Hana’s POV

"Hana, look... how about this one?" Fathima aapi asked, taking out dress.

Today is Fathima aapi's engagement and I don't know what to wear.So I asked aapi for help to choose my dress.

"Nah," I again rejected.

Twenty minutes passed and she had already shown me almost 25 dresses, but I didn’t like any of them.

"Come on Hana, today is my engagement, not yours," she said irritably as she turned back to the wardrobe.

"I am married," I murmured under my breath and touched the locket, smiling while thinking about my life, my husband.

"Did you say something?" Aapi’s voice pulled me out of my daydream.

She was busy in my wardrobe.

"Nothing," I mumbled.

Pulling out a beautiful peach-coloured dress, she ran to me.

"This one is perfect! I’m also wearing peach — matching matching!" she said excitedly.

And she was right. This dress is perfect.

I hadn’t had the chance to wear it yet.

I smiled and nodded. "Yes, it's beautiful... okay, now decided, I am going to wear this one," I announced, taking the dress in my hand.

"Okay now go and get ready and come to my room, I need your help," she said, pushing me into the washroom.

"Okay, I’ll be there in 30 minutes," I said and went into the washroom.

"Come fast, I am waiting!" she yelled as she walked out of my room.

I took a quick shower and, wearing my dress, I got out of the washroom.

Going in front of the mirror, I combed my hair and applied light makeup with a light pink lipstick on my lips.

As I got ready, I went to aapi's room.

"Aapi," I called out as I stepped into her room.

"MashaAllah Hanu, you look so beautiful," aapi said, looking at me.

She came to me and dragged me to her dressing table.

"Wear these bangles, they will look nice with your dress," aapi said, giving me silver-coloured bangles.

"Thank you so much, but aapi, today is your engagement, so you should think about yourself, not me," I said and made her sit in front of the mirror.

"Okay, but Hana please wear these bangles. I specially bought them for you," she said.

But I shook my head.

"Not today... InshaAllah I will wear them at your wedding," I said while taking the bangles.

"Oh... of course you will... after all, he will be there that day," aapi said, making my heart beat faster.

I turned to the other side, hiding my blush from her.

"Wh-what are you talking about?" I tried to sound normal but miserably failed.

"Rumaan. I’m talking about Rumaan. Don’t you remember I had a brother named Rumaan? I think you forgot him. Anyone could. He’s been away for the past 8 years," she started teasing me and I know her — she loves to tease me.

So I tried to play along.

"Accha (really), I don’t remember," I said, trying hard to show myself busy with her stuff, but I knew my cheeks were red by now.

"WHAT?!" she yelled, looking at me with wide eyes like she just saw a dead body walking.

What a drama queen, I thought and rolled my eyes.

"Ya Khuda, ye sunne se pehle main behri kyun nahi ho gayi (Oh God, I should've turned deaf before hearing this)," she said dramatically, putting both her hands on her ears.

"Mera bechara bhai (my poor brother)! His wife forgot him... ab kya hoga uska? (what will happen to him now?)" she continued her act, and I kept looking at her drama.

"Aapi...." I called her, raising my eyebrows. She looked at me and then we both burst into laughter.

"Seriously, aapi... bechara bhai?" I asked between my laughter.

"What are you both doing?" Mama asked, coming into the room.

We both looked at her. She came and stood in front of us.

"Why are you not ready yet, Fathima? What were you both doing all this time?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at us.

"We were talking about her husband," before I could say anything, aapi said, making my eyes go wide open.

"What?! No... Mama... sh-she’s lying," I said hurriedly, stammering. Mama looked at me and a smile appeared on her lips.

"It’s okay beta, you have every right to talk about him," she said, coming closer to me and kissing my forehead.

"Finally after 8 years, he’s coming... soon your wait will end, beta... InshaAllah," she said, and I could see her eyes filling with tears.

"InshaAllah," I whispered and hugged her as a silent tear escaped my eye. We both are waiting for him.

I am eagerly waiting to see him in front of me.

But mama... she was waiting eagerly for the day she could announce to the world that I am her daughter-in-law.

She really loves me — she has always treated me like a daughter.

Not only mama but everyone here loves me so much.

I always thank my Almighty who gave me this family.

"Oh, come on, don’t start this saas-bahu drama again," aapi said, making a bored face.

"Shut up," Mama and I said in unison.

"Don’t shut me up! Today is my engagement!" aapi whined, pouting.

"Okay, now get ready! You only have an hour before your in-laws arrive," Mama said hurriedly and walked out.

As she left, I turned to aapi. She was trying to show herself busy, but I knew better.

"What was that?" I asked, crossing my arms.

"What?" she asked innocently, as if nothing happened.

"Aapi...."

"Hanu please, let me get ready, they’ll be here soon," she said, cutting me off.

"Okay, I forgive you because today is your engagement, but next time..." I pointed my finger at her.

She just shrugged her shoulders and went to change her dress.

______________

The engagement function went really well, all were really happy. Marziya Aapi also came with her 2 sons, Ruban (7 years) and Arif (4 years). She will be staying here for a few months because she was 7 months pregnant with her 3rd child. I was so happy when I heard that news that Aapi will be staying with us.

After dinner, all are going to their rooms while I was seated in the living room with my 2 nephews watching cartoons.

"Come on boys, go to your bed," Marziya Aapi came to the living room and said.

"Mama, we'll go after 10 minutes," Ruban said.

"Ruban, off that thing and both of you go to your room right away," Aapi said sternly.

"Oh Aapi's mood is not good.. go, baby, if you want to save yourself," I whispered to them.

We all know Aapi's mood swings. She gets angry easily. Ruban quietly got up and went to his room while Arif followed him.

"Why are you here? You're not sleepy?" She asked, giving me her scary look.

"Yes, I am.. I was about to go," I said, smiled nervously toward her, I start walking.

"Hanu... come here," Aapi called me and sat on the sofa. I went toward the sofa and took a seat next to her.

"I heard that next week he is coming?" Aapi asked looking at me and I know who she was referring to. I looked down and nodded slightly, a small smile appeared on my lips.

"Hmmm.." Aapi hummed.

I looked up at her, she looked disturbed.

"Kya hua Aapi? (What happened sister?) Are you ok?" I asked holding her hand.

She looked at me and sighed.

"I heard from people that he can't stand with the same girl for long. Hana, he's spoiled," Aapi said. I sighed.

"People means Muneeb? Aapi, you know him, he's a joker. Don't take him seriously," I said, trying to ignore that uneasy feeling in my heart.

"I didn't take Muneeb seriously. But what about the pictures and captions I saw on his social accounts? Every month he has new girlfriends. And I know you also saw it but tried to ignore it. don't you?." Aapi asked but I didn't say anything.

"Hana, I care for you. You're my only sister, my baby sister. I just want your happiness, nothing else," Aapi said, cupping my face. And I saw her eyes filled up with tears.

"Maan is my happiness," I uttered without thinking.

I saw Aapi's tears escaping.

"Aapi don't worry.. he is just distracted. But you will see when he'll be back and see me he'll forget everything. And he will be mine after all I am his wife. He has to be mine," I stated and now my eyes filled up with tears and hope.

But deep down I was also afraid. what if he never accepts our nikah. What if he left me. What if he divo..... No no no!! this can't happen. I have full faith in my Allah in my nikah and my unconditional love for him.

"I hope so.." Aapi said wiping her tears.

Kissing my forehead, she stood up and walked towards her room.

I went to the garden to relax. I was restless after talking to Aapi. I assured her that nothing bad will happen but what about my heart. How can I assure my heart when I myself also saw on his account his pictures with girls and captions my baby. my girl. Love you, babe. Sexy girl and boy. And etc. My eyes start brimming with tears thinking about him being with some other girl. But I didn't let them fall as I saw swing. A small smile spread on my lips remembering our last night before he leaves for America.

Flashback

I was seated on the swing moving slowly. My eyes were fixed on the stars. Whenever I feel like depressed or I can't share my feelings with anyone I came here to talk with my parents.

Yes, Mama says that my parents are stars now. So I was here backyard of the house to tell my parents that I am very upset today and I was scared too. I don't want Maan to leave me here.

I don't know but I feel like it's not right. If he leaves me then he will never come back. When that thought crossed my mind I felt like crying. I wanted to tell Mama that I don't want him to go but I know this time no one will hear my request, not even Maan. I know he doesn't want to leave me but he also can't say anything about it because this year Maan failed. He didn't concentrate on his study. And I heard from the school that I was the reason he failed. Though Mama Baba never believed in that. They say Maan was the only reason.

But little did I know I was the reason because Maan always gets into the fight because of me.

So that's why he couldn't say no if he wanted to. He knew if he refused, his parents would get hurt even more and he didn't want them to get hurt nor me. That's why I couldn't share my feelings with anyone.

I was lost in my thoughts when I heard someone calling my name and then I found Maan was standing in front of me.

"Why are you here? And why didn't you eat your dinner?" He asked and sat beside me. I didn't say anything and looked up at the sky again.

"Hanu," he called and held my hand in his. I looked at him and couldn't hold my tears back.

"Maan," I whispered and lowered my head down.

"What happened?" He cupped my face and wiped the tears.

"You will come back na?" I asked innocently tilting my head. And he nodded quickly.

"I will. Why will I live there without you, without my parents? You're my family and I will be back soon. I have to go there only for that stupid degree. And when I get that, the very next moment I will be here in front of you with that stupid degree," he said. And I chuckled. Yes, that stupid degree was the reason.

"But you have to promise me you'll wait for me," he asked with a serious face.

"I'll Maan," I assured him putting my left hand on his which was he held my right hand.

"And you'll never befriend with boys," he continued. And I nodded with smile.

"Accha. Now you have to promise me as well," I demanded.

"Ok. What you want me to promise you?" He asked.

"You have to stay away from American girls. You know.. I heard that American girls are really pretty and when boys go there they forget about their first wife and married there... With another.... woman... Would.. you promise me?" A sob escaped from my mouth in the end just thinking about this.

"Hey, Hanu... I will never marry anyone else. YOU. ARE. MY. WIFE. and YOU. WILL. BE.... always... Remember in the end your Maan will come to you," he promised me cupping my face and I smiled.

"Maan if you forget your promise and get close to girls in there then I will rip your head off," I warned. Glaring at him.

"Woah... You're talking like Mama. Mama also warned Baba like this," he chuckled. I narrowed my eyes.

"You're very dangerous wife," he said making a fake scared face.

"I am," I said and rolled my eyes at him.

"But I still like you," he grins and kissed my both cheeks. And I immediately looked down making him laugh.

"You are just like Mama. When Baba kiss her cheeks she also looks down and smiled just like you're doing right now." he laughed.

"Maan.."

"Hana Rumaan come inside it's quite late," before I could say something Mama called us. We both sighed and walked inside holding each other's hand.

Flashback end.

I smiled remembering our promises.

"Yes, he promised me. He will come back to me InshaAllah," I assured myself with a hopeful smile.

Beep

I heard my mobile beep and took it out to check. It was a notification from Instagram. I opened it and saw Maan had uploaded a new post.

"Ellen my beauty girl"

A tear escaped my eyes. And it happened every time I saw his pictures with girls.

No Hana, you have to believe him. You are his wife and he is your husband, he is yours. He will come back. I assured myself and went inside the house.

Author's P.O.V

"Where were you, Rumaan?" Riya asked, glaring at Rumaan who just stepped into the house after a whole night.

"Farewell party, sis," Rumaan said casually.

This was his routine. He usually came home after spending the whole night outside.

"Farewell party all night?" she asked angrily.

Before Rumaan could say anything else, they heard a voice.

"Your farewell party ended at 2 am. Where were you after then?" Rumaan turned and saw Ariba.

Ariba was Riya's sister-in-law. She also lived with them.

Rumaan glared at Ariba, indicating her to shut her mouth up.

She smirked and stood behind Riya.

"You know bhabi, he was with his new girlfriend all night," she said venomously.

Riya didn't say anything. She had a feeling that he was with some girl.

Riya tried hard to keep her brother out of bad habits but failed miserably.

Whenever Rumaan didn't come home overnight, Hana's face would rotate in front of Riya.

She looked up at Rumaan disappointedly, a tear escaped her eyes.

And she walked out from there.

Rumaan tried hard to keep his dirty life away from his beloved sister.

Because he loved her so much, he couldn't see tears in her eyes because of him. It hurt him.

"What the hell!!?" he yelled at Ariba.

She just shrugged and walked to her room while Rumaan followed her.

Ariba entered her room, so did Rumaan, and he slammed the door behind him.

"What's your problem?" Rumaan shouted.

Ariba turned and came closer to him.

"What's my problem? What's your problem, Rumi?" she shouted back,

while grabbing his collar.

"You know how much I love you. Then why did you dump me?" she screamed.

"Not again, Ariba," he yelled and freed his collar from her hands.

"What... what not again? 3 months, Rahem, 3 months we were together until that Ellen came. And you left me," she said, touching his cheek.

"Woah. What the hell is wrong with you? You know we were not in any serious relationship. Even you told me that you did not want any serious relationship. We decided if any of us wanted a breakup then the other is not going to stop. I always made myself clear. So did you. Then what the hell has happened now?" he yelled, moving back.

"Love happened. I lov—"

"Oh, cut the crap," he didn't let her finish. He waved his hand in the air.

"Rum..." she called him as he walked out.

He knew she was not in love with him. She was just obsessed with him and the attention she got from their college being his girlfriend for so long.

Hana was on cloud nine today because tomorrow her Maan was coming.

Her heart was beating so fast in excitement. She waited 8 years for the day that was coming tomorrow. She couldn't believe she was going to meet her Maan, her best friend, her husband, her everything.

She couldn't sleep the whole night; she just kept thinking about Rumaan and what she was going to talk to him about. What would he do when he sees her after 8 years? Will he come to her running? Is he going to hug her? Or maybe a kis... She shyly covered her face when she remembered that kiss Rumaan gave her before

leaving. Their first kiss. That thought filled Hana's heart with more love and happiness.

Now she was just waiting for him to come back and take her in his arms.

★★★★