Gereksiz İntikam

24

Taniya's pov in

Everyone is waiting for Shoaib, as Qazi Sahab has come.

The slipping time is making my heart restless. I don't know why, but I feel uneasy, and when my veil-clad gaze falls on Taha Bhai, I know he is controlling his anger.

He is already unhappy with my marriage; he wants me to divorce him, but how could I tell him? I have already broken the wall of shame and secrecy between us.

I was feeling sad when I felt Rubab Bhabhi's hand on mine.

She gave my hand a squeeze, and somehow I felt good. God, how does she manage to give me motherly love even though she is younger than me?

After waiting for almost half an hour, he came, but his appearance didn’t look good—like he cried his heart out. Allah, is he regretting it? Or do boys also feel emotional and overwhelmed?

My heart sank when I signed the nikahnama. Mumma, Baba, I wish you were here with me.

I cried under my veil.

Everyone exchanged greetings when Qazi Sahab completed the nikah.

Shoaib's Ammi was the first to congratulate me and hug me.

"Mubarak, meri bachhi… Shahjahan Malik ki bahu hai ab aap," she said, kissing my forehead over the veil.

Then Anam Khala came, settled my veil on my head, and kissed my forehead.

"Allah naseeb behtar karein," she said, controlling her tears.

"Mumma, don’t cry. Rukhsati ka time nhi hai abhi," everyone chuckled hearing Dilan's words.

Then a woman with a heavy belly came to me.

I think she is Danish Bhai’s wife, and she is 7 or 8 months pregnant, I guess.

"Nikah mubarak ho, Taniya," she said lovingly. Hugging me with her swelllon belly.

Then she placed my henna and jewelry-clad hand on her belly and said, looking at it, "Say Mubarak to Chachi ,baby…"

Her gesture brought tears to my eyes. I know it’s not something big, but as an orphan, having lived so many years in the four walls of our camp, it feels overwhelming to witness such family love.

"Dani… come on, let me meet her too," I heard a sweet voice.

Shreya came to me and wished me, but I felt odd seeing her wear the same dress as me, and her words seemed sugar-coated. But maybe i am overthinking, rubab bhabhi wears the same but in red colour.

Shanaya just congratulated me with a handshake, then Khirat Aunty kissed my forehead and blessed me with lots of duaas.

I can’t explain what I’m feeling right now. Being a girl whose wedding day turned into her biggest nightmare, it’s really overwhelming to receive this much love.

Then came my Bhabhi.

She is busy too, as everyone is congratulating her, since she is their princess, while I am just a newfound one.

She kissed my forehead, but before lowering my lashes for some seconds, my gaze met with Shoaib's, and my heart felt uneasy.

His red eyes were screaming his misery. Did he really cry out of emotions, or was it something else?

"Nikah mubarak, meri pyaari aapi," she said, caressing my cheek.

"Aapko bhi, Bhabhi," I said, hugging her.

Time passed. Abraham Mamu blessed me, his embrace felt fatherly.

He gifted both of us a villa and a limo.

Everyone was taking pictures when I heard Daniel say, “Taniya, go get Shoaib Bhai.”

I looked at her, confused.

"Oh, my naive baby, you both are newly married, yaar. Go get him! My champ is waiting to click pictures with newlywed Chacha and Chachi," she said.

"Dani, I will take him here. He must be feeling uncomfortable being the center of attraction," Danish Bhai said, when Daniel grabbed his hand.

"Danu baby, let her get her husband, na?" she glared at him.

He nodded.

I moved towards the room; he must be in there.

When Daniel’s words made me blush, she came to me and whispered in my ear, "Take your time, and please don’t use protection. My champ needs a crime partner." She winked at me.

I lowered my lashes, and Rubab Bhabhi pinched her.

"Stop teasing her, Bhabhi," she said.

"Aww, so you want me to tease you? Okay, Ruby baby, don’t use prot..." Bhabhi covered her mouth with her palm and looked at me.

"Don’t mind her, Aapi. She’s high on pregnancy hormones," she said.

I nodded, lowering my lashes, and went towards the guest room where he was staying.

I checked, but he wasn’t in the room.

I stepped down the chair when my eyes met a familiar face.

Wait, this is the same imam who conducted our nikah at the hotel! What is he doing here, wearing a waiter’s dress?

He was busy gawking at the luxury of the palace.

I stepped down, standing on the last three stairs to confirm if it was really him.

Gawking at the walls, he said to the man beside him, both holding dessert trays in their hands, “Shoaib ko sach mein shadi karni thi toh hotel mein jhooti shadi ka natak kyun kiya usne?"

"Ameer logo ke ameer natak. Tujhe tere paise mile na, nakli imam banne ke, that's it,” that man said, eating from his plate.

But his words shook me to the core.

" Nakli nikah?"

"Ha, mujhe kya? Kam se kam is asli shadi ke bahane white castle mein toh aane mila," he said dreamily.

But all my dreams broke hearing him.

" Nakli nikah?"

Does this mean he played with me?

We weren’t really nikahfied when we did that deed?

My heart broke into uncountable pieces.

"Kis gunah ki saza di aapne mujhe  Shoaib.? "

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