"chukki, I swear.. come out this instance" Nush screamed banging on the bathroom door..

"jeez woman, are you planning to bring the house down?" Ahaana opened the door coming out, towel drying her hair..

"yeah I would have to, because some useless prat over here just forgot that its her mehendi function tonight.."

"oh crap.. it is.." Ahaana fake-facepalmed putting on a I-just-realized-face.." but you still love me" she beamed walking over to the bed where her dress for the night has been laid on..

"holy moly cow.." Ahaana's mouth hung open on seeing the heavily embroidered apple green and silver lehenga choli lying on the bed..

"I cant wear this and Im not wearing and that's final.." she said in a dramatic tone of defiance looking at Nush..

"might as well go in this.." she rolled her eyes pointing at the tee and track pants which Ahaana was in.. "trust on you to pull this act,wear that already, its getting late chukki" she urged stealing glances at the clock..

"but Nush.. how can I stay all night in this with the mehendi in my legs and hands with the Typical desi aunties coming and straing at me like im some dummy on exhibit.." she wailed clearly annoyed..

"I know kiddo.. "nush smiled.. " let me define " desi traditions"" she air quoted the word giggling.. Have gone through all these years ago, she knew exactly how Ahaana was feeling..

"chup chup.. now get out and lemme change.. and don't go roaming again.. I clearly have no idea how this thing works too" she said sending nervous glances on the dress..

Nush laughed out loud.. "you might have had some if you dressed up properly as a girl" Ahaana frowned.. her best friend was totally enjoying her unease.. "sadist.." she muttered pushing her out, and slamming the door in her face..

A few moment later.. the room door opened and Ahaana peeped out, the nervous look now almost permanently etched on her face, searching the hallway adjacent to the room, which was packed with relatives from her side, searching for Nush..

As the mehendi function has to be done by the bride's side, they have rented a house nearby Shezaad's for a month and has prepared it to suit the occasion.. just 2 days before her realtions had started to arrive and now the house resembled the typical desi wedding houses with fairy lights adorning the entrance and the smell of different types of dosi and paint engulfing them in a enchanting fragrance..

smiling at all the faces in the hall, her eyes finaaly found the culprit sitting on a couch and munching some goodies, chatting with her cousins..

she tried to calling Nush without attracting the attention of her teenage cousins but no, that duffer was too involved that she even forgot that she was supposed to help the bride..

after many a futile attempts, Nush finally lifted her head to meet Ahaana's eyes and slowly came up to the door while Ahaana pulled her inside and slammed the door shut...

"what were you think you were doing instead of helping me?" she asked infuriated and clearly annoyed..

"enjoying my best friend's wedding.. she replied popping fried goodies in to her mouth.." she replies nonchalantly..

"help me zip this up nush.. and the hell am I wearing it right?, and what am I to do with such a long dupatta.." she muttered looking self consciously at the heavy weight hugging her petite figure..

"woaaaah" Nush exclaimed scrutinizing Ahaana from head to toe.. " you look okay.." she clicked her tongue carelessly..

"all that whoa and you say I look just okay?" Ahaana exclaimed back..

" I cannot lie can I?" Nush asked in a matter of fact tone.. " and remember even if u look fabulous, you would always look just OKAY to me.. now turn.." she pulled Ahaana harshly zipping up the top.. " and with the dupaata.. leave it to me.."

"Nush where is Itthu bhai? and please can u help Mayu to come up, she would be arriving in another 15 minutes.. and poor girl she is new to this place so just help her settle can u?"

" Itthu and shezaad I have no idea where the pair is.. and as for Mayera I will.. " she said begrudgingly..

"what's with the tone bush? you know Mayu right?" Ahaana asked looking at nush in the mirror while she fixed the dupatta..

" I know I know her Ahaana Maryam.. just stop calling her Mayu will ya.." she screamed looking anywhere but her..

" oh you jealous cow.. she is just a kid duffer who was such a relief for me during my teaching days.." Ahaana replied hiding a smile, realization dawning on her " besides, I thought you knew I love only you my boy friend.." she said in a baby voice laying back against nush..

"stop with the drama.. I know- she stopped in track when the door banged open and walked in Ashaan carrying a beaming Haala adorned in a pale pink neenga while her curls hun around her head.. she jumped down from his arms and came running to Ahaana..

"you look pwetty.. cachi.." Haala cooed hugging her tight.. looking at nush with a mock smile Ahaana mouthed " learn from her..

"Nush di.. Anaa.. " Ashaan wailed bringing back their attention to him.. " ask Haala to stop calling me uncle and to call me bhaiyya instead.. Nush and Ahaana burst into a fit of uncontrolled laughter that they took almost 5 minutes to regain control.. making him go red in the face..

"but ana.. he is my uncle ne.." Haala countered back grinning widely..

" he sure is Haala.. keep calling him uncle no matter what.." Ahaana spoke to Haala making Ashaan huff.. kneeling down to her level "baby im your uncle but can u please stop calling me that infront of some good looking girls.. you shouldn't hurt you uncle's heart should you.. Allah is all watching.."

"really? how? does allah has ctcv cameras? but isn't he busy to see what im doing?" she asked innocently cocking her head to a side adorably making the others giggle..

" ohh you mean CCTV cameras..yeah baby he sure has.. he is all watching.. even if he is busy he can rewind all you did even ages ago.. so don't call me uncle remember now come lets go.." he took her hand and walked away while Itthu walked inside..

"where were you both?" nush shot at him while Ahaana stood struck on contemplating on What Ashaan just said..

"I was away doing last minute shopping for mum, while Shezaad went back to office because Muaad wanted him.." he replied stretching his arms wearily and lying on the bed.. "he doesnt need time as much as you girls need to get ready" he chuckled..

"What's with this Muaadh guy anyways... he made Shezaad late for his engagement and  he wants Shezaadh now in the office too?, cant he find someone else to help him? why does he always want shezaad?" nush huffed..

"he is an orphan sweet heart, besides he kinda idolizes shezaad, don't worry he will be back..- " wow little sis looking good" he giggled snapping his fingers at Ahaana who paid no attention to the conversation and seemed to be lost in thoughts..

"bhai can you do me favour?" she asked coming out of her trance.. " you remember the day of the accident? shezaad said that a little boy passed him a letter that afternoon saying he got stuffs against me.. Will you be able to get me that clipping? she asked shivering, her hands clammy with sweat..

" yeah sure chukki.. give me 10 minutes can u?" he asked pulling out his phone while Ahaana nodded..

meanwhile she let Nush do the finishing touches in her dupaata, while her heart thudded against her ribcages..

precisely in another 15 minutes Ilthumish walked in staring at something at his phone.. " chukki here it is.." he said handing over the phone and watching over her shoulders..

seeing the clippings, Ahaana's heart dipped like a yoyo down to her tummy and bouncing back, the snacks she had turning out into a ball of lead wanting to come out making her unavble to speak..

"No.. this cant be".. she muttered almost in tears.."

"do you know him chukki? Nush questioned putting an arm around her.. while Itthu stared at the video open mouthed..

"no way.. he bellowed.. " he looks like Muaadh.. he replied veins popping in his neck face contorting with rage..

"Muaadh? no bhaiyya.. Its Umaidh.. Its Umaidh Ibrahim.." Ahaana stuttered " bhai do you have a recent picture of this Muaadh guy?"

Ilthumish nodded rummaging through his phone he brought out a picture of shezaad and Itthu with their arms around a guy of 23/24.. Ahaana gasped..

"that's no Muaadh, that's Umaidh.. Umaidh Ibrahim.. Hamadh's little brother.. He was the little one who was living with us during the days I spent in Hamadh's place.. but him? why would he? he was always good to me .." Ahaana mumbled clearly surprised at the turn of events..

"his brother? but we were in the idea that it was all Hamadh's doing.."

" bhai..are you all insane.." She almost screamed.." Hamadh would never do that to me.. he never wanted me in his life in the first place why would he take so much pains in separating me and Shezaadh.. but Umaidh- why would he? I always treated him like my little brother.." she finished in a low voice laced with hurt..

"there is only one way to find out Ahaana.." Itthu said looking at her in the eyes.. " it's high time he spoke some truth.."

AUTHOR'S NOTE..

SOOO FINALLY REVEALED.. ANYONE EXPECTED THIS?

ANY IDEA WHY UMAIDH WOULD HAVE DONE THIS??

AND YEAH ABOUT THE LAST CHAPTER..
Some of you all were confused about the marriage traditions ive included in the story..

And i'd like to say that this is all in the typical srilankan style as Im a pure srilankan..

First when the two sides of the bride and groom s family are okay.. the engagement takes place.. and if they wish further the Nikkah is done and the bride and groom stays till the preferred time and conducts the wedding reception and  waleema..

And dosi is the signature sweet in every mehendi wedding thats made using different types of fruits cooked in syrup..

And then any more question?
Ping me up..

And yeah until next time..

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