The home felt too empty without Priya. Her mom and aunt were crying silently missing Priya.

Pari and Kabir felt the void as well. Pari tried to cheer herself and said, "It's good that she left. Now this whole bed is mine!" She jumped on the bed.

"Only 2 months. Then this whole bed will be mine!" Kabeer replied when he heard Pari.

Pari smacked his head lightly. The siblings sat on the bed reminiscing their memories with Priya. Priya was the shield for Kabeer against Pari.

"Ummm....Pari, Salem Jiju is super nice. After you marry him, can you ask him to take me on a car ride?" Kabeer was impressed by the car Salem brought to Priya's wedding.

"Jiju? Beta, Salem is not your Jiju (brother-in-law) yet." Pari replied. She was still in disbelief and denial. Salem was really committing marriage to her?
The worries still lingered in her head. But she had noone to talk to. Priya would have made her understand if she was here.

***

The next day, Salem's man dropped off a parcel for Pari at her home. Curious, she tore the gift paper and opened it.

She was shocked to see what was inside!

It was a mobile phone. The first of many gifts.

Those were very rare and expensive. Hell, they hardly had consistent telephone service at their home. They only paid the bill when it was necessary. Most days, the telephone at her place didn't function. It was just there to occupy space.

Kabeer wasn't able to shut up about the mobile phone. While her parents were sceptical of Pari accepting such expensive gift before marriage. 

The phone rang and Salem's name flashed on it. She excused herself to pick up his call.

"Hello Madam." Salem spoke from the other line.

When she didn't reply, he spoke again. "Kuch bologi bhi? Or is it going to be me speaking and you listening? Actually, I like the thought of it. You listening silently...." He was provoking her. He knew she would never listen to him silently, atleast not yet.

"Salem. What is all this? A phone! How can I accept a phone?" She didn't want to act like they were married when they were not. For her, it is okay to accept gifts by husband, but not by "to-be husband".

"Two months. How can I stay away from you for two months? Hmm." Salem knew about the hardly functioning landline at her home. Plus, he wanted the freedom to call at anytime. A phone was the perfect gift for his to-be wife.

"I have already saved my number and some emergency contacts. Incase, you need me but I am not picking up, you can call Wajid, Tiger and all these people." Salem knew she may not talk so much to him. Uff! He has to initiate every little thing with this one, Salem thought.

**

Pari's days had been hectic, especially now that Priya wasn't here. All the house chores that Priya did somehow was Pari's responsibility now. She hated to work at home and always made grumpy faces.

"Don't make faces. What will your in-laws think if you continue this behaviour at their place?"

These days, all her mother lectures her is about her in-laws place and what they will think of her after marriage?

Pari just rolled her eyes. "Well, they can think whatever they want to. I will only do what pleases me."

Her mom just shook her head at Pari's delusional words. "Beta, husband and in-laws are never as kind as parents. Women have to do according to their will, not the other way round."

She continued, "This behaviour of 'I will do what I please' only works with parents, not with husband."

Her aunt who was sitting also agreed with Pari's mother. "They are nice people, Pari. But there will always be a difference between a daughter and a daughter-in-law. Your mother is right. All these tantrums will only work here."

Pari just continued her work, not uttering a word. Well, she will make sure Salem listens to her and doesn't taunt her like her maternal home.

**

Pari was at her job when Salem's name flashed on her phone. The phone vibrated for few seconds before Pari decided to pick it up.

"When are you resigning from the job?"

Pari looked at her phone, not believing that this is the first thing Salem says when she picks up the call. Pari excused herself from the desk and went to a secluded place to talk to him in private.

"I don't want to quit." Pari replied, knowing very well that this might upset him.

"Huh? You don't want to quit? Who are you fooling, sweetheart?" Salem knew that Pari wasn't as ambitious about her career. She just wants a good luxurious life and it didn't matter whether she works for it or he works for it. He would always provide for her but he didn't want his wife to work at the hotel welcoming guests and being the eye candy.

"Umm. Why do you want me to quit? If you think that you will make me quit to do your home chores, then you are wrong." Pari started to speak in anger. Her mother's and aunt lectures always scare her about in-laws.

Salem laughed and replied, "I can hire a lot of people to do home chores. I don't want you to do it." He promised her that after marriage, he wasn't going  to force her to do home chores.

She was happy when he made her a promise. But she didn't show it out rightly, she shrugged the topic and said, "I will put my resignation and find some other job." To which, Salem agreed.

***

Her parents had no issue when she told them about resigning from her job. It was still a norm for girls to quit their job after marriage. Few girls would continue their job or would totally quit after childbirth.

Tomorrow, the ladies of Pari's family were going shopping with Salem's mother and sister. It was decided between both the families, that it would be a simple court marriage and a small wedding ceremony. Pari's parents had already made a list of all close relatives they would be calling. They still believed that Pari had brought them shame by getting involved with Salem, so they didn't want to involve more family members and create questions about this marriage. Pari didn't care if they didn't call the family members. The less people, the better, she believed.

"Pari dear, choose whatever you want. It's your wedding! Don't be shy." Salem's mother smiled at her and encouraged her to not hesitate. They saw Aamna, Salem's sister shopping to her heart's content.

When Pari was confused between two saris, Salem's mother asked to buy both of them and not think so much.

"Why hesitate? Don't worry, this isn't mine or my husband's money. Salem has given his own earnings for all the wedding shopping. He told me "Buy whatever Pari and her family would want."

Pari's mom and aunt smiled a little. Pari had dreamt of a husband who would spend money on her. At least, her wish is coming true. But they denied Salem's mother to pay for their clothes. They said it's okay if Salem wants to spend on his to-be wife but for the rest of the clothes, they would pay on their own. Salem's mother didn't want to hurt them so she agreed. She even suggested that they can always look for other shops, if they didn't like anything from here.

They also did the jewellery shopping for the bride. Priya helped Pari in choosing a fitting set for the wedding.

Though she was tired of shopping the whole day, she had fun. Salem's mother was a nice lady. She hoped she continued to be nice after marriage.

Her phone rang and she picked it up. There was noone apart from Salem who would call her.

"Hello Jaan." She blushed whenever he would call her with endearing terms.

"How was the shopping?" He asked her.

"Good. Have you bought your wedding outfit?" She asked him curiously.

"No, not yet. I will do it in a few days." Salem replied.

"Few days? Won't it be late? Kahin bhagne ka iraada toh nahi?" (Is your intention to run away?)

"Hahhaha. I don't intend to run away. Do you?" He asked her.

"Ummm. Can't tell you but, maybe not." She teased him.

"Huh. Sochna bhi mat bhagne ke bare mein. I will find you from anywhere. And after that..." Salem left his sentence incomplete.

(Translation : Don't even think about running away)

"After that...?" Pari questioned.

"I will drag you, marry you, tie you to my bed so that you won't ever leave me." He replied.

"Chiii. Kaise baate karte ho! Aur mujhe dhamkana bhi mat! Main nahi darti varti tumse." She replied sassily.

(Chiii! What rubbish you talk! And don't even think about threatening me. I am not scared of you.)

"Haye!" She could hear his smile when he replied.

"Are you smoking?" She asked out of nowhere.

He looked at the cigarette in his hand. He thought of lying to her, but in the end told her the truth. "Hmm." He took a puff and exhaled the smoke in the air.

"Umm. Don't smoke na. My parents don't like the smell of smoke. I don't want them to judge you on our wedding day if you reek of smoke." She said unsure if he would listen to her not.

He was touched listening to her request. It was the first time she probably cares what her parents will think of him.

"Okay. I can't promise but I will try to smoke less. Okay baby?" He said it so gently that it made her heart flutter.

"Okay." She said in a small voice.

"My Jaan. Just a few days to go! Then it's going to be me & you, forever."

Before she cut the call, he remembered something, "Accha baby, where do you want to go for honeymoon?"

She was shocked at his blunt question.

"Salem!" She scolded him like he was a school kid.

"What? We are getting married. Ofcourse, I will ask you where you want your honeymoon? I was thinking of Europe but then Bali is also good. What do you think?" He asked genuinely.

"Do you so much money?" She asked him. He was already spending on the wedding and now abroad trips. He worked in films but he wants anything big yet. How is he okay spending so much money?

"Yes! I am working double - triple shifts. And after we marry, I will go on 2 weeks break and I resume. I can manage our honeymoon."

"Italy." She said in a tiny voice. Although, she loved the idea of going on an international honeymoon. She didn't want it to be extremely expensive that it drains Salem's pocket.

"Okay, love. Italy it is." He hung up the call.

She just replayed the entire conversation in her head. He was being so sweet and nice. She liked this Salem.
She drifted off to sleep, dreaming of Italy and her man, Salem.

__________

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