33. Let me love you

*****

"Malak, meri baat sun. Ro nahi. I can-"

"M-main nahi ro rahi."

"Haw, itna jhut kab se bolne lagi?"

Ziah tried to comfort the lady on the other side of the phone. It had been a week since she came back to the Qureshi mansion- this time as its daughter-in-law and since then, Malak had been inconsolable.

Their separation had taken a toll on the poor soul since Ziah was the only one who treated her like a proper human being. The small town of Bareilly had ill thoughts regarding widows and they seemed to be intensified when Malak was in the picture.

"T-theek hu main. Fikr na kare."

"Kaise na karu? Aur tum-"

Ziah heard a faint yelling from the other side and she waited with a frown for Malak to speak something else. A few minutes passed by in silence from both ends when Malak hastily bid a goodbye, leaving Ziah with a worried expression.

"We can call her here. Kisi ko fark nahi padega."

Startled at the sudden voice, Ziah tried not to fall down the edge of the bed she sat on. Looking behind her, she found her husband staring right at her with an amused expression, failing miserably in hiding the smile that shadowed his lips.

"Humesha darana zaroori hai?"

"Tumhe humesha darna zaroori hai? I didn't even do anything this time!"

He exasperated with a hurt expression and got an eye roll in return.

"Drama kar walo bas."

"Wahi toh. Do you think I'd be paid enough if I joined the drama industry?"

He came to sit beside her with a genuinely curious expression, like he really wanted to know what his income would be.

Shaking her head at him, Ziah kept the phone aside and got up to get the few chores done. A week had passed by in a blur and she still had a hard time believing what she had now and with whom she was.

"Waise, mama ne aaj raat dawat rakhi hai."

"Huh?"

Ziah prayed that she had heard him wrong. She wasn't ready for a huge gathering nor was she comfortable with socializing. Too many people and too many judgemental stares, they could unsettle anyone.

Seeing the change of her expressions, Marwan sobered up and pulled her by her wrist, gently making her sit down beside him. Turning his body to face her completely, he caressed the back of her palms, trying to lull her into calming down.

"We can postpone it, if you'd like. Main mama se-"

"N-nahi, I'll be fine. I-It's better to get it done with."

She spoke with a tad bit determination but the doubt and quiver in her tone were clear. Raising an eyebrow at her, he shrugged lightly and before Ziah could comprehend, placed a quick peck on her cheeks and got up to leave with a nonchalant expression.

They hadn't done anything out of the ordinary as of now apart from him keeping her a prisoner during his sleep.

She wouldn't admit it, but the assurance of his embrace and the sounds of his heartbeat had brought the most peaceful of sleeps to her door.

Marwan left the room with a small smile while Ziah sat blinking. He had mastered the ways of leaving her fumbling and flustered. Taking deep breaths to calm the hues of pink on her cheeks, she hesitantly raised her fingers to touch the spot he had kissed.

The feel of his lips- even if they had stayed there just for a second- remained on her skin like his every other touch.

All so gentle.

All so surreal.

All so beguiling.

Trying to break the blushing reverie, she quickly distracted herself with keeping the clothes in a proper order while the wind giggled at the shy maiden, thoroughly enjoying the show of her skin painted in red and in love.

*****

The dawat for the night was no less than a grand Walima. Waheed Qureshi had not left a single inch of the house undecorated. Shimmers and flowers, fragrances and slow music, the whole place looked dreamy enough to make anyone doubt what they were seeing.

Marwan had insisted on something small but his father was quick to dismiss him with a single statement.

"Ek hi beta hai mera, uske siwa aur kis ke liye yeh shohrat jama ki hai."

Madiha had been buzzing around Ziah since early in the evening. A dress that would turn heads in astonishment with its glamour and detailing had been put on Ziah's form and no matter how hard she tried, the inner lining of the dress didn't allow even slight discomfort to sneak in.

"Masha'Allah, Masha'Allah, kisi ki nazar na lage."

Madiha gushed at her bahu who was no less than a daughter to her with all due rights. She placed a small black dot using the kajal behind Ziah's ear who couldn't find a reason to hide the beautiful pink on her cheeks.

Clearly, the pink of the dress was a shame when compared to the one of her skin.

Marwan had been whisked out of the room and into the main hall a few hours ago and the man clearly showed how displeased he was with being kicked out.

"Ab meri baat dhyan se sunna. The people downstairs, not all of them are supposed to be entertained. There's no need to engage with them aise ya waise. If you feel uncomfortable or bothered, find me or the others at once, hmm?"

Madiha gave the instructions with a clear cut voice. Waheed had invited most of his prominent investors and collaborators but not all of them were worth one's peace.

Ziah covered the jitters that weren't ready to leave her alone especially after Madiha's words.

Looks like the evening will be eventful after all.

The lights of the hall were dimmed when Ziah started walking down the stairs. Anxiety made its way into her blood when the once bustle turned sheer silent. Numerous pairs of eyes, undivided attention and the brightest source of light were all etched on her.

Trying to keep her steps in check, she made sure not to trip and fall.

The sound of approaching footsteps had Ziah raising her head a little in panic but it soon calmed down when a worried looking Marwan stood in front of her- to her rescue. Always and forever.

"This is too much."

She heard him mutter to himself with a scowl. His eyes narrowed at more than a few men as he guided her down the remaining stairs. One of his hands held hers while the other was placed protectively around her waist. In any other situation, Ziah would have blushed at the public display but not today.

She needed the comfort of his touch and his presence. Close to her, by her side.

"My my, congratulations boy! Shadi kar li aur hume bulaya bhi nahi?"

It was him.

The same man whom Marwan had addressed to as a frog during the mission that led him straight to the woman he had come to call his. Not letting go of Ziah, he gave a tight lipped smile to the old man who as always was pretty horrible at pretending.

The sweet smile he wore made Marwan shuffle on his feet. He didn't like the look in his eyes nor the slight judgement in them when Mr. Razid glanced at Ziah.

Subtly pushing Ziah behind his back, Marwan made sure that she wasn't completely in the view of the old man in front of him.

"I thought we agreed on meeting my daughter, didn't we, Waheed?"

Razid lightly questioned Waheed with a small laugh at the end but neither the son nor the father were fooled by the bitter resentment behind his words.

One can't blame him though. Just as Razid thought that he had captured a big fish in the sea, it slipped through his clutches and fell into the ones who weren't even expecting it.

"Kya kar sakte hai. They agreed to tie the bond and who was I to reject such a beautiful pair?"

Waheed tipped his head at his son, silently asking him to walk away and Marwan did so gladly.

Razid tried to stop him for a little more chat but Waheed quickly diverted the topic, keeping his son and daughter-in-law off the clutches of the man and his family.

"Just why?"

Marwan tsked in annoyance as he found a less crowded spot in the hall. Pulling Ziah with him into the slightly dim space, he closed his eyes and tried to clear the frustration that had started building up after seeing the fake smiles and way too sugary congratulations.

He felt Ziah's gentle touch on his shoulder and trying to ignore everything around, he leaned into the touch that calmed his emotions just a little.

"What are you both doing here? Chalo abhi, come to the front."

A woman who Marwan didn't even recognize ushered them out of the corner and into the spotlight. He felt Ziah step a little closer to him when loud sounds of congratulations and whistles were heard from all around.

"Just what we needed."

Marwan held Ziah close to him as the people around started swaying to the changing song. The once loud music had been dulled to that of a song meant for soft hearts and Ziah gasped in surprise when someone pushed past her and completely rendered her into the arms of her husband.

Mohabbat barsa dena tu, sawan aaya hai

Tere aur mere milne ka, mausam aaya hai

"Chalo, kuch toh acha hai is party mein tumhare siwa."

Marwan gave his first dazzling smile since the commotion had begun and Ziah felt something unfamiliar cover her form. Was it shyness or were the people around getting into her head? The flutters in her heart had numbed her mind when Marwan gently guided his hands- one around her waist and the other gently caressed her cheek.

Sabse chupa ke tujhe seene se lagana hai

Pyaar mein tere hadd se guzar jaana hai

Itna pyar kisi pe, pehli baar aaya hai

She felt him guide her steps. One step back and two steps front or was it the opposite? She didn't know. She was too lost in his eyes and his touch.

Marwan finally took his sweet time to take in his wife's appearance. Now that the world was still, he felt his breath hitch at the sight of her in blush pink. The colour had always been beautiful but she made it look surreal- like a dream.

Or perhaps, it was the eyes of the one praising.

Ziah held herself from surrendering to his caresses on her cheek. He touched her like she was an illusion, someone who might disappear if he blinked and if only he knew that she felt the same.

Sab kuch chod ke aana tu, sawan aaya hai

Tere aur mere milne ka, mausam aaya hai

Ziah bit the insides of her cheek from making a single sound when he pulled her closer. His face just an inch away and the fear of the surrounding had dissolved into nothingness.

She held her breath as did he.

Their faces were close- too close to even blink.

Gazes were locked and so were the bodies. Had the time come to halt or was it just their hearts playing tricks?

Sabse chupa ke tujhe seene se lagana hai

Pyaar mein tere hadd se guzar jaana hai

Itna pyar kisi pe, pehli baar aaya hai

"He says what I can't."

He whispered next to her lips. A single brush or perhaps it was him hallucinating.

"M-Marwan, l-log hai."

Ziah didn't want to say it but she did. She had started to feel the prick of their sharp gazes not long back and no matter how much she tried, her mind wouldn't be at peace.

Marwan glanced over her shoulders and then to the sides. A few people had stopped by to watch their interaction and gritting his teeth, he held her palms in his and whisked her away from the scenes.

Steps hurried and breaths ragged, he pulled her out of the hall and up to the stairs.

Bheege bheege tere lab, mujhko kuch kehte hain

Dil hai khush mera, ki khayal ek jaise hain

The door of their room was thrown open and Marwan was quick to shut it behind him. Ziah had only registered the change of surroundings when she found herself trapped between the door and her husband's arms.

Her wide eyes looked into his drunk ones. The usual brown had dulled to a dark deep umber. Emotions forbidden seemed to have clouded their visions- each more passionate than the other.

Not one of them moved or maybe they did because how then did their lips touch so secretly?

He took a step closer, his lips still on hers. Marwan found his hands encircling her waist, pulling her closer. Ziah didn't know what had happened or what was supposed to be done. Her body acted on its own and she found her palms resting on his chest.

Her eyes couldn't stay open when every cell of her being seemed to have been zapped with a tortuous feeling that she didn't want to be gone.

His lips lifted from hers, only for a second as Marwan ensured that she was still with him. Seeing the carmine on her skin and the serene glow on her face, he couldn't stop himself from taking a better taste of the most intoxicating petals.

Ziah lost herself in the battle of consciousness and haze. All was a blur apart from the feeling of him against her. Controlling the sounds that were trying to escape her prisoned lips, Ziah didn't know when he had moved and when their steps had started overlapping each other.

Hands roamed across her clothes skin, spreading a fire so wild that she feared she might lose it. To Ziah's surprise, her hands had taken refuge at the back of her husband's neck, clutching tightly to him as though afraid to let go and she was.

Roko na ab khud ko yu, sun lo dil ki baat ko

Dhal jaane do shaam aur, aa jaane do raat ko

Kitna haseen ye lamha hai, kismat se maine churaya hai

The kiss seemed like it had lasted just a few seconds when they pulled away. Marwan held back a groan upon seeing the swollen lips of his wife who seemed just as dazed as him.

Just as dissatisfied.

"Ziah, let me love you."

His voice was an epitome of utmost resistance with its deep and coarse touch. His hands left themselves resting on her hips as he waited for her consent.

Ziah thought for once she had heard him wrong. Her eyes slowly opened themselves as she looked at his strained jaw and deeply hypnotizing gaze. Unknowingly, a small smile stretched across her lips as she tiptoed enough for their lips to brush again and a murmur was heard that left Marwan with a whirlwind of emotions.

"Only you."

A string was snapped and rustles were heard. Clothes were shed and skins met. Touches like that of a flame igniting their souls were exchanged and voices so tantalizing that even the winds blushed and the stars hid behind the cloudy curtains. Two bodies were tangled like the sweetest dream and the feathery caresses and the sultry bites were never-ending.

Aaj ki raat na jaana tu, sawan aaya hai

Tere aur mere milne ka, mausam aaya hai

*********

*Clears my throat*

Let's give them some privacy, shall we?

Ahh, not me trying to find such a connection in my daydreams. A man like him, is it too much to ask for?

Probably yes. Unko banane mein jo qualities lagti hai, they're too expensive to come by. Hence there are only a few pieces as such.

Jao, go cry in the corner at the loss and do keep checking if he's available somewhere online. You'll have my prayers and well wishes!

**********