ved like an omen dre

girl's dreams. Fairy lights blinked like oblivious stars, unaware of the storm crackling beneath their glow. The scent of saffron biryani

was on the ver

e hall, "Aanya! Where are the garlands? Has the nikah

ists and fending off gossiping aunties, shoute

d the disappearing photographer. Meanwhile, Qureshi Sahab was pacing like a caged lion, snapping

drums erupted

aat had

om's side entered with wild energy. At the front was Saniya in a blinding pink lehenga,

he crowd-and danced. Or attempted to. Her arms flailed, her hips buckled, and her feet stomped like an earthquake

n the dhol players missed a beat, st

sic like a whip. "Rukhsana! Sit do

lau

quickly, s

is ready

er died. Anticipation th

-Raneya

mbroidery shimmered on her lehenga like gilded chains. Her dupatta framed her face with pain

foll

e a queen," so

am," murmur

iant, in simple clothes, full of fire. But this... this was

.. was grief. What he thought

was marrying a sto

d with unshed tears. "M

"Bilkul pari lag rahi hai. No wonder Z

passed through Raneya like smoke. Complim

le like a martyr h

and offered blessings. A cousin slipped a silk scarf over her head in traditi

me the

rd. The mic crackled. T

eshi, do you acc

od daughter never says no. Our decision is

urned. Her s

s parted. "

time. "Qu

. "Qubo

into her own chest. Words spoken by a stranger. W

all e

etals, selfies.

-something wit

me the

away emotion. Fazeela clung to her d

ispered. "This is your h

her mother's dupatta one last time-childhood memor

buried beneath steel. "We've ch

d

"Please don't go!" she sobbed. "Don't

en? Or stealing t

of humor in her empty gaze. "

woul

d toward her like a promise. He was glowi

the funeral be

ok his

als rain

. Music.

er with a final click-the

r family-smiling, waving, clapping. B

smile

t, hollo

that smile...

asn't

he beginnin