ZAINA'S POV:
"Kiara I actually don't remember." I answered getting ready for the wedding evening as Kiara dumped her questions on me after I had just finished telling her whatever I remembered. I clearly remembered my breakdown in front of Aariz. But after we went to his room, nothing much.
"What I still don't get it is, how did you get intoxicated? I'm telling you someone drugged you." Kiara gave one of those seventy theories.
"I really dont know and I don't want to think about these anymore. I just want to enjoy the function tonight like I should have from the beginning. It's my brother's wedding and seeing the looks of it, it's going to be the first and last time too." I answered with a strong determination.
Zain bhaia had called me on the night of the Mehendi evening and when I checked my call logs from last night, there had been 30 missed calls from him. A few more from the rest of my cousins, including Kiara, I had gotten her worried too. Alizeh bhabi had also left me a text saying she covered up for me in front of everyone by saying, I was busy in some last moment interview for the Masters Program I had applied for. So I should go with that story if anybody asked.
"What's in that bag?" Kiara questioned as I got out with a shopping bag.
"Aariz's clothes." I replied. The bag contained Aariz's t-shirt and sweatpants he had let me borrow. I had gotten them washed at the laundry to return it. He would definitely mind if I did not return it because what I wanted didn't matter anymore.
I was so focused on Aariz I hadn't even noticed how the wedding functions passed by. But better late than never.
•••
WEDDING FUNCTION AESTHETIC
•••
"We will accept nothing less." Shayra's voice was loud and clear as she argued with Kabir regarding the gate token money. It was ritual for the groom to pay up the bride's cousins and friends to let him pass the gate while the groom's side tried to negotiate their demands. Aariz stood beside Shayra holding the ribbon so that we could not barge in.
He looked handsome. Too handsome. He gave me a one second eye-contact and I was gone.
"Ahaan please!" Noor's soft voice suddenly gained everyone's attention. Now we were doomed. This happened during Azaan bhaia's wedding too. All Noor did was- say please to Ahaan bhaia and he happily gave them whatever they demanded.
On cue, Ahaan bhaia fulfilled their demands. As soon as we passed the gate, we cousins started hitting Ahaan bhaia as he deserved.
A while later, as I passed by greeting the guests as instructed by my parents. I was stopped by a lady, "Hello Zaina dear, how are you? You were so young the last time I saw you. Do you remember my son, Farhad? You two met at a charity program last year." The aunty asked me pointing at her son.
I could have sworn I heard her backbiting about me and Kiara to the other aunties ten minutes ago, regarding us dancing too much at the musical function. What's funny is other than my one performance with the group, I wasn't even present for the rest of the time in that function.
"No aunty I can't remember every single person we give charity to." I replied giving her a smile and dragged Kiara with me while Kiara stifled a laugh.
Kiara and I politely greeted the rest of the ladies and excused ourselves as we walked over to our cousins to find them in the middle of an argument.
"What's decided is decided." Azaan bhaia huffed at Shayra.
"Nope we get paid both times." Shayra retorted back.
"Kabir back me up a little?" Azaan bhaia asked but Shayra glared at Kabir.
"Why don't we let Ahaan make up for his mistake?" Kabir suggested, smartly getting out of the pickle between his brother and girlfriend.
"They already stole the shoes." Alisha sighed telling us, a little more annoyed than usual.
"What's up with you?" I questioned.
"Nothing. I almost got the shoes back until that dumbo ruined my entire plan." Alisha muttered.
"Which dumbo?" Kiara and I looked around.
"Nevermind." She answered.
Zain bhaia had to pay up eventually. When more than half of the people left for lunch, and all my cousins had gone to tend the guests, Alisha and I took the responsibility of making sure everything was okay here which is when I noticed Aariz talking with a group.
There was Amaira, with another girl and one more guy whom I didn't know. I quietly watched from the corner until Amaira started brushing her hand against him. But he moved it, oh yes moved away. But that didn't stop that shameless from scooting closer to him or touching his arm this time.
Unable to bear the scene any longer, I grabbed the bag I had kept in the corner and I went up to them. I could hear Amaira saying, "Doesn't he look really good in blue. I bet we could match at the next function." Yeah you could if I let you.
"Umm Aariz." I called out to him. I really tried to enjoy today's function without thinking about him but it was impossible to ignore him or his hazel eyes.
He turned around to face me, so I handed him the bag. "You left your shirt in my room last night." I said with the most innocent smile as his eyes widened at my statement.
Amaira's smile turned into a scowl while the two people whom I didn't know gave Aariz a teasing smile. But nothing could have prepared me for the next moment.
"HE WHAT?" Ahaan bhaia's voice could be heard from behind me. I turned around to find Azaan bhaia, Ahaan bhaia, Noor and Shayra with their jaws dropped.
"His shirt? In your room? Even before marriage? That's scandalous." Amaira took the opportunity to show her cheap acting.
"What are you saying?" Azaan bhaia questioned seriously.
"Shut up Amaira, it's not like that-"Aariz said but Ahaan bhaia cut him off.
"We are speaking to our sister, if you don't mind. Weren't you stuck doing some homework in your room last night?" Ahaan bhaia asked.
"Not homework, giving some interview." Shayra corrected them calmly. Seeing Shayra calm was a rare scene except when I had seen her in our office once, few days ago. There she was a calm and professional boss lady.
"I don't need to explain myself to you guys." I replied. Probably not the best answer but I had nothing else to say. The two people whom I didn't know left the scene.
"She is not even denying?" Ahaan bhaia questioned. I'm sure he didn't care at all, he just wanted to get back at Aariz. If it was someone else then he would have sided with me.
"I'm sure there's an explanation. You guys are just overreacting." Noor chimed in.
"What could possibly explain what she just said?" Azaan bhaia questioned Noor.
Shayra who had been loving the drama so far, finally spoke up, "Well Aariz gave her his shirt maybe because she spilled something in her dress."
Aariz squinted his eyes ready to deny and get himself killed, but I jumped at the excuse. "Exactly. I just spilled something but you two just jumped to conclusion."
"Then why didn't you say this before?" Azaan bhaia asked.
"Because-" I said with a dramatic hair flip, "I didn't think I needed to explain myself to anyone."
"Try again, Zaina. I have known you since childhood." Azaan bhaia narrowed his eyes at me.
"But that doesn't even make sense! You're all missing the point! Why was his shirt in her room in the first place?" Amaira practically shouted. Till now my brothers were talking in hushed tones but Amaira's voice garnered the attention of people around us.
"I spilled a drink. He gave me his shirt. Which part of it do you not understand?" I replied frustrated.
"Oh he carries spare shirts for you now?" Amaira questioned.
"Excuse me, but who are you?" Alisha questioned Amaira seeing her interference.
Aariz groaned, "For god's sake, she just needed something to cover up herself so I gave her my shirt. What was I supposed to do- let her walk around in a mess?" Aariz finally joined our tale of lies probably seeing my cousin's reactions. These are the side effects of living in a joint family. Everyone is interested in everyone's business.
Ahaan bhaia folded his arms, "Yes."
Azaan bhaia nodded, "Definitely."
Aariz looked at them deadpanned. "You all are crazy."
Ahaan bhaia looked at Aariz , "Whatever. If I hear anything suspicious about you and our sister again. You're done for." He warned her.
Azaan bhaia gave me a long look, "And you, stay away from sketchy situations." He was one to talk.
I turned to Amaira, "The show is over. You can leave now." As soon as Amaira left giving me a weird smile, I turned to face my hypocrite cousin brothers.
It didn't really matter to me what they said to me. But the way they kept glaring at Aariz like he had committed some crime, made me lose my mind.
I tilted my head and looked at Ahaan bhaia first with a sweet smile, "You're out here acting like a saint right? But aren't you the same person who climbed a three story building just to sneak into Noor's room at 2am because she wanted ice-cream last week?"
"THAT WAS DIFFERENT!" Ahaan bhaia turned red.
I grinned in victory turning to Azaan bhaia now, "And you Mr. 'Stay Away from Sketchy situations' I air-quoted mockingly. "Stop pretending like you're so honourable. Aren't you the one who ran away and got married to our rival's daughter just four months ago?"
Azaan bhaia looked at loss of words, so I continued, "I'm not done yet. Ahaan bhaia you threatened a waiter because he smiled at Noor too much and Azaan bhaia let's not get started on how you broke Dua bhabi's proposal with that Armaan or whatever."
"That was a suspicious smile!" Ahaan bhaia defended himself.
"You two overreact over the smallest thing and if I get caught in some misunderstanding then you two start acting like tradition 90's brothers."
"I hate it when you make sense." Azaan bhaia sighed.
"I always make sense." I flaunted.
Noor gave me a proud smile and Shayra literally gave a mocking clap in my support. "If I hadn't said it before let me say it now. I love you Zaina." Shayra commented, seeing the defeated looks of Azaan bhaia and Ahaan bhaia as they finally left us alone.
I gave a tired smile to Shayra and Noor as they left Aariz and I alone.
"What the hell was that?" Aariz questioned to no one particularly.
"I don't know. You tell me. You just stood there like an idiot!" I shot back.
"I don't even want to be part of this conversation but at least I was still there." Aariz argued.
"Your presence was truly helpful. Thank you." I mocked.
"I'm not the one who put us in this situation in the first place." Aariz replied.
"Never mind, you still didn't explain to me what happened last night." I stated.
"You were intoxicated Zaina and then you fainted." He replied.
"I figured that out myself genius." I replied impatient.
"I need to talk you about whatever you said that night, without all this chaos. So meet me after breakfast tomorrow." He suggested calmly.
"Okay."
A while later, our cousin group was taking pictures with the stars of the night, the bride and the groom.
Alizeh bhabi called Aariz and whispered something in his ears and he left the hall. It had been a while and Aariz still hadn't come back.
"Zaina. Can you come here for a second?" Alizeh bhabi beckoned.
"Yeah?"
"Can you go to my room and get my setting spray, the sparkly one. It's on my vanity. I need to touch up a little. I can't find my bridesmaids and I don't think Aariz has been able to figure out what a setting spray is." She requested.
I left the hall and went up to the rooms. I rang the doorbell and Aariz opened the door. I stepped inside to find the whole room in a mess of colourful outfits, different jewellery and makeup.
"Alizeh bhabi sent me to find-"
"The sparkly water thing." Aariz completed my sentence sighing as I let out a laugh. Boys.
"It's called a sparkling setting spray. Move aside. I'll look for it." I said.
As he moved away he leaned sideways on the wall and continued watching me. "Stop. Stand straight." I said frustrated being distracted by him.
Aariz looked confused, "What did I do?"
"You're distracting me!"
"How?" Aariz questioned more confused.
"By leaning against the wall like that like my fictional characters. It's kinda hot so its distracting." I replied.
"You still read those books. Tauba." He rolled his eyes at me.
I stopped looking for the spray and smirked taking a step towards him instead. "Do you want to recreate a scenario for me again? I just read it last night." I said placing my hand on his shoulder with a playful smile as his breath hitched. We both knew we had the same thing replaying in our head. The last time he had recreated a scenario from my books for me.
"Zaina. Move aside." He said visibly tensed yet made no movement.
"Why do you seem distracted now?" I leaned in and whispered against his ears. My lips were an inch away from brushing against his skin when the door bolted open, not giving us time to move apart.
Shayra and Kabir stood at the door, hand in hand as they looked at us equally shocked as we did at them.
"Ohho what's happening here?" Shayra questioned with a smirk.
"I came to get the sparkly water for Zeh." Aariz quickly replied straighting up.
"Same." Shayra replied to us, still with a smirk.
"I don't see it in your hand." Kabir questioned Aariz suspiciously. God, not him too.
"And your hand is in Shayra's who's like a sister to me. So what's your point?" Aariz questioned back.
"How did you guys get in?" I questioned.
"I had extra key cards to Alizeh's room. You guys were taking too long so she sent me to get it. And Kabir just tagged along." Shayra explained.
"Kabir tagged along because he thought the room would be empty." I winked at Kabir.
"Except it wasn't." He sighed.
"There's the setting spray." Shayra pointed at the side table beside the bed and grabbed it.
"You guys continue." Kabir smirked at us.
"I'm leaving." Aariz replied practically running away as he left the room even before Kabir and Shayra who started laughing.
•••
The next morning, I was so tired that the banging knocks on my door had to wake me up.
"Zaina! Wake up! Everyone is already at breakfast!" I heard my mom's shrill's voice. Ugh, yesterday morning was so much better when Aariz gently woke me up. If I got to wake up like that everyday, I wouldn't mind waking up at 5am in the morning.
"I'll be down in five minutes." I answered.
I lied. It took me five minutes just to convince myself to get out of bed. Even after we stole the shoes, there were so many other traditional fun games left that we finally wrapped up at 2am in the morning.
I reached the breakfast dining to find everyone already there. Every other day, we had our breakfasts separately according to our will. But today, everyone was being checked out. Hence, all the guests and all my family was present in the dining hall.
The core eight, which were the four brothers and now their partners had joined were at one table, I caught a few words where they were talking about some trip. Kiara and Alisha were on another, they had also saved me a seat. Amaira that trouble maker was sitting with two other girls, deep in conversation with them. The elders of my family were sitting with different family friends and attending them. But the one I wanted to see was nowhere around.
I walked to the waffle station to get myself some waffles and strawberries when I finally noticed Aariz, two stations away from me, getting some juice.
His jet black hair was slightly wet, like he had taken a shower. His shirt was tucked out informally but what made me drool were his muscles which popped out. 888888888888
I must have been staring long enough for Aariz to have noticed as he tilted his head slightly in my direction. His lips twitched a little to form a smile but he bit them, stopping himself. But I had already seen it. He was about to smile at me. That was progress! Though I don't mind him biting his lips, it was rather hot.
"Can I get a glass of orange juice." I asked nicely. I felt like I was a teenager with a new crush trying to have conversations with him.
He squinted his eyes at me and probably wanted to say something mean but changed it to, "Help yourself." Still meanie. That's how he was with me at school. After everything we are back to square one.
"What happened that night? Tell me now. I'm tired of waiting. I have created a hundred scenarios in my head."
"Sit." He beckoned at a table for two, where he took a seat.
I quickly grabbed a glass of orange juice and took the seat beside him.
"First of all, I already asked for the CCTV footage of the mocktail party to see how did you get intoxicated. The security manager said we'll have it by today. Secondly, Zaina whatever you said that night, please stop it. I moved on, you should too. Ever-" But his words didn't seem too important right now as I felt many eyes looking in our direction.
"Aariz, is it just me or is everyone looking at us?" I questioned confused as my eyes moved and sure enough as Aariz also looked up, almost the entire banquet hall was looking at us.
I quickly looked at Kiara and Alisha to find them with a nervous expression. My brother, Zain seemed to be conversing with Alizeh bhabi with a serious expression, both their eyes piercing in our direction specially at Aariz.
The rest of my cousins looked at us with concern and disbelief. The other people around the hall kept switching their eyes from our direction to the phone. But as soon as I looked at the elders in my family I knew something very wrong had happened. My grandfather and my dad looked indignant. It wasn't until my mom quickly walked up to me and whispered in my ears harshly, "Get out of here right now!"
"What's happening?" I questioned scared.
"Go to your room Zaina! Now!" My mom practically pushed me out of the hall. Aariz stood up along with me and as I left the hall I could see Aariz's mom and Alizeh bhabi's parents approaching him too. What the hell happened?
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CHAPTER AESTHETICS :
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