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(Just imagine that this dupaata is red .Don't we all love the combination of white and red 💖 )

"I'll get ready in five minutes"". Haya said and she rushed into washroom to change into her white dress. It was Saman's nikkah and Haya was over the moon. Zain bhai was such a nice guy. He had this gentleman, positive energy to himself. And the glasses that rested on his nose , gave him that Clark-Kent look. That jerk named Taimoor is someone avoidable, I would not let him dampen my mood. Haya, pledged to herself. She was not going to miss this , just because he was Saman's brother. I just can't wait for the wedding !!! Haya thought to herself as she applied a her favorite Mabyeline crayon lipstick in shade 10.

Tahira Phupo and Phopa decided to go for Nikkah first because Zain Bhai , aka the jiju had come on short leave from Australia and had to go back. Wedding was going to take place in August. As they had to get apply for visa for Saman. So nikkah had to be done first while Rukstati was gonna take place in August.

And Haya literally being the deewana Abudllah in every wedding just couldn't wait for the wedding to happen. She loved the wedding festivities and all. The happy vibe those yellow fairy lights have and all that Shadi atmosphere."Haya get going. We are getting late for the function. ", Her brother, Hassan called from downstairs.

"Coming in 5 minutes", She replied shouting at the top of her lungs . This was one of her bad habits. When here family was legit about to leave the house and lock the doors and stuff. She felt like she had to pee or something.

Taking a final satisfied look in the mirror , Haya rushed downstairs. She may be fat as cow when she was a kid. But dude puberty hit her like a motorcycle or something. She was smart now. Not slim like a stick that people consider her malnourished. Nor fat like a cow.

Haya believed that fat was a bad word though. There was no such thing as fat . It was chubby. And there was no such thing as skinny in her dictionary. It was super fit or super slim. Being herself bullied over her body, she hated being a part of that bully gang.

Haya wore a white shalwar qameez with red dupatta ,following the theme of nikkah like a pro. Puberty may not be as kind to her as it was to Taimoor, but it was kind enough. Haya did not consider herself a swan or some beauty. She considered herself average. Not sour on eyes nor sweet on eyes. Maybe the reason of low confidence in herself was Taimoor.

Phupho's place looked like heaven. Haya had always loved the fairy lights and the flowers hanging here and there. Phupho's house was sparking ,draped in the fairy lights which was hung from the roof covering the house like a shawl. It looked so dreamy. And Haya so dazzled by all of the wedding shenanigans, that for a minute she forgot to breathe.

As they got out of the car , her mother told her to get the gift baskets from the trunk as she marched inside with Baba Jani. Haya was left with Hassan. "Bhai , yaar app bhi shadi kar lain na! (Brother, please get married). I want to see our house decorated like this. Phupho kay haan dosri shadi ho rahi hai, MashAllah say aur humaray haan ek nai hoe abhi tak.(Phupho, second child is getting married while no one from our house is married.) " Haya requested as she looked at the lights dreamily. Oh, how she wished to see her ghar (home) draped in lights like this.

"Itna shook hai tu tumhari kara detay hain.(If you really want it why not get you married.) You are just about done with you Bachelors",Hassan replied as he handed over to her the basket full of sweets and then closed the trunk after placing another basket on the roof of car. "It can't happen. You are elder, you go first." Haya replied as she took the basket and went inside without waiting for her brother. She was so excited to go in and see Saman . And Aiman appa and Ferozey too.

Haya was awestruck by the fairy lights hanging from the roof of the house. And that flower bail that reached the roof was also covered in fairy lights making those white flowers shine. All of that was magical."Ya Allah kitna pyara lag raha hai Phupho ka ghar.MASHALLAH"((Phupho's place is looking so pretty .) Haya mumbled to herself .

Haya was so lost in appreciating her surroundings that she collided with something solid. ughhh. It hurt. While rubbing her forehead she looked up to find none other than Taimoor. No shit dude! Here comes another "Watch where you are headed to, lecture."

Why does he have to steal my every happy moment? Her alter-ego asked.

"Watch where you are headed too ,Shortie."Taimoor told her as he held the basket full of sweets which she would have dropped if it were not for him.

"I just got blinded by your ugliness." Haya replied grabbing that basket back from him as she looked at him with irritation . He was wearing a white Shalwar Kameez which had small golden flowers embroidered on it.His sleeves were rolled up and those veins were showing, again. The truth was far from which she had just said. For ,he was a eye candy. But then comebacks are just supposed to be comebacks. They are not supposed to be true.

"The word you were looking for is HOT, Attractive , handsome. But I then they do not teach these words in Kindergarten so I can't hold your poor vocabulary against you. Go , look for Ferozey, maybe she can help you with it." He said dismissing her. Haya ,wasn't ready to just take that in and let him go.

What was with him and dismissing me ? I am not a fly he could squat away whenever he is done.We are done when I am done. She thought .He had to stay and listen to her reply, so she blocked him

"Hahhaha Taimoor I don't know who lead you on . But the only thing that you can turn on is a microwave." Haya said as she moved sideways finally allowing him to leave. Haya could not help but make a face.She had to bump into him out of all the people. JUST HER BAD LUCK!

But dude she could still smell his cologne. Did I get his cologne on myself ? Whatever. Haya. No need to overthink it. Concentrate on the shortie part .He called you Shortieee. THAT JERK ." Thinking about Taimoor was putting her in a bad mood and she didn't want that.

Abortttt!!! Think about bright side. Saman's Nikkah and your great comebacks. They were so great that he is probably going in negative right now. The petty part of her whispered reminding her of the scorecard she kept for the insults and all. The cologne was intoxicating though . Her heart screamed.

Great! Everything was turning out great. Uzair bhai ,Aiman appi's husband held their 5-year-old Ferozey in his arms while Aiman Appa was busy setting Saman's dupatta which had dislocated when the little boy from Zain bhai's side sat on her dupatta. Ferozey, too was wearing white gharara ,her little red dupatta draped around her neck. They all we were waiting for Maulana sahab to go on with the Nikkah. After nikkah, sweets were to be distributed so Tahira Phupho asked her to bring those from the storeroom. Actually the groom's side is supposed to distribute sweets, but since Saman wanted to have those nikkah goody bag's , Taimoor had ordered for them too. The sister inside her had danced when he had stood up to full fill his sister's wish. It was pretty strange , how great he was with everybody , except her.

Haya was humming her way to the storeroom when she saw Taimoor standing there in the corner wiping his tears. Awwww, someone is emotional . She thought. But as soon as he saw her ,he turned back to his normal ass of a self. And pretended as if he had something in his eye which was making him cry like a baby . There was no need to hide those tears from her. To her they did not make him any less of a man or vulnerable. They made him more human. But what did he care about her rationale and opinions?

Haya opened the door of storeroom. Storerooms and ugh darkness and being alone and alot of stuff beside that creeped her out. It was pitch black, so she used her mobile phone torch to find the switch and turn on the lights. With the lights on, she sighed with relief as the room illuminated and all the demons of darkness disappeared. The baskets were placed on the old table at the far end. And Haya being a scared chicken nugget , decided to grab the basket and run for her life . But as soon as she got hold of the basket, someone turned the lights off.

"Who is there ?", Haya asked finding some courage. Her voice was shaking with fear and so were she. "YA Alllah madad. Ya Allah madad",(YA ALLAH HELP)she chanted as she placed the baskets back and took the phone out which she had placed in the basket out, to turn on the flash.

But suddenly the lights were switched on .

"You !!!! What the hell are you doing here? You nearly scared me to death. This is not a prank Okay." Haya's voice was shaking with fear.It was Salman. And he was smiling. Creep!

"I thought I'd help you ", he said and tried to take basket from her hand . Touching her hands while taking the baskets. His touch had lingered. His presence was creeping her out.

What the hell? She thought as she pushed him away not liking his touch as at all.

"Cut the Crap Haya . I want you. You want me. Why don't you just agree? And accept my proposal. ", he said dropping the basket and coming towards her.

All Haya could see was red. Was her cousin going to take advantage of her? The thought made her whole body shiver with fear and disgust. And proposal ?What proposal was he talking about? She would never accept his proposal . That sly dog. And why in the hell would she want him. Want him? My ass. She thought.

Haya was furious and scared.

"Don't you dare touch me. I said No. And it means No. Now please get away from me " ,She told him. "Not interested. "

But he paid her no heed. And kept moving close to her. Shouting her lungs out was not going to help thanks to the music system downstairs.But nevertheless she had to try .

Salman kept inching close to her, snatching her red jacquard dupatta away as she tried to cover herself with it with a hope that it would shield her from his dirty gaze. Haya dropped her phone in the tug of war which cracked into pieces . His 5'9 frame towered over her. His hungry eyes were mind rapping her. Lingering on her body as he touched her check.

Haya's back was away from the door. She shouldn't run as he would have caught her. But she still did. Haya shoved Salman to aside as she ran for the door. When she reached the door , she pulled the knob but it didn't open. Had someone locked them outside. But why would they? Maybe, the maids had locked it. Banging the door ,Haya was hoping that someone would hear her please and shouts for help. But how wrong she was?

Salman looked at her and smiled .That disgusting piece of shit. "No one will hear you, Haya quit playing the damsel please." And so she cried, and tried to reason with him "Please listen. No one will know about this. It will be between you and me .I promise. Let me go Salman. Please don't do this". But he paid no attention to her words as he pulled her away from the door and closer to him. Haya felt his breath on her face , more tears swept down her cheeks. There was no saving from here.

She held his shoulders trying to shove him away not liking the nearness. But he looked at her shocked. What was happening?

"What are you saying Haya? I can't do this. This is against our culture. Our religion. Please wear your dupatta. We will get married oneday , InshAllah. Until then.... "

What the fudge was he saying? What was wrong with him. She was confused but thankful that she had talked some sense into him. Her pupils dilated with shock when someone pulled her and rotated her full 360.

"Oh ,my Allah. I told everyone. Not to send this girl to a co-school but no. They had to . LOOK at her, now seducing my son. "said Tai Amma .She was standing in the door which was now miraculously open. Standing behind her was Haya's father and mother , followed by Taya and Phupho .

What the shit was she saying? Dismissing her Tai, she was glad that everyone had heard her please and came to rescue her. TAI AMMI, like a gutter was spitting shit about her. And everyone stood there. With questioning eyes.

Running towards her father , Haya hugged him . "Baba Jani, shukar ha app log ayege. Salman ......" (Thank God, father you are here) Haya broke down. She could not complete the sentence as Tai cut her off and began slandering her character. "Tauba kitni jhooti hai yeh.Hum sub nay dekha hai ,phir bhi monn pay jhoot bol rahi hai." (How much of a liar she is . She is lying on our faces when we witnessed everything from our own eyes.)

"Baba Jani ,this is a lie. He corned me. You trust me, right? ",Haya said with hopeful eye explaining the situation. . What if he doesn't? Her alter ego asked. But why won't he? Haya was his golden child.He always did trust her and listened to her.

"Baba jani , Salman cornered me.", Haya said as she hugged her father waiting for him to hug her back. Waiting for the protection of his arms which she really needed. Which sadly never came. Why was he silent now? Why was no one defending her honor when Tai and her so called son were calling me names?

"Now she is putting the blame on my son. Why didn't you not run ?Huh ? Why did you not shout? If you were being forced. Lies I tell you."

"I tried but you couldn't hear me because of music. And this door was locked. He locked it." Haya said, pointing towards Salman who looked at her as if she had grown a pair of horns. He deserved Oscars for his mind-blowing acting. She too would have been fooled if she wasn't a victim herself.

"Astagfirullah. This girl is full of lies. This door was open. Didn't I and us all not come through this door.If it was locked how did we get in?"

"I don't know. If instead of me you would have focused on your son Tai...,"Haya began only to be stopped by her dad.

"Haya if you liked him. You could have said something. I would have talked to my brother about your marriage to Salman. "Baba jani said.

Wait !He didn't trust her? She was shaking as the realization poured on to her like a bucket of lava , burning her outsides as well as insides. Her father didn't trust her. The realization was enough to kill her. It was as if the world crashed on her.

"Baba jani you have to believe me. I'd never disrespect you like this." She said but her father stood like a statue, disappointment floating in his eyes as he looked at her with disdain.

Turning towards Haya he said "You'll get married to Salman. And we'll say your dadi (granny) got ill and she wanted to see you both married." Haya had never seen her father so powerless or disappointed.

"I am sorry Bhai. (brother) Please accept my daughter as your daughter in law and save me from humiliation. " Her father looked so helpless. And for the first time , she thought of him as old and weak ,powerless. Haya had always considered her father to be a man of steel. Invincible, as if nothing could get to him. But now he looked like a broken man.

But before her Taya could say anything her Tai refused . "We can't accept your loose character-ed daughter. God know what she did before and with who".

"What are you saying Mom? Chacha jaan, I'll marry her. You don't have to worry about it. You'll never hear about it from us.", Salman said. That liar. That bastard.That swine.

"I will never every marry you . You liar. You filthy human.Lanat ho..... (Curse on... )" Haya said with gritted teeth as she turned to pounce of him when she was stopped by booming voice of her father.

"Haya !!!!!! You have disappointed me enough. You couldn't humiliate me in a way better than this. I wish I never had a daughter. You either marry him. Or just leave." Her Baba jani said .

Her father had never raised his voice on her. Never! Not even when she had spilled ink all over the official documents that he had to submit in the court. Not even when, he was called by Haya's Principal when she had not so intently destroyed school property. That time, he had just smiled at her ,while Principal lectured her . In her defense, it was not her who had broken the window glass. But she never got a chance to explain that to her father. And he never demanded an explanation. He just sat through , listening to Mam's Nasheed lecture and then went home. No questions were asked. No, demanding of explanations. It was like he knew, she would never do something like that. Now, was a completely different story. Her father looked shattered and angry. And he wasn't believing the explanations she was giving. Haya, helplessly turned towards her mother hoping she'd say something. Come to her rescue

"Mama you know . I'd never do, this right? Please tell Baba jani. ". She begged her holding her hand. But everyone stood like a statue. One by one she begged everyone, she thought would believe her. But none did. No one. Everyone stood there tongue tied .

"Tahira phupho you know me, right? You know that your sunshine won't do it right? He was harassing me. You believe me right? " Haya asked her as tears continued to fall making her vision blur.

But all Phupho did was cry and patted her cheeks. Signaling, that she too was helpless. That she couldn't defend her honor even if she wanted to .

What a family? She had. No one trusted her enough. No one. This realization shattered her into pieces. And she lost all the strength. Her legs felt weak and she fell on the floor. Crying like a baby while Tai continued to utter shit about her.

"Stop humiliating me more, Haya. Guest are out there waiting. Either get married to Salman or just get out of our lives." Baba jani said furious. He never talked to her in this tone .

"Is ........there anyone ..............who believes me?", Haya asked hiccupping her way through the sentence.

"I do. And I'll marry you. And treat you with respect and esteem which you truly deserve. " said a voice. Her heart couldn't believe that there was someone who believed her. Haya looked up to see the face of her savior. She was blinded by her tears but as soon as the image formed, her heart stopped .It was Taimoor. Did he trust her? Of all the people. He did? Was he pranking her like he always had? Why would he believe her when no one did? Not her family. Not her father. He did. Was her mind making things up? Hearing stuff ,playing games with her?