Chapter 44 — Wedding

'This is not fine. I object!

Beast! why are you so...umm.... leave it. But try not to be so weird.

Why you jump from north to south with in no time?'

I was looking in the mirror, spoke to my reflection. Phone in my hand. I just read again the text from him.

I want you in my room within two days.

I felt my cheeks gone crimson at his demand...

I looked up in mirror, at my reflection. I bit my lip as I met my own gaze — instantly averting I turned my back as well.

There was something weird in the eyes of my reflection. It was – it was like....not me...not my eyes. He — his eyes were staring me back.

Wait....

What?

Yes I just felt him around me. Engulfing me. Why he felt like protruding in me?  He emptied me. My soul out... His soul in.

Please....

I just trembled....

What's going on with me?

What's that feeling...I can't tell you... People!

Noor...

YaAllah!

I just froze by there when his deep yet love glazed whisper boomed in that part of my brain where cells were developed to acknowledge the voices, heard in past..

I turned around, again facing the mirror, I nervously lifted my gaze to myself. Unknowingly, I was feeling shy of my own eyes. It seems, he was looking through my eyes. He seeped inside me. Reading my thoughts. Controlling my brain.

I felt my forehead, beaded....heart beat gone abnormal..

What's happening with me?

I ran to my bed and laid down...

Allah o Akbar...

As I heard morning prayer call, I got out of my bed...

I entered in washroom, did ablution, and got out. I had taken bath earlier when returned from the party...

I picked prayer mat and headed out of my room and moved towards mom's.

Mom was just laying the prayer mat...turned and smiled.

"Noor, what happened?"

Mom asked.

"Nothing...mom!"

I never met her gaze.

"Come here first...."

Mom held my arm and lead me to her bed and budged me to sit.

"Noor, look at me. You are seeming not well to me."

Mom put her knuckles on my forehead as if checking my temperature.

"Tell me Jan...."

"What's wrong? Something happened?" She held my both hands in hers.

"No..."

"Something happened out there in the party?"

"N-No."

"Faraan...dd..said something?" Mom hesitantly asked about him.

Silence....

"Noor, what's this? Why your wrists have Marks like this...tell me."

Mom spoke with great, tension filled voice.....as she was painfully looking at my wrists.

"Noor, speak up!"

Mom intensified her question with a little shock.

On the other second...

"Mmm....mom (hic) mom he..."

I was crying in her arms. Told her everything in the party...released my burden. I was feeling so enervated....

All I told my mom but I hid the truth from her, that was even hard for me to believe....

"Alhamdulillah!"

(Thanks Allah)

Mom was patting me continuously....I was feeling even her shaky hands at my back...I rubbed my face with her arm around me...

"May Allah bless you both with all happiness.... You share boon of life always together... May his protective shade always fall upon you..."

She was rubbing my back and praying for us....

"Mom!"

I spoke in my drenched voice...

"Buss Jan...take it easy...nothing happened.... Faraan just saved you..."

I felt more quickness in my tears as she uttered his name....

Who tells the mom that I wasn't crying at the incident with me in the party....but for crying at the fresh incident gone through with my heart....my crust just broke....all my heart beating at the new rhythm....supplying his dominance everywhere...any vessel any vein was left there which not carrying his name within....

"Let's pray Jan.... Its short time left in dawn."

My hiccups...went on hold....as mom was clearing my face....she was pecking on my forehead....

And I was just boring in her lap. I wasn't meeting her gaze.... I was shy... She will read him in there....

YaAllah! Please help me...what's that... I'm not aware....but why is this going on with me ...why....he ..he sudden perched up there where no one was allowed..

                   🏵️🏵️🏵️

Noor's Rukhsati:

"Noor, it's too much time for taking bath...make it quick, we are late...."

Rudaba yelled from outside..

"Coming...just coming...

This Heena...gone adhesive..."

Noor's weakness was sounding in her voice....

"Noor, it's About an hour and you are in washroom... Please pani ki jan chor do."

She stopped as she saw Noor was coming out....with lowered eyes...towel around her head...

Maroon yellow contrast suit with freshly applied Heena.... she was looking divine beauty...with her cute but sad face...

Her eyes were showing bit pinkness...little carved nose, its pink edge too. Natural pink pillowy lips bit pressed with powerful emotions captured inside...

"By the way I'm not Faraan, just look over here."

Noor lifted her gaze as she heard his name out from Rudaba's mouth...

"Ohh! you cried a lot inside?"

Rudaba got worried by looking at her pink glowing face...

"Yes..."

Noor accepted with a nod...

But her effort to show herself calm, gone vain when she again felt her heart melting..

She hugged Rudaba and again burst into tears....

"OK... Cry as much you want.....but not after your makeover...."

Rudaba said while rubbing her back.

Hitch....

With this Noor started hiccupping..

"OK ...na...Jan ab...buss kerdo, tumhari jagga mai hoti to bhangray dalti."

(Now stop this dear, if I were you, I would be dancing like folks)

Rudaba pulled away and announced.

"Sacch?"

(True)

Noor saw her with tearful gaze.

"Mucch."

(Very true)

She nodded, merrily enough to make Noor bit her lip.

Rudaba was there, to accompany Noor for this urgent wedding call. She made an appointment for Noor to make her bride on her special day.....

It was Noor's Rukhsati today....

Faraan talked to her Mother and asked for a legal farewell of Noor with himself....

Her mother gave him a consent as he made a sound reason for such hurry..

He said what?

But Noor wasn't believing in him — the excuse for such, all of a sudden Rukhsati.

[When a bride leaves her home to shift at her husband's home]

She was crying since two days when he was given approval to come and take her with him forever....

She removed the towel from head ....Rudaba did a blow dry to her honey brown locks... Helped her to wear Bangles ......

Sniff...

Her sniffing was on...all Rudaba noticing....

"Noor, aren't you happy? I never seen any girl this sad on her wedding. Chill yaar! He loves you. The one of a high acclaimed man is yours!"

Rudaba tried to made her ease. But Noor kept staring her with sealed mouth.

"OK, you don't love him. I agree! But it's not a big deal. You will start loving him.....just after..."

Rudaba left the sentence incomplete......bit her lip at once...mischievousness traced her face...

"Just after?"

Noor fidgeted to know what Rudaba trying to say...

"Leave it... You will beat me."

Rudaba started brushing her hair...her silky locks were just slipping out of her hands...

"OK, mat batao."

(Don't tell)

Noor understood she will say something very bold....to make her blush....

"MashaAllah! Meri banno! (lovely soon to be bride) I'm 200% sure if Faraan sees you at this time, he won't be waiting for your make over...."

"Rudaba, Please!"

Noor was amazed to herself...why she's feeling so shy, why her heart misses a beat, when she says his name....why there was a pleasant pain proliferating in her innocent....pristine heart ...

Knock.... Knock....

Door knocked....

Rudaba saw Salaar was on the door. She said him salam and left while allowing him to come inside....

"Bhai"

Noor's eyes were pooled up again, this time she was crying against her brother's chest.....

Salaar was patting her head, then pecked on..

"Beta! Faraan is so nice...very composed.... Never witnessed him in any bad habit...he will look after you more than us..."

"He was my college fellow...."

Salaar told her then all the story...Noor was froze there listening her whole Body as ear.

"Noor beta! I'm the culprit one....I never thought about consequences.... and did all in grudge...made you in miserable condition....please my lil sister forgive me."

Salaar wiping his tears by rubbing his eyes with his arm ....

Noor pulled away and looked her brother's face...

He was ...he was in pain...not meeting eyes with his sister...

"Bhai." She called him lowest tone. "No." Noor negatively shook her head, stretched her henna decorated hand...and wiped her brother's escaped tears....

"Bhai...I am happy...please you don't worry...It was written in my fate ...Bhai...He...he is very good with me...He cares me a lot...."

"InshaAllah my sister... May Allah bless you both a beautiful cherished long life ...Ameen."

Salaar spoke with zestful energy.

He has to show his sister that, he himself is all happy ....because he knew his innocent hearted sister will remain in misery.....

"Bhai...."

......

Noor's meek voice.

"Yes...."

Salaar caressed her head...

"Today I'm missing Baba so much...."

With this Noor again start sobbing that literally made Salaar's heart squeezed.

"Don't cry, you know Baba Jan will be so happy. Our little Noor is grown up and going to make someone's home, Sweet. Heaven on Earth."

Salaar was caressing her head....his eyes were glistening with unshed tears.

'Ya...Allah...bless my sister with all of happiness.... Allah make him always loyal and loving to my sister....'

Salaar's unvoiced prays were direct from the heart....

And....

Her innocent heart was praying for his Bhai.... for his happiness,

For everything....

....

But she forgot there was a new owner of her heart...his name was freshly engraved on it...made it aching .....all of a sudden strings gone attached.... Jingled when listening to his name.. That was new experience.

.....

.....

.....

....

Flip...flop "Noor Api?"

Mani came closer by taking little steps...

Noor heard Mani calling her..

Noor pulled away to see her.

Salaar pinched Mani's nose just to let her chuckle.

"Ji mani...Say something...what do you like to say ...."

Salaar patted her cheek.

"Noor Api...look! Salaar bhai look!"

Noor saw a big Elsa doll in her arms and her face was shining bright with a cute smile....

"Wow! pretty doll."

Noor exclaimed...

"Uncle send it for me... Your groom."

She informed and both Noor and his brother looked at each other. Salaar smiled and Noor felt a sudden wave of contentment.

'That means he remembered the Mani.' She was thinking, then she asked. "When?"

Noor was surprised enough to listen that Faraan sent a doll for Mani on the other day, after he met her...

"Noor, we are getting late..."

As Rudaba came, Salaar held Mani's hand and strode out...

Noor was unmoved there since then Rudaba made a budge on her shoulder....

"Wait! Let me pray, Asr prayer first."

Noor spoke as she came into realization......Left Rudaba there to manage the dress and jewelry all sent by Faraan.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the Night Faraan came with his few men..

His SUV was elegantly decorated...

All the function was organized in nearest Hall..

Faraan asked Salaar to go simple....

Salaar was bit reluctant but as his mom asked him to act upon that, what Faraan says....

He understood then and followed his direction as he knew Faraan is much arrogant to conflict with...

"MashaAllah....my daughter"

As Noor entered in the Hall her mother hugged and blew few Ayahs on her....

Noor Saw Faraan was present on the stage...talking with Salaar.

He was wearing white Sherwani...the simplest one...

Noor just lowered her head...as she realized for the first time....he was looking so handsome...

With baby steps Rudaba and mom on her either sides, ushered her to the stage....

As she reached in the front there were two steps to climb up on the stage....Faraan just left his seat....moved ahead a gave his hand to Noor.....

Noor wasn't looking up...but Rudaba held out her little hand and let it settled in Faraan's wide one....

He lift her hand and made her maximum ease to climb up....

(May be he wanted to scoop her up at that time:):)

Noor's eyes just stuck to ground...as if she dare to look up.....she will become statue...

"Assalam-o-Alaikum!"

Faraan looked at the voice, then replied.

"Wa'alaikum'assalam"

His replied in heavy voice.

"I'm Rudaba."

She introduced herself.

"Rudaba." Faraan was softly looking at her, he knew, she must be his wife's friend. "Nice name."

As he complemented, Rudaba went flummoxed.

"I'm Noor's friend."

"Hmm, good."

"We are best friends, in fact."

Faraan now saw the girl with interest. Rudaba knew then so well why Noor was cowed by him.

Yes his overshadowed personality...... made there everyone to shrink in their cocoon.

"Nice to see you.."

He was saying manner fully.

Noor was beside him. Her heart beat was abrupt — as she took long sigh, he asked.

"Are you OK, Noor?"

She nodded after a long pause.

"Noor, need water?" Now Rudaba asked.

Noor nodded again.

"She is advised, not to speak, if you want your make-up intact." Faraan spoke after watching her repeated nods.

Rudaba hardly suppressed a laughter. She was now quite freely chit chatting with him. He was  chivalrously replying her....

"Yes off course, if she would like to."

He replied precisely, as Rudaba asked him that, will he allow Noor to appear in exams.

As the time passed dinner and all rituals were done, guests started to take leaves.

Faraan took a glance of his watch and stood up. He took permission to leave from Salaar and his MIL.

Rudaba came forward and helped Noor to stand up....

Tears....

In everyone's eyes...

As Noor started to cry while hugging her mother...

Rudaba asked her mother to take care of Noor's mom.

"Bhai!"

Salaar hugged his sister, who was looking so adorable in bridal attire....

Faraan moved forward and leaned in front of his Mother in law. She patted his shoulder while wiping her tears. As he turned, Salaar hugged him. "Don't worry Salaar." He patted his back.

"Sir, my sister is so Innocent, she is unaware of the ugliest and darkest aspects of life because she did not partake in any of it." He was like whispering in his ear.

"I know that." With smile he pulled away and held Noor's hand in his possessive grip.

Her cries sudden went on hold....

Salaar was following them with Holy Quran in his hand..

shadowing Noor...

Rolling his tears back...

Praying till the last glimpse of Car...

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Faraan's POV:

"Noor"

I called my bride...

She was looking typical bride....

Maroon bridal dress...heavy jewelry....must be heavy makeup... Not sure about that...because she had lowered her head and hid under that heavy bridal veil....

Hmmph...hmmph...

Her sobs...

She was sobbing.... Yeah....

Acceptable...after all every girl cry when leaving her home...and this girl...my bride...Mrs. Faraan is some kind of extraordinary qualities....as she is qualified tear-ologist.....Isn't it??

"Noor... Are you OK?"

"Hmmm"

Her muttered voice....

I smiled so hard.... My innocent bride was shying....

I pressed a button in front panel....

My all-time favorite song...

The song was mediating the meaningful silence between us.

"Noor"...

"I'm so happy to have you....finally...

You know what...I never slept that whole night... When you confessed that even you can't live without me..."

I felt she bit turned at her place...

"What....?"

"What are you doing ...girl?"

I felt her sandal....over my boot...she was pressing it....

"Noor why so hurry....lets reach home first..."

"I'm not in hurry OK?"

She protested...voice appeared right beneath the veil...

I smiled at that bridal attired wadge because she was never letting me a glimpse of her..

With diving into my own thoughts I was just evaluating my life....

Alone....yeah me alone Noor...her arrival.... On what circumstances... .doesn't matter...

How she broke the rusted lock??

Within thoughts... Distance was on cut....

After half an hour:

I parked my car in...got out of it...moved towards the door where Noor was seated.

I opened the door, gave her hand...she bit hesitantly held it...

I eased her out...

With a shaky, yet cold hand, she was feeling so frightened...

"Assalam-o-Alaikum Mrs. Noor"

On the main entrance, Zareena welcomed her...

She was present there by this time as I told her to be present at the entrance, at least there should someone to welcome my bride...

"Thank you zareena"

I replied as Noor must be nervous to reply.

zareena came near and held her

I just released her hand and let her go with Zareena..

I just sat in sitting area....

Ouch!

I heard Noor's squeal.

♥♣♥♣♥♣

Noor's POV:

YaAllah!

I was so scared...I don't know why...he was bit reserved...

driving the car with his chit chat to me....he never tried to touch me ...... his habit to touch me again and again without any reason..... he was beyond decent..

"Just put your foot over his...he will be proved as a slave hubby"

Rudaba's mom advised me that soon after I came back from the saloon...

And....

And I followed her....

Slowly I moved my sandal and put on his boot..

He felt my movement and commented what...

Uff.....

Just made me gushed with shame...

As we reached home....my heart was throbbing even more loud...

Zareena welcomed me but my mouth was so dried to answer...

He was holding me but soon, Zareena reached at my side, he let her alone to handle me.....

Ohh! the staircase...

I put my sandal on first step....and And my heavy lehenga caused me to stumble over it....

As I yelped....

He came closer again, he asked Zareena something but my receptors were attentive to my sandal.

"Noor, let me do this for you"

As I stumbled again, he stepped forward....and spoke in his softest tone... I guess...

"My Sandals......."

As I spoke...He then bent and scooped me up in his arms...

As he was climbing up....my heart transformed into a racehorse. Along with I was feeling pity for him...may be its not easy for him to carry me with this many Kgs heavy bridal attire...

"What's the matter Noor, it's me who climbing up the stairs and there is you, going out of breath...?"

He asked while looking at me in his arms I just escaped his gaze, by looking at his chest...as I felt a smile in his tone already...

"Hey..Noor, you fool...just be easy.......may be its thousandth time, he carried you like this...what's new ...han?"

I scolded myself for being an asthmatic patient in his arms....

I felt he was continuously looking at me...

"Please look ahead"

I advised him in his arms but without meeting gaze...

"Tumhai pata hai....meree ath ankhen hain....4 agay 4 peechay"

(do you know I have 8 eyes, four at front and four at back)

He spoke again in smiling tone.

"Oopss....an Octopus"

I Just thought bewildering in his arms.....

He reached up, Stairs ended....

He landed me on floor...gripped my hand....and lead me to his room....

He slowly twisted the knob and took himself back and let me in first....

With trembling inside huge dress...as I stepped..

It seems a bucket full of rose petals showered on me...

The room was brightly lit..

He also came in and spoke...

"Welcome to your room"

I gulped...while viewing the bed...it was decorated with pink roses...

His eyes...his deep gaze...

I was in the middle of room....

my eyes were simply bored in the floor....

Click......

He locked the door.

Ohh no...

My heart lurched...for a while and again started pounding heavily inside.

He came in front then lifted my face with his finger under my chin....

"Noor please open your eyes"

he demanded...

"Look at me"

As I obeyed him he asked me to look at him....

YaAllah! My lids were so heavy, just refused to lift up for a gaze to him...

"Baby...daro nahi"

His deep emotional voice....

He then moved to the other side...towards his closet...

Slightly opened then close....

"Noor look here "

click....

He was taking my snap.... A high Resolution DSLR camera in his hand....

"Year ik smile hi day do"

(just give it a smile)

After couple of pics he asked me for a smile....and I...I smiled.

he ushered me to the couch.....made me sit on easy posture....

clicks...clicks....

"Beautiful..."

He was admiring what he captured...

"Enough"

He again slightly opened his closet and placed his camera in....

He turned to me....

I was looking beneath my lashes....

He came to the couch and bent again scooped me up in his arms....

Now he was moving towards the bed....

Very safely he placed me on his bed...my heart was just madly beating....

he was turning off extra lights but only side lamps..

"Pp....pani"

He was aiming to come near but my demand made him halt...

"Noor...take this..."

He raised a glass filled with milk to me....

"Water please...."

OK first you have few sips of milk....

He wasn't moving that glass from my side...I took it ...shakily took few sips and handed him back...

He then gulped it down in one go...

"Noor,...pi lo..."

Now he was handing me glass of water....

I gulped it down ....

"You want more?"

He asked as I emptied the glass...

"No.."

I merely nodded.

He put the glass on table...

I saw he was unbuttoning his sherwani...

Laid it on arm chair...

Now he was in white plain kurta..

With throbbing heart, witnessed beneath my lashes...that He sat on bed....in front of me...

He was looking quietly....then moved and drew out something from the side table....

"Noor your wedding gift...."

I saw in jewelry box an elegant diamond with emerald necklace with ear rings....

It was so beautiful....

"Did you like it?"

He asked with intense love...

'Yes"

I lowered my head again..

As he raised his hand I just stirred.... He was lifting my face....again...

"I'm not believing Noor, you are on my bed, but without making any noise....

He paused a bit.

"you are looking so pretty, as ever"

He caressing my cheek...

"You look so beautiful without these ...."

He was removing my ear rings....

He leaned ahead...now he was holding me in his arms....

"Noor don't be scared..."

He felt my numbness, whispered in my ear..

"Easy hojao"

With this he bent and unhooked my necklace...

"Noor, believe me I'm not beast ...please...breath normally"

He rubbed my back for a while and started detaching this heavy veil...

"God.. Itni pins... Zulm hai zulm"

He was removing pins...one by one...which adjusted my veil on my head....

As he removed last pin...

My veil fell on my shoulders then slipped at my back....

Noor, open your eyes...."

His love glazed voice....

As I parted my lids...

"No"

His eyes travelling all over me...

"What no...doll?"

He slightly pushed and made me lay on bed with his arm under my head....

His breath now fanning my forehead and his kiss touched me there...

His deepening kisses.....

I was freezing....numb....cold...