Tainting The Void Canvas

Red. Red is supposed to be the colour of her attire today. Red is the colour of happiness, the colour of a new beginning, as they said. But it's not.

Today, on a beautiful spring, the hall is filled with hues of pastel shades and happy smiles. Red is not her colour today; she is clad in her pastel golden lehenga. Something she chose for herself. When Shaziya asked her, why not red? The answer was simple, last time she wore red, it was anything but happy.

Sad smiles, guilty glances.

Half a decade has passed, but pain stays somewhere, somehow.

As Rubina and Saira enter the bridal room, tears form in their eyes, different reasons, different smiles.

Rubina is admiring the little girl, the little Amy, her husband used to love like a daughter of his own. She is witnessing a beautiful Amaya, a gem, she wanted for her family. She is looking at an elegant woman, Zain's Amu, perhaps, a happy bride today. Only if. But this is not a time for that, she is happy for her, more than happy. Amaya Kareem is a gem, and Zain Amir affords this gem, he didn't. 

Saira on the other hand is looking at this beautiful girl, her Zain is going to spend a lifetime with. A person she already loves a lot, a person who has fought the battle of reality, who survived alone, who knows to cherish relations, perhaps someone, her son is happy with. What more a mother can ask for?

Sitting next to her, she opens the box, legacy is what her mother-in-law used to call it.

"Amaya, this is our family jewellery, I wore it to my wedding, Zain's mother too, and now it's your turn."

"Tayi Ammi,"

Words. Amaya doesn't have those today. Always she has this feeling that this is not the first time, but everything is.

This is good, way too good for her. Happiness is coming her way, and fear too. For someone who had fought every battle for a single ounce of happiness, this is nothing but a beautiful dream. Perhaps a beautiful reality.

Standing in front of the mirror, a happy bride looks back at her. As she closes her eyes, fear engulfs her.

Marriage ruins.

No, Zain loves her.

He loved her more.

The present is perfect.

That's why you shouldn't ruin it.

The present is perfect, but the future?

No one knows.

Air choked in her throat as she takes a step back, she can't. Zain is home, and she can't lose the home. Looking around, there's no one here. She needs to get away from here, but what about her home, her Zain?

Standing by the door is the certain person she once lost herself to, her beautiful dream once who turned out to be her worst nightmare later. But his eyes today show her a lot many emotions which she can't deceive all at once.

Seeing Amaya clad in her bridal attire his heart misses few beats, his breath hitched and for a second time stops around. His mind goes back to the time, he saw her for the first time.