Chapter 18 : I do!

Zehra was sitting on dining table to have her breakfast as her Nikah was scheduled after Zuhr salah and Rukhsati after Asr.

She was sitting with all family members but everyone had gloomy expressions on their faces as today their princess is going to leave this house. She was sitting there lost in her thoughts and mindlessly circling rim of her mug. She was physically present but mentally absent.

"Zehra finish your breakfast you have to.." Her mother came from kitchen and started scolding her to do hurry as she have to leave for hospital but stopped in mid way.

Zehra looked up from her mug and saw her mother just standing there with tears in her eyes. Zehra was already having nervousness and her emotions were all over the place and watching her mother in tears, it was a last nail in coffin for her.

She started crying with sobs and everyone stood up from their places and went towards her to console her but she wasn't having any of it.

"Beta, don't cry this much. It is not advisable to cry on such auspicious occasion!" Her phuphi(aunt) tried to make her understand.

"Zehra, if you will cry then..then i will not come tomorrow to pick you up from your Sasural.(in laws place)" Shaan said which made her smile through tears.

"Beta, you are getting married on your own will, if you will cry like this then people will think we are marrying you forcefully!" Her Bade abba said trying to make atmosphere light.

She chuckled on his sentence. Everyone hugged her one by one and then sat on their places. During breakfast time Shaan continuously cracked jokes and shared his funny incidents which brought out a laugh from her.

Zehra came back to her room after breakfast as beautician would be here in an hour. She have to get ready before that and put few things in her suitcase.

Zehra packed her last minute things and still half an hour was left so she went to her parents room. Her father was sitting there on his rocking chair with eyes closed and her mother was no where in sight.

She went towards her father and put both her hands on his father's closed eyes from behind, her father smiled.

"Zehru!!" Her father said. His father used to call her zehru when she was child.

"You are now grown up princess!!" He said bringing her hands around his neck and holding it.

"Who says i am grown up?" She replied keeping her chin on his head.

"Shh.. speak slowly if someone will hear then they would complain in police station that i am marrying my small girl without her legal age!!" He continued to tease her.

" yeah but that's fact. But don't worry your secret is safe with me." She played along and mimicked zipping her mouth action while coming in front of her father.

Her father got up from his seat,side hugged her daughter and started walking towards the bed. They sat on bed while her father had an arm around her shoulder and she kept her head on his chest.

"Zaroon is a good boy, so don't irritate him much!" Her father told her.

"You mean to say I irritate you?" She asked getting out from hug and looking at him with a frown.

" Ofcourse, you irritate me. Making ponytail of my hairs, not sleeping on time, snatch my mobile at 10 p.m. does count in irritating!" He said taking her again in previous position.

"Yeah so what? And i intend to keep continue doing that 'irritating things' with you." She said while quoting her fingers on irritating things and placed her head on his chest while he just smiled at her in affection.

" Zehra, you are getting married now, so keep in mind that with relations you will have responsibilities also. I know my daughter is strong and will handle everything well." He said while caressing her hairs to which she nodded.

" Beta marriage is not like all fairytale, you will face problems and issues but you should handle it with patience. Never jump on conclusion without having a talk to your spouse. Trust is must in every relationship." Her father was giving her advices on her married life which she was hearing with utmost attention.

"Treat his parents as yours, never discriminate in them and us. I am sure you will make their house as cheerful and happy as you have made ours." He said kissing on her head.

"Papa, i will never disappoint you and give my best to my new relations." She said while holding his hands and looking in his eyes.

~*~

Zehra was all ready in her light pink colored Lehnga. It was a embroidered in light pink threads and had Swarovski diamonds on designs. It was not too heavy but looked elegant. The makeup was kept minimal but eyes were highlighted with shiny eyeshadow. Her hair was done in stylish bun and Dupatta covered her hairs completely. Her Mangtika was set on her temple which was made up of diamonds and pearls were hanging on its ends. She was looking ethereal.

After sometime, Qaazi saahab entered in leaving room with two witnesses. One was her Bade abba and second was Zaroon's father.

Everyone became silent and Qaazi sahab cleared his throat.

"Zehra Farukh shaikh wald Farukh Razzaq shaikh, aapne do gawaho ki hazari me apne aap ko Zaroon Zahir Khan wald Zahir Abrar khan ko Rs 25,501 Mehr ki awez me nikah me qubool kiya?"

(Zehra Farukh Shaikh Daughter of Farukh Razzaq Shaikh, do you accept your marriage with Zaroon Zahir Khan Son of Zahir Abrar khan with 25,501 Mehr in presence of two witnesses?")

"Qubool hai!"

"Qubool hai!"

"Qubool hai!"

(I do!)

And she signed on Nikah papers and accepted him as her spouse, her partner, her soulmate for this world and here after.

She signed papers and looked upwards to see his father standing there with tears in his eyes. Her father came and congratulated her and hugged her while silent tears made its way from her eyes.

Her face was hidden behind veil so it couldn't be seen, her father kissed her temple and went towards mosque where Zaroon was waiting impatiently for their arrival.

~*~

Zaroon was sitting in mosque wearing white Simple Sherwani and white pajama. His Sherwani was simply white but still it looked Elegant. And he was wearing White Safa (turban) on his head which gave him complete look of Groom.

He was waiting impatiently for them to come back for his consent. And they came and sat on their respective places.

"Zaroon Zahir khan wald Zahir Abrar Khan, Aapne do gawaho ki hazari me apne aap ko Zehra Farukh Shaikh wald Farukh Razzaq Shaikh ko Rs 25,501 Mehr ki awez me Apne Nikah me Qubool kiya?"

" Zaroon Zahir Khan son of Zahir Abrar Khan, do you accept your marriage with Zehra Farukh Shaikh daughter of Farukh Razzaq Shaikh with 25,501 Mehr in presence of two witnesses?"

"Qubool hai!"

"Qubool hai!"

"Qubool hai!"

(I do!)

And with that he sealed his fate, his destiny with his wife forever with sighing on nikah papers.

His father came and hugged him and then everyone prayed to Allah for their happy and blissful married life.

~*~

After Nikah, Zaroon came to her house with everyone else and entered in living room. He was sitting on couch, they were supposed to leave after having lunch, but he was in no mood to have lunch, he just wanted to see his wife.

Wife it still sounded foreign-to him but he was happy to finally call her his Wife and having her as Her better half with all islamic Rights.

After sometime lunch was served and everyone was having it. They didn't do big function just invited some close friends and family members were there. Everyone else was invited in Walima ( Reception).

Some more time passed which Zaroon felt like an eternity, Zehra was brought downstairs and made her sit beside Zaroon. Zaroon's heartbeats has started to accelerate.

Zehra's situation was same as Zaroon, her heart started to beat on violent speed and her palm started to become sweaty, his cologne was overpowering her senses.

Finally the time has came for which Zehra was dreading, she was helped by Afi to stand up in her Heavy Lehnga. Her half face was still behind veil.

First her Dadaji came towards her and hugged her, he blessed her and patted her head and started crying with silent tears. Then her Bade abba came and hugged her, she cried putting her head on his shoulder, he kept caressing her head and kissed her on temple.

Then her Badi ammi came, then her Phuphi, bhabhi, her cousins, Shaan bhai.

Her mother came towards her and hugged her tightly, she couldn't control her self started crying while sniffing, after few minutes her mother separated herself.

Then lastly her father came and she launched herself on him and started crying with sobs. Her father kept patting her back.

Nearly after 5 minutes her father forcefully separated her and called Zaroon towards him. He came towards them, he was feeling so restless seeing her cry like that but he couldn't do anything.

"Apne dil ka tukda de raha hu! Hifazat se rakhna!" (I am giving you a piece of my heart, keep it safe!)" Her father said giving him Zehra's hand in his ,in reply he just nodded his head while tightening his hold her hand.

~*~