"Baba, you can't force me into this!" She haven't felt this vulnerable in her life ever before, let it be in front of her parents or anybody else, she couldn't be vulnerable, because she wasn't made like this. She was strong and vigilant and that what she wanted to be shown.

Her eyes was pooling with the blood and tears of misery, disbelief, pain and certain heart wrenching emotions. Her father shook his head. His face cased with decency, nothing else.

In the middle of her sobs, she felt a heavy hand on the top of her hairs. He was her father. Her head bowed, involuntary and, spite of utter dejection she was bowing her head to his father decision. She sobbed, that went unheard before the crowd of her family gathered in her room.
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"You look beautiful in red!" Her mother beside her, praised her reflections in the mirror.

The red bride with welled up face. She could see the shackle and failure more than beauty

"I know, I look beautiful but what do I do with this beauty? I am not all about beauty, I had this soul who seek to do something and this mind who aim to create the world but Ammi, you have just seen my beauty. I am more than beautiful." Her heavy voice wasn't get ignored, ammi with shivering lips, trying to nibble her whimper, placed her head on her daughter's shoulder. She passed a shudder to her mother body as her mother mumbled a silent sorry, she was living in a prison herself. Despite of knowing: she is more than beautiful, her mother couldn't do anything in this.
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"Do you accept Ibrahim Ahmed Shah as your husband now?"
Did she? She have no answer, but she had to give an answer to the crowd gathered there for them.
Denial will not be an answer, it will be a shame. A shame that she and her family will be facing for rest of their life, in case.
Hence, she gulp a sob and with heavy heart and shivering voice, her vocal cords whispered,
"I do!" and they did heard that.
The rest of the event was a blurry version of her nikkah behind her glossy tears.
______________

The curtains were rolled away with a heavy moonlight founding it's space into the room, onto the forced bride, ornamented on the bed.

Before he stepped in the room, his cologne fit into the space, a very heavy, intolerable heavy cologne.

She didn't raised up her chin from her forced mehndhi strained hands. She couldn't. Her teeth gritted with an urge to not scream of misery.

With a very gentle steps, she felt his cologne coming closer to her and she sneezed.

Allergic to fragrances.

She rubbed her nose with a lazy tissue paper crinkled in her palm and inhale a noisy breath.

The bed sheet ceased as He settled himself before her and with his very calloused and gentle touch, he raised her chin.
She looked at his shoulder and didn't meet his eyes. She could sense the curve around his mouth though and the glitter of the moment.
He stroke the corner of her jaw, making her to meet his glistening smile gaze.

"Nhi pehchani?" He mouthed. She frowned and gulped. His smile grew larger on the heavenly catastrophic face of his.

Her frown fall away and the mouth opened in a little 'o'.

Ibrahim Ahmed Shah. He threatened her 4 months back and here he was, with all the rights to sit before her.

"Ibrahim!" She sighed, he nodded with a slight twirl across his mouth.
His palmed creep up to her cheek and he stroke it tenderly.

"So it will be more easy, now." She leaned out of his touch with a little smirk.

"Look, Ibrahim. As you already know, I am forced into this. So don't expect anything from me, or else, heaven swears, I can kill you and kill myself later. How beautiful of the love story that would be?" The way her sound flutter, it have a challenge for him to take a step and she would turn him into ashes.

On the other hand, Ibrahim shine and smile didn't fall any lower. He leaned closer and pierce his gaze straight way into her eyes, his breath caress her face as he whisper,

"How long would you take to get ready for me?"

"Never!" He prod himself into her, slipping his hand around her waist and lean into her ear.

"I can wait for you Ziba Hashim."

"Move back!" her voice shivered, a mere whispered, she couldn't tolerate the feeling of him around, she couldn't tolerate this ache. She couldn't tolerate herself, readily falling into his arms. Her eyes creak red with tears.

When he didn't move and touch her ears with his hard lips. She wished to scream, instead a tear roll down her cheek, she sobbed.

With a very gentle touch, he put the palm of his free hand at the back of her head to let her hide her face on his shoulder.

She leaned her head on the thumb of his shoulder and sobbed with heavy breaths.

"Move back, Ibrahim, just move back. I can't fail myself in front if me."

Ibrahim stroke the back of her head with possessiveness and let her cry.
Eventually, when he felt her sobs getting halt, he moved back and held her swelled up face in his palm.

She inhale a sharp noisy breath as she gaze into the glisten of his eyes.

"Ziba, You have been forced enough and, I just want you to be my wife, I won't touch you without your will." He grab her twiddle palms in a single hold and took them to his lips, "You will never be offended, I promise, Ziba. I can wait for you." She could feel the mumble of his mouth on her knuckles as he spoke, "I knew already, I had to wait for you and, you know, my love is enough to know that you are worth to wait for. I will wait for you, Ziba."

He kissed her forehead and let his lips linger for second too longer as if trying to encase her warmth into himself, until she didn't prepare herself for him. He stood, stepped back and drew the curtain together before marching out of the room, without a single word.
____________
7 weeks of their marriage and they haven't get sick of pretending bounded, yet.

In front of the bundle of Ibrahim's family, they have represented themselves as satisfied couple, while same in Ziba's family too. Though, Ziba have grew away from her parents and home.

However, behind everyone, in their space, they lived as two strangers just trying to push the time. They didn't even talk, if it is really important or urgent.

Ibrahim went to his work and Ziba was preparing for her last semester. He had given her permission to complete her studies and even after she wanted to get a job he would willing be helping her.

The prior morning when Ibrahim came out of the shower, rubbing the towel on his wet hairs, he called her name and she twirl to him.
She had just woke up and was carrying her duvet to fold when he announced.

"I am going for a conference, out of the country. If you need anything call me. I have put enough money for you in your purse."

"huh?" She frowned, he raised his eyebrows in interrogation.

"How long?" Ibrahim heart welled up, that was what he wished to be granted before he go away. Her concern. And there she was, all concerned, asking how long will she be waiting alone?
His lips curved in a gentle smile and he nodded knowingly.
Ziba shook her head as if coming out in her senses. She was dazed enough to not hide her concern for hin.

"oh! Sorry. No.. I.. I.. Wasn't... saying anything" she mumbled and hastily folded the duvet as he threw towel on the bed and marched to her.
He hold her working hands and pull her chin to look up at him.

"Missing me already?"

"Not At All!" She announced on his face, he smiled a little bit more.

"3 weeks." He said, "Do you know how many days are there in 3 weeks?"
she stuck her lower lip out relentlessly and shrugged. He stroke the low of her jaw line.

"7 multiply by 3?"
She shrugged again biting the smile,

"21 days. Can you live 21 days without me?"

"Go!" She pushed his chest but he only, resultantly, moved more closer. Gripping his hold onto her chin, not letting her brimming face to move a single inch.
She try not to get daze under his heavy eyes, yearning for her approval. Only when he leaned his forehead on hers and cupped her jaw with a soft caress and his soft, wet hair string touched her forehead, then and only then, she was closing her eyes and trying to inhale his armors, savoring the last moments, unconsciously.

"Mrs. Ziba Ibrahim. You are catastrophe. An undeniable tremendous catastrophe.
My catastrophe." It was as if he had possessed her entire self. She couldn't move, neither she want to.

"Mr. Ibrahim Sikander, I am getting late. Step out of my way."

"Have I ever told you that you are adorable?" he leaned back his head, narrowing his eyes to her, not yet leaving her face. She shrugged

"And have I ever told you that I am in love with you, ever since I saw you?" the heat cased into her cheeks and ears but she bravely shrugged.
He smiled and lean into her ear, with a gentle breath of his whisper he said,

"Have I ever told you that you look beautiful when you blush?"

"I am not blushing. Shut up, you nasty!" She pushed him and this time he went away while a little giggle shot out of his chest.

He turn back to stroll out of bed room while she make the bed, she heard him halting in the doorway and turning around as he questioned,

"Are we getting any better?"
She pouted and shrugged, not looking at him, for if she had met his eyes at that very moment, it would be simply an answer, if they are getting any better, and her eyes were nodding steadily in response, aching to run in his arms. She didn't met his eyes though and went to get ready for she wasn't ready to claim, yes!

_________________

5 days have passed away since she had last seen him, talked him and well, share a little intimacy with him. That was the first and until now, the last intimacy they had had since they got forcefully hitched.

She was missing him, not because he was usually same as he was the last time they met, but because of the little things that make his presence recognisable in her life.

His long legs stretched before him, when he had yet came after a long day, scrolling through his phone while murmuring the song under his breath.
She was longing for the sound of his singing murmur, even his breath.

His laptop charger plugged lonely when he has gone office and she, nauseated to unwanted mess, huff and fold wire around, finally putting it at it's place. Now, the alone laptop charger had forlorn her too.

Last night, when she had mere came back to the room and almost slipping in the bed when her throat start hiccuping. She missed him. Few nights prior, when they weren't yet on talking terms, she was hiccuping similarly. He silently crawl out of bed and march outta room to come back with the glass out water. He set the glass at her side table and slip back in the bed. He was asleep yet he cared but he wasn't then to help her hiccups.

Gloomily, she clomped her head in the pillow and stare ceilings helplessly missing him yet she couldn't call him for she had to care about her ego too.

She turn over his side and plod her head in his pillow, as if it would ease her longing for him, but when it didn't, she let herself fall in a fazed slumber.

_______________

"When will Ibrahim come?" Ziba was lost, twiddling the spoon in her food, when Ibrahim's Amma asked her. She recoil and hummed her in inquisition.

"I was asking, did you ask him when will he come? It is 5 days already."

"Yes.. He.. He said... He told me before he went that.. He will.. Will come three weeks later."

"Three weeks, very long time. I didn't know that long." It was undeniably a long amount of time which has become hard for Ziba to pass away.

"Well, I will call him. Usko tou khyal aya nh hoga maa sey bat krny ka." Amma said while she wind up with her dinner and about to stand, she frowned, "Did he call you?"

Ziba halted, "Umm... No."

"Stupid!" She mumbled and fish away, leaving Ziba alone at the dinner table, failed to nibble onto her food as anxiety pool into her. How is she gonna talk him if in case she would complain?? Ughh!

______________

She was practicing to sleep earlier when her phone buzzed and her heart dropped in her stomach.

Not now!

The phone brimmed with his name and, for the record, she had just saved his number because one day, Amma ran out of balance so she had to call her. How big of a trouble was then, when amma asked her to call Ibrahim for her and she hadn't had his cell number.

Well, apparently, now she have and Ibrahim was calling!

She swiped the phone and, with utter silence, waited for him to speak. Neither did he say anything.

Eventually, he sighed.

"Ziba?"

"Yes?"

"Salam?"

"Walikum Salam."

"How are you, Mrs. Ziba Ibrahim." She couldn't pronounce the next word. Why he have to call her with the possessiveness and that too in dreamy voice? Her intestines were wrapped around her throat but, fortunately, she succeed to create a voice.

"Fine."

"Why didn't you call me?"

"Because you didn't ask me to do so, did you?"

"But if you were missing me, you should have."

"Huh? What?" she screamed mildly across the phone, "Who said, I miss you? I didn't miss you."

"Now, you are lying to me, while, Amma have scolded me for straight 30 minutes that I haven't called my wife ever since I left and, apparently, my wife is mad on me because she miss me, didn't she?"

"No... No.. no!! Shit!! I never said that. She merely asked me if I had talked you, when I said no, she called you stupid and went away. I didn't know she would make up all this stuff to you. Ughh!! I think, I am gonna talk her first.oka..."

"Nonono!! First talk to me. Because whether you miss me or not, I really really miss you. And I want to come back home as soon as possible."
She rest her head back at headboard and cross her free arm while she smiled. He is really eager one.

"Why do you want to come back home? I don't even talk to you here, at least you can talk to me when we are this faraway."

"Ziba!" He whispered, and from this wide distance, she can feel how his breath caressed her soul, "Either you talk me or not, back home, but you are in front of me and it make me at peace: to be able to watch you. Writing something, trying new hair buns, putting new shoes everyday, watching yourself again and again in mirror.." She was definitely enjoying how he savored each of her habit, "or cleaning the mess I create."

"Huh!?? When. You. Know. I. Hate. The. Mess. Then. Whyyy?"

"Because I love to see you annoy." She didn't know how but she could feel his smirk. It annoyed her further.

"Yes, I know. That's why you forced me into this marriage, right?"

"Excuse me, misses. I was having very nice conversation with my wife and she was about to tell me she missed me but you pull over your tantrums here."

"Excuse me, Mister. What tantrums? And for your dear information, I don't think so your forced wife miss you."

"Ziba!" He exhaled,

"Ibrahim!"

"Ufff!! How can you call me that?"

"What?"

"How can you say my name like that?"

"Like what?"

"Like it belongs to you or you belongs to it."

"With your name?"

"Yes, say it again."

"You are crazy, Ibrahim."

"Yes, there, that. How can you call me with such belongings and don't miss me?" She bite her lip, so hard to engulf her scream of ecstasy. She opened her mouth and closed, trying to assort the words together but they couldn't just comprehend. The silence muffled around the line before she breath and smiled,

"Ibrahim!" She heard a sigh she aimed to hear before calling his name, "I.. I do miss you."

"There, how you mustn't!"

"No, don't be so full of your self or I will stop talking."

"Touche! Speak."

"I missyousomuch and wantyoubackhomerealsoon."

"Only if you have said it more gently, I have understood it better."

"When are you coming back?"

"As if you aren't keeping count."

"Can you come any sooner?"

"Why? Do you miss me?"

"Yes, I do. I miss you so much and I want to fall all the walls between us, please, come back, soon. "
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Salam khwateen o hazrat,
Here is posting a little piece of my imagination, with no story in particular, just a mere short story.
I decided to wrap it up in single chapter but it seems it gonna need one more, so I hope you can wait.
Plus, the people waiting for thhe update of @undermycover, that will be real soon, InshAllah.

Stay bless and beautiful.
Keep supporting.
IF.