"How do you spell Love?"-Piglet

"You don't spell it....you feel it."-Pooh (A.A.Milne)

"I feel ridiculous" I mutter sleepily under my breath as I noticed the curious hotel patrons staring at me. I must look like a clown with the heavy dress and makeup, walking into the swanky lobby at 2 in the morning.

It had taken an hour of hugging, crying, and even more hugging before my family had stuffed me in Kulsoom Nani's Lexus, that we were borrowing for the day. The dragon had insisted that we borrow her driver as well, which was excellent because neither me, nor my left-hand drive husband were qualified to drive any sort of vehicle tonight. Shehzer had wanted to talk on the way here, but I had nodded off in the middle of our conversation. I woke up snuggled up in his arms, and didn't even bother apologizing because it had felt way too nice.

"Hey! don't call my wife ridiculous." Shehzer poked me softly as he shouldered our overnight bags. "She looks beautiful."

I pinked at his words, waiting for EMV to come up with a snide response. Hmm... Nothing.

How strange.

Once we entered our suite, I turned to Shehzer. "Do you mind if I change first? I feel exhausted."

He nods back, "Yeah, you should. I was just about to suggest that."

I settled on a settee in the quaint living room area, and began tugging off pins holding the jewelry and dupatta to my hair. Shehzer slipped off his watch, and unbuttoned is kurta collar, eyeing me curiously. I sighed, twenty pins down, no idea how many more to go...

"Need help with those?" He chuckles, nodding to the growing pin mountain in front of me.

"YES. PLEASE. I thought you'd never ask!" I winced as a couple of pins snagged in my hair. Shehzer settled beside me, on the settee, making me yelp as he tugged me onto his lap. I unsuccessfully tried to control my pounding heart.

He began methodically removing the bobby pins. I could feel his breath on my neck, interspersed with the steady Plink Plink of the pins.

"Here, your dupatta is lose now." He murmured in my ear, helping me tug it off from my head. He gently removed the remaining pins holding my braid together.He fluffed my tamed hair to remove the tangles, his hands returning to massage my scalp gently for long moments. I almost died with the instantaneous relief. It had been hours since I had been stabbed with the cursed make-over ladies. I think I imagined his lips grazing my exposed neck, but I was kind of in a daze.

"Ahem. Mina?" His smiling voice broke into my impure thoughts.

"Yeah?" I turned to look into his eyes too close to my own. He was smirking.

"You can go change now. We're all de-pinned here."

I sprang away from him at that, sprinting red-faced to the restroom. I had securely locked myself in, and started tugging off the gown when I realized I had neglected to bring my overnight bag inside with me. Facepalm moment.

Why does this man turn my brain into jelly? WHY?

I was dressed in the sheer sage chemise that came with my gown, so I had to carefully unlock the door, peeking out sideways in search of Shehzer. He was lounging on the bed, typing away at his phone.

"Shehzer! I forgot my bag. Err... It's the red one." I squeaked lamely. His head whipped up, eyes round at my head sticking weirdly from the restroom door. His smirk soon returned; it stayed in place while he deliberately took his time handing me the leather saddle bag.

"Need help with anything else?" He asks me, eyes dancing with mirth.

"I don't think so?" I grit out, itching to reach out for the bag dangling from his hand.

"You sure?" He grinned back, "I've seen in movies, that the heroine always needs help unzipping her dress."

"I have no idea what sort of helpless twits are being portrayed in movies. I have never in my life, had problems unzipping my own stuff " I snort back.

"Did I mention that I love you?" He said after getting over his laughing fit, brown eyes twinkling with affection.

I quickly snatched the bag from his distracted hand, "Not tonight you didn't." I say before slamming the door shut.

"Well, in that case, I LOVE YOU MINA!" His muffled shout came through the door. I bit my lip to stop from giggling. I wanted to say it back. I truly did. But;

A) I didn't want to say it after he just said it.

B) I didn't want to say it half-dressed, and through a hotel restroom door.

I'll do it when it feels right.

......

I had the intense satisfaction of seeing Shehzer's mouth drop open when he saw my nightdress. I was wearing a baby-pink set of silk cami and capri shorts. I giggled at his reaction, and bounced back onto the bed beside him. He just gaped silently some more. I propped myself up on an elbow, "Well then? Simba got your tongue? Huh?"

No response. I sighed, "Shehzer?"

"Uhh, I'm sorry, I just heard Simba and tongue." He reaches out to grab a curl lying against my bare shoulders. "You are the sexiest woman alive."

I nod seriously, "Yep. Since 2:30 yesterday, no other sexy woman exists. For you, I am the Angelina Jolies and Kate Uptons of the world."

He grins lazily at me, "Kate Upton who?"

I wait with bated breath for him to say anything else. His eyes linger on my mouth for long moments, and it makes me breathless with anticipation. Kiss Me. Please. I don't say it out loud, but I'm anxious to experience it. It seems like 23 years of existing was solely for this moment, this night.

He leans towards me, and gently kisses my forehead.

Huh?

EMV is confused, 'Is he short sighted? What exactly was he aiming for?'

"You should get some sleep, Love." He smiles sweetly at me, actually tucking me in like I was four. Then he turned off the lamps before grabbing a pillow, and heading over to the spacious seven-seater couch in the living area.

"Where are you going?" I ask panicked. This isn't normal. My mom and Adiba, had portrayed a marginally different version of how things were supposed to go over after marriage. (I had died with embarrassment over THAT particular talk) Nobody told me husbands preferred uncomfortable sofas to plush hotel beds.

"To sleep of course." He replies nonchalantly, although I saw him stare longingly at me. He looks adorable in his Foo Fighters shirt, and boxers; his hair messed up, and standing on end. Mine.

"Why can't you sleep with me?" I turn crimson at my word choice, "I-uh, I mean, why can't you sleep here, in this huge freaking bed that you payed for?" Ugh. Smooth, Mina.

"I don't think I'll be able to resist temptation, if we're that close." He gives me a long look that confuses me further. It must have been apparent on my face because he added, "Mina. I think I need to give you time to get used to our relationship before we...before we take it further. I told you; I'll wait forever for you. I meant it."

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

"What does he mean he'll wait for you? he bloody HAS you now!" Adiba whispered to me furiously.

We're having dinner with my family. A tradition in our culture, where the newly-wed couple is invited by family, and extended family for Dawat (special dinners) to be enjoyed together. They give us gifts and money, and heart diseases too probably, judging from the amount of food we are forced to consume.

I didn't have the nerve to confide my dilemma with anyone else for the first couple of days of our marriage, but tonight is my last night in Karachi, and I am getting desperately worried about this dilemma.

Shehzer is the best husband ever. Seriously, he takes care of me like I'm a china doll. He opens doors; he waits before I have taken the first bite before eating anything; he even helps me straighten my curls if I ask nicely. He touches me constantly when we're together, he tells me I'm his love, he says he loves my laugh...but our nights haven't improved, and worst of all: He still hasn't kissed me.

The thought makes me so gloomy, it's pretty pathetic. I don't want to sound like a total desperate slut, but I've now taken to daydreaming about it. My first kiss. I just don't get why he won't move forward with our relationship, wasn't he the one who wanted to get hitched so soon? What are his misgivings then? Sometimes, I think I'd rather just ask him about it, WHY WON'T YOU KISS ME DAMMIT? but, I refuse to be the one to beg him for affection.

"I don't know what he means!" I reply glumly as I stroke Simba's fur. I tried so hard to have Simba shipped with us, but Shehzer told me that the long travel might be bad for the kitty's health. I am going to miss my baby like hell. Probably as much as my own family, my home, my room, my roof...

"Mina! You should talk to him. Find out what his plans are about your relationship. You can't spend your life in a communication vacuum like this." Adiba grunted as she stuffed the last framed painting in one of my cartons being shipped ahead of time. I was taking only about a dozen of my favorite paintings to Maryland. I had gifted the rest to Kulsoom Nani, and my parents.

"I will. After we've settled in our new place." I said decisively.

..........

"I know you're crying love." Shehzer strokes my hair gently as he leans over to kiss my head. I bite my lip to stop the silent sobs. Darn.

I thought he was asleep when I finally gave in to the waterworks. We are en route Baltimore; almost halfway through the eighteen hour flight. I had held in tears through the extremely emotional airport farewell. I had hugged my Dad the longest, putting on an overly cheery face so that he'd let go of me.

"Don't bug Adiba for tea too much. Kay?" I whispered as he tried his best to hide his tears. This was hard on him. We've been cricket buddies, and political combats since he sat me down and taught me the rules. I felt like grabbing his arm, and begging him for one last cricket match together. Knowing him, he'd probably whisk me back home; flight plan be damned.

"I think I'll quit tea now. I always liked coffee better." He replies gruffly. I pull back to stare at his red rimmed eyes. "DADDY!! Why'd you ask me to make it then?"

"Because coffee is easier to make of course." he smiled sadly at me. Typical Dad.

Ali tried to be his typical annoying old-brother self, but it made me smile when he leaned over to Shehzer, and said; "Don't tell her I said it, but she's kind of like my favorite person, after Mom and Dad, and Adiba, and Al Pacino. Take care of her, or I'll make it hurt. Okay?" He finished with a brotherly hug. I swear, men are just overgrown boys.

Adiba, Mom and Kulsoom Nani had showered me with last-minute prayers, wishes, instructions and in-flight food items.

"Girl, make sure you taste the food, and leave it alone for an hour. That way, you can figure out if it's poisonous, or spoiled. You DON'T want an upset stomach on this flight!" Kulsoom Nani pressed a funny smelling organic laxative in my direction. "Here. This helps with indigestion."

EMV perks up, 'Stash it someplace without cameras. You don't want to attract drug dogs with that weird smell."

I had managed to hold my tears for most of the flight, but when Shehzer seemed to nod off, I couldn't control them. I had hidden under the blankets they had given us for the night, trying to be as quiet about it as possible. He still heard me.

"I'm your family now too Minnie. You won't be alone." He lifted my face to worriedly wipe away the tears. I have a problem with crying. When someone comforts me, or shows the slightest bit of compassion, I cry even harder.

"I miss my M-Ma Sheeehzerr!!" I wail desperately. I sound like a Kindergarten brat with my tone and choice of words. I see Shehzer panicking at the tears, but I've about as much control over my tears, as I have over my blood supply.

"Aah! Love. Please don't cry... Please! I don't like it when girls cry!" He pats my back awkwardly. He looks desperate to escape, and that makes me cry even harder if possible.

"Ma'am, is this guy bothering you?" A bleary eyed middle-aged passenger glares threateningly at Shehzer, who opens his mouth to retort angrily.

"N-No...we're fine!" I hiccup back, stopping Shehzer from saying something rude.

"Well, then can you keep it down a little bit? Trying to watch a movie here." he grumbles back, making Shehzer scowl some more.

"Let's talk about something else, huh?" he says anxiously, "What's your favorite movie?"

I shudder trying to stop the last bit of tears, trying my best to be strong.

"F-Forrest Gump." I sniffle. "Yours?"

"Aw, Mina! You lose cool points for that choice." He teases me. I give him a wobbly glare, "Do you want me to cry some more?"

"Oh No, I don't. I secretly love that movie too. Life is a box of chocolates and all." He entwines our fingers together, bringing my hand to his lips. "My favorite is Fight Club though."

"Ugh. You're such a guy!" I grumble. "Okay, I got one. Your favorite band?"

"Too many favorites I guess, it's difficult to choose one, but if I had to pick; it will be Kings Of Leon probably..." he grins at me.

"Hey! they're Areeb's favorite band!" I exclaim, and it hits me then, "OH MY GOD! Shehzer! I didn't meet him before leaving." The dried-up cheeks became wet once more as I wept some more, fretting over the idea of never seeing Areeb again. Shehzer sighs, and drops my hand defeatedly.

"You can call him when we land." He tries to console me. "Although, why you ever decided to forgive him, is completely beyond me."

"It's not the s-same in a phone call. He n-never speaks to me that way." I blubber to him, "And how can you ask me that? He deserves our sympathy and our support Shehzer. You don't know what he's been through..."

"And what exactly is that?" he demands coldly, "He is a rich, entitled brat who was handed his life in a platter. If he decided to shit on that platter for no apparent reason, he deserves no more than my scorn. Sorry...."

I shut up after that.

There's no way I'm telling him about Areeb right now.

Or maybe ever.

A/N:

Hi there! :D

Didn't have much motivation to proofread. Do point out errors, if any.

Thanks!

<3

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