*2 days later

I'm getting married? I'm getting married. I'm getting married!

HUH? 

Right.

I still can't believe I'm getting married.

It feels like yesterday when me and Saria used to wear our mothers' dupatta as a Saree and play around like we were getting married. And now that's turning into a reality.

I can't believe it. It feels surreal.

"Ei sho- Tui ekhono bed e boshe asis? Mane ki? Uth! We need to leave! NOW! Or else we won't have enough time to get ready! Let's go!" she pulled me up and starts pulling me out the door. (Listen- You're still in the bed? What? Get up!) 

"Areh wait, I need to change." I stop her and try to walk to my closet. But she pulls me again.

"What's the point? You'll have to change from that after anyway. And we don't have time cholo! (Let's go)" she pulls me out of the room.

-

Saria comes out to me looking so gorgeous in her Black Saree.

"Hayee. Koto shundor lagche toke!" I say as the make-up artist glares at me for the hundredth time so that I stop moving. (Oh wow, you look so pretty.)

"Ma'am please stop moving if you don't want to end up looking like a bat." she said in the sweetest voice ever. If someone couldn't speak english, they'd think she was complimenting me.

"Sorry," I repeat for the hundredth time.

"Hmm toke to aro shundor lagbe!" she goes and brings my Saree from the side. (Hmm and you'll look even prettier!)

"Done." the make-up artist let out a big sigh after finishing my makeup.

"Thank you, and sorry." I say as she leaves to do someone else's makeup in the other dressing room. We had 4 dressing rooms in this venue.

"Ja, tor blouse and petticoat pore ai. Ami Saree porai dei." Saria orders. (Go and wear your blouse and petticoat. I'll help you with the Saree.)

Yeah she was that talented. She knew how to wear a Saree all by herself. No one even taught her. Apparently she learnt just by watching choto chachi. And now she can do it better than anyone in our house.

-

Saria finishes putting in the last pin and starts clapping dramatically.

"Hayee you look amazing! Like a work of art!" she exclaimed. "All thanks to me!" she let out a slow dramatic sigh, even more dramatic then her clap. "Me the mehendi artist, me the stylist and me, the friend of the makeup artist."

"Yeah yeah. All thanks to you." I repeat making her grin. Then I was gonna roast her, but right then the door of the dressing room opens.

"Tora ready? Ohhooo koto shundor lagche amar meye dutatake! Ai, shomoi hoye geche." Choto chachi comes in and says. (Are you two ready? Ohho, both my daughters are looking so pretty! Come, it's time.)

Saria helps me up and starts walking beside me while holding my hand. Cause she knows, the moment she lets go, I'm definitely going to trip over this Saree.

She sits me on one side of the curtain as the Qazi starts reciting whatever he recites. I wasn't paying much attention. I couldn't pay much attention. 

It's happening.

My marriage.

With my first love.

The thought should make me melt with happiness, right? But could I really be happy?

Because it's all one-sided.

He doesn't love me. He is someone who thinks of it all as games. 

The nicknames. The flirts. The poetic words. 

All games. 

Can these games really turn into a fairy tale?

"Fapu?" Saria's whisper brings me back to reality. When I realised, the Qazi and everyone else was looking at me. What happened?

"Maybe repeat it again." Saria suggests to I don't know who, saving me from the humiliation.

The Qazi speaks and asks me to say 'Qabul hai' if I agree. Oh right. Forgot about that.

I do as said -barely- and go back to my thoughts as the Qazi's voice blends into the surrounding again.

-

"Tor ki hoise? Hae?" Saria snaps her fingers infront of me after everyone started enjoying the event after all the signing and stuff. (What happened to you? Hmm?)

"Nothing." I reply.

"Aww, are you sad about living away from me already? Don't worry. You'll still stay with us till reception. So we still have a day to spend together! Sorry not sorry, but yeah. You won't get your first night till tomorrow. " she said while pinching my cheeks. And then she starts muttering to herself.

"No but only one day. Agh. And we're both going to be so busy with the preparations.

That made me realise another thing.

Her.

I'll be leaving her.

Not just her. Everyone else. But her too.

I was so focused on processing this marriage that I forgot about the fact that I'll have to leave everyone.

I hug her tight and both of us almost start falling when Kabir bhaia and Rayan bhaia come to our rescue.

"Areh areh, look at these two. Already hugging away without us." Kabir bhaia said.

"Yeah, always leaving all the boys out. These two are the biggest troublemakers." Rayan bhaia replied, making all of us chuckle.

"I still cannot believe you'll be missing the reception! Like huh? It's tomorrow na! Why!" I say pouting.

"Yes, that's when all the fun will happen! And you're going to miss all that?"

Rayan bhai was in the army. Yeah. Guns and all that. So he had limited breaks. He had a break because of Eid-Ul-Fitr and his wedding also fell in the break. It was planned like that. But now my wedding also fell in this break.

The elders probably also did that on purpose. He has a long break next month for Eid-Ul-Adha so he planned to just stay home but his commander had other plans. He needed to get to his base by tomorrow noon, so he needs to leave by tomorrow morning.

"Sorry baccha! But I will be back soon na! Don't worry." he patted my head.

"Take care of my wife while I'm gone hmm?" he says.

"Ohhoooo, look at our bhai, head over heels in love!" I gasp.

"Hmm, Kabir bhaia! When will you find someone? Look, even fapu found her guy before you found a girl." Saria says. 

Bhaia suddenly went quiet. Woah. What happened?

Saria looked behind me so I realised Kabir bhaia was looking at someone behind me.

"Ezra! Esma! Hey!" Saria screams out.

Esma walks over to us and Ezra follows her. That's weird. Ezra is normally the one to lead the way from the two of them. And here Esma was pulling Ezra to us.

"Hi Api. Hi Bhabi." Esma says. "We are so excited to have you!"

"Yeah," is the only thing Ezra said.

Esma starts talking about how it will be like and how fun it will be with me as I keep nodding.

I tried.

Tried to look anywhere but her.

But my eyes failed me.

Everytime I tried to look away, at the chandelier in the high ceiling. At the damn carpet under my shoes. Even at the uncles chatting about how excited they are for the food.

My eyes go straight back to her.

Saria Syed. 

Draped in a Saree of my favourite colour.

Gorgeous.

What the hell am I thinking? I know. Absurd. She is so annoying!

But ever since she entered the hall, greeting every desi aunty that talked to her the politest smile ever, I couldn't help but steal glances at her. What I could tell is that she was frustrated after all the greetings. But she still had to keep going. Reputation.

She was right now talking with this little kid who bumped into her. The smile on her face finally looked genuine.

I walk outside to get some fresh air and clear my head from that crazy girl.

Even I can't believe I fed her that day! Probably my biggest mistake ever. But I didn't want a bad stomach, I had a very important meeting the day after.

Thankfully, she didn't boast about it. Even fortunate, she never spoke of it. Yet atleast.

What was wrong with you Ehaan? Feeding your enemy?

Seriously?

Are you out of your mind?

"Hi bhaia." I look back to see Ezra behind me.

"Haan bol" I say (Yeah say)

"Nothing, just came out for air and saw you." she informs.

"Accha? Why? Are you okay? Did you get a cold?" I ask and check her temperature to see it was normal.

"No bhaia. I'm okay. Stop worrying so much! I am 22!" she pouts.

"Even if you turn 100, you'll still be younger than me. So you'll still be my little sister." I say with a smile.

Something only she saw. And sometimes Eliza api and Esma. Never that annoying Ehsan.

"Hmm so my oldie coldie bhaia..." she trailed of.

"What did you just call me?"

She chuckled. "What? It's how you are."

"You're spending too much time with Ehsan these days. He's changing my precious sister."

"Yeah yeah right. Anyways, when are you planning to get married?" she raised an eyebrow.

"Never," I respond instantly.

"You know that will not happen. Better choose someone or you know Ma will find someone herself, just like Chachi."

"Not bothered," I say while looking into the sky.

"How about Saria Api?" she said excitedly.

"What about her?" I asked confused.

"Marry her! She is so amazing!" Ezra beems.

No way. I'd rather have Ehsan as my roommate than have Saria as my wife. He snores louder than a freaking chainsaw. No I take that back.

Actually, I don't even know who is worse at this point.

"Now Noodle, you shouldn't worry about my marriage hmm? I'll figure it out myself." I call her Noodle as she was floppy and clumsy like one. Though you can't really tell. She handles her clumsiness pretty well. Only I knew about it. And could mock her for it.

"Awh! Again with this Noodle! I'm leaving, bye" she left without letting me say another word.

And unfortunately, my thoughts go back to her again.

Saria Syed.

How can someone be so dangerously crazy and gorgeous at the same time? 

What am I thinking?

I hate her.

I hate her.

I hate her.

I hate her.

You really really hate her.

You definitely hate her!

Yes.

Now stop!

--
Thank you for reading<3