HER

24

Faris was married. And most importantly he was married to the girl he always wanted. The feeling of pure happiness rushed through his body but the turmoil that his mind was in, kept that happiness at bay.

He met everyone. Laila's friends, her cousins and his cousins and friends. All curious about their sudden marriage, all questioning.

And it was his father and Laila's brother easing everyone's curiousity very easily. They were master as shutting people's unneeded talks.

When his eyes fell on Laila approaching the stage slowly, the world seemed to be be faded around her. She looked like a queen, adorned in jewels and finest of clothes. Clammy palms, a racing heart and jumbled thoughts, Faris kept staring at his wife like she was the only beautiful thing in the world.

And when she sat beside him,  he found himself lost on words. Tongue tied and alert eyed, he sat silently beside her. Only speaking to his friends or when needed.

Slowly people came and sat beside them. Laila's family blessed them and both husband and wife cringed. Faris' father showered them with love and both smiled. Aswad again threw a lame joke which wasn't needed here and both rolled their eyes. Hala and Hudhaifa came with gifts in hand and Faris prayed to Allah that somehow Hudhaifa's gift gets lost somewhere and he didn't even want to think about Hala's. Faria and Moiz came and he felt Laila relaxing beside him.

And here he stood now, ready to take Laila with him. Under open night sky,  he stood by his car as Laila said farewell to her family. He knew it all was dry until Aswad stepped before her and tears shined in her eyes.

Faris didn't had the the power to see her cry so he turned his head to other side. His father stood by Jabbar yet he could feel the distance between them which grew in past few days.

Ansar was disappointed in Jabbar.

Aswad was the one to lead Laila to Faris' decorated car. Aswad was the one to set Laila's dress as she settled in passenger seat. A kiss on his sister's cheeks, a final warning glance at Faris and Aswad finally closed the door bidding Farewell to his sister.

Faris who stood patiently waiting for his wife to get settled, now joined Aswad. "Take care of her."

"You don't need to say."

"And Faris?"

"Yes?"

"She's still hungry."

Faris chuckled. "I know." A nod to Laila's gloomy family and he sat in the driver seat. Glancing at his wife, who looked anywhere but him, he started the car driving away from the glimmering hall lights behind them.

Some of his aunts and uncle had already reached his house and his father would also be on the way by the time.

They had time, so Faris did one thing that a good husband would do in such situation. He stopped the car outside a beautiful restaurant.

Fairy lights decorated the lawn outside a pretty building. Some people sat there enjoying the food under night sky and some sat just talking. People threw curious looks at decorated car that stopped by the restaurant before going back to what they were doing.

He saw as Laila looked around curiously before looking at him with raised brows. Faris only shrugged and took his seat belt off. "Wait here."

"You wish." Was Laila's only response before she got out of car followed by a smiling Faris.

The glances thrown at them by people around was enough to make Laila conscious of her attire. She looked defeatedly at Faris' award winning smile. "You go yourself." She sulked and sat back inside the car.

Shaking his head at the stubborn girl,  he walked inside and disappeared behind glass door.

Laila sat inside going through whatever was inside the dashboard of the luxurious land cruiser. After a while, Faris appeared again with plastic bag in both of his hands.

A smile forced it's way to Laila's lips. An old star finally shined inside her pretty brown eyes that Faris thrived to see again and again. It was hard to conceal that smile and shine when Faris sat inside the car and settled the bags on her lap.

"You better finish it before reaching home." He looked at his phone before looking at her again. "It will be an hour long ride."

Not being able to say something Laila tipped her head and took a look inside the bag. There were two burgers, two much for her appetite.

"I'm not a pig." She mumbled narrowing her eyes at the boy who snickered at the remark. "One was fine."

"Other one is for me."

"Oh."

A comfortable silence followed except sound of plastic bags and wrappers. She ate one for herself and passed the other one to Faris and just like Faris said, they reached home after an hour.

A big house, bigger then her parent's house. Prettier then she ever dreamed, adorned with lights and flowers indicating a marriage being held here.

"There will be my cousins here today." He said gently from beside her.

"And?" Ofcouse there would be more to say.

"If it feels uncomfortable you can avoid them."

"It's your family."

Faris shrugged at that. "I have spent my life in states. I myself don't know them much."

Faris got out of car and opened the door for Laila. Someone shouted from lawn alerting everyone of their arrival.

Girls draped in heavy dresses and jewellery came running towards the with flowers in plates. Traditions were followed, a boy held her knee asking for money from Faris who was hell nbent on not giving it to him. Elder ones praised Laila of her beauty and Faris cousin's threw envy glances at her. After sometime, Laila was setteled inside a big room, decorated with flowers.

Faris' room for sure.

The sweet scent of roses tingled her nose. The jewellery now felt heavy against her delicate skin. The dress itched her, yet she sat there silently.

Not because she was waiting for Faris.  She needed to change and she didn't know where was the bag containing her clothes.

Thoughts jumbled in her mind, played with strings of her heart, made her a mess she already was.

Until the lock of door clicked open.