Urwa was shivering badly while she was asleep. Few tears streamed down her face as she continuously muttered something in her sleep. Fear and pain was clearly evident on her face. Shahzaib who was working on the couch became alert as he saw Urwa shaking and shivering badly in her sleep.
Shahzaib anxiously got up and went towards Urwa trying to wake her up from the nightmare haunting her soul but all of his efforts were not worth it. She was continuously mumbling and shivering. While tears streamed down her face. Shahzaib felt his heart break seeing tears run down her face. He can't see her crying, her anger is better than her tears.
"Maine nahi chaha tha yeh nahi chaha tha mere baat par bharosa kare"
Urwa was continuously murmuring in her sleep and shaking continuously.
"Urwa Urwa Urwa utho"
Shahzaib tapped Urwa's face trying to wake her up. Suddenly she woke up with a jerk, her eyes snapped open, her breaths irregular. Shahzaib could feel her racing heartbeats. She looked around the room suspicious and paranoid that the horror may have followed her here but flinched when suddenly she felt Shahzaib's hand caressing her cheek but soon relaxed in his warmth.
Shahzaib cupped Urwa's face and looked directly into her teary red eyes. Her eyes showed the fear she felt and was feeling and he hated to see that fear in those black eyes of hers in his presence. She doesn't need to fear or worry about anything until he is alive and present. Caressing her cheek softly Shahzaib spoke softly
"Mujhe tum par bharosa hai Urwa, woh sirf ek khawab tha main hu na yaha fikr mat karo"
Urwa looked at him with mixed emotions. Does he really trust her? Or is he saying all these just to console her. Sensing her arising doubts Shahzaib spoke again
"Mujhe tum par sach main bharosa hai Urwa, and I mean it"
As soon as listening the words of Shahzaib, she broke down crying clutching onto Shahzaib's shoulder and spoke while sobbing
"Maine sach main kuch nahi kiya, woh meri galati nahi thi. Please mujhe par bharosa karna please"
"Hushhh.. Ro mat Maine kaha na I trust you. Biwi ho tum meri tum par bharosa na karu toh kiss par karu?"
Shahzaib spoke softly, holding her in his arms. He felt so complete and surreal, it felt like he found his comfort after years of loneliness. He couldn't believe that Urwa was in his arms but the only fact making his heart bleed were her tears which were worth millions.
Soon Urwa's sobs died down into sniffles as Shahzaib's arm was still around Urwa, due to which he was not able to see her face. As if Urwa regained her senses she flinched realising the scene she caused. She forgot to take the medicine which resulted in such a fiasco. Urwa's face turned red in embarrassment; she was contemplating whether to stay like this in his arms or to get away. No matter what she denied, she knew this was the safest she felt since the last 12 years. She shivered remembering that day. When she lost her twin, her brother and now she got to know that her brother, Umar is alive.
Nothing hurted her more than Umar's ignorance. Atleast he would have contacted her isn't it? Or maybe he would have his reasons? But still he could have, nothing hurted her more than Umar's ignorance not her Baba's behavioural change, her Mama's changing nature and those hurtful things, them denying her to fulfil her dreams and then restricting her even when she found an alternative. She smiled bitterly at the thought of their changes. In the way of gaining power and money her Baba became her Abba, her Mama, her Maa became her Ammi. An invisible boundary was set between all the siblings just because of that one incident. She is going to meet Umar and make him answer every question of hers.
She felt Shahzaib calling her to check if she is ok or not?
Mere naseeb itne aache kaise ho gaye? Mujhe Shahzaib kaise mil gaya?
Urwa lifted her face and looked into Shahzaib's brown eyes and saw nothing but worry and care for her. She had seen her mother and father look at her with sympathy and anger when she had such a nightmare. No one but Zain and Aayan had helped her through these things but they were restricted to visit her as well by their grandfather who hated her with passion. She never knew the reason for his hate. Alhamduillah, he is still alive but he is not that physically strong at the age of 80. Mostly what he does is lay on the bed and live a lavish life. Her mother, father, brothers visit him frequently, even though she wanted that but he never wanted to see her face.
"Urwa?"
Shahzaib spoke, his voice soft and held care.
"Hmm?"
Urwa responded, snapping out of her daze.
"Tum thik ho?"
He questioned, worry was clearly evident in his eyes. He caressed her cheek lightly and joined both of their foreheads. Urwa just looked into his brown eyes which were overflowing with care for her, his face was anxious as he patted her cheek trying to calm her down.That moment she knew she was falling for the man in front of her. She is falling so hard that she thinks she will never be the same after this. His care, worry and trust on her made her feel the warmth she missed since the last 12 years and she hoped that this time she would not be hurt.
"Urwa?"
Shahzaib called her out.
"Hmm?"
Urwa responded calmly, he had still his arm wrapped around her shoulder making her stay beside him.
"Tum thik ho?"
He questioned.
She didn't know the answer to the question but she was definitely better than ever with him. She feels home, she feels home whenever she is with Shahzaib. No matter how much she fights, argue, tease or even scold him at the end of the day he was the one who stood up for her in panchayat, he was the one who made her comfortable in this room, he was the one who noticed that she hated darkness and leaving a dim light on everytime she sleeps. He is one who ever cared for her this much.
She felt herself overcome with emotions. She was feeling happiness, sadness, love, anger and grief coursing through her at the same time. Happy because finally she is falling in love with someone which she thought was difficult considering her standard due to those romance novels, sad because she never knows if her affection and love is going to be ever returned, angry because she never thought she would fall for someone who she hated with all her might. Still looking into his brown eyes she can't think about anything except the warm and mushy feeling arising in her heart.
I am falling for him hard.
"Main thik hu"
Urwa responded meekly.
"Tumne mujhe dara diya tha"
Shahzaib started looking at Urwa. His face still held and worry and care for her.
Main itni khushnaseeb kaise ban gayi?
"Sorry"
Urwa responded snuggling into his warm embrace. She knew she may be embarrassed later but right now can't she enjoy her husband's warmth isn't it?
"Kya bola tumne? Maine suna nahi"
Shahzaib spoke teasingly, looking at her with a small smirk.
Urwa didn't respond and just gave him a small smile.
"Sunein"
Urwa called him.
"Farmaiye begum"
Shahzaib responded.
"Mujhe Aayan bhai ke saath bahar jana hai ek din ke liye. Main chali jau?"
Urwa questioned looking at him.
"Kaha jana hai?"
Shahzaib asked.
"Woh Delhi"
Urwa replied.
"DELHI!!?"
Shahzaib spoke again.
"Haa"
Urwa responded calmly what should she tell him if he asked her why? She can't possibly tell him the truth right? Or should she? Can she trust him? Or is she being to dumb right now?
"Ek din main wapas aa jaogi?"
Shahzaib questioned.
Urwa nodded her head in response.
"Thik hai phir chali jao par ek din ke liye raat main tum ghar par honi chahiye thik hai?"
Shahzaib spoke again.
Urwa nodded and then looked at him and questioned curiously
"Tumhe puchna nahi hai mujhe kyu jana hai?"
"Main abhi kaha tha I trust you haina? Main aapni baato se piche nahi hathta begum''
Shahzaib spoke tightened in hold around her. Urwa closed her eyes in delight and felt herself getting surrounded by his warmth, her husband's warmth, he is her dilkashi, her uns.
"Waise begum aapke baal bade khubsurat hai. Aapko mere samne parda karne ki kya jarurat hai? Hmm?"
Shahzaib questioned running his hand through her hair which he saw for the first time after marriage. She never let her guard down in front of him until this moment. Is she going to stay like this? Or is she going to go back to her cold and arrogant nature? Well it really didn't matter he would force her to let her guard down in front of him.
He can't let her be at her guard 24/7. He wants to have a life with her. A happy married life, they will fight a lot. He knew that, according to their different temper and mindset they would fight a lot but still at the end of the day he wants to be the one whom she finds her solace, her home. If only he knew he became her home a moment ago. If only he knew she was falling for him he wouldn't have such doubts. Nor would she.
Urwa's cheeks turned red in embarrassment as she realised her unveiled form. She released herself from Shahzaib's embrace and looked here and there, not meeting his gaze. He is her husband, he has rights over her and so does she, but why is she feeling so embarrassed.
Yahi natija hota hai jab tum har male contact ko avoid karo.
Shahzaib looked at Urwa's whose reddened cheeks made him feel all fuzzy. How can some be so beautiful? She was biting her lips unknowingly looking here and there trying to avoid his gaze. Maybe he should kiss her. Control Shahzaib Control, Shahzaib chanted looking at Urwa intensely.
How can someone be so beautiful?
Shahzaib held her jaw and pulled her towards him again holding her other hand and forced her to meet his gaze and spoke hoarsely
"Begum aisi bhi kya baat hai ki aap hamse nazre nahi mila rahi? Shohar hu tumhara haq hai mera"
Urwa looked into his brown eyes, she could feel her heart beating so fast that it threatened to come out of her ribcage. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she could feel Shahzaib hand caressing her cheek softly as he ordered
"Aapni aankhe kholo begum"
Urwa opened her eyes to look into his eyes again as she could feel his eyes staring directly at her soul, it felt like he was unveiling every secret she desperately tried to hide. Shahzaib gently made her lay on the bed and he himself laid on the other side as he continued moving his hand through her hairs he spoke
"Sleep"
Urwa closed her eyes as she drifted into a dreamless slumber, a sleep without any nightmare, no reality nothing just she and her husband. Shahzaib looked at Urwa as she slept. He came near as he peaked her forehead and slept beside her. That day a wall between them broke as well as a wall of pillows making them more reliable for each other.