#RomanticComedy
Areeba stood by the stove, sleeves pushed up, tasting the curry to make sure the spices were balanced just right. The heat from the stove had brought a soft flush to her dark, velvety skin, making it glow. Her long hair, twisted into a messy bun, clung to the nape of her neck.

Beside her, Nadia leaned in eagerly, eyes bright with admiration. "Api, you have to show me how you make this," she said, sneaking a taste from the ladle. "It's magic!"

Areeba chuckled, nudging her sister-in-law away with a playful elbow. "Oh, don't butter me up," she teased, laughter dancing in her eyes. "You're not leaving this house until I've taught you all my secrets."

Nadia grinned, licking the tip of her finger with which she'd tasted the curry. "I'll learn it, alright. Don't be surprised if I make it better than you!"

Before Areeba could retort, her mother-in-law, Sakina, appeared in the doorway, clipboard in hand, her expression a mix of love and worry. Sakina wasn't just her mother-in-law—she was her Sakina Khala, her mother's sister, the woman who'd raised her after her own mother had passed. To Areeba, Sakina was simply "Khala" and so much more than that word could convey.

"Dear, did you double-check the list for tonight's arrangements?" Sakina asked, her tone filled with the gentle authority of a mother who leaves nothing to chance.

"Yes, Khala," Areeba said, wiping her hands on a dishcloth, "twice already. Everything's in place."

Sakina's face softened, pride and affection filling her gaze as she reached out to pat Areeba's cheek. "Allah truly blessed us when He brought you into this family. I don't know what we'd do without you."

The words filled Areeba's heart with a quiet joy—a warmth that settled deep in her chest, grounding her in the family she'd come to love as her own. She smiled back, soaking in the moment.

But before she could turn back to her curry, a familiar, sharp voice echoed from down the hall.

"Areeba!"

Areeba froze, her smile fading. Here we go again, she thought, suppressing a sigh.

"Areeba!" Zarun's voice came again, sharper this time, with that steady, commanding tone that could make anyone jump to attention.

Sakina shook her head, half-amused, half-exasperated. "That boy... always so impatient."

Nadia grinned, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Poor bhabhi, running after him day and night. Honestly, does he think you have nothing better to do?"

"Oh, don't get me started!" Farhat Fufu bustled into the kitchen, dramatically waving her hands. "That boy! He acts like he's some kind of king—and you're his—"

"Servant," Hiba, the eldest sister, finished with a smirk as she entered the kitchen, joining the gathering.

All three of Zarun's sisters were home for the wedding, filling the Haider villa with a lively energy. Nadia, the youngest, was the bride-to-be, and her functions were yet to happen. The house was a whirlwind of laughter, excitement, and family banter. But beneath it all, each woman carried a genuine affection and worry for Areeba. They loved her deeply and couldn't help but wonder how she managed with their famously stoic, cold-hearted brother.

Areeba smiled awkwardly, trying to ease their concern. "It's really not like that—he just needs a few things."

"A few things?" Farhat scoffed, planting her hands on her hips. "That one needs everything done by you."

Sakina glanced toward the hallway, her expression a mix of affection and exasperation. "He's usually so calm, so composed... but then something sets him off, and boom! You'd think he could bring down a mountain with that temper of his."

Areeba was already halfway out the door, waving them off with a quick, "I'll just be a minute," but Farhat fufu called after her, unable to resist one last jab.

"Allah has given you so much patience, dear! Handling him must be like taming a wild horse!"

Areeba paused, a blush creeping onto her cheeks. "No, no, Fufu... he's just... impulsive sometimes."

"Oh,...