Tere sang ishq hua

Saari Duniya Jala du Main Ik Teri Aansu Pe

Sitara stood in front of the full-length mirror, adjusting her pink suit. The soft fabric shimmered as she smoothed her hands over it, feeling both comforted and nervous by the familiar weight of the outfit. It was a beautiful anarkali, embroidered with delicate golden threads that danced along the hem and cuffs. The deep pink color felt like the right balance between tradition and modernity, just the way she hoped to present herself tonight—gracious, poised, and confident.
Her heart raced as she touched up her makeup—subtle kohl along her eyes, a dusting of blush on her cheeks, and just a hint of gloss on her lips. She wasn’t used to wearing much makeup, but today was different. Today, she was about to meet Salar's family for the first time.
"Sitara. Sab theek hoga" she whispered to herself, taking a deep breath. Her reflection stared back at her, her eyes a little wide with nerves but filled with hope.
She ran her fingers through her hair, leaving it free, with a few loose strands left to frame her face. She then picked up the jhumkas and clipped them in place. 
For two days, her family had only taunted and humiliated her whenever they got a chance and not to forget her so-called cousins.
" We are ashamed to even acknowledge that you belong to our family" Her tayi had said to her.
But Sitara wasn't sure she ever belonged with them. Growing up with her Taya and tayi after her parents death, she had always been the outsider, the one who never quite fit in. Despite all the years of living with them, she still felt like the distant relative, the one who wasn’t quite one of them. They never accepted her the way her as they accepted zohaib.
She hoped that would not be the case with salar's family. Having salar's support gave her courage.
The phone buzzed on the dresser, pulling her out of her thoughts. It was a text from her Salar.
"Intezar katam hua finally. Can't wait to see your beautiful face."
Sitara smiled softly, her nerves easing slightly. If somehow sitara was still holding on to courage after whatever her family did to her, it was only because of salar. His reassurance always soothed her.
Taking a deep breath, she grabbed her clutch, a small gold purse to match her outfit, and stood up straighter.
Sitara glanced at the clock. The walima could begin soon.  Kiran had come ten minutes earlier and rudely told her that if she didn't come in ten minutes, they would leave her and go.
Sitara had to leave, but the thought of walking into a place full of strangers, the eyes of her family watching her, filled her with anxiety.
"Everything will be fine," sitara told herself again. She assured herself that the salar will be here.
As she left the room and went down. she found Zohaib and Kiran waiting. "Finally you came, pata nahi kis ke liye itna saaj rahi woh, after what you did no good guy would want you," Kiran said, sniggering. Sitara doesn't say a word back and sits inside the car. Kiran expected sitara to at least cry but her indifference made kiran uneasy.

The car ride to the venue was filled with a silence, as much as Kiran tried to taunt sitara, sitara ignored her taunts. Zohaib did not care about his sister and kept quiet. Kiran was suspicious of Sitara's behaviour. From the time Sitara came back from the college yesterday, her behaviour had changed and Kiran could not put straight what had changed for sitara who was pleading about her innocence two days before the family.

The car stopped near the venue.
Sitara stepped out of the car, her heart pounding. Kiran also stepped out.
" Yeh kaun itna ameer aagaya?" Kiran exclaims as she sees two luxury cars glide into the parking lot. Two high-end SUVs pull up one after another, their tinted windows reflecting the vibrant surroundings. From the first car, a group of burly security personnel step out and swiftly take their positions, ensuring the safety of the family members within. The vehicles’ engines fall silent, and in the hushed moment that follows, the shikandar family begins to step out of the car.
Salar dressed in a bespoke suit steps out first, adjusting his cuffs with a casual grace. Beside him is Saba, who looked stylish in her silk anarkali, and Junaid had also chosen to wear the suit. Nani was looking elegant in her traditional attire. while Tahir and mehreen follow behind, exchanging glances of careful judgment.
" How did this salar become this rich?"Kiran asks loudly but no one responds to her. Sitara was lost admiring Salar in his attire and Zohaib did not care but then kiran puts two and two together and realises that salar was a rich guy that's why nimmi was behind him.
As Salar was walking toward the venue’s entrance, his eyes drifted ahead, and suddenly, his steps faltered. He pauses mid-stride, gaze fixed ahead with a magnetic intensity. His eyes lock on a Sitara who was looking at him, She was dressed up in a soft pink suit, he was mesmerized by her beauty.The surrounding noise seems to fade into a distant hum, leaving only her in sharp focus.
Sitara looked radiant. For a moment, it’s as if the whole world has stopped, and all he can see is her.
"Salar kya hua?” Saba's voice breaks through his reverie, but Salar doesn’t respond immediately. He is still staring at her, mesmerized. Sitara looked down shyly feeling his gaze on her.
Nani, noticing the direction of his gaze, lets out a soft chuckle. "Woh ladki sitara hai na?" she asks, raising an eyebrow with a knowing smile. She had seen the girl's picture which salar had sent her.
and heard about her from salar countless times from yesterday, but seeing her now, she could not help but admire the girl who had captured her grandson's heart completely.
Junaid and Saba, who had been following along quietly, too, looked at Sitara and then back at Salar. "Kitni pyaari hai, even your photographs did not do justice to her beauty salar"Saba exclaims. Junaid also agrees with her.
" Can we go meet her?" saba asks salar.
" Not now" Salar tells her, " I will bring her to you guys but not now"
Tahir and mehreen, however, remain silent. Mehreen’s expression is unreadable, but Tahir’s lips purse in a thin line. They both did find sitara beautiful but neither of them uttered a word of approval.
Kiran, standing just a few paces away, notices the salar's lingering gaze and feels a tight knot of jealousy form in her stomach. She watches not only Salar but even his family's eyes following Sitara like a hawk, and can't help but feel the sting of envy. Turning to sitara, she asks, her voice laced with sharpness, "Woh aur usske family tumhe aise kyun dekh raha hai? "
Sitara's lips curve into a faint smile, but she doesn’t meet Kiran’s gaze. Instead, she simply shrugs, her eyes still fixed at salar and his family who were smiling at her brightly except two people who sitara guessed were his parents,“Kya farak padta hai?” sitara replies softly, then turns and begins to walk into the venue without another glance.
Kiran stares after her, an uncomfortable, gnawing feeling twisting in her gut. The family, too, starts moving forward—Tahir and mehreen trailing behind, still expressing their disapproval, while his saba and Junaid, with a smile on their face, walk alongside with salar and Nani.
Everywhere were suprised when salar showed up with his whole family inside the venue. Nimmi looked on excitedly, she decided this was the time to impress salar's family. Salman hugged Salar happily expressing his happiness. He greeted the family happily who nods at him in acknowledgement. The other members of the family who weren't aware of salar's status gasped realising the truth. Salar greeted everyone but his eyes lightened up when he saw sitara in a corner, he still couldn't take his eyes off her. He walked toward her with a broad smile, taking her hand in his.
"You’re here," he said, his voice warm. "Ready?" He asks her, he extends his hand towards her.
She nodded, taking a steadying breath. She holds salar's hand and walks with him. Everyone around them exchanged curious glances, their whispers rising like a low tide.
Salar takes sitara towards his family.
“Everyone,” Salar began, his voice filled with a warmth that contrasted with his usual aloof demeanor. “Yeh hai meri sitara.”
Nani, who had been watching from the corner of her eye, immediately brightened. “Ah! Kitni pyaar ladki hai” she exclaimed, taking sitara’s hands on her own. “You’re even more beautiful than I imagined. Salar has told us so much about you.”
Sitara smiled, a little embarrassed, as saba added, “Sab kuch nahi bola. We are asking him from the day he confessed that he is in love with you to make you meet us now finally he has. So you're the girl who has made my brother crazier in love” She says playfully at sitara, teasing her just a little, but her tone was warm and welcoming.
Junaid, who stood with his hands in his pockets, offered a slight bow. “Finally we meet you. We have been wanting to meet you for days"
Despite their easy smiles and teasing nature, sitara couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss. She glanced around and saw the disapproving faces of her own family—her Taya and tayi, standing at the back, exchanging uncomfortable glances, and nimmi, visibly tense. But what caught her attention the most was her qasim, who stood across the room, his eyes burning with envy.
Sitara could feel nimmi’s glare digging into her skin, but she quickly looked away, trying not to let it affect her.
Salar’s parents, however, were more reserved. Tahir  with a stern face, gave sitara a curt nod, though his lips didn’t quite curve into a smile. Mehreen, elegant in her rich saree, simply glanced at sitara with cool detachment. They weren’t pleased with this union she could tell by the way they looked at her but they did not say much about it. She already expected their disapproval from what salar said but at least she had his nani, sister and Junaid bhai supporting her and that was enough for her.
Salar noticed the slight tension between sitara and his parents but chose to ignore it for the moment. He gently turned to Tahir.
"Dad" he said, his voice unwavering, “I think it's time you speak with someone"
Tahir nods as salar takes him to meet sitara's family.
" This is sitara's Taya" Salar introduces his dad.
Shaukat looked confused when salar brought his father to meet him but nonetheless he greeted him politely.
Tahir sighs and speaks, " we are happy to meet you, we want to ask sitara's hand for our son in marriage "
There was a stunned silence in the air.
Suraiya and shaukat looked utterly shocked.
Shaukat, stammered, “Wait—what? You—you want to marry her?”
Salar nodded, undeterred. “Haan main sitara se shaadi karna chata hoon.”
Nimmi’s eyes narrowed as she overheard the conversation. She couldn’t contain herself any longer. She strode forward, cutting through the crowd, her voice sharp. “This is ridiculous!” she hissed, her eyes filled with anger and jealousy. “Salar how can you do this?Who do you think you’re fooling, Salar ? She’s characterless!”
Salar’s face hardened. The entire room turned to watch the confrontation. Salar's family's eyes widened, their eyebrows furrowing in surprise, but Salar’s expression remained unflinching. He looked at sitara who was trying to bite her lips and was controlling her tears, it made him more angrier. How dare they make her cry?
" Salar mera bhai, are you alright?. Yesterday only I said how this girl indecently went to a guy's room at night trying to seduce him and got caught. After that, why are you trying to marry her?" Salman asks confused with salar's decision.
“Enough!” Salar snapped, his voice loud and commanding. “I don’t want to hear another word against her. Mein sitara ko janta tha hoon woh bilkul aise nahi hai. I don't want anyone telling me how she is"
Nimmi, shocked by his tone, took a step back, but she wasn’t finished. “But, Salar, she’s not —”
Before she could finish, salar cut her off
" Chup bilkul chup warna theek nahi hoga"
Nimmi gulped in fear and stopped speaking.
Salar then turned to face qasim who had been standing by, looking to speak. “You too,” Salar said coldly. “Don’t you dare say another word about her either.”
" Salar saab I'm not as rich as you but even I don't wear leftovers" Qasim says looking at sitara, a lone tear falls from her eyes hearing the humiliating words.,
Salar feels his blood boiling at Qasim's words. The next moment qasim was on the floor, his nose bleeding and aching in pain. Everyone gasped.
" I don't care what you guys think but keep that thinking in your thoughts only. Mere liye sitara se paak koi ladki nahi hai and I don't want any evidence to believe her innocence. Na meri mohabbat itna kamzoor hai mein dusro ke baaton mein aaj jao aur apni mohabbat mein shak karo" Salar says as he goes near sitara and wipes her tears and cups her face for a moment and then turns towards Qasim who finally stood up.
" You were behind her claiming that you love her but look at you now" Salar says.
Qasim took a step back, the weight of salar’s anger hitting him full force.
Salar took a breath, his chest rising and falling with quiet fury. He looked at everyone in the room—at his parents, his family, sitara’s family—and then back at sitara, who stood there, wide-eyed and overwhelmed by his outburst.
“I’m marrying sitara,” he said, his voice firm. “No one will speak against her or her character—not now, not ever. If anyone has a problem with it, you’ll have to take it up with me.”
For a moment, the room was eerily silent. everyone was left reeling from the force of his declaration.
Sitara, still in shock, looked at salar.This man who had just publicly declared his intent to marry her, who had so fiercely protected her in front of their families. Her heart raced, overwhelmed by the raw intensity in his eyes.
She hadn’t expected this,and had not expected him to stand up for her so forcefully, so unapologetically. She had always known he was powerful, but this... this was different. This was a man who was willing to defy everyone for her.Her chest tightened as she looked up at him, speechless. But in that moment, she realized, somehow, she was ready to take the leap. Ready to take his hand, no matter the consequences.
" Aur aap" Salar turns to shaukat, " galat fehmi mat tha rahi hai that I'm asking your permission for the marriage. You people lost the right on sitara when you beat her up. I'm telling you that I'm marrying sitara. It's on you guys if you would marry her from your house or..."
" I'm more than ready to take sitara to my house and marry her off to my brother" Saba interrupted the conversation standing firmly with her brother. She nods at sitara reassuring her words, sitara nods at her back feeling a little happy she had someone other than salar supporting her.
" We will marry her off with you if that's what she wants..." Before taya completes his sentence. Sitara speaks up
" I want to marry him, taya " Sitara declares holding salar's hand.
Zohaib came furiously to slap his sister but salar pushed him away.
" Don't you dare raise your hands on her. I will break your hands and I will do it without any regret " He warns zohaib whom tayi pulls away afraid of salar's anger. Nimmi who wanted to speak more and still distraught with salar marrying sitara was stopped by her mother seeing salar's anger. Nani puts a comforting hand on sitara's shoulder feeling sad for her and seeing the way the family is behaving with her. Even tahir felt bad for sitara for a moment.
" As I said we will marry sitara off, that's the last thing I will do for her as my brother's daughter" Shaukat says.
" We will start preparing for the engagement ceremony and let you people know the dates for all the ceremonies soon" Nani says.
Sana had entered the hall at the same time. She rushes towards sitara and salar.
" Sorry salar bhai,  late hogaya. Did I miss anything?" sana asks.
" Nothing" Salar says, " have you brought your things?"
" Yes" sana replies, " I have brought my clothes and everything to survive ten to twenty days"
" Sana will live with sitara still I get married to her" Salar declares to sitara's family, " I don't trust you people of not raising hands or taunting sitara again. So sana will leave here and also two of my guards, one driver will be staying near your house for sitara's safety "
" We are not running a charity house " Suraiya says taunting. She was furious by salar's protective nature for sitara.
" Don't worry aunty, Sana's all expenses will be taken care of by me" Salar says firmly. He then turns towards sitara and pats her cheek lovingly, " aapna khayal rakhna meri jaan, I will come soon and take you away from all this"
Sitara nods at him happily still overwhelmed by his care and love. Salar's nani and saba hug her warmly before leaving the place.