123.

The sun dipped low over the horizon, painting the evening sky in hues of pink and gold. The sprawling garden of the estate was adorned with twinkling fairy lights and cascading white roses. The air buzzed with anticipation, the murmurs of excited guests mingling with the soft melodies of a live string quartet.

Taliya stood before the mirror, her white gown a perfect blend of simplicity and elegance. Her hands trembled slightly as she adjusted the delicate lace veil draped over her hair. Haroon, her stepbrother and personal assistant, leaned against the doorframe with a smirk.

“Madam bride, ready to face the firing squad?” he teased, arms crossed.

Taliya turned, narrowing her eyes. “It’s a wedding, not a trial, Haroon.”

“Well, considering Murad’s sass, you might need a defense attorney,” Haroon shot back.

“Please, he loves me too much to say anything,” Taliya retorted, though her cheeks flushed at the thought of Murad waiting for her.

“Hmm,” Haroon mused, tapping his chin. “If he cries, I’ll frame the photo and hang it in my office.”

Sofia, Haroon’s girlfriend, peeked in, laughing. “Haroon, leave her alone. She’s already nervous!”

Taliya shot Sofia a grateful look as the younger woman grabbed her hand. “You’ve got this. And don’t worry about Murad. If he doesn’t cry, I’ll kick him myself,” Sofia said with a wink.

As Taliya descended the staircase, the sight before her was nothing short of magical. Murad stood at the end of the aisle, looking sharp in his tailored suit. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes burned with intensity as he watched her approach. Beside him, his elder brother Faraaz whispered something into his ear, earning a sharp side-eye from Murad.

The ceremony was beautiful, with Uncle Hashim officiating, his voice warm and full of emotion. As he pronounced them husband and wife, Murad lifted Taliya’s veil, his lips quirking into a smirk.

“You took long enough,” he whispered.

“And yet, here I am,” she shot back, her smile softening as he leaned down to kiss her.

The applause was deafening, and as they walked back down the aisle together, Faraaz leaned in close. “Try not to roast each other during the reception, hmm? Leave some drama for the rest of us.”

Murad rolled his eyes. “Don’t worry, Faraaz. The only roasting happening tonight is when I drag you on the dance floor.”

The reception was where the chaos truly began. Faraaz took the mic for a toast, his signature cunning smile firmly in place.

“A toast to my dear brother Murad and his beautiful wife, Taliya,” Faraaz began, raising his glass. “Murad, I have to say, I’m impressed. You managed to convince someone as amazing as Taliya to marry you. I was starting to think you’d end up alone with your sarcasm.”

The crowd laughed as Murad smirked, unfazed. “Thank you for the kind words, Faraaz. Coming from you, I’ll take that as high praise since you’re still just ‘engaged.’”

Faraaz pretended to clutch his heart. “Ouch, brother. Remind me to return the favor at your anniversary.”

Not one to be left out, Haroon grabbed the mic. “As the bride’s protective stepbrother, I’d like to remind Murad that if he so much as makes her frown, I’ll personally make his life miserable.”

“Haroon, that’s adorable,” Murad drawled. “But let’s be real, Taliya will probably handle me better than you ever could.”

The guests burst into laughter, and Haroon shook his head, laughing. “Fine, you win this round.”

Meanwhile, Uncle Hashim was busy regaling Sofia and Alana with tales from Murad’s childhood. “Did you know Murad once spent an entire week pretending to be a prince after watching a movie? He even tried to order Faraaz around like a servant.”

Faraaz, overhearing, sauntered over. “And I let him, just to see how long it would last. Turns out, my patience isn’t infinite.”

When it came time for the first dance, Taliya and Murad swayed to a romantic tune, their banter temporarily replaced by soft smiles and whispered words. But the peace didn’t last long. Faraaz, never one to miss an opportunity, grabbed Alana and dragged her to the floor, spinning her dramatically.

“Faraaz, I swear, if you make me trip in these heels—” Alana began, but he cut her off.

“Relax, love. I’ve got you,” he said, though his mischievous grin suggested otherwise.

Not to be outdone, Haroon pulled Sofia onto the floor, their exaggerated salsa moves drawing cheers and whistles.

Even Uncle Hashim joined in, pulling a reluctant Murad back to the dance floor. “Come on, boy, show them those moves you used to practice as a kid!”

Murad groaned but complied, his awkward attempts at dancing earning him good-natured teasing from everyone. Taliya laughed so hard she nearly spilled her drink.

As the night wound down, Taliya and Murad prepared to leave, their car waiting with “Just Married” scrawled across the back. Uncle Hashim hugged them tightly, his voice soft with emotion. “Remember, marriage is about teamwork. Lean on each other, laugh together, and never let a day go by without expressing your love.”

Haroon smirked as he waved. “Murad, remember, if you mess up, I’ll be the first to hear about it. So, no pressure.”

Sofia elbowed him. “Leave them alone! Taliya, enjoy your honeymoon. And Murad, don’t forget her birthday!”

Murad laughed. “Noted. But don’t worry, Haroon. I’ll let you know when Taliya starts bossing me around.”

Faraaz and Alana stood to the side, watching the couple drive off. Alana leaned against Faraaz. “Think we’re next?”

Faraaz smirked. “Of course. But don’t expect anything this chaotic. I plan on keeping it classy.”

Alana raised a brow. “Classy? You?”

As laughter rang out, the night seemed to shimmer with promise. For Taliya and Murad, this was the start of a lifetime together—filled with love, humor, and enough savagery to keep things interesting.