Time flies...it has wings. No one can catch it. So was the case with her, she didn't know how time flied and now only one week was left.

Everyone was beyond happy... Shifa's hand was also healed and the very famous fight between little rat and owl had again started.

Irfa was scared and excited at the same time, she wanted to run away but too wanted to stay and look at her changing life. One moment she would smile thinking about the possibility of a happy married life but the other, all this conversation she had heard would come back to her mind.

Sitting on the living room's couch with Alizeh who was busy in watching TV after their long talk about anything and everything, Irfa looked at the infamous fight between Khizir and Shifa.

“Khizir Hussain give back my tea...” Shifa shouted running behind Khizir who had her cup of tea in his hand.

“First give then take.” he also shouted running faster.

“No way I am going to give you my ear plugs...where is yours?” she again shouted and stopped for catching breath.

“Aww what happened little rat got tired?...” Khizir mimicked a girls voice and started laughing, Irfa too giggled hearing him which earned her a glare from Shifa.

“Khizir why are you troubling my daughter give the tea back to her.” His mother came inside the living room and twisted his ears.

“Ow...ow mom it's hurting...ow...take this.” he cried in pain and returned the tea cup to Shifa.

“Phupo see my tea got cold...” Shifa said whining and went away stomping her foot.

“Mom…leave me please.” He again cried to gather the attention of his mother who had his ear in her hold.

“Why do you trouble her this much?...she is innocent see now she has to do double work.” his mother said scolding him.

“Innocent?...and Shifa...mom she is not at all innocent she is a witch.” He spoke making a horrified face. His mother shook her head on her son's stupidity.

_________

“Irfa... Irfa, mom is calling you downstairs.” Shifa said barging in the room.

“Shifa can't enter like decent person.” Irfa said with fake anger.

“Leave me… you go downstairs fast.” Shifa said and pushed her out of the door making her bump into a hard wall which was none but her soon to be husband.

“Shifa...you witch I will kill you, my head.” she groaned without looking up.

“Cursing is bad would be wife.” Shehreyar said and her head shot up in shock to find a smirking Shehreyar looking at her. Her mouth was agape and she tried to say anything but couldn't. Looking here and there in hurry she turned on her heels and ran downstairs making him smile in amusement.

“Mamma you called me.”she said coming towards Saba.

“Come here Irfa see who is here.” Saba said gesturing her to come forward. She took few steps forward but stopped seeing the person sitting in front of Saba. Her eyes teared and she could feel her throat tightened.

“Mamu.” she whispered hoarsely.

“Assalamoalaikum beta…kaisi ho?(Assalamoalaikum child...how are you?).” Her mamu asked softly.

“Mamu.” she said hugging him and started crying...meanwhile all the family members came there. Their eyes moist seeing the small emotional scene in front of them.

“Shh beta...why are you crying?” he cooed making her look up and wipe her tears.

“Mamu how are you?...how is mami?” She asked.

“We are fine beta. I just came to give you this.” he said forwarding her a bag.

“What is this?”she asked taking the bag.

“This is your mother's wedding dress.” he said. Her head instantly shot up hearing him, and she could feel her tears running down her cheeks. The mere mention of her mother would always make her emotional, why wouldn't it? She hadn't even once seen her.

“It was her wish that you should wear this on your wedding...she knew after your delivery her chances to live was minimum. She handed me this...your father had gifted her this dress, beta will you fulfil your mother s wish?” Mr Raza asked her with hope evident in his voice.

“Mamu... I... I...thank you mamu...it was amma's wish how can I deny.” she said wiping her continuously falling tears.

“May Allah give you all the happiness you deserve my child.” he said placing his hand on her head. He didn't stay for her nikkah, he couldn't. Even though they had insisted, but he denied and after some time left. Irfa looked at the wedding dress and caressed it with a sad smile.

__________

Sitting in the lawn everyone were having breakfast. Small talks and laugh shared amongst them was making it a beautiful memory. The meal was almost complete when Mr Ahmad stood up gathering everyone's attention.

“ So everyone me, Saba and Zubaida have good news for everyone.” He said smiling making the family exchange looks.

“On Irfa and Shereyar's reception Shifa and Khizir are getting engaged.”he said and a silence prevailed in the backyard. The news was way too shocking to react. None spoke anything for good one minute trying to get in what was said.

How was it possible?

“But dad...why?” Shehreyar asked hesitating a bit.

“I knew you would be confused. Your grandfather...our father had already fixed marriages of Sana and Shifa with Imran and Khizir. Sana and Imran are married, so it's time for Shifa and Khizir. We hope both of you are not having any problem with this. It was his desire that the daughter of this family should be married in the family itself as he loved them very much-” Mr Ahmad hadn't even completed when Shifa spoke.

“But baba-” Shifa started only to stop as Saba gestured her to.

“But mamu I am not settled yet.” Khizir said politely hoping for some miracle...how could he marry her. The mere though of it was making his mind go crazy.

“That's why I said about engagement... Shifa also has her university left, so when the right time will come you both will be married.” Mr Ahmed said firmly and it was enough for him to understand that it was better not to object right at that moment.

___________

The tensed air on the breakfast was not missed by any but none spoke a word. They knew it might not look a good idea at that moment but it would turn out best. It was their hope but Shifa and Khizir were too shocked and frustrated to think about it in a deeper way.

“Mom why did you all do this?...you know we both can't even stay around each other without fighting. How will this work out?” he asked politely.

“Beta...please trust us you are our own children we have something in our mine, please?”she said caressing his cheeks. He nodded his head as he didn't want to say anything that would hurt her and make the matter worse.

_______

“Mom you know everything...dad also know that we both loath each other how can you all do this to us...huh?” Shifa said sobbing and kept her head on her mother's lap.

“We are your elders...please trust us it's for your betterment.” Saba said passing her fingers in her daughter's hair.

“Mom, do something please.” she again cried.

“Shifa first stop crying, you both are just getting engaged not married. You have time to understand each other.” Saba said.

“But mom-”

“See beta Irfa and Shehreyar's wedding functions are starting tomorrow please try to understand.” Saba pleaded making her close her eyes and nod.

“It's ok mom I won't create any problem. So are we going for shopping?” Shifa asked masking a smile.

“Of course beta...go get ready and call the girls too.” Saba said caressing her cheeks lovingly.

Little did her mother know what was going inside her, what havoc she was feeling? How bad it felt to be not understood? It felt like she would end up breaking, but she couldn't, not when her brother was getting married in few days. She couldn't do anything.

_____________