Chapter : 47 - Silent Affection

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I woke up to some noise, and when I opened my eyes, I saw Aziz coming out of the bathroom, wearing a vest and drying his wet hair with a towel while walking toward the wardrobe. Seeing him, my sleep vanished instantly. I glanced at the clock; it was 4 a.m.

"Aziz, what are you doing at this hour?" I asked as I saw him picking out some clothes.

"Sweetheart, you're awake?" Aziz replied with a question of his own.

"Where are you going at this hour?" I asked, walking towards him.

"I'm going to pray Tahajud, sweetheart. Want to join me?" Aziz answered and then asked me turning around with a smile, and a strange happiness lit up my face upon hearing this.

"Yes, absolutely," I said.

"Alright," he said, coming closer, kissed my forehead, and went to the washroom with clothes in hand to change.

And there I stood, processing everything.

Then Aziz came out after performing wuzu (ablution) , and I went to do mine. When I came out, he was sitting on the bed with the prayer mat like on our wedding day. Seeing me, he stood up and started spreading the prayer mat for both of us. He stood in front of me, and I was slightly behind him.

After finishing the prayer and the supplication, I felt his presence beside, I turned towards my left only to see, Aziz sitting next to me.

Without saying anything, he laid his head in my lap and started looking at me. I recited a prayer and blew it onto his face.

"Thank you," Aziz said with a smile and then closed his eyes.

I kept running my hand through his hair, watching him peacefully. His tired eyes were closed, his face had a glow, and his beard was lighter than before—maybe he had shaved.

The room was completely silent, with only our soft breaths audible.

Yeh shaqshs namaz padhne ke baad aur bhi khubsurat laghta hai.

(After praying, he looked even more handsome).

I got so absorbed in watching him that I didn't realize it was already 5 a.m. I heard the call to prayer in the distance and carefully called out to Aziz.

"Nader, the call to prayer is happening, wake up," I softly said while running my fingers through his hair.

"Yes," he replied gently, and then looked at me.

There was complete peace and a smile on his face. With great care, he got up and placed his head on my shoulder. And we both got engrossed in listening to the call to prayer. When the call to prayer ended, I saw Aziz getting up.

"Be careful while going," I said while getting up.

"Yes, Begam," Aziz replied and started walking towards the door. I followed him, and he stood at the door looking at me.

"Go, you're getting late," I said to him.

"Yes," he replied softly. Then he came closer and kissed my forehead again.

"Aziz! You'll break your ablution," I said sternly.

"Then I'll perform it again," he said with a smile.

"But why do you kiss my forehead before going to pray?" I asked.

"It's a Sunnah, and I'm just following it with my wife," he said and then started walking away.

A Sunnah? Is this the same man I left for you seven years ago, Allah? How does he have so much knowledge? And am I even worthy of such a pure person's love? At this moment, only these questions filled my mind.

After finishing the Fajr prayer, I kept waiting for him.

At exactly 6 a.m., the door opened, and he quietly stepped in. When his eyes met mine, he stopped.

"Still awake, sweetheart?" Aziz asked while closing the door.

"I was waiting for you," I said while getting up from the couch.

"You need good sleep. So, Don't wait for me," Aziz said while adjusting the pillows.

"Then come back early," I replied.

He just smiled in response, and a light blush forming his beautiful face.

Mard, sharmaate hue aur bhi khubsurat laghte hai.

(Men look even more handsome when they blush. I thought while observing his shyness).

As soon as I sat down on the bed, Aziz placed his head on my lap.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Can I sleep like this?" he asked, looking at me.

"Your neck might hurt, Nader" I said.

"It won't," He instantly replied.

"Alright, sleep," I said with a smile.

"And can you run your hand through my hair, sweetheart?" he asked in a pleasing way.

"Do you like it?" I asked while running my hand through his hair.

"It helps me sleep well," Aziz said while closing his eyes.

Then we both fell asleep without realizing it.

******

When I opened my eyes, the room was filled with light. When I turned to my left, a beautiful view greeted my eyes.

Shahjahan was sitting on the bed, his back straight, with a laptop on his lap, working on something.

But none of that mattered. What gave me a shock was seeing him in the same white vest and blue jeans.

Nader is truly shameless, show some mercy, Nader, I can't handle this.

"Morning, sweetheart," he said, glancing at me.

"Morning," I said, balancing my head with my hand.

"Working on Sunday too?" I asked, watching him work with full focus.

"Just checking some files," Aziz said, looking at me again before returning his gaze to the laptop.

Shahjahan got absorbed in his work, and I got absorbed in watching him.

I was observing him so closely for the first time.

His face was clean and glowing, with a light beard that made him even more handsome. His dark, devilish ocean eyes were focused on the laptop.

There was a mole on his right neck that highlighted his glowing skin. His muscles were fine, but his veins? They are my weakness.

Before I could stare at him- I mean look at him any longer, Shahjahan's voice broke through my thoughts.

"Sweetheart, if you keep looking at me like this, how will I focus?" Aziz asked me gently.

"Am I disturbing you?" I asked innocently.

"You're not, but the work is disturbing me from seeing you," Aziz said with a mischievous smile.

"Bhegairat," I murmured and turned to the right.

"Begum, turn back towards me," Aziz ordered. And I obeyed his order, turning back to him again.

Then Aziz turned his attention back to the laptop, and I got up and sat beside him, laying my head on his shoulder.

"Sweetheart, you're looking so cute right now," he said, looking at me and kissing my hair. I just blushed at his comment because there was nothing I could do in response.

Then my gaze went towards his biceps, and I started drawing circles on them with my hand. He continued working without saying anything.

"Nader," I called him softly.

"Yes, Begam," Aziz responded just as softly.

"Are you free today?" I asked, still making small circles on his biceps.

"I am always free for you, sweetheart," Aziz said, then kissed my forehead again.

"I need to go somewhere, will you come with me?" I asked the next question.

"Where?" Aziz asked.

"I want to have coffee at my cafe," I said with so much excitement.

The happiness I feel when I call that cafe mine is unmatched. It's a different matter that there is someone else too who is mine, but for now, let's just focus on the cafe.

"Sure, we'll go after breakfast," Aziz said, with a smile.

"Thank you," I said, getting up to lie down again, but Aziz grabbed my hand.

"Where?" he asked, surprised.

"To sleep!" I said.

"And who will do this?" Aziz asked, making circles on his hand.

"I need to sleep now," I said while braiding my open hair.

"Paisa hazam toh kaam khatam, Uns? This is absolutely not fair, sweetheart. You can't do this. And on top of that, you're braiding your hair in front of me. Don't you have any mercy on me?" he asked dramatically, placing his hand near his heart.

"Drama queen," I said and continued braiding.

"Uns!" he called strictly.

"What?" I retorted.

"Please," came his pleading voice with a cute pout.

I turned away to control my cheeks, which were literally burning from seeing his cute little pout. And it wasn't just my cheeks; even this crazy heart was pumping so badly.

"Control, Uns," I pleaded with myself.

"Begam, you're not letting me do my work," he said, tapping my shoulder.

"Then do it, I'll sleep," I said sternly, looking towards him.

"Sleep on my shoulder," he said instantly.

"Aziz!" I said, being absolutely done with his demands.

"Uns!" he said lovingly, blinking his eyes continuously.

"You're crazy," I declared.

"Only for you," he cheerfully said with the most beautiful smile on his face.

"And you're making me crazy too," came out of my mouth.

"Is it?" he asked with a mischievous smirk playing on his lips.

"Bhegairat!" I murmured and lightly hit his chest.

"Come near me now," he said hurriedly and started typing fast.

I went towards him and rested my head on his shoulder while continuing the same action of playing with his biceps.

I closed my eyes, but instantly opened them as I remembered something else.

"Nader, am I really that heavy?" I asked him after a few minutes.

"Yes, sweetheart, you are," he said.

"Yes? Seriously, you really think that I am heavy, huh?" My mood was completely ruined now. Even if I am heavy, he could have said, 'No, sweetheart, you're the lightest thing in the world.'

I removed my head from his shoulder and lay on the bed facing the right side. And I could hear his soft giggles from behind.

"Don't laugh, or I'll seriously punch you right now," I retorted and closed my eyes.

After a few minutes, I felt his presence beside me, his hand securely placed on my waist, bringing me closer to him. He placed his head on my shoulder and kissed my left cheek.

"Begam," he called me.

"Don't talk to me," I said and tried removing his hand from my waist.

"Are you mad at me?" he asked softly.

"Mad? I'm upset with you," I said while opening my eyes and looking at the rose bouquet placed on the nightstand, and inhaling his soothing perfume.

"I was just teasing you," he started explaining.

"Liar," I said, trying to remove his hand again but failing as he had very strong hands.

"Accha mai haara, chalo maan bhi jaou na," He started singing the song.

"Then tell me, am I heavy?" I asked while turning towards him and looking into his blue eyes.

"No, absolutely not. How can you even be heavy to me, sweetheart? Even if you are 'in the future,' I will always lift you up," he said, correcting himself before I could get mad again.

"Then can you lift me now?" I asked with a smile as my mood was now fresh like flowers after hearing him.

"Finally!" Aziz took a sigh of relief.

"What finally?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

"Nothing," he laughed and kissed my cheeks and forehead, then got up from the bed and came towards my side. He extended his hand, and I took it and stood up. Shahjahan lifted me up and started spinning in circles.

"Nader!" I shouted out of shock and excitement.

"See? How heavy are you to me? I can literally spin with you in my arms, so never think that I can't lift you when I have been going to the gym just to lift you up," he said while still spinning us.

"Got it," I exclaimed, laughing and enjoying the spin. He finally stopped, and I hid myself against his chest.

"Shy?" he asked.

"No!" I said.

"Okay," came his laughing tone.

"Don't laugh," I said and lightly hit his chest.

"I will not if you show me your blush," he said teasingly.

"You are actually crazy, Nader?" I asked, looking at him.

"Yes, Mrs. Nader, I am really crazy for you," he said and started spinning us again. We both laughed and smiled, and then he gently put me down.

"Thank you," I murmured slowly near his ear, then slowly kissed his right cheek and went towards the wardrobe to pick some clothes for myself.

I don't know why, but my cheeks were turning red like fresh tomatoes. Controlling my heartbeat, I went towards the washroom to take a shower.

"Am I dreaming? Yes, I must be dreaming. She kissed me on my cheek! Nader, I mean Aziz, your begam kissed you on the cheek!" I touched my cheek, still feeling her soft touch.

"Just stop blushing, Aziz," I scolded myself and looked in the mirror to see my whole face turning as red as hers.

Why, why, and why? I can't let myself become this weak in front of her, not just from one kiss on the cheek.

"Aziz Nader! You're a CEO, control yourself," my mind reminded me.

"He's a CEO only in the office, not in front of his begam," my heart scolded.

"What should I do?" I asked both of them.

"You can't do anything, Mr. Aziz Nader. Sweetheart rules your entire existence.

"Use, zindagi bhar manaate phiro aur chedte phiro, kyunki romance toh tumse hoga nahi" both of them declared unanimously.

(You'll keep following her and teasing her for life because you won't do romance).

"Kar toh raha hoon, Romance," I explained to both of them.

(I am doing romance).

"Aur thoda badhaou Romance, bheegairat insaan," mind said.

(Do a bit more, you shameless man).

"But, Can he control himself?" heart questioned.

"We just got married, give me some time," I explained again.

"Tumhara kuch nahi ho sakhta, Aziz," they both said, and just then, Uns came out of the washroom.

And here again my heart was right; I am very weak. I can't handle myself when I see her.

What a woman she is! She has taken my heart, my peace, and my sleep. Can you at least spare my breath, Uns? I thought as I watched her move towards the mirror.

She stood beside me and started drying her hair. I turned and took a long breath to control my crazy heartbeat and uneven breathing.

"Her hair smells so good," my mind said.

"Stop it," I retorted to it.

"She is beautiful, isn't she, Aziz?" my heart teased.

"Have some mercy on me, organs," I pleaded, as my cheeks gave another attack by burning again.

"Aziz, can you pass the comb, please?" Uns asked while still drying her beautiful hair.

"Ye- yes," I stuttered badly and handed her the comb.

"Thank you," she said with a smile, and that was my last warning to leave the room, or else I would seriously faint right in front of her.

"I'll be back, Uns," I said and started walking towards the door.

"Why am I not able to control myself in front of her?" I shouted internally.

I came out, closed the door, closed my eyes, took a long sigh of breath, and opened my eyes just to get caught off guard by seeing these two men standing right in front of me, so close, to be exact.

I got a mini heart attack for a second. They looked exactly like ghosts.

"What is wrong with you two? Make some distance," I said irritably and pushed them.

"What is wrong with YOU, Aziz? Don't tell me you and bhabhi had a fight. Tell us, how was it and who won?" Samir asked excitedly while Tamir was smiling silently.

"I suggest you install some shame in your defective mind, Samir," I said sternly.

"I tried, Aziz, but it's taking too much data, so I left it," he said casually with a smile.

"Get lost," I whispered, yet yelled at him.

"I will, I just came here to talk to bhabhi," he said.

"Wait for five minutes, Uns is getting ready," I said to him and then looked at Tamir, who was holding a small rose bouquet.

"What are you here for, Tamir?" I asked suspiciously.

"I'm here to give you this, bhai," Tamir said while handing me the rose bouquet.

"Are you buttering me, Tamir?" I asked him.

"Yes, bhai," he said instantly.

"Unbelievable. This is the only thing I like in you, Tamir, but don't be so honest," I said while inhaling the scent of the white roses.

"Ahh, bhai," Tamir called while ruffling his hair.

"Speak," I said, still admiring the bouquet.

"Can you give this to bhabhi, bhai?" he asked.

And here I was, confused by this question.

"So these are not for me?" I asked, showing the bouquet to him. Because just now he said, 'This is for you, bhai!'

"Actually, it's for both," he said shyly.

"Don't get influenced by Samir. I'm warning you," I said—no, I advised him.

Samir gave me a sharp look, but I ignored him and looked at Tamir.

"Done?" I asked him.

"Yes," Tamir said softly.

"Then go," I showed him the way.

"We'll meet bhabhi and go," he said and stood behind Samir.

After a few minutes, I went in to see Uns adjusting her scarf. Then both Samir and Tamir came in and greeted her.

I gave Tamir the roses and told him to give them to her himself. He hesitated but then gave them to her.

Uns smiled while admiring the roses and talking with him.

I thought of making tea and coffee for them.

I went to the kitchen, made tea for everyone, and coffee for her.

Ammi, Abbu, and Rasha were sitting on the couch. I served them, then came up with the tray.

I opened the door slowly, only to stop in my tracks as all three were deeply engrossed in talking—whispering, to be exact. I couldn't hear a single word they were talking about.

I went towards the couch and placed the tray on the table while handing the coffee cup to Uns and tea to both the men.

After serving, I took a seat beside Uns and started drinking my tea, ready to join their conversation. But it seemed like they were not interested in including me.

Amazing, wife and brothers—all three are true betrayers. In just minutes they betrayed me, whereas I was the one who made tea and coffee for them. Not even a thank you? I

just enjoyed my tea while they were planning about our walima.

At this moment, the only thing I could see is Tamir trying his best to impress Uns for his beloved, Samir freely talking to Uns—maybe Uns forgave him, or else he wouldn't have shown his face to her.

And Uns was so engrossed in talking with them, she totally forgot that her own husband, her handsome husband, is sitting right beside her.

This woman just kissed me on my cheek, and she is acting as if nothing happened. I mean, she just gave me a mini heart attack, slowed my breathing, and burned my cheeks. How can she be so calm, whereas my heart is pumping with uneven speed here?

After breakfast, we both went to Uns's cafe, talked for a while, and had some coffee there. Then we returned home.

In the evening, after dinner, when I came to the room, Uns was sitting on the bed, engrossed in looking at some books.

I changed my clothes and sat beside her.

"Uns," I called softly.

"Yes, Aziz?" Uns asked, looking at me.

"Isn't today the last day of the month?" I asked.

"Yes, it is," she replied.

"So, here you go," I said, handing my black card towards her.

"What is this, Nader?" Uns asked, glancing at the card.

"If I were an employee, I would have brought you my salary, but fortunately, I'm a CEO, so this has my month's income on it," I said, placing the card in her hand.

"I need cash," Uns said, placing the card on the bed, and I was both shocked and amused at the same time.

"What?" I asked in surprise.

"I'm just kidding, Nader. I don't need it. I have my savings in my account. If I need anything, I'll take it from there," Uns said, smiling.

"Begam, you keep those savings, and use this for expenses," I said, placing the card back in her hand.

"This is a black card, Nader. What will I do with so much money?" Uns asked in astonishment.

"Do whatever you want. It's yours," I said, kissing her forehead again, and then placed my head on her shoulder and started reading the book with her.

"Have you chosen a dress for the wedding reception?" I asked.

"Not yet. Tomorrow, I'll go with Sahara and Ezzeh go for shopping, so we'll see then," Uns said, flipping a page.

"I'll take your card tomorrow. What's the limit, by the way?" Uns asked, turning her head to look at me with a pointed gaze.

"It's unlimited, begam" I said with a slight laugh.

"What do you mean?" Uns asked, puzzled.

"It means no matter how much you spend, the limit won't end," I explained in detail.

"Itne amir ho tum, Nader?" Uns asked, raising her eyebrows.

(Are you that rich, Nader).

"Shayad," I said, thinking with a slight smile. (Maybe).

"Yaah Allah," Uns said, flipping to another page.

*****

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******

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 :

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