Chapter 16

Rameen

"Mia, what dishes does Waleed like?" Mom asked me when she saw me half inside the refrigerator.

I was searching for something that I could munch on, I was hungry. Sheema and Rania were still busy packing my stuff and I had told them I was going to the kitchen to grab something for us to eat.

"How would I know that?" I asked her turning to her in surprise.

"He is your husband", My mom said in accusation, she was trying to embarrass me.

Too bad I don't get embarrassed so easily, " Mom we got married yesterday, not a year ago. How will I know what he likes to eat".

"I was asking so I can ask the cook to prepare those dishes for the dinner, your dad had called and told him to dine with us", She replied thinking about something.

Ohh God, was he coming for dinner, that meant I have even less time for completing my packing because the moment he arrives my mom will make me give him company.

" And what is this you are wearing?" She looked at my clothes annoyed.

I looked at myself, I used to wear these clothes all the time before the wedding, at that she didn't have any problem with them. What was different now?

"You are an idiot Mia, you have just got married, you should dress properly so that your husband is attracted to you, if you will be wearing such clothes around him, it will be no surprise if he looks at other women", My mom gave me a long lecture, I don't agree with her on this but I didn't want to argue.

"Okay, I will change into something", I said avoiding more lectures.

"Come here, I will give you the saree I had bought for you, I had decided to gift you on your coming birthday but I will buy something else. You can wear it now", She said as she leads me to her room.

" I can wear the dress which I was wearing when I came", I said wondering why so fuss.

Mom didn't reply she went to her closet and pulled out a box and brought it to me. She kept it on the bed and opened it.

It was a silk saree in yellow and pink combination, it was beautiful. Mom walked to the safe and brought back a gold necklace and bangles.

"Wear this with it, they will look nice, now hurry up he would be here in an hour", She said pushing me towards the door.

I walked to my room with the saree and the jewelry, Sheena and Rania looked at the box with curiosity. I opened the box and showed them the saree.

" Wow!!!  Your Mom is making sure you get laid tonight", Rania said with a mischievous smile.

I glared at her, but she ignored me and started looking at the jewelry.

"Pretty, you want help wearing the saree?" She asked me.

"I think I will manage", I know how to drape a saree, I have learned it from my aunt who was very fond of them and had taught me how to drape it when there was a traditional day in my college.

" You both keep working, I will get ready or mom will again start lecturing", I said as I walked to the bathroom to freshen up.

I changed into the saree, it had a pink blouse, Rania helped me with my hair and applied some makeup forcefully.

"Wow, you look hot in this saree, I hope Waleed has good restraint", Sheema said when she saw me after the makeup.

Mom called from downstairs, that Waleed was here and we should come down. The packing was almost finished, Rania and Sheema accompanied me downstairs.

They were sitting in the living room and as we entered and greeted, Waleed looked at me and I saw his grey eyes darkening as he checked me out from head to toe and nodded in appreciation.

I won't lie my heart skipped a beat and I felt that all my blood rushed towards my cheeks. He was still looking at me curiously, I knew every eye in the room was focused on us and I felt shy, this was the first time in my life that I was feeling shy.

I took a few quick steps and was going to sit beside my aunt when I noticed my mom glaring at me, I retreated and went and sat beside Waleed, mom looked satisfied after her mission was accomplished.

I couldn't believe my mom was teaching me tactics, to keep a man whipped. Maybe she was worried about our unexpected wedding and if Waleed liked me or not.

I could have shown her the hickey, which I was hiding beneath my hair to make her relax that her son in law, was a walking hard-on because of me.

Dad and chachu (uncle) were discussing business with Waleed, while Umair, Sheema, Rania and I were discussing the latest thriller flick.

Mom and aunt had left for the kitchen to look at the last-minute preparation for the dinner, they both were too anxious, the only son-in-law of the family was going to dine for the first time, which meant everything had to be perfect.

Waleed didn't look at me after that and was busy speaking with Dad and chachu (uncle), I was a little disappointed. I was getting used to his attention on me all the time.

He didn't even speak a word to me and I don't know why but my mood started spoiling because of lack of attention from him, I was grim even at the dinner table.

I barely ate anything at dinner though mom had prepared some of my favorite dishes, Waleed, on the other hand, was doing justice with each dish. Praising and complimenting while eating, mom looked quite happy by his praises and I felt her tense body relax and she started enjoying the dinner.

The only one not enjoying the dinner was me, I was mad at myself for giving him so much importance and letting him ruin my mood. When he was giving me his attention at the wedding I was mad at him and now when he was not paying me attention I was mad at him, Was I going crazy?

I mean why was I feeling the urge to be the center of his attention, why did I even care if he looked at me or not? I barely know him, maybe this is because of the Nikah. Mom used to say the two words of nikah, changed the woman's heart and life forever, it might be because of that otherwise there is no reason I was feeling like this.

One hour after the dinner Waleed asked me if I was ready to leave, I wanted to tell him I was not going with him and he can go to hell but I know everyone was watching so I just nodded in agreement.

Mom had already asked our manservant to keep my bags in the trunk of Waleed's car, I said goodbye to everyone. Rania whispered in my ear as I hugged her "Don't be a fool and give the guy the release he desperately needs".

I wanted to break the flower pot on her head, but I didn't my anger on Waleed was way more than it was on Rania and right now I wanted to kick him in his balls, arrogant asshole. What does he think of himself, I won't die if he doesn't pay me attention.

We drove home silently, Waleed tried to engage me in a conversation but I was not in the mood, I was too mad at myself, for giving him so much importance. Sensing my disinterest he turned silent and concentrated on his driving.

When we reached home, Dada had already retired to sleep, Waleed had said he was not feeling well and had not come to dinner for that reason. I went straight to the bedroom, Waleed followed me silently.

When we were inside the room and I was going to the closet to change Waleed held my arm and pulled me towards him, he then held my waist with both his hands. I felt like a jolt of electricity traveling through my body when his hands touched the bare skin on my waist, my breath hitched and my face flushed.

" What happened?", He asked.

"Nothing", I replied gulping the lump in my throat.

" Don't lie to me, you were okay when you came into the living room but afterward your mood changed, are you mad at me for something? I didn't even remember saying a word to you, so why are you upset?" He asked, his grip on my waist getting harder.

Now, what was I going to tell him, I was mad at him because he didn't say a word to me? Because I was expecting he might whisper something about how good I was looking or some teasing from him.

I didn't know what to reply so I just stood there looking at my hennaed hands which I had placed on his chest and through which I could sense his beating heart.

He lifted my chin so he could look me in the eye, I kept my gaze downward fearing he might find the answer to his questions in my eyes.

"Look at me", he said.

I kept looking at my hands, I don't know why I was afraid of looking him in the eye.

" Mia, look at me", This time his tone was commanding and his grip on my waist hardened.

I looked at him hoping, he was not good at face reading, and he won't find his answer on my face.

"What happened baby", He asked politely, I don't know what made him change his tone may be the expressions on my face.

My heart was beating in my ears when he called me baby, what the hell was happening to me, Imaad used to call me baby so many times but I never felt the way I was feeling right now.

" Mia", He whispered impatiently.

"I am tired", I lied turning my face to look in another direction.

" Maybe you should rest, I can understand the stress you have been through in the last two days", He said loosening his grip on my waist and pulling away.

My body protested at the loss of his touch and I got mad again, I had never expected my body would betray me so easily. I walked into the closet to change into something comfortable. Cursing myself, for dressing up like an idiot for him and he didn't even bother to give me a single compliment.

Waleed

Mia was sleeping beside me and I was watching her sleep, her eyes were closed and her lips were a little parted. Her black hairs were scattered all around her face, I loved her hairs they were so long and silky.

I had an urge to touch her hair and feel the texture of them, I carefully touched a lock of her hair, they were so silky soft. I leaned and smelled her hair, they smelled like apricots. I had seen her shampoo in the bath earlier it was apricot, her scrub, face wash, body lotion, and body shampoo were all in apricot. I think she is obsessed with apricots, and that's why she smelled like apricots, a little sweet and a little tangy.

I caressed her face carefully tracing my fingers on her face, she was beautiful, she was exquisite and she was all mine. She would have kicked me from the bed if she would have been awake right now. Last night I had convinced her with great difficulty that I would stick to my side of the bed and would not disturb her sleep or try to cuddle her.

But I never said I won't touch her, or that I won't kiss her, not kiss just a peck on her lips. She was looking so gorgeous and sexy in that saree it had taken all my strength to keep my hands off her.

I was meeting her family for the first time, the wedding day barely counted, as everything was so chaotic yesterday. I was speaking with her father and uncle when she had walked in that saree and Ohh my, I was barely able to breathe.

The yellow color of her saree was reflecting in her amber eyes and they looked like they were on fire, her perfect figure and gorgeous body looked so amazing in that saree. I wanted to pull her in my arms and make love to her till she screamed my name.

She blushed when she found me checking her out and it only added fuel to the already burning fire in me. I took my eyes off her with difficulty, I was glad when she was going to sit with her aunt, but then she turned and sat beside me.

I was barely hanging by a thread and her closeness and scent were driving me crazy, I tried not looking at her in fear I might do something stupid and embarrass her and myself in front of her family.

She looked cheerful talking about some movie with her friends and cousin, and I engaged myself in a dry business conversation with her father and uncle to keep my mind off her.

I noticed she was silent at the dinner table and was barely eating, I wanted to put some food on her plate but I didn't, fearing her reaction after what happened in the morning at breakfast. I was enjoying the food it was very good and was praising it because I had seen her mother and aunt nervous.

After my praise and compliments, Mia's mom looked relaxed and started enjoying the dinner. But Mia was still silent, I started getting worried about what had happened to her? One moment she was fine, chatting and arguing with her cousin, and the next I know she was grim.

She was silent on the way back home, I tried to start a conversation with her but she didn't look interested. I was wondering what was the matter with her? She was not the type to stay silent for so long. I wanted to tell her how beautiful she was looking today, and I had thought to try and seduce her while I was sitting in the sitting living room of her parent's home.

I know she was affected by me and she would give in with some persuasion, but her cold and distant behavior during the drive back home made me aware that at least today my seduction was not going to work.

When I asked her what was wrong she avoided answering and even avoided looking at me, I was worried was she regretting marrying me? Or was she missing her fiance? I didn't want to think about it but the thought kept crawling back to mind. What if Mia was not happy, marrying me?

I couldn't even think of losing her, in a matter of a few weeks she had possessed my mind and every thought of mine. Even imagining her with anyone else was enough to kill me, what if she asks me for divorce? What if she says she didn't want to stay with me?

I can't part with her now, she was mine though just in the name right now but that was enough for me. And I couldn't let her go now, it won't matter if I had to use force on her to keep her with me I will do that but I couldn't let her go. It was not possible, you marry Waleed Kamal, you fucking stay married.

I never use to share my things and she was not just a thing she was my wife, I could claw the men's eyes out who would even dare to look at her then how was it possible that I would let her go to be with another man.

No, this was not happening, she had to stay with me no matter if she loved me or not but she still has to stay with me.

I placed a soft peck on her lips, she stirred in sleep but thankfully didn't wake up.

"You are mine Mia, and I will make sure you always remain mine", I whispered and laid on the bed beside her a wall of pillows separating us both, I smiled, if I decided to take her this wall won't help her, hopefully, she knows that.

I went to my office the next day, I couldn't risk taking any more days off, there were too many projects lined up and I had to be there.

Mia was a little distant from me the entire week, she would speak to me but it felt like she was going through some internal struggle. I didn't want to push her for anything, so I just let her be, hoping she would come around and be normal again, but it proved to be my mistake.

She was a stubborn girl and she won't give me anything without a fight, I had to fight her even for an inch.

Check out my other books as well, if you couldn spare a little time.