— Mehendi Ceremony —

---

The backyard of Zoya’s family house had been transformed into a kaleidoscope of green and gold. Drapes fluttered in the gentle wind, fairy lights twinkled from the trees, and every inch was scented with fresh flowers and mehendi cones.

Zoya sat at the center — her hands stretched forward, the intricate henna design crawling slowly up her palms and arms.

“She’s glowing,” whispered one of the cousins.

“She should be,” Aarfa giggled, fanning her. “It’s her mehendi after all.”

Zoya glanced up from under her long lashes, blushing hard. “Don’t start.”

“I heard Akif is not allowed to see the mehendi yet,” Nida joined, winking. “It’s supposed to be a surprise.”

Zoya rolled her eyes but smiled. “He better faint when he sees it.”

Aarfa laughed. “Oh he will. Trust me.”

---

Meanwhile—

Akif stood outside the house, looking... panicked.

“Bro, relax. It’s just mehendi,” Ayaan said, adjusting his kurta.

Akif tugged at his sleeves. “Why am I nervous?”

“Because your fiancée is sitting in there, probably looking like a goddess.”

Akif shut his eyes. “I can’t even go see her.”

“Nope. Women’s function. Strict rules. But I can sneak a photo if you want,” Ayaan offered with a smirk.

“Don’t you dare.”

---

Inside, the music started. Traditional beats mixed with Bollywood wedding songs.

“Zoya! Zoya! Dance!” the crowd cheered.

With mehendi on her hands, Zoya pouted. “How do I dance with wet hands?!”

“I’ll hold them up for you!” Aarfa grinned, grabbing her elbow.

And then the chaos began.

Laughter, dancing, clapping — petals flying in the air as everyone twirled around the bride-to-be.

A little while later, Zoya sat back down, heart racing and cheeks flushed.

The mehendi artist leaned in. “Okay done. Now, what’s the groom’s name?”

Zoya bit her lip, grinning. “Akif.”

The artist smirked. “Want me to hide it in the design?”

“Yesss, please!”

Aarfa peeked over. “Oooh, make it very hard to find. Let him struggle.”

---

Outside the curtain, Akif was pacing like a lost puppy.

“I just want to see her,” he muttered.

“Not allowed,” Nida teased from the door. “Unless you sneak in.”

Akif blinked. “...Really?”

“Oh god, no—” Aarfa said too late.

Akif had already tiptoed into the edge of the crowd, eyes scanning—

And then he saw her.

Zoya, sitting with her mehendi-covered hands in the air, her green outfit making her look like a forest nymph, laughing with her eyes, glowing under the fairy lights.

Akif’s heart slammed into his ribs.

“Ya Allah,” he whispered.

As if sensing him, Zoya turned. Their eyes met.

A moment.

Then—

“What are you doing here?!” she whisper-yelled.

“You’re beautiful,” he said shamelessly.

“You’re not supposed to be here!”

“Worth the risk,” he smirked.

Aarfa gasped. “He saw the mehendi!”

Zoya groaned. “AUNTY WILL KILL YOU!”

But she couldn’t stop smiling.

Akif leaned closer, hands behind his back. “Where’s my name?”

“You have to find it.”

“I will.”

He gently took her wrist, careful not to smudge anything, his eyes scanning every curl and swirl of the mehendi.

Zoya’s breath caught.

Their faces were so close.

He looked up. “If I find it… do I get a kiss?”

Her jaw dropped. “AKIF!”

Aunties: "Ohohohohohooooo~!!"

Zoya covered her face with her hands. “I’m going to die of embarrassment.”

He laughed, standing straight. “Fine. I’ll wait.”

She peeked through her fingers. “You better.”

---

The night ended with music, more dancing, and an unexpected dhol performance by Ayaan and a few of the cousins.

Zoya sat quietly later, watching the stars.

Akif came and stood beside her, careful not to get too close. “So… one step closer to being mine.”

She looked at him with soft eyes.

“I’ve always been yours. Just took a little longer.”

Akif smiled, fingers brushing against her mehendi-painted palm.

“It was worth every second.”

---

“Mere hath me...Tera hath ho, sari jannaten mere sath ho. Tu Jo pass ho fir kya ye jahan? Mera pyar me ho jaun fanah~”

~Annie💜🎀