Aliyah's pov:

"Come on, Aliyah! What's the harm? You said you love me."

"I do. But please don't do this."

"This is for us. There won't be any us without it. Stop running away!"

The phone ringing that wakes me up.

It's okay; it's just a dream. Just a dream. You're fine. You're okay.

"Hey, are you okay?" Nafisa says as soon as I pick up. 

"Yes, I'm fine." Nafisa and Noor knew about him. But they didn't know he still haunts my dreams and turns all of them into nightmares. Only Karya knows about that.

"Don't forget! It's Noor's engagement. She told us to bring our luggage, as we'll leave immediately after the engagement."

"Okay, thanks for telling me. See you in the event."

"Yepp. bye."

It's fine. You're fine. You're okay. You're far away from him. He won't be able to do anything.

I get dressed in the white dress I bought while shopping with Karya.

It's fine. You're fine. You're okay. You're far away from him.

Without being able to control myself, I call Karya.

"Hey, where are you?" I say when she picks up

"I'm in the car, on the way to the engagement. Near your place. Want me to pick you up?"

"Yes please. You're alone right?"

"Yepp. Come outside. I'm here."

I take my bag and look at the mirror once before locking the door behind me.

"You're looking pretty. Told you, it would suit you." Karya says as soon as I sit in the car. She chose the dress for me so she does deserve the credit.

"You're fine Aliyah. Breathe in and out. Relax. He won't be able to harm you. You know that yourself. Relax." Karya says when she notices I wasn't talking much. She was right. He wouldn't be able to do anything. His father's company would be in risk. But that doesn't stop the nightmares.

"Aloo! Don't worry. Everything will be alright. Now smile. Don't want to go inside Noor's engagement like that, do we?"

They call me Aloo, which annoys me, but it also gives me a sense of comfort. 

"I see a small smile." she starts to tease. "We're here. Let's go."

I didn't notice it. Karya even parked the car. She was a very skilled driver. 

We both get out of the car and start walking inside. It looked like we were in a palace. I mean, the Raihans and Dayyans are both crazy rich. You can't expect anything less than a grand ceremony. 

"I'll go and find Nafisa and Noor. You should go to the restroom and freshen up first. Remember. He is not here. He won't be able to harm you." Karya gives me a side hug before leaving.

Right, restroom. How do I find that in this big and crowded place? 

I look around and notice a neon green sign of the restroom a bit far away. That wasn't too hard.

I go inside and wash my face. 

It's fine. You're fine. You're okay. He is not here. He won't be able to do anything.

I came out of the restroom and wished that I had stayed there. He was here. Of course he was. They are one of the biggest businessmen in the country. They'd obviously get invites. 

I try and ignore him and start walking towards the direction Karya went. When I see his sister. If his whole family is here, then I don't know how I'll celebrate anything.

"Aliyah! It's so great to finally see you again! How have you been?" Arshia comes to me. 

"I'm fine." I'm definitely not fine after seeing you. "How are you?" I ask with a forced smile.

"Oh you know, the same. What are you doing here?" Translation: I thought you were poor as hell after leaving your parents. How did you manage to get an invite in this grand event?

"It's my best friend's engagement. Of course I'll be here." Unlike you who got here because of her father's money.

"Okay, have fun." she leaves. I look back to see her talking to her brother now. Of course.

Breathe. It's fine. It's a public place. No one will be able to hurt you.

"What are you doing here?" The voice that normally irritates me comes from behind. But right now, I couldn't be more relieved. Anything to distract me. 

"I can't believe you're stalking me as well!" he says when I don't reply.

"It's my best friend's engagement. I believe I have the right to be here thank you."

"You're such a Nightmare."

"You're such an Angry bird."

"Stop calling me that."

"Stop calling me a nightmare."

"No."

"Then I won't stop as well."

"You-" He pauses for a second. "You, Are you okay?"

"Is this your new strategy of argument?"

"I'm serious Aliyah. You look like you're sick." 

Is it that obvious? Oh gosh this is embarrassing.

"Are, it's my best friend's engagement! I'm just sad that I won't be seeing her much often."

"Okay." He leaves

Aryan's pov:

Out of everyone I've expected to see today. Karya Afreen didn't even fall in the top 1000. 

"What are you doing here?" she asks in surprise, ignoring the fact that she just spilled water on me.

"It's my brother's engagement. I believe I don't need your permission to come here?" I take a tissue from the side table and start drying myself. 

"Sorry for that. But your brother? You're a Raihan?"

"Last time I checked, I didn't change my surname so yeah. I am a Raihan. What does that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing."

"And what are you doing here?" I question her back since I didn't know how else to continue the conversation.

"It's my best friend's engagement! Of course I'd be here."

"Wait, Noor bhabi is your best friend?"

"Noor Bhabi?"

"She is getting married to my older brother! So she is obviously my bhabi!"

"But-" Karya got cut off by Noor bhabi. "Karya! I see that you've met my favourite devar!"

"Favourite? What now?"

"Yep. The one I told you about."

"I'm the only sane one in the family you know? It's obvious that I'd be the favourite!" I brag.

"You? The favourite? I'm seriously going to go crazy now." 

"Karya, are you okay?" Bhabi asks her in concern.

"Yes yes. What are you doing here anyway? Aren't the groom's side supposed to be staying on their side until the ring exchange?" Karya gives me a side-eye.

"Yes. I was here to inform the bride's side that the ring exchange will start in 30 minutes. But it's almost been 20 minutes since I came. So it'll start in about 10 minutes." I say while looking at my watch.

"Oh, oh my gosh. Where is Aliyah?" Bhabi asks Karya.

"She went to the restroom but it's been a long time." Karya started looking around.

"I'm here. Don't worry." Another girl, who I guess is Aliyah, walks in.

"Oh my gosh. Are you okay? Is everything fine?" Karya asks her.

"Yes, yes. But I do need to talk to you. Come with me. Sorry guys. Noor, we'll be in the dressing room. Okay? Talk to your devar and then come in." she pulled Karya away.

"Sorry, Aliyah sometimes has emergencies that only Karya can handle." 

"It's okay." 

"Sorry about Karya as well. She is just like that to people she meets for the first time. I promise she is nice after you get to know her for some time."

"Yeah I know."

Bhabi looks at me in surprise. "You know?"

"Yeah, we were classmates back in high school." Karya would probably tell her later anyway.

"Oh wow."

"The ring-exchanges ceremony will start in about five minutes. I'll get going then."

I turn around and leave as I hear an "Okay." from bhabi.

This is going to be an interesting day.

Karya's pov:

"He is here!" Aliyah says in a panic.

"His sister even talked to me! Arshia," she confirms the twin's name. They weren't hard to tell apart as one had a mole under the right eye while the other didn't. 

"It will be okay. Breathe. Relax. Don't worry. They won't be able to do anything. Be strong. Like the time you stood proudly against Fahad."

She closes her eyes and starts taking deep breaths. 

Nafisa and Noor enter the room. 

"Can you guys help me with my earrings?" Noor says while sitting in front of the mirror. 

"She is going on stage in five minutes! I'm so excited for you!" Nafisa hugs Noor. This was probably the 100th time she did that.

Nafisa and I help Noor with her earrings while Aliyah fixes herself.

"Are you okay?" Noor asks Aliyah.

"Yep. All good. Let's get engaged shall we?" Aliyah says as Noor stands up and Nafisa starts laughing.

The door of the room opens. "Let's go! It's time." Noor's older sister Nazia came to inform us.

"Okay." Noor takes a deep breath. "Let's go."

We get into our positions and start walking towards the stage. Noor in the front middle, Nafisa on her right side, Nazia on her left side, me right behind her, Aliyah on my right, and Noor's younger sister Nadia on my left. Like a small rectangle.

I glance back at Aliyah to make sure she is okay. She looks fine. She always does. That was the scary bit. It was hard to tell when she was having a hard time unless she was so nervous she couldn't hide it anymore. Hide her PTSD.

She always had a shell around her where no one could tell what was happening to her. She said she didn't want people to think she was weak just because of a disorder. She hid it very well. Honestly, no one could tell unless she told them, and then later came up to them when she was really terrified.

"I'm fine. Don't worry!" I hear Aliyah mutter right as we were in front of the long aisle surrounded by all the guests that led to the stage.

This is intimidating.

We start walking up to the stage, where Aariz was already seated. His brothers right beside him. I couldn't believe that Aryan was also a Raihan. How come I spent an entire high school with him but I didn't know his surname? 

Aliyah was right. All Raihans are jerks. Now I'm even more worried about Noor!

We go up the stage. Nazia and Nadia help Noor to sit in front of Aariz and then leave while we 3 stand in the corner opposite Aariz's brothers. I notice Aryan glancing at me twice.

What? Is there something on my face?

The ceremony began with the to-be bride and groom exchanging rings. Then Aariz's Father gives a grand speech about how happy he was to announce Aariz's marriage. The reporters start taking photos and videos of him and start putting their hands up to ask questions.

"Didn't you say a few years ago that you'd rather have your oldest son marry first? To keep a chain?" one of the reporters asks when chosen.

"That is true, I did say that. But life doesn't always go as planned. Aariz found his love before Ahaan so we're proceeding with a marriage." Their father answers.

After speeches, the photographer came and started taking photos of us. 

Then, food was served. It was those systems where you take a plate and go wherever you want except outside.

I took two plates, one for me and the other for Noor, and went to the stage to give it to her. I regretted it as now I have a human following me around like a lost dog.

"Come on Curry! You know you missed me!" Aryan comes up beside me. It was a smart move as I already started eating and couldn't move so much.

"Seriously? Curry again?" I glare at him. He called me this the whole of high school and it was so annoying!

"What? It is your favourite nickname."

"Least favourite. You forgot the word before."

"Keep telling that to yourself." he grins and leaves. I wish I could murder him!

That annoying, spoiled rich brat!

Thank you for reading<3