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Inaraah's p.o.v

Qureshi Mansion - Alhaan's room:

A loud sound was booming in my ears breaking my slumber. I tried to ignore it and sleep but the tinkling sound was disturbing the peaceful aura of the room. I moved my hand to find the buzzing device but out of nowhere a hand reached it and stopped the annoying sound. I don't know who it was but I am thankful to that person.

I was about to continue my sleep when my senses got alerted. Whose hand was it? Did someone break into my room? I opened my eyes to a dark room but I could see a huge figure beside me. Fear crept in me and I did the first thing that crossed my mind.

"Babaaaaaaa..." I shrieked and sat up with a jerk.

"Inaraah are you okay?" The person next to me asked.

Wait! I heard this voice before. I looked at the person whose back was towards me while he switched on the bedside lamp. He turned towards me and I was shocked to see Alhaan sir.

"Alhaan sir, what are you doing in my room at this hour?" I asked him without thinking twice.

"What? Inaraah I....." His speech was halted by the ringing alarm. He stretched his hand to switch off the alarm. I blinked my eyes and then it dawned upon me. "I am married?" It was more like a question than statement.

"Yes wifey, we are married. And I am not in your room instead you are in our room" Alhaan sir said.

I looked down embarrassed with my stupidity. Alhaan sir made me look at him and said, "I am your husband Inaraah." I gave him a blank look. I know he is my husband. Maybe sensing my confusion he spoke, "Please stop calling me sir."

I don't know what to say so I just lowered my eyes feeling shy and embarrassed at a time. Alhaan sir placed his forehead on mine and I closed my eyes with our proximity. My heartbeat increased and I am sure he can hear it. Somewhere a part of me was scared too.

"Thanks for coming in my life Inaraah." Alhaan sir said which brought a smile on my face. We were sitting in the same position when again the alarm started ringing breaking the moment. Alhaan sir groaned taking my phone and asked, "How many alarms did you set?"

I bit the inside of my cheek and said, "Seven."

"What? But why?" Alhaan sir asked.

I looked at him and said, "Because I need minimum 5 alarms to wake up."

Alhaan sir looked shocked and I bit my lower lip to stop myself from laughing at his expression. He placed the phone in my hand and said, "Please turn off the alarms and till then I will freshen up."

Saying so he left to bathroom while I turned off the alarms. His shocked face came in front of my eyes and I started laughing. I buried my face in the pillow to control my laughter but I couldn't.

'Allah. His shocked expressions are really comical.'

Suddenly the door opened and Alhaan sir walked out from the bathroom. He looked at me and asked, "What happened? Why are you laughing?" I just shook my head and went to the bathroom to freshen up.

We offered Tahajjud together. Praying behind your spouse is the blissful feeling and I was feeling the same. Last night I felt complete praying behind him. It was as if my prayers were answered and the moment when we prostrate together to the Almighty, I felt my world stopped. It was a pure bliss and nothing can be as beautiful as this feeling.

Once the Azaan(call of prayer) was finished, Alhaan sir got up and moved out of the room to offer his Salah(Prayer) in mosque. I offered my Salah and then started reciting Quran. Alhaan sir joined me in awhile and I passed Quran to him so he can recite. He started reciting Surah Yaseen. I was awestruck at his recitation. He really have a beautiful voice. Even though I know how to recite with tajweed but my voice is not strong and at the same time soft as his.

He is my husband now and I can surely learn proper tajweed from him. We complete each other and I can rely on him to learn more about Islam, to get closer to the One who brought us together. When he was at the end of the Surah, we came across the verse,

إِنَّمَا أَمْرُهُ إِذَا أَرَادَ شَيْئًا أَنْ يَقُولَ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ

Verily, when He intends a thing, His Command is, "be", and it is!
(~Surah Yaseen - verse 82).

Indeed it was Allah's will that we are together and so is mentioned in Quran. I smiled at my thoughts and looked at Alhaan sir who in turn was looking at me. "You really have a beautiful voice." I complimented him. His lips twitched up into a beautiful smile.

We got up and placed the rug and Quran in its place. I was standing clueless not knowing what to do. "Come we can have a small nap." Alhaan sir said.

No I can't sleep now. If I did, I will surely sleep as if the world is going to end. Even my Bhabis aren't here to wake me up. "Ummm.. I... You can rest. I am not sleepy." I replied.

"What's wrong Inaraah? Any problem?" He questioned. I looked at him whose face was etched with concern for me. I felt happy seeing his care for me but what should I reply. I will be embarrassed if he knows 'How big of a sleepy head I am.'

I squeezed my eyes tightly and spoke, "Once I sleep, its hard to wake me up. Call it my bad habit but I love sleeping and I sleep like I won't ever get to sleep again."

I peeked through one eye to look at him who had an amused look. He let out a small laugh and forwarded his hand to me. I gave him a questioning look and he said, "We will not sleep then. But we can chat and get to know each other."

I agreed to his request and we both made ourselves comfortable on the bed. I was still contemplating on what to speak when he spoke, "Did you enjoy all the wedding rituals?"

His question reminded me of the cruelty of all the ladies who mercilessly applied the turmeric paste on me. I looked at him and said, "Yeah so very much that I became yellow with happiness."

Alhaan sir laughed at my sarcastic reply and said, "How can I forget? So you loved the Haldi ceremony?" He was surely having fun at my cost. "I don't know about me but Aahil loved it a lot. He even complimented me." I replied.

"Oh Really! And what was it?" He asked.

I laughed remembering Aahil's compliment. I looked at him and said, "Aahil is a Pokemon lover and I was resembling his favourite Pokemon. He was calling me Pikachu."

Alhaan sir started to laugh upon hearing it. But I will not let him laugh at me. We are equal and it should be one on one always.

"Well I can imagine your Tweety look." I said to him.

He understood what I was referring too but pretended to be clueless. "Accha ji you don't know what I am talking about. According to my sources, my elder brother showered you with turmeric."

"Not again. At least not you Inaraah. I am fed up with Azaan Bhai's little sister line. I know you both are brother and sister." Alhaan sir said.

I just laughed at his annoyed look. Azaan Bhai surely irritates him just like Shaad bhaiya used to irritate me. I smiled remembering him and unknowingly tears started forming in my eyes. Alhaan sir panicked seeing my tears and said, "I am sorry Inaraah. I didn't mean to hurt you. You can tease me as much as you want."

I laughed at his reply. He might think I am mad; one minute I am laughing and another minute crying. I shook my head at him and said, "You didn't hurt me. It just reminded me of Shaad bhaiya. He used to irritate me a lot with his teasing and silly pranks."

Don't know why Alhaan sir looked at me with guilty eyes. I was confused at his behaviour while he started apologizing to me. "I am sorry. You left your whole family behind for me. I just......." He looked down unable to speak further. I was shocked at his response. He is sorry for something which isn't in his hands. Every girl has to leave her family and go to her husband's home, to her new family. He shouldn't be sorry for that.

"Please don't apologize. Instead I am thankful to you. I got a new family because of you." I said holding his hand hesitantly.

He just smiled at my reply and held my hand firmly. Suddenly he looked at my palm and then at me. "What?" I asked him and in return he smiled widely.

'What's wrong with him?'

"You didn't tell me that you wrote my name on your hand." He said.

"What? Where?" I questioned him.

He lifted my right hand and there it was his name in the heart of my palm and small hearts on either side of his name. My eyes widened seeing it. How come I didn't notice it before. I looked at him who was wiggling his eyebrows at me.

"I didn't know they wrote your name. It must be Suhana's idea. I was ......." I started blabbering.

Alhaan sir interrupted me and said, "Relax Inaraah. I am not going to eat you. I am happy to see my name in your hand." I felt shy when he said that.

"Can I ask you something?" He said while I just nodded.

"Why does your eyes always go wide whenever I say something?" He questioned.

I was taken aback with his question. He was right though. I guess its my brain's reflex. "I don't know. Sometimes your words or actions shock me and that's how I respond to it." I gave the most stupidest reply ever.

He laughed at my reply while I just rolled my eyes at him. We simply sat discussing how many times my eyes went wide whenever he approached me. I was quite surprised to know that he remembers all the situations where my eyes reacted instead of me.

It was 7.30 am and we decided to freshen up. I asked him to go first since I take a lot of time in shower. Credits to my hair.

All my clothes were already placed in the cupboard. I was rummaging through the wardrobe when the bathroom door opened. I took my clothes and was about to go in the bathroom when Alhaan sir walked out. I screamed and closed my eyes tightly turning my back towards him. He was standing with just a towel wrapped around his waist.

"Alhaan sir why didn't you dress up in the changing room itself?" I asked.

"How can I? I forgot to take my clothes." He replied.

I remember the first day he came to office and all those girls who were ogling at his biceps. They were right, he surely goes to gym to have such a physique. I shook my head at the silly thoughts and stepped aside so he can take his clothes with still my back towards him.

I was waiting for him to take his clothes and go inside the changing room. I stood in the same position for few minutes. "Did he go inside?" I asked to myself.

"No I am still standing here." Came his reply.

"I didn't know you talk to yourself." Alhaan sir said and I was embarrassed to heaps by now.

"Alhaan sir please take your clothes and go inside." I requested him.

"Okay I will, but on one condition." He said.

'Ya Allah, what is this now?'

"What is your condition?" I asked.

"Stop calling me sir. I won't move from here until you stop calling me sir." He replied.

Argh! What should I do? I am used to call him sir. It's difficult to stop saying it all of the sudden.

"Okay I will try to do that." I said.

"What? You will try. What will people think when you call me sir in front of them?" He countered back.

"I won't call your name in front of them." I retorted.

"Oooooo. So you will call me with endearment in front of them. What will you call me? Baby, Darling or you would prefer typical Indian stereotype.

Something like Aji suniye or Aayat ke Abbu. But I suggest the former one since we just got married and there is still time for kids." Alhaan sir said.

Ya Allah please open the earth and bury me inside. My face heated up at his reply and all I want is to run away from here.

"Ufff Alhaan sir stop it. Please take your clothes and get dressed up. We are getting late." I spoke hastily.

He just laughed at me and started walking in my direction. I heard some shuffling and then shutting of the door. I thought he would leave but instead he came and stood behind me.

My heartbeat accelerated when he brought his face close to my left ear. I clutched on to my clothes tightly and closed my eyes.

"My shy bride." He whispered and left while I stood frozen at my place. His words kept on repeating in my mind and butterflies invaded my stomach. I will surely pass out next time if he stand this close to me.

Soon the door opened and he walked out fully dressed this time. I didn't let him speak and ran inside the bathroom to take shower.

When I came outside, he was sitting on the bed busy in phone. I dried my hair and was braiding my hair when I saw Alhaan sir looking at me. I felt conscious and turned towards him. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked.

He smiled at me and said, "I always used to think how your hair would look like. And as I imagined you have long blank wavy hair."

Woah! I was surprised with his revelation. I raised my left eyebrow at him and said, "Isn't it inappropriate to think about a girl and her hair."

"Yeah I know but I just couldn't stop myself from thinking about you." He replied. He got up and came near me. He took my hand in his and made me sit on the bed. He then went towards the cupboard and returned with a box in hand. He gave it to me and asked me to open it. I opened the box and in it was a beautiful pair of anklets.

"Its your wedding gift but I forgot to give you last night." He said scratching his neck.

I smiled at his embarrassed look. Even I have a gift for him but I don't want to give him right now.

"I know they are simple and I should have bought something extravagant but I want to give you something which reflects your character. And for that I should know you inside out. I promise you I will give something which will be worth keeping." He spoke.

"They are beautiful. I don't need anything else." I replied.

There was a knock on the door. Alhaan sir went to open it while I wrapped my Hijab. Ghazala Bhabi and Aiza Bhabi were standing at the door. Alhaan sir moved aside making a way for them.

"You both are up so soon." Ghazala Bhabi said.

"Bhabi it's almost 9. Is it soon?" Alhaan sir asked.

"Not really. But we thought you both are tired and want to sleep a little longer." Aiza Bhabi replied. She looked in my direction and winked at me. I looked down understanding what she was referring to.

"Its okay. Inaraah are you okay? Why did you scream?" Ghazala Bhabi asked.

'Ya Allah. They heard my scream.'

"Yes Inaraah. What happened in the morning? Why did you scream?" Alhaan sir spoke.

I looked at him who was having a teasing smile. How can he tease me like that. I glared at him and looked back at Ghazala Bhabi.

"Uh.. Nothing Bhabi. I am fine." I replied.

"Are you sure Inaraah?" Alhaan sir asked.

Ya Allah what is he doing? He is enjoying my condition and I'm standing helpless. I didn't reply to him.

"But Alhaan you were in the room too right. You don't know what happened?" Aiza Bhabi asked.

Ya Allah please help me. I looked at Alhaan sir who had a mischievous smile on his lips. I just hope he doesn't give any silly reply.

"No Bhabi. I was in the shower." Alhaan sir said. I sighed in relief with his reply. He is teasing me since morning.

"Okay okay. Let's go down. Come on." Ghazala Bhabi said.
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We made our way towards the living room where everyone were seated. We both greeted everyone and took their blessings. Then we all moved to the garden area to have breakfast. At first I was confused and when we reached there, I saw many round tables placed in the garden in order to accommodate everyone. Each table had 10 chairs around it. I felt as if we are in some business gathering.

Once we all settled, breakfast was served. Sumaiyya aunty served my plate with egg curry, fried mutton and Chapathi, one freaking whole chapathi.

'Ya Allah, how in the world am I going to finish it?'

I looked at Alhaan sir who was busy in his breakfast. I cleared my throat to gain his attention. He turned to me and I looked at him with pleading eyes.

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Alhaan's p.o.v

Qureshi mansion - Garden area:

I was busy having my breakfast when Inaraah cleared her throat which caught my attention. I looked at her whose eyes were already on me with a pleading look. She moved her head little forward and whispered, "Alhaan sir its one whole chapathi."

I looked at her and said, "Great Observation Inaraah. Even I can see its whole chapathi."

She frowned at my reply and said, "I can't eat whole Chapathi."

We both were whispering when someone cleared their throat loudly. We looked in the opposite direction where Azaan Bhai was sitting, smirking at us.

"Love birds, have your breakfast first and then you can move to your room and have a healthy chat." Azaan bhai said. I just rolled my eyes at him while Inaraah looked down. I nudged Inaraah to have her breakfast which again caught Azaan Bhai's attention.

"What happened Inaraah? Any problem?" Azaan Bhai asked.

Inaraah looked at me and I just shrugged my shoulders. She was contemplating whether to speak or not. "She can't eat whole Chapathi." I replied on her behalf.

"Why Inaraah? You don't like anything?" Mamma asked.

Inaraah took a deep breath and said, "I can hardly eat half chapathi in the morning. I don't like having breakfast."

Is she serious? How can anyone dislike breakfast? Its nearly 12 hours we had our dinner and still she isn't hungry. Fahad Bhai was right, she have developed a habit of skipping food.

"What? That's the reason you are so lean. Its not good for your health Inaraah. You should have ample amount of breakfast." Mamma replied. She came towards her and settled on the next seat.

"From today I will make sure, you eat healthy and enough breakfast." Saying so Mamma started feeding Inaraah. Inaraah was taken aback but then Mamma started narrating her, her all time favourite wish of having a daughter. And how Allah has blessed them with three daughters when they wished to have one. I smiled widely at the sight and somewhere wished it was me who fed Inaraah like that. But if I do, these monsters will tease us to no end.

"And Inaraah if you want eat something else, I will prepare it for you." Azaan Bhai said.

"No thank you. I don't want my wife to fall sick." I replied. My reply was followed by a series of Ooo's and Awww's from my cousins.

I ignored them and said, "Mamma you know you can feed me as well. I would love it." Mamma just shook her head and avoided me as if I don't exist. Wow, now she loves her daughter more than me.

"Come here Chote, I will feed you." Azaan Bhai said.

"No thanks Bhai. You can feed the person sitting next to you." I said while pointing at Aiza Bhabi.

"Yes Of course." Saying so he actually made a morsel and started feeding Bhabi. She denied at first but on his insistence she gave in. The breakfast table was filled with whistles and hooting on my brother's heroic act.

Mamma was about to feed another Chapathi to Inaraah but she stopped Mamma, "No aunty please. I can't eat more."

"First of all I am not your aunty anymore. Call me Mamma. And since its your first day I am leaving it. But from tomorrow I will feed you till I am content." Mamma replied.

I felt happy seeing Mamma's love and care towards Inaraah. And that's how we spent our first breakfast teasing and enjoying.