Chapter 12

The mirror which reflected a dejected, sullen face in morning is now reflecting blushingly stark out cheeks. Her breaths are labored absorbing the teases she got after the refreshing breakfast was happily served to Meer family.

Sameer Hamdani was given discharge today in morning. On his request, Meers accompanied him to Hamdani mansion for breakfast. Khushi helped her mother to quickly finish the kitchen task before arranging the cutlery on dining table in the lawn flushed with green carpet and flamboyant flowers. She could not sit in between family and get crimson from head to toe. Teases apart, the mushy staring had her comfort zone. The remembrance of flirty stares slithers from her shoulder bone to the back of her neck. His romantic side is way too much than her imperturbable proficiency. Even the existence of others could not bound him. The proof is his confession the other day. He had vent out like a pro. His confident actions would make her proud forever. People say right that if you want to nourish your children correctly, stuff them with confidence, self-respect and moral values, send them to good schools and provide them good atmosphere to live. By the grace of Allah, Arnav was blessed with the best things. This spark of good brought up led him tread the path of dancing from wayward moves. He did not have any tutor to teach him dance. His devotion to dancing converted his wayward moves dexterous and admirable.

It is his dominant confession which drilled her insides with lunatic passion, unearthing her wits to verbalize her choice, beg her family for him. Otherwise being a trivial girl, she could have never been able to come out of her laments. Her ceased breaths upon the postulation of being someone else's wife rather that Arnav's drove her to stand for herself, though momentarily. No girl can take such step if she lacks trust on her man and she trusts Arnav more than herself.

"You are really something." She blissfully mumbles while throwing the tissue after tapping her wet face. After breakfast, she was ushered in the room to get ready for Dua-e-Khair. A kind of engagement joined by the closer family members. Arnav's grandmother had announced quick Shagun, not deferring the pleasant alliance anymore. They knew how much the kids had waited and suffered. The quick decision, however, panicked Khushi. Her dream was coming to life after a torturous stretch.

She stood rooted to her place for five minutes, thinking what to wear, how to style up. On top, her insane heartbeats were over-powering her calm self.

The ladies came inside her room to give her a helping hand. They had sensed the dispersing vibes of extreme nervousness form the bride to be.

"Aakifah aapi, what should I wear?" She was going paler. Kiran enjoyed the jumpiness of little soul with bright smile. She always adored Khushi as Aaeidah. She also loves Aakifah but the affection is slightly intensified towards Khushi, probably because of her chirpiness.

"Let me see your wardrobe." Aakifah excitedly moved on to rummage through her piles of dresses.

"See, this blue one..." Aakifah unhinges a striking maxi paired with upmarket supple work on back as well as on front. Khushi shook her head saying "too formal".

"Kiran auntie..." Khushi looked to her aunt whilst Aaeidah, Aakifah and her mother was trying to pull out something great from her brilliant collection.

"My bacha, don't panic, you go and take a quick bath. We try to gather your things." Kiran caressed her cheek but Khushi was still in confusion. Suddenly her mind clicked and she grasped her mother by shoulders.

"Mama, that pistachio and red dress... for Sidra's Nikkah?" She hinted her mother about the dress given to tailor for her second cousin's Nikkah.

"Like ever!" Aaeidah rolled eyes and laughed at Khushi's usual craze for new clothes.

She quickly dialed the number of tailor hoping her dress is done. "Yes, is it ready?"

"Yes, ma'am. My boy has just finished ironing it."

"Kindly deliver it at home as soon as possible. I have to wear it in next twenty minutes." She threw her précised order and Tada; the dress issue was solved!

Keeping the dress design in mind, she fidgeted with herself while browsing through her whole room for sandals, pouch, jewelry, and makeup stuff. The nervous feelings were exhilarating her desires. She had desperately waited for this time. Before stepping inside bathroom for shower, she warned everyone to not look too formal with her in pictures. Though the event was on shortest notice, she wanted everyone to look best, everything to be best.

She opted for appeasing pink peach lip matte color with the soft eye makeup putting focus on her green-gray lens. Getting done, she was twitching her palms to get the aura of serenity against the naughty chaos in her heart. Everything was turning beautiful. Allah's plan is really ten steps ahead than our dreams. Soon, her room will be changed, she will be changed. Her everything along the very existence will be shared with him. The supposed night with Arnav made her scarlet and the anticipation urged her to bite her bottom lip.

Khushi sat impatiently onto the couch, appreciating the surrounding of living room. His father and brother had done their best to decorate the living room in less than half an hour they had.

The happiness of other's heartily involvement made her glow ten times more.

Kiran Raza Meer unfolded the red, densely embroidered fancy Dupatta. Its main beauty is the unique rosy hue and Islamic motifs. She graced Khushi with this reverential piece of delicate and dainty fabric making her the "dignity" of Meers. All this was made possible only because her man had the nerve to fight for her. Her Arnav will be always with her. The poor girl was biting the insides of her cheeks because they were promptly battling to have the same shade as of Dupatta. The assumptions of being kissed by someone surely warms you up with palpable itching all over your body.

"Here..." She was handed many notes of 5000, bringing tooth-splitting smile on her face. She greedily imagined herself shopping with the bundle thrusted into her palm. Kiran finished her turn with an affectionate kiss on her forehead.

Next, Mrs. Rahim circles a few notes over her head and gives it to the maid as Sadaqah. The glow on Khushi's face could catch bad eyes so Dadi Jaan first considered to give her Sadaqah before gifting ancestral jewelry set.

"May Allah always keep you Suhaagan." The smile kissed her face with slight touch of moistness in eyes. Her gratified eyes raised to admire the man responsible for all of the love she received today.

At first, Sameer Hamdani had forbidden Arnav's presence but then agreed on the request of Aakifah. A netted dupatta was suspended in between them, airing wild desires.

"Now, finally my dear Arniee will be getting married, too." Kiran adored her son receiving the Shagun and blessings from his in-laws. His beaming smile was carbon copy of his fiancée. The real glow graced him as the most handsome groom to be. He did not need boy-ish make up. His persona in the cream Kurta and Shalwar was ample to cause her breaths hitch and heart skip beats.

"So, should I consider doll face the bride-to-be of Romeo Arnav Raza Meer?" Aaeidah asked for cheeky confirmation and everyone laughed. Difficult times come and go. We need to deal with them properly. Sameer optimistically blinked and everyone hooted before engaging into photos. The cheerful glazes blew and everyone grinned.

Little did Khushi knew her smiles were to get changed into something else – a constant blush against future barbs. The poker, turned-on face and dirty mind are her luck now.

"Arnav." His name is a melody she feels pleased to purr.

She takes a step out of her reveries with a knock at door. Upon her notion, her mother enters in the room carrying the tray of hot, steamy milk and cookies. Instead of cookies, she is in mood of dry fruits today.

Yasmeen steps forward and kisses her daughter on forehead with sincere fondness. This act makes Khushi realize the fact that everything has really changed for good. Otherwise few days back, the whole situation was totally reversed.

"I am apologetic to go rude with you. I was helpless." Yasmeen trails out her weakness to not stand for her daughter. She buries in shame whenever the picture of her scared and lonesome daughter wailing against another motherly chest come in front of her mind. Though she kept her in her womb for nine months, gave her birth and has been taking care of her from past twenty-two years and eight months, yet was failed to be her serene spot. Moreover, the spirit of Khushi to sacrifice her love for the family will always keep her head low.

"It's okay." Khushi tries to uplift her mother from awkward posture. She has forgiven her mother. She is not a girl to keep grudges. It will hurt her till eternity that her birth mother told her she hates her but it's okay. Things happen. You have got to learn to move on.

"You have always been lucky because Allah's consecrated hand never lifted up from your head. The shower of his blessings has always been generous upon you." Some people are born lucky and Khushi is one of them. They were not extremely rich since start. Since her arrival in the world, in Hamdani's home, the money problem and misunderstandings started to sort out gradually. Everything changed like a magic movie and Yousaf only earned profit in whatever project he touched. She was like a golden sparrow for her family.

Her every wish was fulfilled before she could wail about it. Her dresses, her shoes, her accessories, her devices, her helps... everything has been really good.

"We could not snatch the love of a man from you. We were idiots to try even." In front of the sage plans of Allah, if you try to stand, you will be rewarded with shame only.

"His love is pure. Injustice could not be done with him." Not Khushi but her proud speaks. Which woman does not boast her husband's love? He will be eventually her husband, okay? It is just matter of few weeks or months. Now for rest of her life, her ears will keep having the pleasure of praises for Arnav and his chivalrous love.

"Yes. I am amazed I never get to see in his eyes." Yasmeen replies, having a deep sigh of relief. She is extra ordinarily light hearted tonight.

Khushi chuckles at Arnav's adept secreting tactics.

"You should not feel low. His feelings were for me. And I was unknown to them til last month." She speaks the truth. A girl judges the angle of looks she gets, but in his case, he climbed the love ladder alone keeping her under oblivion.

Two years back when he glared at her to stop her from adding 'Bhai' suffix to his name, she really dwelled to judge his feelings. But then again he distant himself from her. She assumed that six years in Italy made him forget that in Pakistan you call others with 'Bhai' suffix to show respect.

Her eyes mist as his confessing words bloom the bud of shyness in her mind, again. His face had turned into destructive before his father and grandfather were forcing him to leave.

He had again gone on knees in front of her grandfather and spoke with determination. "Do what you want. She will always remain mine. Since the first meet with her, I have been reading Aayat ul Kursi for seven times after every Namaz just for her protection. You all were shocked that how this idiot Arnav transformed into a punctual Namazi. She is the reason. Har Namaz k baad Usko Maangna Hota tha. How could I miss any!"

Her grandfather lost the persistence for a mini tenure and split into sobs at the love of today's man he accused. Nowadays, people think of body and masturbate, who weeps in Supplications, who gets punctual on Namaz? He had proven that no one really has the right to judge his love.

Today before their departure, Sameer had hugged Arnav tight, for long, saying over and over again that Khushi can only be of this crazy, passionate and lunatic man.

"I wonder where he had kept his such abundant love hidden." Yasmeen shakes her head in glee forgetting the troubles of past days and leaves the room, calling Khushi "Arnav's bride."

Arnav's bride.

All are teasing her by this name. If this keeps on, blush-on would not be required to get brushed on her cheeks at the wedding.

She holds the mug and takes two small sips. The hot liquid soothes her throat and strained muscles. She moves towards the table in her room and picks the nuts jar. Opening the lid, she enjoys them along the milk. She has never run away from milk. Her milky color and creamy soft skin are maybe due to having milk regularly. All thanks to Arnav. He was never fond of milk in childhood and thus Khushi was his source to gulp his mugs clean. He really hated to waste so much of milk into sinks. When he met Khushi, she was his secret milk drinker.

Once finished, she really feels at peace. Closing the lid, she keeps the jar back at its place and picks a novel from her small book shelf. She was half done with it before this alliance fiasco.

She opens it and bangs her happy figure on bed. Feeling lonely, she pulls the heart cushions onto her stomach and hugs them tight.

Her current desires revolve around to be with him, in his arms. She runs fingers in her silks and blushes reminiscing the moments when he was continuously asking her to eat while fondly having the meal once her grandfather gave her hand in his. He knew she was starving from five days; three days prior to Dada Jaan's illness and then two days in his unconsciousness. This much care? For her? He has her indebted under his immense love.

"I will only be your bride. Only yours." She snuggles into the book and turns onto her stomach. The novel lines are unable to grab her attention because today she has her own love story to enshrine.

"And I will wear red as my bridal attire and red afterwards." She assertively blabbers to herself, giving a wakeup call to goosebumps at the mere mention of a night with him.

What will she do when he will touch her in actual? His burning breaths make her quiver. Would she be able to cope up skin to skin intimation with him?

"I will melt." She feels too helpless about her stamina against him.

In return of his divine emotions, she will be a very obedient and loving wife to him. She already respects him like a mentor and now being her husband will make him more eminent in her heart.

"I hope you will love me like... a fanatic lover?" She bites her bottom lip again and keeps weaving dreams of a contented and romantic life with him. Imagination does not run on taxes, right? His every word, his voice, his every notion will reach to her heart. Her naughty thoughts cause her body to quiver reverently.

She smiles remembering the words of Aaeidah while she was having evening time with the family. "She is such a sweet soul. Since she was small, she takes everything on heart."

"Now, she is biggie. MaShaAllah, she is going to get married soon." Dadi Jaan seemed pleased as she spoke the words looking at Khushi.

"Nothing's changed. Now she will take each and every word of Arnav... direct to her heart." Aqeeb teased her and she went scarlet while sipping her pink tea.

During next sip, she looked up towards Arnav and shied knowing he was shamelessly gawking at her.

"Do you need anything else?" She asked him while everyone was giving her bridal-protocol. Maids came ahead to gather the tea cups and used plates.

"You." He mouthed at her and her eyes lowered out of timidity. They were craving to get some private time together. Was this a gruel demand?

She tucks her hair behind ear and concocts a love moment where the hot wafts of breathes if come nearer her cheeks will put her on fire, and his bites... they will be the death of her.

How would she manage to be at his bed on their wedding night? Well, this mystical trepidation needs to get unravel as soon as possible.

***

Wiping his wet hair with fresh towel, he throws it on the sofa. He has a few weeks of loneliness left in his room. He wants to spend them as a gauche guy.

Today, he plans to go to bed without boxers underneath the night suit like usually. He likes to give freedom to his grown baby. Ensuring his morning office suit is prepared, he takes slow thoughtful steps towards bed.

His mind has some renovating ideas about his room. His Dadi Jaan will make a fuss if he brings his "Dulhan" into the old, plain room. She wants him to renovate his room just like Aqeeb did. He would have to ask Khushi about it. Well, this can be thought later. The current point which possesses absolute right to be thought of is the new relation he is tied in today.

He happily jerks on bed and lays in his signature style – arms under head, looking straight at celling.

"I have waited for such a long time to finally call you mine." The peace is oozing from his every nerve. The efforts she put to look pretty for him makes him chuckle loudly. She was one of the ordering brides today.

"Adorable!" Her face comes again and again in his eyes and he thanks his luck to have easy access to a professional photographer on urgent notice. He presses his thumb over the bottom of mobile to unlock it. Then, he goes into his WhatsApp folder of gallery and keeps zooming and gawking the raw clicks sent by the photographer a few minutes ago. The priceless smile of her makes his chest swell in proud. He is the sole reason behind it. He wanted to fix marriage date, too, but guess he could not find the perfect moment. The happiness was making him giddy. He was sure to utter non-sense things, so he preferred to stay quiet.

His manly desires ecstatic higher gaining permission to have a talk with her in private. She led him to her room's balcony, asking him to take a seat on swing. Impressed by her dominancy, he happily abided by her suggestions as well as his craving; held her hand and made her sit beside him leaving very little gap in between them.

He did not expect from her to go all romantic in a blink of eye, moreover, she still has to remain in her limit line.

They heard the knock after three minutes of silence and Arnav thanked Sadee for bringing them ice-cream cups. He wanted to have her favorite ice-cream with her.

"Here..." He offered one cup to her. She colored up receiving it from his hands. Then he picked his own cup and took previous place to sit.

"So, why are you nervous?" He asked, yearning to listen her assumed blabbers.

"No idea..." Their ice cream cups finished and he hopelessly stood up from his place. "It's me who is tongue tied seeing this beauty dolled up for me." His compliment eased her nervousness to some extent. "What's with you?"

"Yeah?" She spoke keeping her empty cup beside him.

"Yes." His reassuring blink warmed her heart and she opened her query to him.

"You would not stop loving me, ever, right?"

"You were not my obsession to forget after achieving. You are fundamental to breathe." He bored his eyes into hers.

"Ahem. We should sit inside the room. Its chilling here." Khushi complained another issue oh her. He nodded in agreement and they moved to sit inside the room. There the environment eased and they spent quite a time while talking to each other.

He recalls their conversation while having wayward thoughts to call her. The clock is striking 11 of night. She might reject. Or pick considering now he deserves some leniency.

On the third ring, she picks the call. Anticipating the greet from his side, she stays quite.

"Hey, lovely lady..."

She mockingly chortles at the endearment.

"Ha! Praise me! At least I am good at endearments unlike some people."

This time Khushi franticly laughs. "Oh, so those some people keep things in heart, mm?" How can she expect him to forget the endearment she used to him in hospital while floating in emotions?

"Well, those some people also give punishments." Her breaths hitch listening to his husky tone. His naughty intentions kiss her skin and she snuggles into mattress to cope up with the itchy tingles.

"Arnav..." She instantly decides to requests him to not be too intense with her but he cutbacks all her defenses.

"At least you support me!"

"You have all of my support."

"Then I will be romantic to my fiancée and you would not stop me."

"As you order, Shehanshah e Aalam." She tries to turn the conversation funnier. The biting intensity will slash her patience otherwise.

He cannot wait much to have her in his life, on his bed, with him. He verbalizes the same to his family next morning, obviously skipping the wild bed-desires yearnings.

"Arnie, darling, see engagement is done. Now you stay patient. Sameer will himself talk about the wedding date. They have asked for some days to think of exact wedding dates. We cannot keep them in rush about all matters." Rahim requests him and he helplessly nods. His life's biggest wish is fifty percent fulfilled. He needs to practice patience to happily get the rest of it, too. Mostly, the confirmed wedding date is discussed on Dua-e-Khair. Due to rash event, the exact date could not be finalized. Sameer asked for the time of a day or two when Rahim Meer had touched the matter of wedding dates.

"Yeah, okay. Though I cannot wait anymore but yeah, okay, okay."

"We have observed that, my sweet child." Dadi Jaan eyes him mischievously and he snickers back. Looking around, he misses his sister. Ejaz Ali had his forbearance quote overflowed upon his wife's overstay on the name of "Brother's marriage." How long can a romantic and expressive husband stay away from his wife? Luckily, she does not live far. Her home is ten at minutes' drive only. He can go to meet her whenever he wishes so.

Dada Jaan laughs at the joke of his spouse. He dips the roti in mutton curry and savors the good taste. His daughter in law has always been blessing him with delicious meals.

"Sameer Uncle agreed after you went on your knees and she went all sacrificing. Do you want to ruin all the efforts? Give them some time." His brother tries to put some rationale thoughts into his impatient brain.

"She is mine. What to wait for now?"

"Slower the speed, gutsy..." Aqeeb shows him palm. "She is still not in your Nikkah." It cuts Arnav's heart. Their alliance is fixed but still she cannot be called as his.

He looks aggressively to his brother and everyone laughs. He is failing to convince everyone for quick marriage. According to bet, only sixteen days are left. He has to present himself to her. Moreover, his inner man cannot hold onto his combustion to claim her any longer. Her softer lips and riper globes tease him all night to the death. His bed laughs at his lonely state. He wants to hoot back at the bed making it listen to their moans and groans.

"Arnav, my dear. According to my rough guess, the nearest marriage date they will give is two months later from now." Dada Jaan tries to warn him to keep a resilient command on patience thread.

"Please do some magic. And take only a month. Pretty please???" He pressurizes his demand onto the family and smiles wide looking at his Bhabhi. "You are happy, right?" He casually asks from her. Last night, they all were tired after the emotional morning to evening timespan at Hamdani bungalow. They happily had the dinner and went to rest in their respective rooms. The privacy right of newly wedded couple could not be smashed. They were ushered to their room with the two cups of green tea.

"So much." The enthusiastic reply calms the apprehensions of his heart.

"Bahu..." Daadi Jaan calls Aakifah. "Come to me after lunch. I will show you some jewelry for the dinner you have tonight towards Aqeeb's Mumani."

Pleased with the affection, Aakifah affirmatively gestures with chivalry while enjoying her breakfast. She is drained after spending an active night. Aqeeb's restraint was broken being too happy. The removal of sadness about over his brother's love-life welcomed his wilder self at bed. She totally enjoyed with him but now her body is demanding some sound sleep from her. Judging her condition from experienced eyes, Mrs. Rahim Meer asks her to go to her room and have some siesta mood.

"Men are like that." The old lady chuckles remembering her days of ripe youth and new marriage.

Aakifah just nods and takes the way of her room after the breakfast. Tucking herself under the dark and warm golden duvet, she rings her husband while eyeing the liveliness of her room to the fullest. Aqeeb completely renovated his room as per her choice of golden, skin and purple combination with the royal touch. That's how you welcome someone in your life by appreciating her level of comfortableness.

"Hi, wife. Missing already?" Aqeeb teases her to which she laughs.

"Yeah, so much that I am planning to dream about you." She hints him that she will be sleeping for next few hours.

"That's good. You deserve some tight sleep. After all, the coming night will demand your activeness, baby." Aqeeb flirts with her and she shies.

"Are you happy?" Aakifah asks nervously. She wants affirmation that he is finding her good in bed.

"Without you... it's boring here." Though he married late, he knows the ways to keep his woman happy. "I had no idea wives lure their husbands like this." He is astonished at his peppering desires soaring every second. She has as if casted black magic on him. "Now, dear wife, have a nice sleep. Your husband is required at work. Lots of kisses with bites." He terminates the call, allowing his wife to slip into sleep with quite yearned body.

***

"It's the third call from morning." Khushi frowns into the voice note after rejecting his call. Yes, family has not put the traditional limit upon their contact but still... It is her class time. She was telling everyone the good news. One of the professors who has always been her motivation asked her to show him pictures of her fiancé. She handed him the mobile after opening the folder of raw pictures Arnav sent her last night.

His three messages popped up one after other and she had to slid them away asking the professor to keep seeing pictures. But then embarrassment had to kiss her when he rang her. Smilingly, the man in late forties handed her mobile back with upbeat teasing smirk.

"Oops... Sorry. But the first two calls were about to discuss something. This one is just for us. *Heart*" He texts. All her frowning disappears at his flirty tone. Her eyes move from mobile screen to her wrist. The simple design of diamond bracelet is cool to go with on daily basis. It is one of the gifts of her Shagun and thus has special place in her heart.

"I am at university." She types this time. She knows many eyes are at her. She could not let them know how much dominancy her fiancé has allowed her. She just wishes no bad eye catches them at all.

"FINE! *rolling eyes*" His text upsets her. She understands his excitement. His actions are justified but...

She ignores him for the moment, planning to call him later.

***

I am dying to write romantic scenes. Anyways, stay patient for next update. And kindly give me Ideas for my project of Media seminar. We have to do something on "Creativity in media" Any guesses about the title?