The Khurshid house was crowded, loud, and satisfied with itself.

As if a decision made years ago had finally found its moment.

Haji Abdul Khurshid sat in the center, tasbeeh moving with authority.“Yeh rishta humne soch-samajh kar kiya hai,” he said.(We have decided this match after careful thought.)

Begum Zainab nodded.“Bachpan se saath pale hain.”(They’ve grown up together.)

Maryam’s jaw tightened.

Saath pale the. Saath khush nahi the.

Kamyaar stood near the door, arms crossed, already exhausted.Childhood memories were not sweet between them.

Kamyaar remembered Maryam correcting him in front of elders.“Galat keh rahe ho.”(You’re saying it wrong.)He had hated that.

Maryam remembered Kamyaar snatching a book from her hands.“Yeh meri cheez hai.”(This is mine.)She had hated that.

They weren’t enemies.They were worse.Relatives.

“Maryam, chai le jao,” Begum Zainab ordered.

Maryam picked up the tray and walked toward Kamyaar.

Sara watched like a hawk.

Maryam placed the cup down without looking at him.“Lo.”(Here.)

Kamyaar glanced at it.“Bachpan ki tarah bina pooche?”(Without asking, like childhood?)

Maryam replied instantly,“Bachpan ki tarah shikayat?”(Complaining like childhood?)

Before it could escalate—

“Wah,” Sara said loudly.(Wow.)

Everyone looked.

“Engagement ho rahi hai ya purani ladai?”(Is this an engagement or an old fight?)

Maryam turned to her, expression unreadable.“Tumhe beech mein bolne ki aadat kab se ho gayi?”(Since when did you start interrupting?)

Sara scoffed.“Jab se tum beech mein aayi ho.”(Since you came in between.)

The room went quiet.

Ayaan whispered to Rayan,“Yeh toh shuru hone se pehle hi khatam lag rahi hai.”(This looks finished before it even begins.)

Rayan murmured,“Ya phir ab shuru hogi.”(Or maybe now it starts.)

Shabana Khurshid clapped sharply.“Kapdon ki baat karein.”(Let’s talk about clothes.)

“Kamyaar ko light colors pasand hain,” Sara said immediately.(Kamyaar likes light colours)

Kamyaar frowned.“Maine kab kaha?”(When did I say that?)

Sara’s voice turned defensive.“Tum hamesha pehente ho!”(You always wear them!)

Maryam spoke calmly,“Majboori aur pasand alag hoti hai.”(Obligation and liking are different.)

Sara laughed coldly.“Tumhein toh sab pata hota hai.”(You always know everything.)

Maryam met her eyes.“Kam se kam jhooth toh nahi bolti.”(At least I don’t lie.)

Sara’s face hardened.

Later, in the courtyard, Sara didn’t bother pretending.She cornered Maryam near the plants.

“Tum khush lag rahi ho,” Sara said sharply.(You look happy.)

Maryam replied flatly,“Tumhein meri shakal se itni problem kyun hai?”(Why does my face bother you so much?)

Sara stepped closer.“Tum uski ho hi nahi.”(You’re not his.)

Maryam didn’t flinch.“Tum bhi nahi ho.”(Neither are you.)

Sara’s voice shook with anger.“Tumhein shaadi mil rahi hai, izzat mil rahi hai, sab mil raha hai.”(You’re getting marriage, respect, everything.)

Maryam answered quietly,“Mujhe bhi poocha nahi gaya.”(No one asked me either.)

Sara snapped,“Par tum mana kar sakti thi!”(But you could’ve refused!)

Maryam looked straight at her.“Tum bhi kar sakti thi.”(So could you.)

That silenced her.

On the terrace, Kamyaar leaned against the railing.

Hina stood beside him.“Tum dono bachpan se hi ek doosre ko bardasht nahi karte the,” she said.(You both never tolerated each other as kids.)

Kamyaar exhaled.“Hum alag rahe toh behtar hota.”(It would’ve been better if we stayed apart.)

Hina replied softly,“Shayad isliye tum dono sabse zyada ek jaise ho.”(Maybe that’s why you’re most alike.)

Below them, Sara’s voice echoed sharply.Kamyaar looked down.Maryam stood alone now.Not broken.Standing.

Something twisted in his chest.

As the night ended, plans were finalized.Engagement date fixed.

Maryam and Kamyaar stood near the gate.Awkward. Tense.

“Hum bachpan mein ek doosre se nafrat karte the,” Kamyaar said quietly.(We hated each other as kids.)

Maryam replied without hesitation,“Ab bhi karte hain.”(We still do.)

He looked at her.“Phir yeh shaadi?”(Then this marriage?)

Maryam’s voice was calm, controlled.“Yeh shaadi nafrat pe nahi…khamoshi pe ho rahi hai.”(This marriage isn’t built on hate…it’s built on silence.)

She walked away.

Behind them, Sara stood watching—eyes burning, jaw tight.This marriage wasn’t taking Kamyaar away from her.

It was proving something worse.

That no matter how much she hated Maryam—

Maryam still stood where Sara wanted to be.And hatred, once this deep, never stays quiet for long.

Ps: tell me plss please do you all liking the story or not in the comments😋