The Superstar

40

Salem's family was the happiest when Salem told them he wanted to get married. In the past, his parents thought that maybe their son wasn't going to ever get married. They knew of his dating ways. The only thing both his parents told him was to never break anyone's heart.

Salem had too many girlfriends in the past but he never promised them a long-term thing. He definitely liked them. But he made sure to tell them that he didn't intend to marry. Marriage was never on his cards. He wanted to be a free bird.

When Pari came to his life, most things changed. He was mesmerized by her beauty. But what made him fall for her was her ferocious attitude. He loved it and wanted to challenge it. Even their fights also kept him entertained. Today, he couldn't believe he was getting married!

Theirs was a simple court marriage where only immediate family was present during the signing. They then went to a temple and married according to the Hindu rituals as her parents wanted her to see Pari & Salem getting married according to the rituals.

Pari wore a simple red banarasi saree and Salem, a white sherwani. The entire day, he stole glances at his 'wife'. He couldn't believe this quiet girl from his college was his 'wife'. He had a slight smile every time he thought Pari is his wife.

From Pari's family, her parents, aunt, Kabeer, Priya and Priya's husband attented the court wedding but on Salem's side, it was his parents, siblings and 6-7 of his close buddies, who Salem says are his "immediate family". Pari could see how his friends were happy for Salem.

Friends - they were his biggest strength. Or maybe, he was his friends strength. Salem was loved by people around him. He wouldn't necessarily be the most talkative in the room. But he had the power of making connection with anyone around him. Be it a kid or an adult, whenever he talked to someone, he didn't do it to please them. He talked to them because he was genuinely curious about them.

His friends congratulated the couple on the wedding and also teased Salem for getting such a beautiful wife.

Pari was feeling extremely sad to leave her parents behind. Their relationship was not ideal, but she knows that they have always loved her. Her mother embraced her and cried hugging her daughter. Her daughter was stubborn and rude but she was her first-born who never left the home for a long time and now she won't be seeing her everyday. Pari took blessings from her father and aunt, hugged Priya & Kabeer tightly.

"Thoda toh ro lo. There are no tears coming." Kabeer teased Pari. (Cry a bit)

"You know I am not a cry baby, like you." Pari replied back. She was going to miss this banter with her sibling.

As Pari sat in car with Salem, he held her hand in his and didn't let it go till they entered his home. She was welcomed with flowers and balloons that said "Welcome Home Bhabhi". Pari was overwhelmed with the amount of people in the house. They were Salem's friends and their family. All of them praised the couple and congratulated them. They took some more pictures. By the end of it, Pari's cheeks hurt smiling for so long.

Her sister in law - Aamna was beside Pari the entire time along with Salem. While Asif, her brother in law seemed shy to talk to her. Salem told her Asif will talk a lot once he knows her well. Jenny and Mr. Ahmed insisted she call them 'Mummy' and 'Dad' just like Salem calls them. Pari knew it will take some time to get used to calling them parents instead of uncle and aunty.

A few nights ago, she was tensed about how her first days would be in the house, but seeing everyone being so nice to her, she feels they will be good to her and she need not worry.

Jenny and Aamna took Pari to Salem's room and told her to not hesitate to call them anytime she needs anything. Pari looked around Salem's room which was almost the size of her living room. She closed her eyes, not believing she finally got such a big house, just like her dreams. What stood out to her in the room was gym equipments in the corner and bunch of family portraits on another wall. It had pictures of teenage Salem with his parents, another frame of just the siblings in the childhood and also a photo of Salem in martial arts attire. She didn't recall him telling her that he is trained in mixed martial arts.