Fibs and Fables

Chapter 9

Mariam glided down the winding grand staircase as she heard the rumbling of the convoy near the foyer. Just as Ma Begum and Nadia Khan stepped out of their idling Mercedes, Mariam broke through the foyer.

"Awww. So pretty. So pretty. Meri Bachi.." Nadia Chachi's eyes gleamed with pride and adoration as she enveloped the younger woman in her warm embrace.

Mariam did a little twirl as she giggled and glowed under her Chachi's compliments.

"Forget me, Chachi; you should see Bhabi. She is literally glowing."

"Bhabi?" Mariam's eyes narrowed as her gaze locked on a scoffing Haya, who was accompanied by her equally displeased mother.

"Yeah Bhabi. My Bhabi. That's what you call your brother's wife." Mariam spelled it out for Haya, whose brain seemed to have been clogged with an unhealthy amount of envy and hatred.

"That's what you should call Meerab." Ma Begum quipped as she turned towards Haya.

"What?" Haya asked, appalled.

"What is there to be surprised about? As Mariam said, that is how you address your brother's wife."

"Murtasim.."

"Bhai. Murtasim Bhai. Or if you prefer, you can call him by his title, 'Khan'. Then Meerab would be your 'Khanam'." Ma Begum wrapped up the discussion and quickly strode forward to greet Malik Mukhtar, who was hurriedly emerging from the foyer, a joyful laugh bubbling out of him.

Mariam watched with a wicked smile as Haya and her mother bristled next to her. She wondered if it was more difficult for Haya to address Meerab as 'Bhabi' or as 'Khanam'. Mariam was happy with either of the options. She would be eternally grateful for her brother's shrewdness, which landed Meerab as her sister-in-law.

"Everything set?" Nadia Chachi chirped in.

"All set and done."

"Which one did you choose for him?"

"Nothing overly flashy. A white one with a yellow shawl for the ceremony, and then a yellow one."

"Hmm. He would wear it, won't he?"

"What other options does he have? Borrow Ma's kameez?"

"That only looks good on your mother." Nadia chuckled.

Mariam looked at her mother's attire. A flashy golden yellow salwar kameez, a heavy green dupatta, and an equally ornate cream shawl. It was an ensemble that only Salma Shahnawaz Khan could rock.

"You look amazing too, Chachi." Her eyes roved over Nadia's attire, feasting on every bead and jewel of the mustard green suit.

"But not more than your Chacha."

"Of course not. You cannot beat Anwar Khan in fashion." Mariam snickered as she eyed her surroundings, looking for the man.

"He is set to arrive with Murtasim."

"When are they arriving?"

"Murtasim's meeting with one of his London partners is running late. They would be here as soon as they wrapped it up."

"Hmm."

Mariam's gaze lingered on the little commotion at the edge of the driveway. Her gaze narrowed as she recognized them all as their guards.

"Is there a problem, Chachi? You seemed to have brought more men than normal." Her voice was hushed as she leaned closer to Nadia.

"No, there is no problem. We just brought in the next shift of guards to be posted here. The ones Murtasim brought with him yesterday have been here for more than twenty-four hours. It would be better for them to head back and freshen up before they take the next shift tomorrow."