Chapter 35

Atifa's pov:

"Do you, Saad Ibrahim, son of Faisal Ibrahim, accept Atifa Ahmed, daughter of late Daniyal Ahmed, as your lawfully wedded wife, with the haq Mehr of Mehr-e-Fatimi?" The voice of Qazi sahab asking him snapped me out of our little emotional moment.

There was silence for a while, which seemed to stretch for me. I was anticipating his reply. Thousands of thoughts entered my mind. What if he denied? What if he found me ugly? What if he already liked someone else? Oh my-

"I accept." His reply halted my train of thoughts. His voice was deep as always, but the firmness which I heard in his voice was what left me flabbergasted. He was sure about his decision in such a short time? He was sure he wanted to marry me? How? Why?

"Do you, Saad Ibrahim, son of Faisal Ibrahim, accept Atifa Ahmed, daughter of late Daniyal Ahmed, as your lawfully wedded wife, with the haq Mehr of Mehr-e-Fatimi?" I glanced in his direction, waiting for his response.

"I accept." He replied, once again in a firm voice, making me stare at him in shock.

"Do you, Saad Ibrahim, son of Faisal Ibrahim, accept Atifa Ahmed, daughter of late Daniyal Ahmed, as your lawfully wedded wife, with the haq Mehr of Mehr-e-Fatimi?" I looked away from him. I was glad no one noticed my stare. At least I hoped no one did.

"I accept." And he replied in an affirmative for one last time before our fates were sealed together forever. His voice had authority, a silent promise of keeping his words. A silent promise of fulfilling his responsibilities. A silent promise of being here for me.

Or maybe, I was just reading too much in between the lines and making up my own imagination. But whatever it was, I hoped, I really hoped that this works out.

Before I could think much, the room was filled with the sound of whistles and hooting. And I was attacked in a tight hug by someone, making me choke. I lightly hugged that person back, still confused as to who it was. Guessing by the fragrance, I realised it was ammi. Smiling slightly, I hugged her tightly before choking out the words. "Ammi... C-can't breath."

She laughed before releasing me and pecking my forehead. I smiled at her and soon enough I was engulfed in another tight hug by my best friend. Laughing, I hugged her back. "Don't choke me please." I mumbled loud enough for her to hear and laugh as she punched my arm after releasing me from the hug.

"Congratulations meri jaan, now you are no longer single." She congratulated me with a smirk, her eyes glinting in mischievousness, making me narrow my eyes at her, knowing she must be planning something in her mind.

(My life)

"Jazak Allahu Khairan. Now shut up and don't you even dare do something mischievous." I warned, pointing my finger at her.

"Waiyyakum. Why do you think I will do something?" She pouted, feigning innocence.

"I don't trust that look on your face." I mumbled as I saw bhabi coming our way.

She smiled before engulfing me in a hug. "Congratulations sister-in-law. May Allah bless you both and always keep you guys happy. Aameen." She whispered as she broke the hug.

"Aameen. Jazak Allahu Khairan." I mumbled with a smile. I could see Amira and Alayna making their way towards us hastily, wide grin covering their faces and their eyes twinkling with happiness and excitement.

Bhabi moved back with a smile when she felt their small hands already extending for a hug before they even reached me. Smiling, I hugged them both together, their small hands wrapping around my neck. "Congratulations api!" They both chorused together, making me chuckle.

"Jazak Allahu Khairan." I mumbled. Smiling, they left me.

"Wait a minute everyone, she still has to sign the nikkah papers. After that you guys can continue whatever you want." Ammi reminded us with a wink which made me realise that everything wasn't over or done yet. "Before signing the papers, I want you guys to change your place." She added, making others chuckle.

But her words opened a new door of nervousness for me. After that everything was in a haze, I only remember her beckoning me to sit in the middle couch, the one where Qazi sahab was sitting. I sat down, highly conscious of the fact that he was sitting right beside me. I didn't dare look up or glance in his way.

He extended the pen and paper towards me. My hands were tightly clutching the flower bouquet in my hand. Hesitantly, I took the pen from him before signing the papers. Returning the pen back to him, I saw him signing the papers and unlike me, his hands weren't shaking. Rose petals were thrown on us and one landed just beside his hand. I could hear the clicks of the camera and I knew it was Emaan's idea. To take these pictures AND to make us sit together while signing the papers.

Qazi sahab congratulated us before taking the papers to check something. After that it was just a blur of our families congratulating us once again and me trying not to look in his direction.

I was, in a way, thankful that Emaan's father or brothers hadn't come to congratulate us. Because even though I was sitting in the middle, I was sure I wasn't visible from the end of the room. And if they would have come forward, then they would have definitely seen me. And I didn't really want for that to happen.

I was also kind of mad at Emaan for suggesting this idea since I didn't like attention and I also diidn't like the idea of not keeping the wedding segregated. But since it was already done, I couldn't even do anything about it.

A sigh of relief escaped my lips when things seemed to calm down and everyone started talking with each other, leaving us alone. I finally dared to glance in his direction from the corner of my eye, enough to catch what he was wearing. He was wearing a black suit with cream tie. The colour of his tie was matching with my gown. "Assalamualikum." He mumbled quietly after clearing his throat, catching me off guard.

"Walikumussalam." I replied in a hushed voice as I glanced around and started playing with my fingers.

"You can look up, you know." He said, a hint of teasing in his voice. My head snapped in his direction as I glared at him. My cheeks heating up on their own. His lips were tilting the slightest bit, giving away the fact that he was indeed smiling at me. Or maybe on my condition. His hazel green eyes - which I just now noticed - seemed to have an amused look in them as he gazed at me intensely, making my heart skip a beat. A stubble adorned his face, giving him a dashing look. No wonder Emaan found him attractive. But this was the first time I was actually looking at him, noticing his features.

"I'm good." I mumbled when I realised I was indeed looking at him, before looking away.

"As you say." He replied back casually.

I could feel his gaze on me every once in a while and it made me anxious. Was something wrong with me or was there something on my face? Finally, getting fed up with his constant gaze, I murmured annoyedly. "Stop looking at me."

He seemed to be taken aback as there was no reply for a while. It made me think that maybe, he would finally stop looking at me. But alas, it was just my happy thinking! "How can you say that I'm looking at you when you didn't even see me looking at you?" He asked me curiously.

"I can feel your gaze." I mumbled, uncertainly.

"Then look at me and tell me that." He replied, amusement clear in his voice which annoyed me even more.

I gritted my teeth but before I could retort, Emaan came towards us, a grin on her face. "I'm sorry but I'm going to steal her for a while." Saying that, she whisked me away.

I was thankful for that since I was sure I would have had an argument with him within just a few moments of us being married. And that wouldn't have been a good start. But if he kept reeling me up like that, then I couldn't guarantee anything. "What happened?" I asked her, my eyebrows furrowed as she took me to a corner and started gigging like crazy.

Trying to control her uncontrollable giggles, she handed me a glass of juice which was in her hands. Gesturing me with her hands to wait, she brought a plate of cookies. Mine and ammi's favourite. I was about to take one when she hid the plate behind her back. "Not now, can't you wait for a minute?" She frowned, making me confused.

"Okay, now what? Why can't I have them?" I replied with a pout, eyeing the cookies in her hands.

She facepalmed, "Drink your juice first and then I will give it to you." Fluttering her eyelashes, she told me.

"Okay, but why did you bring me here?" Sipping my juice, I asked her curiously.

"You think I didn't notice you on the verge of having a cat fight with him?" She asked me, amusement lacing in her voice and her eyes twinkling.

Choking and coughing, I glared daggers at her. She laughed before patting my back and giving me tissues. "I didn't start it. He did and he is so annoying." I replied back fiercely.

"Oh yeah? You sure about that Mrs. Saad Ibrahim?" A deep voice interrupted us stressing on his name, as the devil himself appeared from behind Emaan, an amused look on his face and a hint of it in his voice. I was flabbergasted to say the least but composing myself, I started glaring at him. Although I couldn't ignore the flutter of my heart or the heating of my cheeks as he regarded me with his name.

"Yes, you started it. Now give me my cookies Emaan." I replied before whining quietly, ignoring his presence.

He chuckled while coming to stand beside me, making me highly self conscious. But I didn't glance his way as I continued to look at Emaan with a pout. Chuckling and ignoring me, Emaan turned her attention to him with a smile. "Would you like to have juice bhaijaan?"

"No thank you. I will be fine with the cookies though." He replied, glancing at the cookies in her hand. I stood there gaping at them as she sweetly offered him what I had asked her first. She. Had. A. Death. Wish.

Huffing, I stomped my feet before handing her the glass and walking away from them, towards ammi, hoping at least she hadn't changed and would take my side.

I could hear their laughter as they followed me. "Ammi, Emaan isn't giving me cookies." I complained, sitting beside her on the couch, an annoyed frown adorning my face. They both came to a halt behind me. He was standing near the armrest while Emaan stood behind the couch.

Ammi turned to look at us, an amused look on her face as well. She glanced behind me at both of them as a grin cracked on her face. "Why are you not giving her cookies Emaan?" She inquired, trying to look serious but failing miserably.

"I was about to give her but she walked away." She defended herself.

"Because she gave them to him first! She should have given them to me because I asked her first but she didn't." I told her with a pout.

"Oh! Is that it?" She asked me curiously.

I frowned. "What do you mean by is that it?"

A chuckle resounded from beside me, making my heart skip a beat. He was still here. "Okay I'm sorry. Here you go." Sitting on the armrest, he extended the whole plate of cookies towards me. I could feel embarrassment crashing on me for acting like that in front of him. For a moment, I actually forgot he was here.

Glancing at him, I saw him smiling at me. His hazel green eyes still seemed to be twinkling with amusement. And at that moment, I felt like I could get lost in them. A smile threatened to escape my lips as I grabbed the plate and kept it on my lap. Taking one and savouring it, my gaze flickered to ammi, only to watch her smiling at us. Her eyes shone with pride as she gazed at us with warmth and affection. And Emaan-

The sound of a click made her work clear. I looked up and there she was, grinning like a cheshire cat as her mobile camera faced us. I could even see Ammar's camera pointing towards us. It seemed like the whole attention was turned to us.

He seemed to realise that too as he cleared his throat before excusing himself and leaving.

._._._.