𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟎𝟒

ARZO

As much as weddings are fun. They're also very tiring.

Especially when the events combine two traditions, expanding the wedding.

I was woken up early against my will and dragged to the parlor with my sister. Granted, my early was one in the afternoon but still.

Anyways, it's probably been hours since we've arrived at the banquet. Api has already taken her place at the stage. The entrance of the bride was amazing. Not only did my api looked beautiful, Zahid and her couldn't suppress their grin. And I succeeded in not making a face and getting my picture ruined.

After the bridal entrance, I walked around with my cousins, greeting guests. I met some people I've never met in my life but they claim they used to take care of me. I honestly didn't know what to say to them so I just smiled and nodded.

Now, we cousins are just standing in a corner chit chatting.

Correction: they're chit chatting, I'm only listening. I'm a great listener.

"Did anyone see how good looking Zahid bhai's brother is?" Kameela asks with a grin. My body locks at her question while everyone starts to agree, quietly squealing and giggling. When they look at me, I give them a small smile.

"He's probably single. He didn't bring anyone," Asiya points out, "he seems quiet too."

He only speaks when he feels comfortable.

I frown at my own thoughts.

What was that?

I shake my head, I'm too tired.

"I might just tell Ammi that I like someone to marry," Kameela says before everyone starts to giggle.

The giddiness doesn't hit me. I don't even smile. Instead a weird kind of ache forms in my chest.

No. This is not happening.

I am no one to feel this way for a man who I have met only twice in my life and don't know anything about except for his name and his relation with my sister's husband.

The tiredness is messing with my internal system. That's the only reason for the ache. I need to fix this.

So, I excuse myself from my cousin and start to make my way towards the VIP section. It's not exactly a VIP section, there are only sofas placed instead of tables. Api and I grew up calling that section VIP.

I squeeze my way through some groups of people who are blocking the way. Here's where I wish I could speak because no one is hearing and apparently not feeling that someone is trying to walk behind them.

I release an inaudible yelp when someone steps on my lehnga.

Are you kidding me?

Uff!

I pull my lehnga, releasing a harsh breath and finally walk out of the crowd-

I halt in my step when my dupatta starts to leave my shoulder. I close my eyes and take a deep breath.

Ya Allah, give me patience.

I turn around and my body freezes when I catch where my dupatta got stuck.

In Faizan's watch.

Out of everything, it had to be his watch.

He blinks at the end of my dupatta which is stuck in his watch before he looks up and our gaze locks.

Immediately, my cheeks heat.

What is wrong with me?

I blink and he focuses on his watch, starting to untangle my dupatta from it.

Panicking that he might accidentally pull a string, I step forward, still keeping a respectful distance between us. He freezes then after a moment he removes his hand and I carefully release my dupatta from his watch.

I immediately step back, sign an apology- hoping he understands what I'm saying- and hurry towards where I should be sitting.

I plop on the couch and rest my head back, releasing a sigh. I close my eyes and immediately regret it because the scene from earlier flashes in my mind.

My eyes snap open and I silently groan into my hands.

Why did this happen?

I should've taken a different route. All I wanted to do was get to my sofa peacefully without anyone stepping on my lehnga or getting my dupatta stuck anywhere. But obviously, both sceneries happened.

Ya Allah, please make me forget what happened just now.

I am so confused, I don't even know whether I should be embarrassed or smiling.

I'm obviously embarrassed right now.

Also, why is he standing out when he and all his cousins and friends are wearing the same exact sherwani? Like, he is the only one I spotted first when they came in because he stood out from everyone. And not in a bad way but in a good way.

I need food. I talk stupid facts when I'm hungry-

"What were you doing with Zahid's brother?"

And the night takes a bad turn.

I release a sigh, removing my hand from my face and lift my head to find my older cousin Shoaib looking at me with a furious face. I don't even try to be polite in front of him because I hate him so much.

So, I just raise my eyebrow as if asking what he means.

"Why were you standing with Zahid's brother? Who do you think he is to you, huh?" he asks.

Is he kidding me? Is he blind that he didn't see that my dupatta was stuck in his watch?

I pick up my phone and type on it harshly and almost shove the phone on his face.

My dupatta got stuck in his watch, I was taking it out!!!!!

He glares at me and pushes my phone out of his face harshly, "Don't make an excuse. You're no different from any other woman. You know how rich he is so you're trying to make your way into his life,"

My mouth drops open.

How dare he?

I clench my jaw and get up from the sofa, not wanting to hear a word he says. As I take a step to leave, I'm pulled back by a harsh grip on my elbow. The grip is so painful.

"Mark my words, Arzo. No one is going to marry a useless mute like you but guess what? I will marry you just to ruin your life like you ruin others."

At every word out of his mouth, his grip on my elbow tightens bringing tears to my eyes. And the way we're standing no one can notice he's hurting him, instead they'll think something else of this.

I force the tears to stay in my eyes and push him as hard as I can, forcing him to release me. As soon as his grip on my elbow loosens, I escape from him and rush towards the bridal room to collect myself.

I quickly close the door of the room and sit on the couch, calming myself not to cry.

I will marry you just to ruin your life like you ruin others.

Shoaib has hated me since I could remember. He and his mom both have some kind of problem with me because they're always poking into my business especially after I lost my voice.

Hira Chachi- his mom- doesn't miss a chance to tell ammi how difficult it is to communicate with me and how my behavior is disrespectful. She doesn't see how her son makes me uncomfortable whenever he's around me. I always feel like he's going to attack me if we're left alone.

And whose life did I ruin? I don't understand why he keeps telling me that.

I take multiple deep breaths, looking at the ceiling making sure not one tear escapes my eye.

My attention turns to my phone when I get a notification.

I open it and find a text from api.

Shi-

Api

What happened?

What did he say?

Are you okay?

Text me, Arzo!

I take a deep breath and text her back.

Me

I'm fine.

It was nothing.

Api

Arzo, don't even dare lie to me. Tell me what he said.

Me

It was nothing, I promise.

Please stop worrying. I'm going throw myself in the guilt well if your mood gets ruined on your wedding day.

Api

Then tell me what happened.

Me

Just leave this.

I'll be out in a second

Api

You're impossible

I smile.

Me

I love you too.

I chuckle when she sends multiple eye roll emojis then close my phone.

I take one last deep breath, give myself a small pep talk and leave the bridal room. I first make my way to drink some water. I take small sips, distracting my thoughts to repeat what happened.

"Um, Arzo?"

I turn around at the voice and find a tall, dark brown haired man wearing the same sherwani as Zahid's cousins and friends. I think he's one of Zahid's friends or Faizan's.

"I just came to ask if you were okay." he asks, unsure, "uh, I hope it's not inappropriate but fai- I caught you leaving upset."

I open my phone to type out.

"It's okay, you can sign," I look up at him, "I learnt sign language when I was young,"

I nod then sign, "I'm fine. I'm sorry if you got the wrong idea."

"Oh, don't worry about it. We- I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

I frown at the way he corrected himself but smile and sign, "that's very sweet of you. I'm okay."

"Good to know." he smiles. He waves, turns around and leaves.

I watch him walk back to Faizan who's standing by the stage and tell him something.

Is it just me or did Faizan send him to ask me if I was okay?

I shake my head and turn to put away my empty glass. My thoughts are very weird today, I need food.