Dressed in a yellow lehnga she was sitting in the lounge surrounded by girls who were clapping their hands on the beats of dholki. Her were tied in a braid, face devoid of any makeup, gajras adorning her hands. She looked like a flower.

The whole house was decorated with different flowers and lights to celebrate her wedding festivities.

Her gaze was flickering from one end to the other end of the house, her heart thumped everytime someone entered. He was gone after his outburst yesterday, she was afraid of his silence, she knew all too well a storm was brewing inside him. But she couldn't do anything to help him.

She sighed and straightend her back. The mehndi function had started three hours ago. She was tired of sitting for so long, smiling at everyone. Her head was aching she just wanted to lay in bed and sleep. Finally after an hour with her pleading to her sister to let her rest, she retired to her room.

Raima placed her dupatta on the bed and then looked at her half dried half wet mehndi, the artists had done a great job, her mehndi looked beautiful.

She turned around and gasped, the tiny hair on her neck stood from his ferocious glare, a shiver went down her spine when she glanced at his ebony orbs. She involuntarily took a step back.

He did nothing just stood there staring at her form claded in a yellow lehnga looking like a marigold flower which he wanted to crush underneath his feet.

"Ehan"

She called softly, afraid if she spoke a little loud the beast inside will wake but her soft voice did the exact opposite and he was in front of her, staring directly in her eyes. His eyes were slightly red she noticed. She hissed when he grabbed her hands roughly and tugged her forward.

A tear escaped her eye and fell on her pink lips, his eyes followed. Her lips looked so tempting that he just wanted to lay his claim on them.

"Itna bura lagta hun mai?"

He asked her softly but his eyes were still on her lips. She gulped and shook her head slowly.

"Kya kabhi tumhara dil nahi dharka mere liye? "

His voice hardened and so did his grip, she felt like her hands were going to break. She didn't answer him and just stood still shaking. He scoffed and then smiled, she could see the pain, evident from the crease of his brows, and his eyes.

"Jao, nahi rokun ga tumhay"

He stood there motionless for a minute and then left the room at once. She sighed heavily and looked at her hands, her mehndi was ruined. The tears gathered in her eyes now fell on her palms.

______________________________________

Her crystal eyes were calm, she sat on a chair in front of vanity mirror looking at herself. Her long butterscotch hair pulled up in a bun, her cheeks were tinted rogue, and with pink lips she looked ethereal.

She looked at her sister from the mirror who was standing behind her. Falak had tears in her eyes, she couldn't believe her baby sister was getting married today, she missed her parents dearly. Raima felt tears gathering in her eyes but she blinked them away trying not to ruin her makeup. She stood up and hugged her sister.

"I wish they were here today"

Raima couldn't help the lone tear that escaped her eye. Falak pulled away and wiped her tears, smiling at her she kissed her cheek lovingly.

"Chalien nichay"

"You go I'll come in a minute "

Falak kissed her cheek again and after reminding her the time of the Nikkah she went downstairs. Raima sighed and looked at herself for one last time in the mirror. She grabbed the bags from her bed and went out.

Crossing the hallway she opened the door and went inside, the room was empty she placed the bags on the bed and saw his silouhette in the balcony. Sensing her presence he turned around and walked in the room and he felt like his world stopped right there.

His on rushing thoughts telling him the she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen in his life. Her crystal eyes that attracted him first, her skin so perfect yet so soft, her fluttering eyelashes, she was out of this world. Her hands adorned with gajras, wearing a beautiful white and gold gharara. His features hardened when he remembered why she was dolled up.

"What are you doing here? "

"Nikkah ka waqt ho raha hai"

She told him softly taking in his disheveled form. There were dark circles beneath his eyes, clothes wrinkled all over, hair looked like they haven't been brushed.

He scoffed at her words and took a step towards her but stopped suddenly, his heart ached when he thought that she won't be here anymore.

"To jao karo nikkah, why are you standing here?"

He didn't know how he poured that poison out of his mouth. He wanted to rush and take her in his arms and plead for all his sins, for breaking her heart over and over again, for tormenting her poor soul. But he knew it was too late now.

He was just breathing since he heard the news of her marriage, his mind was not at peace and how could it be his beloved was going away from him.

"Wo... Dulhay ke beghair nikkah kesay ho sakta hai"

Her soft velvety voice reached his ears, his eyes snapped to her. He couldn't help but pour bitter words.

"Ahh don't tell me tumhara dulha bhaag gya"

She giggled at his words and he felt like his heart lurched in his mouth. He stood agape staring at her giggling form.

"Mera dulha to meray samnay khara hai"

He stood numb, he couldn't believe what his ears just heard. He approached her with measured steps and tried to speak but no words came out of his mouth. She smiled at him.

"Kya kaha tumnay? "

He asked her gingerly, she looked behind him and he followed her gaze looking at the bags placed on the bed. He turned around and looked at her confusingly.

"Tayar ho kar nechay ajyein, sab intezar kar rahay hein"

She spoke in a soft and timid voice and then left the room leaving him standing there dumbfounded.

______________________________________

The Nikkah was done and he was behaving like a stubborn child, he was annoyed with everyone and sat with a huff trying to show his displeasure. Everyone knew about the marriage except for him, they played him. And he was upset about that. For days he was burning inside with the thoughts that she was going away from him and here everyone was laughing on him how he was fooled into believing that Raima was getting married to Haris.

He was peculiarly conscious of the woman sitting beside him, she smelled heavenly and he wanted to do things to her which she never had imagined in her life but he controlled himself. He leaned towards her slightly and whispered in her ear.

"Tumhein to mai baad mai pochun ga Raima Ehan Mir"

Raima just rolled her eyes at his statement and shrugged her shoulders innocently smiling at him.

It was later at night when she walked in his room there was a shyness to her hesitation in her movements and softness in her voice.

She walked towards him with measured steps and stood behind his back, before she could speak he grabbed her arm pulled her against the wall.

"Bohat tang kiya hai mujhay tumnay Raima Ehan Mir"

Raima smiled innocently at him and hooked her arms around his neck.

"Aur jo apnay mujhay tang kiya itnay saal huh"

He ran his nose against her cheek and sighed softly.

"I am sorry Raima, mai jitni bhi maafi mang lun kam hai. I hurt you so much yet here you are... I can't thank you enough for forgiving me"

Raima smiled at him and her gaze slid to the side. He pulled her against his chest. His nose tickled her ear. She let out a tiny gasp and squirmed in his arms. She felt his lips softly graze her slender neck. Her face heated. She summoned enough courage to meet his gaze, his ebony eyes twinkled and she knew he was teasing her.

"There was a time when i thought my love for you was a spark and slowly it grew illuminating my life. I love you Raima."

"I love you too"

She mumbled against his chest softly.

"Apko kya laga tha maine Haris ka proposal accept kar liya hai."

She asked him sweetly looking at him with innocent eyes but he couldn't see the mischievousness hidden in them.

"Us kuttay ke bachay ka nam mat lena dobara"

He growled loudly and pulled her tightly against him. She laughed at his reply and sighed in content.

He found his love and junoon and she found peace in him.

محبت سے روتے گئے یار خون 
محبت سے ہو گیا ہے جنون