32. He'll always be there

*****

Adorned in a beautiful sky blue and golden coloured lehenga, Ziah had managed to make the women around her swoon. Madiha was far more excited than anyone else as she chose a this and a that and didn't hesitate from showing her disapproval when Laiha pulled out a set of earrings that the older woman didn't deem fit for the bride.

"Jis tarah se aapki excitement hai, kahi in dono ke baad aap hi toh

nahi kar rahi nikah?"

Aliya teased Madiha slyly and was met with a stern glare.

They had decided to carry out the wedding in the haveli after Ziah's insistence. The place reminded her of her parents and the memories that she had with them as a child. Even though they weren't physically present, she'd feel at peace if the dream of her parents one day seeing her as a bride come true within the place where she spent the most of her sweet days with them.

The rukhsati- if it could be called that- would be held the next day. Hafeez was given the responsibility to decorate the Qureshi mansion ensuring it's finest and after grumbling about how they left him out for the good part, he took over the job with ease.

Not many people from the town were invited to the nikah. Just Malak and the nawab of the place, Salahuddin Khwaja and his family. It was a tradition that the head of the town would grace the place on such occasions to bestow his well wishes for the newly wed couple's happy future.

"Itni light jewelleries?! Mujhe toh laga tha aaj koi kehar dhaye ga."

Laiha complained with a child-like tone when she assessed the accessories Ziah had chosen for the wedding. The items that Waheed had bought were actually the dress and a few jewelleries that Madiha had customised to give to her daughter-in-law, of course, she didn't know who it would b at first but now on seeing Ziah take over the title, a warm feel spread through her heart and she kissed the crown of the bride's head.

"Itna pyar kyu aa raha hai?"

Shaking her head at the ladies who were making heart eyes at Madiha and Ziah, the latter tried not to make her blush too obvious. Hence why her head was ducked every now and then.

It had been too long since someone fretted over her like a mother hen and needless to say, she had missed it immensely.

It took roughly another half an hour and Ziah was finally the bride who could effortlessly steal all the attention around. The dress and the touch up was light but that's how she liked it.

She had decided that rather than buying expensive jewelleries and dresses, she'd rather buy the one that might be used on some other occasion too and half the amount of the wedding was set to be given to the charity.

"Masha'Allah! Haye, bechare pe thoda toh taras khao."

Aliya gushed like a high spirited cheerleader while Parizad nodded her head in agreement. Laiha could only snicker at the remark as she put the veil over Ziah's head.

"If you ask me, she's marrying him, wahi bahot bada ehsan kiya hai us per."

"He's not that bad."

Ziah defended him on reflex but seeing the way the women around her gawked at the remark, she hid her face behind the veil, trying to calm the shades of pink that weren't ready to leave her alone.

"Oye hoye, someone has fallen hard."

Ziah didn't bother reacting to the remark and the whistle that followed it. She'd rather spent a few minutes in silence for her lost dignity while they teased her relentlessly.

"Bas bas, tang na karo ise-"

Madiha came to her rescue and shushed the three minions who giggled at the open show. Patting Ziah's head, she smiled at her through the mirror and the bride didn't notice the mirth in her to-be mother-in-laws eyes until she spoke again,

"-Woh kaam Marwan pe chod de toh behtar hai."

Trying to pick her jaw from the floor, Ziah huffed when the women burst into guffaws and uncontrollable beats of laughter while Madiha nonchalantly brought the pair of heels for Ziah to put them on.

"Bahot bure hai aap sab."

Ziah couldn't help but complain with a whine but that did nothing to ease the laughter and the mischief.

The bride's eyes found the box tucked below her bed. The contents of it were the bridal dress and jewellery that she was forced to wear. Madiha had politely requested for it to be given to someone else and Ziah couldn't be any more glad. Those weren't the memories she'd like to keep in her mind but just the reminder that she wasn't weak.

She didn't let the faith her parents had in her waver.

She didn't disappoint her past self- the child who yearned for parental love.

She didn't succumb to the pain without giving a double of it back to those who thought her life was a game and she was an object to be played with.

Closing her eyes, Ziah took in a fresh breath. Her shoulders were more relaxed than they ever had been and a smile was constant on her lips. The pain and hardships had finally given way for happiness to make its presence and life had never been more colourful than at that moment.

Verily, after every hardship comes ease.

*****

"Ziah Aslam binte Zarman Aslam, kya aapko aapka nikah Marwan Qureshi wald Waheed Qureshi se sikkah rajul waqt mein 21 lakh meher, Qubool hai?"

The same Qazi from a day before asked the same question but with major changes that were much better than the previous one.

Madiha held Ziah's palm in hers, assuring the jitters that were normal in such a situation. Feeling a sense of serenity wash over her, Ziah's answer had everyone squeal silently to themselves.

"Qubool hai."

And there it was, the word that made Ziah smile through happy tears. She didn't know when her eyes had teared up, maybe when she was lost reminiscing the times when she had nothing and now all of a sudden, it felt as though she was the most favoured person in the world.

The overwhelming emotions didn't satiate even a bit when Marwan was asked the same question. The parda that they had between them was transparent enough for her to see his form- confident and relaxed.

"Qubool hai."

He spoke from the other end and a small laugh escaped Ziah's lips at the hidden disbelief in his tone.

If only he knew that she felt the same at that moment.

Disbelief.

How had a rescue mission taken such drastic turns? When did the hearts whisper tales of love in hushed conversation? How weird was it that their souls had known each other long before their awakening?

Cheers and howls were heard, songs and rhythms were played and the parda was dropped.

He took in a sharp breath since the sight in front of him was too ethereal to even blink at.

She didn't have enough courage to raise her head and take a good look at her husband who eyed her with an intensity that goosebumps rose across her covered skin.

Jo tere khatir tadpe pehle se hi

Kya use tadpana

O zaalima, o zaalima

Jo tere ishq mein behka pehle se hi

Kya use behkana

O zaalima, o zaalima

Someone played the song from the crowd and Ziah knew that he had intentionally chosen it. Biting her lips to contain a grin, Ziah refused to look his way and only smiled at the women who came to bid her congratulations.

The events of yesterday were not forgotten by the town and a few of them gave their condolences but were ushered away quickly by Parizad since she had no mood of turning such a happy moment into one of sorrowful tears.

Aankhen marhaba

Baatein marhaba

Main sau martaba

Deewana hua

"Ziah, dekh bhi le uski taraf. He looks starved of his favourite meal."

Laiha whispered haughtily next to Ziah's ears who ducked her head once again, feeling the waves of cherry blossom come her way. Subtly patting her cheeks to reduce the redness in them, Ziah took in a deep breath and finally looked at Marwan who forgot that it was necessary to breathe in order to stay alive.

But oh, dying after seeing such a beauty would be no shame.

Mera na raha

Jab se dil mera

Tere husn ka

Nishana hua

Ziah didn't blink her eyes and controlled the urge to shy away from the way he gazed at her- it would've been no different from when Shah Jahan had gazed at Mumtaz or else no wonder, how Taj Mahal became the monument of beauty and love.

"Me and you, you and me?"

Marwan mouthed the words to her and Ziah chuckled at the sight. Delight filled every pore of their being as the evening shed its glow. The moon came into view from behind the dark curtains but a certain someone had found a moon of his own.

Saason mein

Teri nazdeekiyon ka

Ittar tu ghol de... ghol de

Main hi kyun

Ishq zaahir karun

Tu bhi kabhi bol de... bol de

Hearing the words, Marwan raised an eyebrow at Ziah who would've blended with the dawn if not for the people around.

"Bolo."

He mouthed again and she pretended to be oblivious to it as she made a confused face and shook her head. Marwan frowned at the rejection and narrowed his eyes when the glint in her honey brown eyes became clear.

A challenge it was.

And he loved winning.

Le ke jaan hi

Jayega meri

Kaatil har tera

Bahana hua

"Beinteha mohabbat hai aapse."

Ziah tripped from over where she sat when her mind dictated the words he had mouthed to her. Her wide eyes met his serious ones and for the hundredth time that evening, Ziah never knew whether there was a difference between the colour of the blushing rose and her skin.

Tu shamma hai toh yaad rakhna

Main bhi hoon parwana

O zaalima, o zaalima

To the words, he smiled the most beautiful of his smiles at her and with a wink, he stood up to greet the men outside, leaving behind a flustered and dazed Ziah who had a hard time trying to control the raging beats in her chest and the flutter in her whole being.

*****

The guests had long gone and the night was knocking on the doors of the sky. Laiha had bid a goodnight with a yawn followed by Aliya and Parizad while Madiha helped Ziah to her room.

"Sit comfortably. Zyada bhaw dene ki zaroorat nahi hai use. He's already high up in the sky since yesterday."

Madiha uttered the word with utmost nonchalance and Ziah couldn't help but laugh at the annoyance on the old woman's face.

It was true that after Ziah had said 'yes' to him, Marwan had run from one corner of the haveli to the other, practically raising it all on his head while chanting 'Alhumdulillah' until his mother stuffed an apple in his mouth. His not-so-little expedition had earned him a smack from his father and an endless teasing from the others.

"Now, do ward him away if he makes you uncomfortable. Zyada tang kare toh I'm just a few rooms away, hmm?"

Madiha gave a gentle pat to Ziah's head with a look that said how serious she was about her words and Ziah bit back a chuckle and gave her a nod.

Few minutes later, Ziah found herself alone in the room she called hers. Madiha had put in great effort to decorate the space with flowers and bakhoor- another one of the things Madiha had asked Waheed to bring. The Arabic scent wasn't light but it was pleasant and soothing.

Resting her back against the cushion, she played with the rings she had worn when the door was turned open. Every part of hers fumbled in nervousness as she sat straight and waited for another heart beat.

"Have mercy, Lord."

She heard him take a deep breath after the words and the red that had been forgotten came to rest back on her cheeks, taking its own sweet time to disappear.

Though, a part of her did tell her it wasn't going away. Not until she was with him.

And that so happened to be forever.

Insha'Allah.

Ziah knew the shift in the air wouldn't spare her sanity hence why she focused on her hands rather than him. Feeling his presence so close to her unsettled her heart but lulled it at the same time.

"I- bolne ke kabil toh chod do."

Marwan whined at the unfair treatment he was receiving. He had prepared lovely confessions in his mind, stayed up half the night to accommodate proper words and adjectives to his speech only to be left without words when she was finally in front of him. So close, so tempting, so torturous.

An unexpected laugh was what he heard in return and the melody of it brought a grin on his face.

Their eyes finally met when she raised her head to take in his appearance. Nothing would've prepared her for the look in his eyes. The emotions around felt tangible and the silent humour had hid itself behind the veils of a moving breeze.

The window had been left open, allowing for the fresh air to calm their hearts but the air itself turned out to be a traitor, acting as the fuel to ignite the fire that had started long back with the vow to never die nor leave.

A hesitant hand was raised and Marwan gently placed it on her cheeks, waiting a few seconds to ask for the silent consent. To his love-filled gaze, Ziah leaned into the warm touch and a smile made its way on both of their lips.

"It's not a dream."

She heard him murmur into the air. His face was close and so was his assurance. A vulnerable feeling washed over Ziah when she felt her eyes tear up at the way he was staring into her soul, reaching out for it and ridding it of all that had haunted her for years.

"I'm here. Share the pain with me, Ziah."

And that was all it took for her to surrender herself in his embrace. Marwan held her as she cried for all that had been buried for so long. The secrets, the betrayal, the blood and the loss.

The numbing sensation came over by a little later as he kept kissing her temple, her forehead, murmuring words to assure her that he was there. He'll always be there.

He held her as one would hold something dear to them, something far more than precious to be put into words. A surreal companion was hard to come by and Marwan would not settle until he had given her all that he had to offer.

*********

Blushing?

Swooning?

Crying?

Not me, it's you! At least, the emotional ones are..

Trust me when I say that I was blushing and grinning while typing the whole thing. No, I need someone like him or else the world can keep the men in the showcase.

I'm not interested.

Oh, and just 2-3 more chapters before we bid a goodbye! Cry a little extra for that. Thankfully, tissues aren't that expensive to come by.

***********