chapter 41

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Athar's POV

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I was really trying very hard to be a better person for Ayesha. The whole day, I kept on messaging her about my whereabouts, and kept telling her that I was missing her and waiting to return home to her. She didn't reply even for a single message, but I didn't give up.

It was way past midnight when I returned home, I had to go to a party, it was so tiring. I went straight to my room, I startled when I opened the door

Reem was sleeping in the sitting position on the bed, while Izhaan was lying down holding her hand, he was also fast asleep.

Why is she here? What should I do now? Should I wake him up? I was about to call Izhaan but stopped, if Reem wakes up she would feel embarrassed, I don't want her to feel awkward.

Without making any sound, I went into the closet to take my clothes, I took them and went to Izhaan's room.

All the lights were still on, and Ayesha was sleeping on the bed peacefully.

Should I go to sleep in the guest room? No no if anyone sees me there, we'll be in problem. What should I do? I can't just go and sleep next to Ayesha, it won't look good.

My eyes fell on the couch there, I went to the washroom, I did my night routine, changed my suit and then returned to the room.

I laid on the couch, it was so uncomfortable, my legs were hanging, I tried hard to fall asleep, but couldn't because of its small size.

After a long while of trying to adjust, I concluded that I can't fit on it, I sighed deeply and sat up straight.

I looked around and decided that sleeping on the bed is the only sane option for me, so I got up and laid on the empty side, leaving space between us, my back was at her

"So much better" I mumbled to myself.

I closed my eyes and was about to just fall asleep when I felt something on my thigh, my eyes snapped open, I raised my head and looked down, Ayesha's leg was on me. I turned to look at her, she was asleep.

I removed her leg and closed my eyes to sleep. Hardly anytime passed when her leg was on me again. I shook my head.

What is she doing? I turned around to face her and removed her leg.

I looked at her face, she looked so peaceful. She was so innocent like an angel. My fingers itched to touch her supple skin.

I controlled myself and laid straight, sleep was long gone from my eyes, my heart was overflowing with desires, I was staring at the ceiling, I took a deep breath to calm my racing heartbeat

I closed my eyes, but opened them back when Ayesha's arm came over my chest. In her sleep she came near me, I got up on my elbows to put her back.

I was putting her back, but she turned on my side and put her head on my arm. I tried to free my arm, but couldn't do it.

I sighed and gave up, I laid down on my back, she immediately came closer to me. She put her head on my shoulder, her arm was on my chest and leg was on my stomach, I smiled looking at her, such a child.

Wait! Does she sleep like this with Reem?

I turned my side to her and gathered her in my arms, she snuggled closer to me. My heart was bursting with delight. It was the first time we were cuddling, and now I can say nothing can be more soothing than sleeping with the one you love while holding each other in your arms, I didn't realise when I fell asleep.

Knock knock knock

My slumber broke when I heard someone knocking on the door. I opened my eyes, raised my head and looked around, there was no noise

I realised Ayesha and I have been cuddling all night, I looked at her rosy white face, her long eyelashes, that perfect shade of pink on her lips

I ran a finger on her face, she shuddered even in her sleep. I smiled, I caressed her cheek with my thumb. My eyes lingered on her lips, they were begging to be kissed, I couldn't supress the urge I lowered my head

Knock knock knock

I froze when I heard the noise again. Someone was definitely knocking, I looked around, it was coming from the twin door, it must be Izhaan or Reem.

I looked at her one last time, I gave her a kiss on her forehead and immediately stood up. My eyes were refusing to look away from her, but I had to answer the door.

I opened the door and found Reem standing there. She looked at me awkwardly, I couldn't find anything to say to her.

She came in the room, while I went back to mine, then she closed the door.

That was awkward!!

I saw Izhaan was still sleeping. I went and jumped on him

"Owwww" he groaned and woke up, "are you out of your mind Athar?" He shouted in anger

"What happened to you Mr grumpy pants? Trouble in paradise?" I teased him

"Can you lower your volume, my head hurts" he said

"Are you ok?" I asked

"Hmm" he hummed

There was a knock on the twin door again. I opened it and this time, it was Ayesha and Reem both

"Jeeju has to go to his room" Ayesha said

"What happened to him?" I asked

"He has a fever since last night" Ayesha replied

"Fever? How? Should I call a doctor?" I asked

Reem walked ahead to wake up Izhaan

"She will give him medicine now, if the fever doesn't go down even after the medicine, we'll call the doctor" Ayesha replied, I nodded.

I helped Reem in getting Izhaan up, and taking him to his room. He took the medicine and fortunately he became ok. After a while I left for the office.

****

Reached safely ❤️

I sent the message to Ayesha and kept my phone aside.

I can't stop thinking about last night, it was too addictive, it felt so relaxing to have her in my arms, I want it every night.

Till I didn't experience it, I was surviving, but now when I have got the taste, I will not let her be away from me.

There was a knock on the door.

"Enter" I said and Rose came in the room.

"Sir! Should I tell you about your schedule today?" She asked, I nodded. She started reading my timetable aloud

I smiled when the image of this morning flashed in my head. I never knew morning could be so beautiful. How can she be so pure? The more I look at her the more I fall in love with her

I have decided, come what may, I will not let her go away now, I was quite till now, but not anymore. I want my wife to be with me.

"Sir" Rose shouted, I looked at her

"Hmm?"

"I just told you your schedule, you didn't say anything"

Did she?

I miss Ayesha. I want her. Not just in my heart, but in my arms also.

"Put all the meeting before lunch, because at lunch time I will leave for home"

To my wife.. I beamed

*****

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Reem's POV

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I came to the dining area, everyone except Athar was there. I put the empty bowl on the table.

"How is Izhaan now?" Dada ji asked

"No fever now alhamdulillah" I replied

"What is he doing?" Dadi asked

"He is sleeping"

"Beta you also go and rest, you look tired" maa said

"Hmm I couldn't sleep properly last night"

"Eat something first" dadi said

"I'm not in the mood. I'll just go and sleep for a while" I said and left. I was at the stairs when I heard Ayesha

"Reem" I stopped in my track

"Hmm"

"You were with jeeju all night?" She asked

"I didn't intend to be with him, I didn't realise when I fell asleep"

"So you never came in the room" she asked

"I'm sorry." I sighed

"It's not about sorry, I was wondering where did Mr k...."

"Ayesha" maa called her

"We'll talk later. Are you going to sleep?" She asked

"No. Come to my room when you are done"

I returned back to my room, Izhaan was awake now, he was sitting on the bed and had his phone in his hand. He looked at me when I entered the room, then looked back at his phone

"You are awake?" I asked

"What do you think?" He asked in a dry tone

He is still upset with me. I had enough now, I marched towards the bed and sat next to him

"Izhaan" I called, he kept his gaze on his phone. I snatched it from his hand

"What the hell" he said and looked at me, "give it back to me" he extended his hand to take it, I put it away

"What is your problem? Why are you not talking to me?" I asked

"You don't know?" He asked and took the phone from my hand

"Please give me a chance to explain"

"I'm in no mood to talk to you"

"Please" I requested, he sighed

"Fine"

"Let me be honest with you" I said, he looked at me with serious face, "I didn't know you had a problem with me wearing such kinda dresses." I said truthfully, he scoffed

"So nice! Phir to kuch kehne ko bacha hi nahi (then there's nothing left to say)" he was going to get up from the bed, but I held his hand

"Please listen to me." I said, he sat back. "I didn't know because I never tried to know. You never mattered to me, your choice, your preferences, your thinking never concerned me"

"Why are you telling me all this? To make me feel horrible?" He asked

"No! I'm telling you that everything has changed now, I don't know when and how but you mean so much to me now. I don't like it when you are upset with me. I am sorry Izhaan" he looked at me, the intensity of his gaze made me look down.

"Please keep talking" he said, I smiled and thought of teasing him.

"I'm done talking" I said and left his hand. I scooted away from him and rested my back on the headboard

"Hey" he sat next to me, his shoulder was against mine, "batao na! Mai janna chahta hun (please tell me, I want to know)" he rested his head on my shoulder and intertwined our fingers

"Kya janna chahte ho (what do you want to know?)" I asked. Allah knows why, but my voice came out in a whisper. He raised his head to look and kept our joined hands over his heart, a smile appeared on my lips

"I want to know what you think about me? What do you feel about me?"

"Izhaan! I think that you are not what I used to think about you"

"Like what?"

"Shallow, arrogant, sly, mean, heartle..."

"Ok ok I got your point." He said. "So if I am not what you think I was, then how am I?" He asked

"You are nice" I said

"And?" He asked

"Just nice" I shrugged, he rolled his eyes at me

"Abhi k liye isi se kaam chala leta hoon (it's enough for now)" he said, then he held my face and made me look at him, "but I want more" I just continued staring at him quietly, he was so close.

"When I entered the club that night I saw you dancing with Ayesha, I was awestruck by you, you were so captivating. But when I saw other people looking at you, I was mad, I was on fire." He pulled me a little closer

"I don't want any other guy looking at your beauty, it's for my eyes only. Everything about you is only mine, I can't let anyone else see it. So I request you, please don't wear such dresses" he was ordering me, but the way he was saying it, made me nod my head

He would ask me for anything and I would give it to him! What is happening to me?

"I am not stopping you from wearing those dresses, but wear them only in front of me" he smirked, "I don't mind seeing you in your shortest dress" I looked away feeling shy

He put his hand under my cheek and brought my face towards him.

"Thank you for taking care of me last night" he said, I looked at him, he was staring deep in my eyes, then his gaze went to my lips, he was bringing me closer, I clenched my fist and closed my eyes, my heart was jumping in my ribcage

Suddenly there was a knock on the door, he groaned in annoyance, I laughed and got off the bed to answer the door, it was maa, she came to check on Izhaan

"How are you now beta?" Maa asked

"Aap nahi aati to theek ho jata (I would have been completely fine if you didn't come)" he replied, my eyes grew wide

"What?" Maa asked

"Nothing maa. Please come and have a seat" I said to her. Izhaan glared at me, I ignored her

Maa sat on the chair near the bed. She was talking with him, but he continued staring at me. I motioned him to listen to maa, he blew a kiss to me, I flushed and felt embarrassed, my eyes grew big at his shamelessness

"Looks like I came at the wrong time" maa smirked

"No no maa, there's nothing like that" I panicked. Both of them burst into laughter, I ran outside the room.

******

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Ayesha's pov

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If Reem was with jeeju all night, where was Mr Khan?, the question was bugging me. If he was in the room with me, where did he sleep?

Mr Khan is becoming so complicated to understand, I was shocked when baba told me how he begged him to forgive me, why didn't he tell me ever about that?

He got me my degree, then gave me a job offer also. What is the meaning of doing all this?

I looked at my hand, a chill ran down my spine, I could still feel his lips burning my skin. Why did he do it? And why didn't I stop him?

My phone buzzed, I picked it up to see, it was a message from Mr Khan

Just had a cup of coffee, it was good, but nothing in compared to what you make. Miss you..

What is wrong with him? He is giving me time to time update. I threw my phone back on the bed.

Reem came to wake me up in the morning, I'm sure she knows about what happened last night, it's all because of her, I'm so restless because of her, if she didn't stay with jeeju last night, none of it would have happened.

I should just go and ask her. Jeeju is sleeping, I will go and talk to her now. I went towards the adjoining door, I opened the door, but froze when I saw what was happening

Reem and jeeju were sitting hand in hand and close to each other, there was peace on Reem's face, she looked happy, she was smiling

"Abhi k liye isi se kaam chala leta hoon (it's enough for now)" jeeju said

He turned Reem's face to his side

"but I want more" he said, then they both stared at each other, I felt embarrassed and  immediately closed the door and returned to my room.

Oh damn! What a fool I was getting upset with Reem for staying with jeeju. He was sick and he needed her, they had to be together.

Jeeju was upset with Reem over some petty issue, but instead of showing him arrogance, she was worried about him, she was restless.

I recalled what I witnessed between them, when I was in dad's house.

Oh god! Why didn't I think of it sooner? They need time together. And I have become the hurdle in their married life.

Oh no!!!

Jeeju said he is giving time to Reem, but does she even need anymore time. I should just not think about it, if jeeju goes back to his room where will I go?

There was some weird feeling. I don't know what was happening. Something like guilt.

To distract myself I switched on tv and sat on the bed. my mind was preoccupied, I had thousands of things running in my head.

A sweet smell of jasmine was coming from somewhere, I inhaled sharply, it instantly calmed me

The door opened and Mr Khan entered, I looked at the time, it was 2 o'clock only, how come he came so early

"Assalamualaikum" he said with a huge smile

"Walekumassalam" I replied.

"This is for you" he handed me a small but too beautiful bouquet of jasmine, and there was one red rose in between, it looked so beautiful, that I didn't have a heart to refuse it.

"Thanks" I mumbled

"I'm going to check on Izhaan, I'll be back" he said, I was horrified when I remembered what was happening there

"No no no don't go there" I said

"Why?" He asked

"Ummm aaaa" what should I tell him? He was walking towards the twin door, but I stopped him

"Don't go, jeeju is sleeping." I said

"It's ok! I will wake him up"

"No you can't, he is so sick, he needs rest"

"He is not that sick, he just caught common flu" he was again going, but I held his hand.

"Reem is there with him, don't go" I said, and he immediately stopped.

"Oh"

"Yeah!" I left his hand.

"Can I talk about something with you?" He said

"Yes" I nodded

He pushed me down on the bed and  knelt on the floor beside me.

"Ayesha! It's been three months since, you and Reem have come to this house, and I think it is the high time, you should return to our room." He said and I looked at him in shock

How did he know I was thinking about it?

" I know you're still not comfortable with me, but why should we make them suffer  because of us. Izhaan always says that he is giving time to Reem, but how will their relationship progress if they don't spend time together. At daytime Reem is busy with her things and Izhaan with his work, and then at night you go there and he comes here. They are not getting time together so how are things going to improve between them? Our case is different, but they deserve to have a happy married life." He held my hand

"Are you understanding my point?" He asked, I nodded

"Reem worries about you, she wouldn't let you go, but she care about izhaan too, she was sleeping so uncomfortably here last night when I came, you have to make her believe that you are fine, otherwise she will keep on neglecting Izhaan, he is sick, he needs her."

Every word he was saying was making me feel even more guilty.

"Well, this is what I think, rest is your choice" he got up and left.

For a long time I stayed in that position only, thinking hard of what to do? Then I made up my mind.

*******

It was a night time, I was sitting on the bed when Mr Khan came in the room. He looked at me

"I'll bring Izhaan" he said

"No need" I replied, he frowned.

"What do you mean?"

I folded a blanket and kept it on the middle of the bed.

"This is your boundary, don't cross it" I warned him.

I laid on the bed and closed my eyes

Faisla to le liya, ab Allah tu hi meri madad karna (I have taken the decision. Now you help me Allah).

******

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Izhaan's pov

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I was feeling so weak, I don't know what happened to me. Reem was feeding me dinner, and I was looking at her face, I smiled when I recalled how amazingly she shared her thoughts with me.

There was a knock on the door.

"It's open" Reem shouted, the door opened and Ayesha entered, my heart sank when I remembered now I will have to go from here. I don't want to go away from Reem.

"Why are you coming from there?" Reem asked her

"From now on I will come from there only" she replied making me frown.

"What?" Reem asked her.

"How are you feeling now jeeju?" Ayesha asked, I smiled

"I'm fine, I will go from here after dinner, you guys can sleep then" I said, she gave a small smile then shook her head.

"No need jeeju, you are not well, you sleep in your room tonight" I said, Reem's head snapped at her direction

"What are you saying?" She asked her

"I'm absolutely right." She said with finality

I wanted to celebrate, I was feeling so happy, but before I could give hope to my heart, I thought of confirming once

"So Athar is going to come here, right?" I asked

"No! Let Reem be with you, you might need her" she said

Reem got up and went to Ayesha, she held her hand and dragged her in a corner, they both talked for a while, I was looking nervously at them, I hope the final decision is in my favour.

Ayesha said something to her, Reem stood quietly, then Ayesha looked at me

"Ok! Good night jeeju, take care" she said and walked out of the room.

Reem was still standing near the door, I stifled a laugh.

"Are you gonna stand there all night?" I asked, she still stood like a statue, "don't be nervous" I said

"I'm not" she put on a brave face and came to sit near me

"Are you sure?" He asked

"Yeah absolutely" she nodded her head. A naughty idea occured to me, I held her hand and pulled her to me with so much force that she directly landed on my lap. She gasped, I held her waist and took my mouth close to her ear

"Not at all nervous?" I asked.

"I think maa is calling me" she jumped down the bed and ran out of the room, I laughed.

****

I was sleeping, suddenly it felt like someone has put me on the ice slab, I was feeling so cold, my whole body was shivering.

"Izhaan" I heard Reem's concerned voice. My whole body was shaking.

"Are you ok?" She asked

"I.. I'm .. f . fee.. feeli.. feeling.. co.. cold" I said with chattering teeth. I heard her switching off the AC

She got up and put another blanket on me.

"Feeling better" she asked, I shook my head in no. Then she covered me from everywhere.

I was not feeling any better, because I was feeling cold from within, no matter how much I cover myself from outside, it was getting no better.

After a few minutes she laid next to me.

"Come here" she turned me around, and pulled me closer to her.

She put her arm under my head, my face was on the nape of her neck, she was rubbing my back, and covered us with a blanket.

It was a little better, but I was still shivering.

In some time it started to feel good my shakiness was slowly calming down, the temperature of my body was coming back to normal.

"Is it any better now?" She asked, I nodded my head

After a while I was completely fine, the warmth she just provided has calmed me till my soul.

"How about now?" She asked

"I'm ok" I said

She was pulling back, but I stopped her. I raised my head to look at her,  her breathing was getting heavier, her heartbeat was so loud that I could hear it.

I pushed myself up and hovered over her, we were eye to eye now. She looked nervous, her lips were slightly parted. I continued staring at her, she put her hand on my eyes, I smiled. I removed her hand.

I couldn't help it, I had this strong urge to feel all of her with all of me. My eyes were stuck on her lips. I had no self control left, I lowered my head and put my lips on hers, I poured all of my love in the kiss.

Our breaths mingled, all I could feel was her, my hands were crazily running all over her. She gripped my shoulder so hard, that I could feel her nails digging in my skin.

I removed my lips from her mouth and took them to her ear.

"I love you so much" I said repeatedly

I looked at her, then put my forehead on hers, I closed my eyes, I was trying to control myself, she is not ready, and I didn't want to scare her.

"Good night Jaan" I said and laid down, I pulled her in my arms and closed my eyes to sleep.

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