"Assalamu Alayekum." Zyva said coming in the living room.

"Walekum assalam Zyva beta. How are you?" Khurshid asked who was reading a newspaper.

"Alhumdulillah. How are you Daddy?"

"I will be Alhumdulillah if I get one cup of tea." Khurshid said looking at Zyva.

Zyva looked at him and smiled.

"Jee. I will bring it now!"

"Thank you darling."

Zyva stood up and went in the kitchen. Today is Zyva's seventh day in her new house and thirtieth day as a married lady. 

Everything was going great but last night Zyva and Sufyaan had a big fight and now they are not talking to each other.

Sufyaan's firm,ASA is going through the worst time. They all are working very hard but they all are very stressed as well. Sufyaan was stressed a lot and Zyva was teasing him. She was saying she will go back to India for her cousin's engagement. Sufyaan ignored her for a while and when she kept on saying that he lost his cool and shouted at her.

At first Zyva was scared because this was the first time after they got married when Sufyaan shouted at her. She tried saying sorry but Sufyaan kept ignoring her.

She could not sleep the whole night and when Sufyaan kept ignoring her in the morning as well then she lost her cool and shouted back. So now they both are not talking to each other.

Soon Zyva was done making tea. She took two cups with her and came back in the living room where Khurshid was still reading his newspaper.

"Thank you Zyva." Khurshid said after taking the cup from her.

"You're welcome."

Zyva sat down on the chair before taking her cup.

"How is life without sugar?" Zyva asked.

Khurshid smile before saying,"sweet."

Zyva smiled before asking,"really?"

"Of course it's horrible. But after living without sugar for twenty years you get use to it."

"It must be difficult."

"Yes it is in the beginning. But MashaAllah your father-in-law is amazing."

Zyva started laughing and Khurshid smiled.

"You know Zyva it's like marriage."

Zyva frowned after some time and then slowly tilting her head she asked,

"What?"

"See, Sugar is sweet but you can't have it all day! You'll eventually need some salt and spices too. Same way, you cannot always have cute lovey dovey moments. Fights are necessary! Then how will you come to know , how much your partner love you?"

"How?"

"See if you are upset he will do things to solve the problem, right? Sufyaan is not very expressive. His actions are your only proof that he loves you. So for that you need to fight."

Zyva looked down and Khurshid smiled again.

"Smile darling."

"You know about our fight?"

"Yes."

"We were so loud?"

Khurshid laughed before saying,"No. But today that smile which always makes me feel better was missing. And also no one said Salam on the breakfast table."

"We didn't?"Zyva asked astonished

"No." Khurshid said shaking his head

"I'm so sorry."

"That's fine. And don't worry. Sufyaan is not that difficult. And if you are angry at him then he won't be able to take your silence for long."

"We both are angry at each other."

Khurshid laughed before saying,"perfect."

Zyva looked down again and Khurshid shook his head,"No need to feel embarrassed Zyva. I know my son. He fights more than he breathes. He is a very short tempered person. You need to be a little patient when it comes to him. But he is a good human being."

"I know. I was upset because I'm his new wife and he was shouting at me."

Khurshid smiled ,"That means you matter to him."

"How?"

"He shouts or scolds someone who is close to his heart. He feels that person is his own and he can do anything with them."

"But that's wrong."

"I know. But that's how he is. We cannot do anything about that."

"I guess."

"Whenever he drives you crazy and whenever you feel like leaving him, always remind yourself what he did for you. He left his work and went all the way to India. For you."

Zyva shook her head before smiling,"my Abba said the same thing just before our Nikha."

"So now cheer up."

Zyva smiled before saying,"Thank you."

After finishing her tea Zyva went back to kitchen and started preparing for lunch. Although Khurshid tried his best to solve the tension between his kids but Zyva was still upset. She was not expecting a fight so soon. But maybe social networking was right,

Expectations hurt.

***

Sufyaan  opened the door and entered the house. He was very tired and wanted to sleep. He knows his reaction was wrong but when he gets angry it's hard for him to control himself. Even he was angry on her for teasing him without understanding his situation.

He went in the living and found it empty. It was almost twelve at night so he went to his room directly. He opened the door and saw Zyva standing in the balcony. She was talking to someone on her phone.

Hearing the door open Zyva turned around and saw her husband  walking towards the bathroom.

"Zynah don't worry InshaAllah you will get a job. Now I have to go. You take care. AllahHafiz."

Zyva disconnected the call and went in the room. Sufyaan was in the bathroom so Zyva went to the kitchen to get him some water. She was not planning to talk to him but giving water won't harm so she took a glass of water and started walking back to her room.

She opened the door and saw Sufyaan keeping his clothes in the closet. Sufyaan was very particular about his things. They should not be kept anywhere other than its fixed place or else Sufyaan losses his mind. So Zyva told him to keep his things himself till the time she learns where to keep what.

Zyva went towards him and extended her hand. Sufyaan was still keeping his clothes so she had to stand in the same position for some time. She was about to take her hand back when Sufyaan took the glass from her.

Then Zyva went and sat on their bed whereas Sufyaan went to the shelf where his bag was resting. Zyva was waiting for him to say something but he was too busy in ignoring.

Sufyaan was guilty and was upset with himself and that was one more reason what was stopping him from talking to his wife.

But after some time when Zyva could not take it anymore she said,

"It was your fault and still you are not talking to me. This is not fair."

"Hmm."

Zyva frowned before saying,"Fine I'm sorry but can we please start talking?"

Sufyaan looked at her but did not reply. He was still looking at her when Zyva stood up and left the room. Tears started flowing down her cheeks. She went in the living room and sat on the couch.

Now she was very angry and had decided that she won't talk to him ever again. After some time when she was done crying she looked up. She was staring the ceiling for a very long time. She started thinking about the day she came to New York,the day she met Noor,the day Noor introduced her to Kehara,then the day Noor asked her to give interview for ASA, the day she saw Sufyaan,the day she realised her feelings for him,the day she left america. the day he came all the way to india,the day her father finally said yes after lot's of struggle and lastly the day when they got married. 

Zyva was too lost in her thoughts to notice Sufyaan in the room. He came forward and cleared his throat. Zyva came out of her thoughts but did not look at him. He extended a piece of paper towards her. Zyva frowned before looking at him. After some time she took the paper in her hand. Sufyaan did not say anything and left the room. 

After he left Zyva turned her face to look at the piece of paper. 

The  day you get married.

Zyva frowned again after reading the caption written on it. She opened the folded paper and started reading it.

Sufyaan......

I will be honest I never wanted this day to come and you know that. It's not normal for a desi lady to think like this but I think am little too practical. You are short tempered,you can say anything when you are angry,you are too straight forward and not to forget your extremely loud voice when you get angry.  I hope and pray my death will change all those flaws in you.

It's not like I don't love you or I don't want to see you happy but I also don't want any girl to marry a ball of fire which will always burn her hands. I don't wish that for my Daughter​ so how can I do that to someone else's daughter? 

Today you are getting married Sufyaan. Try to change yourself. Try to keep your anger and mouth in control. Try to understand her. Try to understand her feelings and situation. Remember you are new to her. It will take a lot of time for her to understand you and your moods. I know it's difficult for you but have patience. 

Treat her the way you want kehara's husband to treat her. Understand her the way you understand your friends. Be nice to her like you are to me. Respect her as much as you respect your father. Love her more than you love your Cars.

Sufyaan a successful marriage includes love,Compromise,a lot of Sacrifice and most importantly that need for staying together in spit of all the difficulties and problems. 

She will leave her father for you. Do you have any idea how much a girl loves her father? You can never love her more than her father but still she is ready to come with you because she trusts you. Don't break that trust. 

I'm not telling you to change yourself but you can improve yourself.If you are getting married to her that means you love her. Then you can work on yourself for her. How you treat her will show how your father treated me,it will show what I taught you. If you want her to respect us always then show her your upbringing is good. 

And remember she is not Kehara or your Chachu's daughter who you can shout at for anything and everything. Well I really hope she is not your chachu's daughter......

Work on your marriage daily. It's not just her responsibility to make this marriage work. It requests two hands to clap. You both have to understand and adjust but I cannot advice or influence her. But I can advice and influence you.

You cannot expect a marriage without fights. That's impossible.No two people will have same opinion on everything. And you cannot even expect your partner to be quiet and patient every time. She might be quiet for some time but there is a limit to her patience as well. She will lose her calm,she will shout back but that does not mean she does not love you. You will slowly understand and it will take years to reach the level of happiness​ and love where your parents are now.

Always remember your mother wants you to work on this marriage and try to control your anger. Always stay happy and keep her happy. Her happiness is your responsibility same as your happiness is her's. You both are in this together.

Accept that you are wrong! Accepting mistakes won't make you any less of a man. and make sure not to repeat those mistakes again. Just a word sorry will make a huge difference.

Sufyaan I don't want any complains. Darling thank you for bearing him. 

AllahHafiz.

Zyva folded the paper again. She was crying by the end. She was not sure why but she was crying. Suddenly she started missing her mother. She Sat there for some more time crying her heart out. After some time she stood up and went to her room. She opened the door and saw Sufyaan sitting on their bed. Sufyaan was waiting for her to come back. She went and sat next to him. 

"My mom wrote many letters for all of us. She gave me my letters but I never had the courage to open them. Kehara used to say Those letters were her strength and support. It always made me feel as if she is very strong and I'm very weak." Zyva did not say anything and just kept listening him carefully. "Yesterday I was searching one of my file when I found the box where I had hidden those letters. After gathering lots of courage​ I read this one. I'm sorry Zyva. I was already disturbed because of the crisis we are going through and this letter made me more sad. Your continuous teasing added fuel to my fire."

"I'm Sorry. I had no idea you were so disturbed."

"It's ok."

Zyva wrapped her hands around his left hand before resting her head on his shoulder. 

"So we are talking to each other?" Sufyaan asked.

"I think so. Unless you want to upset your mom."

Sufyaan smiled which made Zyva smile. 

"Even though you shouted at me on my seventh day here but still I forgive you." Zyva said dramatically. 

Sufyaan raised his eyebrows and looked at her. Zyva smiled and looked directly into his eyes. Sufyaan shook his head and looked away making Zyva smile.Sufyaan rested his head on her's and Zyva smiled again. They were sitting like that for some time enjoying silence.

"Zyva?"

"Yeah?"

"Will you now give me something to eat?"

Zyva instantly looked up at him,"I totally forgot about dinner."

"You didn't make it?" Sufyaan asked,His face indicating disappointment.

Zyva raised her eyebrows,"You were not so depressed when my father rejected you."

"He never rejected me."

"But he didn't even accept you in the beginning ."

"But I was not rejected."

"Fine!"

"Now?" Sufyaan asked.

"Dinner is ready. Come let's go."

Zyva said standing up. Sufyaan also stood up and went to the shelf where his bag was resting. Zyva opened the door when Sufyaan called her back. She turned around and he started walking towards her.He gave her one rose and she smiled widely.

"Thank you." Zyva said before taking it from him.

"I won't bring this every time."

"And I won't forgive you every time." 

Sufyaan narrowed his eyes and she raised her eyebrows. 

"I can say and do many more things but I need food for energy."

"What will you say?"

"Food."

"Foodie."

"Proud of that."

"You love your food more than me."

Sufyaan smiled before saying,"Exactly."

"Mean."

"Zyva food."

Zyva gave him an angry look before turning around and leaving the room. But both of them smiled. Sufyaan smiled because he was successful in irritating her and Zyva smiled because they were back to normal. perhaps Rabia was right,

Successful marriage includes love,Compromise,Lot's of sacrifice and the need to stay together.