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𝓒𝓲𝓻𝓬𝓾𝓶𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮𝓼 𝓶𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓫𝓮 𝓭𝓲𝓯𝓯𝓲𝓬𝓾𝓵𝓽

𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓼𝓾𝓹𝓹𝓸𝓻𝓽 𝓲𝓼 𝓮𝓷𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓶𝓮.

"Ammi, this dress is one of my favourites. I can't wear it when I am going to meet someone I don't even know," I groaned. Taking another pair of yellow coloured dresses. I wanted to look the worse and make him reject me the very moment he looks at me.

"What's wrong in wearing this? You should look beautiful today. I am sure he will like you in this dress," She articulated. Snatching my red dress, she made me wear the red one. "Go to the washroom. Freshen up and wear this dress."

"Ammi, Either way, I'll wear abaya. There is no use in wearing this."

"It's alright. You have to wear it even if you are wearing the abaya," her words irritated me the most in the entire existence of my life. I growled frustrated and went towards the washroom to change. After changing and braiding my hair. I didn't do any makeup and walked out of my room while tying my nosepiece.

"Remove your nose-piece," she stood in front of me.

I slowly removed it. "I knew it!" She dragged me back to the room and applied a very little amount of makeup and a touch of brown lip colour.

Soon I left towards the given address of the cafe. I will have to talk to him about my work and will ask him if we could delay the wedding for some days. I just can't get myself together as I will be getting married to someone else but my heart has someone else.

I went inside the cafeteria it was not crowded nor an area with anyone around. There were some people around with a company. I sat in the seat near the window.

5 minutes passed I was waiting patiently for that person who is coming to meet me. Seriously I have got no interest in meeting him or moving further up in a relationship with him. I know my family can adjust if I get married but I don't want to stress Ammi as she has diabetes and Amaar is just a student.

I opened the lock of my mobile to see whose picture Ammi has sent. The picture was loading. I guess the wifi of this cafe is having a server problem. It was taking time to load the picture and it was raining outside. I sighed. Why was that person taking so much time?

"Mehrish?"

I looked at the source of the voice. It was Hamza. This is so unexpected. What is he doing here? Must be out for some work.

"Assalamu alaikum!" He greeted passing a smile to me. I replied, "Walaikum assalam! You here?"

"Have a seat," He mumbled chuckling. He sat down opposite me. I wish he was the person who came to meet me.

"What will you have?" He asked calling the waiter.

"I am sorry Hamza. I am waiting for someone else. Plus I would not like to have anything." I rejected his offer kindly. I cannot sit and talk with him when someone is coming over to meet me. It will be so awkward if he finds out that I was already talking with someone.

"Mehrish, Are you sure that someone else is coming?"

The way my name rolls in his tongue makes me crazy. I nodded. He laughed again looking at the windows. I glanced at my mobile when the picture was loaded. It was Hamza's picture. What the hell? It was Hamza? How can I be rude to this person sitting in front of me?

"I- I... I am sorry! I didn't know. I hadn't seen the picture earlier," I awkwardly murmured.

He assured, "It's fine."

I laughed too at my silliness and glanced at him. He was looking at me with admiration clear in his eyes.

"Cold coffee for me and you?" He asked when the waiter came for orders.

"Hot chocolate," I said. Earlier I wasn't in the mood to have anything but seeing him my little mood changed. I don't know why.

"I don't want to run around the bushes so I know it's very spontaneous that our families decided to get us married but trust me Mehrish. I like you. It's a yes from my side but I want you to think and consider this proposal. There is no force, it's your choice."

His words melted me then and there. Does he like me?

"Ummm Hamza? It's not like I am forced or something. I have the liberty to decide who I want to marry but the thing is I want some time. I know you since our childhood very well. I have some personal issues that I want some time to think upon. And if we are supposed to get married I have something to ask you," I stated.

No matter how good or kind he was. My condition is firm in its place. I have to ask if it's alright with me working after marriage in case it happens.

"What is it? Be comfortable and tell me," he says.

"If in case we get married, will you allow me to go for my job? At least for a year, I would like to work."

He sighed as he spoke,

"It's completely fine with me. I have no problem with it. You can work for as many days as you want."

"Thank you, Hamza!" I said.

"No formalities Mehrish!"

I smiled as he forwarded the hot chocolate to me and took his cold coffee. We talked more about stuff and he dropped me at home. I never thought that I would ever be together. I thought that I was just attracted to him but today I kind of felt different when I was around him. He genuinely made me feel safe and I felt like he was a kind and warm-hearted person.

I entered the apartment.

"Salam Ammi!"

"Wa Sallam!"

"Why didn't you told me earlier that it was Hamza?" I questioned removing my abaya.

"What did you do? Did you do anything embarrassing? Ya Allah Mehrish! Are you a child?" She burst out at me.

"Kyun behen? Naak kat wadi?" Amaar blurted laughing. I shot him a glare and he silently sat on the couch beside Ammi with a packet of Orange Lay's.

(Why sister? Did you cut our nose in society?)

"Ammi! Ammi! Ammi! Chill. Please sit down." I dragged her across the living room and made her sit on the couch.

"Nothing happened. But you should have informed me earlier. I just mistakenly told him that someone else is coming here to meet me and then I saw his picture as the message you send me." I stated as I washed my hands in the sink and grabbed the packet of chips from him munching a little.

"Then what did he say? Did he leave? It must have angered him and you have hurt his dignity." Ammi stated angrily.

"Yes, Ammi. I think the same. Mr Hamza Rahmani is a huge businessman and your daughter Ms Mehrish Mirza insulted him. It must have angered him soo much," Amaar winked at me as he builds fake scenarios.

"Shut it Amaar! Nothing like that happened. He just laughed it off and I even apologized to him," I said.

"Good. So what did you decide?" Ammi asked a little relieved. The amount of mood swings my mother goes through is infinite.

"I asked some time to him and he agreed."

"Okay."

I got up and left to my room and changed my clothes into my nightwear. I wasn't having any appetite to have dinner. So slept after Isha salah.

• ° •

It's been 2 months. I looked at my reflection. The dark green huge and heavy lehenga I wore was perfectly designed by high-class designers. I looked in the mirror staring at a different girl. A girl who is selecting her wedding dress. I could Hamza looking at me through the mirror.

He shook his head indicating that he didn't like it. Yes, I was getting married but only with the fact that he is letting me work after marriage. Everything is aside and my work is really important for Amaar. Until Amaar gets a perfect job, I won't stop working. Papa will be so disappointed if I don't complete my responsibilities. Ammi, Afreen Aunty, Zoya Bhabhi and Dira Appi are here too.

"It's unique," Dira Appi complimented. "Yeah, it suits you. Don't you like it?"

"No. I feel like it's not looking good on me," I said.

"Ok Ms Mirza, then try this one." The stylist passed a huge baby pink lehenga. I wore it and came outside. Hamza didn't like it and then I reasoned again that I don't think it looks good on me. I tried various outfits but Hamza didn't like any. I glared at him through the mirror. He chuckled and signalled me to wear the maroon one which was hanging in the best picks.

"That one. Try that one," He says directing at the maroon one without any hesitation.

"You should have told us earlier Hamza. See how tired she is by trying out this many dresses. Now she will wear that maroon one even if she doesn't like it."

I blushed at Zoya Bhabhi's words. I wore that dress and came out of the trial room.

"You look gorgeous in this one!" Dira Appi said.

"Yes Indeed." Afreen aunty agreed. I sneaked a glance and there he was finally giving his huge smile and nodded his head.

"Ms Leya, finalize this one and pass the bill to me," Hamza ordered to the stylist who was pretty and kind.

"Ok great. Your to be wife looks beautiful Mr Hamza." She voiced.

"I know," he smirked making us laugh. Our marriage was in a week.

• ° •

"Do you Mehrish Mirza, the daughter of Ali Mirza accept Hamza Rahmani, the son of Umar Rahmani as your husband with Haq Meher of 50 Lakhs?"

The Qazi asked. I took deep breaths. My heart pounded loudly inside my ribcage. I closed my eyes to calm myself down. I wanted Papa. I wanted him today the most. I wanted to ask him if I was doing alright? I try to answer but my voice was stuck in my throat. Ammi slightly stroked my arms but nothing was coming out. I wasn't scared these 2 months but today I am genuinely scared. I couldn't let myself out to answer.

"Say it Mehrish," I heard Ammi۔ I closed my eyes tightly and said after sighing۔

"I do."

With that, I signed the nikah naama. I felt relieved after signing but my heart was crying. Within a fraction of seconds, I became Mehrish Hamza Rahmani from Mehrish Ali Mirza.

T H I R D P E R S O N

"Do you Hamza Rahmani, the son of Umar Rahmani accept Mehrish Mirza, the daughter of Ali Mirza as your wife?"

The voice of Qazi made Hamza smile. This was the moment he was waiting for. But his smile had some secret.

"I do," he said without any second thoughts nor did his tongue shook a little before saying.

Everyone started congratulating him. And the cloth which partitioned men section and women section was removed. Hamza looked at his wife, who looked charming in the maroon outfit he chose. She didn't have much makeup on but still, she looked ethereal for him but his heart declined. At last, what was the reason? He passed her a smile when she glanced at him. His smile slowly changed into a smirk when she looked down. His smirk had hidden secrets that might hurt anyone. His eyes read emotions only he could have understood. Well, even if you do whatever you want. In the end destiny's game changes.

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