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Ghazal ended her prayer and began to supplicate for the guidance of her Lord. Today was the big day of her life, a new chapter was going to start and it was not needed to say that she was a lot more than nervous.

Allah, I am starting this new journey just by putting my trust in you. You have never forsaken me, please still be with me. I need you. I need your support to move on in my life. Aameen.

She moved her hands on her wet face as tears were slowly dropping down from her black orbs, unable to decipher whether they were tears of peace or helplessness. Ghazal got up, folding the prayer mat with her. Sleep was far away from the night before, so she just came in the balcony to have a look at the coming sun which was still hidden from the world.

She had to get ready after some time for her Nikah, as it was in the early morning. But, Ghazal firstly wanted to calm her heart down to its normal pace. Didn't know why her heart was thudding so badly? She moved her gaze towards her hands which was decorated with dark-colored intricate henna.

Ghazal was not a fan of henna in the first place because she felt like she became useless after applying it, no one says any single work to her just by looking at her henna filled hands. But, yesternight she had applied it just because of her Nanna, to make her happy. There was an extra shine in Nanna's eyes nowadays just like she was marrying off her own daughter and that smile which she gave her after the Haldi ceremony Ghazal's eyes became moist feeling her love.

She would miss this home, this room, Batool khala and mostly Nanna because in her she had found that long lost love of a mother which she craved from her entire childhood. After four hours, she would be Ghazal Haaris Yousuf and she had to leave this place which had become her new home.

A knock brought her back from her reverie and opening it Ghazal found Nanna with a covered tray.

"Slept well, my child?"

Nanna asked pecking her forehead, her voice just above a whisper as Adam was still asleep. Ghazal nodded meekly, her heart crying thinking of the thought of leaving her.

"This is your bridal dress with all the jewelry. " Nanna placed the tray in her hands, " You get changed and I have called a stylist for the makeup and all."

Ghazal carefully placed the bridal dress on the bed and came towards Nanna who caressed her head, lovingly. Pearl-like tears began to drop from her already swollen eyes. Nanna understandingly embraced her shaking form.

"Shh, Ghazal. Don't cry, my child."

Nanna consoled her but her voice was becoming thick with every passing minute due to her clogged tears.

"I am so much happy that my two most beloved children will be together. You both are meant for each other. You both will be happy, won't you?" Ghazal nodded her head gingerly, her tears acquiring pace.

"Ghazal, Haaris can become stubborn at times. But, you just have to stick with him. He's still a bit childish and craves only love."

Nanna gave a piece of advice wiping Ghazal's wet cheeks. "If you feel like you are stuck in any problem, you just have to come to me. We will seek the solution together," she said cupping her cheeks.

"Thank you, Nanna, for every single thing."

"Thank you for coming in our lives, Ghazal," Nanna said placing a soft kiss on her forehead and then left leaving Ghazal to get ready for her big day.

***

Haaris's hand shook as he slowly signed on Nikah papers. Ghazal Fatima was now actually married to him, she was now Ghazal Haaris Yousuf. His heart was drumming at an extreme pace that's what they called wedding jitters. He was present in his Nanna's house where their Nikah had taken place. People were few and now coming to congratulate him.

Mr. Yousuf smilingly hugged him and patted his back. "May Allah bless you, my son."

After meeting his father-in-law it was his time to meet his lady, Ghazal Fatima. He ascended the stairs to her room, ignoring giggling ladies all the way. He didn't understand ladies and their urge to laugh at every single thing around them. It was kind of irritating.

"Hey, Haarish."

Adam pulled his blazer and Haaris smiled at him, he was looking adorable in white pathani. Haaris couldn't help himself but pick him in his arms.

"Hey, champ."

He said giving him a high-five. "Today was your wedding."

"Yes."

Haaris said after a chuckle. Adam was clearly too innocent to understand the relationships.

"Ma too had a wedding today. Congratsh."

Haaris smiled at his cuteness, he didn't know that Ghazal and Haaris got married to each other. Adam's face was masking some sort of confusion but he didn't ask anything. Ghazal could handle the situation better.

"Thanks." Haaris kissed his cheek, "So what are you doing outside?"

"You should go to inshide. I am not allowed there."

"And who said that?"

"Shome auntiesh."

Haaris furrowed his brows. Who the hell they were to kick off Adam outside the room? Who gave them a right to separate a mother and son just for the groom? He glanced around him where very scarce people could be seen and again fixed his gaze on Adam who was playing with his collar.

"Listen, Adam, those auntiesh don't know anything."

Haaris said touching his nose and mocking him, bringing forth a giggle out of Adam. He opened the door to Ghazal's room and found her standing near the window, her back towards them. He cleared his throat to grab her attention and it did.

Ghazal turned around and Haaris's heartbeat came to its usual pace, his heart got peace seeing his lady as if he was waiting for her for this entire time.

She doesn't know, how beautiful she is!

Ghazal was looking so mesmerizingly beautiful. Adorning that maroon long dress with the dupatta carefully wrapped around her head, revealing only her face which was slightly pink maybe due to crying, or due to the reason she was blushing in his intense gaze. Makeup was minimal and a bracelet could be seen on her hand in the name of jewelry. Her lips had slightly tilted up seeing Adam in his arms and his heart danced in his rib cage just thinking about the fact, he was the reason behind it.

"Assalamualaikum."

Ghazal said in her usual soft voice coming closer to them and gestured him to take a seat on the nearby sofa.

"Ma, give Haarish congratsh. Today is hish marriage."

Ghazal quickly lowered her gaze at Adam's statement, her fingers stuck together. Haaris was unable to stop himself from laughing out loud. "Adam, today your Ma got married to me."

"Really? Then where will I go? Ma hash to live with you now."

Adam said innocently, his face dropping at the idea of leaving his mother. Ghazal's head lowered some more hearing her son's childish queries.

"Nowhere. We all will live together. "

"At your housh?"

"Yes. But in one condition." Haaris said taking his small hand in his broad ones, "From now on, you will call me Papa."

Those words put an impact on Ghazal as she lifted her head up to look at him, who was already watching her reaction. Her eyes were brimming with tears but a sign of gratefulness was present there. He did the right thing, didn't he?

***

"No, I won't call you Papa."

Ghazal's gut felt like sinking at her son's words. He was an obedient child, he always obeyed everything then what happened so suddenly?

"How about Dad?"

Came forth Adam's gullible question which shooed off her every worry which was slowly creeping inside her. Haaris gave a high five and hugged him, "Dad it is then."

Signing off her Nikah papers, Ghazal felt a heavy burden lifting up from her shoulders. A sense of peace surrounded her as she was officially announced as Haaris Yousuf's wife. All she need to do was to keep her trust in her Lord, just like Ghazal was doing from the start.

Today, Ghazal was more than thankful for Haaris. Firstly when he came into the room with Adam, she couldn't tell how relaxed she felt seeing Adam. An uneasy feeling had been built up in her when those ladies had moved Adam out but she couldn't say anything. Ghazal was afraid of Haaris, what if she kept Adam with her in the room and Haaris didn't like it? He was now her husband, he had right over her and she had to thought about him from now on. But that man understood her, her bond with her son.

He was treating Adam like his own son. Like his own, that held great meaning to her. While his own father, Farzan didn't acknowledge him as his own child, Haaris was happy by becoming Adam's dad.

"Ready to move to your new house?"

Haaris's question echoed around her and Ghazal got hold of her mind which was running around her past.

"Yes."

Adam slid from Haaris's grasp as he found something to play with around his study table. She was feeling way more than nervous with Haaris. That was not good, Ghazal could scold him for hours and now when he had come to meet her as her husband, she was tongue-tied.

"You don't look good like this."

"How?"

"This all silent side. Your tigress side is better."

Haaris said with a mischievous grin. In return, Ghazal hit him with a cushion, pursing her lips to stop herself from smiling at that weird nickname.

"Yes, that's what I was talking about."

Haaris said rubbing his arm where she had hit a few moments ago. A knock on the door broke their moment, Nanna entered the room.

"MashaAllah."

The words left her lips as she saw Ghazal and Haaris standing together, smiling at her. Nanna came forward and kissed their forehead, her lips constantly whiffing supplications on them.

"Lunch is ready. Haaris you go and Ghazal, Batool is coming with your plate."

Haaris nodded his head, his gaze got stuck at Ghazal for a second and then he moved out not before taking Adam with him.

"He's already in love with you, Ghazal."

Nanna's straight and exciting comment turned her face crimson red and Ghazal hid her face behind her sweaty hands in order to calm down her heart.

***

Haaris opened the door to his room welcoming Ghazal and Adam inside. It was subtly decorated with fragrant flowers as he never liked the idea of overdone decorations. There were no guests at his house because he had no one to call a family except Nanna and his own father and both had given their share on his big day.

"Itsh shmelling nish!"

Adam said touching the roses on the window pane. Haaris smilingly looked at Ghazal who was too engrossed in her son's activities. She might felt his gaze on her as she questioningly looked back at him.

"You liked it?"

"It's beautiful, MashaAllah."

Haaris nodded in satisfaction. He moved forward and picked Adam in his arms. "You should change into something comfortable."

"I wash too thinking that."

On the cue, Ghazal sauntered towards their luggage and picked out Adam's nightwear. Haaris took it from her and gave a small smile.

"You freshen up, I will change him."

"You sure?"

Haaris gave a slight nod and after staring at him for a good one minute, Ghazal got into the washroom with her essentials.

"Dad!" Haaris shivered at his place as that word hit his eardrum, the feeling was beyond words. He never thought it felt so good to hear that one word which held so much responsibility, respect and admiration.

"Yes."

"You live alone in thish housh?"

"Not alone, with my dad."

Haaris said pulling down Adam's red shirt from his head, enjoying his talks and task thoroughly.

"What I should call him?"

Adam was, as usual, jumping from one topic to another in a moment and that thing always amused him.

"What you call your mother's father?"

"Na."

Haaris chuckled and made him sit on his lap after he finished changing him. "You tell me what you want to call him."

"Da?" Adam said in some thought, "Thish ish good."

"Yes," Haaris said hi-fiving him. The washroom door opened with a click, revealing Ghazal who now was changed in a simple blue salwar kameez, her dupatta wrapped around herself but not on her head and that's why he was able to see her hair.

Though they were in a bun, Haaris could make out they were long, silky. It was nothing he had painted in his paintings, they were hazel brown with black shine in them. How she would look with opened hair if she was looking so breathtakingly beautiful like this!

"Haaris."

Ghazal shook him and her voice sounded agitated, all he could do was to confusedly stare at her not knowing the reason behind Ghazal's irritation.

"I have called you three times. Can you help me with this hook?"

Ghazal asked lowering her gaze and turning around showing the hook of her necklace which was all tangled up. He got up, standing against his lady. His shivering fingertips brushed with her slender nape, her skin was soft and the fragrance around her was jasmine and just that.

Something was happening to him looking at this woman who was now his wife. Was he thinking of giving up the reason for which he had married Ghazal? He was still not sure. Haaris shook his head to remove all the thoughts and just to focus on the work at hand.

"Is it opening? "

Ghazal asked and the hook opened. He removed it and as she was turning Haaris saw a mole just below her left ear. His heart jerked at its place, how beautiful was the combination, a black mole on her pink complexion.

"Hey, Ghazal." Haaris called her after clearing his throat, his eyes taking a glimpse of Adam who was busy looking outside the window. "Adam will sleep in between and we at his either side?"

Haaris suggested and saw with amazement asGhazal's expressions swung from surprise to joy in just a second. Her eyes were sparkling so bright that he felt as if the reason behind all the light around him was just her eyes.

"Really? "

Her voice slightly wavering due to the joy she was feeling. Now he too was thinking, what he said of so much utter happiness? Haaris nodded in confusion.

"I was thinking of the same thing but didn't know how to say it. "

Ghazal said hesitantly taking his hands in hers and gently pressing them. Haaris felt like that was the moment he had waited all his life. Her touch was on his hands was soothing, as if she was slowly removing all his miseries with her single soft touch.