I am wrapping the mat after finishing my namaz when I hear a knock on the door.
"Salam bhabhijaan!", Daniyal walks in smiling and confident as ever.
He doesn't seem one bit nervous or scared about his big day. All these Pir men are just too over confident.
"Dulhe miya hamare yha tashreef laye hain. Kahi dar to nahi lag rha", I tease him.
"Jo apka wajood hai usse kaise darna bhabhijaan. Bachpan se is cheez ke liye train hua hu mai. Aur mai taiyaar hote hi pehle apke paas aya hu, kyuki mai chahta hu mere stars ap pin kare. Aur gul poshi me bhaijaan me sath ap khadi ho, Huda nai", he speaks with confidence, not afraid of offending his brother.
Huda api arrived yesterday, stating she just didn't want to delay her stay there. Ever since Gaddi Nasheen has been occupied in making her comfortable.
" Daniyal ap kyu jung chedna chahte hai. Aaj apki Gul poshi hai, mai koi kharabi nahi chahti", I say not knowing what is Gaddi Nasheen thinking. Maybe he wants to announce his Nikah with her today, then I wouldn't want to step up with him.
He pulls the stool over so I stand on it to reach his height, I grab the stars from his hand and pin them on his uniform, tapping his shoulders in appreciation and he slowly but steadily develops a smile, I can sense the nervousnes behind it though.
So I pat his cheeks, "Apse zyada kabil is post ke liye koi nahi hai Daniyal. Aap Pir khandaan ka naam roshan karenge", I smile tentatively and get down.
"Ab jaiye mujhe taiyaar hona hai, akhir mere ekloute devar ka Nikah hai aur sabse pyari jethani lagna hai mujhe, aur ek baat apko abhi iktala kardu Daniyal. Agar Gaddi Nasheen aaj apna aur Huda ka Nikah announce karte hai, to ap gusse me koi harkat nahi karenge. Aapko meri kasam. Aur ha, us surat me mai aaj hi apna taqt chod dungi aur Gaddi Nasheen se khule ki guzarish karungi, umeed hai ap mere sath rahenge is faisle me", I mumble trying to keep my emotions in check.
Daniyal doesn't seem surprised at my revelation, he saw this coming. But his eyes fill with sadness, it makes me want to hug him.
"Bhabhijaan, mai hamesha apke sath khada hun magar apko bata dun apka faisla galat hai. Apki mohabbat itni kamzor nahi ki ek aurat se haar jaye. Aap bhaijaan ke liye ladna bhi nahi chahti, kya wo is kabil bhi nhi? Kya pata wo khud confused ho is waqt kya karna hai. Yahi waqt hai bhabhijaan mohabbat ka izhar karne ka. Baki jo aap sahi samjhe"
His words ring in my brain until I bang my hand against something hard. Even then, the bleeding in my heart is still stronger than the stinging sensation in my hand.
