Sahir gazed at the beauty in front of him with awe and glint in his orbs. He was just standing there and staring at her while his heart yearned for enjoying the beauty of this relationship. His eyes were shimmering and butterflies nourished his stomach.

But then, flashbacks started to come into his mind. Zahra's and Asma's words rang in his ears. Fear and bitterness encapsulated his heart, and pain rippled in his orbs.

Ah! The fears of the past!

He took steps toward the bed and sat on it facing Saba who was sitting with a lower head. He could see her nervous smile and trembling hands. He could see shyness and redness on her face. Sahir averted his gaze from her demeanor with bitter facial expressions, and pain in his orbs!

"Never ever think that you can become a part of my life,"

Sahir's harsh words boomed in the room at which Saba raised her gaze to see his face. His words and tone shocked her and tears welled up in her orbs.

Her worst fear was standing in front of her!

The fear of getting rejected!

"I have many plans for my life and your presence will spoil them." His words pierced Saba's heart.

"This marriage will last only for five to six months. When your father recovers himself from illness and when people will get any other topic to discuss, then, we will part our paths. After six months, you will also have a degree in your hand. So you can also utilize it and can help yourself. So after six months, this marriage will be over".

He saw the shocked expressions of Saba, but he was not in the mood to show courtesy or pity. He wanted to make his plans and point of view clear to Saba.

That's it! Sahir Sikandar has surrendered in front of his fears! "Do any of your friends know about marriage?"

Sahir asked her but she was in so much shock that she did not reply. Sahir waited for some seconds and then repeated his question with a more harsh and loud volume.

"N.. No, no one knows" At last Saba mumbled.

Her first words on her wedding night!

"Good, don't share it with anyone. After a week, your last semester will start. And we will have to behave in a normal manner at the university. Ok?". Sahir emphasized on Ok.

"Ok" Saba mumbled and lowered her gaze to conceal her tears from him. He stood from his place and went to the dressing room.

As soon as the door was shut, a tear dropped on her henna painted hands.

............................

She was sitting on the bed in the same pose for fifteen minutes. Tears were spilling on her cheeks but she was wiping them now and then. Her heart was trembling and mind was getting numb.

Sahir came out of the dressing room and observed her demeanor but ignored it. He knew that she was in shock but this thing was not affecting him at that moment.

"Saba, Go and change the dress." He said in a nonchalant tone while sitting on the couch. At his words Saba realized her situation and her dress and she hurriedly moved toward the dressing room. After changing the clothes, she went to the washroom to do wudu. Tears were spilling freely on her cheeks and small sobs were coming out of her lips.

After ten minutes, she came into the bedroom. The dupatta was wrapped in prayer style, and she was looking for a prayer mat. Sahir was lying on the bed, using the mobile and ignoring her completely.

"Sah... " Saba tried to call him but she was cut off by him.

"I am just your teacher. Understood?". Embarrassment and more tears swam in her orbs at this. She lowered her gaze to conceal her tears.

"Sorry, I just want to ask about the prayer mat and also please tell me the direction. "

"Prayer mat is in the last drawer and direction is toward the study. "

She nodded her head and started her prayer. Sahir's gaze kept moving toward her, heart was reprimanding him for the cold attitude but mind was numb. He ignored the heart's reprehension too and lay on the bed. It seemed that war of heart and mind was going to be a part of his life now.

After completing her night rituals, Saba came near the bed, took her pillow and blanket and went toward the couch. Sahir saw this and closed his orbs. Heart was still reprimanding but he had to ignore it.

....................

Her eyes opened with a noise in the room. Opening her orbs, she saw Sahir was praying the Fajr. Slowly taking off the blanket from her body, she went toward the washroom. After doing her ablution, she went into the room to find no one there. She performed her prayer and changed her dress. A maid came into the room after getting permission.

"Everyone is waiting for you at breakfast table"

She nodded her head and went toward the hall with a thudding heart. New house, new relationship and first bitter night over there; all was making her fearful and nervous. Going near the dining table, she greeted all of them with trembling legs.

"Walaikum Aslam! How are you my child?" Mr. Salar asked affectionately at which she tried to smile.

"I am fine," she replied.

"Sit here, Saba." Mrs. Amna said while pointing toward the chair which was beside Sahir. Gulping, maintaining a smile, she sat there while his hands were trembling too.

Mrs. Amna served her breakfast, and all of them finished it in complete silence.

"Sahir and Saba, you both should go to meet Saba's parents. They should be waiting for you. "

"Ok, Dad" Sahir said, "We both will go to meet them." Then he turned his face toward Saba.

"Saba go and get ready"

She nodded and went toward the room while relief flooded in her nerves. Sahir remained seated there.

"Why are you not going to get ready? "

When he didn't budge from his place, Amna asked. "I will go after some time."

"Then you both will get late. Sahir go and get ready" Amna said with a furious tone at which he sighed and went toward the room.

The new relationship and awkwardness of it was making things difficult for him too.

............................

Saba was getting ready. She knew that Sahir would not come into the room, so she was relaxed. She changed her clothes and applied a liner on her eyes. Now she just had to change her hijab. She removed her previous hijab and started to look for her matching hijab. She was rummaging through the clothes in her suitcase when the door opened.

Sahir entered the room and saw her without a hijab. She turned toward him, and their gaze clashed. Pink gown, long tendrils resting on both shoulders, and light makeup on face, she was adorable.

He was irritated with the whole situation, and got tired with the war of heart and mind. Fury was present in his expressions and in his eyes. Saba saw him and immediately moved toward the dressing room.

She had to pass the Sahir to go into the dressing room. But she was stopped by Sahir as he grabbed her arms mercilessly. Now she was between Sahir's arms and was facing him.

"How many times have you used this tactic on me?" Sahir said with a furious tone.

"HOW MANY TIMES" Sahir shouted. The shiver passed in her spine. She was not able to understand what Sahir was speaking about.

"First I doubted Asma, but now I firmly believe that she was telling the truth". Saba's eyes widened with shock at these words.

"You came into the changing room knowing that I was there, and then you removed your hijab so that you could attract me! Same thing you did yesterday and also now". Sahir became furious that he couldn't realize what he was saying.

He just wanted to take his anger and irritation away, so he was shouting and saying lame things to Saba.

"Never! ", Sahir pointed his finger toward her.

"In front of me never ever try to come without a hijab".

Saba stared at him with void eyes. His words were like a knife which killed Saba's heart. Tears started to roll down on her cheeks. She was so hurt by Sahir's thinking that she did not want to say something in her defense. She came out of his arms and went into the dressing room. While he kicked the chair near him to let his frustration out.

...............................

Utter silence was in the car. Numbness had encapsulated Saba's being while embarrassment encapsulated Sahir's being. He realized the cruelty of his words but didn't know how to tackle this situation. His mind was a hodgepodge of thoughts which was causing fear and rise of past pains in his being.

At last, Saba's parents' house came and the car stopped in front of the door. Saba came out of the car as soon as the engine stopped and put finger on the bell of her house. Void and anxiety was in her being.

"Compose yourself" He murmured while standing beside her. This was advice rather than an order. Advice for the well-being of her parents.

Lump of tears formed in her throat which she engulfed, and plastered a smile on her face as soon as the door was opened. She wanted to hug her mother and weep a lot. But she composed and gave a smile to her.

"Assalam o Alaikum"

"Walaikum Assalam. How is my child?"

"Alhamdulillah, Amma! How are you? "

"Alhamdulillah!"

They went to the drawing room and sat there with Saba's parents. Small chit chat was going on when Azan resonated in the house.

Sahir and Mr. Akram went to the Mosque for the Zohar. Saba came into her room to say her prayer. Rummaging her gaze through every nook of her room, her heart yearned for the care-free days of her life.

The days when there was no tension except for submitting academic assignments or completing clients' projects!

Ah! Those days

Fantasy period of life had ended and the reality of life had started!

The bitter reality of life!

"Ya Allah! Please help me! Give me patience and courage to face the problems. I don't want to end the marriage. I don't want a divorce. Please soften the heart of Sahir! Guide me toward the right path" She mumbled the dua while gazing at her mother who was cooking something in the kitchen.

...........................

Music was resonating in the hall while everyone was gathered for the Walima of Saba and Sahir. Every guest's eyes were glued to the doors from where the couple had to come.

Saba was standing in the bridal room, in front of the mirror, and was gazing at her dress.

The dress which Sahir liked for her!

The scene was roaming in front of her orbs when hope was blooming in her heart and seed of love was nourishing in her heart. Now, she dug deep into her soul to find that flower of love had withered. It didn't get water so it didn't get nourished.

The door knocked at which she came out of her thoughts. Turning toward it, she saw Sahir standing there with an expressionless face.

Smile!

Put your arms together!

Cameramen were giving them instructions as they were going to enter the hall. Bride and groom plastered the smile and Saba put her arm around his.

Scents wafted through their nostrils and they felt tingles in their arms.

Doors opened and a smile plastered on their faces.

Bride and groom were moving in between the hall, and guests were gazing at them with awe or jealousy. Saba gazed at the envious and awed expressions and bitterness came into her heart.

They were envying her without knowing the whole story!

They were seeing a false aspect of a person's life and thinking that it is the whole life.

A bitter smile etched on her face while she was going toward the stage.