CHAPTER 28
AHAD POV:
I had to wrap up my work a month in advance, and I had to request my clients for urgent meetings. Everything has been hectic this week; it's been some good days already since our wedding. We are going on our vacation from tomorrow onwards for a month or half, depending on my wife's decision.
I'm not jouru ka gulam as per society says, but I want to fulfill her every wish before she denies it. Things have changed a lot between us since our marriage, and we started spending time together, too. (Translation: wife's servant)
I would go home daily with gajray just to see her eyes light up. We would pray Isha Salah together, and then she would tell me about her day while we sat together by the side of the window. (Translation: hand flower garlands)
Sometimes when we three would be together, and I would sit there while both of my people, Hayat and Ashar, would do nothing but fight, and at night she would lay her head on my shoulder while I read her Urdu novels.
She has been obsessed with some Urdu novels, and I read them to her every night; I am not complaining. I love it when she asks what those words mean with the most beautiful, curious hazel eyes of hers.
I wrapped everything in the office, and made my way home while searching for a flower shop to get gajray for my wife since the one I used to visit this week was closed already, my mood was ruined as I sped up my bike, parking it in the garage I took the keys out to open the door when the door opened itself with my wife in front of it with a beautiful eye smile on her pretty face.
"Asalam Aalaikum," Hayat spoke as soon as her eyes met mine, welcoming me inside.
"Walaikum Asalam, Begum," I replied, holding her hand, pulling her inside with me while losing my shirt buttons, taking a seat on the sofa.
I closed my eyes as the light was triggering my low headache. I took the glass of water from Hayat's hand, gulping it down. She sat in front of me, waiting, her eyes glancing at my coat, then at my hand with curiosity, and I knew exactly what she was searching for. "Is our packing done already, wifey?"
She looked up at me and denied it. I shook my head and smiled a little, holding her hand, pulling her up, making our way to the room.
"The bags were pretty heavy. I couldn't lift them." I looked at her, and found her playing with her long fingers, her hair was open, gently lying on each side of her shoulder, and wearing a red kurta, she looked too pretty to call my wife... do I deserve her? I hope so…
I put the bags down and started getting everything packed as per her instructions. I frowned as Hayat's bag was packed with kurtas only. She used to wear hoodies, but I hadn't seen her wearing them since our engagement.
"Begum, are you not going to pack some hoodies and shirts for yourself?" I asked, being confused.
She looked at me smilingly and whispered, "No, I don't wear them anymore."
I tried to understand, yet couldn't. I tried to ask her again, but she cut me off, asking me to join her for dinner. She walked out of the room, leaving me alone, thinking about the answer to, "Why?"
After stuffed some more comfortable shirts and hoodies for her in my bag. I went downstairs to find my wife waiting for me. We ate our dinner from a single plate; it was my request from the start to have our dinner on a single plate because I loved feeding her, and she would always shy away. My wife has a lot of personalities.
Waking up early in the morning, the first thing I saw was my pretty wife's face, she had her face hidden with her right hand while her other hand was holding mine, in this week I have noticed she has a habit of holding something to sleep, she would take a pillow at night but that would turn to my hand in the morning, it makes me the happiest.
I was deep in my thoughts when I heard a knock. I tried not to wake her up and slowly took my hand out of her hold, walking up to the door to get out.
"Bhai, there's a problem that urgently needs your attention. Fawad called and told me about the queries of Mr. Wahab. He's having a problem investing in the new firm we recommend to him, and he wants your attention to the case right now."
I'm now irritated. I have told Fawad not to disturb me and look after things till I get back. I was in my thoughts when I felt a hand intervene with mine.
Looking back, I saw sleepy eyes of my wife looking at mine directly, "Go and complete your work, I'll handle things with Ashar here. Just be back home safely, alright?" Hayat patted my chest, understanding my work and my problems.
But she should know work doesn't top my list anymore; she's my wife and always will be now, she doesn't demand my attention all the time, yet I need to remind her because my wife deserves it!
I nodded my head, planted a gentle kiss on her forehead, and glared at Ashar, "You help her out. I'll go and solve the problem and get back to you all soon. Till then, arrange everything properly."
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I walked out of the office after spending the whole day solving the problem, and I found my body stiff. I needed rest, I had been working on everything without a break, so we could go on our vacation without any tension, but my body was rigid… I tried to ignore the pain and drove back to my home.
Parking my bike at its usual place, I got inside the house to find no one in the living room, my friends weren't there, where was everyone? I wondered.
Just then, I saw Hayat coming downstairs while clinging to my black shawl around her, she might be feeling cold, but my shawl...on her… Oh, damn… just beautiful.
"You came," I heard her as she came and stood in front of me, giving me her beautiful smile.
"Yes, but where is everyone? It's just evening, aren't we leaving now?" I asked, totally confused.
"Oh, well, I told them to go home and rest. Sahil and Samir bhai landed just two hours ago and went directly to stay with Ashar… we will be going on our vacations from tomorrow onwards, for tonight, just have rest," Hayat said while fetching me a glass of water.
"But we planned to go today, then why tomorrow now?" As we moved towards our room, I questioned her again.
"You were in the office, you have been busy the last whole week with your office work, finishing everything quickly, so we could go without any query, so it's justified for me to think about my husband's health first then the trip, you now change the cloths and eat with me before going to sleep, hmm" her eyes sparkled with happiness as she tried to order me, steeling my heart.
I walked out of the washroom, all freshened up, and saw Hayat making the bed. I took her hand in mine and asked, "Don't you want me to read the next chapters of Aab-e-Hayat for you?"
She looked at me, then at the wall behind, and put her fingers on her chin like she was thinking something very important.
"Well, I'm pretty excited to know about their interaction, but I want you to rest!" Such a tease she is...
I picked out the book from the shelf, and I moved towards her, resting my back on the headboard. I gestured for her to come take her place, as she smiled and sat down beside me while laying her head on my shoulder, wrapping her right hand around my left arm.
I smiled and started reading the book… It had become our thing… our way to end our day… our way to spend time together…