Chapter 31

Saad's pov :

Our emotional moment was broken by Alayna running into the room with a squeal, who was followed by Amira. Both of them, a giggling mess. As soon as Alayna noticed bhai and bhabi, running towards us, she crushed them in her hug while Amira stood there, a confused and flabbergasted expression adorning her face.

I smiled at her as I motioned for her to come in. With slow and hesitant steps, she came to stand in front of me. Bhabi was still on her knees in front of me, hugging Alayna and bhai had a grin on his face as he gazed at them.

Taking one of Amira's hands in mine, I gently tugged her and turned her towards them. Pointing, I introduced them to her. "This is my bhai, Maaz and his wife, our bhabi, Zara. And bhai bhabi this is our other princess, Amira, who is also my soon to be sister-in-law." I added the last part with a grin as I winked at her, trying to make her comfortable.

By now their attention had turned to us. "Assalamualikum Amira. You have a beautiful name, just like you." Bhabi told her as she took her hands in her own and passed her a soft smile.

"Assalamualikum princess, I agree with her." Bhai added with a wink before smiling at her.

"Walikumussalam, Jazak Allahu Khairan." Amira returned the gesture, smiling back at them, her cheeks turning the faintest shade of pink from which she recovered soon.

"When did you come?" Alayna asked them, excitement radiating off of her. "And where are mama and baba? Are they also here?" My heart clenched at the mention of our parents and I turned my gaze away from her, the smile slipping off my face.

I could see bhai and bhabi hesitating as they looked at each other then back at Alayna. She was eagerly looking at them, waiting for their reply. Bhai smiled as he pulled her towards him. "We came here when you were busy getting ready and running around. And no, mama baba couldn't come because they were busy."

Alayna pouted, "You should have told them that bhai is getting married, I'm sure they would have left their work and come here."

"Yes we know that meri jaan, but the work was important, that's why we didn't tell them. Or else do you think we wouldn't have told them?" Bhabi pitched in and replied to her gently. "Now don't worry about all these things and go enjoy with your friend. I will come out after scolding these boys for not letting me meet you earlier." Bhabi winked at her as they both giggled while covering their lips.

(My life)

"Okay." Alayna replied, the mischievous glint of amusement back in their eyes as they skipped out of the room.

Bhabi stood up and looked at us. Folding her arms, she narrowed her eyes at us. I frowned, now what did we do? Before I could think much, she ordered us. "Okay, enough of being emotional. I want you both out of here within ten minutes."

"And what if we don't come out?" Bhai dared to ask her, standing up. Silly questions like these when a woman is angry, is definitely not a good decision. But it was bhai who we were talking about, he could never learn that.

I watched with amusement as bhabi took a step towards him making him gulp visibly. But he stood his ground, not moving away. He folded his arms and narrowed his eyes too, making bhabi smile in amusement. "You really want to know what I will do?"

He tried to gulp discreetly, but it was visible that he was scared of whatever she would say. "Yes."

"You already know what I will do." She smirked while looking at him and turned around to go.

The look of horror on bhai's face made me chuckle thinking what it was that could make him so scared. "Bu- But that's not fair! And what will you do to Saad? You can't do that to him so you can't do that to me as well!" Bhai protested, his face turning pink.

Bhabi turned around, a smug look on her face. "The world isn't fair Mr. Hubby. And you are his elder brother, if he doesn't come out, it will be because of you. So I won't do anything to him, whatever it will be, it will be only to you. So it's better for you to get yourselves out within ten minutes. I'm watching the time." And before bhai could protest anymore, she was out of the room.

I gazed at bhai in amusement, wondering what he would do now. "Your wife is so controlling, man!" I mused, glancing back at the door.

"Don't forget that you are going to get married too now." Grumbling in frustration, he sat back down beside me.

"Yeah I know that, but she won't be like bhabi. I mean, she won't do like that." I replied uncertainly, hoping she really wasn't like that. I wouldn't like being asked to shut up or threatened like that. It was scary.

This time bhai looked at me, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Yeah right!" And then he added with a smirk, patting my back. "But we will only know that after you get married."

"Bhaiii!" I groaned hiding my face in my hands.

"What? Can't I repay you back for the time when I was getting married?" He asked me innocently.

"No you can't." I muttered back.

"Well yes, I can. Thank you for your opinion but who told you I will consider it?" He asked me amused, a mischievous grin on his face.

"Let's go out now or else you know what bhabi might do." I tried changing the subject as I stood up, ready to go out.

Bhai checked his watch before pulling me down to sit. "We still have some time left and you aren't even ready yet. We will go out in a while. Until then, let me enjoy." He replied cheekily.

"You are being so annoying right now!" Muttering, I huffed and sat down, adjusting my sleeves. I was wearing a white salwar suit for the Jummah prayer as I didn't feel comfortable enough wearing the suit and going to pray. Also, it would grab others attention and I didn't want that.

"I bet you weren't thinking that when you were enjoying teasing me." He teased while continuing to make remarks, making me sigh, shake my head and groan. I felt like banging my head somewhere. Or maybe just disappearing from here.

A groan escaped my lips as a thought crossed my mind. I wished bhabi was here to control him, or better, I hoped she would have taken us out with her. At least I wouldn't have to deal with this annoying side of him.

._._._.

"Aunty, I wanted to talk to you about something. Is it possible for you to take out a few minutes for us?" Bhai asked her, as we paused our work of placing the flowers around the room, when we saw her rushing around, adjusting things and ordering others to put it in the right place. It seemed so hectic, doing everything in just a day. Actually, not even a day but having just a few hours to completely decorate a wedding house.

The guests already arrived, who consisted just of her brother's and Emaan's family. I was secretly thankful that there weren't many guests to attend. I was already nervous and I didn't want to add to my already existing anxiety.

We were introduced to the guests when they arrived and now they were helping aunty in decorating the house. It was being done simply, the way I liked it. Although I doubted that they know about my likes and dislikes. I wondered if she liked simple things too, and this was being done according to her liking.

"Sure beta, tell me what is it?" She replied, coming to stand in front of us.

Bhai's gaze flickered around before he glanced at her. "Not here, maybe in the room?" He suggested, glancing at me. I gave him a small nod, letting him know that I agree.

"Okay, let's go." She replied as we walked towards my current room.

"What is it? Is everything alright?" She questioned once we were settled down and thinking of a way to start the conversation.

Bhai casted me a quick glance before turning his attention to her. "Yeah everything is alright alhamdulillah. It's just that earlier I was talking to Saad and he told me that you guys still haven't decided about the Mahr. So I wanted to ask you what it is. Since the nikkah couldn't possibly take place without it." Bhai went straight to the point as we waited for her to reply.

"Oh yeah, the Mahr." She chuckled as if just remembering about it, and then added with a thoughtful look. "I totally forgot about it because of everything happening so soon. I think we will keep it Mahr-e-Fatimi."

Bhai smiled, "Okay that's great. But I think you should ask your daughter once if she wants the same thing. It's her nikkah after all and she should be the one deciding the Mahr."

"Yes, you are right. I agree. I will let you guys know soon what she wants." She replied as she stood up, glancing at the clock. "Now I need to go and check up on the work since it's getting late already." She added as bhai nodded his head and we stood up, ready to go out.

._._._.

GLOSSARY:

- Meri jaan - My life.

- Mehr - It is the obligation, in the form of money or possessions paid by the groom, to the bride at the time of Islamic marriage (payment also has circumstances on when and how to pay). While the mahr is often money, it can also be anything agreed upon by the bride such as jewelry, home goods, furniture, a dwelling or some land. Mahr is typically specified in the marriage contract signed during a marriage.

- Mehr-e-Fatimi - Mehr-e-Fatimi is the mahr Sayyidina Ali Radhiyallahu Anhu gave to Fatima Radhiyallahu Anha. (The mehr which was given to our prophets youngest daughter by her husband.)

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