In a bustling bridal salon, the air is filled with the scent of perfume and the sound of laughter. Two brides-to-be, Maheer, and Mahjabeen sat side by side, surrounded by mirrors reflecting their excitement.

Maheer, with her innocent demeanor, leans into Mahjabeen with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Gul Appa dajjal jaisi hai," she quips, causing Mahjabeen to burst into laughter, her anger because of yesterday's incident dissolves away. In a way she was thankful and guilty because although Gul Khan wasn't her mother in law, she was Mahjabeen's. And that woman was heartless.

Mahjabeen, her laughter infectious, responded, "Unki teesri aankh hai?"

Maheer nodded knowingly, "Asif miya."

Their giggles filled the room as they shared jokes.

As they discussed their preparations, Mahjabeen turned to the parlour attendant, her curiosity piqued. "What products are you using?" she inquired.

Maheer interjects, "Mahjabeen ki hairstyle kaisi hogi?"

The parlour lady, with a hint of judgment in her tone, replies, "Woh Gul Aapa ne inka casual look k paise diya they, aapka bridal package h inka guest package."

Maheer's expression darkened, anger evident in her eyes. "Magar ye dulhan hai," she objected, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Mahjabeen, tried to diffuse the tension, shook her head and insisted, "Maheer aise bhi accha lagrha."

But Maheer refused to let it slide, her protective instincts kicking in. "Nahi, this isn't done, Mahjabeen. Ye log tumhe lightly lerahey, I can't believe it... tum unke bete ki biwi ho, this isn't done," she asserted, her voice firm.

Mahjabeen offered a reassuring smile. "Mai phuphi se baat karungi," she promised, urging Maheer to finally calm down. "Agar nahi kiya na Mahjabeen toh maine tumhaari shaamat laani hai," Maheer warned.

"Tumhare Abba ki yaad diladi tumne," Mahjabeen teased gently, trying to lighten the mood.

Maheer, realized her that her tone was forceful, quickly apologized, "Arrey, I am sorry, mera ye matlab nhi tha, bas gussa

"Meri badi behen hoti toh tumhari jaisi hoti."

"Jaisi matlab? Mai nahi hu kya?" Maheer feigned offence, prompting Mahjabeen to backtrack, "Nahi, tum beheno se bhi badhkar ho."

Their playful banter was interrupted by a knock at the door, and the parlour lady asked, "Kon?"

"Neha."

As Neha entered, Maheer shared the issue with her, and Neha sighed in understanding. "Ammi ne ye theek nahi kiya, mai Bhai ko batati hu-"

"Nahi nahi iski zaroorat nahi mai itni acchi lagrahi aisehi," Maheer interrupted Mahjabeen, frustration evident in her tone. "Tum chup karke baitho, Neha tum lagao phone," she instructed, taking charge of the situation.

Neha complied, dialling the number and relaying the issue to him. The response was swift, "Mahjabeen ko mere gaadi k paas lekar aao."

As Murtasim laid eyes on Mahjabeen, his breath caught in his throat. She stood before him, radiant and ethereal, yet something felt amiss.

The gown she wore was simple, outdated even, not befitting of the bride she was meant to be. But despite this, he couldn't help but be in awe, her beauty shining through.

"How do I look?" she asked, her voice filled with anticipation."Bohot khoobsurat," Murtasim replied, his gaze unwavering as he stepped closer to her.

With a gentle touch, he tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, a gesture filled with tenderness. Her sweet smile deepened as she gazed at him, her eyes full of adoration. In that moment, it was as if he was her entire world, and she, his.

A soft breeze swept through the room, causing Mahjabeen's cheeks to flush with colour. She lowered her gaze, unable to hold his intense stare, her nose turning a delicate shade of pink.

Meanwhile, from a distance, Usama observes the scene with a pang of longing. His heart ached as he watched them. Betrayal simmered within him, tears threatening to spill from his eyes as he felt the weight of loneliness and heartbreak.

Murtasim sensed someone's gaze upon them and turned to see Usama standing forlornly in the distance.

"Mahjabeen gadi mai baitho mai aata hu".

Concern etched his features as he approached his brother, his heart heavy with unspoken words.

"Are you alright?" Murtasim inquired, his voice filled with genuine concern. Usama's response was a silent nod, his emotions too tangled to articulate. Despite the pain in his heart, he knew Murtasim was his brother, and he must suppress his own feelings for the sake of their bond.

"Usama, what happened wasn't right," Murtasim began, his voice tinged with regret. "But we have no choice but to compromise... Maheer loves you."

With those words, he left Usama to his thoughts, his heart breaking into fragments. As Usama watched him walk away, a sad smile graced his lips. "Maheer loves me... And what about the one I love?" he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible over the din of the night.

In the car, Murtasim swiftly dialled numbers, leading Mahjabeen to a boutique adorned with cascading silks and shimmering sequins.

Mahjabeen's face lit up with excitement as her fingers traced the delicate embroidery of a cream lehenga adorned with roses.

Murtasim's gaze softened, "We'll take this," he said to the store manager.

"Nahi nahi madam, ye toh mazak kar rahey," Mahjabeen protested softly, nudging Murtasim, "Murtasim woh bohot zyaada mahenga hai"

"Han toh? Mahjabeen tum meri dulhan ho, mere bhi kuch armaan hai ki meri dulhan sabse haseen lagey," Murtasim whispered in her ear, his words laced with tenderness and devotion.

Mahjabeen's smile bubbled like a spring, her eyes shining with joy as she disappeared behind the curtain of the dressing room.

When Mahjabeen finally emerged, adorned in the heavy lehenga, Murtasim's breath caught in his throat.

"Kaisi lag rahi hu Murtasim?" she asked with a smile, her cheeks flushed with a rosy hue.

"Bohot khoobsurat," his voice barely a whisper, his eyes drinking in her beauty.

He paid for the wedding gown, and they made their way to the parlour.

Ascending to the third floor, Murtasim met the makeup artist, his instructions imparted with a sense of urgency as they had an hour.

____

At the valimah Usama entered with Maheer hand in hand, flowers were showered on them as they reached the stage, Maheer was helped to take a seat while Usama was whisked away by Bashar as he proudly introduced him to his business partners.

People clicked pictures with the bride, and Gul asked the parlour lady, "Mahjabeen kidhar hai?"

"Woh shayad apne shauhar k saath nikal gayi". Gul Khan freezes, "Kya?"

"Aapke bete k saath. Unhoney bulaya tha Mahjabeen ko".

Gul Khan cursed, "Ya Allah pehle nikkah k din ghar m band hogya uske saath, aur aaj valime k din uske saath bhaag gaya. Shahanawaz Mubarak ho ye tumhara beta hai, "she said as she looked up at the heaven.

An hour passed and music played, hand in hand Murtasim entered with Mahjabeen, who was in awe at the beauty of the hall and the flower petals they welcomed them with.

It almost felt like a movie. She looked at Murtasim when he stopped, and he gave her a sweet smile. Before twirling around, her lehenga moved with her.

The photographer took the shot, and they climbed the stage, Maheer didn't let Mahjabeen sit beside Murtasim, "Aise dulhan nahi milne waali".

Murtasim frowned. This was the first time Maheer actually talked to him with a smile, "Matlab?"

"Matlab ke paise dene padhenge"

"Woh to behen ka haq hota haina," Maheer looked at Mahjabeen, "Exactly, Mahjabeen mai tumhari kya hu?"

"Behen," she laughed, looking at Murtasim's annoyed expression, Maheer shook her head, "Nahi behen se bhi badhkar, toh behen se zyaada paise lungi".Gul aapa appeared on the stage and passed Murtasim an envelope, and he gave it to Maheer, who finally let him sit with his bride.

"Mahjabeen apna haq bhi maang sakti tum", Maheer chimed, Murtasim laughed and stood up, walked towards the entrance blocking Usama.

"Mahjabeen jaldi aao," she stood up and walked towards Usama.

"Mera haq?" She asked, and Usama was stuck there, unable to look away. Spellbound by her beauty, the feelings in his heart resurfaced, and then her words registered in his brain. He felt guilty...

Maheer noticed the look in his eyes, and her happiness from before vanished. As Usama stood there like a statue, people looking, and that's when someone placed a check in Mahjabeen's hand.

She looked at the man. "Ek crore rupey Maheer ki behen k liye," Bashar said, and Mahjabeen recognised the look in his eyes, then he whispered, "Kal k liye sorry". Mahjabeen glanced at Maheer, who was giving Bashar a thums up.

"Maafi na maangey aap, galatfehmi thi bas".

"Khush raho," Murtasim was shocked. The man who had traumatised him in childhood was blessing Mahjabeen.

Gul Khan's phone rang. She looked at the contact and picked it up, "Asif kidhar ho?"

"Woh chodho maine tumhe ek video bheja hai," Gul cuts him off, "Dimaag kharab h kya? Bete ka valimaah h aur tum bahar ghumre videos forward kar rahey".

Asif listens to her, "Gul, you wouldn't want to miss this one."

She sighed and opened her app. It was cctv footage of yesterday she could see the first floor. She saw Mahjabeen enter her room, then Murtasim, looking through each room, looking for her.

A few minutes passed, and Bakhtu walked upstairs, locking the door of room two were in.

Gul Khan looked up at the stage and at her phone. Anger burning in her eyes, realising it was all a scheme to trap her son. The father daughter duo played her.

___

Upcoming: Possessive Murtasim❤️