THIRD PERSON'S POV :

"Thankfully you arrived Nida Baji.. Seriously I'm feeling that you are not a family member but some guests" Musa said to his elser sister when she arrived with a smile.

"Musaaa... Why are you panicking it's okay... There is still one hour in arrival of Ramisha's in-laws" Nida said with a smile and Musa nodded but he was still concerned about the arrangements of his daughter's engagement.

Everyone was busy in talking but A pair of eyes which was covered with square glasses; was trying to search a pretty face...

Ofcourse, he was Faraz...

Faraz ran his gaze everywhere to find out Shifa, he wanted to asked her why she didn't believe on him! After many attempts he didn't get success in finding out Shifa, because she was busy in being a model of fun making by Shariq.

''I think she haven't come'' Faraz mumbled down-heartedly when he found everyone from Shifa's family except her.

"Faraz.." Musa utter but Faraz was lost in the world of thoughts

"Farazzz..." Shaking his shoulder slowly Musa again said and he came out of trance.

"Where are you lost?" Musa asked and Faraz quickly shook his head.

"No Mama.. Nothing" He muttered

"Beta do some work, go and check the catering arrangements" Musa said to Faraz and he nodded before going for the same.

Maryam and Anwar were sitting with few relatives talking about random events and topics when Bilal came there

"Mumma"

"Yeah beta"

"Phuppo is saying that the girl who have to come for doing aapi's makeup she had an emergency in her home, so will you do her makeup?" Bilal explain and Maryam think for a while

"Suniye I'm going to Rani Baji" Maryam informed her husband before going, and he nodded.

"Musa mama Catering arrangements are fine but I think the centre table of stage must be decorated with flower petals." Faraz said to Musa and he nodded.

"Beta there are plenty of flowers left in store room, go and do what ever you wanna do" Faraz nodded and moved towards store room. Filling a big plate with flower petals Faraz stepped out from the store room and took steps towards the stage.

On the other hand...

S

hifa who was controlling her tears in her eyes, was walking further but her head was turned towards the door of the room from where loud chuckles were audible, but she didn't notice the one who was coming in front of her, his eyes were fixed on the flowers in his hand.. One hand was busy in holding the plate and from other hand he was trying to held the heap of petals, so that it won't fell down...

Shifa was the first who noticed someone coming from opposite to her and stopped suddenly just a step away to bump with him.

"I'm sorry" Those words suddenly slipped out from her mouth, making Faraz jumped on his place, the plate of flower petals he was he was carrying with care....

That poor plate fly high in the air, doing the shower of flowers on both Shifa and Faraz...

Maybe the flowers wanted to say that they also wanna see them together....

"What happened? Are you Okay?" He couldn't control himself to ask when noticed tears in Shifa's eyes. Both forgot to blink for few moments... They both were seeing each other after six months, Shifa's heart was beating painful as so his...

Her eyes dropped more tears suddenly, that wasn't due to her fun making by Shariq but due to witnessing Faraz in front of her eyes.

She was trying to ignore the same feeling which again warm her heart with his single gaze.

"Why are you crying?" He asked

'No matter she cared for me and my feelings or not, but I can't tolerate these tears' he said in his heart

"Why are you asking?" She cross questioned controlling herself to sob

'You are the reason of my tears! If you think about me then you must try to talk to me before doing engagement' she also said in her heart.

"Can't I ask?" He asked and Shifa wiped her tears, making her liner and kajal spreaded around her eyes.

"No you can't..." She said in cracky voice and few tears again popped in her eyes "You don't have any right to ask me anything" she tried to say but only mumbling came out from her mouth which wasn't difficult for Faraz to understand, he felt hurt with that.

"Shifa why yo...." Before he could complete his sentence.....

"Shifa beta what are you doing here? And why are you crying?" Maryam asked suddenlywho, she was going to Ramisha's room with Rani

"Faraz.. Why are you here with this girl?" Rani asked angrily when she witnessed Shifa and Faraz together

"And You Shifa... What are you doing here with Faraz? What is going on here between you two?" The question snatch the floor from beneath Shifa's foot. Maryam also looked at her with shocked expressions

"Phuppo I.."

"Rani Ba..."

Shifa and Maryam both opened their mouth to say something but their words were cutted off in between by Faraz.

"Mamiii... Shifa was doing nothing with me." That was almost a roar. Shifa and Maryam was shocked on that and Rani was surprised by unexpected reaction. After listening Faraz's voice Ifra came out from Ramisha's room.

"What happened Faraz?" Ifra asked and Faraz give a look to Rani.

"I was coming from there and Shifa was coming from here, she was crying I just asked the reason... Nothing else." Faraz said and Shifa looked at her mother.

"Shariq made her fun that's why she was crying" Ifra said while coming closer to Shifa and Faraz gave a deadly look to Rani before walking out from there.

"Its alright Shifaaaa.. Don't cry dear" Ifra said with a small smile and pinched shifa's cheek. Maryam also caressed her head. But Shifa was confused that in which reason she was crying?

On her fun making by Shariq

Or on meeting with Faraz...

Whatever that was... A small crystal heart was almost break.

"Come Shifa, wash your face and get ready again" Maryam said and Shifa nodded sadly.

"That's why I don't want to come... I don't want to go in front of him but no one listened to me..." Shifa mumbled about Faraz but Maryam thought that she was talking about Shariq

"My baby.... Stop crying I don't like my doll crying" Maryam said and kissed her forehead and Ifra smiled.

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SHIFA'S POV:

Mummy told me to stay with her, she did Ramisha appi's makeup and to be honest she was looking very beautiful in her olive green lehnga, and matching jewellery. Her neither light nor bright makeup was looking very well and I was thinking about myself and Faraz.

If Rani phuppo won't do what she did then me and Faraz would be engaged by then. I was so happy but I don't know what Rani phuppo got by going all those things?

Actually she was getting everything so she didn't feel bad, her daughter was happy but she didn't think that I'm also his brother's daughter... Indeed step daughter but still daughter.

I haven't shared with anyone but when Musa uncle asked about Faraz's proposal for me I bacame a day dreamer... I know it's quite weird of me... Even I designed my engagement look too. I wanted to wear black and golden banrsi long and half collared kurti with up black plain lehnga. without any heavy jewelry just big golden earrings and jasmine flower band in wrists.

"Shifa..." I came out of my trance and felt wetness in my eyes, which I tried to hide but that day my emotions were out of control, and thanks to shariq bhai who gave everyone a reason for my tears,otherwise that would be impossible for me to clarify myself in front of others.

"Shifa beta now stop crying, my pretty doll's kajal is ruined, come here" Mummy said and I made my way to her, she was standing in front of dressing table.

At the same time papa entered in the room after a knock and smiled looking at his niece.

"Masha allah you are looking beautiful" Papa compliment her and Ramisha aapi smiled

"Thanks mama" She mumbled and papa drew out a box, that was a thick gold bracelet which he passed to mummy and gestured her to make that wear to Aapi. And mummy did so.

"What is this mama?" Aapi asked and papa placed his palm on her head.

"Today is my doll's engagement she deserves something from her only mama" Papa said lovingly and I again felt wetness in my eyes.

'Due to this doll's mother my match wasn't fixed with Faraz but you didn't said anything about that' I wanted to said that in his face but that was impossible so I just said in my thoughts, even in my own thoughts I got a glare from him.

"Why are you crying Shifa?" Papa noticed me...

"Shariq made her fun in front of everyone and my baby is hurt" Mummy informed and papa nodded I was sure that he won't do anything but....

"Shariq, you always makes her fun.. Its alright to tease but not in family gatherings. Think before doing anything like this!" papa said to that monkey with furrowed brows, that was first time when he took my side and I smiled.

"Now stop crying! What's this that you start crying on every next topic?" Papa scolded me before going out from the room and mummy kissed my forehead before saying me to be ready.  I simply nodded and applied kajal and eyeliner.

Due to crying my cheeks and lips were very red andikking like I was with full makeup. That was the time to took Ramisha aapi to stage so Musa uncle said me and Ifra aapi to do so and we obeyed. We made her sat down well decorated sofa placed on stage.

"Ramisha.. Yaar mujhe apni engagement yaad aa gai Faraz ko kaam karte hue dekh kar, usne ese hi kaam kra tha jab bhi" Ifra aapi said while looking at Faraz who was talking to guests and saying then to be comfortable and all... The formal talks...

(Ramisha I remember my own engagement, Faraz did work at that as he is doing now.)

"Ifra main bhi apni behen ki engagement par ese hi kaam karunga.. Faraz se training le leta hu" Hamdan bhai said while coming on the stage and I didn't control myself to smile.

(I'll also do work on my sister's engagement day... Shall I take training from Faraz.!)

"Time for a group photo..." Faraz said while coming up on the stage everyone nodded and I looked at Hamdan bhai he also smiled but I remembered Rani phuppo's words...

'Shifa What are you doing here with Faraz? What is going on here between you two?'

So I preferred to go down from the stage so that phuppo didn't got any chance to say something weird and inappropriate.

My dignity is precious for me and my mumma..

I made my way towards the sitting area. At the same time Mummy also came towards there.

"Assalamualaikum Aunty" I greeted Nida aunty and she nodded with a warm smile and again got busy in talking to someone else. Papa was also there so mummy too sat with us.

"How are you Nida Baji? I was busy with Ramisha so didn't time to come to you" Mumma said to her and she masked a fake smile.

"I'm fine." I was surprised to listened Nida Aunty's tone but then I thought that my interpretation was must be wrong.

"Congratulations for Faraz's engagement, Rani Baji told us that they are very nice people" Mummy said with a smile and I felt hurt.

"shukriya... Mere Faraz heera hai heera... Wo ladki bad kismat hogi jiske ghar wale uske rishte ke liye mana kare..." A satire was clear from the tone of Nida aunty. I noticed mummy's face which was looking dull.

(thanks.. My Faraz is a gem, that girl would be unlucky whose family would reject him)

"Indeed... Faraz is a gem who can reject his proposal, the girl who will become her wife would be lucky" mumma replied to Nida Aunty, but her tone was hushed. And I noticed Nida Aunty's reaction, she was in deep thoughts, a few moments ago she was looking angry but suddenly her expressions were changed. I don't know what Rani phuppo said to Faraz and his family but mummy's reply push Nida Aunty to think about something.

"Maryam ek baat puchhu?" After a silence of few minutes Nida aunty asked and mumma looked at papa, then she gave a small nod.

(Maryam can I ask you something?)

"Abhi Shifa ki shadi karne ka irada nhi hai kya?" On that question I looked up and suddenly, I was watching Papa and mummy's expressions

(Don't you wanna marry off Shifa now?)

"Jab koi achha rishta ayega to zarur karenge.... Betiyon ko apne ghar main kon rakhta hai?" This time Papa replied and Mummy gestured me from eyes to went to otherside.

(We will definitely marry her off when got a suitable proposal... Who wants to make their daughters stay in own home?)

I went to other corner of hall but Mummy, papa, Nida aunty and Aazam uncle(Faraz's Father) were talking regularly. I wanted to listen what they were talking but couldn't.

"Shifa beta come with me" I listened a voice and turned to saw the owner he was Musa Uncle.

"okay uncle.. But Where?" I followed her but asked the question while walking with him.

"Upstairs, I have some work with you" Musa uncle said and I nodded

"Faraz beta"

"Ji Mama?"

(yeah uncle)

"Mere Saath Aao (come with me)" Musa uncle ordered Faraz and he also followed us, but I was surprised but that. Musa uncle stepped in the room, I and Faraz both also entered in after him; but my heart was beating very fast. I never expected anything like that. I was scared. I was biting my lower lip nervously and clutching my dress in my fist.

"Musa uncle what happened?" I was nervous but asked with full courage.

"You both sit here I'm coming back in five minutes" saying that Musa uncle left the room and I looked at Faraz who was already looking at me.

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To be continued..

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