Hey everyone!

I had an announcement, but I messed up the first one; mujhe khud samajh nahi aaya maine kya likha.

Toh chalo isse properly discuss karte hain, shortcut nahi marungi.

So, let’s discuss this properly without rushing.

I’m thinking about creating an Instagram account for my characters, like one for Irfaz Ahmed. It would involve posting photos and reels about dates, events, and other moments. If anyone is interested in helping me set this up, please DM me on Instagram or leave a comment on Wattpad.

I’d really appreciate it!

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HER POV

The sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. I stretched and got up, feeling refreshed after a good night’s sleep. The previous day’s gathering had been a pleasant surprise.

As I got up, I noticed Irfaz was no longer in the room.

“Ya Allah, mein itni late kyun uthti hoon?” I muttered, checking the clock. “Aaj toh gayi beta tu, bua kaunse taane dene wali hai,” I muttered under my breath, rushing into the bathroom for a quick shower. Once ready, I hurried downstairs, bracing myself for whatever awaited.

As soon as I reached the living room, I could already hear Bua’s unmistakable taunt.

“Aaj kal ki ladkiyon ko koi tameez nahi hai, subah jaldi uthna toh aata hi nahi. Meri Kinjal ko dekh lo, subah uth kar breakfast bana ke sabko khila rahi hai.”

Kinjal sat there, pretending to be modest, but the smirk tugging at her lips was hard to miss. She didn’t even try to hide it.

I glanced towards Irfaz, who was calmly sipping his coffee, completely absorbed in his work. But then, he said something that made me freeze on the spot.

“Jab shohar raat ko biwi ko sone nahi dega, toh subah apni neend toh puri karegi na,” he remarked casually.

There was a brief moment of silence before I heard faint laughter Ayesha, Dewan, and even Dad trying to stifle their giggles. Everyone was amused, except for Bua and, of course, Kinjal, who sat there with pursed lips.

I stood there, frozen, as a wave of embarrassment washed over me. How could Irfaz say something like that, and in front of everyone? My face flushed, and I could feel the heat creeping up my neck.

(‘Tu kiu sharma rhi h? ase kuch hua bhi nhi h’ my subconscious mocked me)

I forced a smile and made my way to the table, trying to act like the situation didn’t bother me. Irfaz, completely unbothered, continued to work, occasionally glancing up from his laptop. His little jab had left him in high spirits, but I felt like sinking into the floor.

I could feel the tension rising, but before I could think of a response, Ayesha jumped in, her tone playful. “Bua, Irfaz bhai, woh toh romantic hain na! Raat bhar jagaye rakhte hain, kya karein?”

Ayesha, catching my eye, gave me a playful wink, while Dewan chuckled from the corner, barely containing his laughter ‘Ayesha kya bol rhi h tu? Tu kiu Irfaz ki side le rhi h meri kal raat ki fried rice ka yeh sila dia?’ I thought to myself.

“Zamana badal gaya hai, lekin izzat aur tameez kabhi nahi badalni chahiye,” she muttered under her breath, her tone dripping with disapproval.

Dewan jumped in, thoroughly enjoying the moment.

“Bua, thoda relax bhi kar lo. Ab zamaana badal gaya hai!Uske hisab se aap bhi khud ko adjust krle” he teased, his grin mischievous.

Bua’s face twisted in displeasure. “Tum toh chup raho, Dewan! Tumhari generation ko toh samjh hi nahi hai ghar ke kaam ka, bas maze lena aata hai,” she snapped, crossing her arms tightly. Kinjal, still trying to look indifferent, couldn’t hide the flicker of irritation in her eyes as her phone remained her shield.

I couldn’t help but suppress a giggle. Dewan had a talent for getting under Bua’s skin, and today, it seemed he was enjoying it more than ever. Ayesha gave me a knowing smile from across the table, as if silently saying,Hang in there!

Before Bua could continue her tirade, Dad chimed in, trying to diffuse the situation. “Arre, Di, chhodo na. Sab apne apne tareeke se rehte hain. Sab khush hain, bas yahi zaroori hai.” His calm demeanor always had a way of smoothing over tense moments.

Irfaz finally looked up from his laptop, completely unfazed, as if he hadn’t just set off a mini earthquake in the room. I took a deep breath, deciding to face the day with some dignity, no matter what Bua threw at me. I leaned over to pour myself some tea, praying no more embarrassing comments would follow.

But, of course, Bua wasn’t done. Bua’s face twisted with disapproval, her eyes narrowing at both of us.

“Haan, bas isi tarah ke bahane banao,” she huffed, clearly irritated. Kinjal, ever the perfect one, gave me a pitiful smile as if she had the moral high ground.

“Waise tum uthi toh kaafi late ho,” Bua added, doubling down on her taunt. “Toh, beta, aaj ka din kya khaas banne wala hai? Ya phir aise hi aaram se guzaar dogi?” she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

I clenched my teeth but managed to keep my cool. The room fell silent for a second, and I could see Bua’s lips thin as she struggled to come up with a retort. Even Kinjal’s smirk faltered. Victory, however small, tasted sweet. Any response felt like walking into a trap.

Before I could even begin to think of something, Irfaz, without looking up from his laptop, casually interjected,

“Aaram se guzaarengi, bua. After all, itni mehnat kar ke toh sab ko thoda rest milna chahiye, hai na?”

Ayesha and Dewan chuckled louder, trying and failing to keep it under control.

Bua’s eyes narrowed even more, and Kinjal’s fake smile finally slipped. This time, there were no more taunts from their side, just the sound of their quiet fuming. Bua’s lips pressed into a thin line, her frustration palpable.

“Haan, theek hai, aise hi chalta rahega toh pata nahi aage kya hoga,” she muttered, turning her attention back to Kinjal, who was now fidgeting with her phone, clearly annoyed by how things had unfolded.

“Bass mera poti ya pota ayega” Mom chimed in.

“Wallah, aaj pure ghar ko kya hua hai? Mere maze le rahe hain ya bua ki? Main kyu bali ki bakri bani hoon?”

I couldn’t help but feel a tiny surge of victory. It wasn’t often that Bua was left speechless, but today, with Ayesha and Dewan’s help and of course, Irfaz’s perfectly timed quip she had no more ammunition.

---------------

As we all sat around the breakfast table, Chachu turned to Kinjal and asked, “So, Kinjal, how’s everything going in Bristol?”

“It’s good,” Kinjal replied, sitting up straighter as if she was finally getting the attention she deserved. “I’ve gotten used to it by now. It’s been three years since I’ve been living there.”

“Life in Bristol must be very different from here, right?” Chachu continued, sipping his chai.

“Definitely,” Kinjal nodded, her smile polite but her tone carrying a hint of superiority. “Everything there is so organized, everything runs on time. It’s not like here, where things are always done at the last minute,” she added, her eyes briefly darting in my direction.

“Relaxed or not, success requires discipline. Not everyone has the luxury to lounge around.” I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, pretending not to notice the subtle jab. Kinjal’s smile tightened.

I shrugged playfully, “Chachu is asking why you’re talking to me. Anyway, success isn’t just about work; it’s about creating memories too, right?”

“Yeah, like you girls will never understand the meaning of success and discipline,” Kinjal mocked, her voice dripping with a fake British accent. “I mean, it’s not your fault you’ve never even stepped out of the country. I bet you haven’t even left your state!”

I smirked and replied, “If you’re that confident about yourself, why don’t you work on your accent first? You almost had me confused, considering you’ve been there for three years, while I just went for business.” I switched to my best British accent to show off a bit.

“Damn, bhabhi, you speak just like a Brit!” Ayesha exclaimed, impressed.

“British accent is one of the most difficult accents to master,” Dewan interjected, nodding in agreement.

Kinjal’s expression soured, “Oh, please! An accent doesn’t define your worth. It’s about what you achieve,” she retorted, trying to regain her footing.

“Mind your tone when you speak with my wife,” Irfaz interjected, his voice cold and controlled in a way I’d never heard before.

The shift in the air was palpable, and for a second, the whole table went silent. Kinjal blinked, clearly taken aback by Irfaz’s sudden seriousness, her fake confidence faltering for a moment.

She opened her mouth to respond “Irfaz, don’t play the supporting role for her,” Kinjal snapped, her tone laced with irritation. She paused, turning to me with a look of disdain that I pretended not to notice.

“We all know why you married her... Nana had already told us.”

A heavy silence fell over the table, her words hanging in the air like a dark cloud. I felt my chest tighten, but I refused to let her see it affect me. Keeping my expression calm, I met her gaze, daring her to say more. Irfaz’s jaw clenched, his hand tightening around his cup as if trying to control the surge of emotions. His eyes darkened, a clear sign of the anger simmering just beneath the surface. The tension in the room was almost tangible.

“Kinjal,” he said, his voice low and measured, though the warning was unmistakable. “You’re crossing a line.”

Kinjal glanced at him but didn’t back down, her lips curling into a smug smile. “Oh please, Irfaz, let’s not pretend this is some love story. she sneered. “Everyone knows you only married her because of Nana’s influence. Not because.....”

“That’s enough, Kinjal,” Irfaz cut her off, his tone now sharp. His eyes flickered with a restrained anger I rarely saw. “You don’t know anything about my decisions, so don’t pretend you do.”

“If you can’t accept her,” Irfaz began, his voice cutting through the chatter like ice, ” not just you, but anyone who has a problem with her can make their exit from our walima.”

His eyes swept across the table, daring anyone to challenge him.

“I’m only staying here for the walima, and after that, of course, I’ll leave with her. But until then, no disrespect or insult toward her. I’ll make sure anyone who crosses that line pays tenfold.”

His words hung heavy in the air, a clear warning. The room fell silent once again, no one daring to speak. Even Kinjal, who had been so smug moments ago, looked rattled by the sudden turn of events.

I looked at Irfaz, my heart swelling with a mix of gratitude and surprise. His loyalty was unwavering, and at that moment, I knew I wasn’t alone in facing whatever came our way.

Chachu cleared his throat again, clearly sensing the shift in the room.

“Well,” he started awkwardly, “I think it’s best if we all calm down. There’s no need for things to escalate.”

But Irfaz wasn’t backing down. His gaze remained firm, his tone still steely.

“I won’t tolerate any more disrespect, Chachu. I mean it.”

Everyone else remained quiet, as if suddenly realizing that Irfaz’s patience had reached its end. It was clear now this wasn’t a man to be trifled with when it came to protecting me.

A wave of confusion washed over me as I tried to piece everything together. I had never met Nana, so how could he have any influence over our marriage? Was there something I was missing? Did Nana share an opinion or expectation about me that I was unaware of? Or was Kinjal simply twisting the narrative to undermine my confidence?

I looked around the table, trying to gauge everyone’s reactions, but they seemed more focused on Irfaz’s outburst than on me.

Ayesha leaned closer, her expression supportive.

“Ignore her, bhabhi. Kinjal is just trying to rattle you. You know the truth about your relationship with Irfaz bhai, and that’s all that matters.”

I nodded, but the question lingered. Kinjal’s sneer replayed in my mind, and it was hard to shake off the doubt. I had to remind myself that my connection with Irfaz was built on love and trust, not external influences.

Still, the unease settled in my stomach like a stone. I took a deep breath, determined not to let her words dictate my feelings or my day. I’d focus on what I knew, on the bond I shared with Irfaz, and leave the rest to the background noise of Kinjal’s insecurities.

I nodded, but the question lingered. Kinjal’s sneer replayed in my mind, and it was hard to shake off the doubt. I had to remind myself that my connection with Irfaz was built on love and trust, not external influences.

Still, the unease settled in my stomach like a stone. I took a deep breath, determined not to let her words dictate my feelings or my day. I’d focus on what I knew, on the bond I shared with Irfaz, and leave the rest to the background noise of Kinjal’s insecurities.

-----

After breakfast, Ayesha turned to me and asked, “Bhabhi, mini dholki celebrate karte hain. Aap, Nevla, Irfaz bhai aaenge ya nahi, pata nahi, par phir bhi invite kar denge. Aur aap Sana di ko bhi bula lena, maza aayega!”

Her excitement was contagious, and I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of the cozy celebration. Even if Irfaz and Nevla couldn’t make it, I knew it would still be full of laughter and fun. I made a mental note to invite Sana di, already imagining the lively atmosphere.

“Kya baat ho rahi hai nanand-bhabhi mein?” Dewan asked as he entered the mini living room where we were sitting.

“Mini dholki ki tayyari,” Ayesha chimed in.

“Oo wow, mujhe bhi details do, kya kya hone wala hai?” He sat down, eager to hear more, but before Ayesha could start, Dewan interrupted with, “Bhabhi, bhai office jaane waale hain, unhone aapko bulaya hai.”

I nodded and stood up to see him off. “Bhabhi, wait, main bhi chali aati hoon. Bhai se permission le lete hain,” Ayesha said, tagging along with me.

“Kya, Ayesha? Tum call karke bhi permission le sakti thi! Kyun bhai ke sunnat wali romance mein bhang dal rahi ho?” Dewan teased. We both ignored him and made our way to the main door.

“Irfaz,” I called out as I approached him.

He leaned his head on my shoulder, complaining like a child forced to go to school,

“Mujhe nahi jaana office.”

“Jao, shaam ko jaldi aajana,” I said softly, patting his back.

“Tum bhi chalo mere saath office, wahan ab akela mann nahi lagta,” he said, almost pleading.

“Dobara files review karane ke liye?” I asked, placing my hands on my waist.

He nodded cutely.

“Meri salary do, tab sochungi,” I teased.

Without hesitation, he handed me his black credit card. “Humko toh aapse salary leni chahiye. Sab toh aapka hai, jaan,” he added, flirting.

Out of nowhere, Ayesha swooped in and grabbed the card.

“Dewan! Dewan! Irfaz bhai ka black card mil gaya!” she exclaimed, jumping excitedly.

“Bhai, aaj toh jackpot lag gaya,” Dewan joined in, laughing.

“Wapas karo card bhabhi ko,” Irfaz said sternly.

“Nahi! Aaj toh shopping jayenge, bhabhi ko leke,” Ayesha said, hugging me from the side. “Aur haan bhai, hum soch rahe the aaj mini dholki celebrate karein. Subah bua ki taunts se bhabhi ka mood kharab hua hoga, toh humne socha chhoti si party karein. Aur ek doosre ko achhe se jaan lein, thoda aur deeply. Aur Sana di ko bula lein, kya hum?”

“Theek hai, karlo organize. Main shaam ko join kar loonga tum logon ke saath, aur mom-dad se permission bhi le lunga,” he said in his usual composed manner.

“Okay, I’m going. BYE!” He kissed my forehead and waved as he left.

“Bhai sirf bhabhi ke saath emotions dikhate hain, warna poori duniya ke liye emotionless aur cold demeanor,” Dewan joked as Irfaz disappeared from sight.

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We all gathered in the bedroom and started discussing the dholki for tonight.

I dialed Sana’s number. “Aurattt, kya kar rahi hai?” I asked playfully.

“Alas kar rahi hoon, tu bata?” she replied lazily.

“Tere se aur koi umeed bhi nahi thi,” I teased.

“Dekho dekho, kaun bol raha hai!” she shot back, taunting me right back.

“Chhod yeh sab, tu yeh bata aaj shaam ko free hai kya?” I asked, getting to the point.

“Haan, aaj toh free hi free hoon,” Sana said.

“Hmm, Ayesha and Dewan planned a mini dholki for me, so they asked me to invite you,” I conveyed their invitation.

“Sana di, aajao na, please! Mazze karenge, double nahi, triple fun! Please, please!” Ayesha and Dewan yelled into the phone, joining in.

“Haan haan, aungi, pakka! Bas dress code bata dena, heheh,” Sana replied, laughing.

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After the call, I put my phone down, smiling at Sana’s enthusiastic response.

“She’s in,” I told Ayesha and Dewan, who high-fived each other in excitement.

“Now we just need to finalize the dress code,” Ayesha said, already rummaging through her wardrobe. “What do you think, bhabhi? Traditional, casual, or all-out glam?”

“Something colorful and fun, it’s a dholki after all,” I suggested, imagining the lively evening ahead.

Dewan, lounging on the couch, chimed in, “I vote for traditional lehenga-choli, kurtas, the whole vibe.”

“We’re here to have fun, not a fashion show,” Ayesha said with a chuckle.

“Lehenga-choli nahi please! Meri alag dushmani hai lehenga-choli se,” I groaned. “I’ll prefer a Pakistani suit, much more my style.”

Ayesha nodded eagerly. “Perfect! Let’s go for bright, festive clothes, but comfy. Sana di will love it!”

“Pakistani suit it is then,” Dewan teased, smirking at my strong stance on avoiding lehengas. “But I better see some vibrant colors tonight, no excuses!”

I rolled my eyes playfully. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to blind you with colors.”

With that settled, we started sorting out the rest of the details, the excitement for the evening growing even more.

“Then let’s go shopping! Snacks and all bhi lana hain, aur kapde bhi,” Ayesha grinned, waving Irfaz bhai’s card in the air like a trophy. “Aakhir bhai ka card haath mein aaya hai!”

Dewan laughed, getting up from the couch. “Shopping with bhai’s black card? Aaj toh full-on spree hogi!”

I shook my head, amused by Ayesha’s excitement. “Bas bas, zyada udne ki zarurat nahi,” I said, but I was secretly looking forward to the outing too. Snacks, clothes, and some time out sounded perfect.

“Chalo chalo, let’s not waste time!” Ayesha urged, practically bouncing with energy as she grabbed her purse, ready to take full advantage of her brother’s generosity.

With that, we all headed out, ready to dive into preparations for the night’s celebration.

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We headed downstairs, and as soon as we reached the living room, mom looked at us and asked, “Bahar ja rahe ho?”

We all nodded enthusiastically.

“Main bhi aaun saath?” she asked with a warm smile.

In unison, we all exclaimed, “Yeahhhhhhhhhhh!” Our excitement multiplied instantly.

“Let’s goooooo!” Ayesha cheered, grabbing mom’s hand.

Dewan, always the dramatic one, shouted, “Driver uncle, gaddi nikaalo!”

With laughter and energy filling the air, we all got ready for a fun family shopping spree, now even more special with mom joining us. It was shaping up to be a day none of us would forget!

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We reached the Pakistani suit store, and as soon as we stepped inside, Ayesha declared, “Kapre first, kyunki sabse zyada time wahi lete hain!”

Dewan chuckled, “True, once you ladies start looking at suits, we’re going to be here for a while.”

I smiled, already scanning the racks of colorful outfits. “It’s not our fault, Dewan. Good things take time.”

Mom joined in, laughing, “Don’t rush us, beta. Shopping ka maza is in taking your time and picking the perfect outfit.”

We started browsing through the racks, each of us drawn to different styles and colors. Ayesha picked up a bright yellow outfit and held it against herself.

“How’s this one?” she asked, twirling in front of the mirror.

“Perfect for a dholki,” I said, admiring the cheerful color. “It’s got that festive vibe.”

Mom was busy going through the more elegant options, eyeing something in soft pastel shades. “I think I’ll go with something simple yet classy,” she said, showing us a beautiful pistachio green suit with delicate embroidery.

Meanwhile, Dewan was already bored, sitting on a nearby chair and scrolling through his phone. “Yeh log kabhi decide nahi kar payenge,” he muttered, shaking his head.

I pulled out a stunning suit and Ayesha gasped. “Bhabhi! That’s the one. You’ll look amazing in this!”

I smiled, holding the fabric in my hands. “Okay, I think I’m sold on this one.”

After what felt like hours of trying on and deciding, we finally made our choices. As we headed to the counter, Ayesha grinned mischievously, still waving Irfaz bhai’s card.

“Time to swipe the magic card.”

Mom laughed, “Bechara mera Irfaz. Uska card toh aaj shopping se tsunami mein beh jayega!”

We all laughed, feeling light-hearted and excited about our dholki shopping success.

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After finalizing our outfits and swiping Irfaz’s card, we stepped out of the store, bags in hand. Ayesha, still buzzing with excitement, said, “Now it’s snack time! Let’s get all the dholki essentials chaat, golgappas, and sweets!”

“Driver uncle, to the snack store!” Dewan declared dramatically, as if we were on some grand mission.

We all piled into the car again, chatting about the dholki and laughing about how Irfaz would react when he saw the bill. Mom shook her head, smiling, “Poor Irfaz, he’s really stuck in the hands of shopping queen Ayesha today.”

Ayesha grinned mischievously, “That’s true, but it’ll be fun!”

We reached the snack shop, and as soon as we entered, the chaos began again. Ayesha grabbed a cart and zoomed off, filling it with chips, chocolates, ice cream, cake, samosas, drinks anything that caught her eye.

“I’m done,” she said, satisfied with her haul.

“Baaki Zomato se manga lenge baad mein, warna thanda ho jayega,” Dewan suggested.

We returned to the car. “Yaar, bhabhi got the card, and we all went shopping,” Dewan said with a laugh.

“No worries, I only needed money for the snacks,” I replied with a grin.

“Besides, the nikkah and walima shopping is still left,” Mom said excitedly. “Then we’ll get your dad’s cards too!”

“Wow, Mom, you like shopping?” I asked, shocked.

“Of course! Why else would I come along, and even say it myself?” she replied, and we all laughed together.

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