The gathering went up in an uproar as the name of their son was revealed. Mirsab Furaat wasn't someone ordinary. He was eighteen and in the first year of the prestigious Zhaviar Residential University for the Naian youth. He was a no nonsense guy with a heart of gold. There wouldn't be any rebellion from his side (Tehlez was relieved!), but there was something about letting the most cherished child of the family marry into rivalry, that set their hearts ablaze with reluctance.
"QUIET!" Tehlez roared furiously and watched the commotion turn into a pindrop silence in a second. Everyone settled down on their seats and looked thoroughly chastised. "The wedding will be held after three months." He concluded and a collective sigh went up in the air. "Do not fail to bring forth your chosen daughter." He added to Ehlam who narrowed his eyes and smirked.
"We won't fail." He replied firmly and then stood up, before nodding at him and then exited the room with his entourage. Tehlez frowned at his carefree attitude in contrast with his initial gloom and then turned towards the grumpy family.
"We have heard that the Rasan girl is wild. She is fiery and totally opposite to that of our son." This came from the mother of the groom, Shehra Alzeer. There were grumps of agreement. Tehlez rolled his eyes. He never did like this daughter in law of his, but his son had given them an ultimatum that had shut him up. In hindsight though, he realised that it was wrong of him to try to change his son's mind, because if his father had ever stopped him from marrying the love of his life, he would have probably set fire to the whole world to get to her (like she wouldn't have done the same for him, he thought sarcastically). His wife was a fighter and everyday he had spent with her was anything but boring. She was the breath of fresh air in his montonous dry life. She didn't allow anyone to dictate her life.
Shehra Alzeer was a spoilt brat (who lacked too many brain cells, but he wouldn't add that aloud to anyone) who came from an arrogant family, which didn't have much basis for the said arrogance. She was neither too smart nor too kind. The only thing she had going for her were her amazing looks (the only thing Mirsab had borrowed from his mother, according to Tehlez). And that was the exact reason Tehlez wondered about his son's brain and it's ability to decide. Shehra wasn't popular amongst the Furaats, but they put up with her due to her son and husband, both of whom were the beloved sons of their family.
"They might just be rumors, Shay." His son, Shehra's husband, Zilran Furaat, pacified her. His son was a very nice man. How he fell in love with Shehra was still a mystery to him. Love surely was blind. He shook his head in sadness. His third son Zilran was a gem. He was sweet and soft spoken. He was logical and obedient (except where Shehra was concerned). He was good looking, smart and charming. He was every Naian women's dream. But he met Shehra in his final year at the University, where she had come for some reason which Tehlez didn't remember or cared for, and sparks flew and there was short circuit at the Furaat house, where everyone geared up for a war, which never came. Zilran dissolved the tension with his mother's support, even though she didn't exactly like Shehra either. They had gotten narried with great pomp and the only good thing that actually came out of that marriage were his grandkids.
"But it might be true too Zil! She is in school with our kids and they call her a tomboy. She is always with the guys. They say she is a brother to her brothers and has nothing feminine in her except her looks. She is wild and untamable. Our Mirsab deserves more!" Zilran's sister, Shehley, lamented. Tehlez wanted to bang his head at the display of dramatics by his children but it would look weird. Furaat men didn't appear weird under any circumstances (Rule number 10 in the mental book of rules of Furaat men). He snorted at the girl's description, which sounded too much like his late wife's. He mentally rubbed his hands in glee. The girl sounded interesting. He wanted to see how this marriage would turn out. If the girl was anything like Shehley described, then she would be immensely more likeable then Shehra. He sighed. He could use a bit of color and sparks and fun in his boring life. He would wait for his grandkids to bring it on. He was already on the unknown girl's side. He smiled.
Around the weird old man, the discussion continued regarding how unsuitable the Rasan girl was but he remained aloof of it. His mind was already made up.
•••
Adiva watched the video uploaded on the NYC and laughed aloud again and again. Her plan was fulfilled and there was nothing that could bring her mood down. She sighed as she settled back on her bed and watched the video on replay. The rumor had it that the bullies had to wash their hair four times a day, for three weeks, to fade their hair out. And they had to cover their head with caps to hide the neon colors. They were let off with a warning by the Principal for disruption of classes too. Three weeks had passed since that day and it still continued to amuse her a lot when she watched the video.
The finals had already started and she was supposed to study, but she was highly intelligent and had already finished her preparations beforehand. Now anything she studied would just fly above her head. She had diverted her mind, for a break, towards the video. In twenty days they would be done with their finals and then they would have their diplomas in their hand in another twenty days, after which would be freedom for a few months before the hassle to get to Zhaviar started.
She frowned when she remembered the sudden changes amongst the elder generations of her family. They were behaving too weirdly. She wished they would just tell her what was going on instead of watching her so sadly and then touching her face, before turning away hastily. She hated it. It made her feel like she was going to be sacrificed for the greater good, helplessly, by their family and it was an unpleasant thought and feeling. The only people amongst the elders who didn't react that way on seeing her were here father and Grand Da, both of whom sported serene smiles and 'always there for you' looks. They settled her down and seeped the tension in her brain, away, allowing her to breath.
Yamin knocked her open door to get her attention which was solely focused on something only she could see. She shook her head and turned towards him absently before smiling and waving him over. He jumped on her bed and bounced a few times before he turned her PC towards himself and rolled his eyes when he saw what she was watching.
"How many times will you have to watch it before this becomes old for you?" Yamin pouted his face in distaste. She just shrugged.
"I dont know!" Adiva replied, "This is my anti stress video. I watch it and everything becomes normal and bearable after that."
"You need a life, Diva!" He said irritatedly.
"Sadly." Adiva agreed. "Once these exams are done I will have to take a looooong vacation to the Naian mountains."
"Hey by the way did you sense the oddities in the elder generations of the Rasans?" Yamin asked her suddenly and she frowned.
"They are behaving as though I am dying or something!" Adiva complained.
"That's probably because you are." Yamin smirked. Adiva hit him hard and he grunted angrily while he rubbed the spot.
"Why are you so violent, woman?" Yamin exclaimed.
"I am not dying!"
"Chill. It was a joke!"
"I don't want to listen to such jokes."
"Forget that now. Anyways I think this underlying tension is because of the Furaats." Yamin told her conspiratorially.
"Oh!"
"I believe the ceremony have already taken place." Yamin told her.
"Ya it's already time for it anyways." Adiva shrugged emotionlessly.
"So who do you think is chosen?" Yamin asked her.
"I pity her!" Adiva shook her head.
"Why?"
"She would never actually be a family for the Furaats now. Always will be considered as a rival."
"Nyqa was!"
"That's because Nyqa chose to marry Grand Da. Peace treaty marriages are a different issue."
"What if you are chosen?"
"Then there will be an earthquake in this mansion." Adiva replied with fire blazing in her eyes. There was no way what so ever, to force her into accepting her so called preplanned marriage arrangement if she was chosen. She refused to bow down to such nonsense as Peace treaties. Amendment right there, the UNFORTUNATE peace treaty.
"I really hope you are then!" Yamin smirked at her. "Then it will bring you some joy in this boring life and some enjoyment to me too." Adiva hit him again and he pouted. She rolled her eyes at his childish behaviour and then suddenly her eyes lit up.
"We should totally try and find out who was chosen."
"The elder ones are keeping a tight lid on the decision Diva. Not possible!"
Adiva deflated for a while and then looked at him with her puppy eyes. He scoffed at her. She sighed at last.
"Ughh forget it! It's not like I can do anything during the onslaught of exams. But once it's done I am not sitting back and doing nothing." Adiva declared.