"Anu! Anu! Are you dead inside? Is everything alright?"

Nausheen's gallingly blaring voice jerked Anahita from her sleep. She opened her eyes and realized she had been crushing a pillow under her. She blinked, the feeling of heat lingered from her dream. The pleasure aches through her body, especially between her legs, was very embarrassing. Quickly, she wiped the sweat off her forehead and face.

"I was sleeping." She called out, leaping from the bed. Ignoring the tingling and throbbing feeling, she walked towards the bathroom,- "Give me half an hour."

"Hurry, we got worried. Suraiya has been calling you. You guys need to go to the temple, right?"

Anahita knew Asif's extended family will come by the time she returned from temple. So, she picked her best ivory silk Salwar suit with organza floral dupatta. She let her hair open, but combed it neatly. Without Dhani, she took time to adjust to doing everything by herself. She wore her silver anklets and a few glass bangles, her wristwatch. Finally, a tiny red bindi. As she slipped her feet into her Jhutis, Suraiya knocked at her door again.

On her way out of the mansion, she noticed the servants being busy in decorating the hallway and a few worked on the main door. Nausheen supervised the decorations of flower petals. The reminder of her dream made Anahita feel shy.

After her return, the driver parked the car. They noticed the Khan's sky blue 1950 Fiat 1100 Cabriolet on the driveway and two servants taking out luggage from the back bonnet. Anahita and Suraiya shared a knowing glance. As they stepped down, she passed the pooja thalli to the girl and confidently walked towards the Haveli. She was nervous, no doubt. She had met Riffat Khan, Nausheen's Badi Ammi, a few times when they were children. But now, things were different. Also, she will meet their paternal grandmother for the first time.

Anahita adjusted her dupatta over her head, checked her attire, and walked inside. The guests were lounging in the living room. She felt hesitant. Should she just walk past them like she hasn't seen them? She would have if Nausheen hadn't called her. Anahita froze.

Nausheen hurried to her and held her shoulders, turning her around. Anahita walked with her. She joined her palms and greeted them. Her gaze met Asif, who was beaming at her. Suddenly, she reminisced him in only sheets from her dream and her cheeks turned tomato red. She looked away instantly, hurried to the women, startling them as she bend to touch their feet.

"Jeeti Raho, Beti."- The grandmother, draped in white, blue bordered saree commented, patting her head. Riffat smiled, nodding and held her arms, making her face them.

"God bless you, dear." She admired her for a moment, - "You are Anahita, right? Prathuman's daughter?"

Anahita nodded, avoiding Asif.

"MashaAllah, you have grown into a fine woman. Iravati darling's grooming resonates in you."

"And what a sanskari girl. Then, you have aaj kal ki ladkiyan, blindly aping the west."- The elderly woman made a distasteful face, then her expressions soften as she gently caressed Anahita's face, -

"It is so difficult to find girls rooted to their culture."

"Naya Zamana, Ammi." Rifat added, and the dadi frowned, twisting her lips.

"Badi Ammi, Dadi, if you are done cursing modern girls, then shall we proceed to breakfast? Train travel must have gotten a toll on you all."

"Yes!" a woman chirped, standing up from her seat. Anahita shot a displeasing look at her. Dressed in a salmon pink Salwar suit, Husna looked pretty and was hyper-active. She suggested she helped Nausheen, who readily agreed, and Anahita felt back-stabbed.

"Where is that nalayak Ijaz? His mother is here after so long and he is missing?" Dadi grunted angrily, stamping her walking stick.

Anahita pressed her smile. Asif called a few maids and asked them to take the ladies to the guest room. Last night, Anahita had shifted her stuffs into Nausheen's room. Though, she couldn't get to sleep there as her friend wanted to be with her husband.

After everyone left, Anahita turned to leave, she stilled on the spot, when Asif grabbed her hand. His speed amazed her. He had leaped from the corner. She gasped, glancing over her shoulder at the guests departing the room. If they saw them, it will be embarrassing.

He guided her to the corner behind the couch again.

"What are you doing?" She looked at him wide-eyed.

"Why are you ignoring me?"

Anahita looked away, - "You won't understand." She freed her hand and pushed aside strands of hair that fell on her face.

"There is something I got for you. It may lift your mood."

"What?" She tried to sneak a look at a lavender velvet bag that he hid behind him.

"Wait." He pulled on the golden strings and took out two gold mesh bangles. He dangled it in front of her. She gasped, covering her open mouth with both her hands.

"Oh My God! This must be costly."

Asif grinned, - "Na! Just 400 rupees."

Anahita drew in a sharp breath through her mouth, - "What? Why did you buy such an expensive gift for me?" She shook her head.

"My love,"- he pinched her chin, - "This is nothing. You are priceless to me. If I can get, I will get all the heavens for you."

Anahita giggled, - "People promise stars and moons. And you are promising of heavens?" She raised her eyebrows.

"Anything and everything for you. My everything is you. I can't express how much I love you."

"I love you too, Asif. But there was no need for this."

"Why not?" He faked offense, then he gestured for her hand, - "May I?"

Anahita nodded her head and watched him unscrew the tiny screw of the mesh bangle. Asif paused, noticing her bandaged her ring finger.

"How did you get hurt here?" He held her fingers.

Anahita giggled and winked at him. Asif took a moment to recollect about the ring and grinned at her. She shook her wrist to remind him to make her wear the bangles.

"These will be a reminder of me to you, always. When I am not there, these will be my presence lingering with you."

"Don't talk rubbish, Asif. You will always be there with me." Anahita jerked her hand after he had made her wear one.

Asif chuckled lightly, - "Of course, but not always. I will have my work and you will have yours." He made her wear another one.

Anahita smiled now, admiring the bangles. It stood out, tinkling with the rest of the glass bangles.

"Thank you. I wish I can give you something as a reminder." She sighed, dropping her shoulders and pouted at him.

"I have your presence imprinted in my heart."- He touched his chest and winked at her. Anahita lowered her head momentarily. Asif gripped her wrists, affectionately.

"Asif, may I ask you something? What do you really like about me? What attracted you to me?"

"Your voice."- He replied instantly, his face brightening as he said so, then he added, - "Your intelligence, caring and selfless nature and your ambitions to be more than just someone's wife or a mother."

"Really!" She tugged her hair behind her ear. He nodded.

"And you?"

"Your presence, your comforting touch, and your words. You make me feel safe and tranquil."

Asif held her face, - "You are precious to me, Anahita. I can't wait to marry you. Tomorrow, we shall register our marriage."

Anahita nodded, - "Once the process start, we will marry the traditional way as well."

"Of course." He leaned over and kissed her forehead. Anahita closed her eyes, a happy smile on her lips.

Later in the day, they got caught up with the guests. Anahita was relieved to know that Husna's marriage was fixed with Rifat's friend's son. At the table, Dadi commented about Asif getting married as well.

"Beta, everyone is marrying. I want to see my potha before I die." She expressed, shaking her head in defeat.

"Sure, sure." Asif teased her and looked at Anahita. She noticed his flirtatious smile. He winked at her. Shyly, Anahita looked away and tried distracting herself with catering to the old grandmother.

In the afternoon, the young generation sat in the backyard of the Haveli. It was only Husna and Nausheen chatting, whilst Shoaib stared lovingly at his wife, caressing her hand. Asif and Anahita kept stealing glances at each other.

Everything was going smoothly until Raza Chacha came to them informing about someone from Agarwal Haveli was here. Anahita and Nausheen shared a panicked look, while Asif was concerned. He, along with Anahita, walked back inside.

"Annie!" Dhani hurried to her with open arms.

Relief washed over her chest upon seeing her friend. Anahita's eyes teared up as she engulfed her in a tight embrace.

"Dhani! I missed you so much." She spoke with her throat drying up.

"Me too, Annie. Please come back." Dhani cried.

Anahita parted their frames, but kept holding her arms, - "I can't come,"- she glanced at Asif, then again at Dhani, - "not for now."

Dhani sighed. She nodded as Anahita wiped her tears.

"Tell me, why are you here? Is everything alright?"

She nodded again, - "Yes. Leela Malkin had labour pains and a few hours ago, she birthed a son."

Anahita's grip loosened, - "Another son." She murmured.

"That is excellent news. How are the mother and the baby?" Asif sounded positive.

"They both are fine, Vakil Sahib. They are in the hospital." Dhani kept her head lowered and answered humbly to him.

"Vakil Sahib!" He commented and laughed. Dhani's head shot up, and she nervously glanced at Anahita, who looked dazed. Asif looked at the girls and took out a handkerchief from his Kurtha pocket.

"Sorry." He muttered, wiping the drool from the corner of his mouth. Anahita angrily knotted her fingers with her dupatta, stamped her feet and stormed towards the stairs. Asif and Dhani passed a curious glance.

For Dadijaan and Badi Ammi, a song from film Albela 1951,

❝ Aye zamaane ki ye naari

Unchi sandal baaki saadi
Naino mein kajra hotho pe laali
Haath mein kangan kaan mein baali, kaan mein baali

Naino mein kajra hotho pe laali 
Nakhre bade mote mote
Naam bade aur darshan chhote, darshan chhote
Bholi surat dil ke khote ❞

Awww, our Asif and Anahita are gonna get married *_*

Anahita Devi's intro in The Bad Girl- Anaisha 

A red Mercedes stopped in front of the posh Mansion. The driver quickly got down and opened the back door. A young man in a crisp suit got out of the back seat. He adjusted his coat and let out a hand. A slightly wrinkled hand grabbed his palm, stuck out of the car. Her gold bangle glittering in the sun

How was the Chapter, my sweeties? Drop your thoughts in the comments, please, pretty please. And don't foget to vote, you all :) Stay Tuned for the next update *Lots of Love* *Hugs and Kisses*