Chapter 29

Frottage

Ouch...

Ghazal winced as the nurse placed the ice pack on her ribs. The doctor had advised a round of ice pack for the proper healing of fracture for three days in a week. She was just grateful that Allah had given her life back, she could tolerate that much further.

"It will hurt somewhat in the start."

She nodded timidly at the elderly nurse, pursing her lips to gulp down another wince which was about to come at the contact of coldness, also tried to take slow breaths as it was hurting badly to breathe, talk and even cough.

"Do you need anything else, my dear? "

"Will you help me with changing my clothes?"

The nurse nodded smilingly at her hesitant request. Only one day had passed in that hospital robe but she could already smell those pungent odors of ointment and medicines on her.

Haaris had brought a change of clothes for her and as his name came in her mind, her thoughts quickly shifted to her husband. Before their wedding, looking at Haaris she couldn't tell he could care about someone but he proved her totally wrong by the time he was spending with her, chatting about random stuff just like she used to do in his nightmares and also taking care of her tiny little needs. Her cheeks shyly heated up just thinking about the ordeal of the previous night when she had been shifted to the private ward and Haaris had come with a bag.

"So I think there is everything you will need. Nanna has helped me though."

Ghazal smiled seeing him scratching his head in a little confusion. She didn't know her condition could affect anyone but Haaris's appearance was the major proof of it. His stubble was scruffy, bags under his eyes, his hair a little messier. He was in a greater need of rest and grooming.

"Thanks."

Haaris opened the bag and fished out an emerald-colored loose maxi-dress with the matching scarf.

"It-s not mine."

"It's your, tigress. Specially made for the ease of wearing due to your fractures."

Ghazal's heart swelled at his concern, her words and condition were not enough to thank him properly for his thought. Some tears came to the brim of her eyes and were not hidden from her husband who was beside her in less than a moment.

"Hey, I am sorry. I just thought you will need something easier to wear-"

She held his wrist tightly to stop his rambling, surely he had taken a whole different meaning of her tears.

"Than-ks. I didn't feel bad. I'm just happy for your thought."

"You scared me." Ghazal just smiled tenderly closing her eyes as Haaris touched his forehead with hers, his thumb gently caressing her cheekbones.

"Do you want to change? I can help you."

Clearly Haaris had mindlessly offered his help but Ghazal blushed profusely at his request.

"N-no. No. I will change later. There's no need. I-"

Didn't know why she was babbling like that may be just to remove the feeling of sudden shyness which had crept up to her. Ghazal could say something more when Haaris silenced her placing his finger on her lips.

"I understand," Haaris whispered near her ear and kissed her cheek softly, his eyes brightly smiling at her just like his lips.

"Your man is a nice fellow."

She smiled at the not so new praise of her husband. The nurse was now carefully buttoning the dress from the side. It was the most comfortable dress Ghazal had ever worn in her entire life. It was modest and beautiful in every way.

"You are ready."

"Thanks."

The nurse left, patting her scarf covered head. She boringly looked out of the window showing the pleasant early morning, faint sounds of squirrels and birds hitting her ears gently. The door opened to reveal his husband who had just come dropping Adam to his school.

"How can one look so beautiful even on a hospital bed?"

Haaris mischievously asked kissing her temple and a serene feeling of happiness surrounded her hearing his praise. There was a hidden wish in her heart for the first time to see Haaris's reaction when he would see her wearing those clothes which he had chosen for her.

"I'm happy you have shaven your beard." Ghazal touched his jaw with her fingers, an amused smile on Haaris's face as he held her hand in his.

"Don't you like men with beards?"

She shook her head quickly, "I don't talk about men, just you. You're good like this."

"Okay, as you say tigress."

***

Haaris didn't have any words to describe his feelings of happiness and serenity which he was getting by just talking to his wife. When you have lost hope in life but it gives you a second chance giving you back the person who means the world to you, that feeling of gratefulness is indescribable. That was Haaris's feelings, he just wanted to remember, to enjoy every moment with Ghazal.

How the morning light was gently shining on her. How she looked perfect even on a hospital bed with an emerald scarf wrapped not so perfectly around her face which was why the loose hair tendrils were peeking out making her look more innocent.

"Should I comb your hair properly?"

"Do you want to?"

Haaris just shrugged his shoulders unable to form any proper answer but quickly fled towards the bed as he found his wife trying to get up. Carefully holding her from her waist he made her sit and stuffed some pillows near her back to not to make her body tired. He slowly untied the knot on the back of her scarf and it mellowly slid off from her head revealing her black hair with a little hint of brown in them.

Haaris took his time to untie her loose braid and then let her hair cascade down on her back by moving soft fingers in her hair. They always pushed him into a trance, how could anyone's hair mesmerize you? From the first day when he had seen her hair, he was still in awe and somewhat envied the power of nature as he was unable to put it on his canvas like they were.

"Your hair is so beautiful. You won't believe I tried to paint your hair a lot but they are much more beautiful in real."

"You paint?"

Haaris bit his tongue as she questioned. He just praised his wife and what struck her mind was 'he paints'. Nobody knew his passions and hobbies except his father, he didn't like to share them just like his ugly dark past he wanted them to be hidden. God knows, how it slipped from his mind but it was like that every time he was being with Ghazal. He didn't need to remind himself to watch his words or to cover up any information. He wasn't afraid of himself when he was around Ghazal.

"Yes."

"You never told me."

Haaris took her hair in his hands and began to tie a braid in which he failed miserably. He never thought those two crisscrosses could be so difficult. A low giggle broke his trail of attempts, his wife was finding it all amusing.

"You are only taking two sections Haaris, take three."

Haaris did as she said and then began to follow her little steps stopping in between to ask about the confusion he was having in braiding. But finally, his attempts paid off as her hair was pulled up in a braid nicer than before though it was not neat as it used to be the happiness on Ghazal's was all he needed which was there in all its glory.

"Thank you so much, Haaris."

"My pleasure lady." Haaris smiled loosely wrapping the scarf around her head properly and placing a kiss on her forehead.

"So what will be my treat for the help?"

"Sorry but I don't have any chocolates at the moment."

Haaris caught a glint of mischief in her eyes, her adorable way of biting her lower lip to stifle her laughter, as he gently laid her down on the bed.

"As if I was craving for one."

"I know you too well, hubby."

"If you don't have any chocolates there are many alternatives"

His voice lowered to a lull of a dropping feather to hide his musings from the passing wind and chirping birds. Ghazal was staring at him, her black orbs gently skimming his face. Her gaze had an aura, a softness to it that he always became relaxed coming near her.

"And what it can be?"

Ghazal's question came out as a wavered query, her eyes dancing from his eyes to the lips as Haaris gently moved his face closer to her. A knock on the door by the nurse broke their moment forcing a groan from him while Ghazal was too overwhelmed to show any emotions. A lone tear silently escaped from the corner of her eye, making Haaris all restless.

Was she crying?

Did I hurt her in some way?

Now the nurse was giving her morning medicines while Haaris sat beside her. As their eyes met, Ghazal gave him a tight-lipped smile somewhat vanishing his fears.

***

Memories, really play a vital role in everyone's life and if they are haunting and scary, they won't let you move forward without reminiscing them. How could anyone know better than Ghazal? She had lived every haunted moment, every scary moment when she had felt that it would be her last time on earth.

"Never ever try to touch me."

Farzan's word echoed in her mind making herself more humiliated about herself. His words had pierced like sharp daggers in her heart, wounding her all along the way. But Ghazal didn't want to hurt Haaris, what was his mistake in that?

"Why were you crying? "

As she had expected, Haaris's question hit her eardrums just after the nurse left them. Ghazal pursed her lips and lowered her eyes to save herself from Haaris's intense gaze. She knew it, Haaris would directly ask her that was his habit which she used to hate a lot before their marriage.

"I wasn't."

"I saw a tear escaping your eye."

Ghazal huffed in annoyance, there was no way he was going to drop that topic. But he should also understand her point of view, he should give her some time to make herself ready to share her pain, her past.

"Ha-aris..." She slowly slid her hand in his, intertwining their fingers, "Some things can not be shared so easily, they need time and that doesn't mean I don't trust you. I fully trust you but I am in need of a lot of courage."

Haaris nodded and touched their intertwined hands to his forehead, his warm breath gently tickling her wrist.

"Baba told me some things about your previous marriage."

"Haaris I said I need time." Ghazal tiredly said, closing her eyes for a moment to compose herself, her heart thudded in fear hearing those words from Haaris. Didn't know what Baba had told him?

"I am sorry. That's what you hated about me back in the hospital?"

She gave a small nod with a smile. Haaris let go of her hand and placed his head on her pillow facing her, his eyes silently staring at her with a smile on his face.

"What happened?"

"Nothing. I like to look at you." Ghazal's cheeks heated up and blushed at his sudden remark. She wetted her dried lips in order to move her mind away from the shyness and all that bubbly feelings inside her.

"Here's that blush, I was thinking about." Haaris's amused voice broke her reverie and her cheek tingled as his fingertips gently grazed it.

"I'm not blushing."

"Deny it all you want Mrs. Haaris. We know the truth." Haaris resolutely winked, making her gut turn in giddiness. He moved a little closer and kissed just below her ear.

"I'm sorry, babe. Sometimes I behave like a jerk but I never want to hurt you. "

"I know."

Ghazal's mind began to drop in dizziness as her painkillers kicked in but first time in her life she wanted to stay awake, she wanted to talk to her husband endlessly without any disturbance, she was enjoying his company a lot than before.

"Sleep, tigress. I am here."

Haaris touched their foreheads and Ghazal quickly drifted off to sleep feeling surrounded into a protective and caring warmth of her husband.

***

"From when spinach became the healthiest of food?"

Haaris tried his best to stop himself from laughing seeing his wife's pouty face who was silently staring at her lunch tray.

"Ma, you too forshed me to eat it shaying it hash iron."

"So what? It's good for you."

"Sho it'sh good for you too."

Ghazal helplessly looked at him who was getting entertained by mother-son's banter. He spread out his arm around her and gently squeezed her shoulders. She was a doctor herself but behaving just like Adam, making faces at her food.

"It's good for your healing, doctor."

"But I am taking medicines. I will heal with them. "

"No, no. Don't try to pull that puppy face with me."

Haaris moved his gaze quickly away from her, she definitely knew how to make her way with him but her health was more important. Making a small morsel he put it in front of Ghazal's mouth who slowly ate it, furrowing her brows at him.

"You are free to eat anything you like once you are healed properly."

She nodded, "I will definitely not eat spinach."

"Yes, your highness." The trio finished their lunch, in between Nanna and Papa came by to meet them and Nanna took Adam to her house for his rest.

"You should also go Haaris. Take some rest."

"I am having more than rest here, tigress."

Harris chuckled as Ghazal rolled her eyes at his statement. That was some sort of lie but leaving his wife in the hospital without him would definitely make him restless. There was some kind of assurance to him being with Ghazal that she was safe, she was with him.

"Ok, ok. Not so great rest. But it's fine here."

"I was just about to say, you have circles around your eyes."

"These are my glasses, Ghazal." Haaris took a seat in front of her taking her warm hand in his. Ghazal groaned childishly hearing his not so good joke.

"Poor joke, Haaris."

Haaris chortled and began to play with her fingers, long, slender and beautiful. The engagement ring shining proudly in her left hand while the right hand had the 'sorry' ring he had gifted her.

"So when are you planning to show me your paintings?"

"You want to see them?"

"Of course. Firstly you hid the great talent from me and also the fact that you used to paint me. Punishment is needed here." Haaris looked down veiling the painful smile that had crept up to his lips hearing her.

"Nobody knows about them Ghazal, except you and my father. They are a part of my dark past and painting you signify that I have pulled you too in that darkness."

An isolated silence enveloped them in its wings as they both just stared at each other, no words spoken, just their breathing melding with each other like a drop of rain in an ocean.

"Past and future are always dark Haaris because one has gone and we don't know about another. But we have present, we can live in it."

As those words made their impact on his heart relaxing him in a flicker, Haaris didn't waste any minute to hug his lady resulting in a gasp of surprise and a low wince from her. He would never learn the word called 'careful'. Slowly shifting away from her Haaris caught a beautiful smile on her lips.

"I am sorry."

"This one is third in a day."

Haaris chuckled at her witty comeback and kissed her pink nose, nuzzling it gently after.

"What can I say? Your husband doesn't know how to be careful. "

"No, he isn't so bad."

"Oh, I can tell you many bad things about him."

Ghazal tittered at his random chatter. Their relationship was something unusual, they both could ramble about anything with each other and felt comfortable in doing so.

"Say whatever you want to, I like him anyway. "

"That's a relief."

Ghazal held her ribs as a low giggle erupted from her hearing his dramatic sigh and soon the empty room got filled with their amused laughs.

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