Touch

In the middle of the night, Shehryaar woke up due to a loud gasp. His sleepy eyes squinted to Mirha sitting in the bed and breathing heavily. He immediately woke
up,
" kya hua? Tum theek ho?"
( What happened? Are you alright?)

Mirha looked at him with those pale blue glassy eyes filled with water,
" Mjhay darr lag raha hai?"
( I am scared.)

He shifted closer to her, removing the blankets from his face to see her properly.
"Kyun?"
( Why)

" Itna andhera hai aur mjhey Minal k bina neend aati."
( Its so dark and I cannot sleep without Minal.)
She said so meekly. From the very start since she remembered, she had slept with Minal, snuggled up together. And today, being away from her scared her and also worried her when she thought of Minal sleeping alone with Dadi.

Shehryaar shook his head a little, why did he have to marry such a child? A smile fell upon his lips, teasing the corner of his eyes as they crinkled a little when he turned to his side to face her.
" Hmm. Phir kya kiya jaye? Haath pakkar lu ya Minal ko bulaun? "
( Hmm, what should we do then? Shall I hold your hand or do you want me to call Minal?)

Mirha shook her head.
" No, it's okay."

Shehryaar waited for a second before turning on his back again,
" Chalo soa jao phir."
( Okay sleep then.)

He waited until she lay down again then placed his arm over her eyes, the other one lying in the space between them. He heard her shift a little and then quieten down. Some minutes passed like that,
Five minutes,
Ten minutes,
and then her soft hand slowly and silently hold his under the blankets.

Shehryaar smiled again but stayed still, giving her the idea that he was actually still asleep. Then her hand tightened around his and he opened his eyes to look at her, finding her staring at him with wide open expectant eyes.

" Idhr ao."
( Come here.)
He sighed before pulling her body to his and and tucking her head into his chest and wounding an arm around her.

" Chup kar k soa jao ab."
( Now go to sleep .)

He smiled into her hair, tucking one strand behind her ears as she started getting flustered and then closed her eyes tightly upon his order, his scent now to approachable and calming.

And the clouds giggled and separated, letting the stars watch the man protect his woman by the shield of his arms.

//////////////

Ahmed ran after her in the white corridor of the brick red haveli, throwing the petals of rose on her as she giggled and ran until she reached the edge of the corridor.

He quickly caught up to her.
" Kahan jao gi ab?"
( where will you go now?)

Minal tried to find a way out but he dragged her to the bench in front of the green wall laced with vines.
" Kal milnay kyun nahi ayi thi?"
( Why didn't you come to meet me yesterday?)

He would force her to meet him in the garden at eleven o' clock every night and she did so reluctantly until yesterday.

Minal shrugged,
" Kyun ati? Kartay tau kuch nahi hain aap, bus baith kar dekhtay rehtay hain."
( Why would I come? You don't so anything, just keep staring.)

Ahmed laughed out loud, bending a little closer to her, he whispered,
" Tau aur kya karwana chahti ho?"
( Then what do you want me to do.)

Minal couldn't understand his innuendo but still was teased by the motion of his eyebrows.
" I am going."
She said in a naraz tone, her eyebrows furrowing.

He held her hand,
" Acha acha, yey batao k tumhey mjh mey kya pasand hai?"
( Okay okay, tell me, do you like something about me?)

Minal's face was still annoyed but her eyes were smiling and that was enough for him, enoughfor a lifetime.
" Bus baal pasand hain."
( Just your hair.)

Ahmed's eyebrows raised and he ran a hand through his hair. His hair?

" Acha ab suno, tumhari behn ki shaadi Shehryaar bhai sey hui hai, iska matlab tum unki saali ho."
( Okay now listen, your sister is married to Shehryaar bhai, that means you are his sister-in-law.)

Minal nodded her head,
" Yey tau mjhey pta hai."
( That i know.)

" Acha phir kal agar wo tumsey poochain k tum Ahmed sey shaadi karna chahti ho, tau tum kya kaho gi?"
( Okay then if he asks you tomorrow that do you want to marry Ahmed, then what will you say?)

Minal shrugged,
" Wo mjhe sey yey kyun poochain gey?"
( Why would he ask me that?"

Ahmed wanted to slap his forehead. It was the last try to ask for her marriage indirectly, otherwise he'd have to get down on one knee.
"He is your guardian, that's why."

Minal thought for a second. Then nodded,
" I'd say that 'whatever you
want'.But I am still young!"

Ahmed wanted to stab himself, he was very worried because he knew she was still very young and Shehryaar bhai would rather shoot him than agree to their marriage. If he wasn't, he would have enjoyed her innocent remarks so much.

" Badtameez larki, haan kehna hai!"
( you little devil, you have to say yes!)

Minal's eyes widened,
" Why would I say that?"

Ahmed looked away, running a hand through his hair. She was a lost cause. He would have to do something himself.

" Mjhe sey Shaadi nahi karni?"
( You don't want to marry me?"

He asked with his dark eyes looking into hers, and noticed the little changes as the movement of her when the wind changed direction, to the way her eyes lowered and her lashes trembled a little.

" Mjhey kya pta?"
( I don't know.)

He grabbed her hand, as she stood up, pulling her down a little so that her hair hung around her face and which was now as close to his it could be without touching, her teeth biting into her lips as he looked her in the eyes.
He smiled,
" Mey pasand nahi hun tumhain? hmm?"
( You don't like me?)

He was astounded a little to see her actually blush from head to toe, her teeth preventing her lips to smile and she pulled her hand away,
" I am going to sleep."

                ///////////////

Shehryaar woke up by the feeling of a caress on his eyelid. Still drowsy, he laid still however his toes twitched under the blanket. The touch caressed his left eyelid, then it moved under his eyes and then he felt a blow of warmth breath over his face.

He opened his eyes.

The first thing his eyes saw were the translucent pale blue eyes which had all the glow of the world contained in them, he saw them widening and then his eyes lowered to the pink lips which were slightly opened in a gasp. He felt her light, soft body next to his as the warmth embraced him. He smiled when he saw retreat quickly.

" Kya kar rahi thi?"
( What were you doing?"

She was blushing beetroot red when he turned towards her.

" ...Dua parh rahi thi."
( I was saying a prayer.)

A warmth erupted in his chest when he understood the meaning behind the blow of air. He immediately supported himself on his arms to lean on her.

" Acha?... Phir tau mjhey bhi Dua parhni chahiye."
( Really?.. Then i should pray for you too.)

He smiled before he murmured something in his mouth as she lowered her eyelashes, cheeks still glowing with peach and creme as he touched her cheekbone with a hand, then caressed her flimsy eyelid as her eyes closed upon his touch. Then he lowered, blowing air on her lightly, sending prayers towards heaven.

When her eyes opened, she found him looking at her with a smile in his eyes.

" Dubara darr tau nahi laga tha?"
( Did you get scared again last night?)

She shook her head and he smiled at her habit of moving her head always for the answer of yes or no.

Staring at her with an emotion in his eyes, he bent down again, brushing his lips against cheekbone for a soft caress before moving away and leaving her with a thumping heart.

            ////////////////

It was difficult ( slightly) to write this.

I know everyone is waiting for Elysian's epilogue but it's so hard to write it! I will, oke day, I mean soon. For sure.

  Did you like it?