She clicks her tongue to the side of her cheeks as her father screamed at her head for changing her mind last minute.

Well, that is exactly what she intended to do.

"Can't you tell him like a few hours before?" Her husband whispers, as he sits looking at her father losing his mind

"That's won't be fun". She said, shrugging, "Also, don't be nice to anyone. I don't even care enough about them".

"What do you have against them?"

"Try living with them. You will know".

"What will we say to Dayna's in-law? How will we answer their questions? You didn't even wear the dress I bought for you instead you went ahead with a similar suit to Dayna". Her mother cried as usual

She cringes, "I never copied Dayna's clothes. What is wrong with you? I didn't even see her clothes".

He knows that is true because he bought her the wedding dress. She has no idea where he got them and what he chooses for her. He took care of all that.

"You are always jealous of her because we love her". Her father snapped

She clenches her hands, "I said I didn't know about her clothes. You pushed me out of the way when you were preparing for her. I didn't even know she was getting married, to begin with".

"Shut up". Her father said angrily

She feels her chest tightened as she moves out of the house to stand in the garden. She was done. She bends on her knees as she tries to normalize her breathing.

"Are you ok?" He asked, sitting in front of her looking at her concerned

"Do I look ok to you?" She snapped, as she places a hand over her chest, "I will be ok".

"Can I help?"

"No. And don't even think about touching me. You will make it worse".

"Just sit down". He said, lightly pushing her shoulder, "Think of something good".

"Something good?" She asked, confused, "I can't remember".

"Anything?"

She closes her eyes, trying to remember the time she must have felt some good emotions.

"I bought this one for you". Her mother said smiling at her six years old self

She took the toy from her, running to her room to play with it. She likes toys. She rarely gets toys, but she loves playing with them. They are her only friend. She continued to play by herself for hours when she heard the door opening.

She found Dayna (4) standing there, looking at her toy.

"Want". Dayna said, trying to take her toy away

"No. Go away". She said, moving back to hide her toy

This continued for hours until her mother heard the shouting.

"I don't want to give it. It's mine". She cried as her mother snatched her toy

"Don't be a child, Dalila. It's just a toy. You are older. You need to act like that". Her mother snapped as she continued to protest against it, "I told you to learn to share. Look at how happy your sister looks".

"I am not happy. I want my toy".

"Don't be selfish, Dalila. She is young. She needs you".

Don't be selfish.

Don't be selfish.

Don't be selfish.

Just like that, she took everything away from her.

She took a deep breath, wiping her tears, "Yeah. We have to create a group for 'no happy memories' people cause life sucks".

He frowns, looking at her, "Do you want to leave?"

"Now, I have to deal with your parents".

"I can deal with them. I told them, I am marrying you".

"They didn't appreciate that".

He forwards his hand to her and she ignores it.

"I told you that we have no touching rule. That means every kind of touch". She said, walking around the house, not wanting more interaction with her parents

"We will have the final function tomorrow". He declared, as they sit in his car

"Keep your fame to yourself. I don't want to be involved more than I am". She said huffing, when she can't put the seatbelt on

He chuckles, knowing she can't yet know how this seatbelt works. He moves forward, taking the belt from her hand, with a jerk, he places it in it's place.

He turns his head to look into her twinkling chocolate brown eyes, looking at him with a little blush on her cheeks.

"Personal space?" She taunted, trying to not inhale his sharp scent, "You are in my space".

He rolls his eyes, controlling his heart rate as he went to his seat, "Be prepared for more fun".

"I am so excited". She said, her words dripping with sarcasm

"How can you do this?" His mother screamed as she stands behind him, not wanting to partake in unnecessary drama

"You were the one who wanted me to marry her desperately". He said confused, "What now?"

"I wanted you to marry her when her parents were--". His mother started, when his father made her stop, "I will never accept her".

He sighs, brushing his hand through his hair, "She is my wife now. You have to accept that fact. There is no one else I am ever accepting in my life over her. Never. I hope that is clear. We have the function tomorrow, and we want to rest".

He holds her hand, dragging her to his room, shutting the door behind them. She pushes his hand, placing her hand over her chest and this is the third time he noticed how she flinch and starts to breathe heavily whenever someone touches her especially when she isn't prepared for it.

"Water?" He asked, handing her a glass

She nodded, taking the glass as she sits on the couch. He takes his time to admire the red shade on her. She did look beautiful. Even more than beautiful. He had seen brides, a lot, because his friends were all married besides Zakir. But, he never thought watching his bride could feel something so different and nice. He felt good.

"Are you done?" She asked, looking in his eyes trying to deny the fact that he didn't look as good as her heart says, "Can I borrow your clothes?"

"They are in that cupboard. Take whatever you want".

"I will".

He shakes his head, with a smile as he texts his friends the final announcement of his wedding function. Zakir took the responsibility to arrange everything and he (Haris) knows his parents will never take part after the kind of marriage they did.

They just signed the papers in her house, that's all.

After she was discharged or was forced by her parents, they took her home. She had her phone with her so she texted all the details to him and he arrived before she was asked the question.

Not wanting the insults, her parents quietly changed the names on papers and that's how they are married now.

She changes into a short and an oversize shirt, walking out of the bathroom. He sits on the couch, looking over some matches.

"How do you play this?" Her voice sounded from close to him and he jerks to find her faces inches away

He moves back, blinking his eyes as he takes in what she is wearing. He purses his lips to not sigh at how good she looks in his clothes as he focuses back on the game. Still, this was the first time he had seen her without her scarf and he couldn't command his eyes to not look longer.

"You don't know how to play cricket?"

"Is it something important?"

He looks at her in shock, "What? Do you live in the same world like me?"

She pinches her nose, "No. I live under the ground. If your dramatic performance is done. Tell me what this is all about and who are you?"

He pats the place beside him, she sits beside him, with her one leg down and the other stretched along with his.

He continues to explain the process of exactly what this game is and who he is in it.

"So, basically, you throw balls, get mad at someone who hits it and celebrate if you knock a few sticks?"

He groans, "That is not what I said".

"Why did I hear that?" She asked, curiously

"You are having fun, aren't you?"

She pinches his cheeks, "It's all fun and games for me".

"What about your job?" He asked, placing the laptop away, "When will you join?"

"The day after". She said shrugging, as she moves her hand through her wet hair and his eyes follow each movement, "What about you?"

"I have an important match in a week. I will have to leave for practice early mornings and probably come in late".

"As long as you are not in danger". She said softly as sleep starts to invade her thoughts, "Keep me updated so I don't have to overthink. I hate overthinking".

He chuckles, watching how her head starts to hobble and he place his hand lightly on her head. She went into sleep instantly once her head was rested. But, he remains in the conflict of what to do next.

He picks her in his hands, moving to the bed. He remembers how she panics everyone someone touches her, so he took a pillow and went to the couch to sleep in.

He looks at her to find that she removes her duvet. He went towards her, placing the duvet on her, reducing the temperature knowing she will remove it again and probably get sick from the cold.

He heard his phone ringing with messages to find Jala. He didn't care as he sent an invite to her for tomorrow function, going to sleep.

"You went out of your way". She said frowning as she looks at herself

"You are my wife, Dalila". He said smiling, "I should do that much".

"You are enjoying putting me these traditional clothes, aren't you?"

"Very". He laughs, watching how she is absolutely angry at her assumptions

He did like watching her in traditional clothes, not that she didn't look good in all of her other, but there is something different.

"Do you want to wear a suit to your wedding?" He asked, standing beside her admiring how beautiful she looks, "You look good in these".

"Thanks". She said shrugging, "Come on, let's end this show".

He stands beside her on the stage like a mannequin as everyone praises and whatnot. Most people have questions about why the marriage was this sudden. Anyways, he was a known cricketer so everyone was going to come to this function anyway.

"I cannot believe you wore scarf to this high class wedding". His mother screeched, as she pose for a picture

"I can't believe you are still here even after rejecting me". She said, rolling her eyes watching his mother walk away angrily

Her eyes narrow when she finds her sister's future husband (Dawood) entering. She leans towards her husband, "Don't even think about shaking his hand".

He turns to find a man with a little too friendly smile as he stops in front of them. He remembers this man, he was the one they briefly met in hospital.

"I am Dawood". Dawood said, forwarding his hand

"I am sorry to say this, but I am not shaking hands tonight". He said shrugging as he leans towards her

"Did she tell you about me?" Dawood said laughing

"You are not that important, Dawood. Be on your way when I am being nice". She snapped, holding his hand

He almost stopped functioning the moment her small soft hands held onto his hand. They fit perfectly. He didn't even want to move in case she realises what she is doing and let go. He wants to hold her hand.

"He is your ex?" He asked, once the man went away

"He needs to be something to be an ex". She said distastefully as her eyes narrow at his love interest, "What's with all the ex showing up at our wedding?"

He shakes his head, as he turns to find Jala glaring at their hand. He held onto her hand tightly as he looks at Jala.

"I thought it was a scam". Jala said

"Good thing you managed to come here or your assumptions wouldn't have been proved wrong". She said with a fake smile

"You think he is something great?" Jala taunted

She rolls her eyes, "Not everyone wants what you want. He is great in all terms I want him to. Now, stop becoming obsessive over us and get lost".

"I am great?" He asked unsure as he looks at her

"Only if you feed me a Pizza after this is over".

He chuckles, "Fine. If that what it takes".

She sits in the car, waiting for her Pizza. She looks at him to find him standing patiently in the line. She finds a group of people surrounding him and he casually takes pictures and signs for them. Not a hint of annoyance. Well, she was annoyed when the girl lean to him. Good thing, he moves back immediately.

She heard a knock on the mirror to find a woman with a Gajra (flower bangles). She holds a two in her hand, liking how they smell.

"Ask your husband to make you wear them". The woman said

"No. No. Here". She said, handing them back because there is no way she is asking something like that to him

She heard the door closing to find her Pizza. She takes it from him as she starts to eat. She finds the cat and dogs walking along the road and she frowns.

"What? You don't like animals?"

"I don't like cats and dogs".

"What do you like?"

She smiles, "Rabbits. They are so beautiful. Did you ever look at one? The brown and white and- I had one, but he died".

"No wonders".

She punches his shoulder as she finishes eating.

"Give me your hand". He said, turning to her, "Please".

She shrugged, giving her hand to him. He places the gajra she was looking at before and she grins.

"Some of my fans met me". He said as he starts to drive, "They said that my wife looks beautiful".

"What did you say?"

"Originally, I wanted to say that it sucks for them because she is my wife and I can look at her as much as I want and they can't". He said with a cheesy smile and she rolls her eyes, "I just said I am not denying the facts".

"If I wasn't allergic to butter, I would have swoon".

He chuckles.

Thankfully, he shifted them to his apartment and away from his parents for their peace.

She started her work and people were into the stories of how they met and all. She refused to speak about anything.

She sits with a magazine in her hand in which her husband interview from this week was published.

"I have no expectations from my partner. All I want is my space with someone who share that space with me. To find someone who is challenging and loving at the same time".

"What is that you like about your wife?"  The interviewer asked

"I like how she always frown at everything that doesn't make sense to her. She can spend her time, looking at random things with curiosity like no other. She doesn't like anything cheesy and she always calls me out on it, she likes to spend her time in peace and quietness. She can love, but she can't show. She can feel and she will conceal it all in. She is complicated and that is exactly why I can't stop being around her"

"Do you love her?"

"Why are you reading this?" He said smiling as he sits beside her after a long day of practice

"Weren't you supposed to be late?" She said, hiding the magazine away

"Coach said I am newlywed and he doesn't want to be the cause of my divorce".

"Are you excited for this match?"

His eyes brightened, "I am. I can't believe I was selected to play against such a strong team. If I do well, I can make fortune and I can play bigger leagues".

She nodded, "You don't have to worry about making fortune. All you have to do is your best and be the best".

"You don't want to live a life of luxury?"

"Luxury comes with a price, Haris. A heavy price. Don't be swayed by one-time pleasure because it won't end well".

He sighs, leaning on the couch, "I am so tired".

"Want some food?"

He shakes his head, "I will make some in few minutes. I want a short nap".

She slaps his hand, "Don't take a nap. I already cooked so eat and go to sleep after a shower".

He smiles, "Yes, Ma'am".

The week went on, with the same routine. He started to come late because his match was coming up. She would wait and end up sleeping. He will carry her in, heat the food she made- hate that he can't have her with him and the next morning- he will cook breakfast for her.

She pushes her scarf away from her face and this heat is making it impossible for her. She likes scarf. It's like her own thing. When they are on her head, she feels safe and good. That's the only good she ever felt in her life.

She heard the commotion as multiple cameras and cameramen came running at her with questions.

She couldn't hear all, but she heard one that stopped her heart, "Do you know that your husband was caught taking bribes (black money) to play the upcoming match?"

"Do you know he won't be able to play anymore?"

This is not good.

***

Who likes Gajras? I used to not like them, but now I love them. But, I can't find them where I live :(