Sania’s nikah, which had a gathering of less than 100 people, including the groom’s immediate family —- mother Sultana Malik, three sisters and their families and younger brother — was held at the Taj Krishna grand ballroom. There were separate stages for the bride and groom, with a partition running down the giant hallway. The stages were done in traditional Hyderabadi fashion. Chunky pillars lined the regal, gold-edged backdrop, which had floral decorations of roses, carnations and lilies running down the panels. The cuisine was essentially Hyderabadi too, from the biryani down to the jalebis.
As the hour-long ceremony came to a close, and photographers went into overdrive, the guests settled down to a round of refreshments. The tension of the last few days, was replaced by relief and joy, which slowly gave away to tears. As Nasima and Imran gave away their daughter to her husband’s family, they could do little to hide their tears. The Mirzas are many things, but essentially they are a family that has stood together through sunshine and storm.
