I opened the door and there he was standing outside with a huge bouquet of roses in his hands, looking no less than Prince Charming. I just stood there blushing and smiling watching him dreamily.
"MashaAllah... Meher you look... beautiful." He said between his breaths as he kept gaping at me making me blush even more as I took the bouquet from his hand and our hands touched making us both lock eyes with eachother.
My heart was palpating as he was leaning closer...and closer, my breath caught up in my throat as the distance between our lips was reducing. My eyes closed in anticipation and....

"Oye! Stupid girl! What are you dreaming about? There is soo much work to do." Mumma's voice pulled me out of my daydreaming and instead of smelling sweet roses, I was smelling leftover food and dishwashing soap and instead of holding his warm hands and long fingers... I was holding a dirty plate and a washing pad in my hands.

"After this we have to clean the whole house and start preparing dinner. Your inlaws are coming after 10 years, have you forgotten?!" She scolded.

I blushed shaking my head. How could I forget?! It was all I could think of all the time after all.

My husband was coming to take me with him. My Azlaan was coming for me!!!

####
It was already 8pm and I was standing in front of the full view mirror admiring the new dress and the gold earrings Mumma gave me. She hardly buys me such pretty dresses but today was a special occasion after all. I couldn't decide what hairstyle to put on as my hair was always oily because it's soo long and frizzy. I settled on a front puff and rest of my hair open. An old style but I always look cute in it. 
I put on my lipstick and eyeliner and observed myself for a while as my cheeks were already flushed red.

How would he react when he sees me? He remembers me right...his wife.

I squealed internally as I couldn't hold my excitement. Just then the doorbell reached my ears and my heart raced.

My hands were shaking but a took a deep breath to calm myself and rushed outside. Mumma Daddy and Bhai were already waiting excitedly. Bhai didn't look that happy as he went forward to open the door but Mumma stopped him and gestured me.

I gulped grabbing the doorknob....it was even getting hard to breathe. I opened it.

"Assalamualaikum! MashaAllah... MashaAllah....is this Meher? SubhanAllah! Look at you...how beautifully you've grown up!"
Akram uncle exclaimed with a huge smile who stood tall in front of me.

"Walaikum assalam." I said meekly smiling.

"MashaAllah....come here my daughter!" He hugged me warmly. He was always like that.

"Yaara!" Daddy came from behind me and both of them had quite an emotional reunion.

"Assalamualaikum." I smiled looking at Rubeena aunty who had a straight face as she replied to me. Her intense...somewhat judging gaze travelled twice on me from top to bottom making me lose my smile and lower my gaze. Mumma was too excited to welcome her as she hugged her and it was clear how disinterested aunty looked.

And then, behind them was my handsome husband who made me forget how to breathe.
"A... assalamualaikum." I was gaping at him.

However, he just looked at me once.
"Hm." And he just walked in past me like I wasn't even there. We were meeting after 10 years and just hm?

I felt a pang in my chest but I ignored it and Bhai gentle pulled me in shutting the door behind us.

Dad and Akram uncle were the only one's talking and also there was Mumma but aunty was too quite....and seemed very bored.

"Meher...beta come here."

Akram uncle called me as I was in the kitchen with the ladies. I adjusted the dupatta on my head and went out shyly.

"Ji uncle?"

"Take this... it's all for you."

My eyes widened as he presented a big bag full of gift boxes in front of me.

"This all....for m..me?!"

He chuckled. "Of course, of course...each and everything for our daughter in law."

My face split into a grin but I looked at Daddy for permission first and to make sure if I looked too eager.... which undoubtedly I was. There were like 20 boxes in there!!!
But he nodded happily.

"Why don't you take them inside?"

"Ji Daddy."

My eyes went on Azlaan but he wasn't even looking at me. My smile faded.

"Wait I'll help." Bhai said and picked the bag for me taking it to my room not before patting my head and giving an angry look to Azlaan at which he raised an eyebrow at Bhai.

He still looked soo sexy!

####
Soon enough, we all sat for dinner.

"Wah bhabhi! This is too delicious. It's been soo long since I had this baingan ka bharta. We don't find such things in London and my Rubeena doesn't like to make it much." Akram uncle complimented.

"So what? I never cooked for you in all those 10 years?" Rubeena aunty retorted quite heatedly.

"Uh...haha...no no...of course you always made extremely delicious food for me, but never this." Akram uncle was quick to defend himself nervously.

He's such a good husband, he loves and cares for aunty soo much even though aunty is soo strict. I really hope my Azlaan is like him too.

"Don't worry bhaisahab, you can have this bharta as often as you like now.  Our Meher is the one who made it." Mumma said proudly squeezing my shoulder as we were serving everyone.

"Oh really? MashaAllah!"

Uncle wouldn't stop saying Masha Allah to everything about me and to be honest it was making me blush soo much. I've never felt soo proud of myself. But whenever I see aunty glaring at me...all my confidence and smile shatters like glass.

It made me jump as suddenly Azlaan threw his spoon on the plate making a loud sound.
"I don't like it. It's too spicy for my taste."

Ok...mental note. So Azlaan doesn't like spicy food. Got it!

"Oh...then why don't you try the rasmalai? Your wife made that too." Mumma chuckled.

I flinched at his scary gaze.
"I hate sweets. Now when are we leaving? I'm tired."

Uncle was glaring at him. 

So, he hates sweets too....while I'm a sweet tooth. Well, they say opposites attract. No wonder why he's soo fit and fine. My handsome hunk.

####
It was time for them to leave now.

"I know what you're thinking. We want to take our daughter in law with us too, but we have just arrived and wanted to settle down first and make things normal like before. We even have to go back and forth from London to India once or twice, also, we cannot live in India...we will be taking Meher with is to London too."

Daddy was listening to him silently as he took a deep breath looking at me.
"You'll be taking my Jaan soo far away?"

"Don't worry yaara, she'll be very happy with us... and I can assure you our Azlaan is a very capable young man now. He will love and cherish your daughter well."

"Let's talk about it some other time. She's just like a little child for me still. My heart isn't ready to let her go." He said and it made my eyes prick.

Uncle patted his back. I understand. Then we'll take our leave and next time, you're coming to our home. Ok."

Daddy chuckled
"Ok." They hugged.

"Aree aree.... leaving soo soon?" Mumma said abruptly.
"Before leaving, why don't we let the kids talk to eachother alone? They're husband and wife afterall, meeting after soo long." She giggled.

My heart jumped to my throat. Azlaan and me all alone inside a room?!
Dozens of scenarios were going on inside my head.

I looked at him shyly from under my lashes but he had a frown on his face.

"Why?!" He and bhai both said in unison.

"I'll be with them." Bhai said keeping a protective arm around me.

"Oh ho... they're married. They don't need a mehram between them anymore Mazhar." Mumma said slapping his hand and pulling me away from him as he scowled. He still hates Azlaan just the same.

"Go take him to your room."

My heart skipped again and I looked at her nervously.
"What are you looking at? Go go ...come on!" Mom scolded in a sweet voice and patted Azlaan's back ushering us both into the room and closed the door behind us.

I was sweating! My heart was out of control.... I could've died any moment!!!

He was busy looking around and I was too nervous to even find the words to speak. My brain was numb.

"Um..uh..."

"You're annoying!"

Those two words shut my system off completely.

He was walking towards me as his brown us bore deep into mine and involuntarily, I didn't know when my back clashed with the wall and I jumped as he slammed his fist right above my head glaring at me with such.....abhor?

Was it really such hatred? For me? His own wife?! Azlaan had always been the angry types. Maybe I was overthinking it.

"I hate you! Get that through your thick skull!"

My eyes widened as his words felt like a tight slap on my face.

"Who do you think you are? My wife?! Bull shit! Do you think you're worth it? Someone soo pathetic as you? You?! What a joke! My dad had gone bonkers when he made me marry you. I mean who would even look twice at you?! You're like a walking joke!"

Something inside my stomach was clenching... making it's way up to my chest.

He got back with a malicious smirk on his face as he looked at me from down to up and pinching my dupatta between his index and middle finger, pulled it down my waist as I gasped.
"Huh! You don't even have anything to be proud of. Are you flat as a board or something or is it just too small to be visible?"

Was he talking about my breast?

"And this face of yours, your stupid hair ... it's not even average. Do you think someone like you can even meet my standards?"

His face blurred in my vision.

"Oh, so now you're gonna cry? Tsk! That's the most annoying part about you. Man! What was my old man thinking making me marry you? I mean, look at you, what's soo good about you? You don't have any brains, no talent, no beauty and not even a decent figure. All you do is cry all day. Oh yeah, you cook n clean well. Maybe you'll be good as a maid. But even our maids back in London were worth looking at atleast."

"Az...laan...why are you...soo mean..."
My voice choked on my own tears as I managed to breathe those words.

"Mean? I'm just telling the facts. You think I Am mean?! You're the one at fault here.... being soo incompetent. You're the one who's soo stupid! How am I wrong?"

He gripped my chin painfully making me jump and the red of his eyes scared me like I was seeing a demon.
"You think I'm wrong?"

I shook my head vividly.

"Exactly! You're the pathetic one here." He was grinning.
"You're soo funny. It's soo easy to scare you...looks like I found a new hobby. A punishment for ruining my life by marrying me... Let's meet in college tomorrow Miss Qadri. I'm going to have a lot of fun with you..."

He released me roughly and turned to leave as I was trembling to the wall.

"Oh and one more thing..." He raised a finger and then turned towards me.
"... don't you dare let anyone know you're my so called wife ...if that happens..."

Stretching his hand he slowly grabbed my left palm and abruptly, painfully twisted my fingers behind as I shut my mouth to hold back my scream, whimpering in my hand.
"....it won't be good for you." He warned.

I nodded desperately being unable to bear the pain.
"Good girl!" He smiled wickedly sparing my hand and patting my cheek.
"....and tell your mother not to call me her son in law or your husband. It makes me wanna barf."

He said and left the room as I sank on the floor crying in my hands hysterically. I covered my mouth and eyes tight as I didn't wanted anyone to know but I was too scared...and the ache in my heart was ready to devour me.

He hates me....

The man I've waited for ....the man I've loved and longed for all this time....hated me soo much.

Why?!

What's my fault?!!!!