The highest happiness on earth is the happiness of marriage.

Ruhee sat back on the throne and let out a tired sign. Aayan looked at her and smiled. He sat next to her, 'Tired?' He asked her. Ruhee nodded her head. He picked up a water bottle from the side and opened it to hand it to her. Ruhee accepted the water and drank it, 'It's my wedding and I was feeling very happy to invite all my relatives and friends. But who knew inviting so many would mean having my legs broke and smile stretched. It's so tiring to be a bride.' Ruhee complained to Aayan.

Aayan smiled at her and was about to open his mouth when Ruhee immediately stood up with a smile on her face. Aayan looked at the direction and saw some boys and girls walking towards them, 'Oh Hey!! So glad you could make it.' Ruhee said to them. They all smiled and nodded their heads and looked at Aayan, 'Oh Yes. Aayan, these are my middle school friends Alvin, Hassan, Kavita, Sam, Swathi, Shree and Owais.' Ruhee introduced them to him but a particular name striked his head.

Aayan narrows his eyes on Owais. Aayan remembered Ruhee mentioning him to be her first love. Aayan quickly grabbed hold of Ruhee's hand and intervened his fingers. Their eyes landed on the conjoined hands and Ruhee felt awkward. She nervously laughed at them and tried to free her hand but Aayan didn't budge, he kept his eyes strained at Owais, 'Please get ready for the photograph.' They heard the camera man say and they all went to stand next to them to take a picture. The boys stood next to Aayan and the girls next to Ruhee.

After clicking the pictures they congratulated the couple and walked away. Ruhee turned to Aayan and asked, 'What was that about?' 'What?' He asked acting clueless. Ruhee lifted their hands and showed to him, 'This.' 'What? I can't even hold my wife's hand.' He answered as more guests came to meet them. Ruhee signed at him as she greeted the guests. Aayan knew exactly what Ruhee meant, he was just marking his possession in someone's mind that now Ruhee was his.

Something is surely wrong with him?

Ruhee was gonna ponder on that thought but it left her mind as soon as she saw her girls walk up the stage. But what was most exciting was that they had come along with her entire class. All the 29 friends from her class were excitedly walking up the stage and one by one came to congratulate Ruhee. All the girls had ganged up around Ruhee and Aayan. Ruhee was super happy and thrilled while Aayan was feeling so intimidated, and who wouldn't when you are surrounded by 29 college girls.

'Mashallah Ruhee, you look fab!!!'

'Congratulations!!!!!!!'

'OMG, you are also a Mrs. now!!!'

'Your dress is gorgeous!!! You are gorgeous!!!!'

'You both look so good together!!!'

'May Allah bless you both!!!!'

Compliments and congrats were being thrown at them. Ruhee had a full blown smile on her face but Aayan, he looked like a deer caught in front of headlights. The camera man asked the girls to stand for a picture and they all gathered around the couple. Aayan stuck close to Ruhee as some girls had to stand next to him. When the camera man said cheese was when Aayan's horror was recorded. All the girls on the stage stared hooting and screaming and Aayan looked like he wanted to run away.

Once the picture was taken, they all wished them a happy married life and left except for the trio, 'Are you okay, Aayan?' Aina asked him and he turned to look at her startled. Aayan still had an horror expression on his face. He calmed down seeing it was just these three and let out a breath, 'Yeah, just that...' Aayan started and looked at the direction his wife's classmates left, '....you have a very big class.' He completed. Ruhee was containing her smile along with the girls. She looked at them and noticed a sour vibe around Jian, 'You okay, Jian?' She asked her.

Jian just shrugged with a scowl on her face as Aina and Afza gave each other looks. Ruhee looked at them and Aina came to whisper in her ear, 'She got in a banter with Mr. Najmuddin Ahmed.' Ruhee looked at Jian and asked, 'How!?' 'There was a reason why I whispered it in your ear!!' Aina exclaims. Jian scoffs and says, 'He had the guts to take my welcome drink.' 'What?' Ruhee asked confused, 'I was about to take the cup when he also went for the same cup and accidentally his hand enclosed over mine. I thought he would pull his hand back but NO!! That guy expected me to retrieve my hand.' Jian explained and made a gesture of her hand holding a cup and showing it to Ruhee, 'My fingers were already wrapped around the cup so it was mine!!!'

Ruhee was still comfused but said, 'You could have taken another cup, what's the big deal?' Jian looked at her with disbelief in her eyes, 'What's the bid deal!!!? The big deal was that I went for that cup first.' Jian said folding her hands. Afza signed and said, 'And both of them are so damn stubborn, they stayed like that for a straight 15 minutes when finally our class girls came and dragged Jian away.' 'If not for them, I would have not left without my cup!' Jian exclaimed still scowling. Ruhee stared at Jian in disbelief, 'I don't know about her but I think Mr.Najmuddin Ahmed was enjoying it.' Ruhee heard Aina whisper in her ear.

Ruhee was about to open her mouth when Afza said, 'Oh god, no.' They all looked at the direction Afza was looking and saw Zubair, Huzayl and the famous Najmuddin Ahmed, walking up the stage. Ruhee turned to them with a smile. Aayan looked at Huzayl and blurted out, 'Who invited you?' Ruhee was shocked and pinched Aayan's arm which caused him to hiss. Huzayl shook hands with Aayan and congratulated Ruhee. He glanced over to her friends and said his "Hello" and his eyes lingered a bit longer on a smiling Aina.

Ruhee narrowed her eyes at him and he just looked away. Next came Mr. Najmuddin Ahmed. He congratulated the couple and wished them a happy life together, 'The start of your wedding was quite interesting for me.' He looked at a scowling Jian with mischief and continued, 'It was rather fun and pleasing.' He winked at Jian who looked away irritated. Zubair came before Aayan, 'You already congratulated us, why again?' Aayan asked with a raised eyebrow.

Zubair laughed,'You know, brotherly love.' He said and glanced at Afza. The camera man asked them to stand for a picture and they stood together. Najmuddin, Huzayl and Zubair stood next to Aayan and Jian, Aina and Afza stood next to Ruhee. They clicked the picture with all smiles and ya know, love. Soon, the bride and groom were called for dinner, and they had it with the entire family sitting down for a grand feast. After dinner was the most saddening moment, it was time for farewell.

All the guest had left only the few near and dear stayed back. Aayan and Ruhee were seated on their throne on the stage. Ruhee's maizar was bought down a little to cover her face or maybe to hide her tears, which had already began to shimmer in her eyes. Ruhee's elder Aunt and Uncle came forward, they took Ruhee's hand and placed it in Aayan's and her aunt said, 'Please take good care of my doll, she is still like a little child.' Aayan nodded his head as her aunt hugged her and the tears escaped from both their eyes. Her Thayba and Thaymi came forward and kept their hands on the bride and grooms and said, 'I might have not spent much time with her but I am blessed to have a niece like her. Cherish your time with her.' Her thayba said as her Thaymi hugged her with tears.

Her younger aunt and uncle came forward and placed their hands on theirs, 'She is very loving and caring and always has a smile on her face, please maintain that smile always.' Her aunt said and Ruhee sucked in a very audible breath. Her aunt hugged her and left. It was time for her cousins, while her brother's maintained a strict outlook, her sisters' were all out crying. Her sisters' hugged her one by one and Ruhee bit her lip to stop a cry as tears flowed. They placed their hands on theirs and Aisha didi spoke, 'She might be getting married but she is always gonna be my baby sister, please take good care of her.' 'She can be a little childish at times but please let it slide.' Saima di said, 'And she is the best company to be with, so never leave her alone.' Faiza said and Aayan nodded.

Now, it was her family's turn. Sana was crying with full on hiccups as she hugged her sister, 'Why do you have to go if you are getting married? Can't you stay, please?' Sana said. Ian picked his crying sister in his arms as she hid her face on his shoulder. Ian looked at Aayan and nodded his head and walked away. Ruhee's father and mother came forward and placed their hands on theirs. Emaan Shariff looked at his daughter with his tear stained eyes, 'I am handing you my most priced possession, please take care of her.' Ruhee let out a whimper, 'She can be childish and naive, but I know she will take good care of her new family like she took care of us.' 'She can be clunsy with her health aswell, please look after our little girl.' Her mother added. Aayan nodded his head.

Ruhee and Aayan got up from the throne and walked down the stage and out the hall. A black sedan was waiting for them. Ruhee sniffed her tears as she walked to the car. She hugged her family one more time before getting inside the car. Aayan got in aswell and the driver started the car. Ruhee was still sniffing her tears. Aayan pulled out a kercheif from his pocket and handed it to her. She accepted it and wiped her tears. Aayan held onto her hand and squeezed it. She looked at him as he gave her a pleasant smile. His smile brought a smile to her face and she looked back at their conjoined hands. She closed her fingers around his hand and smiled.

I am married.