Shehreyar Siddiqui had never in his life experienced the kind of baffled thoughts. His opinion had changed and it shouldn't be more than that but then not only his opinion had changed, but also his feelings. A kind of attractive feeling towards the new addition in their family, the kind of attraction that involved knowing about that person - in and out.

The wedding functions were to begin and it was the day for 'Mayun's Rasam', a ritual of applying turmeric, sandalwood powder and other things' mixture, on the bride and groom. All the functions were to be done in the Siddiqui Mansion, first Sana's then Imran's. Faces of every were beaming with joy. The backyard of the Mansion was decorated beautifully for the rituals, the yellow, pink and green combination giving it a desi wedding vibe.

On Khizir's request sound boxes were installed, not too much but few. The cousins had to do a lot of works in addition, and they were looking damn tired. Sun was on top of their heads and it felt as if they would turn into grilled chicken any time. Deciding to take a break they all slumped on the porch chairs.

“Khizir bhai the sound system isn't working.” Harris came near them and said.

“These small things will surely kill me... Shifa go check it please I am damn tired.” Khizir spoke showing various expression like he always did.

“No, I am not going my legs are giving up.” Shifa said holding her legs and making an expression of being in extreme pain.

“Zainab-” Khizir was about to ask his sister but before that she closed her eyes tightly and pretended to sleep. Next was Alizeh who was of no help as the girl was already sleeping., what to expect from a bookworm after working for hours. Clenching his teeth playfully he turned towards Irfa with a pleading face.

“My dear sister, only you can do this, won't you please,” he spoke in sugar coated voice.

“Tum log bhi na har kaam mujhpar daal do(you people always make me work.” Irfa said pout.

“Go Irfa api you can do it.”meanwhile Harris and Zarrin started cheering her making everyone laugh.

The sound system had decided not to work. She was trying her best to find the problem, she had checked the wires and cables, buttons everything but to her bad luck it was not working at all irritating her to extreme level.

“Hey Khizir it's not working.” she shouted making weird face which made everyone laugh.

“Try once more.” Khizir said in a teasing tone. Now this was enough for making her angry. She turned towards the box and glared the poor lifeless sound system. And like most of the desi's tactics, she slapped it forcefully and it started blaring music.

The sudden loud sound made her jump on her place and everyone's head snapped towards her. For a moment the froze but started laughing like idiots. Walking her way Khizir smiled mischievously and spoke,

“Your hands have magic.”

“ What magic? Shehreyar will kill all of us.” Irfa said passing her around her neck in killing sign making Khizir laugh again. She knew if that man would hear this, his temper will rise immediately.

“Leave Shehreyar, he won't dare to say a word in front of me.” Khizir said with an arrogant but playful smile making her chuckle.

“Let's dance.” Shifa shouted and pulled Irfa with her.

They were not dancing...this was clear they were just doing some weird moves while Irfa was standing at a side smiling at their funny moments. Surely these were the best moments of her life, and she was positive there will be more, the one she would cherish forever. Khizir had dragged all the ladies of the house out urging them to dance, though they didn't but the aura had turned into a relaxing and happy one.

The music was loud and it didn't take Shehreyar much time to come in the lawn. He was fuming in anger. He had some work but this sound was irritating him and as usual he was about to scold them but stopped seeing a beautiful scene his family was looking so happy, dropping the idea of work he stood there witnessing everything with a constant smile on his face.

Suddenly his eyes fell on Irfa who was standing at a side near his mother, laughing and clapping. He was staring her...his emotions were a mess, all the confusing emotions that he had pushed away with difficulty came back.

'Should I join them.' He thought.

'No no it would be over...she looks so happy if I will go she might go away.' This was what he was fussing over, even though his presence won't be of that much concern, he had to think about her and that's what he was doing from some day, thinking about her.

'She is so happy with everyone and here I am, leaving no chance of spoiling everything for her.' He thought and for some moment disappointment overcame him.

He was constantly looking at the beautiful scene as if it was the last thing to see on this earth. Her laugh, her smile, her moves, her enjoyment everything seemed so new yet so special to him.

“Irfa go call our Alizeh she had gone to sleep.” Shifa said making her nod. That girl was way too boring.

“ Yeah go call that koala, she has to dance today” This time it was Khizir.

“Ok”she said turned towards the house. She had just taken few steps when her eyes fell on Shehreyar who was standing silently, his hands folded and a smile on his face. For a moment she stopped but regained her mind and ignoring him as if he wasn't standing there went inside.

It felt piercing, the ignorant behavior of her around him had never felt like this but this time it felt like the reality had slapped her, you get what you do.

“Alizeh, yaar kitni der sona hai tumhe, chalo na (dude how much will you sleep? Come please.)” She requested shaking her shoulder who was sleeping in the living room, that too on one-seater sofa, curled up.

“Pagal ho tum log...dhup dekhi hai.(you all are mad...have you seen the sun)” Alizeh said in annoyed tone.

“ Alizeh dhup to har din hoti hai par shadiyan nahi please chal na (there is sun every day but not wedding functions).'' She said making cute faces. Finally, after a lot of trouble, request and dragging Alizeh was in the lawn, just standing. Khizir had said that Irfa should have just slapped Alizeh and dragged her out instead of requesting and received a slap on his back from Alizeh.

“Shifa come here now.” He shouted at the top of his lungs but Shifa was busy in the chaos. He again shouted making her run towards him.

“Give me a glass of water now.” He demanded, receiving a 'what?' look from her.

“Bhai my legs are aching I can't get you water.” Shifa said holding her legs and showing with her expression that it was paining.

“I saw you dancing, don't make excuses...go get me water.” This time he was controlling his anger with difficulty, it wasn't like he couldn't get water...he was just doing nonsense acts. Calling Shifa was way too weird but now that she had come he couldn't just let her go like that.

But Shifa went to the group and mumbled something to Irfa. But Shifa being Shifa went back and whispered something to Irfa and continued dancing with Alizeh making Shehreyar frown.

Irfa looked at him coldly as id he had committed a crime and went inside. A few moments later she brought a bottle of water with a glass and instead of giving him went towards Shifa and said something to her. Shifa nodded and got the stufd from her hand and came towards him.

“Couldn't she give on her own?” He asked Shifa who was looking in so much hurry like her train was missing.

“Bhai she said that she might throw it on you -”she didn't even complete and ran back. Irfa had taunted him? With a shock stricken face he kept staring at the girl who had the power of making him drown in guilt and anger with just a sentence.

“Hey Shehry why are you standing there come here.” Khizir called him, but he just shook his head in no.

“Come on.” Khizir jogged towards him and dragged Shehreyar with him. Reaching them he stopped and Khizir too left his hand, and returned into the dancing group. He just stood there, blankly knowing not what to do.

Irfa saw him and paused for a second and went inside. She didn't want to irritate him more, he really seemed to be pissed off, and she thought she might do something that would completely annoy him. He saw that, he saw her going because of him and that was enough for his patience to lose. She was drinking water in the kitchen, and he had followed her. Standing at the door he kept staring her for sometime and spoke,

“Why did you leave?”

“I just came to drink water.” She said blankly and moved towards the door, trying to escape but to her bad luck he had grabbed her hand.

“It's because of me…right?” He asked.

“When you know the reason then why are you asking then?” She retorted with a stern face. She jerked her hand from his grip and went upstairs.

Shocked at her behavior he stood frozen, unable to register what to do. His eyes were looking the way she had disappeared, his heart clenched like it never did and it felt like a part of him went with her. He knew it was his fault but....still.

In anger, he dashed out of the house and started driving towards the place where he used to go every time he is tensed. He was driving when he saw a car, run after hitting someone. In a blink he came out of his car and went towards the person.

“Baba aap? (uncle you?)” He was quite surprised to find the old man, the one he had met some times ago...when he was regretting shouting on her and was sitting idly, this man had asked him about his problem. Shehreyar when told him about everything, every change of emotions the man hadn't said anything but smiled at him and patted his head giving him blessing of finding his true love.

“Come... I will drop you to your house.” He said forwarding his hand and helped the old man. The old man instructed him the way, and he walked towards his house.

“Beta(child) did you apologized?” The old man asked when Shereyar made him sit on the bed in his small hut.

“No baba...it's difficult. I have hurt her badly, I don't know if she will forgive me.” He sighed.

“Time flies in a blink., don't do anything in your ego and accept what heart says.'' The old man said and placed his hand on Shereyar's head as he was kneeling in front of the man.

“Baba you live alone?” Shereyar asked.

“No, my wife lives with me...she has gone somewhere.” The old man said, his eyes shone with a different kind of glint, the kind Shehreyar had seen in his father's eyes while looking at his mother. He always wondered what that glint was, yet he couldn't decipher but now it seemed familiar. As if he had known that, experienced that, and he had some hint of what it was.

Shereyar conversed with the old man for some time and made some arrangement for the old couple in their old age home receiving a lot of blessings in return. The last word the old man had said had shaken him a little, but he didn't want to think about it fearing it might be true.

On the other side she couldn't believe on what she did. She didn't know from where she got this much strength. Her mind said she did right but her heart was not agreeing, regretting the rude behavior.

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Night approached and the whole house was buzzing with peoples. Guest had started to come for the function while elder ladies were already dressed and singing songs. Saba was seen in the kitchen with Irfa. Shifa was with Sana and all the men were sitting on the terrace.

“Irfa beta go get ready and ask the girls too” Saba said wiping her hands wiping the towel.

''OK mamma.''

She went to Sana's room. She was now dumbstruck seeing Sana in her dress. She was looking like a real bride...obviously she was one, but the beauty and glow on her face was beautiful.

Her dress was perfectly set, and she was sitting in front of the mirror with a shy smile probably formed after hearing the teasing.

“Haye api! aaj to aap kyamat lag rahi hain(you are looking very beautiful).'' Irfa said going near her.

“Sach me Irfa. Imran bhai to kahin behosh na ho jaye inhen dekh kar(yes Irfa... Imran bhai would become unconscious seeing her.)” Shifa added with a wink.

“Oh yeah Shifa mamma has asked us to get ready.” Irfa said making her nod and ask Alizeh and Zainab to get ready too.

Sana was taken in the lawn and the function was about to start. The guests were smiling looking at the bride. Everything looked beautiful, the decorations, the guest and obviously the ladies of the family.

Saba had asked Irfa to bring the turmeric paste and when she was returning she bumped into Khizir.

“'I am so sorry.” she said and started going towards the lawn when Khizir called her making her stop.

“You are looking amazing.” he said, and she smiled politely to him though he was being dramatic

“Done let me go they are waiting for me.” She said in a hurry.

“I will accompany you.” He said and started following her. Irfa asked him to carry some things making him frown, but he agreed. They were talking all the way oblivious to the man staring them. Shehreyar was looking at them from a distance. He had decided to apologize to her but to his bad luck Khizir was there.

“Khizir you will be called but now go away.” she pushed him and closed the lawn's gate as he was trying to go outside.

Shehreyar had witnessed everything and unknown burning sensation had erupted inside him. He wanted to be able to talk to her, joke around her like Khizir did. It was amusing yet irritating, the small tug of his heart when he had seen her all ready in her yellow dress, he hadn't ever looked at her carefully but when he did he only got one reaction from his heart,

She was beautiful.

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