A few minutes later, Aariz showed up in white t-shirt, beige half pants, flip-flops and his hair roughly towel dried, sticking out in every direction.
The guy was hot but he was looking younger and cuter than usual right then.
"Um, sorry about this but I think we should clear out of here and let him handle it."
Laiba snapped out of the trance when she heard Meher speak.
She was saying, "She might feel embarrassed to come out if we stand here."
Everyone exchanged looks but some of them were already stepping back.
On cue, Aariz came and automatically, all of them moved out of his way.
"No need to worry. I'll get Areesha ready and bring her in no time." Meher waved a carefree hand at everyone.
They were all backing off.
Umme-Zeeshan. Aunt Zara. Faheem Othman. The girls. All of them.
Someone tugged at Laiba's sleeves but she was glued to her place, watching Aariz's back as he was facing the door, knocking and telling Areesha it was him in a low, affectionate voice which she didn't even know he was capable of using until then.
Burhaan stayed too, whispering something into Aariz's ears whereas Meher was standing two steps away from them, watching or listening, she couldn't tell because Habeeba was pulling her away from them.
The distance between them grew wider and wider.
And the image of Aariz, Burhan and Meher became smaller and smaller.
Laiba watched them until they lost the sight of them. It was only when they began stepping down the stairs did she realise something.
She left him with her.
That thought was enough to burn her heart into ashes.
********************************************************************
It took some convincing from Aariz's side but Areesha did give in.
They three stood outside and waited as the door cracked open, revealing a miserable looking Areesha in an oversized sweat shirt and yoga pants, her face a tomato red and eyes puffy with crying.
And when she looked up at Aariz with teary eyes, he stepped up and pulled her into a hug.
Areesha broke into sobs, snuggling into him.
"It's okay....Areesh...its okay...shh..." Aariz consoled her, caressing her back to calm her down.
"I....i...hate....her..." She cried, her voice cracking, "I....hate...her...so...much."
He broke the hug, cupped her face, looked into her eyes and whispered to her, "You don't have to."
She stared at him with wet, baby face.
He wiped her cheeks, "Don't waste your tears, your peace, your emotions or your feelings for someone who doesn't care." He tugged her hair behind her ears and put a hand around her shoulders, taking her along with him as he walked into the room.
Burhaan and Meher quietly followed.
He made her sit on the bed and then got down on one knee in front of her, "What's the point waiting for someone who doesn't want to come?" He asked her, taking her hands in his, "Stop expecting, Areesh. We both know she doesn't care. Whether you love her or not. Whether you need her or not. It doesn't matter to her. We are not her priority. We know this. We have known this from a very long time. Why expect? Why wait? Why delude ourselves? Why hope? Why hurt yourself?" He dropped his head on her hands, "Don't do this, Areesh. It's hurt me when you get hurt, damn it." He pressed her hands in his, "Forgot about her. Forget about everyone who walked out of your life. They don't deserve our tears. They don't deserve our time. They don't deserve to be cried upon. They don't even deserve our hateee...." He grunted, "They deserve nothing."
Behind him, Meher frowned at Aariz's back and Burhaan shifted in his place, feeling left out.
Aariz let go of her hands and stood up, "Remember, you weren't born alone. I was there. I'm here right now. And I will always be there for you." He placed his one hand on top of her head, "We are the only family we need." He bend down and left a kiss on her forehead before turning around and walking out of the room, without so much as a glance at Meher.
Areesha closed her eyes, a tear escaping down her cheek as she repeated those words they both have been telling each other since ever.
"Yes, we are the only family we need." She bit her lip to stop the quivering.
**********************************
The ball-room sized hall in the back portion of the Haveli was where the arrangements of Mehndi Ceremony were made.
The theme of the decor was bold and regal.
Shimmery golden curtains, connected to the enormous chandelier in the centre of the hall, were pulled all the way to every corner and were draped down the large windows. The sofas and divans were of velvet and rich emerald in colour. The carpets and cushions were glittery, black and golden. The lamps were of crystals and lanterns were gothic. There was a large fountain in the centre of the hall, right below the chandelier, surrounded by every kind of flower there is. Water lazily flowed from it while a sweet, melodious music played in the background.
Girls in desi, traditional attire, filled up the hall. Some were getting henna on their hands, some were talking and laughing, mingling with each other and some were clicking selfies.
Well dressed waiters were roaming everywhere, moving from one person to another, serving them Indian sweets and cold drinks in golden platter.
Umme-Zeeshan and Zara Othman returned to the hall and resumed their duty of greeting the guests.
Habeeba and Maha got separated from Urooba and Laiba as they had to attend their friends from school and colleges.
Later on, girls from Urooba's in laws side showed up and she had to leave as well.
Secluded from the crowd, Laiba sat somewhere on the windowsill, looking at the arrangements going on in the lawn, a deep frown on her forehead.
The image of Aariz and Meher was imprinted in her head like some kind of curse, torturing her peace of mind, making her more and more restless with every passing second.
She was in turmoil, battling with her emotions when her phone vibrated.
She looked at her cellphone and found a text from an unknown number.
Frowning the digits she opened the text.
There was link.
Her thumb hovered over the link for a few seconds before the curiosity got the best of her and clicked it.
It led her to an article with an alarming headline;
Aariz Obeid Othman spotted with his rumoured girlfriend first time after his divorce. Seen entering the marvellous Othman Haveli minutes after his ex.
Laiba's eyes widened in horror, her heart skipping a beat when she saw the picture shared below the headlines
It was them, Aariz and Laiba from the previous evening, clicked while they were on the front seats of the car.
And then, a text popped up on her screen, which changed her life, forever.
Whore!
***************************************
Standing by the vanity table, Meher was retouching the makeup on Areesha's face while she sat on the plush chair, physically present and mentally absent, staring off at a distance.
She had been like that from an hour now.
Meher had tried talking but the girl was not even acknowledging her presence.
Not a single word spoken.
Not even a single nod.
Meher was surprised how the girl was able to keep a straight face for that long.
It was like Areesha was a mannequin and not a human. That was how she felt while doing her hair and make up.
Meher took a brush and was just about to give one last stroke on her cheek when Areesha caught her hand, stopping her midair.
Meher was taken aback. She looked back and forth between Areesha and her hand on her wrist.
Areesha slowly turned her head and faced her, bringing their eyes on the same level.
Both of them stared at each other and then Areesha asked her the ultimate question.
"Why are you here?"
If the question offended her, she did not show it on her face.
When she only kept staring, she repeated the question.
"Why. Are. You. Here?" This time, emphasising each and every word.
Meher pulled her hand out of her hold and straightened her back.
Leaning back on the vanity table behind her, she took a long breathe and folded her hands, "I'd be lying if I say I'm here to attend your wedding." She gave her a sad smile.
She dropped her hand on her lap with a snort, "And you don't have the guts to tell me the truth."
She shook her head, "It has nothing to do with you."
"He's my brother."
Meher threw her head back and laughed.
Areesha curled her hands into a fist.
She suddenly stopped laughing and looked down at her with sharp eyes, "What in the world makes you think I'm here for him?" She asked, sternly.
Areesha grounded her teeth together, glaring back at her.
"I don't mind being a villain here. But you guys really need to stop victimising your brother." She snorted in a taunting way, "It's pathetic." She made a face at her and walked out of the room.
As the door closed behind her, she heard Areesha throw something on the floor, followed by a series of cursed words.
Meher sighed, shook her head and left.
***************************************************************
Laiba quickly closed the bathroom door and locked it.
She was sweating and her hands were shaking as she opened the text again.
Whore!
In a panic mode, she kept checking the number, the article and the text over and over again, wishing she would get a clue about the sender but to her dismay, there was nothing as such.
Not able to contain the anxiety, she began pacing across the bathroom, restlessly.
The image of Aariz and Meher was long forgotten and now a new problem had popped up in her life in a form of text.
If she had to make a wild guess, there were only three people who ever called her that.
Her stepmother.
Handal.
And her father.
With everything that was already happening in her life, she didn't even want to consider the possibility that it might be them.
They were bad news and she was afraid she might go crazy and lose it all if that was the case.
Problems. Problems. Problems.
All of these things were taking a toll on her both physical and mental health.
Her head was throbbing so much that it felt like it would combust any second.
Laiba grabbed her head and leaned against the bathroom wall.
Ya Allah! I can't! I can't! I can't! I can't do this any more...ya Allah! I just can't...please...I'm sorry...I can't...
She began pleading to Allah, on the verge of crying for the nth time in two days.
************************************************************
Downstairs, gossips had already began brewing in the hall at the absence of the bride.
Urooba, Habeeb, Maha, Umme-Zeeshan and Zara Othman were tired of answering to all their incessant questions and moreover, they were failing to convince any of them that everything was indeed fine.
People were getting suspicious and making theories of their own.
"Meher?" Urooba launched onto her which she saw her entering the hall, "Where is Areesha? You said you'll get her ready and bring her downstairs? Where is she now, huh?" She dragged her to a corner and queried.
Meher finger combed her hair, "She pissed me off. So I left her in her room." She nonchalantly said, "You guys go and bring her downstairs." With that said, she walked off.
Leaving Urooba in steams.
Muttering under her breathe, she handed over the task to Maha and Habeeba who literally had to drag Areesha downstairs with them.
The music changed in the background and the lights were dimmed, a spotlight falling on the bride as she made her way into the hall with Maha, on her left and Habeeba, on her right.
The crowd greeted her with lots of hooting and applause.
And then they took out her cellphones and began clicking her pictures as she passed by.
They got her settled in the biggest divan and two of the four special henna artist who were exclusively hired for the bride, took their seats on either side of her. They placed her hands on the cushion on their laps and got on with it without wasting any more time whereas the other two began working on her legs.
Apparently, the bride was in a foul mood.
She sat like a emotionless robot, staring off at a distance, ignoring her friends and other guests who came up to talk to her. They were teasing her, clicking pictures with her and congratulating her but all she gave them was silent treatment. She refused to acknowledge any of them. She didn't respond to their greetings, their best wishes or even smiled or nodded at them.
"Whats wrong with her?"
"Did something happen?"
"She doesn't look happy."
"She is so arrogant."
"She's too rude."
"Money and fame does that to people."
All these kind of comments were flying around everywhere, which didn't go unheard by the Othmans.
It was upsetting but there was nothing they could do to shut all their mouths. So, they did what they were best at doing at times like this.
Ignore.
Or at least pretended to ignore.
*******************************************************
Laiba was sitting curled up in the tub, her hands wrapped around her legs and her head resting in between her knees when her cellphone began ringing.
At first, she ignored but when it kept ringing she raised her head and looked at the phone laying on the corner of the tub.
Aariz calling...
When she saw his name flashing on her screen, she was startled. Like a current, she reached out and grabbed her phone. Without thinking, She swept right and answered his call.
"Hello?" She said.
"Where are you?" He asked.
"I'm-" She looked around herself and sighed. She couldn't tell him she was in the bathroom, "-somewhere. Why would you ask?"
"I've got a task for you."
She frowned, "What?"
"Get Areesha out of there and bring her to Shah's room."
She opened her mouth to ask him something but then decided against it.
"Alright." She said instead.
"What's up with your voice?"
Laiba grazed a hand over her throat, "What about it?"
"Ah..forget it." He hung up the call.
Laiba took some time and pulled herself together before existing the bathroom.
It could be just anyone messing with her.
She kept consoling herself.
Whoever it was, they can't be harmful.
They will sit behind the screens and abuse all they want but they can't do anything else.
She convinced herself, held her chin high and entered the function hall again.
"Where were you?????" Urooba was the first one to attack, "Aren't you going to get henna on your hands?" She queried, taking her hands in hers.
"I will get it on, later. I gotta go." She somehow managed to escape.
Laiba made her way to Areesha who was sitting with both her hands spread wide open in the air, filled with henna.
A prominent grimace on her face.
She approached her and whispered in her ear, "Aariz wants me to bring you to him." She said.
Areesha blinked at her words, faced her, watched her for a minute and then, nodded at her in agreement.
Laiba helped Areesha with her dress as she rose from the divan and then began walking out of the hall.
All heads turned towards them but none of them dared to stop them or question them.
Once out of the hall, Areesha asked her, "Where's he?"
"Shah's room."
She picked up her pace in response.
Laiba simply followed her.
Aariz was standing outside Shah's room, grabbed in traditional white kurta and pants, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, a watch on his wrist and his hair stylishly gelled up on his head.
As they approached, he looked up from his cellphone.
Areesha reached him first and Laiba slowed her pace when they began conversing with each other in a low voice. She stopped a few feet away from them to give the twins some privacy but watched them from peripheral view.
They spoke for a while and then Areesha went inside the room while Aariz stayed back.
Laiba straightened herself when he faced her.
"Why are you standing there?" He asked, propping himself against the wall and folding his hands.
"You were talking." She answered with a sigh.
Something was different about him.
Something was different between them.
But she couldn't pin point what.
"Does anyone know she's here?"
"No. I don't think so."
Why were they having a normal conversation? She wondered.
He watched her.
She watched him.
And they continued to watch each other.
"What?" She asked him.
"It's gonna take a while. You don't have to wait." He tilted his head towards the closed doors.
Laiba glanced at it and then moved her eyes back to him, "I don't mind waiting. I've nothing else to do." She reassured.
He nodded and looked away.
She bit her lip and looked away as well.
A few seconds passed in silence and then, she decided to break the ice.
"If I may ask," She was reluctant.
He turned his face towards her and waited for her to complete it.
"Is she okay?" She pointed the door with her thumb, addressing Areesha.
He took a deep breathe, "She will be."
Her eyes followed his movements as he brought his hands to his face and ran his fingers through his hair.
"What?" He asked when he noticed her looking at him.
She quickly shook her head, "Nothing."
Just then, the door opened and Areesha stepped out and stood between them, blocking each other's view.
She hugged Aariz, "Thanks." She said.
"Whatever." He rolled his eyes at her.
Areesha couldn't help but smile at him, "I mean it..."
He nodded, uncomfortably.
She patted his cheek, turned around and told Laiba, "I'm going to my room." She informed her.
"Okay. I'll handle." She assured her.
She gave her a nod and walked away.
"Aariz?" A male voice called out from the room.
Laiba snapped her back towards Aariz.
"Come out." He permitted the person while keeping his eyes on her.
Rehaan peeked his head out and grinned at him, "Hey man!!!"
"Get out of here before I kick you out, myself." He threatened.
"Love you too, bruh!" He smoothly slid out but stopped when he saw Laiba, "Oh! Hi!" He waved a hand at her.
"Rehaan," She was surprised to see him, "How-" She stoppped herself, realising it would be rude to ask why he was here.
He rubbed his neck, shyly, "Heard about Areesh. Couldn't stop myself from checking up on her."
"Oh! I see." She smiled back, "Thanks. She's seems fine now."
He raised his collar with pride, "I know. I have that affect-"
"Alright!" Aariz cut him off, grabbed him and turned him around so that he was facing him, "It's time for you to leave." He pulled his hoodie over his head, zipped it up and put his sun glasses over his eyes before pushing him off, "Go. Go!" He shooed him.
"Goddd, Aariz." He dusted the invisible dust off his hoodie, "At least not in front of Laiba."
"She doesn't care. Now, go!!" He gave him an another push.
"Alright! Alright! I'm leaving." He held his hands up in surrender, "By the way, Laiba." He spoke to her, "He prolly didn't tell you this but you are looking good, today." He complimented at her with a grin on his face, making her blush, "Byeeee!" He winked at Aariz before turning on his heels and walking away.
When he was gone and only they were left in the corridor, Aariz said.
"Come with me. I've something to tell you." He gestured her to get into the room and disappeared inside.
Laiba braced herself and entered the room after him, "What's wrong?" She asked him when he closed the door behind them.
"Nothing, really." He shook his head, plopping himself on a nearby bean bag, "Sit." He waved a hand towards the chair adjacent to him.
Oh god! She was getting some kind of déjà vu as she lowered herself on it.
"Okay..." Aariz leaned forward, joined his hands and placed it on his lips, contemplating how to start it.
"Did something strange happen lately?" He interrogated after a long pause.
Laiba felt her heart skip a beat as she remembered the article and that...text.
"I mean..." He rubbed his face, seemingly disturbed about something, "God! How do I put this..." He muttered to himself.
She studied him quietly.
He wasn't his usual carefree self.
Something was definitely bothering him.
"Aariz!" She called out his name after some thought.
He glanced up at her, "Yeah?" It wasn't everyday he got to hear her say his name.
It felt strange to him, for some reason.
"What is it?" Maybe, she was prepared to handle anything at this point of her life.
He gulped, "It's about her." He finally spilled.
She stared at him, "Who?" She had a fair idea who he was talking about but she wanted to hear from him.
He groaned, "You know who."
She let out a sarcastic laugh, "Are we going to talk in Harry Potter codes now, Aariz?"
He scratched his head, "How is she with you?" He dropped her hands.
Okay, so it is Meher, after all.
She didn't know how to feel about it.
"I don't think she even noticed me." She said with a shrug.
He shook his head, "Are you sure?"
"Yeah. I was standing right there. Twice. And she didn't even...like acknowledge my presence. It was like I wasn't standing there at all." She elaborated to him.
He hung his head low, "Laibbaa..." He stood up, dragged his beanbag with him and put it near her chair. He sat right in front of her, looked up into her eyes and told her, "You have already been noticed."
Laiba frowned down at him, "What do you mean?"
"She wants you to believe she hasn't noticed you because she doesn't want you to know she's noticing you."
**********************************************
Assalamualaikum!
Sorry guys, super hectic schedule.
I will try to update weekly but if I don't, just know that I was super busy that week.
I'll make it up to you by updating a longer chapter the next week.
Also, how's the story so far?
What do you think is going to happen? Any theories?
Is it going to be a happy ending or a sad one? What's your guess?
Lemme know in the comments. We all will have a chat. InSha Allah.
See you next week. InSha Allah
Bye :)
P.S, sorry about the chap. My writing is bad.