"I can never marry Zain, Ami ! He's so immature !"
" So what are you going to do? Are you going to remain a spinster all your life ?!
"Ami, I will not succumb to the circumstances ! "
" Aliya please !" she remembered, her mother begging."Please don't do this! "
" Ami, do you realise that marrying Zain, would turn my life into a living hell ?!"
"Usmaan ji, is very close to us. He's decided this for you and Zain. This is the best solution, my dear and he cares for you and our family! We cannot insult him. Please !"
And they shook hands to that.
Gone were the days when their conversations, started and ended in the form of childish bickerings. What they had transformed their bond into, this day, was of an eerie yet heavy silence. Neither Zain nor Aaliya wished to speak, much to each other at all. Most of their conversations were non-verbal, since, neither wanted to hurt the other. Aaliya kept quiet out of guilt and Zain, out of his promise to his Phuphi of not hurting her. Even if it were in the form of harsh words. Despite, Zain and her relationship being stormy, Aaliya could sense a strong bond, tying them together in complicated knots.
What they'd projected back then, through words, were now projected through their eyes and gestures. Unconsciously though, the two of them began to become more sensitive and aware of each other's presence , their pain and joy.
Five months back when Aaliya had burnt a few fingers, from the flame on the stove, Zain took her palm and much to Aaliya's surprise, blew gentle breaths, of care and concern. When the redness increased, he wrapped a clean cloth around cubes of ice, cautiously dabbed it on her fingers and then applied a generous quantity of antispectic, to relieve her off the pain. That gesture of his, left her dazed and confused. His touch didn't seem like, how she always had always known or thought of them to be. They felt different now. It was now, of her Rajkumar, her husband, that was tending to her. Zain gazed at her for a moment, conceiving the look on her face, while Aaliya tried hard to stay normal.
" Aaliya bitiya. I've never seen Zain baba this way before. You have turned him into a man from a boy." Chand bibi, confessed after Zain had left the room. The skin on Aaliya's fingers, decreased in redness, but her cheeks flushed with the colour, she was scared to confront.
"I've never felt this way for him Bibi" mumbled Aaliya. "I'm scared. I don't know what's happening to me."
"It will all be fine, bitiya", was what used to be Chand bibi replies , for the most part. Aaliya noticed a smile, spreading across Chand bibi's face everytime, as if she was aware what was going on.
The other day when Aaliya had fainted, due to weakness, Zain had effortlessly lifted her into his arms, and carried her to their bedroom. She remembered being carried, but she was too weak sustain the memory of anything afterward. The next time she opened her eyes, it was five hours past, the last time she saw the clock. She saw Zain sitting beside her, pretending to read a magazine but also caught stealing glances every now and then.
"Tum teek ho ?" he's asked, to which she nodded.
Aaliya snapped back into the moment.
Her face glistened with questions. Who was he to her ? She was never more confused in her life. She thought she knew him. But she was wrong. Who was he ? A friend ? A foe ? A husband for name's sake ? or was he something more? Aliya battled the whirlwind of emotions that swept within her, leaving her with warm currents of Zain and her memories.
Aliya looked out of the window, of the beautiful mansion that was her abode now. Zain and her abode. She stared into the night sky and clutched the frame, which held Zain and her picture. They were captured a moment back in time, when she was in her bridal attire and he became her groom. She brought the picture close to her chest, feeling her heartbeat slow down for a bit. It felt like the whole world slowed down for a moment.
Aaliya knew she couldn't bear the silence anymore. She had argued with him about everything right and wrong in the house or with the people, when required, but there was hardly a word either one spoke about to each other, when it came to their relationship.
" I need to talk to him tonight, when he comes home."
" I need to ask him and express this."
" Ya Allah!" she mumbled. "Zain Abdullah, will drive me insane"
In a few hours time, Zain was home. Aaliya saw him head towards the restroom, wash and change into comfortable clothes. Zain was evidently tired and didn't seem, in the mood to converse anything. He hit the bed in a few minutes and seemed fast asleep. A confused and restless Aaliya lay on the other side, unable to sleep.
When Zain had fractured his left hand, from an accident a few months back, his pretty wife's supportive presence, made sure he hit the road to a speedy recovery. She annoyed him with her presence and was probably the last person, to master the art of hiding her concern. Zain was both annoyed yet surprised, to see the Aaliya who always thought of him as an idiot, to care for him as his wife.
As the clock struck three, a restless Aaliya looked at Zain and then at the ceiling.
"What will I tell him?"
" What will he think ?"
"Does he think about me the same way ?"
"Has he ever, thought or felt similar for me ?"
"What if he doesn't understand me?"
Questions shot up Aaliya's head. Anxious and annoyed, she couldn't help the sound of soft sobs that she let out. Cradling herself, she conjured up and turned around to face him.
"Zain ?" Aliya whispered.
No reply. Her face dropped.
She dejectedly began to turn away, when she felt Zain's hand, catching her by the waist and pulling her close. She gasped.
"Za.." she began.
"Shhh" Zain replied, as he slowly opened his eyes to look at her.
" I love you, Aaliya" he retorted, softly.
"auhh.." Aliya mumbled, shocked.
He gently put the strand of her that fell over her face, behind her ear.
"I know you do" continued Zain, cupping her face.
Aaliya couldn't believe what she just heard. Closing her eyes gently, she let the depth of those words to sink in and begin to heal her confused and anxious heart.
"I love you Zain " replied Aaliya.
He pulled her close to him and wrapped her into a tight hug. Although Aaliya felt numb for a moment, a second later, she had the urge to break loose and let the feeling sink in. Zain pulled her closer and drove his hands up her back, caressing the area between her neck and shoulders. Aaliya choked with joy, as his gesture. She drew her fingers over his back, searching his neck and finally wrapped herself around him.
Zain planted a soft kiss on her ear and then, on her neck. His body sent out warm currents of love to her, making her feel both tickled and soothed. She felt Zain's breath over her neck and had almost gotten out of breath, herself. But she didn't want to breathe now. Zain continued kissing her gently, on her neck and shoulders. She had never felt more alive, being breathless, than she was today in Zain's arms.
She slowly motioned downward to bury her face against his chest. Zain pulled her up again. He loosened his lips and looked at her, admiringly. A playful spark lit his eyes and she knew exactly what he was upto. He bent down towards her face and drew her close. An apprehensive Aaliya secretly signalled, a no to him, feeling shy and hesistant. Zain looked at her, all the more smitten and ignored her signs. He finally made her, hold her breath, one last time, as his lips touched her's.
All her fears, worries and anxieties flew to a different world the moment, their lips met. Aaliya basked in the elation of being carried into a different world, off into a different tangent. They kissed and hugged, slowly and passionately. She shut her eyes, not caring about anyone, anything anymore and felt herself drift into a trance of boundless relief and joy.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
