Fated

Ch. 5

'They are here' I told Sana about the arrival of her to-be husband and his family. She was still getting her makeup done for her engagement. The engagement ceremony was taking place at her house. Everything was set up outside in the lawn and it was looking amazing. I stayed glued to the window of her room to keep an eye on the guests who were coming in. Her parents were with the guests, looking after them and her brother, Zeeshan who arrived a day earlier was by the door welcoming the guests.

'Can you please come here instead of being a spy?' Sana called and I went up to her, she was finally ready.

'You look so beautiful...he's lucky' I told her, and she blushed.

'Stop acting like a bride, it's your engagement today, not wedding' I reminded her in case she forgot.

'I'll see how you will react when it's your turn' She teased me.

'I'll be calm and collected' I told her and helped adjust her dupatta on her head.

'I find that very hard to believe' She laughed at me, along with some of our other college friends who were too busy taking selfies.

'I'll go call your mom' I hurried downstairs and just as I turned to go out to the lawn, I bumped with someone. I turned my head and saw Zain and I thought I was hallucinating, what was he doing here? On my friend's engagement ceremony?

'What are you doing here?' I stepped back and asked him. He didn't answer, just stared at me with a strange expression which I couldn't figure out.

'I hope you're not following me' He said seconds later, instead of answering my question. He didn't seem uninvited by his appearance. He was dressed well; his beard was looking sharp and his messy curly hair was brushed and styled nicely.

'Sana is my friend' I answered him.

'Who?' He asked me.

'Excuse me who invited you to my friend's engagement party?' I asked him straightforwardly. Instead of answering me, he casually walked past me as if I disappeared and went to the washroom. Instead of wasting any more of my time on him, I went to get Sana's mother.

When we walked Sana to the small seating arrangement where the engagement ceremony was planned to take place. I recognized Zain's family sitting with my family. After Sana took a seat, I went to go sit with my family so Sana could talk to Wasim, her fiancee, for a while before the ceremony officially starts.

'What are you doing here?' I asked Anum after I greeted everyone at the table.

'I had no idea you'll be here' I added.

'Zain and Wasim know each other from college days...remember I told you we have to go somewhere yesterday...' She told me. If only I would have asked her for more details.

'Right...small world' I managed to say. What were the odds?

'Sana is one of my closest friends' I told Anum.

'I noticed...you guys seem close' She smiled.

'Yes...' I couldn't help but glance in Zain's direction. I caught him looking at me but the seconds our eyes met, he looked away. What was wrong with me? Why did I even look in his direction?

'I think the ceremony is about to start...excuse me' I excused myself and quickly left to go see Sana. Rings were exchanged between Sana and Wasim with a  prayer and later, the wedding date was announced which was scheduled right after Sana's graduation.

'Let me take a good look at the ring, it's so pretty' After most guests came and congratulated the couple and the families, I finally had some time to sit down with Sana. The ring was very simple yet elegant, just how she wanted it.