Author's PoV:
Ahan stood in a corner watching everything around him and checking if anything needed assistance. The flowers looked perfect. The food seemed sufficient and the guests were all smiling. The caterers were working in perfect sync as well. He shifted his gaze to his mother who was standing in another corner. Clad in a pink kurta with matching salwar and a dupatta placed perfectly over her head, she looked happy and content. It was after all her son's wedding.
Three months ago, Arhaan decided to surprise his family by telling them that he had seen a girl for himself. He wanted his mother to get to know her first and then finalise the wedding if both sides liked each other. Mariam was surprised but ecstatic nonetheless for she never expected Arhaan to select a girl for himself. He was the shiest among her three sons and also the most emotionally dependent on his mother.
The girl, Zara, was an elementary level teacher and belonged to a middle class family. Arhaan had been acquainted with her for a year or two thanks to their common friends. Mariam immediately fell in love with Zara when she saw her. She was beautiful. With long and silky black hair, sharp facial features and more than average height, she was a visual delight for everyone who saw her. Her personality was humble yet powerful. She had a smile that radiated kindness. The families decided to get their nikah done soon enough as Zara's father had some health issues and wanted to see his only daughter getting married during his lifetime.
Ahan checked again and found no issue. Things were going smoothly. He locked his eyes with Mariam and gave her a reassuring smile that told her not to worry about anything. His eyes then went to his youngest brother who was busy gazing intently at someone. At first, it seemed like he was looking at the biryani counter but on noticing properly, Ahan realised that his focus was on a girl who was standing near it.
He made his way to his brother to stand next to him. "Didn't realise we had a pervert in our family," he commented and felt Ayan going stiff. He slowly turned his head to meet his elder brother's strict eyes. Ayan felt his ears going red in embarrassment.
"I was justâ¦sheâ¦," he struggled to find the right words. He looked at her again and saw her smiling at some woman adjacent to her. "I'm sorry, Bhai." He sighed and lowered his head.
Ahan placed his hand on Ayan's shoulder and the latter looked up. "If you are interested in her, or anybody for that matter, feel free to talk to me. But please don't gape at women like a sicko because I know you're not one."
"Yeah," Ayan nodded. "By the way, where's Ashiya? Hasn't she arrived yet?" Ahan shook his head in negative. He had been trying to call his wife but she wasn't picking. "Even Maulvi Sahab is late. We had asked him to come early but still he'sâ¦" Ayan's words were completely ignored by Ahan as he got distracted by a heavenly vision.
Dressed in a baby blue gown with silver embroidery and a royal blue hijab tied around her head, Ashiya entered the premises, suddenly causing a storm inside her husband's heart. She walked like a queen, smiling at everyone she locked gaze with. She spotted Ahan and walked towards him, and soon as she realised the intensity of his brown orbs on her, she blushed.
"There you are," Ayan's voice brought the couple out of their romantic world, causing Ahan to clear his throat. "What took you so long?"
"Ayra started throwing tantrums as soon as Ahan left. It took me more than one hour to dress her up as she kept escaping me." Ayan nodded and looked at his sister-in-law with sympathy. Her husband, on the other hand, was busy ogling her shamelessly.
"Do you want kebabs? I tried some and they were amazing," he suggested. Ashiya nodded. "Okay, stay here and I'll be back in two minutes."
Ashiya turned to Ahan and this time she managed to scan him from head to toe. He was wearing black tuxedo with a sky blue shirt underneath. His hair was neatly combed, leaving his perfect forehead exposed for view. Ashiya, even with her heels, found his height towering over her. He looked like a prince straight out of a Disney movie. "You look good," she complimented him and he smirked.
"And youâ¦look so tempting right now," he inched closer to whisper in her ears, "that I suddenly want to leave this place, take you to our bedroom anâ"
"How do I look?" A chirpy voice interrupted their conversation and Ahan smiled brightly as soon as his eyes landed on the source.
Ayra stood holding Mariam's finger, demanding her father's attention. The little girl, now two years old, was also dressed in blue, a short velvety frock. She had a pearly headband around her bald head and floral embellished ballerina flats adorned her feet. Her cheeks were chubbier than ever, making her look like the cutest little munchkin.
Ahan gasped dramatically with his hand on his chest. "Princess Aurora?" He asked and picked her in his arms. She giggled at the mention of her favourite princess character and the sound instantly came out as a delight to everyone's ears, especially her father's. "Mamma told me that you were throwing tantrums," Ahan narrowed his eyes and received a pout from Ayra. She's a carbon copy of her mother, he thought and forced himself not to smile.
"Mamma keeps comping you about me," she mumbled in her childish tone.
"Comping?" Mariam was confused.
"She means "complaining," Ashiya clarified making Mariam nod in response.
"Dadi I want ice cream," Ayra started to wriggle out of Ahan's arms and Mariam quickly helped her, taking her away to get her what she wanted.
Ahan returned his focus to Ashiya. "So where were we?" He lowered his head to continue the sinful talks but cursed when he heard Ayan's voice.
"Bhai, please dial Maulvi Sahab's number. Zara Bhabhi's father keeps asking me about him," he whined as he handed a plate of delicious looking kebabs to Ashiya.
"Then why aren't you calling him?" Ashiya questioned, to which Ayan shook his head.
"Oh," she suddenly remembered, "don't tell me that you still hold grudges against him for striking you on your butt with his stick."
Ayan's eyes widened. "Should I get a mic for you? And in my defence, it was too harsh of him to do that. It left marks! I mean, who does that to a child?"
"You always skipped your homework soâ¦" Ashiya put a kebab piece inside her mouth and her taste buds nearly exploded out of pleasure.
Ahan watched his wife, gawking at her lips hungrily. He then reminded himself that they were in public and sighed. "Then how would you feel if I told you that the woman you were studying just a few moments ago is actually Maulvi Sahab's daughter?"
.
.
.
"Wow," Ashiya yelled in excitement and instantly panicked as she saw Ayra stirring in her sleep. She breathed in relief when the toddler kept her eyes closed, still deep in her slumber. "I can't believe Ayan has a crush on someone," she murmured and clapped her hands in slow motion to prevent noise. Ahan chuckled at her antics. They took one last look at their baby before leaving her room. They kept the lights on but closed the door.
"He was just staring at her," he shrugged and arranged all the party clothes that were spread inside their bedroom. He then went out and placed them in the laundry room and returned to continue the conversation. "I don't think he's serious about her, but if he is, then I have no issue."
"Aren't you a cool big brother?" She teased him, " I wish I had an elder sibling like you."
Ahan raised his eyebrow at that. "Don't you think that sounds wrong?"
"Whatever, I'm just glad that you're so supportive. I mean, nobody would have guessed that you'd turn out to be so cool, you knowâ¦"
"What does that mean?" Ahan was curious now.
Ashiya yawned, "Nothing." She was in a mood to play.
"It certainly means something," he marched closer and stood right in front of her. "Tell me."
Ashiya smiled sweetly and stood on her toes to reach his face. Ahan observed her body and anticipated her next move. He was really liking the bold side of his wife. Bringing her lips dangerously close to his, she uttered, "N O." She quickly pecked his nose and backed off to climb on the bed, giggling as if she had achieved a great goal.
Suddenly, her foot was grabbed and she was dragged by Ahan in a way that he wrapped her legs around his torso. He hovered over her, trapping her petite form under him and locking his scrutinising gaze with her now bewildered and nervous ones.
He placed his head just above her bosom to trace her collar bone with his nose, causing her breath to quicken. He kissed the mole that sat proudly and heard her taking a sharp breath. "Tell me," he repeated and kissed again. "Or else I'll stop."
Ashiya was now regretting the silly game she started. She was a mess at his mercy. She felt helpless as she saw him slowly starting to leave her body. "What do..you want to know?"
Ahan's lips formed into a handsome smirk. "It's okay," it was his turn to play, "I'll leave you be." He was about to get up when Ashiya grabbed his arm. He studied her face which now held a desperate expression. He was enjoying her state. "No?"
"I'll tell you," Ashiya inhaled again. This was going to be a tricky conversation. "I thought you were a snob when I first met you."
"Oh," Ahan resumed his previous position, "and?"
"You were mean and rude. Every time I looked at you, I felt like scratching your face and banging your head against the wall." Ahan failed to understand why it was fun to hear his wife ranting about his past behaviour. He had always been an admirer of her feisty persona and this raving of hers was proving to be a severe turn on for him. Ashiya continued, "I so wanted to smack your face, especially when you used to look at me with that expressionless face of yours. You were such a chauvinist, thinking that everyone is beneath you."
"And now, you literally are beneath me," he bit his lip and saw her turning red at the comment. "The only difference is that now you enjoy being beneath me. Oh, just how fast the night changes."
"Whatâ¦ever, now continue what you were doing."
"Is that an order?" Ahan cocked an eyebrow.
Ashiya smiled seductively, "Yes."
That was enough for him. He had had enough of his kitten wife. "Then I guess I should oblige." He decided he couldn't control anymore so quickly took his shirt off and crashed his body on hers. It was like a battle but one that left both of them blissfully satisfied. They flirted, teased and tested each other's limits, collapsing on the mattress when they were finally done.
As the night continued and the sky outside turned a deeper shade of black, the couple fell asleep while holding each other tight. Their love, too, had turned deeper with time, aged like fine wine and was now purer than ever, especially after the birth of their daughter.
They were complete and content with their story that had been written by the best of writers, The Almighty Allah. The One who knows what resides inside every heart. The One who blesses, tests, and above everything, loves His creation.
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Epilogue next:)