3
Shahwar kept on staring at her reflection in the mirror dressed up as the bride.
It was her wedding day. All the guests had already gathered downstairs in the backyard garden where the ceremony was going to be held.
It was unbelievable for her. Two days ago she'd have never thought that she'd be getting married within the same week.
She looked at the dress her mother in law had sent for the occasion.
It was nothing short of a stunning dream.
Clearly she'd been told about Shahwar's love for flowers.
The intricate lavender lehenga, blouse and dupatta all had minute detailing of florals and glass beads were tasseled on the ends of the entire outfit.
The beauty of it was only making her feel like how much of an unlucky person she was to have given up on her dreams and was to marry a man who wanted nothing to do with her.
She'd decided things. To keep herself and her heart safe from hurting further. The first one was to be dealt with her father and second with her soon to be husband.
"Shahwar." It was her father standing behind her, he had just entered the room, she turned around towards him.
"It is the happiest day of my life, my daughter." She felt nothing. So her agony was making her father happy, this was a breaking point.
"Does it matter even a little bit what it is for me?" She looked at him knowing what was about to come.
"I want you to be a good wife to him." She felt like she couldn't bear it anymore.
"I only wanted you to be with me, all my life abba ji. It doesn't matter to me if I have anyone else or not." She wanted him to know what he was losing.
"You're still a child." He sighed.
"The moment I sign the nikkah papers abba ji, you lose me. I'll never see you again. Never." Tears came down slowly but in abundance.
Dur e Shahwar was known to never be estranged from anyone.
She couldn't ever be upset with anyone around her.
People would say and do hurtful things but Shahwar had always been the most lighthearted person and let it all go.
Her father knew that if she'd ever be saying something like this, there was no going back.
"You'll sign them." He was calm.
"So you're ready to lose me over this?" It was truly taking her soul away from her body. The final pleading came.
"Let's go down Shahwar." He moved his hand forward for her to hold but her breathing was becoming stuffy, and she moved forward not taking his hand. She went down and Salman Nawaz followed behind, aware of the aftermath that was going to come.
Farhana came forward as soon as she was downstairs and led her to the backyard where she was to be seated.
Her in laws came and praised her while she sat looking down at her hands.
She didn't bother to look around and see if any of her friends had come, her world was empty.
She'd lost the person she'd loved the most today.
The ceremony began and she just followed wherever Farhana pointed for her to sign and then she was asked thrice for her will to marry.
There was no emotion in her voice. Beyond the huge white flowered curtain in front of her the same was happening with Rehaan Kazmi.
When both sides were done with their end of the formalities the curtain was lifted and Rehaan saw his wife sitting in front of him.
She didn't raise her head to even look at him. When she did look up it wasn't in his direction. He was taking his time observing her while she had a fixed expression that showed void. He was right in front of her and she looked everywhere but at him.
Food was served, photographs were taken, blessings were given and then it was time for her to be sent away.
While being taken towards the car for the bride and groom, the moment is considered one of the most significant and sentimental for the bride and her father but Dur e Shahwar walked without looking at her father. Rehaan had noticed it very quickly.
They were inside the car in no time as there weren't any emotional exchanges between her and her family.
His house wasn't far away from hers and they reached within ten minutes.
She was helped by her sister in law whose name she didn't know to get out of the car.
Her mother in law looked too enthusiastic for her liking at the moment but she knew that woman was not at fault to be treated wrongly.
She could sense that her husband's entire family was truly and genuinely happy with the marriage.
Though the man himself, made her feel completely unwanted.
He had been clear with his intentions when they had met the first time and she didn't need any more convincing on the matter.
It wouldn't be an issue for her either now, she'd made up her mind to just behave like he didn't exist. To make things easier for herself.
"I believe you'd want to change and rest since you have a flight in the morning right away." Rehaan's sister said as soon as they entered the bedroom, which most definitely was her husband's room who was still downstairs.
"Uh, sure, yeah." Shahwar responded nodding her head.
"I'm Iraj by the way. Your annoying nanand." She smiled at Shahwar. "Rehaan bhai will be getting here any time now so, would you like me to get you something, food, snacks, anything you want?"
"No, thank you." Shahwar forced a small smile.
"Right, okay. Um, you know I wanted to say this earlier but you look truly beautiful." Iraj passed a look of adoration. "You'll be in Paris, I'll try not to visit the newly wedded couple too much, I'll be sensible although most of the time I'm a pampered brat." She winked at her.
"You can visit as much as you want." Shahwar spoke with sincerity. There was no such thing as newly wedded between her and her husband.
"No, you can't." Rehaan spoke from behind them. "It's very ill mannered to visit when someone just got married. Make sure to vigilantly respect our privacy." He walked towards them. While his wife was started looking at her hands his sister sneered at him.
"Mujhe tameez hai, you're very obnoxious Rehaan bhai. Wese bhi I'll be coming to visit my bhabhi, not you." She pointed out.
"Pay attention to your husband, your tameez is required there." He said in the same tone.
Iraj scoffed out loud, "Fine I get it, I'm leaving. I know you want to be alone with your wife, desperately." She mocked him and walked out.
The moment the door closed with Iraj out of their room, Shahwar turned her head around to look for a mirror to take off her dupatta and jewelry.
Rehaan stood in the same spot as she moved across the room towards the dressing table plucking the pins out of her hair and dress.
A few minutes later he went to change his clothes and came out to find Dur e Shahwar waiting outside the bathroom door with clothes in her hand.
They didn't utter a word to each other and moved around the room like it was forbidden to speak.
When Shahwar came out in her sleeping outfit she found Rehaan on the couch with some files and a laptop working.
Not putting her attention towards the scene she walked towards the bed and laid down pulling the quilt over her.
Rehaan who had just seen his wife change from her very eastern attire to a comfy soft co-ord set of a cropped shirt and shorts tried to focus back on his work as she ignored him and fell asleep on his bed.
Rehaan Kazmi and his wifey are my favorite and I'm extremely biased for them. ??