The day I met her was the day I found a piece of my soul. In those stormy ebony eyes, amidst the inky darkness of her midnight black hair, between the dainty twirls of her velvety silk charcoal dress I found a home.

A home I never knew I had.

She raged into my life like a storm, wild and unexpected, promising nothing but destruction and thunder. Yet in that moment I wanted nothing more, but to burn in the fire that ignited her soul. There was a light in her eyes, a shine, a twinkle. Like stars illuminating the darkest of nights, her eyes sparkled with dreams and hopes. Despite the sweetness of her spirit and innocence of her soul, the demons in her eyes had a galaxy of their own.

Fierce and rebellious.

She was a star, born to embrace the darkness. She was a queen who wore the midnight moon like her crown. She was a dreamer who danced under the stars and blossomed under the sun. She was chaos and calm combined.

She was everything, and she was mine.

The more I knew her the more I craved her. The more I saw her, the more I wanted to soak her sunshine and drink her warmth. Her innocent eyes and her lustful lips, her breathtaking smiles and her searing scowls, the darkness of her soul and the goodness of her heart, I wanted them. I fucking wanted them all.

But I knew she was nothing more than a mirage. An illusion. A dream I could only hope my stars would align me with. Our worlds were poles apart, our dreams miles away. But there was something magnetic about her that pulled me in like a moth to a flame.

I craved her. I desired her.

Despite the longing burning my heart, she felt like nothing but a distant dream.

However today, as she lay on my chest, her midnight black tresses sprawled over the bed, I knew dreams do come true. "Are you done staring at me?" She rasped slowly, her voice heavy with the morning slumber.

"I'll never be done staring at you. I want to stare at you today, tomorrow and forever." She stirred slightly before tightening her hold around my chest. I could feel her cold nose snuggle into the warmth of my neck, breathing softly against my skin. Her lips curled into a soft smile, satisfied with my response. "Awake, meri jaan?"

I glanced down at her, noting the length of her lashes that caressed her skin like a feather, the rising ruddy hue of her cheeks and the generous swell of her lusty lips. She was still half asleep. Carefully my fingers ploughed through the lustrous length of her hair, drawing her closer to me. She shifted, sinking into the warmth of my embrace, her legs entangling with my own. I could feel the soft thud of her heart against mine. The steady rhythmic beat, perfectly in sync with my own.

How could someone be so goddamn perfect?

Seeing her nestled against me, a small smile tugged upon my lips before slowly I reached down to press my lips on her forehead. Just like I did every day. It was still early in the morning and Shanzae was still half asleep. I yawned lazily, stretching my legs out basking in the gleaming sunlight pouring in from our balcony door. I could not help but marvel at how her skin glowed under the light. My fingers grazed down her bare back. Her skin was warm and soft, just like her.

"Morning, jaan." I felt her lips move against my neck. She was finally awake, staring at me lazily with a soft smile flirting on her lips. Her eyes met mine, those deep black orbs that could encompass the entire galaxy. Her thumb brushed against my cheek, pulling my face closer to her to  place a long, slow kiss on my whiskery jaw. "I love you so much, my daddy shark, doo, doo, doo, doo."

I groaned, scrunching my nose in disgust. "Trust you to ruin every moment." Shanzae giggled, her airy laugh making my heart swell. Sometimes it was hard for me to understand just how someone could be so annoying yet so lovable at the same time. There were times when she drove me to the edge, pushed all my buttons and stripped me off my defences, but despite everything this woman owned my heart.

And there was nothing I could do about it.

"Aly makes me listen to this dreadful song, all day, all night. Even when I'm in the middle of a meeting." She chuckled with a light shake of her head. "Just imagine the torture!" Her lips pulled together in an amused frown.

I gazed at her with thinly veiled amusement as my fingers pushed back the wild strands of hair caressing her cheeks. "This reminds me, where is my princess?"

Her eyes narrowed, her pert nose wrinkling with confusion. "I'm right here. In your arms." She replied thoughtfully.

"You're not my princess." Her frown deepened as she pushed herself on her elbows, almost unable to believe the words I had just uttered. "I'm talking about Aly. Where is she?"

"Oh? So I'm not your princess?" The disappointment in her voice was almost comical.

"She must be in her cot." She pushed herself away from me and scampered across the bed towards the cot, "Aliyaar? Where is Aly?" She turned to me with a panic stricken face. "She isn't in her cot." Shanzae frantically scrambled off the bed, looking around for Alisha. "Where did she go?"

Her bed was undone, but our room was still locked. "She must be around," I tried to calm Shanzae down, but I could feel my nerves beginning to get the better of me, my imagination running wild with every possible scenario. Alisha could barely crawl, she couldn't have left her bed alone. I ducked down, looking underneath the bed, while Shanzae searched the walk-in closets.

"She is nowhere, Aliyaar." Shanzae's muffled cries were beginning to sink my heart. Where was my little girl? "What if someone kidnapped her?" Tears began to fog her vision and she dropped to the couch with utter helplessness.

"She must be here. Our room is locked, no one could have —" shit. My eyes widened at the open terrace door peeking at us from behind the drawn curtains.

No. God no!

Shanzae followed my vision, her face turning terrified and pale with every moment. Hot tears began to scud down her face and I could feel her body shake with the realisation. Without a thought, I leapt towards the terrace, pushing aside the partially open door. The sun was warm, it's sharp rays piercing into my eyes. I squinted slightly, trying to adjust to the sudden light, when the air around me crackled with a loud gurgling laugh.

Alisha clapped her hand, her giggles lightening up my entire world. "You scared the living shit out of me." I mumbled, watching her lying on the floor with Shehryar and Stop, Shanzae's dog. And yes, that's her dog's name, please don't ask me why.

"Seems like daddy and mommy finally decided to wake up." Shehryar smirked as he scooped Aly into his arms and lifted himself off the floor. Much to my annoyance, Aly gargled joyously and Stop barked. "She was playing here with Stop, when I heard him barking and came out to check." Aly laughed again, throwing her hands in the air.

"How did she get here?" A horrid Shanzae walked out. A robe carefully wrapped around her delicate frame. "You scared me, Aly!" She cooed softly, as she took her from Shehryar and into her arms. Aly bobbed her head excitedly, jumping in her mother's arms, completely oblivious to the fright she had just given us.

"Did you not lock the terrace door last night?" Shanzae turned to me with a sudden wash of anger. Her eyes had darkened and her brows clenched together. And then her gaze shifted towards her dog, before returning to mine with such ferocity that the tension in my throat made it difficult to speak.

This woman was so wildly possessive and fiercely protective of the people she loved, I wouldn't be surprised if the demons were scared of her.

"I didn't think she'd be able to crawl her way out, and the terrace is child proof." I tried to explain, but her eyes narrowed in response to which Shehryar let out a soft chuckle. "I'll have the sliding door replaced with something else." I offered quickly, hoping to diffuse down the situation.

"Thank God for Stop! And you wanted to throw my little dog out." She glared at me, while Aly continued to babble in her baby language obliviously, clapping her hands and entangling her little pudgy fingers through Shanzae's hair. "Stop will not go anywhere. Next time you have a problem with him, go sleep in the dog house."

"Yes ma'am." I muttered under my breath.

Great. Just bloody great!

I winced, pinching the bridge of my nose. She had yet another reason to keep the dog on the terrace. But right now I had no strength to argue with her. The sun's rays were piercing into my eyes and Shehryar's muted chuckles were irritating my ears. Satisfied with my answer Shanzae turned around and disappeared behind the door, leaving a very amused Shehryar behind. "You really need to change that door though. Aly is fast learning how to crawl. And she can be a handful."

"Just like her mother." I grumbled lowly, shaking my head before going back inside.

Shanzae had already strapped Aly into her cot and was now pacing around the room with an agitated scowl on her face. Aly turned to me, her big round eyes looking at me expectantly. At almost a year old, Aly was fast learning how to walk, mumble a few words and use her face to manipulate everyone around her. To say that she was a little dramatic would be an understatement.

Everytime I looked at her, I couldn't help but notice the uncanny similarities between her and the woman I was so hopelessly in love with. She possessed the same irrepressible fire within her that was so characteristically Shany. The same zeal and the same hardheadedness. And just like her mother, she had me wrapped around her finger.

One pouty smile from her and I was a goner.

It always irritated Shanzae how Aly would look towards me everytime she wanted something Shanzae had refused. And although I'd get to hear from her to no end, there was no way I could refuse my little munchkin anything. We both knew that. And I think Aly did too.

Aly continued looking at me with pleading eyes, desperate to get out of her cot. But I smiled at her helplessly. Shanzae was in no mood to entertain us or our father-daughter shenanigans.

"Dah-dah." Aly babbled incoherently, holding her arms out for me to pick her up. Her lip began to wobble like she was just about to cry. Oh my poor child.

"Oh no no no no!" Shanzae crossed her arms across her chest. "Your daddy is not doing anything. You will stay here. Do you have any idea how frightened I was?" For a moment I wasn't sure if she was scolding Aly or me, but we both remained silent, watching our lady with puppy-like eyes.

Aly's pouty little lip wobbled and her eyes were beginning to tear up. "Dah-dah." She called out again, her round face looking at me for help. But I shrugged helplessly. There was no way I was messing with my tigress right now.

If there was something I admired most about Shanzae, it was her ability to understand and manipulate any situation to serve her needs. And just like her mother, Aly too was clever as the devil. I watched with unfiltered amusement as she suddenly flipped around and buried her face into the pillows. Hiding her face behind her chubby little palms, she began to weep, her sobs growing louder.

"Now don't start crying, Aly," almost immediately Shanzae's anger melted like ice and she scooped Aly into her arms, pulling her out of the cot. Aly snuggled into her, pouting her lips and rubbing her eyes. "You're such a drama queen, Alisha." Shanzae laughed watching her innocent sullen face suddenly light up as she lowered her onto the ground.

"She has learnt the art from her mother." I said, picking her up from the ground and tossing her into the air. Aly crackled a joyous laugh, blabbering gleefully. "My little princess." I kissed her cheeks.

"My little princess." Shanzae copied me irritatedly, as she walked past us. My brows raced together in confusion at the sudden shift in her mood, and I wrapped my fingers around her wrist, pulling her into my embrace. And in that moment, with both my girls in my arms I felt like I had squeezed the entire world before my eyes.

They were my whole world. The reason for my existence.

I had fallen in love with them the moment I saw them. And I kept falling in love with them every time I saw them.

Shanzae tensed at the touch, her entire body going rigid in my arms, before she started struggling to free herself. Aly watched with us a dreary mix of confusion and amusement, her lips wet with her drool. After a hot minute, when I refused to let her go, Shanzae stopped and then turned to glare at me murderously. "I'm not your princess, why are you holding me?" She asked pointedly.

I shrugged as I breathed in her scent. The soft intoxicating scent of sweet wildflowers and honey, "Because you're my queen," I pulled her closer, nudging my nose against her temples. Like hot butter, her anger melted into a puddle and I could feel her smile, a soft blush rising up her face. "Meri Jaan ho tum." I said pressing my lips against her neck.

"Dha-an!" Alisha clapped her hands together. "Dha-an!"

"Is she calling me Jaan?"

We both stared at Alisha, who giggled excitedly, "Jha-an!" She repeated in a high pitched squeal, jumping in my arms. "Jha-an." She crackled another loud laugh. We both exchanged an amused glance before I burst into a laugh. Aly joined in, but Shanzae wasn't amused, her brows furrowed together crossly. "Dha-an!" Aly grinned at her mischievously, and for a moment it almost felt like she was deliberately teasing Shanzae.

"That's mom, Aly." I said, quickly recovering from my brittle laugh. But Aly kept laughing, her face filled with mischief and excitement.

"Wow!" Shanzae said breathlessly. "Trust you to teach your daughter nothing. I'm mama Aly."

Aly looked at her with her big round eyes, fluttering her eyelashes and then smiled cheekily before whispering, "Dha-an."

Shanzae frowned, while I fought a smile. "Aly! It's not Jaan. It's mama. Say Ma Ma. Mama."

Aly watched curiously, her expressions sobering up. Shanzae kept trying to coax the word out of her, but she remained silent, her eyes snapping between the two of us. "Aly, mama, say mama." Shanzae tried one last time, but Aly kept staring while sucking her knuckles thoughtfully.

Shanzae finally gave up. A soft sigh rode through her tense body and she straightened, shaking her head slightly. Just then Aly gurgled another high pitched laugh, clapping her hands excitedly, "Dah-Dah!" She squealed loudly looking at me. "Dah-dah."

An irritated frown perched up on Shanzae's face, "Sometimes I wonder if she really is my daughter."

****

Our nights were beautiful.

Every evening when the darkness sprawled it's wings and enveloped the world into its serenity, the three of us would scroll through our gardens, enjoying the lingering dewy scent of roses and jasmines.

Every night under the gaze of the sparkling stars, her fingers would find mine, her eyes would fall upon me and her lips would seek mine.  And in between the darkness and magic surrounding us, our souls would find each other.

"Has she slept?" Shanzae asked, looking down upon the two of us. I was lying under the tree, my head resting in Shanzae's lap while Aly snored softly upon my chest. I could feel the gentle rise and fall of her body as she comfortably dozed off to sleep.

"She has." I carefully patted her back before I looked up and my breath hitched when I saw the most beautiful face smiling down at me.

And in that moment I fell in love all over again.

I always believed that you fall in love once. But I fall in love every single day. And I fall hard. Very hard.

"What are you thinking?" I heard her whisper softly, while her fingers brushed over my forehead.

"You have the most beautiful eyes, Jaan." She blushed at the unexpected compliment, but the more she looked at me the more I realised how breathtaking her eyes were, twinkling like the angels and dark like the demons. They felt like home, yet they carried with them promises of journeys far and wide. "I get lost in them, yet I feel at home."

I could see the rosy hue rise up her neck and her skin began to heat up. "You give me butterflies, Aliyaar sahab." Her finger came down to press upon my lip, "You stirred something deep within me the moment you laid your eyes on me, and you continue to do that every time you lay your eyes on me."

I smiled, reminiscing the memories of the first time I had seen her. Dancing and lost in the kingdom of her dreams. "Aliyaar? I've never asked, but what did you think when you first saw me? Had you seen me before?"

"I—" I chuckled, unsure if I wanted to reveal my first thought. "I just wished if I'm to be married, then this girl better fucking be Shanzae."

Her eyes widened, before she quickly slapped her palm across my mouth, "Don't cuss in front of my daughter."

"She is asleep." I shrugged, my eyes twinkling with amusement.

"You're no good with parenting Aliyaar! All you do is spoil her and teach her inappropriate words." She said with a shake of her head.

"We can discuss my parenting skills later, baby. I was telling you all about my first impression." I wagged my brows at her.

"You're a pretty little liar. You couldn't possibly haven't fallen in love with me at first sight." She leaned closer and I could smell the faint fragrance of her perfume. A citrusy mix of lavender and musk. It smelt like her.

"I never claimed that." Almost subconsciously my hand reached out to push back the strand of hair caressing her face. "But perhaps I was attracted to you? There was something about you, something I couldn't understand, something I couldn't put my finger on, yet something so powerful that in that moment, I wanted to burn in your existence." 

She stared at me intently, perhaps a little surprised at my candid admission. The silence of the night began to rub against our skin, the air hot and burning. She leaned closer, her breath feathering against my skin. She was close, very close. And for a searing moment, her lips brushed against mine in a withering touch that had me craving for more, "And I wanted to burn your existence for staring at me the way you did."

For a moment, it almost felt like someone had doused me with a bucket of cold water, before she pulled away laughing. Her rich laugh spiralled through the dense silence of the night, stirring awake the stars above. "Trust you to ruin the moment, Shany." I muttered irritatedly.

"Awww. Is my baby daddy angry?"

"Baby, you really need to stop calling me your baby daddy," I groaned. "It sounds wrong. Really wrong."

"Why? You'll be the father of my children." She fluttered her eyelashes devilishly.

"Children? Are you considering having more?"

She thought for a while, "Do you want more?"

"You know the answer." I suggested. "I'm sure Aly would want one too."

She was quiet again, immersed in deep thought, "We can have another one. We can have more too if you'd like that."

I stared at her suspiciously, surprised and stilled at her response. Shanzae was the most doting and protective mother, but I knew it wasn't something that came naturally to her. She had never been keen on having too many children. Aly was the biggest surprise of our life. And perhaps the most pleasant one too, but I know how hard it was for her to accept it. She never mentioned it, but I know she had done it for me. Despite the very difficult pregnancy, she had borne it all with a smile on her face. And for that I was forever indebted to her.

I wanted children. Many more children. But it wasn't something I would force her into. I had promised her before we got married. And her choice and decision was something I'd respect. Always.

But this sudden change had taken me by surprise, "Are you really considering it?"

She nodded affirmatively, "Yup. We can have more. As many as your heart desires, till the time you're the one popping them out."

I groaned loudly, stirring Aly awake. She looked up slightly, before plopping back on my chest and going back to sleep. "You're not roasting your chickens in my oven!" Shany laughed, ridiculously happy at my reaction.

"It's bun in my oven, Shanzae. And trust you to be inappropriate all the time. I wonder how you restrain yourself at party meetings and during press conferences."

Shanzae shrugged, "I only act silly around you. Because I know, no matter how mad or wild or silly I get, you'd still be crazily and deeply in love with me. You love me. And I can never forget that."

"And you love me."

"I do." She leaned down and placed her lips on my forehead, lingering there for a while. My eyes rolled shut, relishing the feeling. Neither an entire ocean of alcohol, nor a whole forest of drugs could intoxicate me the way her lips could.

She was my person. She was my favourite feeling.

"I love you. Always and forever." Her breath rubbed against my skin, lighting it up on fire.

This wasn't the first time she had said those words, but there was something about the way those words rolled off her lips, they made every ounce in my body feel alive. Hot and riveting with desire.

Desire to hold her. Desire to love her. Desire to call her mine.

"I still remember the first time you said those words to me." I looked at her. "I still remember the night. You looked breathtaking that night. And your words left me breathless."

I still remember the feeling. The soft fuzzy feeling that settled in my stomach after the initial heat died down. It felt foreign. New. I never knew I was capable of such feelings. But it was the most beautiful feeling in the world.

Just like the silence following the rain pulls the world together after a storm, she had pulled me into her universe. Aligning our stars and merging our galaxies. That night I had found her. And I had found my forever.

"You know what's beautiful about our journey?"

"What?" I asked.

"We found each other, when we weren't even looking." She winked and then stared up at the stars above, who I knew they had conspired to bring us together. "You were made for me, Aliyaar. Only for me."

"I think so too." I held her hand and raised it to my lips, pressing a slow kiss on its back. "You're my most beautiful dream, meri jaan."

***

Carefully lowering Aly into her cot and leaving her under the care of the nanny, we walked back into our room.

We were barely inside when I swiftly caught hold of her wrists, pulling her back into my arms. Without warning, without thought, my lips found her and my arms banded around her waist. The need to breathe her, the desire to feel her, the want to taste her pulsated through my entire being. Hot and heavy.

She responded with equal zeal. Pulling me closer, giving me everything I craved. Her hands traced up my torso, freeing me from my shirt before snaking around the nape of my neck and tugging upon my hair.

"You're so beautiful." I breathed out hoarsely. My teeth scraped against the skin of her neck, sucking softly upon her flesh. Her moans grew louder by the minute, enough to drive me to the brink of insanity. This woman was my heaven and hell, all at once.

Her hands found my belt just as her knees touched the side of our bed. She collapsed back, falling on the bed like a glorious mess; the soft swells of her breast rising and falling, the heated colour of her blush painting her skin and her hair sprawled across the silken sheets. A glorious mess indeed.

My glorious mess.

I could feel her heart pound against her chest, her breath low and rugged as slowly I prawled on top of her. Shortly, our lips connected again, our hands battling for dominance.

I was just about to pull the strap of her dress off when a knock at the door froze us.

Behind the door I could hear Aly crying and her Philipina nanny trying to mellow her down. I slacked on top of Shanzae, burying my face in the crook of her neck. Irritated, angry, probably a little frustrated too, but most of all amused.

"Get off me, Aliyaar." Shanzae giggled. But I tightened my arms around her, not wanting to leave. "Get off me. Aly will raise the dead from their graves if you don't open up."

I groaned against her skin before reluctantly rolling off.

"Sorry ma'am, she wouldn't stop crying unless I brought her to you." I heard the nanny from behind the door.

"It's alright. She can sleep with us tonight." Shanzae replied, taking Aly into her arms. Almost immediately, Aly stopped crying and like a baby Koala Bear wrapped her arms around Shany's neck.

Moments later we were all tucked in bed, with a very excited and charged Aly bouncing in the middle, ready to watch her favourite movie.

"Dah-Dah!" She squealed loudly before climbing into my lap and then carefully wrapping my arms around her, into a small cocoon. "Dha-an." She looked towards Shanzae, patting the space on the bed next to us.

"The only girl I'd ever allow to take my place." Shanzae sighed with pursed lips, before scooting closer and keeping her head on my shoulder. Content with the placement, a satisfied Aly picked up the remote, handing it over to Shanzae to play the movie. "Aaeee— Aaaen" She babbled enthusiastically pointing toward the television screen.

We were probably in the middle of the movie, when my eyes began to droop shut. Shanzae too bore a similar bored expression on her face, but Aly's eyes were glued to the screen with the same interest as they were in the beginning of the movie. It's another thing she had watched this movie almost every night for the entire past week.

Shanzae's eyes caught mine and suddenly they twinkled with mischief. "Kiss me." She whispered against my lips. My eyes drifted towards Aly, who was still hooked to the movie with her entire attention focused upon the mice running on the screen.

Carefully I leaned in, closing the gap and taking her lips into mine. I could feel her smile, as my tongue explored the secrets of her soul. My lips nibbled upon her, before dipping down to crevices of her neck. Everything remained forgotten until I felt two small hands pulling us apart.

"Dah-dah nooo." Aly interrupted, her big golden eyes glaring at us disappointedly. Betrayal was written all over her face. How dare we stop watching her movie? "Aaaen." She pushed Shanzae away from me and quickly climbed out of my lap and engulfed her in a possessive hug.

I couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. Shanzae gathered her into her, cooing at our little girl. Aly's little arms could barely wrap around Shanzae's neck, but she held on, looking at me angrily.

"Dah-dah nnoo." She shoved me away, when I tried to scoot closer. "Maa Dha-an."

"Aww my baby." Shanzae couldn't help but fawn over Aly. "Yes, your Jaan Aly." She kissed her chubby cheeks smouldering her with all her love.

"Dha—an Aaaen." Aly pointed towards the screen.

"Yes Aly we will all watch the movie. And daddy will behave." Shanzae glared at me.

Needless to say, we spent the rest of the night watching Cinderella.

And I realised, life couldn't be more perfect.

Some love stories are eternal. Ours was one of them

Meet baby Aly.
___________________

I hope you all enjoyed Aliyaar's perspective as much as I enjoyed writing it.

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