Amidst The Wedding Chaos

Eight

I chewed the toast slowly, the bite going down harder than usual.

"I can't believe you're doing this to me." My voice came out raw as I watched Kanwal pack her bag up, hoping that at least 10 percent of the betrayal I felt was written on my face.

She turned and sighed. I knew she hated leaving like this, so abruptly, as much as I hated it. But it was a family emergency, and nothing could be done about it.

"How am I supposed to get by the walima without you, huh?" It was the only function organized by the groom's side of the family. It made it more nerve-wracking.

She patted my arms. "You'll be fine, shut up. And send me loads of pics, okay? I wanna see my beautiful bestie when she's all dressed up."

I rolled my eyes even as a smile threatened to break out on my face. "You flatter me, babe. But I'm not that pretty."

"Who says you aren't? Aayan hamesha behosh hone wala hota hai jab bhi tumhe dekhta hai."

*"Aayan is always about to faint whenever he sees you."

I hated, hated what her words did to me. So I pinched her arm.

She pinched mine right back.

And then we were pinching each other's arms, hands flailing wildly as we did so.

"What are you both doing?!" My mother screeched out and we instantly jumped away, folding our hands behind our backs like kids being told off by their teacher. "Anyway, I came to tell that your car is here, Kanwal."

It made sad all over again and I tightly squeezed her to me before walking her to the door, hugging her once again there too.

When I turned, my mother was there with her chador, looking like she was going somewhere.

"There are a few things I need to get so I'm going to the market with Noman." She told me as she adjusted her purse strap.

The house had mostly gotten empty as most of our relatives left after the wedding last night.

Aayan was still here though, sadly.

I nodded and walked past her to go inside the house. She caught me by my arm. "Khadija's going with me. Go inside and take care of Irhaa till then. We won't take longer than an hour."

Oh no.

"You want me to take care of Irhaa?! I can't do that!"

Her eyes narrowed. "Kyun? Kal ko tumhare bache honge to kya karogi?"

*"Why? What will you do when you have children?"

My face twisted at her words. "Ammi, I'm not even married. Bache to dur ki baat hai."

*"Children will come later."

She smacked me on the arm making me flinch and pout as I rubbed the spot. "Aise nahi bolte. Tumhari bhi bas abhi shaadi karwane wali hun mein."

*"Don't say things like that. I'm going to get you married soon."

"Aap to aise keh rahi hain jaise larka dhoond ke rakha hua hai."

*"You're saying it like you've found a boy already."

She only smirked in response and waved for me to go inside and take Irhaa and send Khadija Appi outside.

I took the girl from her mother and carried her, softly stroking her cheek. She seemed tired to me, and I was hoping she'd just fall asleep so I wouldn't have to do much.

Yeah, I wasn't all that of a fan of babies.

"I've fed her already, and I've changed her diaper too. You should be fine." Khadija Appi told me as she kissed Irhaa's cheek before leaving.

I sighed and followed her out, waiting until they'd left to lock the door. Then I grabbed a chocolate from the fridge and took it to my room to eat while I sat down on the bed, Irhaa still in my arms.

She started crying the second I sat down.

No, not crying. She started wailing like I'd hit or something.

I immediately got up, the chocolate forgotten as I rocked her while walking, hoping for her to quiet down. And she was definitely against me because I think she just started crying louder instead of stopping.

Aayan's head popped in from the crack in the door, startling me.

"Why is she crying?" He asked, sounding irritated. Well, that made the two of us. I was irritated too but by him instead of Irhaa. I couldn't hate her even if she cried, or even if I wasn't a big fan of babies.

I shook my head. "Nahi pata."

*"Don't know."

He walked inside the room, pushing his hair back as he did, and stopped in front of me, holding his arms out. "Tumse ek bachi bhi nahi sambhalti."

*"You can't even take care of a baby."

"I didn't do anything! She started crying without—" but my jaw fell open as he took her from me, the girl instantly quieting down as he rocked her.

What unfairness was this? I'd been doing the same. I'd been rocking her better actually.

I gaped at him as he walked around the room, swinging her in his arms as he whispered some words to her that I couldn't hear. She was even smiling now, instead of crying loudly like she'd been doing with me.

Aayan smirked arrogantly when he saw me staring at him.

"I— I'd been doing exactly that too!"

His smirk grew wider. "Well, maybe she likes me more than she likes you."

"Impossible. No one can like you more than me."

His eyebrow cocked. "Oh? I think your mother likes me more than you."

My nose wrinkled. "No, she doesn't."

"Yes, she does—" Irhaa started crying again as if complaining about the lack of attention.

He immediately turned back to look at her, talking to her in this soft baby voice that did despicable things to my heart.

Oh, God, why did he have to look so... so... adorable with a baby in his arms?

Irhaa was giggling now as Aayan repeatedly tapped her nose and cheek, her hands coming forth like she was going to hold his finger.

Unable to help myself, I tiptoed forward and stopped in front of them because I wanted to see her smile and laugh as Aayan played with her.

"She's cute, isn't she?" He asked, still smiling down at her.

"She is." I agreed, stroking her soft hair. It would probably be the only thing we ever agreed on.

He set her down on my bed and sat down beside her, still playing with her. She didn't even notice the change at all as she continued giggling.

I had a baby fever. Uh oh.