“You said you’d tell me what happened with Ammi at the barat,” Ray said when they were back at home after Amani’s barat....
She found herself in her old bedroom after the mehndi with Gohar, who looked extremely worried....
Apparently, Sameer wasn’t okay with Hina accepting him as her life partner three months after they had been married....
‘I’m getting married in three months,’ Amani said. Hina and Gohar wrapped her up in a big hug. ‘Congratulations!’ Hina and Gohar said...
‘Beautiful, beautiful!’ said the photographer. Click. ‘One more! Click, click....
‘No, I’ll go with you,’ Hina said, trying to jump off the bed but immediately getting pulled down by her heavy bridal dress....
Finally, it was time for rukhsati. Sameer and Hina stood up amidst a crowd of photographers, family and friends....
“I don’t know what to think about you,” Ray said after a long pause. “You don’t look 100 percent sure and that bothers me.”
“That’s should not make you unhappy! It is exciting to have your family around you when you are all dolled up on your special day!” Gohar...
“You went over all the basic important things you should check about your future spouse,” Ray said. “Did you want to add something to the...
Ammi seemed to wake up from her usual state of always being still and composed. “You will do as I say,” Ammi said. “That is all that matters.”
“Be careful what you wish for,” Sameer said. Hina laughed at hearing the smile in his voice....
Gohar’s sister shook her head. “This is enough,” she said, closing her fingers over the money....
The three friends moved off the dance floor to let the next group come in. Amani and Hina walked Gohar back to the stage....
“It’s about time you and Gohar made up,” Amani said. “We barely have any time left for dance practice, as it is.”
“You are talking to me here,” Hina said firmly, and Sameer laughed....
By the end of it, Hina did not want to look at a bridal dress ever again. Ammi seemed thoughtful....
“Go away, you don’t exist for me anymore,” Hina said, opening the door and letting him in...
“What is this noise about?” Abbu’s voice came from the living room. “I’m trying to read in here.”
“I never thought about this happening,” Hina said emphatically. “Ever.” She stared at Ray....
“It’s an emergency,” Gohar said. Hina, Amani and Gohar were on a group call that Gohar had suddenly arranged out of nowhere....
Hina accepted the phone, gripping it tightly. When Ammi left the room, Ray immediately turned to Hina....
“What do you mean?” Hina asked, only to be answered by Gohar’s sobs. “Come on, Gohar. You called me for a reason.”....
“All right,” Hina said. “My turn to ask the question related to your field of work. What’s your favourite work of architecture?”
However, her reply to Sameer was a direct, “See you.”...
As the phone rang, Hina considered if she would have the guts to ask for what she wanted. When Sameer picked up, she dove in headfirst....
She did not know how much conversation she could sneak in sideways, but she was going to try!
The memory of the phone photo needed some brushing up to make it suitable for her daydream about the picnic....
“That’s how you introduced yourself? Girl, you’ve got some learning to do,” Amani said....
“Hello?” Sameer picked up the phone, ready for scam callers, telemarketers or any combination of the two....
“What do you think is the best thing to do first once I get a green light regarding calling Sameer?” Hina asked...
She grabbed the door handle leading into the living room but paused to look back at Ray...
If this was doll’s play, then where was her groom doll? Was she going to be a singular bride doll sitting on this sofa all evening? She twitched...
Amani raised her eyebrows. “For all we know, your guy’s family is keeping him as much in the dark as your family is,” she said...
Hina smashed whatever was left of her samosa into mush at the bottom of her plate. “I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know!” she said,...
“You said you knew someone who knows about him,” Hina said through clenched teeth. “This is just a Google search.”
Hina rolled her eyes and slipped into a seat opposite Ray. “Yeah, yeah, I get it; I hardly ever let you in here,” she said....
Amani regarded Hina over the tips of her fingernails as she inspected her nail colour....
Sameer had yet to realise why this year’s Eid celebration was going to be bigger than usual....
We’ve had so much time to get information out of you. Hina’s engagement is still new. Give her some time.”
“Tell your mother to make room for me at the table,” Gohar said. “I’m coming over.” She cut the call...
Hina was not in a surrendering mood.“If you say that again, I will throw your game console in the bathtub and run the water till it’s full,”...
Amani, Gohar and Hina slipped into their regular spot and waved away the menu cards, which the waiter always offered them for some reason, even...
True. True. And true. But. I am older than you, but not old enough to marry someone your age....
Inaya’s repeat O Levels result is out. Her siblings realise she must have checked it on her phone all by herself and hurry to her room....
The family room on the day before the results for Inaya’s second attempt of the annual O Levels final exams is a scene to behold....
Inaya, the middle child, argued that Leena liked to study, so for her studying was its own reward.....
You know she got kicked out of college after getting admission and starting classes...
Let’s welcome back the Moin family. It’s the summer holidays, but academic issues are not on break for the three siblings....
Jasir and Inaya listen to their big sister Leena talk about the importance of Jasir’s studies, but Jasir has a question....
