In The Pursuit Of Love

Towards Destruction

"But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not." – 2:216

They were talking, Aamina and Mehreen's in laws, while the other looked upon and then they saw Aamina turn around and put her phone to her ear. Mehreen and Nargis didn't know a dime of what was happening and couldn't hear anything of what they were talking about. A few minutes later, they saw Mehreen's dad appearing at the threshold of the door, along with two boys, which Mehreen recognized as Zeeshan's friends, the environment now turning grim.

Aamina then urged them to move from the living room to the drawing room, probably to attain privacy and they saw the door close behind them, not before Aamina turning around and speaking to all the guests that she will meet them at the venue, obviously indicating them to leave. The guests started leaving, all the while murmuring, and Nargis couldn't help but glare at their backs. They weren't even there for the nikah and had now one thing to gossip about.

But she couldn't help the sudden tightness in her chest anticipating as to what was happening and what was about to happen. She looked at Mehreen, who had now walked back into the room, standing while biting her nails, her face showed utter concern.

"Mehreen, what are you doing standing there? You have to get ready. Since your in-laws are already here, I am sure the nikah will be held soon" Nargis tried to take Mehreen's mind off of the situation and even tried herself not to think into things.

"Nargis, I-I have a bad feeling about this," she started, looking at her, panic evident in her eyes.

"Mehreen, don't be stupid. They just came a little early. Weren't they supposed to come here for the nikah" Nargis reprimanded her, her own heart agreeing with whatever Mehreen was saying.

"They sure were, but the men were supposed to go the masjid directly, why did they come here?" she uttered looking at Nargis, while being pulled towards the dressing table by her. Nargis made her sit on the chair despite her futile attempts at resistance.

"Hasbi Allah" and that was enough for her to shut her mouth.

But her patience didn't last long and Mehreen abruptly stood up, as the makeup artist was fixing her mangtika and the nose ring got pulled out in the process, hanging along her cheek by the chain connecting it to her hair.

"Mehreen-"

"I have to check what's going on" she pulled the dupatta and wrapping it around her head she dashed out of the room, Nargis hot on her heels, trying to stop her.

They found the living room empty and oddly silent, except for the two boys who were sitting on the sofa, with their hands clasped. As soon as they saw the girls moving towards their intended destination, they stood up in haste.

"Mehreen,-"they called but stopped on seeing Mehreen's raised palm.

"Is Bhai here?" she asked meekly, looking straight ahead but not at them.

"Not yet. We have been calling him but he is not picking up the calls" one of the boy answered, their faces worried probably from the happening of the uncertain events. She nodded and went ahead to stand infront of the closed door of the drawing room. Reaching forward, she held the handle of the door, but before she could open it, Nargis' voice reached her ears,

"Mehreen lets go back. Let the elders do the talking"

Ignoring her completely, Mehreen went ahead and opened the door and what she heard next, made her stop in her tracks. The door was slightly ajar and so no one from inside noticed the movement at the door amidst the tension building inside.