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"Mahi, Jaldi karo!" (Mahi, hurry up!) Baba said pacing around my front door, "Your Amma told me to spend some time with you before, the Haldi ceremony and you are not even opening the door."
Rolling my eyes I put in my earrings and quickly fix my hair before opening the door for him. "Sorry Baba," I apologize letting him in my room, "I just have been distracted," I could not get the image of Rehan and Alizeh making out, out of my mind. I was forcefully being shoved into their relationship, and no one was even listening to me, otherwise, my life would be put on hold.
Baba gently touched my head with his hand, "Kyu?" (Why?)Now how do I answer his why, there were thousands of reasons that were storming through my mind, but I chose the most basic answer.
"Bas," (Because)I said quietly, "I only have two more nights here Baba,"
Baba held my hand, "Yaad maat dilao." (Don't remind me) He whispered back, "Humari Mahi, humara paas nahi rahegi." (Our Mahi, will not be staying with us anymore.) Then why are you sending me away, Baba? The words numbed in my mouth. "I know, you and Rehan think that the four of us are doing injustice with the two of you, but have you seen how happy he looks in the functions?" Barely, "Rehan, will protect and take care of you the exact same way I have, Mahi." Nope, you are under the wrong impression, Baba. "Tum humari Dua, thi." (You are our prayer answered.)Baba said smiling sad at me, "Pata hi nahi chala kab humari dua, itni badi hogi." (I have no idea, how you grew up so fast.)
His words brought tears to my eyes, "I may be sending you. away Mahi, but one mistake from Rehan's side, come back. I won't say anything. . .come back home." His words brought me comfort.
"Baba," I whimpered, hugging him tightly, "I love you,"
Baba hugged me tighter, "I love you too, Noori." I hadn't heard that nickname out of his mouth, in ages. Closing my eyes I let myself feel safe, protected, and loved in his embrace.
. . .
As guests started to pile in I was not looking foreward to seeing Rehan, or Alizeh, not after what I saw last night. Breathing in sharply I smile at everyone who blessed me and congratulated me for this sudden wedding, none of our relatives were really expecting me or this arrangement to happen so fast after Rehan came back from New York, but here we are a week in after his arrival, and it's my haldi ceremony and his as well.
Tejo took a black eyeliner out of her little purse and made a small dot behind my ear, "Ma told me to put a kala tikka (black dot) on you." She said smiling, as she adjusted her chunni, "She also told me to tell you, sorry that she can't come tonight either."
"It's okay," I replied taking her hand in mine, I really needed all the support I could gain, from everyone around me. I know it shouldn't be bothering me so much, I knew about Alizeh from the beginning but I just thought Rehan would have the decency not to. . whatever.
