///Aisha

Slowly, I turned to the side, like I did every morning, but was stopped half way.

"Morning," I heard Aneel say into my ear. I closed my eyes and felt his arms, that I barely noticed around my waist, tighten. "You okay?"

"Yeah," I whispered. He groaned when his phone rang and then answered it, but put it on loud speaker."What?"

"My, my. You don't get your girl and then go for the sister? Good man. But listen, we need you at work today for an hour. Buckten went into hospital. His wife is giving birth. You are the only one that knows the-" I pushed Aneel's arm off me and went straight to the bathroom. He was going to marry my sister?! I heard Aneel knock on the door but ignored him.

"Look, Aisha, please, open the door. It's not what it seems like." I opened the door but stepped back when he tried to touch me.

"Don't!" I looked at him and shook my head. "Just tell me, were you going to marry my sister?" He looked away from me and nodded his head. I swallowed the lump in my throat but still couldn't speak. I looked up at him and opened my mouth. After several times, I licked my lips and asked him another question. "Then why? Why didn't you marry her? Why leave her and come to me?"

"She said no..."

"Wow." I forced back my tears and slapped his arm away when he tried to touch me again. "We've been married for a day, Aneel! A bloody day! We've been speaking to each other for six months! Six months- and you didn't think to tell me you got rejected by my sister so you came to me?"

"Look, I'm sorry I didn't tell you before but at least you know now," he snapped. "Be grateful I even married you." I looked down at the floor and nodded my head. I can't believe he just said that.

"Yeah...you should get to work. Are we still going to your aunty's house?"

"I'll pick you up later," he said before marching into the room and slamming the door. I actually thought someone might like me. He wants me to think that he did me a favour by him marrying me? I put two breads in the toaster and poured a glass of orange juice. I heard him come out from the bedroom and then heard him go into the bathroom. Once he was in front of me, I put down the plate of toast and then the orange juice.

"I didn't know what else you wanted...I just remembered you saying several times that you were eating toast and orange juice." I walked into the bedroom and closed the door. I immediately called my sister and let my tears fall when I could no longer control them."Why?"

"Aisha, what's wrong?"

"Why didn't you tell me you were meant to get married to Aneel?" I heard her shuffle around and close a door.

"That doesn't matter. Aneel is married to you now."

"You didn't think to tell me that you guys were meant to marry? And when you said no, that he came to me? Just some side dish am I? You are my sister. I thought you would have at least let me know." I heard the front door slam shut and guessed that Aneel left. "He didn't even want me, did he?"

"No. Listen, you got it all wrong." I sat down on the bed and pulled the blanket around me. "His aunty thought he was talking about me when he said he wanted to marry. Then I said no and a year later, he came back for you. She didn't want to come back and seem all stupid so she left a year gap. It was always you, Aisha."

"Yeah, well it doesn't seem like it. Anyways, I'm gonna go." I hung up the phone and then decided to sleep for a while before Aneel got back. Couple of hours later, I woke up to my phone ringing and groaned. I placed the phone to my ear and straightway heard Aneel's voice.

"Can you bloody open the door? I've been calling for the last ten minutes. I forgot my keys inside." I slowly got up and then opened the door for him. I didn't even bother to see his face before I went back to bed. "Is this what you do all day, sleep? Come on, we have to get ready and go to my aunty's."

"She said we have to be there by three and it's only eleven."

"It just past one! Get up now! It takes an hour to drive there!" I felt the blanket being taken off me and sneezed. Then again.

"Sorry," I whispered before rushing past his glaring eyes. I quickly got my sari out and then put it on in the bathroom. I then rummaged through the luggage and got out the scarf that I needed. I walked into the sitting room and found him scrolling through his phone. I cleared my throat and then he stood up. He looked down at me and kissed the top of my head.

"I'm so sorry about what I said this morning. About your sister-"

"It's okay. I called and she explained. Can we just go please?" I let him go ahead and I followed after. "Before you shut the door, get the keys."

"Yeah, it's on the kitchen counter, get it for me." I sighed and then went into the small kitchen. I saw the keys on top of a note that said my name on it. With both in my hands, I walked up to him and gave him the keys.

'I'm sorry. I know we've only been married for a day and we are already fighting. I know this doesn't seem good but surely we can overcome this?What happened with your sister was a mistake. I told my aunty about you and she thought I was talking about Nafeesa. Only a year later, did she go back. Your sister said for you to finish your studies and my aunty was too embarrassed. I'm really sorry I didn't say anything before, I just didn't want you to break off the marriage because I have been wishing to marry you for so long. Please find it in your dearest heart to forgive me?

Your very stupid husband who is very lucky to have you xx'

I smiled at the letter and looked up at his hopeful eyes. "When did you write this?"

"While you were getting ready. I'm so sorry, Aisha. I want-"

"No, it's okay. Come on, we have to go now." I pointed a finger at him and turned to the side to sneeze.

"You're coming down with something, aren't you? Want to take som-"

"Let's just go. Now." I gave him a little push and he pressed the button for the lift. "Why do you need a lift?"

"I dunno. Can you walk down the stairs in a sari? From the twenty-second floor?"

"Yes. Just not up." He chuckled at me and then we both walked into the lift. He helped me into the car and shut the door. Once we were there. I opened the door and stepped out while Aneel was laughing at a message on his phone. I was still upset of what he said in the morning."Aneel? Are you gonna come out?"

"Yeah, whatever. Do what you want," he said not even looking at me. "I need to make a phone call to the office."

With a long sigh, I walked down the pathway to the house and knocked on the door. Aneel's sister-in-law opened the door and pulled me inside. We spent half an hour talking until Hussain came down and asked where Aneel was.

"He said he needed to make a phone call. I'll go and call him in." I opened the door and winced when I bumped into Aneel.

"Gosh, Aisha! Watch where you are going!" I stepped back and let him into the house.

"What's wrong with you, Aneel? She didn't do anything wrong." Hussain looked at me and his eyes widened. "Your nose is bleeding." I put my hand to my nose and felt the warm liquid. I shook my head at Maya, Hussain's wife, who started to walk towards me and went into the bathroom. It took ten minutes for my nose to stop bleeding and then another five to wash the blood off my face. I heard the door open and felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Everyone is here," Maya said. I hid my disappointed in my smile as I dried my nose. I was really hoping it was Aneel. "Don't worry, he wanted to come but everyone stopped him."

I blushed slightly and then fixed myself before coming out and greeting everyone. I felt Aneel's eyes on me the entire day but didn't look at him. The car ride home was silent and awkward. The car swerved to the left and I straightened up.

"What the hell?!" Aneel turned to me with fire in his eyes, his fingers turning pale on the steering wheel.

"What is wrong with you? I've said sorry! What more do you want me to do?" I crossed my arms and looked out the window. "Know what? Hell with you!" The car started to move again and soon after, he parked behind the flats but didn't get out. "Sorry..."

"Yeah. It's okay." I quickly got out the car and walked to the flat entrance. As soon as we were in the warm building, I felt Aneel's arm around my shoulder, rubbing it slightly to give me warmth. We both walked over to the lift and he kissed the side of my head. It was silent between the two of us. My head snapped to the left when I heard the door open. A woman and three kids came in. Two were walking by her side and one she was holding in her arms. Aneel let go of me and walked towards them.

"Uncle Aneel!" one of the kids screamed. Then both of them attacked him with a hug. A small smile appeared on my lips as I saw him ruffle both their hair and then him later to take the baby off the woman's arms. She walked over to me with a smile on her face, white teeth showing.

"Hey, my name is Carly. I live opposite you guys. I am so sorry I couldn't make it to your wedding. My husband booked a short holiday months before and it was the only time he could really get off work." I nervously smiled at her. I didn't know what to say to her. I didn't know her.

"Quit apologizing, Carly, I told you, it was completely fine." Aneel winked at me, knowing he saved me from an awkward moment.

The lift doors opened and we all walked in. Aneel still had the baby in his arms. "Kids, this is your aunty Aisha that I was telling you about," Aneel said. I looked over at him and frowned. Why was I introduced as their aunty? The little girl hugged my leg, grinning at me.

"You look more beautiful than the picture." I immediately started to blush. Kids never said that to me. They always pointed to my spots and started to poke them saying; 'What's that?' "I want to be beautiful like you when I grow up."

"No can do. You're already way more beautiful than I am."

"I am?" she whispered, shocked. I vigorously nodded my head to prove my point.

"Of course." Once we arrived on our floor, we all gathered outside our house. "Do you guys want to come in?" Carly shook her head as the kids cheered.

"No. Thank you so much for the offer but these little ones need to go to bed. They have been in the car for a day. So, bath and then bed for these ones."

"Mummy, can we come next time?" the little boy asked. He hid behind his mother slightly so I guessed he was shy.

"Of course you can, buddy. We might be a bit busy this week by going to people's houses but after that you are more than free to come in." Carly opened the door and the two kids ran in after waving goodbye. Aneel gave the baby back and she smiled at us.

"Goodnight, you two. We'll pop round once you are settled in, Aisha." With that said, she walked into her house leaving us alone in the hallway. Once you came out from the lift, the four houses were seperated in two. So for us two, you needed a key to get through and you had a mini hallway, on each end our house and Carly's house. That actually amazed me when I first saw it because we never had anything like that from where I grew up.

"Aisha, you want to actually come into the house?" I looked up at Aneel who was holding our front door open. He already had his shoes off. "Do I have to drag you in?" I quickly shook my head and walked through the door.

Once I came out from the bathroom, my crumpled sari in my arms, I saw Aneel leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. As soon as he saw me, he straightened up and smiled at me.

"Aisha?" I slowly walked up to him.

"Aneel..." He rolled his eyes and took my hand into his. Then, he started to drag me to the room. "What are you doing?"

"I want to show you something." He let go of my arm and I threw the sari onto the bed making a note to put that away properly. "First of all, I am so sorry for today," he said as he turned to face the cupboard. I frowned as he did that. If he was truly sorry then he would have turned around and said it to my face. He continued to mutter to himself as he looked for what he wanted. Whilst doing that, he ended up messing up almost everything in the cupboard.

"Am I going to have to fold all those clothes again?"

"Shh, I think I found it." I sighed as I sat on the bed, waiting for him to show me what he was talking about. "Get up, I found it." I listened to him and he grinned at me as he slowly placed the paper onto my hand. I felt it between my fingertips and guessed it was a photo. When I looked down, I was right. Since it was the back of the photo, I didn't know who was on there but someone wrote a date on the back that was now smudged. Glancing back at Aneel, he looked eager and nervous. Who could this person be?

I flipped the photo over. My eyes scanned over the picture as I tried to work out who it could be. Then once I saw the two little kids beside the woman, I knew it was Aneel's mum. "Your mum is very beautiful, Aneel."

"She is, isn't she? Whenever I think of her, I just remember the time when me and my sister were beside her and she just finally caught us in playing tag." I watched in admiration as he spoke about his mum, getting lost in the memoires. His eyes were distant and he had a faint smile on his face as he spoke. "She obviously was going slow. I was this fat little kid who did't really go far," he laughed to himself. With a smile, I gave it back to him.

"How come you showed me the photo?"

"I just wanted you to see. Let you in, that sort of thing." As he was looking down, a small blush formed on his cheeks. Wihthout thinking, I wrapped my arms around him, digging my head into his neck. "What are you doing?"

"I'm hugging you."

"Why?"

"Don't you want me to hold you?" I whispered, letting him go slightly.

"Don't you let go," he muttered when he wrapped his arms around me. He sighed and pulled me in tighter. "Aisha?" I heard him whisper.

"Yeah?"

"Promise me you won't get angry?" He leaned back slightly so we were face to face. I nodded my head and he closed his eyes. "I want to tell you something that I know will put you on the spot and I won't even be mad if you don't say anything. I just don't want you to get mad."

"I promise." He sighed again and I was starting to get worried. In the six months that I spoke to him, he was never this nervous.

"I love you," he whispered softly. I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out. I couldn't even say I did too because we were only married for a couple of days.

"And why would I get mad?"

"Maybe I was going too fast? I don't know." Aneel finally opened his eyes and slowly smiled at me. "You're quite the awesome one, you know that?" I smiled back and laughed.

"So I have been told by quite the number of people."

"Sure you have. I think your tiredness is getting to you." I frowned and he kissed the top of my head.

"I'm not tired."

"You yawned a lot over the last two hours and your eyes are red. You are tired. And I'm tired. So we should get some sleep, yeah?" I traced over his tie and sighed. This guy actually knew me already.

"I think you may need to get changed."

"I will. It will only take two minutes. You just get into bed."

"I need to go to the toilet and brush my teeth, wash my face, blah, blah, blah." Aneel dropped his arms with a laugh and lightly pushed me to the door. "Stop," I laughed.

"Then go! But wait, take this with you." He quickly took off his tie and then began to unbutton his shirt.

"Aneel! You could have told me to turn around," I rushed before putting a hand over my eyes. I didn't hear anything at first but then his deep laughter filling the room.

"You've seen everything of mine and I have seen everything of yours. Why are you so shy?" I slowly put down my hand, cheeks burning. "Here." I caught the shirt in the air as he laughed again. "You're too cute." 

After I brushed my teeth, Aneel went into the bathroom to brush his too. I sighed as I looked into the mirror, starting to brush my hair. My husband loved me. He actually loved me. But why? What did he even see in me? Aneel kissed my cheek as he passed by and jumped onto the bed. I put the brush down on the table.
"Shall I turn off the light?"

"Please."