Lady to be ..... Just one dance.

It wasn't easy for her to bear this, she knew it already. Seeing him with the woman he loved was supposed to be an emotional jolt for her. One of the moments when she felt like running away from Spain.

Just Thursday night when they all were having dinner together he announced that he wanted everyone and specially Bibi jaan to have a meeting with the woman he was looking forward to get married.

"Helen Martinez" , the only name that clicked her mind.

Why didn't it ever occur to Mawra suhail that during her stay in Madrid she may have to see the lady of honor too? The fork she was using to lift the bite of chicken steak could not reach her mouth. Suddenly she lost her appetite.

And then a midst the frenzied gossiping about the lady to be, everybody got so involved that nobody appeared to have feel the absent mindedness and quietness of Mawra. For her though, it was a blessing.

The restlessness prevailing. She along with Mariah planned the menu for the evening and remained hidden behind the cooking schedule. Daniel was out since long and it was about time they were to come home. Her heart skipped a beat when she heard the car brakes in the porch. She closed her eyes and wished that moment never came. She wasn't yet ready to face her.

The kitchen corner where she was apparently working was invisible from the living room. She could hear the voices very clearly though. Bibi jaan sounded super excited. It was the first time she was about to meet a gori-bahu.

Closing her eyes to regain her composure , she wished no one even remembers she was home too.

Mariah was surprisingly looking uninterested in joining the gathering. So was she.

But there wasn't much escape. Daniel was already in the kitchen and asking them both out to join everyone in the living room. He didn't even approve of Mawra's very casual dressing.

"You can go upstairs and change if you like amiga."

She denied politely. Seeing her reluctance he held her left wrist and brought her in the living room and introduced her to Helen Martinez as his best buddy.

For a moment Mawra could not say anything. She wasn't shy, never have been. but her feelings for Daniel had made this confrontation difficult. She moved forward and shook hands with Helen. And yes she had to admit, the lady was strikingly elegant.

Dressed in a red floral skirt and silk cream shirt, with her hair tied in a chignon at the nape of the neck, her creamy skin reflected vibrancy. But there was no warmth in her eyes for Mawra. She felt terrible about her own feelings for the man , she was not even related to. Guilty pangs jolted her. It wasn't  easy hiding her feelings appearing on surface, yet she had to fight.

Feelings could make such huge difference, she never knew. But she was learning gradually. Life and its lessons weren't easy to learn.

Daniel was looking genuinely happy. It was so obvious from his eyes how much he loved the woman. His smiles, gestures, moves and laughter, everything was apparent. There was no denying the fact that Helen Martinez was the love of his life.

For the first time in life, Mawra realized, people and feelings were different from attractions in the display shops. They were not for sale. They could nor be bought neither could be developed. They were either meant to be or not to be.

For her it was a lost battle, before even being fought.