Days passed by and it was the day of their mehndi already. Natasha hasn't talked with Farhan since that mall incident. Dolled up in a maroon colour Anarkali, she was made to sit in the middle and an artist sat beside her to draw the designs on her hands. She was not at all excited about this marriage, Farhan's words from that day still echoed in her ears. His cold and harsh tone still made her flinch.
How can she be happy after hearing your fiance say that he considered her as nothing but his sister all these days and wants nothing except friendship with her? Her heart couldn't take all of that anymore. If that was less, he then goes around saying straight to her face that he'd never be a loving or caring husband. She broke down in her prayer that night and her days had been horrible ever since.
It's been a few days now and it still hurt.
"What's your fiance's name?" the artist asked her, to which she gives a blank stare.
"There's no need for that," Natasha replied dully.
"That would be cute api, you can make Jeeju suffer by writing it in the most difficult place and see him find it." her little cousin, Abeer snickered making everyone else laugh. Only then she realized the attention which she was getting. Why was this not ending already?
"Where shall I write it then?" the artist asked with a grin again. There was no need for the artist at all, her cousins are good at drawing mehndi designs anyway, but it was Ameera Sheikh who has arranged for it and no words were spoken further.
That's the kind of respect the bride's family gave to the groom's parent's wishes, they'd do anything to please them. Natasha found that all the more annoying but she kept quiet for her parent's sake.
"There's no need," Natasha whined and the artist didn't budge her any further. Her cousins pouted at that as they continued with their own mehndi; excitedly. The wedding was tomorrow after all.
And that made Natasha more nervous if anything.
***
Farhan couldn't comprehend what was happening around him anymore. He was getting married, but not to his Haya; the one with whom he has always pictured his married life with.
His mother was the most excited of them all, to see him get married today. He pretended to be happy for her sake anyway and that's how he sat in the middle of the few guests; the very important ones, who surrounded either side of him. The qazi walked into the living room and everyone looked up at him with happiness and excitement.
A large curtain was set in the middle and the bride walked into the other end; slowly. With her head covered in golden chunri, she looked radiant in her red coloured lehenga. He wouldn't lie, his heart surely skipped a beat as he eyed her sit in front of him through a distance. The only barrier among them was a curtain. The dress looked so good on her that he doubted if he actually designed that one.
Never has his own designs looked this good before, like it was looking today.
He came out of his daze when the qazi began with the nikah ceremony.
Natasha took a while to mutter her three qubools and he gulped when it was his turn. That's it. There's no going back now. He's going to be tangled in a bond which he never wished for, a wife he never wanted but when the qazi asked his consent again, with a lot of courage he opened his mouth and muttered, "qubool hai." three times in a row.
Mubaraks were passed among the elders and youngsters erupted in joy and happiness. Ironically, everyone was happy except for the bride and groom. They wished this never happened. Not even a minute passed and Farhan was already regretting his decision. Natasha was confused about every damn thing now.
But what they didn't know was; everything happens for a reason and Allah knows all. He is the best of planners after all.
***
Farhan and Natasha sat in the car after the ruksathi which happened rather very quick. They were both exhausted and tired. Ready to hit the bed anytime soon. Suppressing a sob, she gazed out of the window as they began the journey as husband and wife for the first time. There hadn't been many guests, only a few very close ones have attended and having to leave all of them, especially her sick father made Natasha very emotional and she tried hard not to cry.
From his side, it was only his mother and her side of the family. His father didn't take a second glance at the wedding invitation and he wasn't even bothered about that. He was marrying for his mother's sake anyway and as long as she was happy, it was okay for him.
His apartment was an hour away from Natasha's house and they were halfway through it. No words were still exchanged between them. He hated how cold and distant they've become. He had no one but him to blame for that.
The car halted at once bringing Natasha out of her bubble. Nervously, she stepped out whilst holding her long lehenga. It weighed a lot and that exhausted her a little extra. She was going to step onto something and trip from behind, but then came her knight in shining armour; her husband. Who caught her in time. She rolled her eyes at that.
His touch gave chills down her spine, their eyes get locked for a mere second before she pulled away from him. She shivered at his touch.
"Thanks," she mumbled whilst not meeting his eyes. He didn't say anything to that. They waited for the lift to come down whilst standing beside each other awkwardly.
Natasha was the first one to enter the lift as soon as the door opened, and her lehenga trailed behind her which he bent down and picked in his hands making sure it didn't get stuck.
She was caught off guard with his sweet little gesture but scoffed whilst pulling it away.
"No need of this," she whispered in a low voice and he didn't say anything even now.
Farhan's apartment was cozy and beautiful. Natasha was in awe the moment she entered the living room. Her luggage was already brought in the day before yesterday by her cousins. Without saying anything to her, he walked into his room. She didn't expect anything else anyway.
She did a little tour on her own and entered his room after a lot of inner battle.
Her eyes glanced at every nook and corner of the room, but she froze at once when her eyes fell on the wall.
There were pictures.
Pictures of Farhan and Haya; they looked so beautiful and she didn't know when they took half of them, all the while they've been ditching her to be together and she had no idea.
She couldn't pretend to be strong anymore.
Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks as she gazed at those photos.
Farhan who came out of the bathroom, in his sweat pants was shocked seeing her cry like that, his gaze fell on where her eyes were fixed and he tensed.
"Uh..."
"You had no right to spoil my life like this," she muttered furiously whilst wiping off her tears.
"What?" he was genuinely confused.
"If you loved her so much then why the hell did you have to marry me? You could have just said NO. Why did you drag me into your messy life?" she glared at him angrily, the thought of her husband still in love with some other woman was making her fume in frustration. She knew what was coming ahead and it still hurt.
"I told you to refuse the wedding." Farhan frowned at her outburst. He wasn't understanding why is she getting too dramatic now when he already made it clear to her that he wouldn't be an ideal husband or something like that.
"WOW."
"What do you know about love anyway? Have you ever been in love? You won't understand, Natasha. Just go to sleep already." shaking his head, he walked towards his wardrobe but stopped midway, as he heard her sarcastic laugh.
"I know about love more than you do, Farhan Sheikh. I know how much it hurts to see the love of your life pass heart eyes to someone else. No one can understand that better than me."
"And I'm not stepping back into this room until those pictures are removed," she said in an adamant voice.
"Then I'm afraid you can never step into this room, then?" he replied angrily, his voice so cold and distant.
"FINE. Be that way." by saying so she marched out of there, not before grabbing her suitcases which lied just beside the door. He didn't even set them in properly, what a jerk.
"YEAH, FINE!" he yelled at her disappearing figure, as she entered the room opposite to his and shut the door with a thud.
That was one nice start though.