𝑬𝒏𝒕𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝑫𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒚

12.

Sofia stir on her bed as the alarm of her phone starts ringing. She irritatingly grunts when it doesn't stop. Still, in her sleep state, she looks for her phone to shut the alarm off and doing that she goes back to doze off. She had gone into her deep slumber just after some minutes when the Aazan echoed around the silent morning Sofia wakes up with a jolt.

"Ya Allah! Fajar ki namaz!" saying she throws away the quilt from her to the floor still in the state of sleep she looks around for her hair clip on her nightstand finding it she runs towards her ensuite nearly tripping over her thrown quilt.

After doing her wudu (ablution) she went towards her separately made cabinet in her room next to her closet for her Janamaz (prayer mat) which contains a collection of different types of tasbeeh (prayer beads), Quran and other Islamic books.

Her heart pounds when she remembers what day is today. Taking a deep breath she wraps a white cotton dupatta around her head, spreading her janamaz she stands with her both hands on both of her ears and she says "Allah-hu-Akbar."

She talks her heart out to Allah. How she is feeling scared and nervous and about all the other emotions today. She can not believe the day has arrived already. Something is making her guts nervous again and again for the past two days and she doesn't know what she needs to do to get a little bit of peace. But she prays to Him that whatever happens in the future she believes Him and that it will be in the best for her and even if there are some struggles ahead she asks Him to give her sabr and strength and ask Him to be there with her in all her troubles and pain because He is the only one she depends.

Finishing up her prayer she reads her favourite surah. Surah-Rehman from the Quran feeling tranquillity at every verse the restlessness in her calms down giving her the needed peace.

It was the day of Arsalan's and Sofia's haldi. Sofia had been nervous and scared for the past two days and horrified by the idea of leaving her Baba Jaan alone. She couldn't believe a month has passed away she was so engrossed in the fashion show that she didn't acknowledge the time running. She didn't even get the chance to talk with her future husband not even through text messages or call they don't even have the phone numbers of each other and meeting each other wasn't allowed. Marrying a stranger is a completely different task and living a whole life with him couldn't be as simple as the people keep saying to her. She expects a lot from the guy she is going to get married to. She wanted to share with him about all those things she wants from her future husband before getting married but seems impossible now as there were only two more days for her to be bond with someone for a lifetime.

Noor Villa was lively like never before so was Abidi House. Unknown of the two restless souls that were not nearly happy about anything but getting married. Arsalan was so sure about the marriage until today so was Sofia. Both didn't know what was making them feel this overwhelmed but push it back just for the happiness of their family.

Abidi house was filled with Abidi's at every corner of the house. Arsalan's bade Taya and Tayi Ammi with their elder son Zeeshan and daughter Abeer were here. Zeeshan's wife Zeenat wasn't able to come due to their kid's ongoing school. Their second-youngest son couldn't or to be more specified wouldn't come and that pissed Arsalan the hell out. He was so mad at him for ditching his life biggest day and he wasn't going to leave him for that so easily. Whereas his Chacha and Chachi were also here with their kids Tanveer and Zoha. His Phuphi and Phupha with their only daughter Kehkasha were going to come by afternoon as they live in Mumbai itself.

Noor Villa was not that packed as Abidi House. Sofia didn't have many cousins. Maha was her only cousin from her mother's side who hasn't contacted her after the incident that she hates to remember. Her cousins from her father's side were all elder to her and married with whom she doesn't share a bond as close as Maha. Her best friend Shahana was a blessing for Sofia, who took the majority of the responsibility for the wedding, she and Zulfiqar had visited Sofia's friends and family to invite them to her wedding.