Mine To Be Called ✓

~~•Sixty three•~~

"It's okay, sweetheart. I am here for you," she heard his sleepy and husky whisper in her ear as he kissed her hair. "Calm down."

She moved around and then faced him, his arms still holding her tightly. Masab was already looking at her with half-opened sleepy eyes. They warmed over her sight and then he cupped the side of her face before pecking her forehead. Andaleeb closed her eyes as this felt ethereal. As though that was acting as a balm for all those visible and invisible wounds given to her heart, mind, body, and soul.

"You can put your trust in me, Andaleeb. You can tell me what's bothering you," he said, a matter of fact.

"Why should I do that?" She snapped back, and he smiled, seeing her acting so stubborn. She looked cute like that. "You are not someone I should trust."

He stroked her hair softly. "I am your husband."

"You are weird. I won't trust you again. Once, I made the mistake of helping you, and you brought me to this day. And now, who knows? If I tell you any secret, you will not use it against me. I am not a fool," she stated, innocently.

Masab stilled. "You have secrets. Hmm?"

She nodded. "I ain't going to tell you ever because I don't trust you. Talking about that," she trailed off to stop a yawn. "You gave me your things in New York? Whose were they and why didn't you take them back?"

Masab laughed slightly. "These will remain with you as my memory. They were meant to be for you. I bought them for the only woman who will catch my heart, and you are that woman. A key to the lock of your heart."

She rolled her eyes. "You are dramatic."

Masab stroked her arm gently. "Are you fine now?"

Andaleeb pouted and her beautiful pink lips caught his attention. "Hmm."

He leaned ahead and pressed his lips against her. She inhaled a deep breath and plopped her hands over his chest to feel his strong muscles under her palms. The kiss was soft and slow, but it made an effort to relax her more.

"You can trust me, sweetheart. Tell me what's bothering you," he grumbled, pausing the kiss.

Andaleeb groaned because he stopped kissing. She just needed him closer to her right now. The raging emotions in her would wreck her and Masab's nearness was the only way they could remain away. But that was obvious she couldn't say it loudly. Even in a sleepy state and in this moment of vulnerability, she was well aware that she shouldn't give him any more hints of vulnerability that he could use against her in the future.

She just snuggled next to him and placed her head over his chest, silently praying and hoping that Masab would keep holding her. Andaleeb closed her eyes, as she felt his heartbeat under her ear. His hand was slowly running up and down her arm. But in front of the brown shadow of her closed eyes, the memory again resurfaced.

Now these words seemed too true to be false. There was no way they weren't said to her. They seemed like coming from someone she knew and someone whom she trusted. Someone who was in a delusion that she would let him touch her before marriage. She recalled the happening from a few months ago when she fell from her house as a bride to marry Aurang. He brought her to his friend's apartment and then they ate together. He asked her to wait and get ready once again for their nikkah but that thing never came again. The last memory she remembered was that she woke up in Masab's mansion, where Aurang was nowhere to be seen.

Andaleeb opened her eyes again and found Masab already glancing at her with puckered brows in confusion. Was he scanning for face for what emotional turmoil she had been going through? His movement over her arm to soothe her never ended. He again bent down to kiss her temple.

"When you kidnapped me, where did you find me? I was with Aurang when I fled from my house, where did you see me? Were you following me?" She suddenly inquired, causing Masab to breathe quietly. His hand movement halted and he looked away, thoughtfully.

He reached the point clearly that that was what bothering her. The memories from that night were not good and she was drugged to not remember them instantly. But that must have made a mark somewhere in the back of her head and now that was coming back. She wanted answers and he didn't know telling her the truth would do any good for her.

                   __________________

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