He squeezed her shoulders affectionately. "You're welcome. Did you have to text me straight away? I was taking a nap."
Zoya rolled her eyes. "Hello! Brother. We have a wedding to sabotage in five days. How can you think about sleep at a time like this?"
He laughed easily. "You don't have to worry about that, sis. You just have to sit there and look pretty. Jas and I will take care of the rest."
Zoya smirked. "Oh, it's Jas and I now, is it?" she teased and looked curiously at her best friend. "You two seem close."
"Oh, we are," Armaan said immediately. "You have no idea just how much."
Zoya gasped. "Oh my God, really?"
Jasmine gave her a horrified look. "No!" she burst out and glared at Armaan for giving his sister the impression that they were a couple or something. He grinned at her.
"Don't tease her about it, Zoy. She's a very private person."
Zoya shared her brother's wicked grin. "Yes, I know how she is."
Jasmine shook her head. "I have to go. Zoy, I'll talk to you later." She left the room, biting her lips worriedly. Both brother and sister were laughing at her but her mind was on Hamza.
She stopped a passing maid and questioned her as to the where she could find him. The maid gave her a polite smile and told her that it was possible that he was outside, surveying the wedding preparations so Jasmine made her way downstairs. The house was so big, she feared getting lost but she found her way out eventually, meeting and greeting a few people who had come to attend the wedding.
Outside, she squinted in the bright morning sun and smiled a little as the desert air blew in from the East. Amira. Home. She felt nostalgic as she walked through the gigantic tents outside. The ground was flat and covered with rugs and the decorations were only half finished but it looked so wonderful.
No one was around at this hour so she was free to walk from one tent to another, studying the decor and arrangements. Huge weddings like these in Amira were very unique and quite memorable. She reached the end of the largest tent and ran her fingers over a palm tree placed upon a raised platform where the main ceremony was going to take place. A curved corner of the platform was surrounded by veils, supposedly to contain the bride. Zoya.
Jasmine smiled and lifted the silk material to glance inside at the cosy chair where the bride would be seated. This was so beautiful. If she had not gotten involved with Hamza, she would not have had all these twisted emotions inside of her to deal with. She would find it easy to fall in love and contemplate a beautiful wedding such as this one. Like her best friend.
But here she was, unable to let the past go and step into the future like any normal person would do.
Sometimes, her love for Hamza seemed to be the only valuable thing in the world. At other times, it felt like a curse.
Jasmine blew out a breath and hurried out of the bridal seating area, feeling bitterness start to overwhelm her. At the end of the platform, she came to a halt, gasping involuntarily.
The sound made Hamza Ahmed Qureshi look up with a frown from his inspection of the surrounding area. He blinked at the sight in front of him and then stared at her in shock.
It seemed like an eternity had passed but it was only a few seconds before he was able to speak. "Jasmine," he said hoarsely, swallowing. "You...you're here. You came back."
Her cheeks were wet with tears. Without saying a word, she walked up to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, holding him tightly, her head buried in his chest, her shoulders shaking from her silent weeping.
Hamza inhaled the fragrance of her and then he bent his head, searching desperately for her lips. She lifted her face and let him kiss her. They stayed there for long minutes, holding on to each other and kissing as if they were starved.
Finally, he let her go but only to lift her up against him in another crushing hug. "You left me," he groaned. "You just left."
"I'm sorry," she breathed. "I'm so sorry, my love. I'm here now." She kept her eyes closed and a thought came unbidden to her. If she died right there in his arms in that moment, she would have no regrets. None at all.
****
Reunion (Part II)
16
Jasmine did not have any time to herself later that day. Zoya announced that she wanted to spend the entire day with her and Ali drove them around the city as they talked, ate and shopped like a couple of teenage girls. It was fun. Zoya told her that she was glowing as if she was going to be a bride and teased that maybe it had something to do with a certain brother of hers. Jasmine did not inform her which brother it was that was the reason for her glowing complexion and good spirits.
She and Hamza were together again. It had not been part of her plan but it felt as natural as it had a year ago. They were meant to be. Things were going to work out this time around. She belonged to him and he would soon belong to her as well. He had promised her that he would talk to Alisha this time so they could be married properly instead of sneaking around.
Zoya and Jasmine reached the mansion at six in the afternoon and headed to their rooms, both too tired to even talk about any plans for the evening.
'I'll text you,'
