Things did not go back to normal

Mawra sighed exasperatedly as she received weird glances from the office staff. Yesterday has been the most awful day of her life, and Ibrahim didn't talk with her much except for his one-word answers when necessary. He was still very mad, and he completely lost it when she asked him to stop the car at the regular place like every other day. She fought back her tears and walked into the elevator as she took an inward sigh.

"Hey!" Zara, the receptionist was also present in the elevator, who gave her a smug smile. Mawra was so not prepared for this encounter, but she didn't have any chance anyway.

"What?" she didn't mean to snap, but her awful mood is bringing out the mean streak which she never knew has existed before.

"Wow. I just said hi. Is everything okay? Why did you say no though? We all are curious." Zara batted her eyelashes innocently, annoying Mawra to the fullest.

"I'm already married. That's why" 

The smirk on Zara's face was replaced with shock as she was out of words, for the first time in forever, "he should have asked me if I was interested, before pulling such stunt." Mawra snapped angrily. 

"I hope you'll spread the news and do me a favour." rolling her eyes, Mawra walked out of the elevator and took slow steps towards her cabin, after dropping her handbag on the table, she walked outside to prepare his regular coffee. That man is obsessed with them. A small smile played on her lips at that thought.

"Excuse me, sir." knocking at his door, she entered his office along with the mug and gulped the lump formed in her throat, Ibrahim didn't even lift his head nor acknowledged her presence. Her heart stung at his actions. Taking slow steps, she distractedly walked towards his table, but trips on her heels and spills half the mug of hot coffee on her cream-white shirt and winces in pain, thankfully she was able to balance quickly and didn't fall down otherwise, she'd have broken her nose or bones.

"What is wrong with you?" a panicked Ibrahim, stopped whatever he was doing and rushed towards her.

"Uh." Mawra was at a loss for words, as he dragged her to sit on his chair and examined her. The care in his eyes made her heart flutter in happiness. Despite everything, he still cared for her.

"You should change into something else, wait... Is it burning?" Ibrahim asked with fear and concern, as he took the mug from her, which she still held in her hands and placed it on his table.

Mawra shook her head in no. Tears welled up in her eyes for some unknown reasons, that's the most he has talked about in the last few hours. His silent treatment was such a torture for her and she was glad that the coffee got spilt on her, thanks to her heels. He at least talked because of it. His every action affects her in a way she could have never imagined. But he was affecting her.

"Its fine, really. I don't have any spare dress. But this stain looks odd, I think I'll just go home." she whispered tiredly whilst blinking away her tears, the whole night she couldn't sleep a wink and was facing its consequences now. Ibrahim gave her a look. She tries to be a strong person but behind that there's also a sensitive person, who cries easily. It was one of her biggest weakness and she has never showed it to anyone else but him.

"How did you trip by the way?" he asked curiously whilst leaning against the table, and she gave him a sheepish look, "I can be clumsy at times. I didn't sleep yesterday, its the effect of that I guess."

"You didn't sleep?" the care in his voice brings back the hidden tears once again, and she nodded her head sadly, "I can't sleep if I'm stressed." Ibrahim's face softened at that, "do I have anything important today?"

Confusion washed over her face, as she recalled his schedule but nodded in negative, "you don't. Just a few reports from different departments regarding their previous month's progress."

"Cancel all of them, we are going home." leaning in towards her, Ibrahim wiped away her tears as he inhaled her scent. Damn, her smell was so intoxicating. His favourite kind.

"R-really?" Mawra was awestruck, left out of words once again. He nodded his head lazily, whilst admiring her sitting on his chair. She looked so cool on it. He might as well snap a picture and he did just that.

The click of his phone brings her out of the daze and she widened her eyes in surprise.

Mawra got up from the chair and tried to grab the phone, but unfortunately, his reflex was quick "Hey! I look awful today. Delete it." Ibrahim gave her a smug smile, "not happening."

His anger remained forgotten for a while.

"A little correction though, you look pretty. Everyday." heat rushed onto her cheeks at that and a real genuine smile formed on her lips first time that day. Ibrahim leaned in and tucked her hair strands behind her ears and placed a kiss on her forehead, shocking the both of them. It came out as a spur of the moment, but he lingered his lips for a while as she stood still and enjoyed the kiss, with her eyes shut close.

That moment felt precious.

The knock at their door snaps them out of the daze, as they pulled back and pretended nothing happened, but the blush on Mawra's face might give it away.

"Come in." Ibrahim called in his grumpy voice as he sat back on his chair, and cleared his throat, "I'll ask the cleaner the clear up the mess." Mawra added as she eyed the few coffee spills on the floor and turned around but froze as she met with the last person she wished to see and the blush vanished in a jiffy.

Adnan gave her a loathsome look as she walked past him and shut the door close behind her and let out a sigh.

***

"Why are we going home?" Mawra asked, as she got into the car and he didn't bother giving any reply, the fact that she walked few blocks away from the office and waited for him there has angered Ibrahim once again. She was testing his patience with this stupid secrecy.

"Back to ignoring me... huh" She mumbled dejectedly and leaned her head against the window and looked out of it, to distract herself.

The tension from yesterday came back once again.

"You frustrate me so much, Mawra," Ibrahim muttered with annoyance as he started the car and concentrated on driving. There was a minute of silence which was broken by her surprised filled voice.

"This is the way to my parents home." Mawra said with surprise as she faced him with a beam on her face, "I saw you staring at the family photo frame last night. Guessed you're missing them." the beam on her face only increased at that. Ibrahim's face softened a bit.

"I do." a drop of tear rolled down her cheeks, as she nodded her head sadly.

"You can spend a night with them, or two if you want," Ibrahim added whilst faking a smile, even though the idea of staying away from her didn't sound appealing but she sounded low, and he did promise her that she can go home whenever she wants.

"Thank you, Ibrahim." Mawra wiped off her tears and looked away, the sadness was replaced with excitement to meet her parents and siblings. Its been fifteen days since she last saw them, the longest she has ever stayed away from them. Sadly for her, this was only the start.

The drive to her parents home went in silence, with neither of them speaking anything.

Ibrahim did not even park properly, but she was already out of the car and was running into the entrance. He shook his head with a small smile and parked the car quickly, after making sure that his car was locked, he walked in and witnessed the heart-wrenching scene of his wife crying her heart out in her mother's embrace.

Her tears did something to his heart. It made him feel so uneasy and helpless.

"Mawra... Its alright, you're here now." Rashidha kissed her daughter's forehead, whilst controlling her own tears, but Mawra didn't stop. She felt so terrible yesterday, the hurt and anger which she caused Ibrahim has made her question is she even fit to be married. A lot of self-questioning and self-doubt has taken a toll on her and she was glad to be back in her home. Her mother's embrace gave her the comfort which she needed the most.

"Assalamualaikum, auntie." Ibrahim greeted her with a small smile, whilst eyeing his wife, who was still sobbing hard. It pained him to know he was the reason behind her tears, even though it was her mistake, to begin with.

Rashidha beamed at him, "Walaikum Assalam, Ibrahim. Please sit. Why are you standing there?"

He nodded his head, whilst taking a seat on the sofa. The house looked empty, and looked like the rest of them were out.

"Go and change into something else, you smell of coffee." Rashidha chuckled whilst breaking the hug.

"I'll be back." She mumbled softly and ran upstairs, Ibrahim looked on whilst shifting in his seat uncomfortably. He was not yet that comfortable in this home, "I'm glad you both visited, and I'm not letting you both leave without having lunch." Rashidha added strictly, which made him smile.

"Sure, auntie. I'll be in Mawra's room?" he asked nervously, whilst scratching his neck.

"Of course."

***

Mawra changed into an off white Anarkali Kurti, her face bare of any makeup, hair tied in a messy bun and came out of the bathroom and was surprised to find Ibrahim lying on her bed, with his eyes closed. He looked like he was in deep thoughts. Suddenly, she became conscious of her surroundings and sighed when the room looked tidy and neat.

"You took so long." his deep voice startled her, as she stared at him blankly. Ibrahim opened his eyes and stared at her with an unreadable expression.

"Thanks for bringing me here, I feel much better now." she smiled gratefully and he signalled her to come near him, she walked with confusion and a gasp left her mouth as he pulled her to him and made her sit on his laps.

Heat raised on her cheeks at their proximity, whilst his hands cupped her face gently, "You know you were wrong yesterday, right?" the blush immediately was replaced with blankness.

"I know."

"You annoy me so much... every time while getting down from my car away from the office it frustrates me so much, Mawra." she looked away, unable to see the hurt in his eyes.

"And yesterday, that guy! How dare he propose to you? It could have been avoided if we disclosed the truth a long ago. You didn't want that, you still don't... I was really patient with you, Mawra. But I get angry easily and I say things that I don't mean in anger. That's why I was not talking with you." he made her look at him in the eyes, as he uttered those words.

"Oh."

"Yes, I know you were hurting by my silence, I was just trying to cope with my anger. Thinking of yesterday still makes me so mad." Ibrahim let out a sigh as he placed his hands around her neck, "I'm sorry, Ibrahim." she whispered softly, whilst hugging him tightly. Her eyes were wet with unshed tears.

"I know."

"I'm sorry. Please don't ignore me again, Ibrahim." she whispered against his chest and he broke the hug with a sigh, "I won't if you stop doing such crazy things which will anger me."

"I promise, I won't anymore."

"And you should also give me the permission to kiss you whenever I want," he added cheekily breaking the tension and she broke into a shy smile at his request. The kiss from yesterday started playing in both of their minds, and they craved for more as they eyed each other with burning desire. Suddenly aware of how close they sat; their hearts started beating rapidly.

"Only you have the permission." Mawra looked away, feeling too shy under his intense gaze.

"Right." no more words were said as he grabbed her face in his hands and placed his lips against hers and kissed her slowly, softly. It was nothing like yesterday, but still sent butterflies down her stomach.

Mawra shut her eyes close, as he deepened the kiss and tasted her mouth hungrily. The slow kiss has now turned into a wild one, but neither of them complained. They continued kissing passionately until she ran out of air and had to break apart. Their breathings were uneven as she hugged him tightly and whispered, "I'm sorry that I hurt you so much." he just hummed in response, lost in his thoughts.

Ibrahim was sure of one thing though, things were bound to get bumpy in every marriage but he couldn't stay mad at her for so long. And that scared him so much. Was he falling in love?