Itihaas khud ko dohra raha hai maa,
Tera dard ab samajh aa raha hai maa.
▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️
Decked up in a mustard yellow suit, Adab sat on a swing that was decorated with white flowers for the mehendi ceremony. Two henna artists were working on each hand of Adab. She was admiring her bridal designs when Eshal came and sat beside her.
“It looks beautiful.” Eshal commented on the mehendi.
Adab smiled, “Mirhaan chose the design.”
Eshal teasingly wiggled her eyebrows at her sister which made Adab blush.
“I am really happy for you.” Eshal said after a while.
“I am happy for myself as well,” Adab sighed, “but the only thought disturbing me is of Zaroon. He didn’t deserve that, and what makes me more sad is the fact that I'm the reason behind his suffering."
Eshal ran her hand on Adab's back in a comforting manner. "Stop blaming yourself. Yes, what you did is going to hurt him now. But in the long run, this was the right decision for both of you. You both didn't deserve the life you'd have to live after marriage. If you weren't happy, you wouldn't have been able to keep him happy."
Adab nodded understandingly and blinked to keep her tears at the bay.
"I think I should go and get my mehendi done as well." Eshal said while getting up to find a mehendi artist.
Adab sat alone for a while before Mehr came to feed her some snacks. Her design was almost complete when a little commotion broke out among the guests at the function.
"What happened?" Adab asked.
"The groom's family has arrived." Her cousin informed her.
At that very moment, Mirhaan came in with his mother and a few other relatives. He was wearing a black and white pathani kurta, his hair was messy in a sexy way and his eyes were hidden behind black shades. In short, he looked too handsome for Adab's heart to not skip a beat.
Mirhaan's mother, Zubaida, came to give blessings to Adab before mingling around with her relatives. Mirhaan also greeted his Arsalaan and Mehr before coming to sit beside Adab. The scent of his aftershave invaded her senses.
"I never realised what a good looking man I'm marrying." Adab winked at him.
He smirked. "Well, I could say the same about you."
He kissed her forehead in front of everyone, making her shy. The mehendi artists left the couple alone after finishing their work. Adab was tired sitting in the same position for so long, so she subconsciously leaned on Mirhaan while showing him her design.
Mehr and Arsalaan were standing a little far from the couple, but when they saw their daughter and son-in-law talking and smiling, they felt content knowing that their daughter was finally happy and was getting married to a guy she loved.
But even with all the happiness, Mehr and Arsalaan both were worried about Zaroon, but didn't vocalise it.
Before the function ended, Parishay and Mahad also came to the bride and the groom to give them their blessings.
"I'm glad you came, mami." Adab guiltily said to Parishay.
"What are you talking about? We can't even think about missing our princess' wedding." Parishay gently held Adab's chin.
"After all that has happened.." Adad trailed off. Mirhaan kept his hand on top of hers to give her strength.
"Beta," Mahad said, "Forget the past. Whatever happened was no one's fault. It was Allah's will that you couldn't be our daughter-in-law, but you'll always be our daughter." He kept his hand on her head and caressed it in a fatherly manner.
"May Allah bless you both with all the happiness in the world. Have a blissful marriage." Parishay warmly patted Mirhaan's shoulder as well before leaving.
_________________
The next day was the nikah. Adab was biting her nails in excitement when Eshal came inside her room.
"Stop it." Eshal slapped Adab's fingers away. "You're ruining your lipstick."
Adab put her nails out of her mouth and pouted at her sister. Eshal reapplied her lipstick.
"The baarat is here." Someone peeked in the room to inform them. A smile graced on Adab's lips and she shrieked.
Eshal gave finishing touches to Adab's outfit and makeup, before Mehr and Arsalaan entered the room.
"MashaAllah, our daughter looks so beautiful." Mehr kissed Adab's forehead with tears in her eyes.
"Why did you have to find a guy who lives so far away?" Arsalaan grumbled. He was having a tough time accepting that his little princess would be leaving for London.
"Abbu," Adab hugged her father. "I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too, beta." He kissed her forehead. Eshal and Mehr joined the hug as well.
Mirhaan was welcomed by his in-laws and was escorted to the stage by his sister-in-law, Eshal. He sat on the couch. His bride didn't make him wait for long. Within ten minutes, she was brought down by her female cousins and was made to sit beside the groom. Mirhaan felt his eyes tear when he saw her. She looked so pretty that he was having a hard time believing that she was marrying him.
"Shall we start?" Moulvi asked.
Arsalaan gestured to him to go ahead. He began with the ceremony. As Adab and Mirhaan braced themselves to get tied in the holy bond, Zaroon stood at a distance. Wearing a dark blue sherwani, he watched Adab looking so beautiful, and blushing at something Mirhaan was whispering to her.
He felt a presence near him, so he looked to his left and found his Mehr phuphi beside him. She passed him a small smile and held his hand. At that time, Mehr felt it was more important to stand with Zaroon rather than Adab. Because she knew what Zaroon was going through, she understood his pain. God, she knew what it felt like to watch the person you've loved since your childhood marry someone else.
She pressed his hand in a comforting manner as Adab said qubool hai for the third time and was officially married. She has become Adab Mirhaan Malik.
🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
They're finally married. I am really happy for them.
Stay tuned for a long chapter coming up tomorrow. It'll be mature ;)