𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟑𝟐

FAIZAN

The rumors took a few days but it died down.

Jack doing press and Farhan doing an interview was a huge help.

Ryan and I are still working on finding the real mastermind behind starting this rumor. The best way to find whoever that is by figuring out who wrote the first article.

Aside from that, today is finally the day I get to bring Arzo home.

After thousands of events- that’s an exaggeration- our wedding day is finally here.

We arrived at the banquet a few minutes ago and now I’m waiting at the stage for my bride, listening to whatever Farhan is saying.

Ryan, Jack and Finn also arrived a few minutes ago along with Henry- another good friend of ours and Ryan’s mentor. Ryan and Jack came with their younger sister- Bree- and Henry is accompanied by his daughter- Rose- who is also Bree’s friend.

Originally, I was going to invite them to Valima but after Rose and Bree helped us with the journalist and Arzo found out how the guys helped as well, she personally invited them.

“Wait, how many events were there?” Jack asks.

Farhan shrugs, “I don’t know. I don’t usually count. The wedding takes almost a month or two.”

“How are you feeling?” Finn asks me.

“Impatient.”

He chuckles, “never saw this day coming.”

“Tell me about it!” Farhan exclaims, “I was supposed to get married first.”

“To whom, exactly?” Ryan asks.

“A woman.”

Jack pats Farhan’s shoulder, “good answer, my friend.”

“Thank you.”

The conversation comes to a halt when Zahid bhai comes on the stage and tells us that Arzo is arriving.

“Good luck!” Finn and Jack say before they, along with Ryan, descend the stage to their table.

The lights of the banquet dim indicating the arrival of the bride.

I turn my attention towards the entrance, where she will be standing with her parents and sister.

My breath gets caught in my lungs as I settle my eyes on her.

She stands by the entrance, dressed in a beautiful traditional red lehenga adorned with golden embroidery. A red hijab wraps around her head, and a red net dupatta with golden embroidery is elegantly placed on her head. Her hands are decorated with bangles, and a tika adorns her forehead. With light makeup enhancing her natural beauty, she smiles at her parents before they start leading her towards me.

The crowd fades away in the background as I keep my gaze on her and she locks her gaze with mine, giving me her beautiful smile.

I step forward as she reaches the stage and hold out my hand. As soon as she places her hand- decorated with beautiful henna- in mine, our cousins, friends and siblings erupt in cheer making her smile widen as I gently pull her up on the stage.

Our gaze locks as we stand close to each other.

“You look beautiful, amar. Masha’Allah.”

Her cheeks turn a bright shade of pink as she signs, “thank you. You look good yourself, Masha’Allah.”

My lips form a small smile.

I’ll finally take her home.

ᯓᡣ𐭩

So, being the bride and groom is not easy.

Arzo and I have barely exchanged any words without people coming on the stage to congratulate us and the photographer forcing us to take pictures.

I don’t even know most of the people present and from the look on Arzo’s face, she barely recognizes any.

Right now, I am off the stage talking to Ryan, Finn, Jack and Farhan. Bree and Rose are on the stage with Hafsah talking to Arzo.

Why does everyone get to talk to her except me?

“You do know you’re going to spend the rest of your life with her,”

I turn my attention to the source of voice- Jack.

“Yes.”

“Then quit staring at her. Pay attention to your friends.”

“Not interested.”

“Nothing matters to him as long as she’s in the room,” Farhan explains to him, “he barely used to leave his office but now, since she’s there, he’s always found on the same floor as hers.”

“Geez, what has gotten into you?” Jack asks.

“I think he’s possessed,” Farhan tries to whisper.

“Jealous much?” Ryan says.

“We are anything but jealous!” Jack and Farhan exclaim and continue to list reasons why they wouldn’t dare to be bothered by the fact I got married first.

I turn my attention to the person who has been surprisingly quiet even when he’s the same as Farhan and Jack.

I find his head turned away from our conversation, looking at something else.

I follow his gaze towards the stage and realize he’s staring at Ryan’s sister.

He’s lucky Ryan hasn’t noticed yet. If he does, he will beat him to a pulp right here and now. And I have no interest in ruining my wedding day.

I wave my hand in front of his face. He blinks, coming out of his haze and turns his head towards me. I raise an eyebrow and he lets out a nervous chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck.

He has a death wish.

Henry walks towards us and joins the conversation. He has been talking with baba and Saeed Uncle for most of his time here.

“Congratulations, Faizan.” he says with a smile.

“Thank you, sir. I am glad you could make it to the wedding.”

“I wouldn’t have missed it.”

“The girls are arriving.” Jack tells us.

Rose and Bree descend the stage and make their way towards us. Bree trips over her heel and lets out a gasp as she falls.

Instead of meeting the ground, she meets Finn’s arms.

Jack and Farhan say “ooooh-” till Ryan glares at them. They both look up and say, “oooh lights.”

Bree quickly stands on her feet, muttering an apology.

“Are you okay?” Rose asks, concerned.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Why are you wearing heels?” Ryan asks after throwing daggers at Finn.

“Um-”

“I told her to.” Rose says, placing a hand on her hip as she directly meets Ryan’s cold gaze, “why do you have a problem?”

“She tripped.” he grits out.

“She’s fine.” she grits out.

Both of them continue to glare at each other and Ryan’s jaw clenches.

“Okay!” Jack says, loudly, forcing his brother and friend to stop glaring at each other and asks, “so, girls, how is Faizan’s wife?”

“She’s the sweetest person alive!” Rose exclaims, her mood suddenly changing and face breaking into a huge grin.

“She’s also beautiful,” Bree adds, “congratulations, Faizan. She’s lovely.”

“Thank you.” I say, “Now, excuse me, I need to go and sit with her.” I turn around to walk away.

“Or he won’t survive.” Farhan adds.

I’m afraid that’s true.

ᯓᡣ𐭩

After a few more small talks, introduction to new people and eating food, it’s time for the rukhsati.

I stay back as Arzo hugs her mama, both mother and daughter trying their best not to cry but the shine in their eyes giving them away.

When they pull away, Sadia Aunty kisses her cheeks and gives her a smile, “take care of yourself, okay?” she tells her softly to which Arzo nods.

Hafsah steps forward and pulls her sister in a bone crushing hug but Arzo doesn’t complain. The sisters pull away after a while and Hafsah pecks her cheeks then whispers something to Arzo, making her chuckle through the tears.

The last one to hug her is Saeed Uncle.

As soon as she wraps her arms around her father’s waist, a tear escapes her eye as he kisses her head.

No one says anything or tells them to hurry up.

“We’re so proud of you, beta.” Saeed Uncle tells her softly with a smile on his face and Arzo stares up at him with unshed tears, “May Allah protect and bless you and your marriage, always. Ameen.”

Arzo smiles and kisses his cheek before they pull away and her eyes settle on me.

I step forward and softly ask her, “ready to go?”

She nods. I open the door to the backseat. I called my driver- Shariq- to take us to the house tonight.

Arzo sits inside and I make sure all of her dress is inside before I shut the door.

Saeed Uncle and I exchange a hug.

“Take good care of my daughter.” he says after I pull away.

“I promise I will protect her till my last breath. You will not face any complaint, In Sha Allah.”

He smiles and pats my shoulder, “May Allah bless you.”

I round the car and get in the backseat with Arzo. Shariq gets in the driver seat and starts the car.

She stares out the window and waves as the car pulls away from the banquet. She sits back and stares down at her hands, taking a deep breath.

“You okay?”

She looks at me, gives me a small smile and nods.

I interlock my fingers with her and place our interlocked hands on my lap. She rests her head on my shoulder, I kiss her head before she rests her eyes till we reach home.

After a while Shariq stops the car in front of the house. I crease Arzo’s cheeks, “amar, we’re here.”

She slowly opens her eyes and turns her head towards the window. She sits up, releasing a sigh. I quickly get out of the car and round it to open her side of the door. I hold her hand as she steps out the car and I shut it behind her.

While we make our way towards the entrance of the house, Shariq drives the car into the garage. I already told him to go to the staff quarter when the car will be parked.

After we reach our room, Arzo sits on the bed and starts taking off her heels. I walk towards the side table and take out her gift.

I take my seat beside her and hand her the box, “for you,”

As she takes the box from me, her face breaks into a beautiful smile and I can’t help but stare at her and thank Allah for blessing me with such a beautiful soul.

Her mouth parts in surprise as she opens the box, revealing her gift. A beautiful silver moon pendant.

I knew I wanted to give her something meaningful and beautiful. And considering she always reminds me of the moon and I could stare at her for eternity, I had thought of getting that pendant.

Her head snaps towards me and she signs, “this is so beautiful. Thank you.”

“Do you like it?”

“I love it! I am going to always wear it!” she says then leans in and pecks my cheeks.

My lips form a small smile while she grins at me.

I tell her that her clothes have been arranged in the closet, she nods, puts away the pendant then goes in the closet.

My reaction to her earlier gesture tonight was better than a few days ago when she first pecked my cheeks.

I don’t remember for how long I stayed in the car, frozen, staring at the dashboard after she had run out.

My mind was full of chaos, emotions I didn’t know swirling inside me as the place where she kissed tingled.

I had finally broken out of my haze and safely drove back home but the memory of that gesture didn’t leave my mind.

My attention turns towards the door of the closet when I sense Arzo step out.

She stares at me unblinking with her lips parted in surprise.

“What?” I ask

“Did you buy the whole store?” she signs when I continue to stare at her, she continues, “the whole closet is filled with more clothes than I chose! And shoes, i don’t remember buying shoes. Also, I only bought one hand bag, there are.. I don’t know how many!”

I get up from the bed and start walking towards her, “do you not like it?”

“That’s not the point. I didn’t-”

“Amar, answer the question.” I ask as we stand an inch apart from each other.

She scrunches her nose then signs, “I like it. Everything is really pretty.”

My lips form a small smile and I peck her cheeks, “I like making my wife happy.”

A bright shade of pink creeps into her cheeks as she stares up at me with lips parted.

Blinking, she scrunches her nose, turns around and goes back in the closet. After picking out her night pajamas, she goes into the bathroom and I sit on the bed, checking emails.

I lift my head when the door of the bathroom opens and freeze at the sight in front of me.

Arzo steps out wearing her silk off-white pajamas, her wet hair cascading over her shoulders. She has removed her makeup, yet her face still shines with beauty.

She catches me staring and lifts her chin in a gesture to ask what’s wrong.

“Uh.. I.. you.. Uh..”

What the- why can’t I speak properly?

Arzo presses her lips into a thin line, suppressing her smile at my attempt to form words.

I clear my throat, “you.. You look beautiful.”

She chuckles and signs, “I am wearing pajamas with a makeup free face.”

“I know…” I say.

She shakes her head, smiling then disappears into the closet to put away her lehenga.

When she comes back, stops and stares at me, “don’t you want to change?”

“What?- oh yes.”

I quickly get up from the bed, grab my clothes from the closet and go in the bathroom to shower.

After showering, I make sure I know how to form words before I step out. Because whenever my wife is in my vacancy, my brain stops working.

I step out of the bathroom and find Arzo rearranging her things on the dressing table. I frown when I notice that she keeps switching places of her products then puts them in their original place.

She’s nervous.

“Amar?”

She sharply turns around.

“What’s wrong?” I ask as I step closer to her.

She fidgets with her fingers, nervously before she lifts her hand and signs, “If I tell you, will you be upset?”

“Never.”

She swallows, “I’m not ready.”

A small frown creases my face before I realize she means.

“It’s okay.” I tell her, softly.

“Really?”

“Yes, amar. I want you to feel safe around me.” I crease her cheeks, “I wouldn't do anything that makes you uncomfortable or you aren’t ready for.”

Her body relaxes, “okay, thank you.”

I kiss her forehead, she smiles, “go to sleep, you’re tired.” she nods then turns around to get in bed.

We both get inside the duvet and I turn off the lamp light.

I kiss her head, “Goodnight, amar.”