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Rehana POV

My head felt heavy.

Inhaling a sharp breath, I tried to stretch my legs and felt a strange tightness in my body.

The warmth of the comforter, the darkness of the chamber, and the silence of the surroundings made me wonder if it was the middle of the night.

But, as soon as my blurry vision succeeded in focusing, my gaze landed on the drawn curtains, covering every inch of the bed. And, only in a few moments, I felt completely conscious; the painful memories of the burn returned, making me moan with the burning sensation.

Pulling my hand closer before my now wide-opened eyes, I glared at the dried green paste covering my palm.

Bad luck!

I sighed deeply. I could not eat, pick up anything, or do anything in general. It was my right hand and my right foot. I lifted them in the air to look at it.

And I was half naked, too.

Suddenly, I wondered where Jaan-e-Jahan was.

The pain was very less now. I did not know what that medicine was made of, but it did wonders. I was dead asleep.

"Is anybody here?" I managed to ask, trying to shake the dizziness off.

And, my attention was immediately caught by the movement of feet. The curtain drawn open and Shefali's smiling face looked upon me.

"How are you feeling?" she asked, stepping closer and gazing at my hand.

"Tired. Dizzy. Hurt. Sad. Missing Jaan-e-Jahan," I said, and she smiled, wrapping her arms around me and helping me stand on my feet.

Sighing deeply with the pain, I tried to walk. It felt painful to weigh on my burnt foot. The skin would stretch a little, and the contact with the air made me feel hot and insane, negatively.

"Sultan left after you fell asleep. He was really adoring you," she said, and I immediately looked up at her.

"Really? After I fell asleep?" I asked, trying to remember his touches, but I could not remember anything after I fell asleep.

"Yes, I noticed him gently shifting you aside and caressing your head before he walked out. He asked to be informed once you wake up. He would be here any moment," she told me, and I smiled, entering the bathing room.

My open, long hair brushed beyond my hips, and the thin, cottony red inner hanging low on my thighs covered most of me but absolutely nothing.

"I feel so naked in this, Shefali," I said, reaching the fresh room, and Shefali helped me sit down and clean up afterward.

"You should wear the nightwear. There is a long gown that you can tie over your waist in your clothes. Shall I get it for you?" She asked, and I nodded.

"Yes, that will be better. I do not feel like staying in this in front of Jaan-e-Jahan, especially when he stays fully dressed in front of me," I could not help but say, remembering how handsome he looked while taking care of my burnt hand.

I was getting so insane.

"He really loves you, Begum Sahiba," she said, and I immediately looked up at her with the knit brows.

"Why are you calling me Begum Sahiba? Rehana is fine," I said while walking out of the bathing room.

And the moment my sight fell on Jaan-e-Jahan walking in through the main chamber's door, a wide smile appeared on my face.

"You are up?" he asked, and I noticed a group of attendees coming in after him. One of them held the food, the other held the clothes, and the third held something covered with shiny purple cloth.

"Yes," I said, and he nodded, turning around for a moment to look at the attendees. They kept the things on the table and went out silently.

I knit my brows with confusion.

"I should go," Shefali said, too, and I stood straight on my burnt feet, hanging my aching hand forward and staring at him while he was staring at me.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, slowly stepping closer. I did not know why, but I felt timid, realizing how much clothing I wore.

The door shut closed, and I lowered my gaze.

"Better," my voice came out slow as he stood before me and held my hand in his to look at my palm.

Inhaling a deep breath, he gently and slowly pulled me closer. My feet felt frozen and shaky as I stepped closer to him, and I did not know why my lashes had fallen close when he wrapped his arms around me.

"It will be okay soon," his words were doing some magic.

I did not know if it was medicine or if his presence was healing me.

"Promise?" I whispered in a low voice, and he hummed, gently caressing the back of my head.

"Hnnhmm,"

Pulling back slowly, he pushed the hair that stuck on his cheek behind my ear, which made me look up at him.

"Come on, eat something. You need to take the medicine," his soft and caring words, something that I had been longing for all these years.

I could not even put into words how mesmerizing his voice, eyes, face, and presence were. It felt like I was in heaven.

Imagine trying to live this moment in dreams and thoughts every day, and it feels surreal to finally have it before you.

A lone pair of tears appeared in my eyes, and he immediately caressed my chin with his thumb.

"What happened? Is it hurting?" he asked, and I immediately chuckled, bringing my hand closer to brush it off my cheek before it dared to fall.

"No," I inhaled deeply, "I am feeling emotional," I said, and he kept caressing my chin and smiled weakly.

"Come," he said, gently wrapping his arm around my shoulder and helping me sit on the bed. I kept my leg hung down as he pulled the comforter up and covered me.

"Everyone wanted to see you," he said, sitting before me as I settled against the pile of pillows and shook my head.

"I do not want to meet anyone now," I said in a low voice, and he nodded.

"Okay. I understand," he said, gently touching my left cheek before walking away.

Looking around, I tried to pull the dupatta closer and wrap it around my shoulders. For some reason, I did not feel comfortable with most of me at his display, to which he was paying no attention.

"Here," he said, placing the food plate between us, and I felt a growl in my stomach out of hunger.

He smiled upon hearing it, and suddenly, he cupped my cheek and leaned in closer to peck my lips with his.

My eyes widened with shock.

"Smile," his words made me suck on my lower lip immediately.

He smiled, staring at me, and lowered his gaze to the plate.

"Here, have some fruits first," he said, picking up slices and feeding me one after the other. The taste felt different.

And I just could not help but stare at his face. The subtle green eyes lit differently under the candlelight every time he lifted his gaze at me. His hair fell over his forehead, and the patience he displayed while waiting for me to chew down the meal in my mouth before bringing his hand closer for another deepened my love for him.

A part of me felt beautiful. I never wanted anything else but his love. But the other part was worried because I did not want this kind of love from him—the love that would bring a smile to his face. And somewhere, he was upset because of me.

"Enough," I said as he brought his hand closer. I immediately pressed my wrist against his hand, shaking my head.

"What happened?" he asked, gently pushing my hand away and bringing it closer to my mouth.

"I am full," I tried to say, pulling my face back. He clenched his jaw adorably and put it back on the plate.

"Okay," he muttered in a low voice and leaned forward, slightly sideward to the table, to fetch the glass of water for me.

"I can manage it," I said, taking it with my left hand. After staring silently at me for a few moments, he nodded.

"Okay," I gulped, hooking the glass between my lips to drink the water while he took the plate away and came back with another one. The mild smell of medicine made me irritated already and the moment he leaned down a little to lift my feet up and placed it over his thigh, I choked.

I choked on the water.

"Ughhhh, ughhh," I broke into coughs.

"What happened?" he asked, immediately taking the glass of me. The water went into my nose and the droplets fell into my lap.

What was he doing?

"What happened? Are you okay? Rehana? Are you okay?" he asked, trying to look into my eyes, and I just kept my gaze low, letting the water go down to stop my coughing. I felt embarrassed.

"What happened?" he asked again, and the moment I felt a little better with it, I lifted my gaze up to calm myself down.

"Jaan-e-Jahan, I am naked," I said, referring to the way he just lifted my hanging leg. If he had lifted a little more up, my years of treasure would have been on display.

The place he should be humping. Dig. Dig. Dig. Dig. Dig. Dig.

"What?" he asked, squinting his brows at me. "Are you still stuck on that wedding night thing?" he asked, looking in disbelief.

My eyes widened with shock.

"No! Why would you think that?" I asked, trying to cover my leg to the calf with the comforter, and he just shook his head before looking back down.

"It is so difficult to understand you sometimes," he said, and I rolled my eyes.

"As if it's been one thousand years since we have been living together," I said, and he chuckled softly before applying the paste to my foot again. His gentle touches brought a smile to my face.

"Jaan-e-Jahan," I called him out slowly, and he hummed without lifting his gaze.

"Hnnhmm," his deep voice made me feel something in my chest.

"Are you angry with me?" I asked, and he nodded slowly, paying attention to every tiniest of scars.

"Yes, a little bit," he said, brushing his fingers on my calf.

"Why? What was my mistake?" I asked, and he took a little more of the paste and shifted closer to take my hand in his.

"You are a Mallika," he said, gazing into my eyes momentarily. "You did not have to walk into the kitchen again. And, if the helpers were there, you should have let them do that," he said, gently brushing his manly fingers over the wound.

The stinginess and the burn were getting the breath, sending the discomforts of pain into my body.

My chest tightened as the medicinal paste felt wet and cold yet slightly rough.

"But, they are people too. Why bother them for every minute thing?" I tried to ask, and he lifted his gaze to me.

"I know," he nodded a little. "I know what you are trying to say. But they are not just helpers, maids, or attendees. They are experts. And you should have taken their help not because they do this but because the place is new, you are unfamiliar with the surroundings, and you are supposed to be safe and secure." His words felt heavy, and I just could not stop myself from lowering my gaze.

"Just take care of yourself, Rehana," he added, gazing back at my hand and taking all the care in the world to cover the burn.

Everyone was lying. I knew he would not leave the mark. And, whoever would see me would say that I was unworthy of his love now.

"I will," I replied in a low voice once he finished with my hand.

And the moment he lifted his gaze back to me. I fluttered my gaze between his eyes and lips as he leaned closer to pull the dupatta off my chest.

I looked away, sideward to his cheek, just somewhere else except his eyes. I wanted his attention, but not like this. Not the forced one, where he had to attend to my wounds, my scars, and remind me that I got a mark that would forever be a nightmare.

And the moment he was about to pull it off my chest, I placed my left hand over it and shook my head.

"There is no need," I said, unable to lift off the heaviness of my heart.

He might marry someone more beautiful, appealing, and worthy of his attention and love.

"Why not?" he asked, and I just shook my head, keeping my gaze low.

"I am okay," I said and tried to look into his awaiting gaze. He wanted to look at me.

"Hume izazat nahi hai?"

"Am I not allowed?" he asked, and I knew what he was trying to do. He was using my tactics over me.

"No," I breathed, looking into his eyes. He stared at me for a few long moments before muttering in a low voice.

"Ye sab hamara hai,"

"All this is mine," his lazy words made my stomach flutter all of a sudden. The moment he gazed at me from tip to toe, saying, "From here to there," my breath stopped.

"Yaha se yaha tak,"

My cheeks warmed like the sun, and he did not smile.

It was no joke.

And, for the first time, I had nothing to say in the defense.

I knew it always, but listening to it from his mouth felt so different.

"So," he whispered, gently moving my hand off my chest while I straightened my back. I felt my nipples poking through the thin, cottony material as soon as he lowered his gaze down to my chest.

The wide neck felt like a river's wide opening where it meets the sea, and it was making me feel nervous and timid.

"Stop shaking," he whispered, gently applying the paste to the burnt part, and I closed my eyes, feeling his fingers.

It felt way better than the first time.

And, suddenly, I felt like getting completely burnt, so he would pick up every particle of my ash and brush it against his fingers.

"Hum zara se jal kya gaye, aapki mohobbat par rang chhad gaya. Khud kher karta or ye nishan hamare poore jism par hote to jannat mil jaati hume,"

"With a little bit of burn, your love's shade deepened. If God had willed me and I got these marks all over my body, I would have slept in the arms of paradise," I could not stop saying, and he immediately lifted his gaze up to look into my eyes. It was not a beautiful stare but a deadly one.

My heart skipped a few beats. My fingers felt colder, and the moment he whispered those words to me, I stopped breathing.

"Hamari mohobbat ki aarzoo ke liye aapke jism ko aag se khelne ki jarurat nahi... humse guftagu ki jarurat hai,"

"You do not need to play with the fire to get the attention of my love. All you need is to...play with me,"

"Jaan-e-Jahan," A crimson, deep red blush appeared on my face, and I immediately leaned in closer and placed my forehead on his shoulder, hiding my face from him.

My heart was beating wild.

"Aap humse esee baat karenge to hum aapse nazre nahi mila payenge,"

"If you talk to me like this, I will not be able to look into your eyes," my voice came out shaky, and he gently pushed falling hair over him, behind my ear, with his fingers while replying.

"Mat milaiye,"

"Then do not look," his voice came out a whisper, and I could not help but feel my heartbeats ringing in my ear. I could feel redness curving around my earlobe.

"Hume aag ki jalan se jyada aapki baato se tapish mehsoos ho rahi hai,"

"I am feeling warmer with your words than the burn from the fire," I managed to say, and suddenly, he pushed the comforter aside and gently wrapped his arm around me to lift me off the bed into his lap.

"Sirf baato se hi,"

"Just with the words,"

My eyes widened with shock, and my chest heaved up and down visibly. I immediately looked into his eyes with confusion.

My hand slipped over his shoulder, trying not to make contact with any of his body parts, or his clothes would get ruined before the pain would run into my body.

"Kya kar rahe hai aap?"

"What are you doing?" my voice came out shaky. I was unable to control the shivers running through my spine and the sensations rolling over my skin.

"Shhh, calm down," he whispered over my lips, and I felt his gently caressing my spine, from tip to the end, slowly, carefully, lovingly, and it felt mesmerizing to the point that I closed my eyes, letting my forehead touch his.

"Humne kuch Khaas pehna nahi hai Jaan-e-Jahan,"

"I am not wearing anything, Jaan-e-jahan," I breathed almost over his lips, and he gently pulled me even closer to crush my chest against his. I could not help but shrink into him, letting my base settle shakily over his manhood.

It was not hard, but big enough to go unnoticeable.

I immediately closed my eyes. What the hell was I even thinking? My breath came out shaky.

"Jalne ki aarzo hai to libaas ki fikr nahi honi chahiye, Begum Sahiba,"

"You should not care about the layers of clothes if you are thinking of getting burnt, Begum Sahiba," his words were deep, his voice was low, and the way his warm breath tickled over my lips, daring to put me in the grave, just with the mere mistaken featherly touches. I could not help but close my eyes, wrap my hand around his neck, and let my fingers clutch the hair on the back of his head before I pressed my lips against his.

My breath stuck in my throat, feeling the softness and the moment he parted his lips open and brought his hand on my nape to keep me tightened in a place before tilting his head sideward and sucking on my lips; I shivered.

"Ah," I could not help but pull back.

"What happened?" he asked while I panted hard in his lap as if I had run from Miran to Hamid.

"I do not think that I can... bear you in this condition," I whispered, blinking my gaze at his lips on which a faded smile appeared.

"You have to bear me?" he questioned in a low voice, gently caressing below my ear. His hand was still on my nape, making access to the sides of my face.

"Yes," I breathed shakily. "Inside, for a long time, for long nights, for many days, even when I tremble, I break into a cry or feel the...depth,"

"Depth?" he whispered over my lips. "Who is teaching you all these?" he asked, and I bit on my lower lip, recalling the moments from the brothel and explanations from the books I have read.

"I learned," I muttered, lowering my gaze timidly. "I learned unwillingly before you came into my life. And, then, I learned wholeheartedly when you made your presence permanent," I finished and trembled, feeling him growing beneath me.

I struggled over it. And he just kept holding me gently and firmly.

"Ah," I breathed shakily, fisting on his hair, trying to pull myself a little up, and the way he leaned into my shoulder and kissed me while saying.

"You do not have to bear me, Rehana. You have to struggle through me and survive. " His words and the kiss he deepened on my neck made me inhale a deep breath.

"Ah," it stung a little, and my face tilted slightly backward as he kept sucking me. Slowly, deeply, and intensely. My eyes tore up a little, and I felt the stinginess.

"Jaahnn,"

My voice hung in my throat as he breathed against my skin.

"This is burning,"

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