Episode.5
Aeni was roaming around joyfully, eyeing the beautiful dresses with a disapproving look.
"Oh ho! Madam is shopping? Looks like it's a bad day for whichever store she walks into,"
Aman commented as he approached in a teasing mood.
"What are you doing here? Isn't the shopping mall way out of your budget?"
Aeni raised an eyebrow.
"Oh please, do I need a VIP pass to meet you now?"
Aman replied dramatically.
"No, but maybe you should."
Aeni retorted, making Aman laugh. He stepped a little closer as if about to say something serious.
"By the way, there's something I want to say."
"What?"
Aeni asked, sounding like she had already given up.
"When you're with me, even a flea market feels like a shopping mall."
Aman said playfully. Aeni blinked for a second, then glared at him.
"What does that even mean?"
"It means your company upgrades everything. Even ordinary places start to feel luxurious."
Aman shrugged casually.
"Wow, so the next step is you'll start calling roadside tea stalls 'Starbucks'?"
Aeni clapped dramatically.
"Nice idea! I'll try it next time,"
Aman replied thoughtfully.
Aeni, now annoyed, started walking again. Aman followed her like mocking her was his full-time job.
"Honestly, being with you makes second-hand stuff feel brand new."
Aeni stopped and shot him a deadly look.
"Wait, are you calling me second-hand?"
"No, no! I was talking about the impact of your company. You totally misunderstood."
Aman said, feigning innocence.
"You deserve an Olympic medal for surviving shopping malls."
He teased as she resumed walking.
"And you deserve one for being annoying,"
Aeni snapped.
"I'm not annoying, just being honest! I mean seriously, how can you enjoy shopping so much? Half an hour to pick a dress, another half to stare at it—and still can't decide?"
Aeni rolled her eyes and picked up a dress to show him.
"I need to check the quality, the color, the fitting!"
"Oh dear Lord, all I think about is whether it's wearable or not."
Aman folded his hands like in prayer.
"That's why you have zero fashion sense,"
Aeni chirped.
"One black shirt and jeans is all the fashion I need,"
Aman said smugly.
Aeni held up a shirt to him.
"Try this color, it'll actually look good on you."
Aman looked at the color.
"Bright yellow?"
He raised his hands in mock horror.
"Spare me, I'm not here to shine like the sun!"
"Just go already and let me concentrate."
Aeni squinted at him like warning lasers from her eyes.
"Alright ma'am, I'm leaving. Let me know when you hit a shopping century."
Aman smirked and walked off toward the food court as Aeni glared at his back.
☆☆☆
A whole week passed by in the blink of an eye.
Time seemed to fly on wings amidst the wedding preparations. A day before the nikah, the girls had arranged a bridal shower.
"So hey, you both should throw your own bridal shower too!"
Aman suggested seriously, making Zaryab burst out laughing while Atish gritted his teeth.
"You idiot! Bridal showers are for girls, not guys!"
Zaryab said, grabbing Aman by the hair and shaking him hard.
"I know that! I don't need you to tell me!"
Aman yelled, freeing himself from Zaryab's grip.
At that moment, they were all sitting in the spacious lawn of Atish Villa, which was being decorated in a purple theme. By the evening, all preparations were complete, and Meher and Mashal returned from the salon, all dolled up. Both brides were celebrating their bridal shower together.
"You both better recite Fatiha on your bank accounts already. I don't think they're going to survive this!"
Aman teased, to which Zaryab quickly shot back,
"When you have a love marriage, I'll ask you whether you want to recite Fatiha or Qul!"
"Oh God, give me a wife who only has eyes for me and not my money, Ameen!"
Aman dramatically raised his hands in prayer.
Atish, on the other hand, was growing increasingly annoyed with their chatter. A part of him wanted to destroy everything or simply vanish. Meher's stubbornness and boldness were eating him up inside.
As the bridal shower began, all the boys of the family were kicked out of the house.
"Yaar, we won't even go inside, just let us sit in a corner!"
Ali made a last attempt, but Aimal and Momina firmly said no.
"Everything's out in the open anyway, just go have dinner at a restaurant. Come on, hurry up!"
Ali pouted but left with the others.
Everyone returned home late at night. The entire house was immersed in silence. Atish tiptoed straight to his room. It was past one o'clock. He knew everyone would be asleep by now.
Grabbing a change of clothes, he entered the bathroom.
A while later, he stopped near the glass window. The moonlight touched his face softly.
He slowly opened the window; the cold air hit his breath and drifted inside. For a moment, he felt a strange sense of peace.
Closing his eyes, he took a few deep breaths. Then he pulled the curtains shut and returned to the bed.
Tomorrow was the nikah.
His heart wished for everything to just stop. He kept thinking of ways to cancel it—but none seemed quiet enough, none seemed harmless.
Frustrated, he sat up. Sleep was already far away.
Without another thought, he picked up his phone and dialed a number. He was sure—
She wouldn't be asleep.
And she wouldn't ignore his call.
The call was answered on the second ring.
"Hello?"
He spoke cautiously, but there was silence on the other end.
"Can you hear me?"
He finally asked.
"What else can I do besides listen to you?"
Her voice came through—tired and full of silent complaint.
Atish's lips tightened with anger.
"Tell me the truth, Meher! Did you talk to Khala?"
His question hung in the air like a held breath.
The other end stayed quiet for a few moments…
Then the call disconnected.
Atish stared at the dark screen in disbelief.
"You won't get away, Meher… I won't let you go."
He threw his phone down in rage and slumped back onto the bed.
☆☆☆
He woke up to the sound of persistent knocking on the door. Struggling to open his eyes, he sat up.
"Who is it?"
His voice was heavy with sleep.
"Bhai, come on! How much more will you sleep? Look at the time, it's almost noon!"
Ali's irritated voice came from the other side of the door.
He grabbed his phone like he'd been jolted by a current. It really was noon. Along with surprise came embarrassment — this was the first time he had slept in so late instead of waking at seven. Maybe the exhaustion had just become too much.
"You go ahead, I'm coming,"
He replied grumpily and set the phone aside.
"Bhai, hurry up! It's your nikah this evening, not mine!"
Ali's voice faded as he walked away, and Atish stormed toward the door in frustration — but Ali was already gone.
"What a pain…"
He muttered, his face marked with annoyance, and headed for the bathroom.
A little while later, when he came out ready, the entire house was buzzing with life. Everyone was happy and busy. But he... he was separate from it all, like someone from a different world.
Without speaking to anyone, he went straight to Tehmina Begum's room.
"Oh Atish beta, you're finally up? Thank God!"
His mother's voice was full of genuine relief.
He felt a twinge of guilt and looked away.
"Sorry Ammi, I was just really exhausted, that's why…"
"It's alright, beta. I understand. Go have breakfast, then ask Ali to help you get ready. Here, these are your clothes."
She picked up the outfit from the bed and handed it to him.
Something deep inside his chest thudded painfully. He took the clothes from her.
"Ammi please..."
He tried to say something, but she raised her hand to stop him.
"No need for thanks, beta."
And before he could say anything more, she left the room.
He stood there, speechless.
Then, everything seemed to pass in a blur.
He couldn't remember how he got ready, how he reached the stage, how Meher was seated beside him — everything was hazy.
Zaryab sat on the other sofa next to him, and across the strings of flowers sat two beautiful girls. The fairies... who, in a few moments, would belong to them.
His senses returned when the molvi sahib finished the nikah and turned to Meher:
"Daughter, do you accept this marriage?"
Silence.
A deep silence.
Atish held his breath.
Please Meher, just say no... refuse... I'll handle everything... there's still time... just say no...
He was screaming in his head.
But...
"I accept,"
Meher's soft yet clear voice shattered something inside him.
He drew in a deep breath, as if it was his last.
Then came the question for him.
"Atish Zayan, do you accept this marriage?"
Silence.
Across the flowers, Meher lifted her gaze slightly from beneath her veil.
And then... after a long pause...
"I accept."
The hall erupted with cheers and congratulations.
Uncle Raza was the first to approach him.
"My daughter is now your trust. Take care of her,"
He said warmly, patting his shoulder.
Atish couldn't even respond.
Zaryab was beaming. He pushed aside the floral strands and lifted his bride's veil.
"MashaAllah,"
He breathed sincerely.
Mashal blushed and smiled.
Zaryab gently kissed her forehead, took her hand, and pulled her closer.
"Have you gone mad, Zaryab?"
She whispered, flustered.
"Not mad — I'm your husband now. I can even carry you in front of everyone if I want to,"
He teased.
Mashal blushed even harder.
Everyone came forward, offering congratulations and hugs.
Atish hugged Zaryab.
But Meher…
She didn't look at him.
She didn't touch him.
No emotion remained.
He didn't go near her either — not in distance, not in heart.
Continue.....