The Wedding Tonight

Chapter 3: The Wedding Dress.💃

"What the hell just happened?? Oh wow! This dress is fabulous!!" Mahreen came on the stage and gaped at my new dress. This dress had it's own tragic story but besides that it was beautiful.

"Wow. MASHAALLAH! such a wonderful couple.." We were done with our nikah ceremony an hour ago now it was time for the guest to give us their blessing and envelopes. Upon seeing this lady, Mahreen sat beside me squeezing me more towards Sohail. "May Allah keep the smiles bright on your faces. May this day bring nothing but happiness. May you both give birth to even cuter children than yourself." I almost choked up at the last prayer both Sohail and I briefly nodded as she placed her envelope on my lap.

"This is all so weird," Mahreen added, I already knew it was but didn't say much since Sohail could hear me. "Hey you were telling me the story behind this dress?" Mahreen insisted.

"Everything happened to quickly, I needed a bridal dress for the wedding so Mom barged into someone else's wedding and pleaded the bride to take off her dress since she was done with the wedding.."

"Oh!! Don't tell me she agreed. What about her wedding night??" Mahreen asked.

"She was too kind to understand and she had an evening wedding so she basically ruined her night.. and it was mom after all, she always finds a way to have things her way." I answered.

"Mahreen, dear look over if there is food on all the tables.. make sure the guests are comfortable." Mom called over.
Mahreen gave a disappointed look. "I'm not even half dressed as the bride's sister." She whinned and walked down the stage to help with the food.

I was hungry too, I had planned on eating at the wedding, I was the bride at. I haven't had anything ever since Adam's wedding card arrived.

"You are drooling at the sight of food," These were my husband's first words after getting married. Wow, indeed a wonderful day it was.

"I'm fine, I can wait." I lied, I wanted to eat so badly. I forced smiles at the reporters and camera mans who clicked our pictures.

"Excuse me.." Sohail called the waiter and his bodyguard. "My bride here wants to eat, tell the camera man to comeback later after the food is over. Infact give them something to eat as well, that will keep them off the stage." His body guard gave a curt nod and within no time there was no sign of a camera man or reporters. I couldn't help but smile at what he did, what if the first thing he said was weird at least the first gesture was adorable.

"Thank you," I muttered.

"No big deal," he added.

In the meantime the waiter set a table for us on the stage and placed the main food items. We had chicken BarBQ, Vegetable rice, a mouth watering Mutton Karahi, Naans and Kababs at our table. I put a little much of everything inside my plate and dug inside until I realised that I was the only one eating, Sohail hadn't even touched the plate. "What happened, this food is more than enough for me. You can have it?" I said. His serious look disappeared and a small smile played at the corner of his lips.

"I know, I'm not hungry." He reasoned.

"Please have something, it will make me look awkward if I'm the only one eating that too on a stage." I insisted, Sohail filled himself some food but he still seemed distracted and I wondered if it was all because of Rania. Off course he must be disappointed in her and upset about marrying me as well. "Most of the guests will leave. I'll go and change so we could return this dress." I excused myself and went into the washrooms with Mahreen. She waited for me as I changed clothes in one of the cabin and came out in my previous one.

"I'll go give this to Mom." Mahreen said.

I nodded at her and walked out towards Sohail, as he was till on the stage his eyes wandering in search for me. Soon after food half of the guests disappeared and it was finally time to go back home. Little did I know, everyone was going to their homes except me. My whole food came up to my throat upon realisation. "Everyone is leaving." I muttered.

"We had a hotel room booked for tonight." I was startled with Sohail as he stood behind me. Besides the circumstances, he still felt like a stranger to me. Sohail said when he realised how confused I was with everything. "Rania and I had a hotel room booked for the wedding night. We can go home if you like?" He offered. I nodded still not relieved with the thought.

"Can I live at my parent's place?" I asked.

Sohail stared at me for a second or two. "Sure, why not." Even though he didn't sound so sure, he agreed.

I ignored and walked away to my parents. "Let's go home, Dad."

"Where is Mom? I couldn't find her anywhere." Ahmed asked.

"She went to return the wedding dress.." I replied, I was in my previous clothes now.

"Dear, you should go with Sohail from now on." Dad insisted but I was going to argue over that.

"Dad, you asked me to marry him. I did, at least don't send me off with him." I sternly added. "I'm scared, it's too much for me."

"She's right, Uncle. Take her home, give her some time. Whenever she's ready, call me and I'll come over to get her." My eyes widened in shock. I didn't know Sohail was standing right behind me, I thought I left him with his parents. Why is he following me?

"I'm sorry but thank you. Could you please cancel the reservation of the hotel room?" I asked. He shook his head.

"Its too late for that, but it doesn't matter. What you did was a lot for today. Have a nice sleep and relax." These were his last words before he walked away.

"Now that you're married be responsible, look around before you speak." Ahmed scolded and Dad agreed with him. After our little bickering Mom was back and engulfed me in a hug, on our way back home. Ahmed sat beside Dad whereas Mom sat with me.

"I know it's too late to ask but are you ready?" She asked, I still didn't know the answer to this question. I just went to attend a wedding, not to get married there.

"I don't know anything, Mom. May be Sohail is right, I do need a good night sleep."

"Off course why wouldn't he be right. He's the husband now, huh?" Mahreen playfully hit my head and I just rolled my eyes at her.

"I heard from Ahmed that Dad forced you, and it was his idea." Mom asked.

"I can hear you, Salma?" Dad whinned.

"I don't care, Hammad." Mom said with a scowl.

Mom and Dad kept arguing until we came back home, we all went into our respective rooms and parted ways. I came in my room, locked the door, changed into my night suit, washed off all the make up and after unlocking the door I crawled up in my bed and pulled the comforter on myself.

Adam's chapter was forever closed in my life and there was this whole new book, Sohail now. Did I do the right thing?