Two weeks had passed and still it felt like yesterday. Like yesterday, she had come here, and received all the love and caring she had longed for. These two weeks were full of joy and fun. The wedding preparations were on it's peak, from everything and anything. Only a month was left and Irfa couldn't be more excited.

And about Shereyar, it seemed to her that he didn't exist. They weren't in talking terms so the silence wasn't affecting much...only for sometimes when he would think that he was way too rude with her.

"Mom....isn't Khizir coming to the wedding?" Shifa asked entering the lounge room where Saba and Irfa were writing something in the notepad.

"Mamma who is Khizir?" The next moment Irfa asked.

"Khizir is Arfa aapi's son. He is Zainab elder brother.'' Saba explained to Irfa and she hummed at her.

"Mom isn't he coming?" Shifa again asked.

"Yes he will come now shut your question box and go fetch me a glass of water." Saba said and Shifa went pouting making Irfa smile at her.

Time has wings, especially the one that gives happy memories. Another week passed in zeal and excitement of the wedding and loads of preparations. Shereyar had gone for a business trip a week ago and was returning at night probably.

"Mom....mom... where are you?" Shifa was shouting on the top of her lungs looking here and there and obviously not at her mother who was staring her with frustration.

"What happened now Shifa?" Saba asked her. She was a question box and not a day went to her asking hundred of questions.

"Mom aren't we going to pick shehry bhai from airport?" She asked...probably that was the most sensible one.

" Oh my god I really forgot, send the driver he will pick Sherey from the airport." Saba said and returned to her work. Irfa knew Shereyar was returning, and she could feel her nervousness growing. It was just her fear that she would again do something stupid to him. Nevertheless, shrugging it off she went to Sana for her assigned work.

"Mom." Shehreyar yelled entering the house. It was early night and the house was unusually silent. Saba and Shifa weren't home, but he didn't know. Hearing his voice she came in the lounge room.

"Mamma and Shifa has gone somewhere." She replied nervously looking down.

"Where is Sana api?" Sherey asked in a rough tone...couldn't help with that.

"She is sleeping." Irfa replied trying not to show her nervousness.

Nodding at her he directly went towards his room that was upstairs leaving her behind. All the time she was talking with him her heart was beating fast as if running a marathon. It was pointless, but then he could also scold him for pointless reasons.

Entering the house I called mom but nobody came. My flight was damn tiring and it felt like my bones were crushing. The jet lag is too much and it's getting hard to even stand. I saw her running inside the living room, almost running. She's mad or what? What is the reason for running.

'Stop taking out faults in her you were shouting.' What?

I was hungry but I couldn't ask her for food. She would end up doing some nonsense in the kitchen. I directly went to my room and got freshened up. I was hungry and that wasn't allowing me to sleep.

"Mom when will you come I am freaking hungry."

Go and ask for food. The thing that my mind said was right but I couldn't just go and ask her. I didn't want any more stuff thrown on myself.

You are stupid Shereyar...it was an accident, again my inner voice had to pop up. What's up with this voice in my head? It's popping up too often from past some days and every time it supported her.

Debating with myslef for around half an hour I decided to ask for food or else I won't be able to sleep. The flight's food was never in my list of eatables, I don't know why? Just they make me want to vomit. I got up and went downstairs. There must be something to eat, I hope I won't have to ask her.

I searched in the fridge...there was some vegetable curry but nothing to eat with eat, no bread, no rice. I mentally groaned and turned around.

Irfa? What's she doing?

Idiot she is knitting floor to make chapatis for you.

Shut up.

"You don't have to make them." I said in a cold tone.

"Mom asked me to she was tired, so she went to sleep." she replied and continued doing her work. I nodded at her back and got seated on the counter chair, waiting for the food.

After sometimes she placed my food in front of me and went away.She is strange...very strange I insulted her so many times, yet she is serving me food. Well that's not my concern.

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Two weeks were left for the wedding functions to begin and the only things left was shopping. It was Irfa's birthday but no one knew, she hadn't told anyone ever. How could she? It was the day her mother left her.

"Amma I am really sorry...because of me you had to leave this world. I am sorry." She was talking with her mother's photo like she always did.

"What's wrong Irfa?" Shifa asked as she saw her sitting idly and staring the photo frame.

"You scared me Shifa." She said.

"Oh I am sorry. Is everything ok?" Shifa again asked.

"It's my birthday and...and amma...'' Irfa spoke but couldn't complete as her tears had started flowing down her cheek. A lump formed in her throat. Her pain that was buried for sometime again rooted, shattering her again. People used to call her bad omen, it didn't hurt that much as it did when they used to mention her mother. It had always been the toughest part for her.

"Shh, don't cry. She won't like you crying like this. Stay strong." Shifa said softly embracing her. The comfort her words gave Irfa was unknown to her. They remained silent for sometime giving each other a much-needed space, but they were oblivious to the fact that someone else had also heard those things.

The whole Siddiqui family was busy in their respective shopping. Everyone was enjoying except Sherry as he was forced to join them. Shifa, Irfa and Zainab were doing their shopping together and Shereyar had to follow them as he couldn't leave the girls alone.

"Come on Irfa buy something for you it's your birthday."Shifa said in a tired voice when Zainab was not around.

"Hmm let's see." She said giving Shifa a tight-lipped smile. While moving to next shop in the mall she saw a beautiful earring. It was oxidized silver, long and extremely beautiful.

She stopped there and saw the price tag. It was expensive, way too much for her liking, so she left it there and moved away. Shehreyar was watching her from a little distance. Stepping towards the place he noticed the beautiful piece of jewel and when he noticed why she left it he was left surprised. She was different.

The shopping was going on and on for the whole week. The groom's side or to say every member of Siddiqui family were arriving at Siddiqui mansion as per the request of Mr Ahmed. The house was getting decorated as a bride.

___________

The elders were sitting in the lounge and talking amongst themselves when the much awaited guest entered the room in a cheerful aura surrounding him.

"Asslamoalaikum." He greeted everyone.

"Walekum assalam." Everyone replied in unison.

"Oh my goodness, everyone's here." He spoke beaming with joy. He was like this, always joyful, happy and noisy.

Shifa, Sana and Irfa were in the kitchen when they heard some noise from the lounge area.

''Khizu.'' Sana exclaimed looking at the new entry making everyone smiled at them and Khizir frown. He hated that nickname.

"Hey my jaan this is wrong you said you are my girlfriend and now you are getting married to Imran bhai." Khizir said making everyone laughed at that. Sana was like second mother to Shereyar and Khizir, and once Khizir as a child heard someone say girlfriend and asked Sana about it. Sana didn't want to spoil his innocence, so she said it means sister.

"Shut up you owl" This time it was Shifa. He went near her and pinched her nose as usual making her wiggle to get away.

"Why should I little rat." She scoffed at him.

"Asslamoalaikum Khizir. Bhai kaisa hai(how are you)?" Shehry went near him and hugged him as soon as he saw him in the living room.

"Bhala changa (all good)." Khizir replied smiling.

"I will meet you later... I have some work." Shereyar said and went out making him nod at Shereyar

"Mami, who's she?" He whispered to Saba painting Irfa who was talking to Shifa.

"She is Irfa...you remember your Zafar Mamu,...she is his daughter." Saba said.

"What?where did you find her?" He asked in surprise.

"It's long story...first go meet her and get freshen up." Saba said to khizir patting his head.

''Assalamoalaikum Irfa... I am khizir.'' He said with a genuine, polite smile.

"Walekum assalam." She replied and he smiled at her and went upstairs.

The house seemed to lit up after Khizir's arrival. It didn't take him much time to relax and joke around. Troubling Shifa for the uncountable times and helping here and there time passed and it was around noon when Shehreyar returned from his work.

"Hey Shehry!come here bro." Khizir called. He went near him and the both best friend got busy in their talks.

"Khizir why didn't you called me for picking you?" Shereyar asked him.

"See I wanted to give surprise to everyone....well I was successful." He said with a wink.

"Now you tell me why did you not do the Masters?" Khizir asked.

"Actually I wanted to help baba...he seemed to be very tensed about the business." He said.

"You know what I am so proud of you my bhai." Khizir said on which Shehreyar laughed.

"You are a drama queen." He said and both of them laughed.

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