37| Nawal

As the night passed, guests started leaving when the function ended until only my in-laws were left. We all sat down, taking a breather before they had to leave and I dreaded the moment. I didn't want to let Ahad go when we only reunited three hours ago after three days. It was funny, even to me, how I had become such a person who couldn't spend even three days apart from her husband. Maybe that's what love does. He was sitting right next to me and as if he could read my thoughts, he interlaced our fingers, his thumb brushing over the back of my hand, providing the much-needed comfort of being close to him again.

"Aunty, can I take your daughter back home with me tonight? I will have to pick her up in the day anyway so it's better if we save time... and petrol." He cheekily smiled at me before hopefully looking at my mother, searching for her approval. I wanted nothing more than to go back with him.

"Of course beta, she's your wife." She nodded her head and my husband gave her a grateful look before softly squeezing my hand and standing up.

Ahad had brought his car where aunty, uncle and bhabhi had accompanied him so it was a little hard for me to fit in with my heavy dress and bhabhi's dress as well but the ride was calming. Everyone seemed to be tired so no one talked, leaving me to silently stare out the window at the passing street lights and stars in the sky. I saw Ahad glimpse at me in the back view mirror and I held eye contact with him before turning away again, letting him focus on the driving.

When we got out of the car, everyone headed straight to their rooms after small greetings. I waited for Ahad to enter the house as he had to pick up a few things along with my bag that I had brought along with my belongings so I could comfortably stay the night. He locked the house door before taking my hand and leading me upstairs. It felt as if it was our wedding night and he was taking me to our room for the first time but maybe that was just in my head. He set the bag aside next to the closet and flopped down on the bed, leaving me to stand in front of the mirror as I removed my wilted flower jewelry along with the other jewelry I was wearing. I had dressed up myself so I didn't bother to add excessive pins in my hair or on my clothes so I let my hair down before proceeding to hang my dupatta on the stand next to the dresser.

Before I could remove it though, Ahad, who had sneaked behind me without me knowing, placed his hands on my shoulders, slowly and sensually sliding them downwards until he stopped on the tip of my fingers. The act was so simple yet the way he did it made me want to close my eyes and let him have his way with me, however he wanted. He took the edge of my dupatta in between his fingers and slid it off my shoulder, letting it fall to ground in our feet, as if he was removing my veil, baring me to him. He smoothly wrapped an arm around me, his hand resting on my stomach as he pressed my back to his chest and I leaned back into his shoulder.

"Jaan, do I have your consent?" He whispered into my ear, his lips hovering just a centimeter apart from my skin and I could only nod through my arousal. I was so turned on right now that my judgment was clouded but I appreciated how he asked me every time before getting intimate, even if we had already consummated our marriage months ago.

Ahad let me go and I wanted to whine from the loss of touch and warmth before he led us both to bed and put a hand under my head and brought it down on the pillow. We both were still completely dressed even though all the buttons of his kurta were open, revealing his chest and tempting me to run my hand down his body. He tried to remove my top but failed and sat back in frustration, causing me to giggle but sit up and pull the top over my head, anyway. It made me a little shy undressing myself but Pakistani dresses were made in a way that could not be understood by men so I had to assist him anyway. After I was out of the clothes, he laid me back again and connected our lips, roaming his hands over my bare body, making me hold back small whimpers as I held onto his shoulders.

"I'll show you just how much I missed you." He told me in between kisses and did exactly what he said, all night long, over and over.

***

In the morning, or afternoon, as the sun was much brighter and overhead when I looked out the window, I woke up to find myself laying on my husband's bare chest, my hand resting next to my head. He was still sleeping so I quietly got up but not before leaving a peck on his chest, above his heart and getting up. I felt butterflies in my stomach by just looking at his bare form and thought of how lucky I was to have such a handsome partner with an equally beautiful heart.

As soon as I stepped foot on the floor and stood up, it was like the world started spinning around me, causing me to almost collapse as I roughly sat down on the bed again. I had an urge to throw up and my mind went back to the food I had eaten last night. The rice did seem a little off but I could be feeling nauseous for an entirely reason... NO. I refuse to let my mind wander in that direction though it was completely, scientifically possible that I was pregnant.

I went into the washroom, emptied out my stomach's contents, and changed into something casual before going downstairs. It was a little embarrassing to be waking up so late when there were other people in the house but in my defense, I had been working the entire day yesterday and I was tired. Especially after... things that we did last night. I didn't see anyone other than bhabhi sitting at the table, absent-mindedly stirring the tea in her cup as she looked lost in thought. I greeted her but when I didn't get a response, I put my hand on her shoulder to pull her out of her thoughts.

"Are you okay?" I cautiously asked, afraid she might not like it since I wasn't a direct relative.

"Bhabhi! Thank God you're awake, I had to talk to you." She took my hand before I could react and led us to the couch. "How did you manage?" She looked at me hopefully, as if wishing I would understand her broken words but I raised my eyebrow to show my confusion.

"How did you manage getting married? Like how do you even leave your entire family behind and move in with new people and call them your family and that house your new home? I just don't get it!" She frustratedly buried her head in her hands causing me to almost laugh at her behavior but I once felt like this too.

"Hey, it's okay. It sounds like a lot of pressure, I know, but it's completely normal. Many girls are expected to do it and go through with it too and let me assure you, my family will never let you feel out of place. I know it's very nerve-wracking to accept it but it needs to be done and you're strong enough for it. Just don't get cold feet on the last day, have some pity for my brother please." I looked at her playfully, pretending to plead, causing her to laugh through her anxiety. She gave me a hug of gratitude before pulling away when someone cleared their throat behind me.

I turned around to look at Ahad who was holding my bag and thoughts from earlier came rushing back to me. We could possibly be having a baby on the way and I instinctively put a hand on my stomach.

"It's time for your salon appointment, right?" He asked the two of us as he held up his wrist to show us his watch and we both nodded before Rumaisa scurried away, leaving me alone with my husband.

"What happened to you? It's like you froze when you saw me." He flicked my forehead, not hard enough to hurt me and I shook my head. "Nothing. Let me get my back so we can go." I got up and went to our room to get my bag and the laundry bag that had my dress for today. I looked over at the bed, imagining our baby sleeping peacefully in between me and Ahad but pushed the thoughts aside. I wasn't even sure yet and I wanted nothing more than to run to the store and get a test to confirm my suspicions, but that would have to wait until the wedding functions were over.

The three of us got into the car and Ahad dropped us at the salon with our things. We told him a specific time at which he was supposed to pick us up and went inside as he left.

The hairstylist got to work with the bride's hair while my make-up was done first. My look for today was an all-golden lehenga and short shirt that stopped at my hips but not short enough to expose my body even if I raised my arms. The dupatta with it was red in color and the look was fit for a bride and I had protested against it so I didn't look overdressed enough to be the bride myself but aunty said that it was the right dress as I was the only daughter in law of their house and I and Ahad were a fairly newlywed couple too so I must dress like it. He, being a man, had no specifications so I had to take it all.

Rumaisa bhabhi's dress was maroon with pale golden embroidery. The dupatta was maroon too and all her jewelry was golden and white. The pale design of her lehenga matched bhai's beige/golden sherwani that also had a red handkerchief in the front pocket to match Rumaisa's bhabhi's dress. She looked so beautiful, Masha Allah, that I had to blow a few duas on her myself, afraid that some evil eyes might catch her as soon as she stepped out of the salon.

When I was completely dressed up, I stood in front of the floor-length mirror and twirled around a bit, enjoying how my lehenga spun in the air. It would be a lie if I said I didn't feel pretty in the dress. My hair were left loose and were curled from the bottom.

Ahad texted me that he was waiting for us outside so I carefully took bhabhi to the car with the help of on of the salon ladies as it was hard for me to manage my own dress as well as hers when we walked. He informed us that he dropped my in-laws at the venue before picking us up so they could welcome the guests who had quickly started filing in after their arrival. I constantly kept massaging bhabhi's shoulders to calm her down as I was well aware of what she must be feeling right now after going through it myself nearly eight months ago– time passed by very quickly.

Again, when I looked at my husband, I could only think of how he would feel if I was pregnant. I wasn't sure if we both were ready yet to start a family of our own but I was certain that we both would welcome the blessing with open arms. I couldn't wait to take a test but I needed to do it peacefully, without the pressure of the wedding lingering over my head.

We all had planned a slightly different welcome for Rumaisa bhabhi so I got out of the car before Ahad and the bride and walked to the stage as I greeted everyone on the way. My brother was sitting on the stage with my mother, talking about something, and I informed them that the bride was here. The plan was to walk Rauf bhai to the car and get him to bring Rumi bhabhi inside himself as they were already nikkahfied so it wasn't an issue. As last night, I gathered some girls and gave them flower petals to shower over the couple of the night. Very gently and respectfully, my brother helped my sister-in-law out of the car with two hands before walking her to the stage with one hand intertwined with hers. The photographers did their job as told and clicked pictures from all angles. Aunty insisted that Ahad and I walked behind them as we both were linked to both the groom and bride and were the newest couple of both families as well. He held my hand and walked us up to the stage before we moved to the sides to let the guests have a look at the main couple.

When all the meetings and greetings were over, Ahad signaled for the workers to set up the food on each table and I took a bit of everything and left it on the stage for the bride and groom to eat, reminded of how Ahad had to feed me on our wedding as I was too uncomfortable. I sat on the family table where my parents, my parents-in-law and Zoha Appi and Sameer bhai sat with my husband. Since this was the only time I would be sitting, many of Ahad's relatives came and greeted me and I briefly remembered some faces and names as his family was very big. Many females hugged me and subtly asked me about my marriage and plans for a family and I hated how nosy they were but respectfully told them that there was no such thing right now, even though I was suspicious myself. When I felt too uncomfortable with the growing questions, I excused myself and went into the washroom located separately outside the hall to calm myself down.

Ahad was standing by the entrance of our hall, waiting for me and placed a hand on the small of my back in a reassuring manner.

"No offense, but some of your relatives are really nosy," I told him and he just laughed. "None taken, I know how my relatives can be. There's a reason why no one from my family has asked you to meet any of them before."

"They think that as soon as a woman gets married, she's supposed to start producing kids like how does that work?" I was so annoyed right now but composed myself instantly when I saw Zoha Appi approaching us.

"Bhai, bhabhi, they're doing Rumaisa's rukhsati now." She told us with a solemn face and we followed her. Ahad was visibly tense now but I put a hand on his arm to reassure him and he patted my hand back. When we reached the stage, Rauf bhai was already helping his wife down the stage as my in-laws stood around her along with my parents. She hugged her parents, reminding me of my own wedding and how I was a crying mess too. Once she was done, bhabhi hugged Ahad and moved aside to give them their space and stood next to my own brother as he watched them along with me with a sigh. Ahad kissed the top of her head before leading her outside as Rauf bhai held her hand again to walk beside her.

"Are you both not coming with us?" Baba asked and I shook my head. I knew that if we both went, mama would busy herself with looking after us instead of giving bhai and bhabhi the attention they deserved and I really just wanted to sleep now after the day I had.

"We'll see you tomorrow, Allah hafiz." I hugged my parents good bye then turned to aunty who was still crying, just a little less now.

"Aunty?" I gently asked her, causing her to look up at me and then engulfed her in a big hug, patting her back repeatedly. "She hasn't gone anywhere, you can always visit her." Ahad brought the car and I sat in the backseat with my mother-in-law, my arm never leaving her shoulders.

"Beta, you should call me mom too, like my other children. You mean the same to me." She said and I couldn't help but smile at her innocent request. "I'll try, mom." I was truly blessed to have such a beautiful and loving family, Alhamdulillah.

–

(A.N): If no one has caught on yet, let me just point it out that I'm trying to end the story fast, hence the quick updates. Anyway, please vote and comment and look forward to my next story once this one ends <3
Forever Yours has fifty-four chapters + an epilogue