I was just done with my dinner when Amir came to me and said that they all wants to talk to me about some important thing.

I followed him to the lawn where Rashid, Umar and Anas were engaged in some conversations.

I sat in bench beside Rashid.

"So, what you guys wanted to talk to me?" I asked them curiously.

"Before you get fully occupied with your new responsibilities and new life, we thought to have some friendly time together."Anas said wiping his non existing tears.

Everyone were acting emotionally broken.

" You guys are my friends forever. I know I will have new responsibilities but it doesn't mean that I will forget you guys."It was awkward for me to assure them that no matter what happens in life, I will be there for them.

"Haroon please yaar, don't be romantic with us. It doesn't suit you."Amir said patting my right cheek mischievously.

I rolled my eyes at him swatting his hand away.

It wouldn't be wrong if I say I have weirdest of friends.

" Let's consider it our bachelor's night."Anas said winking.

" Sorry we can't."Rashid said standing up.

We all looked at him confusingly.

" Why?!!"We all asked him in unison.

" Because Haroon is nikahfied. He isn't bachelor anymore."He said glaring me.

"Ok so let's have friendship night."Anas said wiggling his brows.

Everyone nodded.

After that we were busy talking random things. I noticed Umar wasn't participating in any conversation. He was lost,smiling on his own.

Weird!!

"Haroon, I wanted to ask you this question from so many days, but I didn't get time. "Anas said looking at me intently as if trying to see through my soul.

" What? "I asked him clueless.

Everyone now was looking at him curiously.

"What about the girl you loved?"He asked arching his brows.

I couldn't understand what girl he was talking about? I was totally clueless.

I looked at him questioningly.

" The girl about whom you asked me to do some investigation but you stopped me before I can start with that project. I clearly remember, you behaved so strangely those days."He reminded me looking into my eyes.

" What do you mean by I loved her, I still love her."I said winking when I understood whom he was talking about.

" Are you serious?"Rashid hit my back with angry look.

" You can't ditch bhabhi like this."This time Amir also hit my back.

" Shut up."I glared them and stood up caressing my hurting back.

"Do you remember the name Anas?" I asked him.

"No."He angrily answered me.

" Wasn't it Nayab Hasan Farooqui."I asked him arching my brows.

"Oh yeah, I remember, it was Nay..... wait.... you asked me to investigate about bhabhi."When the truth dawned on him he asked me strangely, rather dangerously.

" Listen Anas, I asked you to do that because I wanted to know if she was okay with our relationship, or does she like someone else . I never wanted to be hurdle in her way of happiness."I tried to make him understand my point.

" So, why suddenly you dropped your idea?"He asked coming to his normal form from the dangerous one.

I sighed and answered him.

"Because I somehow figured it out that she was okay with our relationship."

"Guys, I think we should sleep now. It's already late."Umar said.

What's wrong with him. He is behaving so strange.

Umar was first to leave the place.

" What's wrong with him?" Rashid asked scrutinizing his gaze to Umar's back.

We shrugged and left for our respective rooms to sleep.

After dinner Ayat slept beside me and was soon busy snoring. She seems here to be more relaxed and happy.

I just hope she get best and happiest life ahead.

For some reason sleep wasn't engulfing me. I was wide awake.

After trying for some more time I sighed and slipped my wide awake form the bed.

It seems quiet outside, everyone must be sleeping now.

I thought to at least have five minutes walk in the lawn to freshen up my mind.

So silently I walked to the door, opened it as slowly and silently as I could and walked towards the lawn. Nearing it, I heard some faint voices coming.

I thought to go back, if there will be any aunties they will probably take my class for wandering at night like a ghost.

But my suffocating self encouraged me to move ahead and face whatever come to me bravely.

I stepped down the little stair and was going towards the lawn when I saw Haroon and his friends under the dim light gossiping and laughing.

I thought to turn back and go before they notice my presence when I heard Anas bhai saying.

"Haroon, I wanted to ask you this question from so many days, but I didn't get time."

Out of my curiosity I stood there hiding in the dark to listen what he wanted to ask.

Curiosity killed the cat.

"What?" I heard Haroon asking him curiously.

"What about the girl you've loved?"

But what Anas bhai said next shook the ground underneath me.

"The girl about whom you asked me to do some investigation but stopped me before I could start with that project." He continued when Haroon said nothing.

Maybe he is mistaken. Haroon himself told me that he is okay with our marriage.

He can marry whomever he want to and he is marrying me. It simply means that he has no one ones in his heart.

I was busy defending haroon but what haroon said next made my all effort go in vain.

"What do you mean by I loved her, I still love her."

I don't want this camouflage of a man to reveal some more of his true colour. I was more than broken this time.

I just turned abruptly not wanting to see his face and ran to my room to block his voice to reach my ear as well.

He can't do this to me.

He can't break me to the extent, from where I can't find my broken self to repair myself again.

I was suffocating.

I locked myself in the washroom and stood underneath the shower to cool my burning soul.

I felt so alone.

What should I do now?

Can I just call off the wedding when all the guest are present here?

Can I be a bad remarks on Nana jaan's reputation?

Can I let the people blame on my parents upbringing?

I can't.

I can't be selfish.

Oh, my Allah I can't.

Please Allah (SWT) ease my pain.

I can't bear it.

I can't bear it.

Next day it was very chaotic.

Everyone were busy.After breakfast Amma asked us to decorate Haroon's room. We practically dragged Haroon from his room. He was not in the mood to let us enter and decorate it.

But Amma's glare and scolding worked and he was staying in our sharing room till we all depart for the wedding hall for rukhsati ceremony.

I asked Zara to send some girl to help us because we boys aren't that good at decorating.

As expected she was present there with Ayat and one more cousin of her to help us.

We were busy doing our work.

I was glancing that angel of mine who was engrossed in her work that she didn't even realised my constant gaze.

Mom told me that she had already asked for her hand to her grandma. She approved the proposal saying she will convince Ayat.

I don't want to be forced in her. So, I wanted to talk to her after this pandemonium of Haroon's wedding.

"Mr. I need those flower in your hand."I was brought back by her angelic voice.

It was like melody to my ear.

" Anas Rahman."I said handing her flowers.

" Sorry?" She asked me confusingly fixing her doe eyes at me.

"I'm Anas Rahman. You can call me Anas."I said and extended my hand for a handshake.

"Ok."She said and turned to her work ignoring my extended hand.

I brought it back and resumed my work.

'Tujhe yaad kar liya hai

I have memorized you

Ayat ki tarah

Like a verse

Kayam tu ho gayi hai

For me you have now become

Rivaayat ki tarah

Like a tradition'

I was busy humming this song when Amir nudged me.

"What?" I barked at him.

He gestured me to look at my back.

I turned and saw my angel throwing daggers at me.

I smiled at her sheepishly.

She gave me one intense death glare and turned away from me.

you will soon be mine my little fierce angel.

I smiled at my thought.

"What do you think about Miss Ayat?"Amir suddenly asked me.

Why he is asking about her?

"Why are you asking me?" I said rudely.

"No, I mean I really like her. She is so sweet."He said dreamily.

" Stop it or I will kill you."I said and punched his stomach.

He started laughing.

Everyone looked at him weirdly.

We were decorating the fancy stand near the door so no one knew about our conversation.

" Why are you laughing like a lunatic one."Rashid asked him annoyingly.

" Nothing, I just felt like laughing."He said struggling to muffle his laughs.

" What's wrong with you?"I hissed inside his ear.

" With me or with you?" He asked arching his brows.

What does he mean?

I looked at him confusingly.

" You like her."He asked me out of sudden.

" Who?"I asked trying to be oblivious.

" Don't try to act. Your action speaks louder enough to tell me what's going inside of your that evil brain."He said scrutinize his gaze on me.

I knew my truth was disclosed. I have no choice than to accept it.

" Please don't tell it anybody yet."I literally begged him.

"What do you think of me? It should always be your decision. I'm not telling it to anyone."He assured me by patting my back.

I looked at him thankfully.

"Let's finish it already. We have been doing this since ages."He said punching my shoulder.

I smiled and resumed our work.

The morning brought a lots of hustle and bustle with it.

Nayab was on little off mood. I asked her but she ignored my question.

I thought maybe she is behaving little off and weird because of all those wedding jitters I have heard about.

She was then sent to the beauty parlour where her bridal make up was suppose to be done along with Aima and Sarah (Zara's cousin).

I was cleaning Nayab's room when Grandma came to me with Nayab's mother.

She asked me to sit down.

I was looking at her confusingly.

They sat beside me and grandma held my hand.

"What happened grandma?" I asked her totally confused.

"Ayat, you know right that all the time I'm worried for you. I don't know how long I will live to stay beside you. I want you to settle down. I want you to get married. I want you to be happy. I want you to live your life instead of spending it."She said looking at me lovingly.

I was more than confused now that in the middle of Nayab's wedding she is talking to me about what she wanted for me.

" And Alhamdulillah, I got a very good proposal for you and I accepted it."She blasted the bom.

" What? You didn't even asked me?" I stood abruptly freeing my hand.

She looked hurt.

" You mean I don't have the right to take decisions for you."She said almost at the verge of crying.

I sat down again and took her wrinkled and weak hand in mine one. Kissed her palm and said.

" You have all the right to decide whatever you want for me but you know my condition. I can't leave you alone."

"Ayat, we will keep her. I will treat her as my mother. I assure you, I will take care of her."Aunty said caressing my head.

" But, I can't live without her."I said helplessly.

" Ayat, I'm not in peace my daughter. I'm always busy thinking about your future. Please accept it and let me be in peace at least some of my last days in this world. Let me have the happiness to see getting you married."Grandma cried.

And I gave up.

" Ok, as you say grandma, but please don't cry."I hugged her weak form, drinking my tears inside and not letting it break the dam I've made so long ago to cover up the image of my feeble form.

After that grandma was gone living me in constant dismay.

I would have been constantly sulking there but Zara came and said she needs help to decorate Haroon bhai's room.

I was happy to be busy again.

But that guy's constant gaze was making me nervous and angry as well.

I could have shown him whom he was messing with but I never wanted to create any scene on my best friend's wedding. So I kept quiet.

But he started singing that song with my name in it. It really boiled my blood. I was just keeping my calm for my friend.

I just glared him and thought to complete my work as fast as I can and flee away from here.

____