a golden-maroon long stole around his neck. He walked in saying salam to her with his eyes and a warm smile to which she replied with a smile sitting in front of him. He didn't sit on his chair but on the ground, crossing his legs. Iftikhar, Hadi, Asif and Fahad had also took seats around him. After all the "exercise" the ladies were hungry. There were sweets, badam lassi, pulao rice and chai! They decided to eat first before starting the ceremony.

"Yaar aaj to maan ja acha lag raha hai!" Noor had said to Zaina who was now drinking her second glass of lassi.

"Hmm, decent!" Zaina replied.

"Ooo decent shecentttt" Sara and Minahil both said dramatically, standing behind her.

It was so loud she was about to choke on her lassi.

"Ye ring kahan se aayi?" Noor had noticed and touched it.

"Hassan ne di thi." Zaina said casually.

"Oooo ring shinggggg" Another loud horn was blown from the two clowns.

This time Hassan had heard them along with the women. They were laughing when Sara and Minahil both ran out the tent, avoiding the flying dandiya thrown at them by Amina.

"Bas karo begairto!"

Hassan had suddenly put a huge portion of the haldi paste all over Fahad's face on which he took another and threw back on Hassan's. The haldi-throwing game had expanded till Hadi, Asif and the kids. They ran around the whole tent putting each and everything on each other when Iftikhar had told them to settle down. They also put a little on Zaina's face while running around her in circles. She accidentally threw a little at Hassan thinking it was Fahad. Hassan didn't wipe that bit off with the rest of his face later.

Both her tayas had blessed them both and given them gifts. Madiha had kissed her daughter's forehead and applied haldi on her face when Hassan had come and sat by Madiha.

"Chachi, aapne ghabrana naiii haiii.!!" Hassan said, smiling at her.

[Imran janiii, In case you didn't get the joke🤡]

She swayed his hair and smiled back. Everyone in the tent laughed including her, sitting in front of him.

"Zaina aapi has rahi hain? Hun sanu ghabran dey! Hun saada banda ae!." Hadi loudly exclaimed at Hassan in Punjabi.

The laughter was louder this time. He hid behind Farah when Zaina stared at him. Amina had gifted her a beautiful pendant and applied lots of haldi on her face! She was almost teary looking at her little Zainu turn into the woman she was. She also hugged her nephew, who was complaining that his only phuppo loved Zaina more than him.

Zahra, Sara, Rukhsar and Farah had all circled her and covered her entire face with oils and haldi giving her a group hug. Fahad and Iqra were next. Alisha had handed her a gift and received 10 kisses from Zaina. Minahil and her other friends had all congratulated Hassan and asked him to take great care of their best friend. She was missing Shahvez a lot during that time.

After the ceremony was over, everyone was busy talking when Hassan had told her that she looked beautiful. She couldn't reply or didn't know what to reply when Minahil replied for her.

"Hanji humei pata hai hamari Zaina hai hi itni pyari, tum kyu gulab jamun bane huey ho?"

"Gulab jamun hi pasand hain inhe hum kya karein?" Hassan replied.

"Hmm I see," She did the wiggly eyebrows at Zaina.

"Wese tum to bare chupe Rustom ho.." Minahil said to him. Hassan looked confused.

"Acha khasa guitar bajana aata hai inko!" Noor had jumped in.

"Ohh" Hassan understood.

"Lekin mere paas hai nahi yahan." He said.

"Uss ka bandobast ho chuka!" Fahad said from behind.

Zaina was now about to pass out due to the embarrassment. Sara announced that the dulha sahab was now about to sing a song playing his guitar and everyone clapped for him. Hassan sat down and held the guitar, fixing the strings. Then he looked up at her.

Everyone was cheering, "Hassan! Hassan! Hassan!" She couldn't decide whether to blush or be surprised. She held onto Amina's arm and rested her head. There was now pin drop silence just within the calming wind that was blowing into the tent.

***

* play the song above *

•••••

He played the guitar, starting the song.

"Dehleez pe mere dil ki,

Jo rakhe hain tune kadam,

Tere naam pe meri zindagi,

Likh di mere humdum..."

He sang and everyone's expressions grew into utter shock. No one except a few people knew Hassan Mirza, the advocate could sing this well!

Zaina avoided looking at him. She dug herself more into Amina's arm as he sang. His voice was fitting perfectly into the song as he continued the next line looking in her direction.

"Sacchi si hain yeh taareefein,

Dil se jo maine kari hain...

Jo tu mila to saji hain,

Duniya meri humdum..."

All the girls cheered loudly looking at Zaina.

"Ho aasmaa mila zameen ko meriii..

Aadhe aadhe poore hain hum,

Tere naam pe meri zindagi Likh di mere humdum!"

"Haan seekha mene jeena jeena kese jeena

Na seekha jeena tere bina humdum..."

Everyone sang the last chorus with him.

••••

The day was over and life looked like a fairytale once again. Where did the happiness come from? Whenever she was dragged down by life, Allah had lifted her up one way or another. Everytime she felt alone, Allah informed her that he was with her. He always had a plan for her and she trusted it.

******

‎ایک رات وہ گیا تھا جہاں بات روک کے

اب تک رکا ہوا ہوں وہیں رات روک کے۔

"Ek raat vo gaya tha jahan baat rok kay,

Ab tak ruka hua hoon wahin raat rok kay.

________________________________________

Here's another update peeps!

I really hope y'all like it!

Please commenttt and don't forget to vote.😘

I am very excited for the next chap.

The Raah-e-justajoo💔

Tho Next week is veryy busy for me because of school but I'll try my best to update once.

Stay safe and blessed pyare logoo!🖤

E,