Roohi POV
Two days later...
The reception shopping officially began.
And unfortunately for everyone involved...
Aleena Khan believed in taking the entire family.
Including people who clearly didn't want to be there.
Namely:
Zayan.
And Rayyan.
"Why am I here?" Rayyan complained for the twentieth time.
"Because you're family," Aunty replied.
"I regret being family."
Aleena ignored him.
As usual.
We had barely entered the mall when another familiar voice called out—
"Roohi!"
I turned around instantly.
"Hania!"
Before I knew it, she had thrown her arms around me.
For the first time in days, seeing a familiar face made my shoulders relax.
"Finally," Hania said dramatically. "Someone rescued me from boredom."
"You came willingly."
"Details."
I laughed.
Behind her stood Daniyal.
Calm.
Well-dressed.
And looking significantly more patient than everyone else.
"Assalamualaikum," he greeted politely.
Everyone returned the greeting.
Rayyan immediately narrowed his eyes.
"You're smiling."
Daniyal blinked.
"What?"
"You're smiling."
"I always smile."
"No."
Rayyan pointed dramatically.
"Not like that."
Poor Daniyal looked completely confused.
Meanwhile...
Hania suddenly pretended to be very interested in a nearby jewelry display.
The timing was suspicious.
Very suspicious.
I noticed.
Rayyan noticed.
Aleena noticed.
Even Zayan probably noticed.
Nobody said anything.
Yet.
An hour later...
The shopping bags were multiplying.
The family members were losing patience.
And Hania somehow kept ending up next to Daniyal.
Every single time.
Coincidence?
I thought not.
"Roohi."
I turned.
Hania held up two clutches.
"Which one?"
I examined both carefully.
The silver one looked prettier.
"The silver."
"See?" Hania immediately turned toward Daniyal. "I told you."
Daniyal looked helpless.
"You asked for an opinion."
"And mine was correct."
"Apparently."
Hania looked entirely too pleased with herself.
I bit my lip to stop smiling.
Meanwhile...
Rayyan had become a professional observer.
He leaned toward me slightly.
"Bhabhi."
"Yes?"
"I think they're strange."
I nearly laughed.
"Why?"
He nodded toward Hania and Daniyal.
"They keep agreeing with each other."
I stared.
"What a terrible crime."
"It is."
"Rayyan."
"It is."
I shook my head.
Some people truly had too much free time.
A little later...
Aunty disappeared into another store.
Rayyan followed because he had been threatened.
Which left me standing near a display of reception decorations.
Alone.
Well...
Almost alone.
Because Zayan was there too.
Looking as thrilled about shopping as ever.
Meaning:
Not at all.
I looked away quickly.
Pretending to examine decorative candles.
A few seconds passed.
Then—
"Those are ugly."
I blinked.
And looked up.
Zayan was staring directly at the candles.
Not me.
The candles.
"The candles?" I asked.
"Yes."
I looked at them.
Then looked back.
"They're not that bad."
"They are."
"They're elegant."
"They look like wedding decorations from 2015."
For one second...
I just stared.
Then laughed.
Actually laughed.
Because that was such an unexpectedly specific complaint.
When I looked back up...
I caught it.
A tiny smile.
Gone almost immediately.
But definitely there.
And somehow...
The reception shopping suddenly felt a lot less exhausting.
Across the mall...
Hania was still arguing with Daniyal about colors.
Rayyan was still being dramatic.
Aleena was still buying things nobody knew they needed.
And for the first time since the wedding...
The chaos felt normal.
Like maybe...
This family wasn't something I had joined.
Maybe it was slowly becoming something I belonged to.
hey cutiesss here is the chapter i hope you like it tell me in comments how you like little danial and hania moment🌸 or zayan and roohi banter?💗
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