"Bhai is this possible?" I asked and he nodded. "Why not, of course, it is possible," I just looked at him. "But bhai-" I was confused, as well as scared. "Rabiya just think about your life, please. If you don't agree, tell me, I'm with you," Shayaan bhai said while holding my shoulder. I started thinking. "Bhai I have agreed, I can't back off now," I told bhai with resolution and he smacked his head. "Ya Allah, please save my sister,'' He prayed and kissed my forehead. He looked at me with concern. *Maaz's point of view* "Maaz." I was still busy with Ateeq uncle who was stubborn about canceling the marriage when I heard Baba's call. "Maaz, What happened?" Baba asked me when I went to him. "Baba, Ateeq uncle is not agreeing at any cost," Baba simply nodded. "But we were here to take your bride with us, and we will do the same," Baba said and I looked at him, confused. Raahim too came beside me, and asked in a perplexed manner, "But how?" "But Ateeq uncle- he is not-" Baba cut off in between. "Forget about Ateeq and his daughter. Your Nikkah will be done tonight with Rabiya," Baba said with determination. Still confused, I asked him, "Who Rabiya?" "Faiz uncle's daughter!" Raahim replied in shock, and I felt someone blast a bomb on my head. "Baba, what are you saying? Rabiya?" I exclaimed. My heart was beating a hundred times faster. I felt irked and ill-tempered, I wanted to kill Ateeq uncle. I didn't want to lose my love. "Maaz, we don't have any other way. It is the question of our reputation," Baba said. He was right in his place, but I cannot marry any other girl except her. "Baba, I can't...'' I felt broken from inside. "Tell me, how will you marry that girl, when her father is not agreeing?" Baba put forth his point, and I agreed with him. "Forget about her. Ateeq will never marry his daughter with you," Baba said and I helplessly nodded. "Try to understand. It's a matter of our reputation. Please," Baba pleaded with me. I nodded my head in agreement. Baba became happy, while Raahim was in shock hearing my answer. And I, I was helpless. My happiness, my love will not be with me, and that thought was killing me. "Call Qazi Sahab!" Baba's loud voice echoed in the hall. All the guests who were busy gossiping looked at us in amazement. My gaze went to Ateeq uncle, whose face drained color. It was clear that he wanted to hurt Baba's ego by sacrificing his reputation, but now his reputation and ego both got hurt, and Baba won. It didn't matter who won or lose in this battle anymore. There was only one truth, that we both suffered the most. I had lost my temper. *** "Do you Mohammed Maaz Waqaar, son of Mohammed Waqaar, accept Rabiya Faiz, daughter of Faiz Ahmed as your wife, in favor of rupees 20 lakh as mahr?" Qazi Sahab asked me two more times, and I looked at baba. "I do," I said two more times in a single breath while grinding my teeth in anger and fisting my hands tightly. I wanted to kill Ateeq uncle, I wanted to destroy all the accessories to show my anger. I was mentally screaming, but no one cared for me. "Mubarak ho! Mubarak ho!" I heard voices everywhere. Baba looked happy as he embraced Faiz's uncle. Raahim looked at me, understanding my anger. *Rabiya's point of view* I sat on a chair in a corner of the lavish hall. Badi-ammi and mummy ran here and there. Mummy covered my head with my dupatta and pulled it down to make a veil to cover my face. But it was not like a veil, since the dupatta was made of thin material. I could see everything out of my veil. Meanwhile, I witnessed Shayaan bhai, papa, And bade-abbu coming closer to us with Qazi Sahab and some other men. "Shall we start?" Bade-abbu asked. Mummy and badi-ammi gave them a nod. "Do you Rabiya Faiz, daughter of Faiz Ahmed, accept Mohammed Maaz Waqaar, son of Mohammed Waqaar as your husband, in the favor of rupees 20 lakh as your mahr?" Qazi Sahab asked. I was numb, I tried to say something but words didn't get through my mouth. "Do you Rabiya Faiz, daughter of Faiz Ahmed, accept Mohammed Maaz Waqaar, son of Mohammed Waqaar as your husband, in the favor of rupee 20 lakh as your mahr?" Qazi Sahab asked again. I gathered some courage and looked at Shayaan bhai from the corner of my eyes. He slowly shook his head, but at this time I couldn't back off. "I do," I said with a tormented voice. "Do you Rabiya Faiz, daughter of Faiz Ahmed, accept Mohammed Maaz Waqaar, son of Mohammed Waqaar as your husband, in the favor of rupee 20 lakh as your mahr?" Qazi Sahab repeated. "I do, I do," I said while closing my eyes after taking a long breath. My gaze was fixed on the floor and my heart jumped in my ribcage with fear. Suddenly I felt something placed on my head. I looked up a little and found bade-abbu's hand. Mummy and Papa were crying, Shayaan bhai's face was colorless. What you have done Rabiya? That was the first thought which popped into my head after accepting him as my husband. HUSBAND? My mind asked in amazement. *** I sat in the same corner and heard badi-ammi's voice as she talked to mummy. "Tabassum, now it's time for the bidaai (farewell)." My heart jumped in fear. A fear I never felt in my life. I felt wetness in my palms and dryness in my mouth. I looked at mummy and she was nodding at badi-ammi. What are you doing, mummy? No. Not farewell. I'm not prepared for it. Rabiya, what you have done with yourself? I saw Shayaan bhai, he came to me and kneeled in front of me. "Rabiya, are you fine?" He asked politely and I gave him a nod. "I'll pray for you," He said after putting his hand on my head, I just nodded. He stood and planted a kiss on my forehead. I felt a little wetness, which was Shayaan bhai's tears. "Shayaan, go to your papa," I heard mummy's voice. "I am not going anywhere. I will be with her till her farewell," Shayaan bhai replied. I never witnessed such anger in him, never. "Shayaan, go," Mummy politely repeated, and Shayaan bhai glared at her, firm not to leave me. "Shayaan, I have to talk to her in solitary, try to understand. You must leave now," Mummy said after glaring at him. This time Shayaan bhai moved away from me, and I felt someone snatch my shield. "Rabiya, listen to me carefully. Now Maaz is your husband, and you should take his care in every situation," Mummy said, lifting my dupatta a little bit to see my face. I simply listened. What TAKE CARE? Did you give me a husband, or a child, who needs me to take his care? "And secondly, start behaving like a mature girl. Maaz is an aggressive man, so you have to behave yourself. Got it?" Mummy instructed me and I simply nodded. Is Maaz aggressive? Really? What will happen now? I mumbled. "Don't worry, nothing will happen," She said and caressed my head. I looked at her and squeezed her hand. I always use to squeeze mummy's hand when I felt nervous. "Rabiya, beta, it's your destiny. Maaz is a good man, you will be happy with him." Mummy said to me and I felt a little warmth, a little relief in my body. "Don't worry! You never felt nervous in any situation, then why now? Be confident, like always," Mummy encouraged me, rubbing my back. "I never felt nervous because you, papa, and Shayaan bhai were with me in every situation, but now," I told mummy in a shivering voice. "Shayaan, your papa, and I are still with you, and we always will be with you. You are lucky, Asma bhabi and Waqaar bhai will always treat you like their own daughter. And most importantly Maaz- you both are made for each other. Now be strong and confident," Mummy told me, which brought some relief, as well as confusion. Why do I change my attitude because of him? No need to change. I'm Rabiya and I'm not going to change myself for anyone. I got my confidence back. Meantime, badi-ammi came to me and she spread a heavy red dupatta on my head which covered my face properly. Now I couldn't see anything in front of me. I tried, but all I could see was the floor. "Come with me, beta," I heard badi-ammi's voice as she held my hand and helped me stand. "Bhabi, she is still very childish, she doesn't know anything about handling married life and its responsibilities. Please treat her like your own daughter," Mummy told badi-ammi. Everyone was embarrassing me one by one. Papa placed his hand on my head and said, "You are my pride," which made me happy. Someone came close to me and rest my head on his chest. My brother, my heart recognized him. He kissed my head, but he was still crying, and I felt wetness in my eyes too. How will I show my fake anger and tantrums to my Shayaan bhai every minute? I thought and cried in his arms. "Rabiya, listen to me carefully," Bhai said in my ear and I was tried to move back, but he held my head against his chest. "Your brother will always be with you. If you need anything at any time, just call me. And don't hesitate to share any problem with me. I'll pray, you never face any problem in your life." Shayaan bhai whispered in my ear in a shivery voice and I just nodded. I cried badly. "Don't cry, I don't like my doll crying" He said and left me after kissing by head again. I sat inside the car and someone sat beside me. Our hands touched each other accidentally but we both maintained enough distance that a person could easily sit in between us. We are married, but we even don't recognize each other's faces! I tried to look at him. *** The car stopped, and I realized that it is my new home. He suddenly stepped out of the car, without bothering to listen to badi-ammi, who was saying something. She held my hand and helped me to came out of the car, after some time she took me with her to a room which was decorated with flowers and candles. "Why are you so cold?" Badi Ammi asked after she helped me sit in the center of the bed. She held my hand. "I'm scared," unwilling words slipped off my mouth. "Look at me," She said politely after lifting my veil a little. I looked at her. "No need to be scared, he is your husband and you are his wife. You both should accept the same, this is the reality." She said and patted my cheek. But I was still nervous. "You are looking very pretty," Badi-ammi said, "Just a minute," she went out of my room and five minutes later, she came back and sat in front of me. She made me wear some golden bangles and applied some lipstick. "Do you need anything?" "Water," I replied, she passed a glass to me and I gulped it down in a single breath. "You are very nervous," Badi-ammi smiled at me. I was dying of nervousness and she was smiling at me! That's not fair of Badi Ammi. "Don't worry, greet him when he enters the room," she instructed. She again pulled down my red dupatta to hide my face and left the room. I sat there holding my jumping heart which could come out at any moment. I went to attend someone else's marriage and ended up as the bride. It's not less than a nightmare, and if it is a nightmare i should came out of it. I pinched the back of my palm in order to get out from the slumber but "Auchh.." It was no dream but reality. "Rabiya, be confident. He will not eat you," I mumbled and began taking deep breaths. The only way to calm down my heart.