*A few days later

Noor's pov:

"Up! Now!" Aliyah throws her pillow at me for the hundredth time.

"I'm awake! I'm just processing!" I was seriously processing everything. Today will be my supposedly big day.

I was getting married. Me. Getting married.

Unbelievable!

"Yeah yeah. You had enough time to process. Now if you don't get up, Aunty will scold me for not taking you to the dressing room at the right time. You're getting married! You need to get ready now!" she pulls me up from the bed.

"Yes! Okay got it." Not like I should be very excited. My life will probably become a disaster. What's worse is that I'm falling for him more and more every passing day. How am I going to live with him like this?

Aliyah probably noticed a change in my expression. "Are Noor! Don't worry. He will surely fall for our desi girl really soon! Now let's enjoy this day to the fullest without caring about anything else, shall we?"

There was no going back. The Nikkah already happened. Today's the reception. And then I'd be with him. 

It would've been such a good news. Except for the fact he'd always see me as a stupid responsibility. 

The constant reminders he gives me.

"Miss Noor, don't overthink. I'm only saying yes as I owe a favour to my family. If you marry me, I'll take care of you and respect you. But you'll always be a responsibility, not my wife."

"Just because I put vinegar in your bottle doesn't mean we're friends now. Don't forget the reason I agreed."

"Keep your distance. Remember the reason I married you."

And many more. They hurt. I try my best to forget and stay happy but he reminds me again and again. Like he wants me to not forget it as well.

"I told you na? Don't worry. If he ever mistreats you, tell me. I'll take care of him. Or you know? Tell your favourite devar! He is a lawyer right? He can sue him. He looks like a nice guy. Unlike Ahaan."

"Are! He is my devar but Aariz's brother. Why would he be on my team?"

"Cause he is a lawyer. Who is supposed to be on the right's side. Now let's go! Or else aunty will surely kill me." she pushes me out the room.

"Stay positive okay? It will all go well." Aliyah reassures me again.

Yes Noor. Stay positive. Aliyah has many more hardships than you and she is still staying positive and smiling for you. Think about the good things. Stop thinking negatively.

If Aliyah says you can change him, then you probably can. Aliyah can predict things really accurately.

But she doesn't know Aariz. She doesn't know about all the times he kept reminding me about the reasoning behind our marriage.

Still. Positive. Think Positive Noor.

We reached the dressing room where Karya and Nafisa were already there.

"Are come! What took so long?" Ma rushes me to sit in front of the mirror. 

"Sorry Aunty. I took too long to do my morning routine." Aliyah takes the blame before I can say anything and gives me her 'shut up' look.

The make-up artist starts doing my make-up and Ma instructs her through the whole process about what she wanted it to look like by the end.

After my makeup was done, the stylist comes with a gigantic heavy red lehenga and helps me to wear it.

"You look gorgeous!" Nafisa says in awe.

"Our desi girl looks like a queen." Karya says right after.

"You all look beautiful as well." I comment on their dress. Aliyah was wearing a pastel green dress. Nafisa was wearing white and Karya was wearing an azure blue dress which complimented her really nicely.

"Look, the queen herself is complimenting the peasants," Karya says jokingly.

"Yes, we are so lucky." Nafisa replies.

"Come on out. You can't just stay in the dressing room the whole day." Nazia says ushering us all out.

The whole hall was packed with people.

When we entered, everyone's eyes were on us. Well, specifically on me. 

I dread to think about when everyone will rush to us for photos.

I couldn't even say no.

The reporters have already started taking videos. 

I go on the stage and sit beside Aariz. My heart already started running a marathon a long time ago. My friends were sitting in the corner with my sisters.

Aariz's father stood beside us on the side of the stage and started giving a long speech about how happy and grateful he was for all this.

I didn't really care so much about the speech so the whole time, I counted.

The speech was about 7 minutes and 39 seconds long.

Then my father came and started giving a speech about how happy he was to get his second daughter married and now he only had one more celebration for the youngest one and then he could die happily.

He also said some extra things about how happy he was to now officially be related to the Raihan family and etc etc.

I counted this one as well. Not so surprisingly, his speech was longer. A lot longer. 12 minutes and 57 seconds.

Then came the session I was always annoyed by. Taking photos.

Different people started coming to us and took photos. Some of the men shook hands with Aariz while some of the women gave me an unwanted hug and whispered congratulations.

Then my sisters came and stood behind us to take a photo. When the photographer finished taking their photos, they ran away.

It took me some time to register, they stole Aariz's shoe.

I told my friends the truth, but none of my family knew. 

"I guess we're still doing it then," Karya whispered in my ear before running off to Nadia as she had the shoes. Aliyah and Nafisa also ran off.

"Can someone get the shoe or not?" Aariz says annoyed.

"Bhai, Aryan at your service. But I'll need help." He looks at his older brothers.

"I don't even chase girls in general. There is no way I'm chasing girls for a pair of shoes." Azaan bhaia replies.

"Are just get him another shoe." Ahaan orders one of the helpers.

"You can't we made sure there are no extras anywhere." Nazia api says.

"Oh god." Azaan bhaia facepalms himself.

"Just get it! " Aariz says in disappointment.

They all run off in the direction the girls went.

We were basically alone now as all the attention was now at the juta chuppai. Should I try to have a conversation?

It wouldn't really matter but might as well give it a try.

"Just saying, they won't be able to get your shoe, so you might as well give up." I say

"I know they will. My brothers aren't stupid. They'd know wherever it's hidden."

"Let's have a bet then," I suggest.

"Go on."

"If my friends and sisters manage to keep the shoe until the deal they make with you, then umm." I think about what I could demand. "Then you owe me something. I just haven't decided what yet." 

"Sure. If my brothers can get it then you'll have to drink a whole bottle of vinegar," he smirks. That jerk!

"You're on!"

I look back at the chaotic scene where the shoes were getting thrown everywhere.

Come on. Don't disappoint me.

I don't want to drink vinegar!

Ahaan's pov:

One of the shoes gets thrown to Aliyah. 

This was already a nightmare. And now it got thrown to another nightmare.

Aryan and Azaan were both busy with the other shoe so I start chasing her. 

"Never thought I'd see the Angry bird chasing after me." she smirks.

"You know that would never happen."

"It is happening right now." 

We were right now in a corner of the hall. I didn't even realise we chased her this far.

"Let's make this easier. Hand me the shoe."

"Nope," she argues. Of course.

"You're such a Nightmare."

"And you're an Angry bird." she walks backwards.

I walk forwards and trap her. She has to hand it to me now.

"You have no other choice but to give it to me." 

"No. I can just stay here until you give up." 

She hid the shoe behind her so I couldn't even grab it!

"Nightmare. Why don't you stop being such a nightmare for once and give me the fucking shoe?"

"Because I need to live up to my name don't I?"

"Oh for fuck's sake!"

"Watch your language birdie." she says calmly. 

I really didn't want to do this. I didn't even want to attend the wedding. I didn't even want the wedding to happen.

And here I am, chasing his Saali who is my enemy because she has that stupid shoe of his!

"Stop calling me that." I hiss.

"Then stop calling me Nightmare."

"I won't, Nightmare."

"Then I won't as well, birdie."

"You-" I stopped because I was surprised by the fast movement. 

After a few seconds, I realised the shoe had flown over me. I looked back to see one of Aliyah's friends, Nafisa had the shoe.

But then, I saw Azaan rush from the side and take the shoe from her.

Finally!

"Agh!" Aliyah says in annoyance.

But before we reached the stage, one of Noor's male cousins snatch the shoe from Azaan's hands and threw the shoe at the girl who Aryan liked. I think her name was Karya or something.

Thankfully, Aryan gets the shoe from her and I find it coming at my direction. But before I could catch it. 

The Nightmare jumped in front and caught it.

"Not so fast birdie." she smirked. 

That smirk. It was so annoying.

"I give up. Your shoe is not worth so much effort." Azaan sits down.

"Me too. Sorry bhaia. I'm tired." Aryan says right after. 

Now it was up to me. As much as I hated losing to Aliyah Rahsin, I was tired. 

There is no way I'm chasing after her again for this stupid shoe.

"I give up as well." I say.

There was a cheer from the bride's side.

"God! How much do you want?" Aariz asks the group of bridesmaids.

"10 lakh." Noor's younger sister demands. "Each." her older sister says.

(10 lakh = 1 million)

"5 right? Someone get me my phone." Aariz orders.

"Are bhai koi to do!" he says again when no one moves. (Someone Please give me!)

"Aryan to the rescue! Got your phone bhai!" Aryan hands the phone to him.

"Done! Ab to mere jute do!" he says in annoyance. (Done. Now give me my shoe!)

That Nightmare Aliyah hands him one of the shoes and Aryan's lover Karya hands him the other one.

"Ho gyi tum sab ki games? Ab chalo khane ka time hain." Noor's mother says after the bride's team cheers because of the victory.

(You're all done playing games right? Now it's time to eat.)

The tables were set up in the other corner of the room. 

Everyone, including Aariz and his wife, went to the other side and sat in their assigned seat. 

All the tables had 5 or 6 chairs, assigned to each family. 

Our table was the biggest with 20 chairs.

Everyone who was staying at our hotel was at the table. The bride's side on one side and the groom's on the other.

There were 9 seats on each side facing the other side and two beside each other where Aariz sat with Noor.

I took the seat beside Azaan and Aryan as the rest of the places were beside the elders who would keep whispering to me about getting married.

Now I regret it as I see the person sitting right opposite me was the Nightmare!

I was busy with getting the shoe before so I only noticed now how good she looked in her pastel green dress. 

The colours complimented her so well and she looked gorgeous in the traditional style.

Stop. What are you thinking Ahaan? 

Heck no.

Karya's pov:

I can't believe I'm having to sit in front of this annoying jerk!

Aryan Raihan just had to sit here! 

He keeps mouthing 'curry' at me! I need to do something.

Thankfully, I was tall enough to do what I wanted to do. And I was also wearing heels so bonus!

I stretch my legs out and then step on his shoe as hard as I can.

He winched. 

"What happened Aryan?" His mother asks in concern.

"Nothing mumma. The food. I just got shocked by how good it tastes." his excuse almost makes me want to burst out laughing but I control myself.

He gave me a look which kinda said, 'I can't believe you just did that!' to which I gave him a look which kinda said, 'That's what you get for calling me curry.' a smirk included.

-

We finish our food and everyone goes back to enjoying the day. 

The juta chuppai was very unexpected as me Nafisa and Aliyah already knew the truth of the marriage so we figured Aariz wouldn't like the fact that we stole his shoes.

Nazia and Nadia didn't know the truth. But they didn't even tell us that they're planning to steal the shoe so it was kind of a shock.

Later, we just went along which was fun.

Earned 10 lakh without much effort.

I was walking towards Noor to hand her the glass of water she wanted when I bump into someone.

"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry! Oh you?" My voice changes when I see the annoying Aryan Raihan infront of me.

"You must have some kind of obsession with spilling things on me!" he says while trying to dry his shirt with the tissues on the side table.

"You must have an obsession with bumping into me cause it was not my fault!" I say annoyed.

"Are dekho! We are matching." He says pointing at his navy shirt and changes the topic. (Look. We are matching)

"No. You are wearing Navy. I'm wearing Azure." I point out the difference.

"Still, blue and blue. We're literally the only ones in the whole function wearing any shade of blue! Great minds think alike. We're the only great minds here!" he says excitedly.

Someone save me from him.

"Yeah whatever."

"I still have the pen you know? So I haven't started hating you yet."

That damn pen. I can't wait to get it back.

Flashback to a few years ago*

"Why do you hate me so much? Is it that hard to make me win once?" I say in an annoyed voice. He won the debate again! My mother will be so disappointed!

"I'll make you win next time. Don't worry. And no, I don't hate you." he says in in his 'always calm' voice.

"I hate you!" 

"I don't. Not yet," he repeats in his calm voice. I wish I could seriously strangle him.

"How will I get the good news that you've started hating me?"

He takes the pen from my desk.

"That's my favourite pen! Give it back!" I try and get it but he stood up and he was annoyingly taller than me.

"How about this? I'll give it back to you when I start hating you. That would be a good thing for you right? You'll get your favourite pen back on a happy day."

"Agh Gosh. Whatever."

Flashback ends*

"I hope there is progress cause that pen is damn special to me. Do you even have the pen?"

"Yes." he gets out the pen from his pocket. "And no. There is actually no progress."

"What?" 

"I think you took your revenge."

"I am so confused. Speak like a human for once!"

"Are Curry. I'm saying, I took your pen but you also took something that is mine."

"What the heck did I take?" I ask confused.

"My heart."

"What the actual fuck?"

"Are Curry. I'm actually serious."

"Can't you find a better nickname? Curry is so unoriginal!" I try and switch the point and hope what he said before was a mistake.

"Okay, sweetheart. I'm serious."

"What now? Sweetheart? I'll kill you."

"Woah sweetheart. Chill. I was joking."

"Thought so. And do not call me sweetheart!" A sigh of relief left me.

Aryan Raihan liking me would be annoying as hell. And there is no way he likes me, or he would've let me win all those competitions.

--

The function finished with so much chaos.

Noor got down from the lift on Aariz's floor as she would now stay with him.

"Are you sure you're okay with staying alone?" I ask Aliyah for the third time. I knew she stayed alone in her apartment, but I was still worried.

"Yes. Don't worry!" she gets off at her floor leaving me and Nafisa on the lift.

"I have so much tea!" Nafisa says when we enter our room.

"Say no less. Go on! I'm all ears. Wait, let me see if we have popcorn." 

Nafisa was getting great drama these days with Azaan Raihan. I'm pretty sure it's something about him again.

"Come on! I'm so confused about all this!" Nafisa says. 

"We're manifesting aren't we? Go on. tell me everything!" I say, excited for all the drama.

--

Thank you for reading<3