Bewitched

•nineteen•

Mahira woke up early the next day, still groggy from the lack of sleep. The clock chimed 10, enough to remind her of the much awaited arrival of the groom and other guests.

Mahira smiled at the thought. Zoe had been rambling on and on about Shehryar for days now. She even kept a small picture of him in her purse, which she believed would bring her good luck. It was evident that her dear cousin was already head over heels for her groom to be.

Deciding to make sense of last night's events some other time, Mahira hurriedly changed into a mint green embroidered gown. She was curling her hair when her mother peeked in from the door.

"You look beautiful, my dear." Ghazala remarked, who herself looked ethereal in a cream coloured saari.

"You don't look too bad yourself," Mahira chirped, a smirk making it's way onto her lips, "I thought mothers weren't supposed to compete with their daughters."

Ghazala gave a hearty laugh which was accompanied by Mahira's own.

"You know you can tell me anything, right?" Her mother's face grew suddenly serious.

Mahira's brows furrowed in confusion at this sudden question. She muttered an indistinct yes, shrugging her shoulders nonchalantly.

"You've been quiet these past few days," Ghazala pushed carefully.

"Maybe I'm just homesick," Mahira joked, not wanting to delve into the reason behind her strange behaviour.

It was too soon to tell her mother about the feelings that she harboured for Fawad. She wanted to wait until she was sure that her feelings weren't unrequited or one sided.

"I see the way you look at him," Ghazala picked at her nails and leaned against the bed post. Her casual tone made it almost seem as if she was just talking about the weather.

Mahira gasped and whirled around to look at the woman who knew her through and through.

"The eyes, my dear, they never lie."

Mahira, aware of her rapidly bearing heart, chose to remain quiet. That was all the confirmation that Ghazala needed.

"I thought there wasn't any veil between us," Ghazala laid a hand on her daughter's shoulder, "If it was bothering you, you could've always come to me."

Mahira put the curling iron down with a sigh, "I only made sense of it all yesterday,"She turned around to look at her mother, "And besides, it could only be an infatuation."

"My daughter doesn't fall prey to infatuations," Ghazala scoffed, her eyes softening, "Look, all I'm saying is that if you ever need to figure something out, I'll always be here."

"I know, Mama, and I love you for it." She pecked her mother on the cheek.

"To be honest, the notion isn't half bad," Ghazala's twinkled slyly, "I always did think you two looked good together."

Mahira stared at her mother in shock. But then again, she knew she didn't have to be surprised. Her mother did harbour a teenage soul.

"Mama, what in the..." Her words were drowned by Ghazala's loud laugh.

"Don't look so startled."
"A mother can do some matchmaking now and again," With a wink, Ghazala closed the door behind her, leaving a gaping Mahira in her wake.

•

Three hours later, they all stood outside in the driveway awaiting Shehryar and some of his other relatives.

Despite Zoe's relentless efforts to accompany them, she was forced to stay inside as per tradition.

"It's been ages since I last saw him," Zoe had whined as Mahira covered her head with an embroidered dupatta, "Or talked to him."

"Just one more day, and then you'll have him all to yourself." Mahira had said teasingly, "For as much time as you wish."

She had barely escaped the pillow that Zoe had thrown her way.

A low chuckle escaped Mahira's mouth as she replayed the scene in her head.

"Someone's in a good mood." A low male voice whispered beside her and Mahira turned to find Zaroon's figure towering her own. She had half hoped it would be Fawad, who she had only caught glimpses of since morning. His feigned indifference now as opposed to his behaviour last night concerned her.

She had tried to approach him but it seemed as if he was avoiding her purposely. Now that she had finally come to terms with the feelings she harboured for him, it made her heart clench. His mood swings were giving her whiplash and she didn't know how long she could put up with it.

"Someone's been missing." She replied back just as sassily. He had disappeared again yesterday and she had barely seen him for the rest of the evening.

"I..." A sigh escaped his lips, "I didn't want to create another scene."

"With the accusations Fawad was spewing at you the other day," Mahira clucked her tongue, "It's been making me really curious."

When Zaroon didn't say anything, Mahira continued, "I don't like being kept in the dark. And I certainly don't like shady men." Mahira's lips tugged up in an attempt to lighten the mood.

"Did you...did you just call me shady?" Zaroon feigned shock, earning a teasing laugh from the beautiful woman standing before him.

"Maybe I did. Maybe I..-."

Mahira was cut off by a car honk that finally marked the arrival of Zoe's much awaited sweetheart.