Amreen is awestruck seeing the beauty of the Taj Mahal. She had seen it only in black and white pictures. In reality, it looked so much better. Amreen was left speechless. Faizaan had been here once before and so he was her tour guide. Amreen liked the way he showed her around.
'Liked the place?' Faizaan asked after their tour was over and they sat at a distance. They had a good view of the Taj.
Amreen kept staring at the Taj, it is so beautiful she can't take her gaze from it.
'Very beautiful.' She complimented looking at the Taj.
'Not as much as you.' Faizaan said. Amreen turned her head and looked at him. Faizaan smiled at her.
Though Faizaan could only see Amreen's eyes from behind her Burkha veil, he knew she is smiling at him.
'You think I am beautiful?' Amreen asked. She had never been complimented about her beauty by any man. Of course, her Uncle, aunt, and friends had complimented her a lot before. But hearing a compliment from Faizaan made her feel proud of her beauty.
'Of course, you are very beautiful. I love your eyes the most.' Faizaan said. Amreen blushed turning her head away.
They walked little in the gardens of the Taj. Their arms touched once and both jumped away feeling a strong electric jolt. Amreen blushed. Noticing her eyes twinkle Faizaan knew she is blushing behind her veil.
They had food in the restaurant, this is the first-time experience for Amreen. Luckily, the menu was written in Urdu and Hindi, the two language that Amreen knew. She was thankful that she didn't get embarrassed.
The food was delicious and both Faizaan and Amreen enjoyed a lot. The same night, they headed back to Lucknow in first class of the train.
Amreen looked out from the window staring into the darkness of the night. Faizaan came with two cups of tea.
'Thank you.' Amreen said to Faizaan who sat opposite her. Faizaan smiled at her. Silently they sipped their tea. While Amreen stared out, Faizaan stared at her.
******************
Two weeks later,
Amreen is working in the kitchen when Fiza, her mother-in-law came to her, 'Amreen. Have you spoken to your father?' she asked. Amreen looked at her mother-in-law. Fiza had been pestering Amreen for dowry (in directly) for two weeks now. She had indirectly asked for it since Amreen had come from her village but now she has become more direct and she is sounding very agitated.
Amreen didn't know how to ask her father, Faizaan had clearly said he doesn't want anything from her father. Amreen was speechless.
'What a useless Bahu you are?' Fiza said. Amreen is shocked with her mother-in-law's tone.
'Neither have you brought any dowry with yourself nor have you given me a grandson yet. Zulekha would have been better Bahu than you. I was mad to have chosen you instead.' Fiza said angrily. Amreen is stunned. She watched Fiza walk away.
Zulekha? Better Bahu? Amreen didn't like the sound of it, then again, her step-mother's word came back to her and she is worried once again.
********************
Amreen broke down in her room, she cried hugging her knees. Amreen didn't know what to do? Things like babies aren't in anyone's hand, how can she give a baby when she hasn't even consummated her marriage. How will she do it? Faizaan must make the first move, and he had done once but she had messed up. Amreen felt guilty. Then her mother-in-law is pressuring her for dowry as well.
Amreen felt helpless. Being very young, Amreen didn't know how to handle the situation. She kept crying and crying. She felt alone and vulnerable.
Faizaan came home and is surprised to see Amreen's sad face. Her eyes swollen and her lips dry.
'I will get your night clothes.' she said, her voice hoarse. It was clear now that she had been crying.
'What happened, Amreen?' he asked concerned.
'Nothing.' Amreen mumbled. Faizaan held her hand.
'I had seen you cry but never asked you much. Now, I am very worried. Please tell me.' Faizaan said gently.
Amreen looked at him, she didn't know what to say. How can she say something negative about his mother? No son will side with his wife against his mother.
'I was missing Chacha and Chachi.' She lied.
Faizaan held her arms and made her look at him, 'Amreen don't lie. Tell.' Faizaan pressed on.
Amreen closed her eyes and tears fell from her eyes. Faizaan was now scared.
After few more minutes of asking she gave in and told everything that had been happening. Faizaan felt bad, very bad. Poor girl had been going through so much mental torture for so long. Faizaan pulled her closer and hugged her. Amreen instantly felt better and safer being in his arms. Faizaan held her gently, very gently as though she is a fragile doll. He caressed her hair.
'Don't worry, Amreen. I will speak with Ammijan.' He assured her.
Amreen separated their frames and looked at him, 'Ammijan hinted on your second marriage. Will you marry someone else? You will leave me?'
Faizaan is shocked with what Amreen had said.
Amreen is thinking so low of him? How can she think he will marry someone else when he loves her? But then, it is his fault as well, he hasn't even confessed his love for her. He smacked his forehead.
'Amreen, nothing like that will happen. I will never marry anyone else.' Faizaan said holding her shoulder.
Amreen moved his hand, 'Why not? I am useless. You are a man you can get so many other girls. Then why will you be with me.' Amreen cried. She seemed to have made up her mind that Faizaan will leave her.
Faizaan smiled and held her hand, 'Amreen...I won't...For you, you can be useless but for me you are thousand times better than any other woman. And I love you.' Faizaan confessed.
Amreen felt her heart skip a beat on his confession. She blinked at him, he held her gaze confidently.
'Yes, I love you. It was love at first time for me. I had always loved you and will always love you.' he confessed sincerely. Amreen is pleasantly shocked with the revelation. She is numb, in a good way.
He loves her; Faizaan loves her, her husband loves her. She isn't useless after all.