ishq lost & found

6; Hours Away

As Dua and Ranya sat nestled in the cozy embrace of Dua's living room, their fingers delicately danced through a sea of flowers adorning the room, each bloom a potential candidate for the upcoming engagement decor. Amidst the fragrant blooms and the anticipation of celebrations, Dua's inquiry sliced through the air, breaking Ranya out of her trance.

"When are you starting your new job?" Dua's voice, tinged with curiosity, pulled Ranya back from the depths of her thoughts. However, Ranya's mind, ensnared by worries, struggled to fully engage in the conversation. It had been a week and a half since she had made her decision, yet the weight of uncertainty still pressed heavily upon her.

"A couple of days after the wedding. Thank God," Ranya replied, her fingers deftly plucking lilac flowers from the array of whites, a subtle distraction from the tumult within her mind. "That way I won't have to see too much of him."

Dua's laughter filled the room, momentarily dispelling the somber atmosphere. "Ranya, you're actually unbelievable," she chuckled, shaking her head in amusement. A soft smile graced her lips, amused by the nature of her best friend's remark. "If you don't want to see him, why are you marrying him?"

"I don't really know," Ranya confessed, her voice tinged with uncertainty, "Everyone already knows I was going to marry Salman. If Saad didn't agree to marry me after what his brother pulled, I don't think anyone in this town would."

"Come on, Ranya," Dua interjected, her tone gentle yet firm, "You know that's not true. You know how many aunties used to ask me about you at weddings? And how many girls hated you because half of their crushes liked you?"

Ranya's eyes rolled at the exaggerated depiction of her popularity, though a hint of acknowledgment lingered in her gaze. While it was true that some aunties inquired about her, and a few young suitors admired her from afar, Ranya couldn't quite accept Dua's portrayal of her as a coveted gem in the town's social scene.

"Maybe," Ranya conceded, choosing not to engage in a debate over the accuracy of Dua's claims. "But after what your brother did, do you really think any auntie would let me marry their son? No matter how much he begs or pleads?"

Dua nodded, unable to argue with that. It was an undeniable truth, bitter but true. They both knew all too well the unforgiving gaze of South Asian aunties, casting judgment upon anyone, especially young women who were unmarried- whether by choice or not. In Ranya's case, Salman's inability to follow through with his commitment was somehow going to be her fault. If not for Saad, Ranya worried, and with good reason, that she wouldn't be able to get married, at least not to someone in the same city.

"Well, he'll be here for most of the ceremonies, so get ready to see a lot of him the next few days," Dua remarked, a mischievous glint dancing in her eyes as she relished the opportunity to tease her friend. "Aren't you excited? It's been ages since you two have seen each other in person! Somehow you two always missed each other when he would visit?"

Ranya offered a wry smile, tinged with a hint of unease. "Hmm, weird. But no, I can't say I'm looking forward to it at all. I'm actually really nervous," she confessed, the weight of her worries palpable in the heavy sigh that escaped her lips.

"What's bothering you? It's Saad bhai. He's laid-back, and I don't think he's changed a bit. You'll find him just as you remembered, as long as you can put the past behind you," Dua rambled on, her well-meaning words serving as a stark reminder to Ranya of the looming mistake she might be making.

The reason behind Saad's agreement remained a mystery to Ranya. After the abrupt departure and seven years of silence, she couldn't fathom why he would suddenly reappear, agreeing to marrying her. Not once did he reach out, not once did he make an effort to bridge the gap of time between them. All those whispered promises seemed hollow now. Ranya felt a pang of resentment towards Dua too, for acting like abandonment is easy to get over, as if it were a fleeting inconvenience.

"Honestly, I'm not sure what possessed me to agree to this marriage. Every time I think about what happened, it makes me angry" Ranya confessed, her voice tinged with frustration.

"You never really told me what happened, just that there was an argument, a text, and then silence," Dua probed gently, her curiosity tempered with concern.

"That's all there is to tell. There isn't much more," Ranya replied tersely, her emotions simmering beneath the surface. "I know we weren't inseparable, but it was clear I had feelings for him, and everyone assumed he felt the same. If it was all just a game to him... well, it's a cruel joke," she continued, her words tinged with bitterness.

As Ranya reflected on her past, she felt a surge of heat course through her veins, her cheeks flushing with frustration. She had tried her best to move forward, to bury the memories of the past seven years beneath the facade of a new life with Salman. Now, she was faced with the daunting task of erasing not just Salman from her heart, but also the scars left by Saad's departure.

It was no small feat, she acknowledged with a sigh. After being abandoned twice, and by brothers no less, Ranya couldn't help but entertain the unsettling notion that perhaps the gossipy aunties were onto something. Maybe there was something inherently flawed about her, something that repelled love and invited heartache. Despite her efforts to adhere to everyone's expectations, to lead a life of simplicity and conformity, her heart had been trampled, her wedding nearly derailed, and her future cast into uncertainty.

Lost in her thoughts, Ranya found herself pouting, a telltale sign of her inner turmoil. Sensing her friend's distress, Dua swiftly changed the subject, diverting their attention back to the impending engagement.

"I'm sorry for bringing it up. Let's focus on the decorations. Your engagement is tomorrow," Dua interjected, her voice gentle yet firm, like a parent soothing a troubled child.

"Yeah, less than 24 hours until Saad returns"