And Amna was very scared seeing the snake; she said that she would see the same snake in her dreams at night.
(Mawra was resting her head on her mother's lap and telling her all the news of the day.)
Besides that, we ate samosas, drank sherbet, and even took a swing. We had a lot of fun.
'Yes, yes, it was a lot of fun, but now you have to go to college starting tomorrow. And tomorrow, after college, we have to go to the market to buy wedding clothes,' (Ami Jan (Mother) said gently.)
'Whose wedding, Mom?' (Mawra asked in surprise.)
'Oh, it's the wedding of Akmal Sahab's daughter. He has invited all of us. He is a very good friend of your father's.'
'Yes, Mom, that's fine. I will even go to the mehndi!' (Mawra said happily.)
'Now go to sleep so you can wake up on time for college tomorrow.'
'Yes, mother, I'm going,' (Mawra got up and headed towards her room.)
Mawra's room was simple but beautiful. It had off-white colored paint, a large bed, some stationery kept on the dressing table, and a large flower vase placed on one side.
She came into her room, washed her face, and sat on the bed.
Just then, the thought of the boy she had bumped into during the day suddenly came to her mind.
She smiled to herself just thinking about him. 'Poor thing, he got himself insulted for no reason by me.
'I was so ill-mannered; I just kept speaking. He had only returned my bracelet, anyway.'
(She was thinking this and smiling at the same time. She didn't even realize when she drifted off into dreams.)
'Mawra, oh Mawra, wake up! You're getting late for college!'
Mawra opened her eyes, and Ami Jan was standing next to her.
'What is it, mother? Let me sleep a little longer,' (Mawra said irritably.)
'Don't you want to go to college? If the bus leaves, then you'll just have to sit at home.'
'Ami, what happened? I slept late last night. Fine, I'm getting up, Mom.'
She got up, quickly washed her face, and put on her uniform.
'Now, eat quickly. You never manage to wake up early in the morning.'
'Okay, Mom, I'll come and eat,' (Mawra said to her mother.)
Just then, the bus arrived, and she got on it and reached college.
Amna said, as they sat together and talked during the break, 'Seriously, how much fun we had yesterday, along with the fear!'
Zahra said, 'Yes, so much fun... What thoughts are you lost in, Mawra? Did the bump yesterday hit straight into your heart?' (Zahra said with a laugh.)
Amna said, 'Don't say that! That can never happen as long as Dawar Bhai is alive.'
Mawra said, 'I've told you before, don't take that person's name in front of me. It makes my blood boil.'
Zahra said, 'Look, Mawra, whatever you say, we are just joking, but your family got you engaged to Dawar four years ago. What can be done now?'
'It can be done! I will talk to Ami and end this engagement. I don't want to marry him.'
(Dawar is Mawra's cousin, her paternal uncle's son. Four years ago, he was engaged to Mawra. Mawra was quite young then, so she had the engagement done quietly. But she never liked Dawar.)
Zahra said, 'Then who do you want to marry?'
'Anyone, but not that Dawar!'
Just then, the break ended, and everyone went back to their classes.
When she reached home after college, her mother said, 'Come on, rest a little, and then get ready. We have to go buy clothes, I told you last night.'
Mawra said in a tired voice, 'Yes, Ami, I remember.'
(Mawra's mother's name was Ghazala Begum, and her father's name was Aslam.)"
After some time, Mawra came out of the room. She was wearing a black dress and carrying a shawl. The black color looked even more beautiful against her fair complexion.
Just then, Mawra's father arrived.
"Well, mother and daughter, are you ready? Let's go now."
Mawra's father drove the car, and they all headed towards the city.
"And Mawra, my daughter, how is your study going? Is there any problem?"
"No, Dad, no issue. Everything is fine," (Mawra replied.)
"Well, that's good."
After reaching the clothing store, the shopkeeper kept taking out and showing different suits.
"Brother, show me the blue one down there," (Mawra said, pointing to the shopkeeper.)
"Yes, I'll show it right now," the shopkeeper replied.
The shopkeeper took out a blue frock that had a lot of pearls on it.
"Oh, this is way too much, too over-the-top," (Mawra's mother said.)
"Okay, then I'll look for something else..."
"Brother, could I have some water?" (Mawra asked.)
"Sister, we've just run out of water. I'll ask the boy to get some; the cooler is right next to us."
"Mom, you look at the clothes. I'll go and drink water myself."
She went. The cooler was right in front of her. She filled a glass of water and was standing there drinking it when she heard a boy's voice from behind:
"Please give me some space."
She quickly turned around and saw that it was the same boy she had bumped into at the fair yesterday.
"Oh, it's you!"
"Yes, it is."
"Do you have anything to say today? I can drink water, or is there a problem with that too?"
"Actually, I wanted to say sorry to you. Yesterday, I said a bit too much for no reason... In fact, I should have thanked you."
The boy smiled and said, "Thank God you can say something nice too."
Mawra just stared at him wide-eyed.
(Today he was wearing a white shalwar kameez, and he looked just as handsome today as he did yesterday.)
"Here, have this chocolate. Who knows, after eating this, your tone might become a little sweeter."
This time, Mawra glared at him.
"Okay, sorry, it was just a joke."
Mawra smiled and said We are not the best of friends that you are giving me a chocolate like this, I cannot take it," saying this, she walked away.
Finally, Mawra took a green frock and a pink one that had some simple beads on it, and her mother chose a yellow dress for herself.
After buying the clothes, they drove back towards their home.
At night, Mawra was lying in her room on the bed, thinking about him again and smiling to herself.
"Does anyone give someone a chocolate like that? He's not that bad, poor thing," (she said softly to herself.)
Two days passed, and then the day of the mehndi function finally arrived.
Mawra sat down to get ready on time. She wore earrings, put on her green frock, and wore the black bracelet she had brought on her hand. She looked very beautiful.
Just then, her mother's voice came, "Mawra, come quickly, let's not be late."
Mawra came out and, along with her mother, headed towards the wedding house.
The house was decorated with colorful lights. People were dressed up everywhere. There was a small empty ground next to the house that had been decorated for the mehndi function.
"Welcome, welcome," (The bride's mother said happily to Mawra and her mother.)
"Yes, thank you," (Mawra's mother replied politely.)
Mawra and her mother entered the house.
The Mehndi (Henna) program was about to start shortly, which was to take place in the ground next to the house. Some guests went inside the house, while some people sat on the chairs arranged in the ground.
Then Mawra met the bride, who was still inside the house.
The bride was wearing a beautiful yellow-coloured dress (frock) along with artificial flower jewellery.
"You look very beautiful. May God make your destiny just as beautiful," (Mawra said softly.)
"Thank you," (The bride replied with a smile.)
After this, a girl's voice came, saying, "Come on, everyone, quickly bring the bride towards the stage..."
The bride in the middle and all the other women walked with her towards the ground. A stage was set up in the ground, and the whole area was decorated.
Mawra was also walking with the bride. She remembered that she had left her handbag where she was sitting inside.
She quickly turned back and was just about to enter the house when she bumped hard into someone.
"Oh " (Mawra said.)
Mawra looked ahead. For a moment, she just kept staring.
Then she suddenly said, "No, this cannot be a coincidence. Absolutely not a third time! What are you doing here?"
The boy smiled and said, "I can ask you the same question. What are you doing here?"
"I've come here for a wedding; I was invited," (Mawra said quickly.)
"Then I, too, have surely come here for the wedding. There couldn't be any other work here."
"Well, there are also the catering people here," (Mawra said.)
The boy simply smiled.
"By the way, everyone is leaving the house, and you are going inside..." (The boy asked softly.)
"Yes, some of my belongings were left inside."
"Shall I help?"
"No, it's just my handbag."
"Oh, I see..." (The boy said.)
"By the way, we've met for the third time. Don't you think this is some kind of sign from nature?" (The boy said, smiling slightly.)
"No, please consider it a mere coincidence," (She also said in a smiling manner and walked inside.)
Taking her bag, she returned to the ground. It was very noisy there. Women were singing. The bride was seated on the stage, and there were chairs in front of the stage where all the guests were sitting. Ladies were on one side, and gentlemen were on the other.
Mawra also came and sat on a chair there.
One by one, the women came and placed a note on the bride's hand. Everyone applied a little bit of henna on that note and also fed the bride a little sweet (mithai).
Mawra also went to the stage to apply henna to the bride. But while applying the henna, she was also looking towards the gents' side.
Perhaps her eyes were searching for someone who was not in front of her eyes.
The function ended, and she was just about to leave when she caught another glimpse of him.
Mawra's eyes were fixed on him. And they only moved when someone loudly called the boy.
"Umar, come here, meet these people."
So, Mawra found out that his name was Umar.
"That woman must be his mother," (Mawra thought to herself.)
After this, Mawra and her Mom came home.
As soon as they entered the house, Mawra said happily, "Brother, when did you come?"
And she went and hugged her brother.
"Just now. A little while before you two arrived," (Mawra's brother replied.)
(Mawra has one brother named Ali. He has completed his studies and is currently in the fields with their father. Ali is planning to go abroad in 2-3 years. So, instead of getting a job, he stays home and helps his father with the land and farming.)
"Did you bring gifts for me?" (Mawra asked excitedly.)
(Brother Ali had gone on a trip to the Northern Area and just returned today.)
"Yes, yes, I've brought lots of things for you. Come inside now."
"Look at this pendant, and these earrings," (Ali was showing Mawra the items one by one.)
"Wow, these are so beautiful," (Mawra said.)
"I saw so many mountains there, so huge, as if you would only ever see them in a dream."
"It's so hot here, but it was so cold there that we had to use blankets."
"There were mountains and greenery everywhere," (Ali was narrating the story of his trip, one detail at a time.)
"Brother, please take me someday. It's my dream to see the mountains, to see such a world," (Mawra said.)
"Yes, someday," (Brother Ali replied.) "Now, go and sleep. You have to go to
college tomorrow, or you'll be late again."
"Yes, Brother, I'm going," (Mawra said gently.)
After going to her room, Mawra cleaned off her makeup and changed her clothes.
Before sleeping, she thought she should study what she would be listening to in college tomorrow.
She had just opened her book when she remembered that conversation and that face.
(Should she consider it a sign from nature?)
She was smiling and, at the same time, thinking about him.
"What has happened to me? Why am I thinking about him?" (Mawra questioned herself.)
Thinking these thoughts, she didn't even realize when she fell asleep.