IQRA

the following day, everyone was hyper during breakfast, all chatting and chittery about the upcoming wedding. While me?

I set there beside Shumayll like a sculpture

"Relax, its normal in my family" muttered Shumayll smiling in my direction

I nodded and continued to eat my roti and curry

We got up early today and helped in cooking, by we, i mean everyone!

"People, hurry up, we have very important dates to finalise today so that the preparations can be underway!" called out Fua and everyone nodded

Shumayll's thumb caressed mine in an affectionate manner as they continued to talk about the upcoming reception

Once breakfast was over, we all cleaned up and then settled in the living room

Abba and mama had come home and Bhai and bhabhi were also there, the girls were however not present as they had work and school, even after much persistence, they did not come because work and school was important

As for the kids, well lets just say they also had school, without even asking, they agreed to come but bhabhi said school was VERY important!

"So when should be the walimah?" asked abbu and i looked over to Shumayll who smirked

"As Iqra wishes" he replied before i could say as he wishes!

that traitor!

"When?" asked Fua and i shrugged

"Anytime will be fine, ask ammi" i replied looking over to both my mothers

"Firstly, this is no small wedding, this will be huge, we all know that- and huge weddings mean that there will be alooottt of preparations that need to be done- so a month or so will NOT do!"said ammi and mama agreed, so did chachi and Fua, while me and the rest stared at them as if they grew alot of heads, not just three

'Alright, this is the end of Feb, March starts tomorrow, so i guess............ June wedding will do?" questioned abba and everyone looked thoughtful

"There will be slight winds, so it will be like a cloudy day wedding, with an average temperatures-" said Ruqayyah bhabhi and everyone nodded

"We can do an outside wedding" added Huma didi and then soon everyone began tapping down the details about the wedding

we had 3 months to prepare before the reception and i am exhausted already

I used to wonder, all the time, how girls who are getting married able to stay up so late and prepare with all the hassles their wedding, like it just did not occur at that time that one day maybe i will do that same but then those times were different than the ones in the recent past

"Alright, so let the bride rest and the groom go to work, the males have something to do, while we females shall work on the lists" said Chachi and then everyone dispersed

I was excited but nervous

i did not even think before, what kinds of things i want in my wedding so its up to them to give me a good one

"Alright, the groom stays, we need to contact the wedding planner" said mama and ammi grinned

"The same one who did Iqraam's wedding?" questioned ammi and Ruqayyah laughed

"Yes, she is good, and her team is great" said bhabhi and everyone nodded

Ammi took out her phone and called the lady

"Ms. Saleha Dean speaking, how may i help you?" questioned the lady

"Ms. Dean, this is Loriza Edris, We would like an appointment with you?" said mama and the lady on the other line chuckled

"Mrs. Edris, pleasure hearing from you again, of course, i am free at.......... 3pm today, hope it fits your schedule?" she questioned and ammi grinned

"Perfect, so i will send a car for you and you can meet us at the Edris mansion?" asked ammi

"Oh no, don't send a car, please, i will come on my own, hope to see you at 3:30pm" she said

"Alright, dearest, Allah Hafiz" said ammi

"Allah Hafiz" with that she hung up

Ammi put her phone on the side and grinned at us

"The work is done, we are free" said ammi and everyone cheered

we set there and just talked about random things, chachi and Fua telling their childhood stories and then laughing off about their marriage and all

All that while, i was laughing and smiling as if i belonged there, okay i do belong here but you get the point-

We then watched the latest episode of Ishqbaaz, laughing at the chemistry of Anika and Shivay, i swear i will marry Om Kaara one day!!

But meh, my husband be hotter than him! :D

The afternoon was finally here when Ms. Dean arrived home.

She was short lady, about 4'2 and had a hijab on, baby face with an adorable smile. I had liked her instantly when she was planning bhai's wedding.

"As salaam!" she grinned at us and we replied

ammi hugged her followed by my mama

Ammi introduced Fua and chachi as Saleha knew the rest of us from the previous wedding

"Oh hows the bride!?!" she asked me excitedly and i chuckled

"Alhamdulillah!" i replied

"How are the kids, Ruqayyah?" she asked bhabhi and bhabhi answered with 'naughty'

She set down with us and asked us to call the groom

Shumayll arrived shortly, grinning at Saleha

"Aweeh, last time i checked, you said and i quote- 'I will not get married Sallu, its totally fine! No need to plan my wedding!' " said Saleha laughing and Shumayll blushed

"Alright, lets get to work!" said said after moments of laughter

"What kinda wedding do you two want?" she asked us

Shumayll had taken a seat beside me

"Uhh" we said and looked at each other

we had no idea

She chuckled

"In terms of simple, moderate or grand at least?" she asked

Ammi answered that for us

"Grand it is, afterall, it is an Edris we are talking about!" she said and everyone agreed

"Hmm, so a grand wedding, theme?" she asked us

"No idea" said Shumayll looking at me and i nodded

"So technically, you two have not done your research?" she questioned and we gave her a sheepish grin

"Our mothers did though" i said and Saleha laughed

"This is your day, their choices will be kept in mind but whatever you say will go" she said and both the mothers, much to our surprise, agreed

"Okay so i will show you two as many scripts as i can, you can choose a theme from it, then we will shift to color coding and then other things will follow up" she said and we nodded

She handed us a thick book and i stared at it in awe

it was decorated with all kinds of flowers and vines and ribbons and glitter, at the top it said 'Dreams', her event planning name

"Wow" i whispered and Shumayll took the huge book

"it sure is heavy!" he exclaimed and Saleha chuckled

"Had that since i started Uni, been keeping those for years now! My best friend gave it to me" she said with emotions laced to each word

I smiled

Shumayll opened the book and it started with the simple themes

we filpped out some more until we stopped at the most beautiful pic i had ever seen

It was in the garden or outside, it was not that clear, but what was clear was the fact that it was surrounded by green grasses and real flowers, it was all pretty and nice and......... green

but it was perfect!

"Looks like they found the perfect one" commented Saleha and everyone nodded, snapping us out of our trance

"thats an outside wedding, it was at Capetown, hotel Red, it had its very own forest like destination where we decorated to give it a wedding look, it was a good one

" said Saleha

"So we need a forest like park for the wedding?" questioned mom and ammi nodded, thoughtfully

"Where will we find a forest like structure!?!" questioned mama and Shumayll slowly grinned

"We actually have a forest like structure- its a real forest people!" he said and winked at me

i knew what he was thinking

but it was his hideout!

"And where is it?" questioned ammi

"The backyard, at the west of the grounds, it was full grown forest" he replied and ammi stared at him

"You crazy?" she questioned and he shrugged

"Its the perfect place, the grounds can be set up by her- Once Sallu sees that place, she will figure something out" he replied and ammi sighed

"Are you sure? I mean it really is a forest! Its no park or anything" said ammi and Shumayll nodded

"Iqraam and i have hiked that forest for ages mom, we would know each and every detail about it" he replied and his mother raised one eye brow at him

Shumayll tensed beside me

i take it his mother did not know about the hike?

"Iqraam did what?!" questioned mama and Shumayll shrugged

"That place is dangerous!" exclaimed ammi and Shumayll grinned

"Its not, actually it has this place, i am sure we can pave a way to enter it-" he said and everyone groaned

'Alright, alright, i am sorry for going there but can we please at least see the place?" he begged his mother and she finally agreed

"So we are going to see the place now?" questioned Saleha and everyone nodded

the whole of the two families were going to take a hike through the forest

this was gonna be interesting....