(Unedited)
As Farrah walked into the hall her breath hitched as she was instantly transported into a different world; where the light was a beautiful golden colour and the walls where covered in deep shades of blue. Candles were lit in the middle of each table. And at the front of it all, the dais for the bride and groom, decorated with hundreds fairy lights. It felt like an oasis of calm in the midst of all the mehendi related drama that was going on. Apparently, one the dancers had broken her heel. Someone's aunty was lost and couldn't find the way to the hall. Mahira's earrings were also missing. The groom was missing his socks. Farrah couldn't help but laugh.
Mahira and her grew up together. Both were daughters of restaurant owners. The difference was that Mahira's dad cooked and served up the best Pakistani dishes and didn't have dreams of expansions and expensive gastro-pubs. This didn't mean that they were poor by any stretch of the imagination, it just meant that they were perfectly happy with whatever they have.
She watched as her dad, walked up to Mahira's parents; greeting and congratulating them on their child's wedding. At the same time, saying a small prayer for her wishing her well. When her dad was done, she walked up to Mahira's mother and gave the woman a hug. It was an extra tight hug as they hadn't seen each other in almost a year and Farrah was always fond of her.
As soon as she stepped out of the embrace, she was almost tackled by Choti Khala. For someone shorter than herself, Choti Khala was deceivingly strong. Choti Khala held her by the arm and excused them as she pulled them to the side. Farrah studied Choti Khala's profile; her fair complexion, her dark brown hair and her honey coloured eyes. The same ones that stared back at Farrah in her reflection.
"Khala, what happened?" Farrah asked.
"Uff, the mother of that boy! She is such a pain!" she answered.
Farrah's eyes were round in surprise. "This doesn't sound promising," Farrah said as she adjusted her dupatta.
"No, no...she's just really excited to meet you," Choti Khala said slowly, realising her earlier slip.
Farrah smiled and shook her head gently. "Chalo, let's get this over and done with."
"You're not going to impress anyone with this attitude," Choti Khala said frowning.
"Well, that's good because I wasn't planning on impressing anyone," Farrah muttered with her head held high; ready to meet her future mother-in-law.
Weaving through the tables, with Choti Khala leading the way, Farrah braced herself for the meeting that was about to take place. The woman, was a short but plump little thing with a loud voice that could be heard across the hall. Her wrists were covered in gold bangles and made soft tinkly noises when she moved them as she talked. In a lavender colour shalwar kameez, her fair complexion and almost light brown hair made her look almost like a gori, but her mannerisms solidified the fact that she was Punjabi and proud of it.
Farrah lasted all but 15 minutes, before she excused herself to the ladies room. Placing her hands on the sink counter, Farrah looked at the floor and exhaled harshly. She couldn't do this. She had been entirely optimistic, too optimistic tonight. Her 'future mother-in-law' was loud and rude; and Farrah couldn't stand it. Yes, she did smile and bear it earlier, but she would never be able to do it for the rest of her life. Also, there was the fact that her heart would skip a beat whenever she saw the bright blue drapes placed around the wall.
Rolling her neck and her shoulders, she looked at her reflection and spotted her earrings. Delicately she fingered them, swallowing as she remembered how Richard's fingertips skimmed her skin. The sound of the door unlatching broke her out of her reverie and she averted her gaze from her reflection. Focusing on washing her hands.
As she turned around to take some tissues to wipe her hand, Farrah stopped in her tracks. She eyed the person in front of her; almost 6 feet, broad shoulders in a white kurta with a long black jacket on top which was left unbutton, wavy black hair in a low bun at the nape of the neck, he smiled a crooked smile at Farrah.
"You don't look like a lady from any angle to be in the ladies room," Farrah said sharply at the intruder, with a raised eyebrow.
"Sorry, I really had to do a number. The men's was full," he said as he eyes travelled the length of her body and rested at her face.
"I'm Saif," he said as he extended his hand towards her. Farrah just looked at him and furrowed her eyebrows, incredulous.
"Maybe you should wash those hands first, you know, before offering them to people to shake," she said, her tone getting increasingly sharp.
"Hmmm, bossy. I can work with that," he said smiling at her again. Farrah just rolled her eyes, and collected her clutch.
"Don't I get a name" he asked as he washed his hands. His eyes never leaving her reflection in the mirror.
"No," she said plainly.
"You look stressed," he stated.
"Mmhhmmm," she answered noncommittally.
"I can help you take the edge off," he said.
"Oh yeah?" Farrah still sounding unimpressed.
"Yeah really. Ask me how," he said lowly, turning to face her.
"Okay, I'll humor you. How?"
"Sex. It's beyond excellent as a stress reliever," he said shrugging his shoulders, his voice tinged with excitement.
Farrah stared at him, and after a beat burst out in loud, hearty chuckles. She laughed so hard that her eyes started to tear. "Shit my mascara," she muttered in between laughter. She walked up to the mirror and gently dabbed at her eyes. She looked at Saif's reflection and just for a second felt bad at the disappointment that marred his face. "Do I really look like someone who'd go for a quickie in a bathroom stall?" she asked her curiosity peaked over his blatant question.
He shrugged again, walking towards stopping inches away. He looked at her as she smiled up at him with raised eyebrows. Farrah knew that he was trying to intimidate her and she stood her ground.
"No. You look like someone who should be worshipped, yeah," he breathed.
"Well, that's a better line but I'm still not interested," she said with a smile on her face.
"Chal, koi nai. See you on the dance floor," he said as he walked backwards and out the door (well, never mind). Farrah stood at her spot shaking her head at him with a smile playing on her lips. What a piece of work, she thought. She felt her phone buzz in the clutch and she took it out to check her messages.
Charlotte had send her a photo of herself and Ben lounging on the couch. Ben was kissing Charlie's cheek and they both had the biggest smiles on their faces. I think I'm in love, Charlie captioned the photo. Farrah felt a pang in her heart as she looked on at the picture. It has been a while since she has seen such a brilliant smile on Charlie's face. And Ben was like a decent bloke, her earlier impression of him was so wrong.
Quickly she texted back, 'The two of you look so cute'. Her fingers lingered on the keyboard. She wanted to ask about Richard so badly but she was stopping herself. Her phone buzzed again in her hand and looking at it she smiled. Without her even asking, Charlie told her that Richard had left shortly after she did. She texted back a quick thank you, I love you to Charlie and walked towards the reception hall. She spotted her father and walked towards him.
Sitting down next to him, he pushed a plate full of her favourite foods towards her. "Khalo, bacche," he said with a gentle smile (Eat, child). Yousof knew that Farrah absolutely hated queuing up in buffet lines. And he also knew that his daughter didn't have enough time between coming home from work and getting ready to have something to eat.
Farrah just looked at her dad, her smile completely dominated her face. "Thank you, Daddy," she practically sang as she picked up a samosa from her plate. Farrah almost moaned from the explosion of spices in her mouth; it was so good. From the corner of her eye, she saw her 'future mother-in-law' watching her eat with a disdainful look, and Farrah internally rolled her eyes. This rishta, this match; it was not happening.
"Kaisi lagi, ladke ki mama?" Yousuf whispered discreetly in his daughter's ears. (How did you find the boy's mother?)
Taking a pause, Farrah looked at her father with apologetic eyes and shook her head.
"Aachi nahi lagi?" he continued, and Farrah continued shaking his head. "Koi baat nahi, bacche. Sab Allah ki marzi hai," Yousof said and pressed a kissed on her temple. (You didn't like her? It's okay, child. It's Allah's will)
The noise level in the hall reached almost deafening levels as both Mahira and her fiancée entered the hall, complete with the traditional drums and dancing. Watching the scene unfold as she ate, Farrah admired the almost neon colored skirt and top that Mahira was wearing. She was always so fashion forward and stylish, that even tonight she looked like she belonged in the pages of Vogue Brides. The colors, the lights, the outfits, everything just accentuated how stunning a bride Mahira is.
It was from then that the night took a fun turn, all the family and friends performed a dance number and Farrah was just enjoying it all. After what happened at the ladies' room earlier, she had decided to not take tonight too seriously and to celebrate her friend whole heartedly.
It was when she was about to get up to head to the dance floor that Choti Khala grabbed her again. "Syafiq is here, and they want you two to meet," Choti Khala said excitedly.
"Khala, no," Farrah said, her shoulders already moving to the sound of the bass of the music.
"Arre, us se mill to lo. Who toh aapni Mama ke saath nahi rehta," Choti Khala said almost pleadingly. (Just meet him. He doesn't live with his Mama)
At once all the excitement left her body as she heaved a deep sigh. Turning around she motioned for Choti Khala to walk first as she followed.
***
DUM DUM DUM.
How did you all find this chapter? Is the plot getting even more interesting?
Are you all hooked? I totally am and I'm the one writing it. Haha
Anyways, sorry for the unedited chapter. I am trying to make sure I post this one Friday and I have less than 25 mins for time to be up. Eeeek.
Also the fact that I am exhausted and can't seem to stop yawning.
Anyways, I hope to wake up to your comments and votes. So you better don't disappoint *smirks*
You know the drill: vote, comment and share.
lots of love and yawns, me. xoxo