Zaryab had come early from the office before the Mayun function started to help Hamad. This was the relationship between uncle and nephew. They used to help each other as much as they could despite Hamad's differences with zaryab over Mehmal. This was because Zaryab was the eldest of his cousins and also Ladla.
Zaryab was looking around. All the guests had arrived. Sania had also come, but Mehmal had not come yet.
There was nothing to say, and he couldn't know. To see her is enough for him. He remembers watching her getting ready in front of him at every function. He liked it, and she also liked it in a Pakistani wedding dress.
In the end, the door was open. Zaryab's feet flattered to a stop as he glimpsed at the door. Mehmal entered with a basket in hand. She was wearing a mustard dress. Dubbatta was full of work and spread on the whole body. The shirt was straightforward, and so was the shalwar. There was only work on the bottom of the salwar. She was different before, and still, she is different from all. Simple and sober.
Not only Zaryab but everyone there noticed. Not only did her personality change, but her dressing style also changed. The head was not covered, but the clothes were taken in such a thoughtful way that anyone who looked at them would look at them with respect.
Zaryab's gaze did not deviate from her. She rushed towards Hammad Mamu. After meeting Mamo, she went upstairs to Sana. Zaryab smiled. At least today, with a reflection of her in mind, he can sleep peacefully.
When he looked back, Hamad was upright. Zaryab coughed. Hide the smile which was on his face. He sniffed. "I came to see the arrangements here. Let us call everyone for dinner..."
"I have seen many shameless but not like you," Hamad said Zadyab smiled. "Now you have seen it," zaryab replied. Hammad shook his head. Disappointment crept on his face. "Disgusting. I saw how you were looking at my niece Shameless man," he said, zaryab eyebrows raised in surprise.
" My wife," Zaryab corrected him.
"Hunh?" Hamad said
"Not your niece. I was looking at my wife. It's Sunnah to see your wives with love and affection. Don't you see mami that way" he said. Hamad shook his head" I know what you are trying to do. Still, Zaryab, it's better to leave her alone. Stop disturbing her more. You guys are going to be separate and then she will marry another man at.." zaryab stopped him before he could carry on the rest of the sentence.
He scoffed, "Don't Mamu. She is my wife. At least you should not attach her name with na mahram or another man. We are not yet divorced?" he said. Their argument stopped midway when Zaryab glimpsed the sight of someone heading dubbatta down from stairs. Mehmal grabbed one corner of the Dutta. The rest of the corners were occupied by all the cousins, and they were bringing Sana from under it.
Mehmal did the first Rites (Rasam), which made Zaryab's Aunties upset " why not Anaya here? It's her right by what Mehmal is doing. She is soon getting a divorce, but that is how shamelessly she attends the wedding. Anaya came to me. I told her even Mehmal accepted the marriage soon. Zaryab will leave this foreign girl. Women like them can't make their house. You haven't seen her dressing at weddings; she wore sleeveless bareback dresses. Tubah. At what right is she doing the Rasam" Zaryab's aunts were discussing. Everyone, including Sania, listened to their conversation except Mehmal, sitting on the stage.
"By my wife's right, "Zadyab replied.
"Being the elder daughter-in-law of this family. Maybe you don't know that Anaya's chapter is over. The eldest daughter-in-law of this family has come. She has shown Anaya her place by sitting at her rightful place. And yes, she may come from abroad, but the cultural norm and ethics come to her more than you, Tayi. She knows how to build her house. She compromised everything. It's zaryab bhai. Your Well cultured groomed boy couldn't save his house, so tell me, tayi and phupho, a foreign girl knows more about marriage and compromise than our son who was groomed here in Pakistan." Sarah said without fear that she didn't like Anaya and that it was his brother's fault. She stopped coming to her parent's house because of her brother. Zaryab's Aunts blinked in shock at Sarah's Outburst. Zarmeena stood from that place " I can't sit here where your sister-in-law and your sister talk rubbish about my Niece. Zaryab goes upstairs people need some clarification regarding Anaya," Zarmeena said to Qureshi Sahab, who looked at their sisters furiously. Sania, too, stood. She was quiet because of her brother the other thing she didn't care about was their assumptions.
Zaryab didn't mind his sister's remark; he was happy she took a stand for women other than her brother. Zaryab looked at the stage. He had to give Mehmal her respect even though they would be separated in the future, but everyone here knows it was his mistake. He couldn't save his home.
Zaryab went on stage from there and sat down beside Mujtaba. Mehmal put ubtan on Mujtaba and Sana's faces and sat beside Sana. Zaryab's presence disturbs her, but she does not want any fuss.
When Photographer took the picture after one take, Mehmal walked down from the stage. She was feeling uncomfortable in the presence of her in-laws. She is aware of their hate towards her. Zadyab walked down with her.
"Mamu, I'll take my leave. I told you," she said to Hammad.
Zaryab heard that. "Beta, at least eat something. I'll not stop you after that. Zaryab opens the buffet," he said Zaryab quickly signals the waiters to open the feast.
"No, Mamu, I'll be late, please", she insisted, which made zaryab curious.
"What's so important is that she can't even wait for dinner," Zaryab thought.
"Ok, wait, I'll take you to dinner. At least eat something" Hamad took her hand and took her to dinner when someone called Hamad.
"Beta, take it. I'll come. Don't go without eating. For me, please, " Hmamd said and walked to the stage. Zaryab came and ordered the servers to open it. He gave the plate to Mehmal.
Mehmal looked at zaryab furiously. "What's the plate or dinner fault?" he stressed and extended the plate.
Mehmal looked at the plate and then at him. She let out a low sigh and walked away in the other direction and took the plate, and started filling it with food. Kabab and tikka boti has always been her favourite, and palak with biryani is Mehmal's favourite combination. She turned to Zadyab, who was filling the glass with lemonade. It was winter, and everything was arranged on the lawn with outdoor heaters. Zaryab put the lemonade on the table and a heater near it.
Mehmal looked at what he had done. Everything was her favourite, from food to lemonade. She knows Mamu gave the food responsibility to him. He was good at catering management. In every event, catering is his responsibility.
Zaryab looked at Mehmal, who was staring at him in disbelief. He walked to her. "Don't you like the food? I made sure everything was according to your taste" Zaryab's innocent question didn't settle well with Mehmal, and she clenched her jaw so tightly. "It would be better if you arrange it according to Sana's taste," she said and filled the plate with not much she needed to go from there. She felt uncomfortable and needed to meet that client Emer said to meet.
"Why do you take less? Take it more," he stressed out.
That was it Mehmal sighed and turned back to look at every one. They all were busy then she drifted to zaryab.
"Would you please leave me alone? I don't want any scenes here. Why not go and entertain your Aunts," she grated out and looked here and there. No place to sit. The site was complete. She sighs in frustration and walks to where zaryab put the heater and lemonade. If she can tolerate the coldness, she would prefer to stand, but she never eats while standing.
"Should I increase heat intensity?" he asked Mehmal. Mehmal shook her head in defeat, and she didn't reply.
Suddenly the light was gone, and the only light was heaters. Workers went to the generators. Mehmal flashes the light zaryab to flash it. Suddenly the heater was off.
Mehmal was done with food, and she didn't bother to see zaryab, who was standing near her. She was feeling cold.
Flashes were ON. She wanted to go out, but the sudden darkness on the lawn didn't let her, and she didn't want to hurt herself with heels. She rubbed her hands, and she was feeling cold. Zaryab was checking the heater. His eyes drifted to mehmal.
He remembers when something happened at his cousin's wedding, and she felt cold. He took her hand and clapped it together, and started blowing inside.
He smiled and took her hands. Mehmal turned to him. Her eyes grew wide, and she blinked in shock. He joined her hand and blew hot air from his mouth. Mehmal recalls the same incident that happened before.
Her hands became warm. She was in utter shock and couldn't stop him. "Are you feeling ok? Now the heater will be on. I'll call the worker," he said Mehmal snatched her hands from him.
"HOW DARE YOU," she said, her eyes wide. Air was harshly pushed out of her lungs before Zaryab carryout out any words to justify the actions Mehmal angrily wrapped over his kameez collar and then moved him angrily. "If this is not a wedding, I'll show you your place", she Marched outside angrily. She was crossing everyone, and suddenly her foot slipped, and she fell. Zaryab was behind her, and light came.
"Ouch, AMI" Mehmal screamed.
Zaryab came first to her. "Let me see Mehmal" Mehmal didn't let him push his hand. Everyone gathered. She was embarrassed and didn't want any unwanted attention and ruin the event.
"I'm ok" She stood in pain. Her feet were swollen, but she still started walking. Mamu, I'm ok. I'll take my leave," mehmal said. Everyone insisted she stayed, but she didn't show them the pain.
Her feet were swollen, and she was feeling numb.
In pain, she walked to her car and opened the door, and started inspecting her feet. "Ay Allah", her feet had a blue mark. She called the driver, but he didn't attend. Her mother told him the time to pick, and he'll come at that time.
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The next part will be updated at night or in the morning.
Many of you are irritated with zaryab's behaviour, but it is important.