𝐏𝐞𝐡𝐥𝐢 𝐍𝐚𝐳𝐚𝐫 [Completed]

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿-15

Zartasha returned home from the university in the afternoon, finding her mother-in-law, sitting in the lounge surrounded by baskets and instructing the servants. She greeted her with a respectful Salam, to which she politely replied.

"I am sorry mama for leaving you alone but I had some important work" Zartasha apologize.

But she lightly scolded her, saying, "Don't worry about such small things, my dear. Everything is taken care of." She smiled and thanked God in her heart for blessing her with such understanding in-laws. Today, they were going to fix Sufyan's date.

"Zartasha, go freshen up and have lunch" Mrs. Zaidi instructed her.

After freshening up, Zartasha came downstairs. Her mother-in-law, grandmother, and her sister-in-law, Shifa, were already at the dining table. Since the men were at the office, they ate together. While eating, they discussed what to wear in the evening, gifts, and other preparations for the date fixing.

"I think you should wear that blue dress. It looks lovely on you!" Zartasha suggested to Shifa.

"Yeah sure" Shifa smiled at her.

After lunch, Zartasha packed the remaining gifts and decided to rest for a while. Her peaceful slumber was interrupted by someone shaking her. As she opened her eyes, she found her husband,  gazing at her with love and adoration.

"You okay? You never sleep this much in the afternoon." He asked with worry in his eyes.

"Yeah, I was feeling a bit sleepy, that's all." Her cheeks turned red as she remembered the chocolate romance they had shared the night before, making Shahmeer smirk.

"I know what you're thinking, naughty girl." He teased her, causing her to glare at him and playfully push him away.

Zartasha went to get ready, wanting to look a little fancy for the date fixing. She wore a beautiful, light pink dress with delicate embroidery, complementing her radiant smile. and Shahmeer wore a classy kurta in soft beige, chosen by her wife, looking dashing as ever.

They joined everyone downstairs, where Sufyan and Shahmeer had a private conversation away when everyone seeing last checkups.

"Are you sure about this alliance, Sufyan? It's a crucial decision." Being an elder brother he asked

"Yes, bhai, I've talked to Zoya, and she seems like a wonderful person. I have a good feeling about this."  He replied with smile.

"Well, if you're happy, then we're all happy for you. Just remember, marriage is a lifelong commitment. Make sure you're ready for it." He said patting his shoulder and moved outside to join others.

Reaching at Zoya's place, they were warmly welcomed. The elders sat together to discuss the proposal.
Zartasha observed Zoya, the potential bride, discreetly from a distance. She seemed to be a polite and kind-hearted girl. The families exchanged pleasantries, and after some thoughtful conversations, they mutually agreed on the alliance.

The elders exchanged gifts as a symbol of acceptance and respect. Both families exchanged sweets and gifts.

Finally, the date for the nikkah ceremony was set, and both families were overjoyed with the decision. Zartasha couldn't help but feel happy for her brother-in-law, Sufyan. She knew that Zoya would be a great addition to their family.

And so, with hearts full of joy and anticipation, the Zaidi family went to home looking forward to celebrate the union of two souls destined to be together.

One fine day, she entered the study and found him fully engrossed in work. With frowns, he was furiously typing on his laptop. She sighed, having observed his behavior for the past few days – coming home late from the office, getting angry over small things, skipping meals, and staying in the study all night. Yesterday, he even shouted at her for not finding his watch and later scolded the servant for adding a little more salt to his egg. Moreover, Suffyan had told her that he's been getting angrier at the office too.

She had asked Shahmeer many times what happened to him, but he always dismissed the topic, saying  work as the reason.

Taking a deep breath to maintain her composure, she couldn't help but worry for him, her concern mingling with her own feelings.

"Meer" she sweetly asked, but he didn't reply. Maybe he didn't hear. She said a bit louder so he could listen. This time, for a second, he looked up from the laptop and hummed in response.

She came closer to the table, standing beside his chair, and with hesitation, she put her hand on his shoulder, unsure of how he might react.

"Koi pareshani hai office mein?" she asked in a low voice.

He looked at her and removed his glasses, letting out a sigh. He knew he needed to explain a lot.

He held her hand and said, "Make a coffee for both of us. Till then, I'll wind up my work."

She nodded. She knew it meant he was ready to talk.

With a tray of coffee and her handmade cookies, she entered the study. He was resting in the chair, closing his eyes. She put the tray on the table and gently creased the lines on his forehead. He pulled her onto his lap.

They both had coffee and cookies in silence, his intense gaze fixed on her while she sat on his lap, finding it a bit difficult to handle.

"Stop staring." she said.

He put the cup on the table, pulled her closer, and kissed her passionately, their lips meeting in a tender embrace.

"I am so sorry for behaving like a jerk and shouting at you. There was so much mess in the office, and I couldn't find any way to deal with it. I apologize for being ignorant towards you, and thank you for being patient" He said gently, caressing her cheek.

She shook her head in disagreement and asked, "Is everything fine now?"

He hummed and hid his face in her neck, enjoying her fragrance.

"Ap mujhe Bata saktay thay. I know I am not an expert in this field, and everyone was worried for you, Meer." she said, running her fingers through Shahmeer's hair, her favorite comforting gesture.

He looked up from her neck, cupped her face in his hands, and said, "Nahi Meri Jan. It's nothing like that. I am sorry to make everyone worry, but now everything is under control."

"I know you are working hard, but we need to communicate. If you ever face any problem, share it with me, and we will figure it out together."

He nodded, a mix of relief and guilt evident in his expression.

"Seems someone is saying my lines" he said, nuzzling his nose against her neck, making her giggle.

Shahmeer let out a deep breath, feeling a weight lifted off his shoulders. "Thank you for understanding, Zar. You are the best thing that ever happened to me."

She smiled, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. "Always, Shahmeer. Now, how about we take a break from work and go outside?"

He smiled back, the tension between them dissipating. "That sounds good, but..."

"But!" She asked.

"But I have some other plans" he said huskily, and in a swift motion, he kissed her deeply, sparks flying between them. They both lost themselves in the moment, their love for each other evident in every touch and gesture.

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