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I leaned against the wall, watching as the women applied turmeric to Falaq with playful affection. Today was her *haldi* ceremony, and although a part of me felt genuinely happy for her, there was an ache I couldn't ignore. Falaq was about to marry Shahzain, a man who adored her, someone who made her laugh effortlessly and cherished every moment with her.
A soft smile tugged at my lips as I observed the scene in front of me. She deserved this happiness. Falaq had always been the optimistic one, the dreamer. And now, those dreams were coming true. But as I stood there, a quiet envy simmered beneath the surface. Why did love come so easily to her, while I always found myself entangled in hatred and betrayal?
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Alina approaching. Falaq's cousin, always sharp-tongued and quick to dampen even the brightest of moments. She was heading straight for the vacant seat beside Falaq, a spot I knew she would use to stir some mischief.
Without a second thought, I moved swiftly, making my way toward them. I slid into the seat just before Alina could claim it. She paused, eyes narrowing as she looked down at me, her lips curving into a tight, forced smile. "Sobia," she said, her voice laced with faux sweetness, "I was going to sit there."
I tilted my head and shrugged, meeting her gaze with indifference. "Well, now I'm sitting here. You can find another spot."
Her smile faltered, and for a moment, I could see the annoyance flash in her eyes. But she quickly masked it, looking around the room as if the matter were trivial. "Of course," she replied with a thin-lipped grin, stepping away to find another seat. But I didn't miss the way her gaze lingered on me, a subtle promise that she wasn't going to let this slide so easily.
Falaq, oblivious to the small exchange, giggled as her friends continued to smear turmeric on her cheeks. She caught my eye and beamed, her happiness contagious, pulling me back into the moment. I reached over and dabbed some turmeric on her forehead, eliciting another round of laughter from the women surrounding us.
But even in the midst of this joyful chaos, the ache in my chest remained. Falaq's happiness was a bittersweet reminder of everything I hadn't found yet. As much as I wanted to lose myself in the celebration, I couldn't shake the feeling that love had always been just out of reach for me.
And somewhere, in the back of my mind, a small voice whispered that maybe it always would be.
I shifted uncomfortably, my mind drifting back to yesterday's incident at home.
~FLASHBACK STARTS~
"Ladkiyan Ki Jaban Shahad jaese hone chahiye, mithaas se bhari hue." (A girl's tongue should be as sweet as honey.) My Phupphu declared, her voice filled with self-righteousness.
