Atifa's pov :

I didn't know when I slept, but I had a nice dream. A dream in which he was saying sorry to me. It was quite vivid but I was cherishing it for we didn't get dreams like that much. And it was quite warm after that. Until I woke up and realised I was being kidnapped by someone.

As soon as I realised that, I yelped and started punching that guy, whoever it was. I couldn't go down without a fight! That guy staggered backwards, which was a good thing but he continued walking further. How dare he even touch me? Narrowing my eyes and clenching my jaw at him in the darkness, I started yelling for help while continuing to punch him. "Help! Someone is kidnapping me! Help! Leave me alone you monkey!"

He dropped my legs and I yelped once again before punching him hard on his arm. "Who even drops a girl like that? What if I would have fallen down?" I pointed my finger at him as I questioned. Before he could even answer me, I continued. "How dare you even touch me? Who are you? Just wait, let me call-"

He covered my mouth before I could continue any further, making my voice come out muffled. I struggled to get out of his grip and realised one of his hands was still on my waist. 

"It's me begum, Saad. Saad Ibrahim. Stop yelling and waking up the whole house." I was just about to kick his feet when I heard his voice and breath so close to me that I stilled before letting my hands fall by my side and relaxing my muscles. I breathed out a sigh of relief before he removed his hand from my mouth and waist. (Wifey)

He seriously scared me. Who even does that? Oh yeah, obviously him. What if I had a mini heart attack? Or... Uh, yeah wasn't that enough?

I went ahead and switched on a light in the corridor before turning to look at him. "Don't you even dare do that again! You scared me." Pointing a finger at him, I said annoyed. He muttered something under his breath, making me narrow my eyes. "What did you just say?"

Shaking his head he replied, "Nothing. Let's go inside."

Huffing, I turned around before opening the door and storming inside. He followed me. I removed my hijab and threw it on the bed. I was so sleepy but this guy just had to ruin it! "Wait a minute!" He exclaimed, halting my steps.

Turning around, I folded my arms while looking at him sceptically. "Yeah?"

"Uhh... I got a gift for you?" Scratching the back of his neck, he replied before going to the couch and taking out something from his bag. Returning back, he extended the box towards me.

I hesitated before taking the box. Opening it, my lips tilted upwards in a small smile as I gazed at it. It was so beautiful. "May I?" I heard his voice and my gaze flickered up at him,  stunned. He was smiling slightly. I nodded my head slowly, looking away as I extended the box back to him and kept my hand on his already extended one.

He held my hand softly, which made my heart skip it's beat. I was going crazy. It felt so weird and... uncomfortable? But it also gave me a kind of comfort. He slid the ring on my finger, making me look at our hands. It surprisingly fitted me perfectly. Hopefully he couldn't watch my face heating up in this dim light.

As soon as he left my hand, I brought it closer to myself before admiring the ring. "Jazak Allahu Khairan. It's beautiful." It was elegant, just how I like it.

"Wa Antum Fa Jazak Allahu Khairan. It actually looks even more beautiful on your hand." I heard his reply, which made me shocked and flushed at the same time. Before I could glance at him, he rushed to the washroom.

Shaking my head, I turned towards my bed before picking up my hijab and keeping it aside. Snuggling up in my blanket, with a smile still lingering on my lips, I let sleep overcome me.

._._._.

Groaning, I swiped off the alarm again but it wouldn't budge. Getting annoyed, I turned to look at my left side to see a blurry figure cuddled up in my blanket. Confused as to who it could be, I moved a bit closer to have a look of that stranger's face and to find the source of my irritation, the constantly ringing alarm.

But I couldn't make out the face in the darkness. Maybe it's Emaan, I thought. But as my skin grazed a trimmed beard while I was trying to turn off the alarm on the other side of the bed, a scream left my lips. What in the world was a man doing in my room? No actually, what was he doing on my bed? And that too beside me. A stranger at that.

Covering my mouth with my hands, I sat up straight, my eyes wide in alarm. This guy might be a thief, I needed to catch him and hand him over to the police. We needed to increase the security of our home, how could this guy even enter our home just like that?

Not knowing what else to do, I picked up the thing nearest to me - which turned out to be a pillow - before bringing it in front of me as a defence. Realising it was just a pillow and couldn't do much to save me, I thought of other ways to catch him.

Maybe I could just make him unconscious by stopping his oxygen supply. I could easily do that just by this pillow. Without thinking further, I brought the pillow on his face in a quick motion, not giving him any chance to wake up or speak. It would be better if he died in his sleep. 

I kept choking him with the pillow using my whole power. I could see some movement from under the pillow which meant that he was struggling. Not wanting to lose this chance and let this man go, I shouted. "Help! Someone came into my room. It's an intruder. Help!"

Even if he managed to stay alive, at least someone would come and save me. Before I could shout much, a large hand covered my mouth, making my eyes go wide. He is going to kill me now, I thought! I was going to die like this.

Holding me with the other hand, he rolled us around and the pillow loosened as he moved his head back and took a deep breath. I kept the pillow in front of me as I continued to stare at the dark heaving figure. Ya Allah, please save me. How could someone even enter my room.

Not removing his hand from my mouth, he turned on the bedside table lamp, illuminating the room. My eyes snapped to him and I saw hazel green eyes glaring at me murderously, still heaving, trying to catch his breath. Oh I have seen those eyes, and that face too. But where have I seen him? A frown covered my face as I thought about it.

"This is the second time within twenty four hours that you have deemed me as a kidnapper or an intruder. Do I look like one or are you just trying to get on my nerves? Or better yet, you have a memory loss and can't actually remember me?" After taking a deep breath and clenching his jaw, he uttered furiously while removing his hand and sitting up.

"Oh, so it wasn't actually a dream." I uttered slowly, still in daze, not wanting to make him more angry. I actually forgot that I was married for a while. Unbelievable, I know.

His gaze snapped towards me again as he continued to glare at me furiously. "Are you serious right now?" He asked me through clenched jaw.

Gulping, I sat up slowly not answering him or looking in his direction. Embarrassed, I pointed towards his - still ringing - alarm. "Your alarm." I meekly muttered. All the sleepiness had flown out of the window when I saw his figure.

Finally turning his gaze away from me, he picked up his mobile and turned off the alarm before heaving a sigh and getting off the bed. "Her mom just kidnapped me but I think this daughter of her's is actually going to kill me one day." He muttered under his breath, making me confused.

"What? What did you just say?" I asked him, confused and furious at the same time while getting down from the bed. He thought that I was going to kill him? It wasn't my fault that I forgot about him. I mean, I was not used to the presence of any male in my room or life. So he couldn't blame me for that.

"Nothing, I didn't say anything." He replied while glancing at me with a sweet smile before heading to the washroom.

._._._.

The next time when I woke up due to my alarm - after sleeping back after fajr - I reminded myself that I was married now and I shouldn't freak out if I see a guy sleeping beside me, before opening my eyes and repeating the same scene. But to my surprise, there was no one beside me. I didn't know if I should be sighing in relief or be worried about him.

Yawning, I stretched my arms before grabbing my mobile and checking the time. My eyes widened when I realised it was almost ten and I still had to make breakfast for everyone. Quickly getting down and making a messy bun, I rushed to the washroom.

Grabbing a hijab and checking if my clothes were presentable, I rushed downstairs only to slow down in my steps. There he sat with his brother, in the living room tickling Amira and Alayna as they giggled continuously. My heart warmed watching them getting along so well.

"Alhamdulillah!" I muttered under my breath before making my way towards the kitchen. I got another surprise there when I saw ammi brewing the coffee and bhabi setting the table. "Assalamualikum." Announcing my presence, I greeted them with a smile on my face. "You guys should have woken me up. I would have made breakfast na." I pouted.

"Walikumussalam." They smiled while turning their attention to me.

"How can we wake you up so early in the morning on the first day of your nikkah? In fact, we asked Saad to turn off your alarm if it rings." Bhabi replied with a smug look while sharing a mischievous glance with ammi.

"Why can't you wake me up? And why did you ask him to do that?" I asked, utterly confused.

"Bas aise hi. Accha nahi lagta nayi dulhan ko jaldi uthana." Bhabi replied nonchalantly with a shrug as she took the water jug to the dining room. (Just like that. Waking up a bride early in the morning doesn't feel good.)

"Accha go and call everyone for breakfast." Before I could question them more, ammi told me while taking the coffee to the dining room. Nodding my head at particularly no one, I headed to the living room. (Okay)

The brothers seemed to be conversing about something as Amira and Alayna played together. "The breakfast is ready." I announced, making them halt their conversation and game. The brothers nodded their head as they got up while the kids ran to me, hugging my waist.

"Assalamualikum princesses." I greeted them brightly with a grin on my face.

"Walikumussalam api." They both replied with silly and identical grins covering their faces.

"What happened? Aaj itna pyaar kyu aa rha hai?" I questioned while raising my eyebrow. (Why so much love today?)

"Kuch nhi." Alayna replied. (Nothing.)

"Aise hi." While at the same time Amira said that, making me suspicious. (Just like that.)

"Accha! Mujhe to yakeen nahi ho raha hai. Chalo come, let's have breakfast first phir ye sab baatein krenge." I replied while holding their hands and heading to the kitchen. The boys were following us. They washed their hands before running off, leaving me alone with the brothers. (Oh yeah? I can't believe it. Okay come, let's have breakfast first and then we will talk about these things.)

Shaking my head, I washed my hands before making my way to the dining room. Before I could take a seat, ammi stopped me. "I forgot to bring the mugs. Can you go and grab them?"

"Jee ammi." I replied before making my way to the kitchen cabinets. (Yes mom.)

When I returned back with the mugs, I realised only two seats were vacant. One was beside Maaz bhai while the other was beside him. Having left with no other choice, I sat beside him after keeping the mugs on the table.

"Okay so everyone, be ready in an hour, we will be going out for shopping." We were halfway through the breakfast - which was kheer and puri - when bhabi informed us about our plans for the day.

I looked up at her to reply, but before any of us could say anything he started coughing violently, earning our attention. "Beta pass him the water." Ammi instructed me, concerned. (Dear)

Grabbing the glass nearest to me, I handed it to him before hesitantly, rubbing his back. Feeling him stiffen under my touch and feeling uncomfortable myself, I quickly removed my hand. "Aap theek hai?" Instead, I resorted to asking him, worried. (Are you alright?)

Calming down a bit, he nodded, "Yeah, yeah I'm fine." His gaze flickered to me before turning to his brother, glaring at him. I followed his gaze to see his brother trying to suppress his laughter.

Confused, I watched them amused. What was the matter? Shaking my head, I turned my attention back to bhabi. "Okay, but where will we be going?" I asked her curiously.

"The mall. There might be one around here, right?" She questioned, glancing at ammi.

"But why mall? We can go to a park or have a picnic or something, right?" He interrupted, looking away from his brother.

"Because I want to go there. Do you have any problem?" She retorted, looking at him dead in his eyes.

He gulped before replying, "No, I don't have any problem. I was just asking you." He seemed so scared that it made me want to chuckle. I suppressed my chuckle but couldn't help the grin on my face.

"Yeah there are. And we can go there. Atifa, you can ask Emaan too if she would like to join us. She helped us a lot yesterday but I couldn't even thank her properly or give her cookies." Ammi added, making my eyes go wide.

"But ammi, you didn't give me cookies yesterday. I want my share too." I reminded her.

"You will get your share but we aren't talking about you here. Ask her, alright?" Ammi replied without even looking up, making me pout.

"Okay." I replied while continuing to have my kheer. I would just have to steal my cookies now if she doesn't give them to me.

._._._.

"Where did it go? Maine to idhar hi rakha tha." I muttered as I continued to search my room for my precious cake, the one which mamu bought especially for me and I hid in my room. I couldn't find it anywhere. I kept it beside the table which was behind the couch so that no one would notice it but it wasn't there anymore. (I kept it here only.)

Sighing, I ran a frustrated hand through my hair. I already showered, only braiding my hair remained, but since they were still a bit wet, I decided to do it after savouring my cake. But my luck! I couldn't find it anywhere. "Ya Allah! Is there a jinn in our home?" I continued to mutter under my breath as I looked under my bed.

"What happened? Are you looking for something?" Suddenly, a deep voice asked me from behind, making me jump in my place. Keeping a hand on my heart, I turned to look at him.

"Yeah, I'm trying to find something." I replied as my eyes wandered around, looking behind him.

He glanced back before looking at me confused. "What is it? Maybe I can help you?"

"It's... Uh..." I contemplated whether to tell him or not. If I do tell him, I would have to share my cake with him. But I guess I didn't have any other option. And anyways, it was better to just share it with him rather than sharing it with everyone else. "My cake. I'm looking for my cake which mamu bought for me yesterday. I kept it here beside the table but I can't find it anywhere now." I replied, worried.

The colour of his face drained as he heard my reply. I looked at him, confused, as his expression continued to change from confusion to understanding to shock to nervous and scared? Okay, was there really a jinn in our home? And he saw that jinn taking my cake away? That could actually explain his change of emotions.

"Oh, mai to gaya ab." I heard him mutter before he gulped and gave me a nervous laugh. Confused by his behaviour, I shook my head and turned around to look back under the bed. "Wo... It was your cake?" He asked me hesitantly. (I'm gone now.) (That...)

"Jee. Have you seen it anywhere?" I looked at him hopefully. (Yes.)

"Haa. Wo... Wo maine dekha tha." At his reply, my eyes lit up. And I noticed he was using urdu. It suited him much more and it sounded so... Wait what was I even thinking? No it didn't sound anything. I should be concentrating on my cake right now. (Yes. That... I saw it.)

"Accha, kaha?" I asked while turning back to face him. (Okay, where?)

"Yahi par dekha tha, but I thought it didn't belong to anyone so I took it downstairs and shared it with everyone. Also, I was hungry so..." He replied so quickly that I almost didn't catch what he said. Almost. But I heard him. Clearly. And he wasn't wrong when he said that he was gone. He was gone. (I saw it here only,)

Glaring at him, I clenched my fists. Was this guy for real? This wasn't actually happening right now! He didn't just eat MY cake without asking me. And he even shared it with everyone except me. I mean, he didn't even ask me if the cake in MY room belonged to me. Gritting my teeth, I asked him, "When did you have it?" I was actually controlling myself from blasting on him right now.

"Uhh... In the morning? When you were sleeping?" He answered, which came out more like a question. Chuckling nervously, he took a step back.

My blood boiled. "And you didn't even think about asking me? Even for once?" By now, I was glaring daggers at him. And he was my husband! Who did I even marry? This guy ate my cake without asking me! I would have complained to ammi. But I couldn't even do that because I was hiding that cake from her too.

"Sorry?" He said while scratching the back of his neck.

"Aapke sorry se mera cake wapas aa jaiyega?" I questioned furiously as I tried to calm myself down and put my hair in a messy bun. Walking towards the dressing table, I avoided looking at him. (Will your sorry bring back my cake?)

"There is still one piece left for you in the fridge." He muttered hopefully, like a kid.

I raised my brow, "Okay. Thank you for being so considerate." I told him sweetly while applying moisturiser on my face.

He was about to reply when he got a call, excusing himself, he left the room. It was a good thing he didn't stay here, or else he would have faced my sassy side right now.

I was not usually that moody or lost my temper that easily. I got my periods that day which explains my mood swings since the day before that. I guess, since I used to be alone before, with just Amira by my side, my mood swings didn't affect us that much. But now that he was here, an addition to our family, I would have to try to keep them in check. But no promises were made here as we all know how our moods can give us surprises.

Getting ready, I grabbed my niqab and handbag as I stood in front of the mirror to fix my hijab. My phone started ringing, reminding me I have to grab it too before leaving. Picking up the call, I heard Emaan's voice. "Assalamualikum girl! How are you doing? Oh my God! How was your first night? I mean, Ya Allah you don't have to tell me everything, just tell me what did you guys do? And gosh! I have so many questions-"

Before she could continue further, I interrupted her with a grin. "Walikumussalam. I didn't know we have to interrogate the girl once she gets married. I mean, thank you for letting me know. I will do the same for you."

"Oh, oops! Sorry, I will ask you once I reach there. And I'm reaching there within 10 minutes. Be ready! Byee." Without even waiting for my reply, she declined the call, making me shake my head. This girl won't change!

Grabbing my handbag and closing the door of my room, I headed downstairs. I could hear the excited chatter of the kids as ammi did the last minute work, which was by the way, packing cookies for Emaan. Reaching them, I stole a cookie from the box, failing to remain unnoticed. Ammi shook her head at me in disapproval, making me grin at her sheepishly.

Savouring the cookie, I made my way to the fridge. Opening it, I surveyed it to find my leftover piece of cake. Grabbing the plate, I pouted looking at the only piece left. This was supposed to be eaten by me alone. Sighing, I grabbed a spoon before sitting on the kitchen island.

Just as I was about to start eating, he came inside. Ignoring him, I took a bite of the cake. Grabbing a glass of water, he sat down in front of me. "Are you still angry at me?" He questioned hopefully.

Not getting any reply from me, he sighed, "I'm sorry okay? I didn't know it was yours." He said apologetically.

"But that still doesn't mean you can take it without asking me." I replied, frowning.

"Yeah, I know that. I'm sorry. Okay, how about this. I will buy you whatever you want today?" He asked expectantly, his eyes hopeful.

My eyes lit up as an idea crossed my mind. "Okay. But you can't back out later on." I replied mischievously.

He raised his eyebrows but nevertheless nodded his head. "Okay."

"You have to promise me." I added cheekily, extending my palm towards him. I could feel him getting suspicious so I whined. "Promise me."

"Okay, I promise." He shook his head before keeping his hand on mine.

A silly grin covered my face and I felt tingles all over my palm. Glancing at him from our hands, I saw a hint of a smile on his face, making my cheeks change their colour without any reason. Pulling my hand back, I rubbed it on my cheeks as I continued to devour my cake, avoiding his gaze. What was happening to me?

._._._.

GLOSSARY:

- Kheer - A sweet dish made of milk and rice.

- puri - something like fried tortillas.

._._._.

▪ Will you also forget about your husband the next day after your marriage just like Atifa?

I will be too nervous to let that happen. xD

._._._.