۰۳

If someone were to ask Zyva Qureshi what she liked about Azlan Sikandar, she would be rendered speechless. There wasn't one thing she could think of that made the man she was married to likeable. He was an abomination in her eyes.

But, today was one of those days where the hatred she felt for him had minimised to a point as to if he were dying of thirst, she would consider giving him water.

Azlan had somehow managed to convince his parents that they couldn't go on a honeymoon just yet. Although, his parents had put up a tough fight, Azlan had shrewdly managed to win over in the argument. He very validly explained, that since both of them were reeling from the shock of the sudden marriage, they needed time to settle in and if forced they would only end up having more problems in their relationship.

Zyva was in awe, at that very moment but it was soon poured over with water when the parents insisted that the couple take at least a weekend break away to the local hill station and that Azlan himself took a week off from work. They were quite persistent in this and refused to back down, so finally Azlan did comply.

So here they were, sitting in his black range rover at the start of a 12 hour long journey to the hill-station. Zyva was dozed out on the passenger seat from the time their journey had started, while Azlan softly hummed to the tunes of a soft bollywood song resonating from the stereo. His fingers drumming along the edges of the steering as he found himself enjoying the ride. He just hoped this peace stayed, but unfortunately for him, the storm beside him stirred awake, letting out a loud yawn as she stretched her arms above her head, causing the pale yellow tshirt she was wearing to move above her torso, revealing a sliver of her smooth waist.

Azlan's hands tightened on the steering, as he caught hold of the sight, clearing his throat harshly he turned his head to the other side. But of course his wife always wanted trouble.

"Sunein, mai jab soyi thi, tab bhi hum yahi raste par the, ab bhi hum wahi hai. Are you driving around in circles?" Her groggy voice came, igniting the devils that resided deep within his brain.

(Listen, when i slept, we were on this same road and now also we are here only)

"Haan mujhe bohot shok hai tumhare saath same raste par phirne ka. Mein pagal dikhta hu tume?"

(Yes, i like roaming on the same roads with you. Do i look like an idiot to you?)

"Dikhte to aap lomdi ki shakal waale hai waise." Zyva grumbled lowly as she picked up her phone, swiping it open.

(You look like a wolf faced man tho.)

"This habit of yours to mumble in your mouth is so fucking annoying! Stop whispering to yourself. Himmat hai to seede-seede bolo."Azlan growled, giving her a disgusting side-eye.

"You—" Zyva wanted to reply back but before that her stomach began to grumble loudly, causing her to shrink back into her seat looking at the person beside him in embarrassment.

"Can you manage for a few more minutes? We will reach a toll free road soon, We can have lunch there." Azlan's almost caring response shocked the living day light from Zyva's mind. How didn't he insult her?

"Theek to hai aap?" Zyva gasped, her mouth opening and closing like that of a fish. The sentence leaving past her lips before she could

even phantom the shock.

(Are you okay?)

"Mooh band karlo, makhi ghus jayegi tumhare gufa jaise moo mein." Azlan exclaimed not even sparing her another glance as he concentrated on driving.

(Close your mouth, a house fly might fly into the cave you have for a mouth.)

"Waah, Zyva, Waah! Even your delusions are broken faster than any records in the Guinness. How dare you think this useless paperclip of a man would turn into a beautiful gentleman man stapler!" Her subconscious voice screamed.

Apparently it screamed too loud because Azlan shot her a glare followed by precious curses leaving his mouth.

"Are you comparing me to a paperclip and a stapler?!"

Thankfully to save her, her phone buzzed to life in her lap. Flashing Ammar's name across the screen.

"Zyvuu!" His screechy voice sing-sang as she pressed it to her ear.

"Ammuu!" Her equally screechy voice sang back, as she grinned happily.

Well while the older grumpy Sikander brother that she was married to was a pain in the ass and the bane of her existence, the younger Sikander was the same age as her. They had studied together since they were kids and had even majored in the same course. They were the closest thing to being each other's best friends but either of them refused to accept it.

"Kahan mar gayi ho tum? Neeche aao yaar. I am damn hungry!" Ammar groaned, completely forgotten of the couple embarking on their mini honeymoon.

"Ammar, I am not home.." Zyva trailed hoping that the idiot got the hint and remembered.

"What do you mean you aren't home? You left me and went somewhere?"

"Ammu! Gadhey. I am going to the hill-station with Azlan Bhai, Yawwr!" She muttered a little loudly again forgetting about her husband dearest beside.

"Kya bola tum ne?!" Both the brothers screamed together, equally infuriated. Zyva bit her lip in nervousness, ready to reply to Ammar and cut the call but, Azlan had already snatched the phone from her hand and put it on speaker.

(What did you say?)

"Ammu beta. Gadhey kahike." Azlan sarcastically called out with gritted teeth eliciting an immediate response from the other side.

"Kya hai bhai, dono husband-wife bus mujhe gadha bulate ho!"

(What is this? Both husband and wife call me only donkey)

"Until now, I have only called you. Next time i hear you addressing Zyva as anything but Bhabhi, I will make sure that you will only ever be called a Gadha! Understood?" Azlan said, glaring at Zyva who looked at him wide eyed and tried speaking in the phone but he just moved it to the other side.

"Listen this—" Ammar himself started but it was overpowered by Zyva's screaming.

"Dare you call me Bhabhi! I will break all of your bones!"

By now Azlan had cut the call and tossed the phone in the back seat.

"What is your problem?!" Zyva continued screaming as she turned around to reach for her phone but Azlan pushed her down by the shoulder.

"What did you call me on the phone?" He glowered. His eyes chilly as they concentrated on the road.

Shit. Shit. Ever since they had gotten married Zyva had made sure to not use the term Bhai for him, in front of everyone and anyone, except Ammar. She always referred to him as, Unhein, Unko, Wo, Sunein, and everything that the urdu dictionary classified under the typical wife section. Not that she was scared of him. Never. But she had to make a habit to keep his and her own respect in front of everyone else. She couldn't embarrass herself by calling her husband Bhai, even though that would be logical considering their 7 year long age difference.

"Nahi na!" She quickly jumped into action, trying to do damage control as she pushed her finger vertically against his lips, catching him completely off guard. His dark eyes widening considerably. "Aap bus ab kavve jaise kaw kaw karke mujhe nahi daatein. Please."

(Don't scold me like a crow cawing)

Azlan having completely gone into a trace, simply nodded his head and only then did Zyva remove her finger from his lips in relief.

The rest of the ride was in absolute silence until, Azlan stopped at a petrol station, after which they moved towards the small dhaba adjacent to the station. Azlan however signalled Zyva to be seated in the car, while he went out and got food for the both of them in parcels. It wasn't anything grand, just a few of grilled chicken wrapped in paratha rolls with tangy mint chutney, garlic mayo and pickled onions, a couple packets of chips and a few tinned cold drinks.

Zyva immediately started stuffing her face with the rolls, only half way through her second one did she realise that Azlan was driving instead of eating. Chewing down at the bite in her mouth, she unwrapped a fresh roll, and pushed it in front of him, who was driving flaccidly, his head leaned against the window-on his side as one hand rested on the steering wheel.

Lifting his head at the roll in front of him he raised his eyebrows in shock. She was surprising him beyond he could handle now.

"I am not hungry.."

Placing her own roll down she frowned at she turned towards him, facing him completely.

"You didn't even have breakfast. It's going to be three."

"Well, we can't stop. If we do then we will not be able to reach before sunset."

"I-I..." she stuttered frowning nervously before she leaned forward, pushing the roll near his mouth so he could take a bite.

Azlan's heart leaped in his chest at the gesture. He wanted to say something witty to piss her off, but he didn't. He liked this unannounced peace. He didn't want to fight her anymore. He just wanted a normal relationship. He recognised that she was extending an olive leaf and he was willing to accept it. He was not willing to exploit her vulnerability, her care for him.

Slowly opening his open, he softly bit into the fragment roll, as a small smile unconsciously made its way across his lips.

"Accha hai na?" She exclaimed excitedly as she continued feeding him a few bites here and there, along with the soda and a few sips of water.

(It's good no?)

"Yes, it is." He chuckled softly as he eyed her biting into her own roll.

Only if she knew the actual reason behind his smile was her.

She wouldn't have believed it at all.

____

As they continued travelling the miles, covering large plains and grasslands, causally chatting arbitrarily or even nursing comfortable silences every so often. For the first time in years they had not fought for so long in each other's presence. It was like an unspoken treaty was established that they wouldn't fight each other atleast until the end of their journey. They seemingly enough quite enjoyed it from the looks of it.

The ride started getting a little troublesome when they had finally arrived at the base of the hill station and had to go through the entire mountain to reach their destination. It was now down to only one and a half hour travelling time.

Zyva had started getting a little nauseas as she shifted uncomfortably in her seat, rubbing her chest in circles. Her face turning pale. This didn't go unnoticed by Azlan as he pulled down the windows hoping that fresh air got in and handed her a bottle of water. She looked like she was so close to throwing up.

That's when it struck him. Zyva was motion sick whenever they went on vacation to  a destination over the hills. She would always be asleep during the time they traveled across the mountain. The harsh turns always made her queazy. Her sensitive stomach couldn't handle it at all.

"Zyva, are you going to throw up? Should I stop?" He questioned urgently, looking over at her in concern as he slowed down the car.

She nodded hurriedly, as she clasped her hand around her mouth.

"Okay. Okay. You are going to be fine." He immediately got down from the car and rushed over to her side, gently pulling her out.

Just then she pushed passed him and moved over to the side of the road vomiting her guts out. Azlan grimaced, as he stood over her, pulling her hair back and wrapping it around more securely than it previously was. He gently rubbed her back, hopping to provide comfort as she coughed throwing up vigorously.

Finally after she had calmed down, he wiped her clammy forehead with the back of his hand as he made her sit in the car, her legs hanging out of side.

Kneeling down towards her, he handed her water and asked her to gargle to remove the stench of vomit. Before, he wiped a lone tear that seemed to have slipped put of the corner of her eye. Her eyes and nose rimmed red.

"It's okay, you are fine." He murmured comfortingly as a few more tears slipped put from her eyes.

"Tch tch, it's okay sweetheart, I am here. Kuch nahi hua, ro nahi. Bus hogaya. Hum pohach jayenge jaldi."

(Nothing happened, don't cry. It's over. We will reach soon.)

Zyva could only nod as more and more tears slipped out and before she knew she was full on sobbing. Alarmed, Azlan pulled her to his chest, rubbing her back and brushing her hair gently. Her head rested on his waist as she sobbed mercilessly, drenching it, clutching onto his shirt.

That's when Azlan had realised how much of a kid his wife really was. She was barely 22 and he was almost 30. Of course she would behave irrationally with him, when he himself was so much older and left no stone unturned in taunting or arguing with her, how could he expect her to be civil. She was set to marry a guy, probably a guy she liked and then she ended marrying someone who she couldn't even tolerate the presence of. Who she considered a brother.

He had to be patient with her. He needed her to be comfortable with him, to depend on him, to not hate him. That was how this marriage was going to work, because from what he had realised from the mere days of their marriage was, he liked having her around his life, his room, in his arms. She was his wife and he intended for it to be that way.

Safe to say after she had stopped crying she drifted off into sleep. When they reached the hotel that they were staying in he didn't wake her up, he just carried her in his arms and made sure she was properly covered with a comforter to protect her from the frosty climate.

____

guyss please increase the engagement for early updates!

comment, vote and share.

only your comments make me update so you know what to do!

it's been exactly a month since the last chapter lol.

anyways advanced happy new yearr!

byee

~flawfully