۰۳

The time seemed to have blurred as the Zaarib Yazdani showed Meezan the eloquent landscape where he was planning on establishing his chain of restaurants. It was right adjacent to the magnificent manmade body of water; Deira Corniche.

"It's beautiful." Meezan breathed as the cool air slid it's fingers through his hair, causing it to fly in odd directions.

"It really is, isn't it? This is the place where I first proposed marriage to my wife." Zaarib smiled as he put his hands inside his pant pockets.

"Aah, therefore the symbolism as to why you want to build a chain of restaurants here." Meezan smiled back gently as he switched off the iPad in his hand.

Zaarib let out a hearty laugh, as he started walking towards the pavement and sat down on it, Meezan followed suite and did the same.

"Honestly, no. The plot was offered to me at a filthy cheap prize, and I just had to buy it. The additional symbolism that came with it was just sheer luck."

"Spoken like a true businessman." Meezan chuckled as he overlooked the water body in from of him.

"I am sorry, I can't help myself, but why are you here with a stale businessman rather than with your colourful wife, Meezan?" He questioned meaningfully as he side glanced at him.

Meezan clearly looked taken a back by this sudden question but soon seemed to recover as he muttered, " For business, of course."

"Yeah right, like any sane wife would let her husband do work on their honeymoon." Mocked Zaarib as he leaned sideways trying to get a better look at the man beside him.

Meezan simply sighed as he pushed a hand through his already messed up tresses. Yes, he was on his Honeymoon. Yes, his wife was as sane as she could come and yes, she was probably furious at him for bringing her with him to Dubai for their "so called"  honeymoon when in reality all he was here was to do business.

"It's okay, marriage is complicated. I understand. But, marriage is also about two imperfect people who don't want to give up on each other. It's weirdly enough like walking in a park, Jurassic Park. If you will." Zaarib Yazdani, began as he rubbed his hands together looked at Meezan who was confused. "You see, in the beginning you are excited, then you don't really know what is happening and then you are immensely scared but atlast you somehow survive and the sense of accomplishment you are left to feel after surviving amongst dinosaurs is surreal."

Meezan frowned even more as he realised he understood nothing, Zaarib sighed seeing his expression as he ran his hand across his face.

"I apologise, my wife made watch Jurassic Park yesterday till two in the morning. I surely sound delerious from the lack of sleep. You should probably just go and fall at your wife's feet and beg for forgiveness."

Saying this he got up dusting his pants.

"Thanks for the ...urm advice." Meezan muttered awkwardly as he himself got up.

"Anytime brother, though I doubt anything I said made sense. Just put in a little more effort from your side, it's the early stages of your marriage that you truly cherish. Take off from work and spend time with your wife. Or you might never know when a Mosasaurus might end up snatching her from you." He said chuckling as he shook Meezan's hand. All he wanted was sleep. So damn bad.

As Meezan watched the man walk off, his preternatural musings replayed themselves in Meezan's mind like an old cassette. He knew he wanted to make this relationship work, but he was immensely shy and Anabiya was quite the opposite; bold. Ya Khuda, what a peculiar couple they were.

•••

As Meezan walked down the streets of Dubai to the hotel they were staying at, the only thought that was in his mind was how he was going put in a little more effort into their relationship. Meezan had never been in contact with the female population apart from the ones in his family and most of all he had never shared a relationship quite like one where intimacy was required, so he was a rookie at anything of that sorts. And frankly enough he was already so mesmerised by the magic that flowed around Anabiya. She was wild and free. Bold and unapologetic.

Everything Meezan wasn't.

It scared him to even think maybe he wasn't good enough for someone like her. He didn't want to be anyone's second choice. Not again.

Suddenly Meezan's eyes strayed towards a familiar figure whose back was toward him, but, he could never miss the woman behind the reason for his distressed state of mind.

Frowning he walked towards the mocha eyed lady, who was screaming her head off against the salesman of a local clothes store.

"Maine tumhari hi saadiyon se tumhe maarna, beghairat aadmi!" Came his wife loud voice as Meezan stood behind her.

(I am going to hit you with your own sarees, you shameless man!)

"Baaji, aap ye ab ziaadti kar rahi hai. Kuch to khauf karein." The young shopkeeper pleaded at the outrageous woman.

(Sister, you are doing too much drama now. Have some fear.)

Anabiya was ready to pounce back when Meezan finally called out to her.

"Anabiya! What are you doing here?"

Before Anabiya could turn around and reply back, the young boy screamed begging with his hands knotted.

"Bhaijaan, ye aapki behen ko yahan se le jayen. Ye humare saare customers ko dara rahi hai."

(Take your sister away, she's scaring all our customers away.)

"Oyee! Shaheer ke bacche! Maine teri gardan todni hai. Shohar hai mere." Anabiya yelled as she sprung towards the poor boy, fury thundering in her eyes, but Meezan pulled her back by the arm preventing her from doing the outrageous.

(I will break your neck. He's my husband.)

"Baaji!" The poor boy cried exhausted from her threats.

"Shhh" Meezan slowly cooed trying to calm his crazy wife. "Kitna gussa hai yaar tumhare andar."

"Aap to chup hi rahe! Do you even know what he had done?" Anabiya snarled as she twisted herself in his arms and pointed an accusing finger at his chest.

"Maine kuch nahi kiya, bhaijaan. Ye humare saath ludo khel rahi thi phone par, aur jaise hi maine inki goti ko maare ye mujh par toot pari! Ab aap hi batayein. Ye kahan ka insaaf hai." The boy, Shaheer defended looking at Meezan with pleading eyes, totally avoiding Anabiya furious gaze.

(I didn't do anything. She was playing ludo with me on the phone and as soon as I killed her she started screaming at me. Now you itself explain what sort of justice is this?)

"Ohoo itna over nahi karo. You cunningly killed me in order to win the game." Anabiya screamed as she once again turned around making a slapping gesture with her hand.

"Yaar, game ka point hi wahi hai." Shaheer exclaimed throwing his hands in the air frustrated.

(That's the point of the game.)

"Ye to dekho iski zabaan kaise chal rahi hai! Gaddar aadmi." Anabiya yelled once again ready to pounce on the terrified boy, but Meezan held her by the waist as an amused smile took over his lips.

(See how his mouth is working. Deceitful man.)

"Anabiya, calm down. It's just a ga---" Meezan began, but she cut him off.

"Don't you dare finish that sentence. It's all because of you. I am here spending my honeymoon playing ludo with random strangers." Anabiya shuddered down, gathering a crowd of onlooker by now.

"Look, I am sorry. I promise, you will not have to play ludo with random strangers anymore. I am taking off from work." Meezan explained remorsefully as he looked at his infuriated wife.

"Meherbani aapki. Raja Meezan ne is kaneez ke liye kuch waqt to nikaala." Saying this, Anabiya broke free from his arms and started walking away.

(I am thankful, atleast king meezan managed to make some time for this slave girl.)

"Anabiya ruko yaar!" Meezan screamed as he ran behind her, "Don't be like this."

Suddenly, she turned around and slammed into Meezan who was right behind her abruptly. Thankfully Meezan caught her frame by the shoulders before she could meet the ground.

"I will not forgive. I definitely will not.  Not until you make up for the two months that you have behaved like a sharmeeli dulhan." Anabiya said pointedly her cheeks red with anger.

"I will not forgive you until you take me on exquisite dates and kiss me like you can see stars. I will not forgive, until you give me yourself wholeheartedly, because if not wholeheartedly then I don't want you at all.  I have had enough. I do not care if your darned ass is shy. I want a proper honeymoon." She paused looking right into his widened eyes. "And you Meezan Zardari will give me exactly that."

"I-I urm---" Meezan began stuttering as pink started coating his cheeks.

"Speak, you blushing bride. I want to fall in love with your flustered ass within these seven days of our honeymoon."

"I--" Meezan once again began but a straight pointed look from her caused him to blurt it out. "I-I will. I promise to make you fall in love with me within these seven days of our honeymoon. I promise, Anabiya Ibrahim."

A huge smile spread on Anabiya's lips as she simply shrugged her shoulders and turned around.

"Now, that wasn't so difficult. Was it?"

Meezan could only shake his head as he bit the inside of his cheek, slipping his palm stealthily under Anabiya's after he jogged to her side.

Anabiya grinned as she tightened her hand around his, feeling accomplished.

"Your hands are so damn soft. They're mine now, for the record."

Meezan began turning beet red as heat started creeping from behind his ears.

"That's not a very nice compliment, Anabiya. Men aren't supposed to have soft hands."

"Says who? Toxic Male Standards? Pffpt, which century are you living in Din-e-ilahi Meezan? You just have to be secure in yourself. And I doubt I am the first to tell you this, but you my dear husband are gorgeous. And my sharmeeli dulhan, you having soft hands only makes you a thousand times more desirable." Anabiya mused as she squished his hand.

Meezan smiled at her witty answer, he had a lot to learn from this partially deranged girl.

"Are you hungry?"

"Tell me when I am not."

•••

An hour later when Anabiya was sitting opposite to Meezan chewing down on the last bits of her fries, her eyes dragged themselves greedily over Meezan's plate that had a portion of untouched fries dying to enter her mouth. Meezan having seen the googly eyes that his wife was making pushed his fries towards her.

"What?" Anabiya mumbled as she chewed on the straw sipping at her lemonade slowly.

"I am not hungry, you can have them." Meezan said casually biting back a grin that was threatening to spread at his lips.

"If you say so." Anabiya simply shrugged grabbing the plate as if she hadn't just been romancing the fries seconds ago.

"Ohh I really do insist." The corners of Meezan mouth did finally lift up in a smile, but he soon hid it as he took a bite of his beef burger.

Suddenly a voice interrupted the solitude company of the couple which caused Anabiya to visibily stiffen up as a fry hung from the corner of her mouth. Meezan wiped his mouth with a tissue as he eyed a well built man walk towards them.

"Ahh well well, if it isn't Anabiya Ibrahim." The man smiled charmingly as he came into Anabiya's view whose back facing the man previously.

Anabiya was somehow still frozen but managed to give out a stiff smile.

"Now wouldn't you even greet me, Ana. It isn't like we are strangers." The man frowned in a daunting way as he looked at her.

Anabiya gritted her teeth as she clutched her fists under the table.

"Meezan this is an old acquaintance of mine from back in Med school. Kizaar Bukhari."

"Ahh you wound me, Ana. An old acquaintance huh?" The man, Kizaar smirked as he put a hand on his chest dramatically.

Meezan decided to step in as he saw Anabiya's demeanor change to somthing uncomfortable. He had never seen her so stiff. Kizaar certainly didn't seem to be good news.

"Meezan Zardari, her husband." He graciously stood up and offered his hand.

"Aaah, Why wasn't I invited, Ana? Congratulations, I am incredibly aghast that you could even move on from me." Kizaar muttered as he shook Meezan's hand his eyes still on Anabiya who had her head lowered.

Meezan frowned looking between them, he didn't like what was happening one bit. Why wasn't Anabiya slamming down the man with her remarks like she always did?

"It was really nice meeting you Kizaar, but we must take our leave now. We have plans to go to ski dubai today." Meezan solemnly said, as he walked around the table and grabbed Anabiya's hand pulling her up.

"Such a pity, it's been ages since I last saw, Ana." Meezan noticed as soon as he called her Ana, Anabiya tightened her hand around his. "Maybe you guys should come over to this auction event I am hosting over the weekend at Hilton, Abu Dhabi."

"We'll try, Kizaar. We have a lot planned up for our honeymoon. You see we are only here for a few days." Meezan said rubbing Anabiya's wrist reassuringly with his thumb.

"Of course! Wouldn't want to interrupt the love birds. Just so you know a lot of our college friends are going to be there, Ana. I am sure they would would be pleased seeing you, just like I was." Kizaar said his eyes only trained on Anabiya as if he was hiding something meaningful behind them.

This time Anabiya who had her head bowed all the while since Kizaar had come finally managed to look back at him as she replied, voice dripping like poision,"You would surely love that wouldn't you? It wasn't a pleasure seeing you, Kizaar. It never is."

After this, Anabiya stormed out hands in hands with Meezan, not glancing back.

They walked back to their hotel, both of them not uttering a word. Meezan wasn't someone who liked indulging in forceful conversation and Anabiya was thankful for it this one time.

Suddenly Anabiya decided to ask, trying to dissolve the battle that was happening in her mind.

"Were you serious about us going to ski dubai?"

Meezan looked taken aback but nodded his head as he pocketed his hand in his pants.

"Only if you want to."

"I don't."

"Seriously?"

"Yes, I have heard that the Penguins there stink up the whole place."

Meezan let out a hearty chuckle as he looped his arm around her shoulders. The Anabiya he had grown accustomed to was back.

•••

Later that night when they finally returned to their room too exhausted to walk but their bodies shook with effortless laughter.

"You seriously, couldn't defeat that little kid in a mere icecream eating contest." Anabiya giggled as she fell on the bed, her feet hurting like they had never done before. She was too tired to even remove her heels.

After their lunch and the untimely encounter with Kizaar Bukhari they had decided to visit the Dubai Mall and the Aquarium Underwater Zoo that was in it. And it was so much more fun than either of them had anticipated.

"Excuse me, because I am a normal human and I get brain freezes like normal people do." Meezan muttered defensively as he grabbed a water bottle from the table.

"Pffttt, that was hilarious though. Ohh god, I am so hungry from laughing." Anabiya smiled as she leaned her head against her propped up arms on the bed.

"You are in luck then. I stole the kid's churros while he was grinning away after his petty win." Meezan snorted as he removed a handful of churros wrapped in tissue paper from his pocket and kept it on the dresser.

"Ohh you sweet sweet, shabby theif. That's like the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me."Anabiya gloated and much like her words her heart filled with warmth for the man standing before her.

"I knew you would be hungry. You always are." Meezan grinned feeling somehow accomplished after the ridiculous crime he had committed as he discarded his suit jacket throwing it on the couch.

Anabiya's eyes widened as she saw his toned arms stretching against the constraints of the black shirt that cladded his body like a glove. His soft hair fell delicately against the frame of his glasses urging Anabiya to push it away before it troubled his eyes. But, she controlled herself. She wasn't going initiate anything, she had done enough, now it was his chance to show some compassion towards their relationship.

Restless and burning with tension Anabiya leaned up front averting her gaze as her hands landed on the strap of her black stiletto fumbling with the strap but to not avail as the stubborn thing refused to unclasp by her clumsy hands.

Suddenly she felt Meezan walk towards her has he sat down at the foot of the bed, right in front of her feet.

"May I?" He slowly whispered causing her to raise her head and look at him. Woah, he was really trying something.

Instead of replying Anabiya removed her hands from the strap and soon enough Meezan unclasped the strap with utter ease, slipping away the shoe from her foot. Much like Anabiya had thought, Meezan didn't let go of her foot just yet but instead delicately placed it on his thigh and massaged the heel and sole of her feet.

A moan left Anabiya's mouth at the tenderness, electric sparks ran throughout her body as he continued doing that for a good minute before doing the same to her other foot. The feeling of his strong hands massaging her legs did things to her that she could never imagine. The act was so simple yet so intimate.

After Meezan finished his task of relaxing the muscles in her legs he gently placed them on the carpeted ground and got up.

"All done!"

"Thank you so much, Meezan." Anabiya groaned gratified yet already missing the feeling of his massaging fingers on her legs.

Meezan was coated crimson at the compliment causing Anabiya to chuckle as he rushed inside the washroom to change.

Over due their normal bedtime when they were finally lying down on the bed with arms pressed together facing each other, Anabiya whispered as she took his hand in hers caressing it with her thumb like he had down earlier today to calm her down.

"You aren't making it easy for me to not fall in love with you before the seven days, Meezan."

A soft grin took over his lips as blush started creeping from behind his neck and he decided to be bold for once as he softly leaned and pressed a feather like kiss against her forehead, just in time for her to sneeze causing him to fall down from the bed with a thud as Anabiya's laughter boomed throughout the hotel room.

Maybe this was how life was going to be with Meezan Zardari and Anabiya Ibrahim had no problem living it this way.

•••

a/n

Helloo my beautiful bhendiyon

Did you enjoy the chapter?

Le author realising she could never get someone as perfect as meezan (个_个)(个_个)

What are your thoughts on Mr Kizaar? Do you like him?

Anyways those of you who don't follow me or haven't seen my Message Board in the recent time the reason for my absence has been quite overwhelming. So I'll make it quick I lost someone really close to me, my grandparents got covid and school started. Everything's fine now Alhamdulillah. But, please do keep me in your prayers, it's been a tough month.

Also, I would like to dedicate this chapter to daisyytrail  elinasani  Little_hearts981 and mYsTeRyMe45 for all their comments and them just being the amazing people they are!

Like I said on the previous chapter, please stick around even if I give slow updates because I have a lot planned up ;)

Do leave your precious feedback!

Stay safe!

~flawfully