Chapter 27 Laal DupattaThe next day, Aahil and Sanam were up and ready for the next important event for their wedding...the chunri. Latif had gotten them to wake up early to prepare for today. In the kitchen, Asma and Rehan were preparing food along with the other workers. Right then, Latif came in. "How are the food preparations coming?" Latif asked.
"Good. We're almost done." Rehan replied.
"That's good. Asma, I need you to go out with Sanam." Latif told Asma.
"Me? For what?" Asma asked.
"I need you to help Sanam buy some jewelry to match the lehenga she's wearing for today." Latif said.
"It's okay, Asma. I can handle it from here." Rehan told Asma.
"Okay. You just need to finish ten more kilos of ladoos." Asma said.
"Okay. Now go along with Sanam. She's waiting outside." Latif said.
Asma nodded and left the kitchen. Latif left the kitchen and headed down to the living room where Aahil was sitting. "So why am I here?" Aahil asked.
"Today's the chunri day! We'll need to select the chunri," Latif replied. "Usually the mother does this job. By the way, who are Sanam's parents?" Aahil remained silent at the question. "Well...her parents...are no more. Like mine." Aahil said.
Latif gave a surprised face. "The original marriage she was forced into was from her uncle...who took her in." Aahil lied, remembering the story Rehan told Latif.
"Oh...I'm sorry. Thing is...we need to know her parents names at least for the nikah," Latif said. "Anyways, that's okay...you can select the chunri." Aahil looked at Latif, surprised. "Me?"
"Yes. I'll bring the selection." Latif said. Latif left the living room and came back, holding a variety of chunris. "Here's the selection. Pick one from these." Latif told Aahil. Aahil looked at all the chunris, looking at each one with intricacy. He got bored upon seeing each one...until he got to the last one. The last chunri was a red dupatta with beautiful gold, green, and studded embroidery. Aahil felt the fabric of the dupatta with his hand. "I like this one." Aahil said.
"That one!" Latif exclaimed. "Very nice choice! I think it will suit Sanam a lot!" Aahil handed the chunri to Latif and followed Latif out of the living room.
The night had arrived. All the guests were arriving for the festivities. Zayn and Aaliyah had come especially early. Aaliyah and Asma had gine upstairs to help Sanam get ready, while Aahil was with Zayn, coversing with other guests. Haider, Humeira, and Hurya had just arrived as well. "Haider...how are we going to approach Sanam?" Humeira asked Haider.
"I don't know, Humeira. We have to before the nikah. Sanam needs to know who her family is before then." Haider said.
"Abbu, I'll be back." Hurya told Haider.
"Okay, beta." Haider said.
Hurya budged around in the crowd and headed upstairs. She went down the hall, and found Sanam's room where she saw Sanam talking to Aaliyah and Asma. The three girls looked at Hurya as she came in the room. Hurya looked at Sanam, amazed at her beauty. Her hair was let down, and she wore a beautiful pink lehenga with multicolored borders on the choli. She wore dangling gold earrings and matching necklace and bangles to go with it. "Yes?" Sanam asked.
"Hi. I'm Hurya. I really wanted to see you." Hurya told Sanam.
"Oh...nice to meet you. Please sit." Sanam said.
Hurya sat down along with Sanam, Asma, and Aaliyah. "Oh! I have to check on the barfi! I'll see you downstairs!" Asma told Sanam as she left the room. "I should go too. Zayn told me he needed me to meet some of his friends." Aaliyah said.
"That's okay. Hurya will help me finish getting ready." Sanam said.
"Great. See you in a bit." Aaliyah said as she then left.
Hurya helped Sanam with her hair, styling it to put her bangs on the side and she put some eyeliner on Sanam's eyes. "Mashallah! You're looking very beautiful, Sanam!" Hurya told Sanam.
"Thank you, Hurya." Sanam said.
"May I ask you something, Sanam?"
"Sure."
"Are you excited for your nikah?"
"Well...its going to be a different life for me. I've pretty much been alone my whole life. My parents died when I was just two. So...I've never felt like I had a family."
Oh Sanam...if only you knew...that all this time, you had family, Hurya thought to herself. Allah has just kept us apart for so long. But its not too late. Abbu and ammi will soon tell you everything. And then you will see...that we are here for you now.
"You may not have had family. But you had good friends with you...especially Aahil," Hurya said. "I'm sure...he must have shown you a world you had never seen before." Hurya's word hit Sanam. She...I don't believe it. She's right, Sanam thought to herself. Even though Aahil kidnapped me...and we had some rough times...he took me into a world which I could only see in pictures. I was able to go beyond the palace where I was all my life. All because of...Aahil.
"Anyways, we should get you down now. Everyone's waiting." Hurya said. Sanam smiled innocently for Hurya. Sanam stood up and Hurya walked along with her out of her room and down the stairs where all the guests looked at Sanam. Especially Aahil. Aahil couldn't take her eyes off of the radiant glow that seemed to shine upon her as she came down, looking like a princess. Hurya took Sanam to her seat. "Now that Sanam is here...we can begin the chunri rasam!" Latif announced. The guests clapped. Latif called Asma and Aaliyah to come. Both girls held the chunri in their hands and came towards Sanam. Sanam smiled in awe upon seeing the beautiful dupatta. Aaliyah and Asma then wrapped the chunri over Sanam's head while the guests clapped. Sanam smiled, sensing the beauty of the chunri, while Aahil looked at her, in awe of her gorgeous smile.
Sanam whistled quietly to Aaliyah and Asma as the guests were clapping. "Who chose the chunri?" Sanam asked Aaliyah and Asma.
"Your Aahil miya." Asma replied.
"He has very good taste for you." Aaliyah smiled.
Sanam gave a surprised face. She turned to Aahil who was looking at her. I didn't know if I should be happy for this so called nikah...but with all this...how can one not be happy? Sanam said to herself.
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