Mahir's POV:

Zoya was all about blushing, smiles and being hesitant.. She was attractive! Beautiful... Graceful...

But today when she openly expressed for me to disagree to this marriage it honestly hurt me! I didn't know Hammad broke that girl's heart so badly. I always knew he was an idiot!

A typical chauvinist and I didn't know why he behaved like that...he had that mindset that women are a weaker sex...
Idiot!
Little did he know even Quran says women are the Barkat (goodness) of a household and in life... And that idiot never thought once that he was born out of the same female organ whom he threatens to be weak!

But I'm happy I have Zoya...
I know it will take her enough time to gel with me...after all it's only I who had this huge crush on her and she didn't even know a Mahir who was dreaming about her.

But then... today...I said it all...

Shayad thoda jaldi hogaya
(Maybe it was too early to tell )

But I don't know what made me confess it to her...

She was every man's desire... epitome to f perfection...not just her external beauty...she had a tender heart too...
But she looked like she's in a shell...
I just hope our journey brings her out of this shell and brings us together...

(Thinking about Zoya brought a smile on Mahir's face...he picked his bath towel and went and stood under the shower)

Cool drops of water fell on his face ..wetting his thick stubble, chest and abs while everytime he closed his eyes he remembered her...
A smile reflected his face...)

What are you doing to me Miss Farooqui ❤️

After a good shower he shook his head while he noticed his phone started ringing...

He quickly saw his mobile and had a smile on his face...
It said 'Zoya calling'

The picture his father clicked was already her display picture and that made his eyebrow raise and he had a coy smile...

It was a whatsapp call. He picked the call)

'Umm... Hi... Is this Mahir' the minute her silk like voice hit my ears I felt goosebumps in my body...

'Hmm...Yes...Mahir...may I know who is this?' I asked trying to pretend naive...

'Mahir...Zoya here.... actually Ammi was trying to call on your landline and also on your mother's mobile number but she it was not reachable... even your number...so....I did a whatsapp call' she said...

I smiled to myself...

'Its fine Zoya... Anything urgent?' I asked...

'Ummm...nope... actually aunty told that she and uncle had called Abbu sometime ago that you guys can't come for the family lunch that's organized...So... Ammi wanted to talk to aunty...if you don't mind can you please give the phone to aunty' she said softly...

'Sure... Give me a few minutes... actually I was in the shower so I need to wear clo'

'Oh ooh...so...sosssorry...illcallbacklaterbye'
And she dropped the phone...

I couldn't stop laughing at this behaviour...

She was really cute...

I quickly wore my bathrobe and went with my phone to mumma's room and made Zoya's mum talk to my mum.

Once they were done mumma gave me the phone...

On the other side of the phone again was her angelic voice...
'Mahir Shukriya (thank you)' she said softly...

My heart was beating loudly whenever I heard her silk like voice...

'Your welcome Future Mrs Khan' I said and next second I didn't hear her...

She probably went numb.

I was biting my lips to control my laughter...

'Zoya... You there?'

'Hmm...mmm.. yyyyya' she fumbled and I was controlling my laughter...

She is so cute.❤️

Zoya's POV:

Did he like address me that 😳

I gulped my saliva which proved to be useless so I gulped down a glass full of water...

While I heard the phone call disconnected...

I breathed in peace while next second the phone Started ringing and it was a video call...

My eyes 👀 widened in a state of shock...

Finally I picked the call...

And I froze...

He was sitting in a bathrobe... and I was shocked...

'Hi Zoya... '

I was numb!!! I didn't have words coming out of my mouth...he was in a bathrobe! Shit!!!

'I....I...will call later' I was trying to cut the call when he said...

'Wait!!!

Look up Zoya....

Zoyaaaa...'

And I slowly looked up..

'I have worn a bathrobe ..I know to behave Zoya...I know you aren't my wife....

Yet ..'

The gap between wife and yet dried my throat again...

'I wanted to take you out for dinner...but I know...you wouldn't come...and I totally respect it...but can we atleast talk via phone calls everyday...
I have lost a lot of time in my life without you ..

Not a second more...' he said with all the honesty and i slowly lifted my gaze and looked at him...

'Can we have a video call everyday morning before we start our day and everyday night before sleeping...? And if you still feel this is inappropriate I can ask your Abbu's permission'

I kept quiet for a while and I finally said ...
'You don't need to...I know Abbu won't mind...it's just that I....ummm.'

'Its fine Zoya... I won't do anything that will make you uncomfortable...if you don't want to have a call it's fine... It's a matter of two weeks after that...

Phone ki bhi zaroorat nahi padegi
(I wouldn't even need the phone)

He said and my cheeks reddened...

'Oh ...I called to tell you...I love Qubani ka meetha'

'Whattt?' I was confused...

'Are... I'm going to my sasural for dinner na...so I just thought of telling my future wife what is my favorite' he said grinning like an idiot while I laughed hard...

'Will you make it?' he asked...

'Me???' I asked with surprise...

'Well...I dont mind making it too..but that after marriage...but as of now I want to eat it made by you... with ummmm.... Chicken biryani...i like it better than mutton'

'I won't make anything...' I said trying to hide my laughter...

To which he passed his pearly white smile flashing his dimple while I felt my heart skipped a beat...

I lowered my gaze...

'Bye Zoya... Goodnight.. oh ummm..
For you... Shabba Khair' he said and I smiled saying...

'Allah Hafiz Mahir' with a bright smile...

'Waise...you are right... If you keep smiling like this...indeed I need that... His bliss is required for me to breathe after i see your bewitching smile' and I froze...

'Well... Now it's officially a Khuda Hafiz Zo...'

And the call was disconnected...

I was blushing hard...but why...

This man is anything I ever met...

Smiling brightly I went to bed...

While I got a few photographs from him and he said...

'I love your wallpaper already'

To which I blushed...

***

Family had Started arriving for the dinner while I was decorating the table and I heard a voice that left shivers in my body..

'Salaam Zoya'

My hands shivered and went numb..

I closed my eyes and with all the courage I turned around...

Hammad was standing infront of me with a smile.

How shameless can a person be...he was here for the dinner even after what he did to me...

I was trying to go away while he said..

'Heard you are finally getting married...so you finally found a shoulder to cry upon is it? But will you be able to forget me Zoya... '

I had tears in my eyes...

I turned around and looked at him with extreme disgust...

There was so much I wanted to tell him...

While suddenly I heard a voice from behind me...

'Zoya...'

And today I don't know why that voice gave me a sensation of a cool wind in hot and dry desert...

I blinked through my tears and turned around...

Mahir stood there looking at me and next second his gaze shifted to Hammad...

Still looking at Hammad he said...

'Any problem Zoya?'

I saw his fingers clenching into a tight fist and was worried...

Next second he held my hand and interlocked our fingers...

I lifted my head and looked into his eyes
'Im here Zo... Relax' he said...

While the brimming tear from my eye fell on my cheek...

While he rubbed it with his thumb finger and said...

'Come...' and slowly held me by my shoulders while my eyes met his shining ones...

He slowly bent to whisper in my ears

'You don't need to fear anyone Zo...you are a free bird...no one stops you...no one tells you...no one... You are strong'

He held my hand and took me away...I wished his mom and dad while his mom kissed my forehead...

I could feel Hammad's eyes on me all the time...

I slowly looked in that direction while Mahir probably noticed it and stop straight infront of me and said...

'If you think he matters...he does...
If you think he's nothing.. then he's nothing!

He's here for what you also know Zoya... You know you are giving him his much needed satisfaction?
Don't feed his ego Zoya...
Be happy Zoya..
That smile of yours I dont know burns how many hearts...but soothes mine...'

And my breath hitched at it...

While he chuckled at my expressions... he held my hand and said...

'Im hungry Future Mrs Khan... Can I get something to eat...
Not eaten anything from afternoon except meal and a few samosas and a few kachori and a few cups of coffee'

And that minute I burst out laughing 🤣

I took him along to the kitchen...

Picked a small bowl of Qubani ka meetha and gave it to him...

His eyes shined like a little kid...

He ate it and moaned like he was given something heavenly...

I laughed loudly...

'Zo.... One more please' he said and I narrowed my eyes at him...

'If you eat this who will eat the special chicken Hyderabadi biryani I made' I asked and his jaw dropped...

Bending a little closer to my face he asked...
'You...ummm....you made it for...mmme?' he asked...

Shit!!!

'Ummm...no... actually there are some of my cousin's they like chicken better than mutton... so... I made for... everyone' I said...

While he smiled and looked elsewhere...

'By the way I think sweet is a little less in the meetha' he said..

'Oh is it? I didn't taste it' i said and next second I picked a small piece from his bowl and tasted it...

'I think it's fine...' i said...

While next he took a bite and said...
'Hmmmm... Just got perfectly sweet'

While looking deep into my eyes...

Suddenly we heard the song play from living room...

Chhoota teer jo uski kamaan se
Jaa laage jit lagna..
Chori likhi hai bhaagya mein tere
Toh kya sona, kya jagna..

Ho.. saawat suha rang sabke naseeb da
Ho.. saawat suha rang naseeb da
Khelein dukh sukh aankh micholi ho..
Khelein dukh sukh aankh micholi

Jee mein tu.. jaan mein tu..
Mere saare jahaan mein tu (Repeat once)

Ho.. saawat suha rang naseeb da
Khelein dukh sukh aankh micholi
Mera murshid khele holi
Mera murshid khele holi

Yaara rang hai uska nyaara
Mera murshid khele holi
Mera murshid khele holi
Pyaala chhidke apne karam ka
Pyaala chhidke apne karam ka
Rang de sab sansaara
Mera murshid khele holi

...

Suddenly my cousin's came pondering around him and started asking for pics with him and me..

Selfie... selfie...
They were teasing us...

While Mahir happily took the phone from my hand and asked me to bend and we pouted to a picture...

Next second my mad cousins started chatting with him and Little did they know Mr Khan was a bigger chatter box..

In no time they were all praises of their 'Mahir Bhai';🤦

The crowd pushed me closer to him squeezing us in a frame and I landed on his chest...

While he held me by my waist and we looked into each other's eyes even when being clicked...

My heart was in my mouth and eyes on this man who was responsible for my this condition...

His gaze was anything I ever saw...

Pure...

Divine...

Sufi ❤️