Mohabbat usse karte hain jo app ki izat kar sake
Apse apki mohabbat se zyada mohabbat kar sake

محبت اس سے کرتے ہیں جو آپکی عزت کر سکے
آپ سے آپکی محبت سے زیادہ محبت کر سکے

The afternoon had been rather favourable, despite the beginning of the monsoon season and heavy rain the night before. The sun would, every now so often, timidly peak through from behind the frothing clouds, dispersing the gloom and blessing the earth with a golden glint. The birds and the butterflies danced and sang in high spirits and delight and I felt keenly alive in their company today.

I had spent the afternoon lounging on the garden swing, the soft winds buffeting me to and fro. I sat there drawing in the faint wild fragrance of the sweet shrubs and damp moist earth that lingered in the air, while the birds chirped merrily from the blooming hedges. The day had stretched out like eternity, but I had enjoyed every second of it. This past week happiness and joy had soaked into my bones and warmed my veins, and I had never felt so peaceful, blissful and happy.

Aliyaar was like a powerful wave of a warm ocean current that washed over me, enveloping the sandy grains of my life with a sweet refreshing feeling. The doubts and fears that had blanketed me in an inky darkness were replaced by the fine rays of joy and hope that dappled my life with renewed zest and happiness. I was beginning to float on the warm fuzzy feeling, savouring it, enjoying the raw emotions frizzling my heart. But it wasn't just my insides that leapt with joy, my dreamy eyes shone with excitement, my lips curled with shy happy smiles and the supple skin of my cheeks flushed with a crimson tint and an incredible blest expression adorned my face.

The pleasurable excitement on my face hadn't been missed by my family and they would look at me with a rapt expression. I know they were relieved to see me like this. My parent's faces were full of vitality and colour; their faces spoke and their words glowed.

I resigned to my room after dinner, when a strong gust thundered at my window, the sky turning dark and cold and I heard the soft sound of quenching rain. I opened the door of my balcony and stretched my arm out. Tiny drops of water kissed my skin, running down my arm in small rivulets. The whispering hum of the tumbling raindrops and the heady mix of the aroma of flora and petrichor invaded my senses, bathing me in a serene sense of calm.

A smile made its way on my lips, when I remembered last night. It had just started raining when Aliyaar had called and we spent the next hour having a long hushed conversation. I hadn't seen him in a week, but I had gotten used to his late night calls, where he'd tell me about his day, his life and murmur some achingly sweet things before his voice would dwindle away and sleep would consume him.

"That's such a lovely picture. When did you get it framed?" Layla said, coming up to stand in front of the photo frame on my bedside table.

"Aliyaar gifted it. He sent it a three days ago." I replied, closing the balcony door and coming back inside. "It's probably the only picture of us from the engagement where I'm smiling." I said, shaking my head.

Layla gave me an earnest, tender smile. "Such a thoughtful gift. It's beautiful."

I gave her a faint smile in return.

"I think I saw Aliyaar Bhai with Zaroon in Dada Jaan's study. I'm not sure if he is still here though. Anyways I came to tell you, Mum has been invited to a fundraiser for a cancer hospital next week and she wants you to go with her. It will be your first public appearance since your wedding has been announced, so she has asked the press secretary to prepare your speech and the questions you'd be taking. Please meet him in a day or two."

I nodded with stern brevity, but the frown on my face made Layla pucker her brows at me questioningly. I shrugged, "Nothing. You know I've never done press meets and interviews." I shook my head with an air of great distaste. "Anyways, let me go check if Aliyaar is still here."

I stood outside the large wooden door of Dada Jaan's study, but after a moment of hushed bustle, perfect silence reigned. There was absolute stillness and for a while nothing broke the silence except the murmurous trickling of the rain from outside. I scurried around the room for a while, before deciding to peep in through the window at the other end of the hall.

I saw Dada Jaan sitting in the main chair, while Ibrahim Taya, Zaroon Bhai and a few other men from the party sat around the round table. I looked around but couldn't see Aliyaar and a frown perched up on my face. He left without meeting me? I don't know why, but I felt disappointed, like I expected him to come see me. But just when I was about to leave, I heard the light tap of footsteps and saw him walking back to the table, and he sat down taking the seat opposite Dada Jaan's.

I gulped as I took in his appearance. Tonight he was a different person. He almost seemed unrecognisable. Zaroon Bhai opened his mouth to say something but he silenced him with a flick of his hand. His eyes were smouldered with a wild temper that flowed through them like molten lava. A look of great irritation swept across his face and I could see him struggling to contain the rage searing through him. The veins on his head pulsed visibly and I could feel the anger thrum through his vessels. His dark and narrowed eyes flickered with an unknown emotion as they tried to keep his frustration in check.

I stood there for a while, trying to make out the muffled voices from inside the room, when Dada Jaan finally said something and Aliyaar's face twisted with a hostile frown. His fists clenched and he abruptly pushed himself off the chair and walked out of the room, the door closing behind him with a loud thud. My shoulders shook in fear at the sudden impact and I stared blankly at his retreating form. It wasn't until I heard stifling sounds from inside the room, that I stumbled backward, holding on to the window frame to steady myself.

I sighed, before following him outside into the balcony. The rain had stopped and an eerie dampness had enveloped our surroundings. I stepped out into the darkness, and saw him leaning against the white marbled railings. Under the dim moonlight, I could not clearly see his face, but when he shifted slightly to take a puff of the cigarette in his hand, I noticed the strained expression on his face. I stood there for a few seconds, before I took a step forward, when he growled lowly, "Leave."

I flinched at the bitterness in his voice, but I stood there unable to move. "I said leave." His voice crackled with irritation, but his eyes were still set upon the wilderness.

"Aliyaar," I whispered softly and I couldn't help but notice how his shoulders froze for a second when he heard my voice, before he quickly turned around to see me standing behind him. "Do you want me to leave?"

It was after a moment, when the surprise of seeing me there had washed away, that he finally shook his head. "No."

I walked up to him and stood quietly besides him. I wasn't sure what had happened to get him so riled but, but I was aware how difficult my family could be at times.

"I didn't mean to shout at you. I didn't expect you." He said after a while and then raised his hand to take another shot of the cigarette, when I pulled it from his hand and squished it underneath my foot. He arched his eyebrows at me, surprised at my action, but remained silent.

"You can talk to me if you're angry or upset. You don't have to smoke yourself to death."

He gave me a weak smile, before placing his hand over mine and giving it a soft squeeze. "It's nothing I can't handle." He said with a resigned sigh, but despite his words his jaw was tight and his eyes glowed with a strange apprehension.

"I am sure." I passed him a placating smile, "But if you ever want to talk, you know I'm right here."

He turned around to look at me, his eyes searching mine as if trying to read some unwritten words. "You won't leave me, will you?" He whispered inaudibly, that I wasn't even sure if I had heard him correctly.

"What's wrong?" I replied softly, taking his hand in mine and rubbing it soothingly. For once I could see the raw vulnerability dancing in his eyes.

He shrugged, "What if this deal doesn't work out. What if your family decides they don't want this relationship—"

"But I want this." I interjected angrily. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm sorry but you're stuck with me." I gave him an apologetic smile, trying to lighten the situation.

He chuckled lightly, the taut muscles of his face relaxing, "But I'm not sorry." He replied with a sudden softening of his tone which made his voice irresistibly attractive.

"I saw your interview today." I blurted out after a while, trying to change the topic, and saw him steal a glance at me with a slightly amused expression.

"And?"

"And— and it was good. You are very popular amongst the youth. Social media was filled with your praises."

He shrugged casually, "I haven't had time to catch up with my PR team to know the reaction. I had a very busy day today."

A loud thunder roared above us and we looked up at the darkening sky, "We should get back inside." I mumbled. "I know it's late, but have you had dinner?"

He shook his head, "No. I didn't get time. I should get back to the meeting. I sort off walked out on them." He said rubbing his eyebrows with a tired sigh.

We walked back inside and he was about to go back into the study, when I held his hand making him stop in his track. "Why don't you have dinner first?" I asked, when he turned around to look at me with a confused expression. "You can continue the meeting tomorrow, it's late as is."

"I don't think it's a good idea." He said thoughtfully. "I'll grab something on the way back home."

I shook my head, dragging him with me towards the kitchen. "You know the meeting would go on for another hour if you went back in. I'm not letting you stay hungry." I switched the lights on, beckoning him to sit on the kitchen table.

"Uncle must be waiting." He tried to reason with me. "And I think the cooks have gone to sleep as well." He said looking around the empty kitchen.

"I'll cook something for you. And don't worry about Dada Jaan, Zaroon Bhai will deal with him." I turned around pulling the apron from the top drawer.

"You cook?" He asked evidently surprised.

"I'm not a professional, but I can do the basics." I paused, suddenly unsure if he'd want to eat something I had prepared. "I can wake up the cooks if you want something better though." I smiled awkwardly.

"I love to try something you make." I beamed at him at his response and turned around to fetch some ingredients from the refrigerator. "Do you want help?" I heard him ask.

I shook my head as I lay the ingredients on the counter and began chopping up the vegetables. "What are you making?" He asked slowly coming around to stand besides me.

"Pasta. The only thing I can cook in twenty minutes. I would have made something better had I known you'd be here."

"I actually quite like pasta. My Nani made some amazing pasta."

"Your Nani knew how to make pasta?" I laughed. "Did they even have pasta in Pakistan back in the day?"

He shook his head, a little annoyed, "I'm not as old as you think I'm. How old are you?" 

"Forever twenty one." I raised my chin at him with a mischievous glint.

"Liar." He muttered sulkily.

I giggled seeing his reaction, "I'm twenty four. We're about to get married and you don't even know my age. What if I was sixteen. You'd be arrested for—"

"Of course I knew your weren't sixteen." He hurriedly corrected me. "I had guessed your age, I just didn't know exactly. Not that it matters." And I smiled. "Since you don't want my help, do you have a laptop I can use? I need to check a presentation."

"Yup. Just check on this. I'll go get it." I handed him my laptop and began sautéing the vegetable.

I looked up and saw Aliyaar curiously smiling at the screen, and then he suddenly asked, "Did you miss me?"

I felt heat rise up my face and looked at him a little frazzled by his unexpected question. "No. Why would I miss you?" I spoke awkwardly.

He laughed, "Liar. Next time you miss me just call me, I promise I'll come."

I frowned, "What makes you so sure I was missing you?"

He turned the laptop around, showing me his pictures on my browser. I had searched him this evening to hear his interview. My eyes widened in mortification. I had no words but blushes for answers and I looked away, trying to hide from his amused stare.

"Don't go through my stuff." I scolded and walked up to him after a while, closing the browsers, while he just chuckled besides me. "I was shopping online, can you help me decide which coat is better?" I asked turning the screen towards him and pointing to the two articles in my cart.

"They both look good. Why don't you get both?" I heard him say.

"I have already used up my monthly allowance and I can only get one of these for this month." I whined, mixing the vegetables with the sauce.

He looked at me a little shocked, "You get a monthly budget?"

"It was our Dadi's little way of teaching the children how to value money." I laughed humourlessly. "It never worked though, because every time we'd go over budget we go crying to Dada Jaan and he just increases our allowance. I try to stay within limits though. So help me choose one coat."

"How about this black gown?"

"That dress is almost the price of all the articles in my cart combined. And that's fit for a event, and dresses for events are not part of my monthly allowance. Dad pays for them. And I don't have any events coming up. Where will I wear it?"

"Wear it for me." He paused and then asked, "Will you wear it for me?"

"I—I." I stammered, unable to form a response. His words crept up my heart and the sight of his adoring, hopeful face made my cheeks burn with a warm glow. Thankfully I did not have to answer him, when I saw Zaroon Bhai enter the kitchen.

"Are you alright?" He asked Aliyaar, who only passed him a stiff curt nod. "Dada Jaan is waiting for—"

"He isn't going back in there," I said with a low scowl. "He will meet him tomorrow. Dada Jaan should go to sleep as well." Aliyaar stood up to leave, but froze when I turned around swiftly, pointing the knife in my hand towards him. "Don't you dare move from that chair." I said in a threateningly low tone.

His eyes widened momentarily, but then he pursed his lips with an amused grin, raising his hands in surrender. Zaroon Bhai laughed behind us, "Relax Shany." He breathed in response, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "I'll see you tomorrow." He said looking at Aliyaar, before swirling on his feet and hurriedly exiting the kitchen.

"Do they all call you 'Shany'?" He inquired with a friendly interest, his unwavering eyes set upon the screen in front of him.

"Yup. Everyone except Layla."

Apart from the soft bubbling of the sauce, the gentle hum of the gas and the infrequent tapping of the keyboard, the room fell into a comfortable silence. I put the pasta to boil and came to lay the plates on the table.

"I'm done." He said pushing the laptop towards me. "Thank you."

I picked up the laptop from the table to return it to my room, when my eyes caught sight of the empty cart on the browser. "You emptied my cart." I almost shrieked in horror. "It had taken me two days to pick all of clothes. I'll have to do it again now." I cried in annoyance, seeing him pass me a half smile.

"I didn't empty your cart. I checked out. The things will be delivered to you in 3-5 working days."

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion, "How did you get my card deta—" I paused as I realised he had paid for the things. "Why would you pay?"

He just shrugged.

"I have enough money, I don't need yours." I said, a little embarrassed for sharing my allowance details with him earlier. "That allowance thing means nothing, I could always ask my family for more." I shook my head, going back to the stove. "I'll return you—"

"Ab app dil tou na toriye mera." He said softly, walking up to stand besides me. "I know you don't care for my money, but it makes me happy if I do something for you."

[don't break my heart.]

"But this is a lot of money. I can't keep accepting such gifts from you."

His finger pressed against my lips, silencing me. I stared into his eyes, but he just smiled languidly at me. "Has anyone told you, how cute you are when you're bossy?" He said in a soft husky whisper, that had my insides quivering.

A shy smile worked its way on my lips and I bit the side of it, trying to control the pinkish tint spreading on my face. I shook my head moving away from him, turning my attention back to the stove.

He had relaxed considerably, and stood besides me with an easy expression. A few strands of hair fell upon my face and I pulled my hair into a loose bun, before tossing the pasta into the sauce. I began to mix the two together, when I felt him move behind me, his fingers pulling the band off my hair. "What are you doing?" I squealed when I felt him tug my hair.

🖤
[feel free to skip]

"I told you I don't like your hair tied." I had no time to protest because his arm snaked around my waist, pulling me into his hardened chest and I felt my breath hitch at the sudden proximity. He leaned in and I felt a shudder rock through me and my eyes closed feeling his breath kiss the outer rim of my ear. His left arm banded my midriff gently while the other one held my frozen hand, slowly stirring the content in the pan. "I appreciate you doing this for me." He whispered, his lips hovering dangerously close to my ear.

I nodded wordlessly, my breath becoming deep and rapid, while my heart thudded deafeningly within me. A vulnerable exclamation burnt my throat, when his hold tightened around me, and his fingers pressed into my flesh. I sucked in a harsh gasp feeling a fiery ache zap through my core as his touch stirred awake the raging sea of desire within me.

His warm breath tickled the sensitive skin of my neck, before he bent down and his lips tenderly brushed against the base of my neck. I clenched my already closed eyes, sensing the heat rise from my stomach to my chest, my heart fluttering under his sizzling touch. The caress of his lips was soft and feather-like. A sultry wave of pleasure coasted through me and I shivered feeling the firm flick of his tongue and the soft nibbles of his lips as he agonisingly trailed a path along the length of my neck.

This was madness. His nose replaced his lips as it grazed the parameter of my face with warm, comforting languor. His name fell from my lips involuntarily, as my head rolled back against his shoulder, feeling my body rake with tiny shudders of pleasure. This was sinful, yet it felt heavenly.

"What are you doing to me." He murmured in my ear and his soft moist lips pressed below my ear imprinting lingering kisses. I felt all rational thought desert me, a crazy insanity possessing me like wild fever.

I craved him. I craved his touch. Tonight I craved him like a thirsty man craved water in a desert.

🖤

Aliyaar was really angry. Drama alert?

Let me know your thoughts on today's chapter.

This is the first time I've used an Urdu dialogue. Do tell me if you guys want me to incorporate more.

I want to thank each one of you for the lovely messages you all sent me. I'm doing better now and I apologise for the wait. I will respond to your comments soon. I love you all.

Vote and comment.

Instagram: @sssaltynothings