She took out the keys from her work bag and entered her small apartment with a sigh. Tired from working all day, she opened her long hair from that tight bun with a relief and walked towards the kitchen to warm up some food.
It had been a tiring day with back to back classes and teaching children was an easy job they said. Hareem had always wanted to be a teacher. It had actually been her father, who was a history teacher, from whom she had taken inspiration and Hareem would always be grateful to him.
Lost in the thoughts of her work, she had finished food by then and walked towards her room. She took out that small box from her almirah and opened it as a sense of nostalgia filled her up. She found a few pictures of her and her school friends, her first day of 8th grade and her picture with her best friend, Rubina. And then she picked up the photo which she herself had kept hidden under all the letters and pictures; a picture of her father. He was her favorite person. The person she relied upon, the person who fulfilled all her wishes.
She had fallen in love with Mustafa in the late years of her teenage. He had been like a sunshine on a rainy day for her. He was there to help her with her homework. Oh, math was her nightmare. And how he had helped her pass her matriculation by teaching her day and night. How he had been the first person she had called when she passed her Intermediate exams with the highest score in her city. How he had been the only person who had seen her cry her hardest when her father had said no to their marriage.
It was hard. It was her father on one side and Mustafa on the other. Her father had said she was too young and that her feelings were only temporary. She was 20 and him 22 for the love of God. She was adamant on getting married to Mustafa. She had thrown tantrums, she had refused to eat or go anywhere.
A smile bloomed on her face as she recalled all those moments. Her love for her father was still there, even when he had refused to her marriage with Mustafa but being the only daughter, for how long could the man say no to his precious child?
On one chilly morning, her father had decided to take the leave of this world. He had passed away suddenly, just 3 months after Hareem's Nikkah. She had been devastated but he had been there with her through it all. A smile crept up her face when she thought of him. Her Mustafa. And just as she got lost in his thoughts, the bell rang. She looked up the clock and saw it was 6p.m already. She quickly went for the door but before she could open, Mustafa had already opened it with his keys.
He walked in and Hareem's heart skipped a beat even after being married for 3 years now.
" Assalamualikum!"
" walikumasalam. Kiya kar Rahi thi?" Mustafa asked as he went in for a hug. He smelled her hair which was strawberry scented. She had purposely used that shampoo because she knew how much he loved it.
" kuch nahi bas purani pictures daikh Rahi thi. Aap fresh ho jayain ma chai banati hoon." She was about to leave when he stopped her by her wrist and made them sit on the sofa.
" chai ban jaya gi pehlay meri begum mujhe thori lift kara dain."
" jee farmayain Mr. Dramatic." She said with rolled eyes and his only reply was to cuddle her form to himself and intertwine their hands.
After a few moments of silence, Hareem finally spoke, "aap ko pata ha aaj jab ma pictures daikh Rahi thi to Mujhe abbu ki picture nazar ayi. Aur Phir Mujhe sari purani batain yaad agayin."
She laughed as she shared the moment with Mustafa of how she had thrown numerous tantrums to get a specific bike. She remembered how her father used to stop at every stationary shop because of how she once mentioned she loved colourful pens and pretty notebooks.
Upon hearing that, Mustafa put his hand inside his suit's pocket to retrieve something. He took out a heart shaped pink eraser and on that Hareem's eyes melted.
" yeh kahaan sa liya? Kitna cute ha!"
" aik bacha sarak par baich raha tha aur Mujhe ya nazar aya to main na lay liya."
" aw aap itnay cute kiyun hain!"
She pulled his cheeks and Mustafa made a face.
" mujhe cute mat bolo. Cute hogi tum. Main to handsome hoon."
" mujhe lagta ha aapko Phir sa Turkish dramas dikhanay parain ga so that you're reminded what being handsome and hot actually means." She knew it'll get him all worked up and that's exactly why she had said that.
" Acha? Aur shayad I need to remind you whom you were calling hot last night."
On that Hareem's cheeks had changed into a pink hue and Mustafa chuckled seeing that.
It was after dinner that they both now lounged in their comfy pajamas watching 10 things I hate about you for the 100th time on the one and only, Hareem's request.
She talked a lot during the movie, commenting on every scene but today she was unusually quiet. " Kiya huwa, jaan?"
" Mustafa imagine karain agar hamari Shaadi nahi hoti aur abbu kabhi mantay hi nahi. Main to sach ma aap ka begair nahi reh pati."
" liken hamari shaadi huwi aur hum aaj akathay bathain hain. Main tumharay liya bohat shukar guzaar hoon. Thank you for being in my life, thank you for choosing me, thank you for always loving me." He said as he kissed the inside of her wrist.
" and thank you for always being here for me. I love you, Mustafa." On that, as if instinctly, he went for her mouth and showed her just how much he loved her. He kissed her gently, yet firmly. He usually did that, instead of saying it with his words, he showed his love through his actions.
For it was only Mustafa who could love her the way he did. It was only him who would choose her, who would look for her in a room filled with a million people. It was only him, Hareem thought as they lay in bed that night. She slept with a smile on her lips, satisfied with life.
Hi lovelies! This is my first ever story I'm publishing here on Wattpad. I hope it's up to bar and if not, constructive criticism is welcome:> please do comment and let me know how this was and what you guys would like me to write more. Have an amazing day/night, my loves<3
