Page 53 of First Comes Marriage
Reshma remembered that there was a possibility that they might see his cousin Safiya today and wondered if that could be on his mind too. Given how affected he’d been when he’d told her about their history, she was sure that the thought of seeing her would dredge up strong emotions for Zafar.
She spotted him now, standing with Shoaib and Khalil, looking devastatingly handsome in his tailored suit. She often saw him dressed like that for work and had always found him to look especially handsome, but over time she’d become immune to it. Maybe because she had become somewhat immune to him. But not today.
When she’d seen him sans tie and jacket, he’d looked mouth-wateringly good, but the whole look? Wow.
He flicked his gaze towards her and winked, as though he knew exactly what she was thinking. Reshma felt warmth bloom in her cheeks and immediately ducked her head, lest she give herself away.
Of course, her bloodhound of a cousin had witnessed the exchange and nudged her. ‘Things are looking nice and toasty between you both. Anything you’d like to share with Auntie Niya?’
‘Yes, actually. I think it’s time Auntie Niya found me an uncle, so she can get off my back and concentrate on him.’
Haniya shuddered. ‘If I wasn’t dressed to the nines, I’d march you to the bathroom and wash your mouth with soap myself. This lehenga’s too heavy for the effort.’ Reshma laughed and Haniya grinned at her. ‘Ignoring your rudeness,I’m glad things are going well. I told you all you needed was some time and space.’
Reshma pretended to bow to Haniya and she patted the top of her head in return as they giggled.
‘I’m going to grab a drink. I feel like I’ve not eaten or drunk anything all day and I’m starving. Come,’ Haniya said as she linked arms with Reshma and they went towards the makeshift bar where welcome drinks were being served, picking up a glass each.
Reshma felt a soft tap on her shoulder and turned to find a young woman, around her own age and height, standing in front of her. She didn’t recognise her, though she thought there was something familiar about her. Reshma was certain that if she’d been introduced to her, she would have remembered her because her eyes were a distinct green, like polished jade. She was wearing a gorgeous mint-green suit with golden embroidery on it and her dupatta was draped over one shoulder, gold fringing on its border. Her hair was long and loose, like a dark waterfall, ending at the small of her back.
She regarded Reshma with a tentative smile. ‘Reshma?’
Reshma nodded her head and the hesitancy left the woman’s expression. ‘My name is Safiya, I’m …’ she paused, her smile faltering, but she didn’t need to finish her sentence. Reshma realised why she had looked familiar, yet unknown to her. She could see the resemblance with Daadi on Safiya’s face, it was just the eyes that were different.
Reshma smiled back at the woman. ‘I know who you are, Safiya.’ She embraced her and felt Safiya’s arms come around her and hold her close. They eased away and regarded each other with smiles on their faces. Reshma introduced Haniya and Safiya to each other and then looked around the gathering. ‘Daadi and Zafar will beover the moon to see you. They should be around here some—’
She felt Safiya’s grip on her arm. ‘No. I just wanted to meet you. I’m not sure they’ll want to see me, it’s been too long and I don’t want to cause any kind of disruption at your family’s function. I just wanted to say hello to you. You’re gorgeous and I hope you and …’ She swallowed hard. ‘Zaf are happy. He deserves to be happy.’ She whispered Zafar’s name and Reshma felt her heart break.
There was so much packed into those few sentences, a world of pain and anguish. And what Reshma knew of Safiya’s story made it that much harder for her to watch her give her a sad smile and move away towards a group of people Reshma didn’t recognise before she could say or do anything to stop her.
‘Who is that? I know you said she’s Zaf’s cousin but … what’s the deal?’ Haniya asked as they both looked in Safiya’s direction.
‘It’s a long story, which I’ll explain later. I just want to make sure that before she leaves here, she gets to talk to Zafar and Daadi.’
‘Girls?’ Reshma heard Auntie Bilqis call them over and, casting a final glance Safiya’s way, she followed after Haniya.
The pair of them went with Shoaib and Khalil to Saleema’s suite, where she was with her parents. She looked radiant in dark green and gold, her eyes full of joy and hope. She hugged everyone in turn and then they all made their way to the Grand Room, where a dais had been set up in the middle for the nikah.
Nomaan was already sitting on one side of the partition, a rectangular frame with garlands of flowers wrapped around it and sheer curtains hanging from the upper part to prevent people on one side from seeing the other.The screen would be removed after the ceremony, when Nomaan and Saleema would see each other as husband and wife for the first time.
With her parents on either side of her, Saleema made her way into the room. Khalil and Haniya walked behind them and Reshma and Shoaib followed. Behind her were some of Saleema’s cousins from her father’s side of the family.
Saleema took her place on the dais beside her parents and her brother, and the rest of them went to their respective seats.
A hush fell over the gathering and then the imam began reciting his sermon, talking about the institution of marriage and the responsibilities of a husband and a wife towards each other, their families and the community as a whole.
Reshma watched as the imam moved onto the ceremony and asked Saleema if she accepted her marriage with Nomaan. He asked her the same question three times, as was customary, and then he did the same with Nomaan.
Reshma felt Zafar shift in his seat next to her and in the next moment his hand closed over hers where it rested on her leg, squeezing it gently. She looked up at him and saw him closely watching the proceedings on the dais. His expression was intent and his eyes looked bright.
This was the first time they were attending someone else’s nikah ceremony after their own and, naturally, Reshma’s mind went to their nikah. The set-up had been similar, in as much as they had also sat on two sides of a screen and the imam had given a similar sermon before asking them individually if they accepted each other in marriage. Reshma remembered some of those moments with clarity, while other memories were hazier.
The one thing she recalled clearly was the moment when Shoaib and Ashar had removed the screen between her andZafar and she’d seen him for the first time that day. She’d looked at him and he’d looked at her as soon as they’d been able to, and with everyone’s eyes on them, they’d been caught and teased mercilessly. Reshma had dropped her gaze and Zafar had tried to fudge over the moment. It was a memory that brought a smile to her face.
She remembered thinking how lucky she was that the handsome man in front of her – with dimples, no less – was nowher husband. They belonged with each other in a way they didn’t belong with anyone else. And, in that moment, a small part of her had fallen in love with him.
And the truth was, she’d never fallen out of love with Zafar, not entirely at least.
Yes, he had faults and flaws, who didn’t? But he’d put his hands up and owned up to them and made a conscious effort to make changes and show her a different side of himself while they’d been here and that had to count for something, didn’t it? It was more than anyone else in her life who had wronged her had ever done, her father first and foremost.
