Mainu Heer Naa Aakho Koyi

X // Love Is In The Air

After the elders of our families, the guests that were missing on our nikah and the youngsters climb up the stage in pairs and give us blessings in addition of the salami.

The songs keep me energetic and happy.

I keep looking at myself in the mirror and obsessing over the image.

soyi soyi palkon pe chal ke
mere sapnon ki khidki pe aa gayaa
aate jaate phir mere dil ke
inn haathon mein woh khat pakraa gayaa
pyaar ka, lafzon mein rang hai pyaar ka

bahaara bahaara
huaa dil pehli baar ve

I kiss Saliha baji right after she sits beside me.

"Safeid eyeliner suit kar rahaa hai, hai naa?" She raises a brow.

(The white eyeliner suits you, doesn't it?)

I nod, guilty. I was whining, telling her not to put the eyeliner on me.

She shakes her head clicking her tongue.

"Aap salami dein, taane kyun deti hain."
(Stop taunting and hand me the salami.)

"Yeh lo, badtameez naa ho tou."
(Take it, insolent little brat.)

I grin taking the money envelope from her.

Before bhai Usman and Saliha baji leave, someone captures everyone's attention.

One of the cameras shift to the entrance as well.

My heart falls.

An elderly man and a gorgeous young lady walk in. The lady wearing a navy blue organza sharara.

Her makeup, her dress, it's so bright and suits her so well.

She swaggers from the middle of the scattered guest tables up till the stage and I see Haider already up... now receiving kisses on the cheek from her.

My eyes zoom on his hand around her waist.

I get up and she just gives me a quick hug with a bright smile, "Miraal, a close friend of Haider's."

There's no genuineness in her smile towards me.

The man puts a hand on my head and utters blessings for us after having hugged Haider.

There's a small talk between them while my brain tries to fix itself. He tells me they're family friends and I want to hit him with a brick when I see his face.

The girl is faster than me.

Her puppy face and "aww" annoy me more than the way she wipes her lipstick off his cheeks.

I want to leave the stage now.

NOW.

Kar lo tum log.
(Do it, you guys.)

Sab kar lo, yaheen kar lo, camera ke aage kar lo. (Do everything, do it here, do it in front of the camera.)

I can't muster up a fake smile for the camera.

"Haider, I wanted to gift you something better, but keeping your hatred for gold in mind, I thought of getting you a personalized ring. I designed this." I watch the girl gifting him a silver ring.

She takes it out of the box and asks for his hand, but I show her a hand. "We'll open it later, thank you."

All of them look at me and a silence takes over. She puts the box down.