There are some lines of a Ghazal in the following Chapter.

"Aaj phir dil ne ik Tamanna ki...

Aaj phir hum ne Dil ko Samjhaya

Tum ko Dekha tou Yeh Khayaal Aaya...

Zindagi dhoop, Tum ghanna Santa"

English Translation

(My heart wished for something, once again today

I made it understand, once again today

Life's a sun and you're a dense shade

I got to know this only after seeing you)

Chapter 3

AIRAB

The morning is brisk and hospitable unlike the arms of my alluring consort who has the fluffy teddy bear to cuddle, all night long. I myself had bought it for her. But now I am feeling envious of it – from a lifeless thing. Being her husband, I am the one who should be roistering her comfort. But, no, I cannot as I am not allowed. After all, I am the bad-est husband in the unabridged universe.

She waves her hair, off her face, and looks at me with the slight open eyes. "Up so soon? What about breakfast?" She asks. I really like her this habit; asking me for the breakfast in mornings. So wifely.

"Yep, I will do." I say closing my cufflinks. I would not miss her hand-made breakfast at any cost.

She gets up without dupatta and takes the way of washroom. I grin perfuming myself. Things last night were slight gawky but I meticulously enjoyed. Her expressions were priceless – after her breasts. I could not really snap back at her last night saying it's you who must have had told the wrong size to the family. That would had been inappropriate.

I walk into the changing room to get ready further. The more quickly I am festooned, the more moments I will be blessed with; moments of admiring her.

She comes close to place the dishes on dining table. When she walks back to grab the bottle of plain water I notice the naughty ringlets which are making efforts to be free of the claps of pencil bun and touch her face and shoulders. She looks artlessly cute to me.

I am served with three chicken cheese sandwiches, fresh jug of orange juice, a bowl of fruit salad and two brownies. The perspiring weather has put the oily multilayered wheat breads at bay.

Like usual she chooses the chair at my left hand to give me company. Accommodating, she takes her plate, extracts a sandwich and a brownie while I pour juice for us in glasses.

She is on her summer vacations from university. After having breakfast with me she sleeps again once I am gone. Cute wife. "Last night..." I think to tease her but then alter my mind seeing her perplexed. "Had you ordered everything you need?" I inquire, clearing my throat.

She looks calm now. "Yes." Her answer is polite. "Airab, I want to go on outing with Maham and Rabiha." She asks.

Outing? Eh? Last night she was saying she cannot even face me due to the tight inners. Miss. Seduction surely leaves loopholes. Anyways, Rabiha is my unmarried sister who is doing M.Phil. in Electronic Media. "Yes, sure. You can go anywhere you want, Elza. I have just asked you to inform for security reasons." I clarify taking a delicious bite of sandwich, moaning inwardly at the warmth of cheese and saltiness of mayonnaise.

There she goes; rolling her eyes. "Extra Rich people!"

I just smile to save from her wrath in the crack of dawn. "I have booked Akram as your driver. You can go with him until you learn proper driving." I cannot jeopardize her life. Last night I gave her some instructions but you become deft only after real practice.

"And when will I learn?"

I know she will grasp it quickly as my wife is smart. "When you will practice regularly." I reply instantly. I have taken the responsibility of teaching her driving and also have set the time in evening for practices. Our leisure time plus practice; killing two birds with one stone.

She nods while kissing the brownie with fork and blesses it with the sure-sweetness of her mouth. Her juvenile face is glowing with the evident blush. This stubborn girl is so mine. Just an intimate moment and she cannot help but think of it. I myself am unable to shrug off those moments but I am slightly better at feigning. I think so.

The moment of me having a grip on her breasts is not so common for me either. I sigh gulping a big swig of peach juice to calm down my nerves at the sight of her. Though she has her dupatta now, but she fumbles with it so much leaving me opportunities to hawk her private assets which would not remain private in near future.

***

I turn to the page 65. This novel has feverish sentimental story but is exceptionally romantic. May be she is reading them to seduce me. Do not ask about her wavy seductive tactics; she kills me every moment. In short, she is best at it. She has the habit of reading novels from a year or so and from 2 months she is much into romantic genre of English novels. Being hundred percent sure of these novels being a source of her seductive tactics, I have decided to give them a try in order to understand them. I have full hope on this idea - to work.

I caress the fine material of page used and remember the tick of morning when I asked for it from her while settling matching grey pinstriped coat on my arm. She was high about it on social sites a day ago. "Elza, give me the novel you were reading yesterday. I am thinking to give it a try. It's romantic, right?"

She had suppressed her flush, biting her lip innocently, and since then I think novel-plan would really work.

***

She is in white trousers and light dusky coffee cream color shirt with neck patch. Sleeves are long, loose and there is red floral print on borders of it. The abstract print of dupatta is remarkable. Plus, fishtail braid is complementing her a soft look. Okay, I know I observe too much. My work demands that.

Smile swoons her immediately after she perceives my presence. Wait, her skin is moonlit and virtuous. The natural curl locks are like guarding her face from evil eyes.

Quickly, she fetches me two glasses; water and lemonade from the kitchen attached with our room. I am fond of cooking and it takes hell of encouragement to get up and go down in main kitchen to prepare something and especially consume chocolate at midnight. Even I have a kitchenette in my cabin at office.

She has inners inside the dress. I am astonished delivery came quick even when the time was told of two nights. No, there is something else. "Your delivery came?" I ask in a raw voice alike women love – the merit of reading English novels. Otherwise, me and women never made an equation.

"Nope, that's due till tomorrow evening. I went shopping also." She is embarrassed. I can feel she wants to terminate this intimate discussion between us. Whatever, she is the one who initiated this. It's my time to cherish her seduction plan. What? I know it was her plan to get my attention. I am not a toddler but 29 years' man.

"Let's go for a dinner." She has to stay densely close to me so that we can be a couple soon.

Touching her cheek, I pose softly, staring deep into her hazel orbs. Her eyes are very beautiful, doe-shaped, clean, crisp and fancied with natural long and thick lashes.

Her skin tingles with my touch. I can see her caressed-cheek go scarlet. Whoa! Tables are turned in a day. She is the one who is turned on with heavy breaths, seduced body and flushed face.

Gosh, we cannot help this consuming inducement between us. All we want is other beside us, against us, eyes do not get tire no matters how much we see each other. Such mushy-teeny stunts!

"Thank gosh, I went to spa, too." Yes, she has been to spa. My observation can never be wrong. She has been pampered with manicure and... yeah pedicure, too. She is very keen to take care of herself. A real woman should.

"Be ready till half past seven. I have a video call to attend." I again make her feel the center of world by staring desirously deep into her eyes. Sighing softly, I shift eyes towards her lips while caressing her cheek at a snail's pace. Why are they nervous and quivering? Is she that much intimated by me? She is very high these days and why not?

I hum and leave her alone with her thoughts and go to change and get fresh. She did not throw any taunt today. Wow! A big success!

Withdrawing the clothes off me, I pat the tap and the water starts pouring over me in torrents from the shower panel. Remembering her bundle of taunts, I wash the grin off from my face. Night is still young. Her wrought mood has no reason specially for her badest husband. I sigh. When will she embrace me by heart? For once, I dismiss my thought of making love to her – a night after yesterday. Suddenly, the time is seeming scanty. There are certain queer sentiments which have no name but only feel. My true self wants her heart more than the body! The confusion is consuming my peace. I have got to do something for it.

***

I do not care if my voice is high. For now, I want to sing. As the words are getting out of my throat, I feel both the relaxation and tranquility taking me in their embraces. The white and black, white and black, white and black and, black and white piano keys are making placated melody.

"Aaj phir dil ne ik Tamanna ki...

Aaj phir Dil ne ik Tamanna ki

Aaj phir hum ne Dil ko Samjhaya"

Ghazals and Qawalis are my taste. I so love the depth in them.

Elza is behind me, I can sense it. I glance at her then focus back at my baby; piano while holding her with my eyes. "Tum ko Dekha tou Yeh Khayaal Aaya...

Tum ko Dekha tou Yeh Khayaal Aaya

Zindagi dhoop, Tum ghanna Saaya"

Finishing I sigh on my sleek piano, stretching arms over it. It surely pops out the veins from my well taken care and work-out arms. When I miss the morning jog, I do backup in evenings. During the wedding, I missed it 2-3 days. Even the evening time was not available. But thank God I was in shape on my wedding though I eat a lot – a lot means very a lot. And in those days, the cousins and family fun with dinners and snacks was another thing.

Elza places my iPhone 7 Plus in front of me with an expression that it's been vibrating. My phone is mostly on silent when I am busy in my favorite things. I hate disturbance as it unbalances the concentration. I have a sudden urge of tugging her arm, fix her on my lap and do her like there is no tomorrow. Seeing my poker face, she is also statue to her place. Oh Please Elza, go. But she does not.

Being impotent to my feelings, I hold her wrist. My patience thread is being shred away. The combination of shock and happiness is ruling her face at my first deliberate intimate touch – devoid of any excuse.

Entwining our fingers, I tug her close that now she is standing right in front of me. My heart is racing with a pace that in the next instant it will be shot out. My breaths have gone heavier and so do hers.

Her face is still sodden as she has just cleansed off the slight make up she did for the dinner. With the help of the moist tongue, she transfers some wetness to her dry lips. Dry for me to take them?

My thumb caresses her wrist and I bring it forward to my lips for a lingering contact. I instantly look up at her when her exhaling-moan sounds seductive. She really has no need to look into novels and surf the internet. Her one glance is ample to kill me.

I stand up from the rocking piano seat and she perceptibly gasps at our proximity. Cocking my head, I nuzzle the soft skin of her swan-like neck which is all the time adorned with my gift of wedding night. Her one hand instantly shots up to reach my hair and have it in between her silk fingers while the other holds my white t-shirt from my ribs for support.

The atmosphere has gone penetrating and private, putting my absolute focus on my spouse. She enjoys the drastic rhythm of my breaths as her body is completely under my control. My whole face is clashed to her warm and intoxicant skin. I rub my famished mouth over her and inhale her special scent. Her grip goes tight as I place an open-mouth kiss right at the thick part of her neck. Oh, Elza. You are my home!

***

I rub eyes after taking off the reading glasses. I do not have any eyesight problem. I wear them just for fun when I am reading a book or doing keen office work. My secretary once said I look hot in them. I had giggled at her remark. My wife thinks the same I guess. She never verbose it but I can even judge her breathing pace. She has gotten under my skin in a short yet torturous span of being my wife. This romantic novel I am reading is only for her.

I switch off the reading lamp and leaves the convivial cuddling of hanging cushion on balcony. I have certain type of love with vastness. Even the balcony is wide and vast.

As I enter in the room, I find my wife with her iPhone 7. It's very latest in market and why would it not be with me and my wife? After all I am the one who looks out for this company and its products' advertising. In addition, Baba, my father, has some business contacts with the company. Buying the original piece was not a difficult task.

She loves technology. It is her second phone within forty-six days. She did not like the earlier one I purchased and thus demanded for this. I also bought her iPad, mac laptop, iPod chiefly, rest things come as sand.

"You are still up?"

"So?" A curt reply. Damn, what happened to her mood! I left her all happy. I do not go much in study room as she is left all alone here.

In addition, our recent moment...It was a signal to mentally prepare her for upcoming night.

Do not make any excuse. The fact is you was drawn to her. My inner-self snaps at me.

Okay, whatever! Cannot I even touch my wife?

"Um, nothing." I say and place the novel in my laptop bag. She is not aware that I was reading the novel – I asked for in the morning – out there in natural air. It's the mid of August. The nights are chilled, mostly with rains of Monsoon, against the perspiring days. I do have Air Conditioning facility everywhere but I do get tired of AC, too. She may have envisaged that I was doing some office work. Maybe, that's why she is displeased? Maybe...

Stretching myself over the empty side of bed, I moan with peace; a low moan. She looks at me. The phone's screen is illuminating her gorgeous face. She looks distracted. Must be re-playing our recent intimate moment. Oh my, me!

But then she looks composed. "Went well with natural air, eh?" There was a sarcasm in her tone. Yes, she is offended upon me for being absent from around her. When I am around, she only uses her sharp tongue – with words and when I am not, she wants me around. Wow! Should not she be clear about what she wants?

"Yep. It was so awesome out there." I reply back.

"Good. I enjoyed with the bed." She rolls eyes mildly patting the bed after a sarcastic sentence and got more into comforter, turning her back to me. Wow! You all wifely Elza!

I had gone to get some space and not have her when she is yet to have cleaning shower after the periods. But it seems the damage has been done.

The night remains young with my wife blessing me with so many skeptical comments. She makes faces and murmurs things to herself... showing me her wrought and displeased mood.

The real problem is when she starts with her acute tone, she does not care what escapes out of her mouth. Even the truth is killed callously. Thank you Allah for giving me this witty creation of Yours. Life would had been so dull otherwise. I am sure once we are on even terms, she will be all sweet and polite but still I would want her to fight with me. Only me. That would give me a sense of being possessed that I have a wife who certainly owns me.

A naughty idea blithe my mind and I am again drawn to her. I say myself that this idea is to pass her more hints so that she can be fully mentally prepared for tomorrow night. Okay, this is another excuse

I am not ashamed to admit that I again want to be extra-close to her. Yes, that's nice.

I sink this closer to her that she would bang into my chest if turns. Her breaths are shortened feeling me nearer. She lifts her eyes to see me.

"Why is my wife upset, mm?" I ask caressing the front chocolaty tendrils, embellished with strips of ash color.

She opens her mouth to reply back but does not speak though. I wait while she formulates an answer.

"My wish!" The rolling of her eyes erupts chuckles from my throat making her anger raise some more.

I cock my head and then lowers it over her butter skin. The happiness dances over my entire self at the feel of her. It's not only kiss but her reaction and sweet-sigh which engulfs me in glee. Her cheek is exceptionally sweet and soft.

"I had gone to balcony because you are due to take bath. Tomorrow, right?" Her mouth opens at my unexpected words.

"Yes." She merely whispers with the high intake of oxygen. Her poker face is the one I would love to capture and frame but then others will also have a look. This face of her is only mine to admire. She is only mine to love.

Laying into the comforter for sleep, I am propelled a bit from her. Suddenly I am feeling a strange kind of void in me.

"Is not it like you get what you give? You know, the give and take thing?" I look towards my own cheek giving her a hint that I want my payback. I too want to be loved. I am a human after all.

Her head snaps at me and she flushes realizing my meaning. Told ya, she is smart!

My teasing ends in no time when she raises on her elbow, reaching my cheek with the confidence enough to kill the whole world.

Like me she lingers her face even after kissing me on cheek with those drugs of her named lips. She is feeling me – skin to skin. Ya Allah! How am I going to survive? How on the earth I predicted that she will remain the shy kind of wife life forever? To be honest, the bold side of her is more charming and arousing.

When she moves back, a victorious smirk is doing Jinga Lala Hu on her face. I smile back, acknowledging her confidence. She then slips down, keeping an intact grip on my arm, and sleeps being extra-close to me. O Allah, now how am I going to get my sound sleep?

Peculiarly, I am getting the aura of tranquil from her. When I am almost wafting into the world of sleep, I feel her hand travelling towards my chest. For much minutes, she feels the beating of my heart, providing me the deeper sleep. "Finally, idiot." She murmurs lowly but I get it due to the serenity of night. Yes, your idiot, miss sharp!

***

Any Ghazel Lover here?

Why do you think she was annoyed when he came from balcony?

How was their first deliberate intimacy? No excuse, No games. It was a deliberate one.