Sitting on the bed full of flowers, all alone, Muskan awaited her groom. Saying she was nervous would be an understatement. Zarina Ma did tell her to be herself but the words that Khushi said were still lingering in her head making her dizzy.

She really wasn't ready to.... become his tonight but at the same time she thought that, if it was Rehan, maybe she'd be fine.

She hugged her knees tight.

After a few minutes, she could hear the door opening and her heart jumped to her throat and her palms got sweatier.

Then she heard the door close and footsteps approaching her. Then the mattress of the bed sank a little and she felt his presence in front of her. The smell of his ittar filling her.

"Assalamualaikum."
Rehan said trying hard his voice didn't break. He was soo nervous that he couldn't even look at her straight but still soo excited that he couldn't wait to see her to his heart's content.

"Walaikum assalam..."

He finally dared to look up at her and his jaw dropped and heart stopped.

He couldn't believe it that a normal human being could look soo beautiful. He was now completely convinced that she was a Hoor straight from Jannah.

"My butterfly....is that.... really you?" He breathed.

Muskan turned crimson clutching her lehenga.

He brought his shaky hand to touch her heena coloured ones but hesitated fearing what might happen if he did. He was spellbounded, hypnotised by her red lips and sparkling emerald orbs that were cast down filled with shyness.

There was complete silence between them. Hot breaths and racing hearts.

Rehan finally cleared his throat with a plan to lighten the mood.

"Butterfly, you were going to let me kiss your hands." He smiled.

"Huh.... I....uh...."

His smile grew at her breathless response.

"Calm down, I won't eat them. Although, they do look delicious, but I just had dinner. What about you? Did you eat well. I'm pretty sure Khushi and Ma would've stuffed your mouth till your stomach exploded."

Finally, she giggled and Rehan felt a weight off his chest. She was warming up to him, that was good.

"Yasir was ready to make my stomach explode too. I literally had to run away from those crazy couple and hide in the bathroom." Rehan laughed when he heard her laugh too.

His heart warmed up seeing her and at that moment he promised himself to protect that innocent laughter, her smile and her happiness till there was breath in his lungs.

"What was your favourite dish of the banquet BTW?" He asked as he couldn't understand what else to talk about other that food because all his attention was getting stolen by her strawberry lips and apple cheeks.

Muskan thought for a while.
"Everything."

"Everything? Liar!" He teased.

"No....it was all good." She replied meekly.

Rehan almost lost it at her cuteness.

"Well, I didn't like those gulab jamuns at all. The one you made the other day were soo delicious that it's taste is still lingering in my mouth. Can you make them again for me sometimes?"

Muskan blushed nodding smiling widely. She was soo thrilled that he complemented her cooking. Now she was ready to make gulab jamuns for him for the rest of her life.

Rehan chuckled.

"I'll.... make some tomorrow." She said meekly.

"Oh right. It will be your first time cooking something as my bride. Ah, I'm supposed to give you a gift in return. What would you like?" Rehan asked her.

Muskan blushed. She was his bride now huh? She still couldn't believe it.

"A... anything you like?"

"Anything I like huh? Are you sure about it?" He said in a low husky tone.

Her parted lips, as she gasped slightly made him gulp and he inched forward towards her, his heart pounding in his chest.

Muskan stopped breathing as she felt his hot breath fanning near her mouth and she shut her eyes tight clutching her lehenga.

Rehan froze as he noticed his butterfly trembling and scared as she was silently whimpering with her eyes shut. He instantly regretted his actions. That's right. She has been thorough a terrifying situation when that bastard brother of her's tried to force her. Maybe his actions made her remember that. He was swarmed with guilt.

"Sorry butterfly." He whispered.
"For now.... I'll just do this."

He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead instead and she immediately opened her eyes. He noticed her trembling orbs and he got back taking both her hands in his.

"Don't be scared of me please. I'm your husband now but I promise I won't do anything to you that you don't like. And I can't even imagine about forcing you. I won't even touch you if you don't like it until you're truly comfortable with me.
I love you my butterfly."

Muskan's eyes teared up hearing that. He loved her.....he really did!!!

"Um....can I kiss your hand?"

She nodded readily making him smile and he placed a soft kiss on her palm.

"My name's written here. I found it." He whispered and unable to resist, he proceeded to kiss her every fingertip of both hands as she gasped everytime his lips touched her skin.

"Soo soft " he whispered over her skin.

"Rehan ji...." She whispered.

"Just call me Rehan my Butterfly."

She nodded blushing.

If he was eager to take a step forward towards her. She too wanted to take another step forward towards him too.

"Rehan...."

She loved his name.

"I... want to feel how you look like."

Rehan watched her suprised but then smiled.
"Do as you wish my butterfly. I'm your husband now, you own me."

Excited to feel her touch and nervous as to what she might think, he placed her soft hand on his cheek watching her in awe as her eyes casted to a side and she slowly began moving it on his face, his every feature. From the shape of his broad forehead, his thick eyebrows, his soft eyelids, to his pointy nose.
He closed his eyes as her touch was sending currents through his body, his heart and breath out of control.

She brought another hand touching his cheeks and she smiled as his stubble tickled her palms. She touched his lips with her fingertips memorizing it's shape. Imagining his every feature, giving it a shape in her mind.

"MashaAllah.....you really are soo handsome." She whispered.

Rehan gulped gazing at her as she was soo dangerously close to him. He really had no faith in himself that he might be able to stop.

"Muskan.."

"Yes...."

He gathered all his willpower to pull himself back from her mesmerizing self.
"Let's get changed and pray Salah together. Ok?" He said in a husky voice.

"Hm."

#####
Rehan sank on the bed when his bride went in the bathroom to change. His heart was out of control. He hardly resisted her this time, but what about the future?

She was soo scared. He was glad she wasn't scared of him but, the person who made her this scared was still living....and so were the people who made her suffer all those years.
And as her husband now, he wasn't going to let them be in peace any longer.

He heard the door open breaking the chain of his thoughts. His wife stepped out with all her makeup washed off revealing her bare face and in a simple punjabi dress. Her hair tied up in a ponytail.

She was still soo much more beautiful.

"I'll wait." She said shyly.

"Oh...uh....ok. I'll be back soon." He said and excused himself.

By the time he was back, she was already sitting on the praying mat and also his mat was placed in front of hers already, that to in the right direction. He was in awe as to how does she do that soo immaculately when she can't even see. Clearly his wife was the most intelligent woman he had seen. The best!
And she looked really beautiful with her dupatta wrapped around her face too.

Was he lucky or what?

He brought his mat back placing it beside her just a foot forward then her mat.

"There's no need for formalities my butterfly." He took her hand helping her stand.
"From now on in everything....or in everyway, whether it be in Salah or life, you always stand beside me, not completed behind me."

Muskan fell in awe of her husband and suddenly just threw her arms around him snuggling onto his chest startling him.

"Um...Mus.... Muskan?"

"I'm really lucky you found me. I...." She paused and hid her face into his chest shyly.

Rehan smiled wrapping his arms around her gently as he closed his eyes resting his chin over her head. How he craved to hold her like this!
"Complete your sentence butterfly."

He was dying to hear those 3 magical words from her.

"Let's pray. It's getting late." She said getting back and he chuckled.

"I'll hear it soon from you." He challenged turning her into a tomato.

#####
"Ouch"

Rehan's eyes shot open to the sound of something tumbling on the floor. He sat up alarmed scanning the room and found his wife getting off the floor near the couch.

"Oh no Muskan!" He rushed to her helping her up.

"Sorry. I lost my way to the bathroom. I'm not used to this room yet." She said sheepishly.

"Are you ok? Not hurt anywhere, are you?" Rehan asked observing her. He was still a bit groggy.

She shook her head.
"Sorry I disturbed your sleep due to my clumsiness." She said embarrassed.

Rehan pushed her hair back smiling at her cute face.
"You can never disturb me my butterfly. Infact, you should have woken me. What if you ended up hurting yourself?"

Anxiety settled in him as he noticed the small glass coffee table near the couch. Even if accidentally she might've tumbled on it, she could've seriously injured herself. So he decided to discard it out ASAP. He didn't wanted an inconvenience for his darling wife.

"Thankyou." She said.
"Um.... Rehan ji.... I mean, Rehan...." She was blushing hard.
"...the bathroom. I need to go."

Rehan noticed the toothbrush toothpaste and towel in her hand.
"Oh right. Come." He took her small hand into his large one.

He guided her to the bathroom as she recorded the steps this time. He had guided her like that last night too but Maybe because of her heavy lehenga and the fact that her mind was hazy because of all the nervousness made her forget everything.

She was getting used to the warmth of his hand now. More like, getting addicted to it.

"On your left is the sink, on right the toilet and exactly in center the shower." He informed.

"Yes. I remember."

"Good. BTW, should I wait here?" Rehan asked teasingly.

Muskan gasped.
"No way."

"Oh come on! I'm your husband now. I can see everything."

"No no Rehan ji. Never!"

"Still ji? Now I'm definitely staying."

"Sorry.... Rehan....ok? Rehan... please don't."

Rehan chuckled enjoying her red face.
"First say that I love you Rehan."

Muskan blushed even more and somehow managed to push him out and shut the door on his face

Rehan shook his head chuckling.
"I will make you say it by the end of the day my butterfly!"

Muskan leaned her back on the bathroom door holding on to her racing heart as the smile wasn't ready to leave her face making her cheeks hurt.

She never thought her husband could be soo crazy.

_______________________

Did you read the previous ch 8?

Come back tomorrow for next 2 chapters.

How were the chapters? Excited for tomorrow?

What should Muskan call Rehan? Like an endearment like he calls her Butterfly.
Any suggestions?