"No, Ammi, absolutely not! I will not marry that foolish girl!"
Atish snapped the moment Tehmina Begum brought up the topic. Mashal and Ali exchanged a startled glance while Tehmina Begum's temper flared.
"Oh really? Then who do you want to marry?"
She asked calmly.
"It's not that, Ammi! I just... don't want to get married right now. And even if I do someday, Meher… it's definitely not going to be her."
His tone turned bitter as he uttered her name.
"Why? What's wrong with Meher? She's beautiful, educated, and has completed her studies."
She tried to reason with him.
"Ammi, you know what she's like. Just think — how would I even tolerate her? That clumsy girl, who knows nothing, and on top of that… her mouth? No, Ammi. Just no."
He kept grumbling.
"Talk about yourself and watch your words about my girl! I'll twist your ear if you speak nonsense again!"
She sat next to him on the sofa. Atish turned his head to look at her helplessly — as if she was all set to hang him.
"Ammi, I just don't like her. We have no understanding, and our temperaments—"
"Enough!"
She cut him off.
"I didn't ask whether you like her or not. I'm only saying that you and Mashal should get married at the same time. Besides, my Meher is such a sweetheart, you'll fall in love with her yourself."
She said softly — and dropped another bomb. He stared at her dumbfounded while Mashal burst out laughing.
"Please, Ammi! Don't do this injustice to me!"
He pleaded.
"Ammi, if bhai doesn't want to marry her, then get me married instead. You know I'm your obedient son. I never say no! So what if Meher api is five years older than me? Even if she hits me, it won't hurt — I'll accept it with love!"
Ali said dramatically. Atish gave him a murderous glare and Tehmina Begum snapped:
"Shut your mouth, or I'll slap you!"
"Exactly! Why are you banging your head on a stone? Didn't you see how bhai glares at Meher api all the time? And that poor girl is always scared of him! If they get married, she'll probably die from the stress!"
Before she could grab her slipper, Ali bolted from the room.
"Can't you fulfill just one wish of your mother?"
She asked helplessly.
"Ammi, your every command is sacred to me. But this one? I'm sorry. I just can't."
He turned to Mashal.
"Please talk to her, Mashal."
Mashal, who was enjoying the show with a hidden smile, spoke up:
"Ammi is absolutely right. Just think — once I leave this house, it'll be so quiet. Ali will be at university, you'll be at work… and Ammi will be all alone. But Meher? She'll light up this home with her presence."
Her tone turned playful near the end. Atish felt dizzy — that light was exactly what he didn't want!
"Ammi, she doesn't know anything — not housework, not anything else..."
He wanted to add that he hated noise — no, despised it — but Tehmina Begum cut in again.
"So you don't need a wife, you need a maid? Fine! I'll start searching for a maid's proposal for you."
Mashal's laughter escaped her lips while he went silent.
"Ammi, please listen—"
"Enough, Atish! I've heard enough from you. Fine, if you don't want to marry Meher, I'll tell Tayyaba that Mashal can't marry Zaryab either!"
Mashal's face turned pale. Atish stared at his mother in disbelief — That harsh? Tehmina Begum appeared calm, but inside, she was shaken. If Atish truly refused…? She was his mother — she knew what Mashal felt for Zaryab. Knew how deep her feelings ran.
And Atish wondered, Am I really so selfish that I'd destroy my sister's happiness just to satisfy my own ego?
His mother had laid a trap — one he could neither escape, nor live peacefully within.
He looked at Mashal — her face was pale, ghost-like. Something stirred in his heart.
"You're being unfair to Mashal. What's her fault in all this?"
This time, his voice was filled with helplessness.
"I'm her mother, and I'll decide what's best for her. She's not like you — who argues with his own mother!"
That was the final blow. Atish didn't look at Mashal again. She quietly got up and left the room. He wanted to slap himself — how shameless could he be?
"Fine. Do whatever you want. I won't object."
He said softly, then walked out swiftly.
Tehmina Begum watched him leave in surprise, then called out loudly:
"Mashal! Come here, I have good news for you!"
"Ugh, this Mashal never picks up on cues! She herself said this whole drama was to convince him — but no, she never understands. Anyway, good! I'll go speak to Raza and Tayyaba today itself."
Overjoyed, she headed toward Mashal's room.
☆☆☆
"I have to go to my beloved's home,
I have to go to my beloved's home!"
The girls entered Meher's room, singing in unison. Mashal had a box of sweets in her hands.
Aini gleefully pulled out a rasgulla and shoved it into Meher's mouth in surprise.
"Congratulations, Meher Api!"
Aimal hugged her tightly. Struggling to swallow the sweet, Meher pushed Aimal away.
"What is wrong with all of you? Have you all gone crazy?"
She was shocked as all the girls sat around her on the bed.
"Your engagement's fixed!"
Aini said in an excited, dramatic tone.
"What? Really? With whom?"
Meher was stunned at first, then blushed slightly.
"With Atish bhai!"
Mashal dropped the real bomb now.
"A—A—Atish?"
Meher stammered, staring at Mashal whose face was lit with joy.
"Yes, with Atish bhai! That's why we're here. Khala told mom that your wedding will be alongside mine. Aren't you happy?"
Mashal asked as she noticed the shock on Meher's face.
"No... it's not like that..."
Trying to compose herself, she forced a smile.
"Did Atish agree to this?"
There was disbelief in Meher's eyes. She knew she had never meant anything special to Atish. He could barely tolerate her.
"Yes, bhai didn't agree at first, but mom convinced him,"
Mashal said casually. She knew exactly how Atish had been convinced, but she wasn't ready to share those details yet. She took Meher's hands in hers.
"You're happy, right, Meher?"
If Meher had said no, Mashal would've gone straight to their moms and stopped everything. Meher was precious to her.
Meher stayed silent for a few moments, then smiled and gently withdrew her hands.
"See! I knew it. You love bhai too!"
Mashal smiled instinctively.
"Seriously Meher? You love that grump?"
Aini asked in shock.
"N-n-no!"
Meher panicked, but Aini caught the tone immediately.
"Tell us the truth — how long has this been going on?"
"There's nothing like that, Aini. You're misunderstanding!"
Meher tried to explain.
"All eyes are on you now. Poor Meher, you're stuck!"
Just then, the maid peeked through the door.
"Mashal bibi, madam downstairs is calling Meher bibi."
"Okay, we're coming. You can go."
Mashal replied and looked mischievously at Meher.
"Get up and come with us!"
"But…"
Meher tried to protest.
"No buts! Today, mom will finalize the wedding date!"
Meher looked at everyone with a pale face, a racing heart, and worried eyes.
"What happened? We were just joking!"
Aini hugged her and kissed her cheek.
"Come on, smile now, or everyone will think you're being forced into this!"
Meher smiled faintly, placed her dupatta on her head, and surrounded by the girls, walked down to the lounge.
Mashal guided her to sit beside Tehmina Begum. She was saying something — what, Meher couldn't comprehend.
Suddenly, a ring was slipped onto her finger. Her gaze moved from the ring to Atish — he was looking right at her.
Raza Sahib and Khala Tehmina were talking to each other. Khala kissed Meher's forehead and held her close.
Meher looked at her mother, who had tears in her eyes and a smile full of joy.
Maybe she never imagined something like this could happen.
Sweets were distributed, congratulations exchanged, the ring was placed, and the wedding date was finalized.
Nayyab Phuppo was also present and looked genuinely happy.
Once again, Meher glanced at Atish. Was he really going to marry her?
Looking into his deep brown eyes, she felt like her breath had stopped.
Panicked, she stood up and stumbled into her room.
She was about to shut the door when someone pushed it open.
All four girls stood there with hands on their waists, glaring at her.
Meher was breathless as she dropped onto the couch. Her face red, cheeks blushing — she looked up at them and turned scarlet with shyness.
"Oh my God! Look at her! She's turning into a red tomato!"
Everyone burst into laughter, hugging her as their laughter filled the room like chimes.