|| Z E E S H A N ||

When I heard no voice from behind me, I turned around curiously, only to find her shivering with fear. Her face was pale, her eyes were red and filled with fear and tears, and her lips were quivering.

Seeing her like this, I cursed myself mentally and quickly approached her. She clung my shirt tightly, putting her trembling little, petite body against me, coming in my embrace. I couldn't figure out for a moment where to put my hands on her as she trembled against me.

The sudden warmth from her body, the weight of her body pressed against mine, was all making my brain go crazy.

I just wanted to tease her but seeing her like that was making me feel guilty. I shouldn't do this with her. With a shaky breath, I put my hands on her back nervously and patted it awkwardly until she calmed down. But once she calmed down, she looked up at me accusingly with red eyes and red nose.

Her this look hit straight to my heart, making it ache.

She pushed me away forcefully in anger and strode towards the car with quick steps. She opened the door, got in and closed it loudly, making my breath hitch. My favorite Mercedes Benz E that I had been treating like my own kids. I put my hand on my heart, patting it to calm down and approached my car slowly.

I got in the car and started it, turned it and drove in another direction. The whole journey became silent again as I drove to a place I knew could heal her scared heart a little. If I knew she was scared of places like these, I wouldn't have teased her or taken my revenge like this. But on the second note, served her right for waking me in the middle of the night.

With a small sigh, I stopped the car in front of the late night food street then glanced at her. She was still silent, looking spaced out like thinking about something with her head against the window. I knew this was her silence before the storm but she was really looking very cute.

I resisted the urge to tease her again and controlled all the remarks I wanted to pass. I got out of the car and came towards her side, opening the door and extending my hand for her.

"There's a famous golgappe stall on this street food. Do you want to come or should I go alone to eat?" I asked her, arching my brow at her who remained unmoved.

She turned her eyes at me with a glare and anger in them. And without taking my hand, she got out of the car on her own.

"You are really a donkey, dog, horse and.. and..," When she thought of no more words, she took a frustrated breath and continued, "I will complain to Taiama and Tayaaba about what you did," She pointed her index finger at me and told me in anger.

'Ok. I am taking my words back. She isn't cute. She really isn't. I should have left her there alone for all the ghosts and souls to scare her. Seriously! After donkey now dog? Horse?'

"Oh then go and complain. I will also tell your parents what you have been calling me donkey, dog and horse," I told her back with a tight smile, feeling ripples of anger inside me.

We kept our glaring contest for a minute then she hummed coldly and walked away, pushing me away with one hand on the way. I took steps back then locked the car after straightening up and followed behind her quickly.

'Its ok, Zeeshan. Dogs are loyal creatures and donkeys and horses are hard working creatures. Don't take them to heart. Control. Control your anger.'

I looked at the sky and breathed to relax myself. Like a queen with an attitude of frog, she sat on the bench and quickly ordered 3 dozen golgappe.

"How will we finish so many? Change it to 1.5 dozen," I told the small waiter, sitting across from her and looking at her.

"Excuse me. Who ordered for you? I just ordered for myself. Bhai, jao or le kr ao jaldi se extra filling wale phir is admi se paise lena," She told him leisurely, with arrogance in her voice.

(Bhai, go and bring them with extra filling quickly then take money from this man.)

I pressed my lips tightly and fisted my hands to stop myself from throwing her over my shoulder in front of everyone then spanked her and put her back in the car.

"Bring half a dozen for me," I turned towards the small waiter and gave my order.

He went away quickly and brought our order in five minutes while we both sat in silence and glaring at each other. Compared to hers, my side looked very pitiful with only one plate of golgappe and three types of chutney.

While I ate one, she ate three. I ate two, she ate fours.

I was really amazed at her speed but soon my attention diverted towards her glossy pouty lips from where the chutney was dripping. Her pouted lips were looking so invited and kissable that I wanted to rub my fingers on them, tracing them then devouring them.

I rubbed my index finger and thumb while remembering the warmth of them from our last few kisses. Remembering how my lips sucked, nibbled, licked them and how my hand caressed her–

I took a sharp breath and looked away as the desires inside me were waking up. I knew anyone could tell from one look in my eyes, what I had been thinking. I finished my plate quickly and walked to the side, taking fresh cool air.

Even though I was wearing a half sleeves, round neck shirt, I was still feeling hot. I gulped and looked up at the crescent moon.

"Bhai! Bhai! Allah apki jori humesha salamat rkhe ga or mazeed khush rkhe agr ap yeh phool or gajre apni biwi k liye lo ge," A newly young man came and told me, pointing at his flowers and gajre.

(Brother! Brother! Allah always keep your bond strong and grant you more happiness if you bring these flowers and garlands for your wife.)

I raised my brow at this funny statement and thought to myself why would I buy something like this for her when she always called me names. I glanced at her, who was still enjoying her golgappe, which she ordered more, then put my hand on my trousers pocket to take out my wallet.

Better throwing it on the roadside then giving it to her. Otherwise she would become like a peacock and flutter her feathers to slap me with her tongue.

Just as I was about to pay, someone else beat me and took the flower and gajre from the seller. I looked towards the buyer and found a familiar man.

"Let me as an apology to my Bhabhi," The man was none other than Mazhar.

"I think I warned you not to be around anywhere near my wife or step in my house anymore," I reminded coldly, fisting my hand in my pocket.

"C'mon, bro. That day was just a misunderstanding I already told you. Besides you are behaving like you don't trust your wife," He answered cockily, making me want to punch him.

"It's not that I don't trust my wife, it's just I don't trust any male around her," I narrowed my eyes at her and told him back.

I glanced at Shanze who was still engrossed in eating, from over his shoulder, then towards the seller and handed him money. I bought new flowers and gajre for her then went towards her.

"I hope this is the last time because next time I will not be as calm as I am right now," On the way I warned him in a low voice.

When I reached Shanze and stood in front of her to block Mazhar's sight on her and didn't want her to catch a glimpse of him too. Putting the flowers and gajre on the table with a thump, I crossed my arms, looking at her calmly. She glanced at the flowers and gajre then looked up at me with her eyebrows raised at me, making her forehead crease.

"Woah! Why are you standing here like someone owes you billions and has taken away all your meals?"

How much I would appreciate it if she didn't open her mouth?

"Isn't it you? Owing my whole life?" I asked her back.

She gave me a look then turned her attention back to finish her golgappe. Seeing her ordering another plate, I put my hand on hers, pressing on the table gently, to hold her from ordering more.

"No more or you'll get a stomach ache," I told her with a frown.

"Oh and who are you to tell me this?" She asked me with her smile.

As much as her smile was sweet, her words had the opposite effect on me.

"Your husband," I answered her, giving her a tight smile.

She stared at me for a minute then stood up slowly.

"Oh, you finally realized," Her response was faint as she walked around me to move then went towards the car.

But she came back soon and took her flowers and gajre from the table and finally went away with a cold hum. I paid the money of 8 dozen golgappe with my eyes towards my car in fear of Mazhar appearing in front of her again.

When we reached home, she was already sleeping with her head against the window. I got out of the car and took her out carefully, lifting her in my arms. As I ascended the stairs, my arms began to feel stiff with sweat forming on my back. Her face was snuggled in my neck, her warm and hot breath hitting my neck.

I gulped and quickly picked the pace. Once we reached our bedroom, I put her on the bed and looked at the flowers and gajre she was holding, even in her sleep. I took them from her and went out of the room after putting the duvet on her. My phone began to ring suddenly when I reached the kitchen.

I took it out of my pocket and frowned upon seeing Hasan calling me at this time. With one hand I answered the phone and put it against my ear while with the other I opened the fridge and put flowers and gajre inside.

.........

"I don't trust your friend. Keep him away from Shanze as much as possible."

.........

I paused and raised my eyebrow, with my lips hooked in a smirk.

"She is my wife now, Hasan. And I know what is good for her," I warned him, hoping he wouldn't cross his limit either.

.........

"I know. That's why I am warning you. Otherwise I don't mind breaking that years ago pact and forget all our elders' promises," He threatened me in a leisurely voice.

.........

"She had and has been mine since the beginning. You never have any chance, Hasan." I clenched my jaw while reminding him.

.........

"Do you know, Zeeshan, there is a huge difference between being a husband and a responsible husband?"

He took a deep breath then continued.

"I hope you won't be just a husband to her."

.........

I became silent and couldn't think of any response, and fell into deep thoughts.

Knowing I hadn't done anything for her and was just treating her as my own things. Our marriage had been planned since childhood due to the decision of our great grandfather.

The things that bare dada taught me since she came to our house, I had been following his advice subconsciously. Even if I tried to forget all the things that happened in the past, I couldn't.

The treatment I was giving her right now was the bare minimum I could. And it was due to both of our parents and grandparents.

.........

"Besides, the other side seems to have connections with the village."

.........

With this hang up the call.

I stood there for a long time, looking at the flowers I put in the fridge while all the vague memories of that year flashed in my mind. The things that happened in the village and then the aftermath.

I took a deep breath and put my phone back in my pocket then went back to my bedroom. I closed the door and sat on the couch near the balcony, looking towards Shanze deeply.

Since the time we left our village, everyone tried to forget this marriage pact but due to my promise with bare dada, I didn't let anyone forget this marriage. But what I didn't expect was that our grandparents announced this on their anniversary.

The next day, I descended the stairs and found my mother arranging flowers in the living room. I stopped on my track and stared at the frown on her forehead. She had a habit of arranging flowers whenever she was frustrated, so who made her frustrated so early in the morning.

"Huh! Why's there dark circles under your eyes?" Mom looked towards me and asked in concern.

I smiled and approached her, taking her hand in mine and pulling her to sit on the couch.

"I just woke up in the middle of the night and couldn't go back to sleep," I told her half truth.

She patted my face then sighed. It was clear that there was something disturbing her very much.

"What happened? Something disturbing you?" I voiced my concern.

She shook her head and pulled me to lay my head on her lap. She massaged my head like always whenever I couldn't sleep back. Finally I felt sleepy but just as my eyes were drooping, she dropped a bomb on me.

"Some people from the village are coming." 

. . . . . . . . . .

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And we have finally entered the main story.