///////

     A week had passed since their marriage and Jannat was the happiest she had ever been. Everything felt like normal, like how it used to be. The guests were gone, Ibraheem was at the office and she had stopped wearing those awfully fancy dresses she was supposed to wear to dawats. (parties/ dinners)

In a magenta coloured shalwar kameez with orange embroidery, she sat on the carpet with a bowl of popcorn below her parents who sat the couch as they watched a cricket match.

All of them were so engrossed in the match that no one noticed a tired Ibraheem coming inside the living room.

"Assalam o Alaikum", He said but no one replied.

He watched as Jannat placed a popcorn in her mouth and then tapped his mother on her leg, enthusiastically saying,

"Shahid Afridi aagaya! "
(Shahid Afridi is here!)

His nose twitched. No one even noticed him and here people were getting excited over Shahid Afridi!

His mother looked at him suddenly, saying

"Lo Ibraheem aagaya. Jao fresh hojao. Khaana table par rakha hai. Hum match dekh lain."

(Oh Ibraheem is here. Go on, freshen up. The dinner is on the table. Let us watch the match.)

He shook his head and she immediately turned to look at the TV and Jannat looked at him and nodded, dismissing him with one glance.

His jaw clenched as his lips moved.

She was his wife! She was supposed to welcome him, then help him freshen up, maybe kiss him then tell him how much she missed him. Looks like he had to shift back to his apartment very soon.

"Jannat, idhr aana."
(Jannat, come here)

She turned to look at him, large eyes reflecting the blue lights of the TV and the crowd roaring as she pushed her bottom lip out.

"Please ! It's Shahid Afridi!"

Shahid Afridi, Shahid afridi, Shahid Afridi! Why was everyone mad about him?

He glared at her, his head shaking as he held the laptop bag in his hand.

"Ab meri beti ko zyada aankhein na dikhao. Chalo jao! Shaadi kar k zyada roab na jhaaro!

(Now don't you glare at my daughter! Go! Don't try to show dominance now that you are married!)

His glare turned towards his mother when she spoke up. Clutching his bag tightly, he murmured and walked away.

"Shaadi karnay ka faida? Meri biwi ko apnay paas bitha liya hai. Koi roab hi nai rehnay diya!"

(What's the point of marriage? Keeping my wife with them like she's theirs! No respect whatsoever!)

Jannat ignored him. He would be fine without her just like he had been for so many years. It was an important match, it was India verses Pakistan! How could she miss it?

Five minutes into the match, her heart palpilated at Afridi hit a sixer and they cheered.

Immediately, she saw an annoyed Ibraheem coming down the stairs and when he walked towards her with long strides, she became alarmed. Why was he looking like a bull who had seen a red cloth?

He stopped near her and grabbed her hand, yanking her and grabbing her waist.

"Aap budha budhi match dekhain aur meri biwi mjhe wapis karain"

(You old folks watch your match and return my wife to me.)

He didn't give them a second to reply and pulled her with him, even picking her up bridal style to climb the last stairs as she pleaded .

"Oye badtameez!"

(Idiot!)

His mother smiled lightly as his father shook his head. Their son was whipped. Totally whipped.

////////

Ibraheem sat down on his bed, his bride still in his arms. Making her sit on his lap facing him, he held her waist when she tried to get up.

"Let me-" , she said when she was interrupted, her face blushing due to his closeness and his intent stare at her lips. She felt his legs beneath her and her toes curled. God, why was he so inappropriate?

"Shhh" He shushed her, then silenced her when his lips met hers.

Jannat's eyes widened. It had been a while since he had kissed her on the wedding night. And now his plush lips roughly coaxed hers to move with them, her eyes closing when he stopped.

When they opened, they were filled with accusations, a frown adorning her face.

" Mama baba kya sochain gey...aisay kon utha kar laata hai kisi ko?"

(What will Mama and Baba think? Who does this?)

Her nose tilted up and chin pointy and proud, the net of the dupatta dangling off her shoulder as her pazeb rested peacefully in the hollow of ankle.

With his voice drunk with her, he spoke as he looked down at her and a tiny smirk stretched his lip to one side,

" Mama baba ko pata hai k aik aadmi ko uski biwi kiyun chahiye hoti hai."

(Mama and baba know why a man needs his wife.)

Gasping, she slapped his shoulder, attempting to get off his lap where she sat with her legs across on his.

"Kitni buri biwi ho tum waisay. Meray siwaye sab ka khyaal hai."

(You are such a bad wife. You care about everyone except me)

He said like he was wounded by her cruelty, his arms wrapping around her waist as his head tilted to rest on her shoulder.

"Mai buri hun? Aap tau Walima k din bhi office gaye thay."

(I am bad? You went to the office even on the day of our wedding reception !)

"Hmm. Tau mjhe yaad kiya?"
(Hmm. So did you miss me?)

He whispered next to her ear, his voice husky as he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.

She shook her head in no, her eyebrows raised as she challenged him.

Leaning a bit more closer, he whispered again,

"Thora sa bhi nahi?"
(Not even a little bit?)

A smile escaped her lips as she looked away, her berry lips pouting a little as she said,

"Nahi." (No)

He exhaled deeply, scratching the top of his brow before saying,

"Kuch tau karna paray ga phir. Doosri shaadi karlun?"

(Hmm. We'll have to do something about that. Should I marry someone else?)

Wide infuriated eyes turned to him abruptly, the lashes proud and wispy, as she said

"Karlain!"
(Do it.)

She pushed him away forcefully and got up, escaping the room in a second as she left the door slam shut.

Ibraheem shook his head lightly in amusement , biting his lower lip as he leaned back, his arms now holding the bed as he tasted her on his own lips.

/////////////

Ibraheem yelled loudly, looking for his wife.

"Jannat!"

His wife was no where to be found. In his black Kurta Shalwar, he climbed the stairs as he looked for Jannat. Where was she? He wanted to change and sleep.

Passing by Dua's room, he saw both of them sitting on large queen sized bed with a white comforter spread around them, a laptop sitting in front of them as they both giggled.

What was with her laughing with every member of the family except him?

Shaking his head, he poked his head in the room with one hand on the door handle.

"Jannat, aajao."
( Jannat, come let's go)

Still in her magenta Shalwar Kameez, she turned towards him, with her golden brown hair dishevelled.

"Kahan?" (Where?)

His eyebrows raised slightly,

"Sona nahi hai?"

( Don't you want to sleep tonight?)

Jannat exhaled a sigh in relief, biting her lower lip before saying,

"Abhi nahi. Abhi tau mey movie dekh rahi hun."

(Not now. I am watching a movie right now)

His nose twitched a little and his hand rubbed the back of his neck and jaw, the light beard rough against his hands and his bicep bulging.

"Meray kapray kon nikaal kar dey ga?"

(Who will take out my clothes then?)

Jannat and Dua turned to him, surprised.

Dua pulled the head phones out of her ears to say,

"Pehlay jinn nikaal kar deta tha? Khudi nikaal lain! "

(Did some ghost used to take them out before? Take them out yourself!)

Ibraheem entered the room now, his hand folding his sleeves up, the veiny arms unveiled and eyes glaring.

"Tum tau chup karo!"
(You keep quiet!)

Turning his glare towards Jannat, he asked in an authoritative tone,

"Aana hai k nahi?"
(Are you coming or not.)

Immediately, her eyes lit with fire. Her forgotten anger coming back.

"Nahi."
(No)

Abruptly, he strode towards her, hands pulling her up as she struggled and stopped him but he threw her on his shoulder like a log, her legs dangling on his front and head hanging back. Her brown hair now upside down, the golden a stark contrast against his black Kameez.

Then he carried a yelling Jannat to his room, blocking the attempts of his sister to stop him and looking away immediately when he caught two young maids laughing shyly.

////////

Ibraheem entered his room, locking his door with difficulty as Dua tried to push it open.

"Let me down!", Jannat yelled and he grabbed her by her waist, putting her down.

" Kya masla hai tumhara?"

(What is your problem ?)

Pushing her against the wall, he pushed his body against her, on hand dangerously close to her hip, the other propped against the wall.

"Meri baat kyun nahi maanti tum? Shohar hun tumhara!"

(Why don't you ever listen to me? I am your husband!)

Her eyes narrowed, lips twisting as she said,
"Thori dair pehlay tau doosri shaadi kar rahay thay aap!"

(A while ago, you wanted to have second marriage!)

"Haan tau kar sakta hun mey. Tum bus achi bachi ki tarhan meri baat mana karo!"
(Mhm. That I can do. You just listen to me like a good little girl.)

Her lips opened in a gasp, the brown in her eyes turned to fire,

"Agar bachi hun tau shaadi kyun ki?"

(If I am a child then why did you marry me?)

His hand trailed up her waist slowly and then rested just beneath her bust, his dark eyes looking into hers as he teased her,

" Wo tau tum ney koi kaala jadu kiya hai meray upar."

( It's probably because you have casted some black magic on me!)

Her jaw fell open, eyes accusing as she pushed him away, when he said,

"Dekha? mjhey tau bachi hi nazar aarahi ho."

(See? You look like a child to me.)

Winking, he turned around to reach his closet, when he was pushed towards the bed.

He fell on it on his back, his hair messy and eyes shocked as she climbed on him, her legs on either side of his waist.

She leaned down as her cat-shaped eyes fluttered seductively, her lips getting closer to his, her hair shielding their face and the diffracted lights formed a spectrum around them when she whispered,

"Phir jab mai barri ho jaun gi tab aapkey paas ajaun gi. Abhi aap yahan akelay soyein."

(Then when I get older, I'll come to you. But right now, you sleep alone.)

Getting up quickly, she smiled a fake smile, waving her hand as she exited his room.

Ibraheem closed his eyes and his eyebrows raised, shaking his head at himself when he felt the urgent need to have a cold shower.

God, he loved her.

///////////

If you don't know, In Islam a man is allowed to have four wives at once if he can be just with them all.

I forgot to mention it before but normally for a desi (Pakistani) wedding, there are three important functions:
Mehndi (A tradition where they get henna applied)

Baraat (The official wedding)

Walima (Wedding reception)

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