LAILA MAJNU <3|| SWARNALI

~ नूर - उमर का निकाह?

AYAAN'S POV

"AYAA!!" I stood in front of the mirror and screamed, my voice echoing off the walls of the small room as I buttoned my court. The excitement bubbling inside me was almost unbearable. Today was a day filled with promise, and I wanted everything to be perfect.

After finishing my dressing, I took a step back and looked at myself from head to toe in the mirror. The fabric of my court flowed elegantly, the intricate embroidery shimmering under the soft light. "Mashallah.. bohot khoobsurat lag raha hai Ayaan!!" I exclaimed, a smile breaking across my face. The deep emerald color complemented my skin tone, and I felt a surge of confidence.

“AYAAN! Jaldi aa! Warna ham tujhe yahi akele chorr ke chale jaayenge..!!'” my friend Farhan shouted from downstairs, urging me to hurry.

If I didn’t head downstairs pronto, my friends would probably leave without me. So, I hurried down the stairs, feeling like a criminal about to face judgment.

“Arre, dekho! Jahanpanah padhare hai!!  ” Yusuf , another friend of mine teased, leaning back in the car seat with a grin.

“Sorry, woh…” I began to explain, but before I could finish, Farhan abruptly pushed me into the car and started the engine.

"Baaki baatein baad mei hongi...." Farhan added as he put his hand on my shoulder and sat right next to me " ... Agar Aaj Omar ke itne khas din pe tu hi late ho jaega.. to hamare dulhe Sahab ko gussa a jaega Tum pe.."

He didn’t say anything wrong. Today marked a momentous occasion: Noor and Omar’s nikah, a day everyone had been eagerly anticipating.

As I sat in the car, watching the scenery blur by, I couldn’t shake the unease that settled in my chest. The laughter and chatter from the event felt distant, drowned out by my own thoughts. What if I don’t make it in time? The idea gnawed at me, tightening its grip on my heart.

Omar was counting on me. This day was meant to be filled with joy and celebration, and yet, without his best friend by his side, everything felt off-kilter. I imagined him glancing toward the entrance, the hope in his eyes slowly fading with each passing minute. It shouldn’t matter to anyone else, but to Omar, it would. The weight of expectation hung heavily on me, and I couldn’t help but feel the gravity of the moment pressing down. I can’t let him down.

But it wasn’t just Omar waiting for me. Noor was there too, her heart set on celebrating alongside her friends. She was always supportive, but today felt different.

Then there was Zara,the one who had unknowingly captured my attention in ways I couldn’t articulate. I thought of how she would light up the room with her laughter, her infectious energy drawing everyone in. What if I missed my chance to see that sparkle in her eyes? What if three of them glanced at the entrance, searching for me, only to be met with disappointment? I knew how much it meant to them, and the thought of letting them down was almost unbearable.

"THORA JALDI GAARI CHALA NA..!" I stopped staring at the window and shouted to my younger brother Zayd who was sitting in the driver's seat.

Everyone looked at me a little surprised, they were mildly suspicious of my sudden change in behavior, they knew very well that I was overthinking as usual but this even though I knew it, I couldn't stop it, my thoughts would become automatic.

In no time, when we reached the front of the wedding hall, my worries vanished from my mind as after a pound of rain, dark clouds cleared the sky and the sun peeked out from a corner.

I stepped out of the car with my friends, my gaze lifting to the grand wedding hall that stretched before us, elegantly adorned with twinkling lights and vibrant flowers. Taking in the sight, I looked down at my own attire, adjusting my collar and taking two deep breaths, steadying myself. This was it—the big day for my best friend, a day we’d been preparing for, dreaming about, and joking over for what felt like forever. And this time, I was ready for every moment of it.