5.3|Tamas • Cold Showers N Pancakes|

NOTE: Shah Sahab - Shahnawaz - Nawaz, all are one person, Qaina's husband and Nikhat's brother. While Atif is his cousin and Qaina's stepbrother and Nikhat's husband.

I hope this note didn't added more to your confusion. 😐😐😐

Now enjoy the chapter! (If you find it enjoyable. 😑😑😑)

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That night Nawaz couldn't sleep. How could he? When he knew that his wife isn't ready to accept him. When he knew that maybe she fears him. When he knew that his marital life won't be blissful. However, he will try.

He spent the night outside his room. Sleep was far away from him.

He went to the spacious balcony, and kept staring at the moon while leaving trails of smoke in the air with his cigarette.

In the morning, around five he returned to his room. He didn't want to see her sad face but, he needed a bath.

When he entered the room and looked at the bed, where Qaina was sleeping, he tensed up seeing that she was still in her bridal attire.

It was a shimmery silver lehenga, with thin embroidery. The tiny beads shining over her attire made her glow like a moon.

Her makeup was smudged from crying. Her Kohl traced the path of her tears. Honestly, she looked a little scarry with smudged makeup.

The heavy jewelery was complimenting her beauty, but it was evident that it made her uncomfortable.

And the most surprising thing was that Qaina was still deep in sleep. Like the discomfort was nothing for her.

Nawaz changed his mind and decided to ease her a little. He walked up to the bed where she was sleeping carefree, as if she hadn't married a mafia just a day ago.

His hands moved to her forehead and removed her heavy silver embroidered veil. He has to admit that the Paasa looked beautiful on the side of her forehead. Then he carefully removed the nose-ring from her nose. It just perplexed him why she had to wear a bangle-sized nose-ring, it would be hurting her tiny nose. Then it was the turn of necklaces. Qaina was wearing total three necklaces from different sizes. Nawaz couldn't even tolerate a single thin chain in his neck and his wife's three necklaces were something that made him shudder. He removed her earrings with a lot of effort, because earrings are a tough task. It hurts a lot if it pierced at wrong place. After this he removed her bangles and other accessories as silently as possible.

But he was unaware of the fact that Qaina was pretending to sleep. She was awake since the moment he entered the room and was silently observing his actions.

And truly his gestures comforted her heart. She wanted to smile, to show her happiness, but then she didn't want to ruin this sweet moment she was enjoying.

Now Nawaz was confused if he should remove her heavy lehenga or not. Okay, they are married but it would be wrong to do something without her consent. He wasn't someone who would feel proud of dominating a woman. He was someone who has raised his sister like a mother. So it was no less than a sin for him to remove his wife's lehenga without her consent. Obviously, Qaina won't be ready for it.

So he let it go. But yes, he removed her heavy veil and set her hair open.

Next he brought a wet cotton and wiped her face with it to remove the makeup. And what he saw after that was the most beautiful girl in his world. His wife, Qaina.

Unwillingly he ambled to get a cold shower. The icy cold water did a little to control his uncontrollable desires.

On the other side, Qaina finally slept. Now she was assured that she has married the right person. Someone who respects her, someone who cares for her and someone who will love her.

At that moment she realised that she had seen only one side of the coin. Shahnawaz isn't bad, he is dangerous. Being dangerous doesn't mean that he is bad.

She was so wrong until then.

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Nawaz stepped out of the shower after an hour or so. He was an overthinker, and whenever he is alone he starts to overthink about anything and everything. Doesn't matter if he is under a shower and naked.

He wrapped a towel around his torso. Qaina couldn't see, so he didn't need to be careful about clothing around her.

Somehow it saddened him as well. That he will never get a compliment from her about his good looks, killer smile or well-built body.

And that's how he again began to overthink.

However, all his thoughts flew out of window when he saw Qaina. She was standing near the edge of the bed. Her hair placed on her right shoulder, the knot and zipper of her Kameez came undone and her bare back was facing him.

He gulped looking at her flawless back. He regretted wasting his wedding night.

"Q-Qaina." He spoke nervously.

Qaina went stiff when she realised that she was being watched and immediately tried to cover her bare back.

But the damage was done and Nawaz retraced his path to get a cold shower again.

"I am going to take a shower. Go ten steps to your right, open the door to the closet, then five steps ahead and wear anything from my wardrobe."

And he turned on the shower, letting out a frustrated sigh. He never felt sexually frustrated, never ever. Because sexual desires could never overpower his mind. But now, just a look at her figure and his temperature rises.

He came out of the shower, this time after half an hour. And he was met by the sight of Qaina in his over-sized white Kurta.

But the tragedy is, it was see-through. He could see her assets clearly beneath the fabric.

"When will my luggage arrive?" Qaina asked when she heard a loud intake of breath.

"Umm... Maybe in an hour or so. You may rest till then. I need to get a cold shower."

"But you just came out of the shower. You will catch cold if you kept taking showers again and again." She said out of concern.

"I am feeling all heated up. I am literally melting like an ice cream." His state was comical.

"It's 27°C temperature. I think you have a fever, that's why you are feeling hot."

"No, it's because I am a newlywed man."

"What does marriage has to do with temperature?"

"It has. But you won't understand."

"Why?"

"You are not a man, that's why."

"Oh, is it male version of periods?" Qaina asked whatever came into her mind.

"Kind of." He agreed because he couldn't tell her that it was because of her.

"Okay." And his innocent wife actually believed his absurd reasons.

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Nikhat woke up feeling slight weight on her body and saw Atif sleeping above her. Her bulky husband always forget that he has married a fragile sculptor, not a giant wrestler who would be able to tolerate his weight.

"Atif, get off me." She mumbled in a sleepy tone.

"Nikhu, just sleep." He was in no mood to wake up.

"Atif, I have work to do, I am not a free bird like you." She said nonchalantly.

But Atif took a whole different meaning of it. It was his habit to take others words negatively. And now he thought that his wife taunted him for being a lazy person who has no work to do and keeps seducing his wife.

"Yeah, I am a free bird. A lazy and useless one. And the whole credit goes to your brother, who has this habit of dictating others." He spoke angrily and left the room, in a shirtless state.

Nikhat sighed. It was nothing new to her. And she knew how to uplift his mood. His cranky, short-tempered attitute always appeared cute to her, she cherished every side of him.

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Nawaz was heading downstairs. He needed to check if Qaina's luggage has arrived or not. However, in the middle of his way he saw Atif roaming around, that too shirtless.

"Atif." He called him sternly.

Atif rolled his eyes at his unnecessary sternness. He turned to look at his so-called cousin, who thinks of him as nothing.

"Good morning to you as well, Nawaz."

He, very politely, taunted Nawaz. It's always like this. Atif will give him a sarcastically sweet comeback.

"Why are you roaming around shirtless? There are women in this house."

"It should not bother you. Your woman can't see." He smirked.

Nawaz didn't reacted to Atif's shameless comment. He got angry but he felt pity as well. Atif forgot that he was talking about his half-sister.

"You are right. It should not bother me if you are shamelessly making out with any random maid in this house." Nawaz taunted back. It was the most logical prediction he could make. He could see hickies on Atif's neck and that says a lot about how he spent his night.

"Yeah, it's not like I need your permission to make out as well." Atif smirked. Now he pitied Nawaz, he is unaware of the truth that his sister is married to the man standing in front of him.

"Now if you are done dictating me, may I leave?" Atif spoke, but left before Nawaz could say anything.

Nawaz just shrugged and walked away.

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Nikhat brought Qaina to the dining table. It was a pleasant sight to see the girls smiling in each other's company. As if they were best friends since forever.

Nawaz was sitting on the head chair, while Atif was sitting opposite to him on the other head chair. Nikhat helped Qaina to sit on Nawaz's left side, while she herself sat on his right.

Atif felt a little jealous. He wanted Nikhat to sit closer to him, but she can't. Because their marriage is a secret and she can't afford to hurt her brother.

But yes, he is waiting for the day when he will openly declare their relationship. When he will be capable enough to take her responsibility. When he will prove to Nawaz and all others that he is worthy of her.

A maid came and placed pancakes in front of him. And instantly a smile curved on his lips. His eyes moved to look at Nikhat who was shyly stealing his glances.

She mouthed a sorry and that was all it took for him to fall deeper in love with her. She can't afford to hurt him, even if it's unintentional.

On the other hand, Nawaz noticed that Qaina hadn't started eating. He had made sure that the breakfast is of her liking. Surprisingly, her tastebuds were exactly same like Atif's.

Sweet, but no so sweet.

Spicy, but the spiciest.

But then he realised that she won't be able to eat by herself because she can't see her food. He mentally cursed himself for not guessing it earlier.

He took a fork and tore a crunch of pancake.

"Qaina, open your mouth." He said gently, like she was a kid.

Qaina relieved a sigh and opened her mouth. As the chocolatey flavour exploded in her mouth, she moaned in pleasure. Nawaz's breath hitched listening her moan, he blushed.

"Oh, my dear cousin is having a hard time controlling himself, huh." Atif teased him.

Three of them noticed that hearing Atif's voice, Qaina turned a little serious. She recognised him as she had recognised Nikhat previously. His strangly warm voice, and his soothing tone. As if he is a lost part of her soul.

Nawaz and Atif thought that she was just confused that who is the third person. Because they were unaware of her strong senses.

But yes, Nikhat understood the reason behind her this reaction. And she needed to talk to Atif about this. There was a little hope inside her that Atif will soon understand that he doesn't hate Qaina. She could observe that Atif was comfortable with Qaina's presence at that moment, he didn't got angry or aggressive. But Atif didn't notice this change in himself. But yeah, he noticed that Qaina's food habits are exactly like him. But he shrugged this observation because it wasn't a big deal. They were born from the same father, so it was understandable.

"I am full." Qaina whined.

"Just one more bite." Nawaz mumbled and made her eat five more bites.

When he and Qaina were done eating, he handed her a giant glass of orange juice. Then he himself turned to Nikhat for some important talks.

"Nikhat."

"Yes, Bhai." She asked while eating.

"Umm... There is a proposal for you."

"What proposal?"

"A marriage proposal."

And she choked.

"Marriage proposal, Bhai?"

"Yeah, his name is Zahid and he is the CFO in his father's company. What's your opinion?"

Nikhat looked into Atif's direction and he was fuming by then, ready to burn down the whole Naqvi mansion.

"Bhai, I don't want to marry right now."

"Okay, but at least meet him for once. He is a nice guy."

"What's the use of meeting if I don't want to marry."

"Beta, I understand. But it would be rude. I promise it will be just a family meeting, nothing else."

"As you wish."

At the same moment Atif stood up and left. His breakfast half-eaten and his mood half-hearted. If it was upto him, he would have taken Nikhat away from here. But he just can't.

Because Nikhat don't want to hurt her brother. The same brother who finds pleasure in taunting her husband. The brother whom Atif wanted to kill with bare hands.

Nikhat never regretted loving him, neither marrying him. She only regretted keeping it as a secret. But she had no choice. Nawaz will never accept Atif as her husband. And she could not choose any one between Nawaz and Atif.

But now she will have to face the consequences.

Her love wasn't forbidden, but her way was.

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Well, it's my mumma's birthday today. And exactly a year ago, at this day, I had decided to write Zaina. And the credit of the idea to write Zaina goes to my friend seekratt