Love In War

Maenzrat - Mendhi

A simple yellow Kurti adorned with a gold piping on the perimeter with the complimenting emerald green dupatta. She stood but the power box attempting to fix the lights of the adorned house. That house that made it look like it was Christmas in August. Her long, wavy hair tucked by her delicate light ears, gajere decorating her naked wrists. The lights lit but so did her face, the reflection of the fairy lights glowed in her eyes as if it were the sun. Those beautiful golden umber eyes like serene drops of honey. So deep yet so pure. She turned her head and her eyes, her lips, and her spirit all at once smiled at me.

'Hey, Samir!' Called from behind, it was Saad - the groom to be.
It was the mendhi function today. Kashmiri folk music pounded in the background; girls were dancing and clapping.
'Hey, Saad, ready to impress your Bride to be?' I asked, we spent weeks trying to perfect our dance performance. Saad had chosen some of Aayaat's favourite Bollywood songs to dance to. In all honesty, we weren't good dancers. We were really bad.

I walked towards the stage, it was my time to shine. Would I impress her? Would she even notice? The DJ queued our song, as I reached for Saad's hand, we both jumped on the stage. We tried our best, and then came the chorus! Saad and I went crazy! We were dancing to the beat as were the girls who were clapping along. So was she. The music faded, it was just her, her laughter, and her bangles that decorated her wrists. I wasn't a natural believer of love at first sight but even if you saw her, you would believe in it to.

The night sky grew. A few of us remained, everyone had left now.
"Firdaus," called out Saad.
Firdaus was her name, paradise. Such a beautiful name gifted for such a beautiful woman.
Saad continued - "Are there any shikaras available for us all at this time by your dad's hotel?"
"I can ring and ask, but for who?" Her politeness, i..I.
"Get two, me and Aayat and then you and Sameer. If that's okay with you guys?"
"No, I don't mind. If you do that's no problem. " Immediately everyone looked, I said it so quickly what did I expect. Perhaps this night was gonna be more special for me rather than Saad. The thing was I did know Firdaus, we didn't really talk but we just third-wheeled - a lot.
"Bari chalbaazi hai tumko Sameer." Sneered Aayat.
"It's your maenzrat, we're not gonna third wheel" I laughed in an attempt to disguise my desperation. This is gonna be a long evening now, beautiful for Saad and Aayat but awkward for Firdaus and I.