3 weeks later

"Nandi!" The doorbell had been ringing for the past 5 minutes yet no one seemed to hear it. "Nandi!"

That woman was so deaf.

"Ya!" She finally replied.

"The doorbell is ringing." Hoori called from the couch. She had never gouged on as many snacks in her life but her uncle went just a little too crazy in the snack aisle and had come home with 4 bags full of junk food.Considering both her aunty and uncle had crazy diabetes, it would be up to Hoori to finish everything.

Not that she minded, really.

"Alright!" She heard Nandi's loud steps on the stairs before she heard voices from the front.

She picked up her Tablet, grateful that she could at least pick it up after 3 very long weeks, as she resumed her movie.

"Hey." An amused voice interrupted her from the doorway.

"Hi." She looked at Mikaeel, surprise evident on her face. What was he doing here?

"How are you?" It felt as if they were strangers meeting for the first time considering how formal they were acting.

"Better, thanks. And you?"

"Okay."

"What are you doing here?" She hadn't messaged him and hadn't planned to till she could at least walk unaided.

"Your aunty told me you needed warmer clothes." He said, eyeing her jersey- his jersey that he had been looking for.

She looked down, covering said jersey with her blanket. "Oh. Thank you." She smiled at him politely not knowing what else to say.

"What are you watching?" He looked at the paused screen, unable to decipher what it was.

"To Sir, with Love." She looked around her, feeling just a little gluttonous at all the opened packets and wrappers around her; even worse so that he had to be there to see it. "Do you want to stay and watch with me?"

"As long as you don't force feed me any of that." He never did have an affinity to junk food.

"I promise." She pushed Play as soon as he was settled on the couch next to hers and they watched in silence, neither knowing what else to say to the other. "How did your exams go?" She had forgotten he was writing his second last exam in between all the other drama that was happening.

"It went okay. I have one last paper next week." He didn't mention that he hadn't started studying and he had every intention of just dropping off her clothes and leaving.

"Hope it goes well."

"Thanks." He said, somewhat stiffly before turning his attention back to the movie.

Neither spoke until the credits rolled, sitting in somewhat uncomfortable silence. It was almost 3 by the time Mikaeel stood up, feeling as if he had overstayed his welcome. "I'm going, okay." He zipped up his jacket before walking out.

"See you."

"Oh." He turned around to look back at her. "Before I forget, Ihsaan and Dahlia want to visit. I told them that you were here."

"No." She didn't even need to think about it. She didn't want to see that man again. Him and his dirty eyes.

"Excuse me?"

"He's not welcomed in this house." She spoke softly, wary of Nandi overhearing anything.

"Seriously? You want me to tell him not to come?" Mikaeel looked at her bewildered. Who the hell did she think she was?

"I don't care what you tell them but I won't open the door for him."

"You can't exactly open the door, Hoori." He eyed her wheelchair pointedly.

She was sure she had never given anyone a nastier look than she had Mikaeel. "Leave."

"Sure." He walked out, not even bothering to wait for Nandi to open the door for him.

"You know Nanna. You and your husband don't act like husband and wife." Nandi was a shameless eavesdropper and she was more than happy to advertise that fact to anyone who would listen but she usually did it with good intention.

"Tell me about it..." She scrolled through the movie menu determined to forget about her idiotic husband and his equally idiotic friend.

Hoori couldn't believe Mikaeel's friends were in her lounge watching soccer. She didn't like it. She didn't like them and she certainly would not be preparing anything for them, though Mikaeel was fine with that. Shuayb brought enough food and junk for all of them and he did not need Hoori asking them what they wanted in her small, little, tiny, annoying voice.

She was cleaning up her kitchen, packing away her supper dishes when Ihsaan walked into the kitchen. "Hey."

"Hi." She shied away from him, not liking the way his eyes would follow her the few times they had met before.

"Could I have a glass please?" She handed him the one in her hand, making sure not to touch him at all."Thanks." He walked up to the tap filling it halfway with water before he turned around to look at her. She stilled in her attempts to make an escape from the kitchen. "You're very pretty Hooriya." He checked her out openly, his eyes stopping as they reached her legs. "Very, very pretty."

"Uhm hmm." She was backing away slowly.

"I don't think our Mickey Mouse appreciates you as he should."

"I'm going to go now." She told him, trying to stop any more ugly remarks from leaving his mouth.

"Do I make you uncomfortable?" He smiled at her discomfort.

She didn't reply. It was a loaded question that she had no answer to.

"Don't be. I'm just complimenting you."

"Okay." She turned around and walked away, stopping immediately when he let out a low whistle. She turned to look at him, infuriated at  seeing his gaze lower than it should be.

"Mickey really doesn't appreciate what he has." He grinned at Hoori as he walked past her, closer than he should have. He grabbed her bum, squeezing it roughly before he walked away.

Hoori gasped, horrified at what had just transpired.

She stood frozen as she tried to process what had just happened.

She felt gross and sick. It was as if a thousand spiders were crawling up her spine and nothing she did could rid herself of it. She was invaded and it left her feeling utterly mortified.

...

She could hear Mikaeel cleaning up as he loudly hurled all the empty bottles into the bin. She couldn't believe he was friends with such people. They were vile men who really had no sense of propriety at all. Or was it just Ihsaan? The others had just ignored her.

She should have never dismissed the way he looked at her as easily as she had.

She still couldn't get the feeling of his hand gripping her like he had.

"Hoori," Mikaeel entered the room, barely even stepping past the door before he felt Hoori's hand on his as she kissed him.

What the f-

He blinked, trying to wrap his mind around the fact that she was openly initiating a kiss yet he didn't move. His arms stayed by his side and he stood as straight as ever, bewildered at such an event.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, running one hand through his hair praying that he would just kiss her back. Maybe, just maybe, if he kissed her she could be rid of those feelings.

Finally, he started responding. She was thankful he didn't comprehend her sigh of relief as his hands found their way to her back jeans pockets, pulling her closer to him. He kissed her as he always had- too hard for her liking- but she didn't care.

She could only wrap her arms just a little tighter around his neck, their kiss getting more and more heated with every second that ticked by. She clamped her eyes shut, ignoring the fact that she didn't like him or that he was an asshole 98 percent of the time. She didn't need to like him to lose herself to the feeling building up within her. She gasped into his mouth as he picked her up and sat her on the dresser. The mirror felt cold against her back. Her bare skin seemed had graze against it when he lifted the back of shirt unknowingly in his quest to pull her hair loose from her scrunchie. She leaned in just a little closer to him, peppering his lips with light, fleeting kisses before he lost all patience and tugged her bottom lip between his own.

 He could feel the loose strands of her hair brush against his arms as his hands ran lightly down her back before coming around to skim across her stomach then over her hips, stopping at her thighs. His touch was soft and slow as his hand moved along the bottom of her thigh. Her breath seemed to shudder as his fingers traced invisible patterns over the top of her jeans before her eyes closed against the feeling of his palms tickling the back of her knees as he gripped them, tugging her closer towards him.

But she could still feel Ihsaan's hand on her bum.

Her hands skittered down to his chest as she began to unbutton Mikaeel's shirt, ignoring his gasp of surprise. She didn't stop even as she pushed his shirt of his shoulders, surprised at how warm his skin felt beneath her fingertips. She brushed her fingers over her own shirt, unbuttoning the tiny pink buttons before he pushed her hand away- running his hand across her lavender lace bra.

This was definitely not what she envisioned her first time to be like but-

She needed this.

He looked down at her as she pushed him back gently and jumped off the dresser. He was so sure he had done something wrong. Her breathing was heavy as was his and her lips were a dark red from his kisses. Perhaps he had gone too far?

Then she gripped his hands in hers, pulling him just a little closer before she kissed him once again. He kissed her back, barely even realising that she was leading him to their bed till the front of his knee hit the mattress.

If this was what she wanted he wouldn't stop it...

...

She walked out of the bathroom, already dressed in her nightie wondering how she could broach the subject of Ihsaan.

It wasn't the most apt time, but if she didn't do it at that moment she would lose her courage to do so.

"Mikaeel."

"Hmm?" He was still sitting in shock over what had just happened. They had been married for over two months already and she barely even opened her mouth for him when he kissed her... to have her... He was definitely shocked.

"I need to talk to you about something."

"Ya?" He looked over at her still looking dazed. Does she always wear nighties?

"It about Ihsaan." She felt gross just saying his name.

"What about Ihsaan?" Mikaeel didn't even realise she had remembered any of his friend's names considering how rarely she bothered to meet them.

"He,"She picked at the ends of her nightie, nervous to actually talk to him about it. "He makes me uncomfortable."

"Okay..." Where was she going with this?

"He looks at me oddly and today... he sort off..."

"Uhm hmm."

"His grabbed my ass."

"Seriously?" He looked at her dryly.

She explained just what had happened in the kitchen, wary of the way his face kept darkening the more she spoke.

"You seriously expect me to believe that?"

"Yes."

"He's been dating Dahlia since they were 14 years old. No offence, but Dahlia is beautiful. He wouldn't need to do that especially with you."

"I don't need to defend myself to you." She got into bed, turning her back to him. "Just know," She turned to face him, "The next time he comes to our house, I'm not coming down."

She was aggravated.

She had at least expected him to listen with an open mind but of course he wouldn't.

"Fine. It's not like you would need to be there anyway." He muttered before he got up off the bed to shower.

The guilt was beginning to give him a headache. And the fact that he was driving in direct sunlight only compounded the headache into an even bigger monster than it should have been.

He was definitely cruel. They had fought plenty- he fought and she ignored him- yet he had never been deliberately cruel and it was annoying the crap out of him.

He switched on his radio, hoping that whiny, snot-nosed woman wouldn't be on. Her voice grated on his nerves and as much as he loved listening to her so he could bitch about how stupid she was, he was just not in the mood for it.

And why the hell was there so much of God-damned traffic!

The oncoming traffic was supposed to be a killer not his side and if he got stuck behind one more asshole driving 40 in the right lane, he swore he was going to ram him off the road.

Could his day be any worse?

The snot-nosed freak's high pitched voice stabbed his eardrums.

Of course...

...

Hoori sat on a stool in the shower, cringing at the feeling of wet underwear.

There was no way she would be completely undressed in front of Nandi!

She had to admit, the woman had beautiful hands. Hoori waited for every second day when she knew Nandi would wash her hair for her. She would have even fallen asleep had it not been for the water pounding on her face.

"That husband of yours," Nandi looked down at her curiously.

"Uhm hmm."

"How you met him?"

"The old fashioned way." Hoori replied, her face pinching at the mere thought of him.

"And what will I know about the old fashioned way?" She began conditioning Hoori's hair, laughing at the way Hoori actually curled up in joy.

"Sorry." She apologised. "His mother met Aunty Mariam somewhere and mentioned she had a son. Aunty Mariam brought me into the conversation and so we met. We talked, he proposed and then we got married."

"Oh." She mused over these new facts that came to light. "Ya, you definitely didn't get married for the love."

"Definitely." Hoori agreed.

"You must make him love you." Nandi's eyes lit up at the thought of their budding romance.

"And how must I do that?"

"You must use what you have." She poked Hoori in her side.

"Nandi!" She chastised, feeling her face go bright red at the implications.

"Ah! What's all this nonsense. What man can resist, huh?" Nandi reeled back at Hoori's embarrassment. These young, young girls all acted so shy. "My mother- the day before I got married told me just what to do to satisfy my husband."

"Oh God." Hoori whispered, mortified at where this particular conversation was heading.

"Let Nandi tell you. You'll have him running here every morning and every night." Nandi snapped her fingers, annoyed that the water made them too slick to make a sound. "At night, when he comes home you must just be naked-"

Hoori blocked her ears, horrified at her bluntness.

"Hmph! Fine. Don't listen!" She angrily poured body wash onto the big poof before scrubbing every bit of Hoori's back. "But a man like that,tjo!" She trilled, rubbing her hands over her own shoulders, "So tall and those shoulders, ai ai ai!"

"Enough about him, please." Hoori turned her head, begging for Nandi to stop.

"Haibo. Fine. I won't say nothing." She started sulking.

"Good." Hoori shook her head, amused at the vivacious character behind her.

"Okay, we're done. I'll turn around. I know you all shy."

"Thank you." Hoori smiled at her, genuinely grateful for her help.

"Ya." She began singing her church songs to pass the time not even realising that she had begun to immerse herself so deeply into her singing that she had started stamping her feet in time to the rhythm of her music causing little droplets of water to splash about outside the shower.

Hoori watched her, trying to wait patiently.

"Nandi." She tapped her very shapely lovehandle.

 She whirled around, almost surprised to find herself still in the shower. "Oh, you done?"

"Yes."

"Okay, let me just reach for this... eish!" Her legs were strong and stubby making it an almost impossible feat to stretch across to the railing for the towel. "Here," She stepped back, feeling discombobulated and out of breath at having to exert herself as much as she did. "Shew, wait. Let me just breathe little bit."

She wrapped Hoori in her towel, making sure to rub her arms till they were completely dried before she brought the wheelchair closer to the shower.

"Ready?"

"Ya." She grabbed Hoori's shoulders in a firm grip before hoisting her up in order to stand.

"Slowly, one leg ne." She encouraged as Hoori moved one leg in front of her, "Slowly." Hoori moved her left leg forward though neither of her legs had any strength in them. She relied on Nandi entirely to support her body weight, only moving her legs as a form of exercise."There's a good girl." She patted Hoori's shoulder proudly making her 3 steps feel more like a completed marathon.

"Let's get you dressed." She wheeled Hoori into her adjoining room allowing her to decide on what to wear. "What pyjamas?" Nandi opened the cupboard doors, waiting for a decision to be made.

"The dark blue one."

"Yoh..." Nandi breathed out as she lifted the nightie of the hanger. "How your husband can leave you when you wear things like this for him every day."

"He doesn't see me wearing them. I'm sleeping before he comes home."

"Ai huh uh." Nandi shook her head, marveling at the way the material felt as if were solid water running through her fingers. Nandi turned around, handing a pair of undergarments to Hoori before bending down before her. "I'm not looking. Don't worry." Nandi muttered as she helped her charge into her clothes.

"I know." Hoori mumbled as she righted the straps of her nightie.

"Now, Aunty will brush your hair but your cream? You'll reach your legs?"

"Not yet..." Hoori sighed not wholly annoyed but just wistful. She couldn't believe just how helpless she really was. She had never realised how she could have taken a simple act of putting on lotion or shaving her legs or anything equally mundane for granted. It was only when she had to rely on 3 different people just to help her look presentable that she began totruly count the blessings in her life.

Feelings and emotions and marriage aside- her body itself was such a great treasure that she had never fully understood it. The fact that she could curl her fingers around her spoon truly astounded her. The day she realised she could grip things again was one of the best days of her life. And it truly baffled her to think so!

"You finished?" Aunty Mariam walked into the room once Hoori was settled under the covers.

"Yes. Thank you Nandi." She smiled at the domestic one last time before Nandi walked out the room, barely bothering to cover up her yawn.

"Nandi does a wonderful job with your hair." Aunty Mariam mused as she sat next to Hoori, combing out the tangles in her hair.

"That she does."

"You and Jannat always had beautiful hair though." Aunty Mariam's smile vanished at the thoughts of her other niece.

Hoori smiled at her aunty, nostalgia shadowing her mind as she remembered the day Jannat's hair began to fall off.

"Look at this." Jannat held a huge clump of hair in her hands feeling her throat swell with tears. "This morning was even worse."

"I'm sorry."

"What can we do?" She smiled softly, resigned to her fate.

"I'll cut my hair if you cut yours." Hoori smiled up her sister mischievously.

"Ya?"

"Ya." Hoori walked over to Jannat, enveloping her in a hug... Though Hoori needed her sister's hug much more than Jannat needed hers.

...

She couldn't believe what she was seeing.

She had woken up to the most awful alert sound she could imagine, barely comprehending that she had an sms. It had taken her 5 minutes to rub and re-rub her eyes, just to make sure that what she was seeing was in actual fact real.

Sorry.

...
Biochemistry always murdered him.

And he didn't understand why they felt it necessary to torture him with first year work. He hated his first year of biochemistry and he was so sure he would never ever smell such rubbish again.

But he was wrong... again.

...small interfering RNA's which are similar in size and function to miRNA's. Research shows that the same cellular machinery generate miRNA's and siRNa's and that both can can associate with the same proteins producing similar results...

She had better send a reply.

He knew it was late but he was sure her phone was still switched on. He saw a her Tablet on her lap that afternoon so he was sure she could use her phone again.

He looked back down at his textbooks, covering up his yawn as he shuffled it all away to Hoori's side of the bed. His head had barely touched his pillow before his phone buzzed loudly.

It's fine.

He closed his eyes, finding sleep almost immediately.

A/N So, that's what I imagine Mikaeel to look like...