Memoirs of a Forgotten Love

The Meeting

Memoirs of a forgotten Love.
At the age of 23, you don't expect people not to be running behind you to get married. There are relatives gawking to sweep you off your feet with one fell swoop and make you their daughter in law with all the prospects they see in you. I was no exception. I was thought of quite highly by my relatives, Alhamdulillah for my Deen, academics and akhlaaq (good manners). I'm majoring in English Literature without any special career in mind. My family is proud of me and so are my relatives who feel I have made my family's life long struggle worth it. I can't thank Allah swt enough for whatever I have achieved and yet to achieve In Shaa Allah.
But that was only till last November. I have noticed, nowadays, a change in my family and my relatives when they are around me. I cannot yet interpret this change and sometimes I really feel alienated in spite of being in a crowd. Not that everybody has denounced me and makes me feel like a rag doll. But nevertheless this feeling in me doesn't go.
My twin brother Shahzad and elder sister Samaara are my two precious companions who never leave one opportunity to make my life just a little more "eye-roll worthy". Samaara is married and has two children, Nida my niece and Naved my nephew. Shahzad is still studying for his degree in Architecture and has a secret crush on my bestie, Fatima. He never admits though.
Today, we were supposed to go for my cousin Alfiya's wedding. We were already late and my Dad was adding fuel to the fire: "Shamreen" he was telling me, "I don't know how genetics work but this getting late for occasions is a sure gift you children received from your Mom, you can't thank her enough for it".
My mom heard it, in spite of being in the remotest part of the house, and shot back at him "Shamreen, ask your dad if he can swear that on the cigarettes he smokes throughout the day". I knew this comment would quiten my dad for good. His smoking was a topic he abhorred.
We reached the wedding venue... It was a beautiful place. Pebbled walkway led up to the elaborate and heavily worked wooden door that led to the banquet hall. We were out of our cars and heading towards the main hall when I remembered I had left my purse in the car. I asked my parents and Shahzad to go ahead and I would join them after extracting my purse. I saw a shiny navy blue sedan take up the parking space just next to my car. The car looked so sleek and stylish. If Dad hadn't got me the cute hatchback, I would surely have bought such a one. I looked away and saw the night sky looking at me with twinkling starry eyes.
The night was cool and dreamy and I was about to slip into one of my poetic moods when I realized why I was leaning against the car. I quickly took my purse and started trotting towards the door on the pebbled walkway.
My heels were not ready to comply with the pebbles and it was getting really difficult to walk. I tried to walk faster to somehow avoid anymore of that torture when I tripped. I was sure I had fallen flat right there ready to make a fool of myself, when I felt a cozy warmth around me and I knew someone had caught hold of me at just the right time. Alhamdulillah. Atleast I didn't fall on the pebbles like the fool I was. But I didn't know who my knight in shining armour was. Or if it was a knight at all. My eyes were shut tightly. The only thing i felt was a warm breath on my face and a perfume I immediately recognised as one of my favourites... but wait, that's a Men's perfume... why would that be my favourite??
I opened my eyes in a flurry and what I saw was something I couldn't well describe. A guy of about 6' 4" lean and golden brown skin, in a jet black suit, crisp white shirt and a maddeningly beautiful tie of navy blue colour stood with his face inches away from me. Apparently I was in his arms... but that had slipped my mind... all I could do was subconsciously sweep my fingers across his tie. My knight seemed to be happy and smiled that I was attentive to the choice of his tie. It was then that I realised his face demanded more attention than his tie...