ALI'S POV:
"Assalam u Alaikum!" Asma Baji came running when Imran opened the door for us. Her face beamed with joy and she enveloped Anisa into a bear hug. Judging by the look on Anisa's face, I could guess that the hug was really painful. "Wa Alaikum… Salam…" Anisa replied with spaces.
"Ohh!! I'm so happy you came! I was having all these bad thoughts that you wouldn't come or you wouldn't bring Ali." Asma baji turned to look at me, setting Anisa free from her hug.
"No, Baji. I couldn't miss it for the world." she replied with a smile.
After returning the smile, she looked at me. "I'm glad you could come too, Ali. Somehow Anisa didn't want to bring you along. When I invited her on the phone, she started making all sorts of excuses about you. But Alhamdulillah, you were able to make it."
I glanced at Anisa who just looked away as soon as we made eye contact.
"I did have plans but in the end, I thought this was more important." I gave her a small smile. She nodded approvingly, grinning non stop. "Alright, mom. Let them enter the house at least. We can continue this inside." Imran piped in, putting a hand on his mother's shoulder.
Asma baji gasped. "Oh my! I totally forgot! Come on in, kids." she moved from the entrance and gave us a way to walk. As we walked inside, Anisa held her sister's hand and squeezed it. "Jazakallah khairan for inviting us, baji. You're always looking out for me."
I watched in entertainment as a scene filled with sisterly love happened before me. Asma baji pulled Anisa into a hug again and even kissed her cheek.
"My baby's all grown up! I can't believe you're married and saying thank you to me like an obedient sister!" she almost had tears in her eyes as she said that. I guessed that Asma baji was really dramatic and sensitive but it looked nice on her. She was one of the few people I actually liked.
However, Anisa's flushed expression made me almost laugh. She looked so embarrassed being treated like that in front of me.
As we reached the living room, I looked around to see that the house had a really nice interior. Even though the house wasn't big or luxurious, it was pretty decent. An aroma of all kinds of food was filled in the house and it was warm inside.
As Anisa said, Asma baji did put in a lot of effort and somewhere deep down, I actually felt guilty turning Anisa down the first time.
"You can say bye bye to your lovely wife now, Ali because you're coming with me. You're not seeing her before dinner at least!" Imran teased us but Anisa just rolled her eyes while I played along and made a face. "Oh really? I'm so sad."
I could notice Anisa glare at me from the corner of my eyes as I said that but it was all the more better, right? Annoying her was probably the most entertaining thing to do.
Imran started laughing and Anisa huffed. "I'd rather not see him for the rest of my life." she grumbled. She looked like she wanted to say more but her sister came and dragged her inside. "Well this is where both of you part ways. I'm taking her away."
It was amusing to see that everyone was teasing us because we were the 'Newly wed couple'. But, no one knew that this marriage was based on a stupid deal and that Anisa and I were nothing like a normal couple. Most people would think that we were fortunate to get married at a young age. And like many think; marriage gives you a sense of responsibility. But I wasn't satisfied by either of those two things.
If I had to search deep in my heart, I would understand what the worst part of this marriage was.
Even if I didn't want to admit it or even if it hurt my ego, I knew that I was starting to feel attracted to her. More than ever. And I didn't like it. I hated the feeling of rejection maybe because I had never experienced it. Maybe, I was just scared. There could be many possibilities, but Anisa returning my feelings was not one of them.
My thoughts weren't clear. I was still confused about why I had that urge to get closer to her even though I felt nothing for her. Why didn't I feel my heart beat fast whenever she was around or why didn't I care if she was hurt or not? And at the same time, why was I so obsessed with her?
"Earth to Ali," Imran snapped his fingers in front of my face and I blinked, my thoughts vanishing like a puff of smoke. With wide eyes, I looked towards Imran. "Dude, you startled me." he narrowed his eyes at me and leaned in closer to have a better look. "You've been spacing out a lot," he remarked.
Then a smile spread on his face and he gave me a teasing look. "Is it because you can't stop thinking about her?" I gave him a smug grin. "Even if I was, I wouldn't tell you."
He just laughed in response.
"By the way, you never told me that Anisa was your aunt." I said to him. He shrugged and put his hands in his pockets. "I didn't know you knew her. If I did, I would've brought it up. And who would've thought that you were going to marry her? Honestly, I still can't believe that my friend is my 17 year old aunt's husband." he looked amazed as he said that.
"I can't believe it myself." I told him, chuckling a little. He started laughing again. "Of course you can't. You never thought you could get a girl like her right? She's way too good for you." His teasing tone returned and I rolled my eyes playfully "Oh please. It's the opposite actually. You're lucky to have such a cool Khalu (Aunt's husband)".
As soon as I said that, realization dawned upon me and I looked at Imran. "That sounded so weird." I stated to which Imran nodded in agreement. "I'm not ready to accept you as my Khalu. Not yet." Both of us shared a look of mutual understanding.
"Anyway, are we going to stand here for the rest of the night or are you going to introduce me to your relatives?" I asked.
Imran quickly nodded. "Yeah, I totally forgot about that," he said. "Come on then, Khalu ji." he smirked at me. I shook my head at him in disbelief. "I thought you said you weren't ready to accept me yet." I reminded him. He nodded, his smirk still stuck to his face.
"I did but it's way too much fun to tease you." he started walking and I took that as an indication to follow him. We laughed as we walked down the small corridor, talking and making fun of each other like we always did. It was then that I noticed.
Imran was a lot like Anisa. Especially the way he moved his hands while he talked. I also noticed his lips were like hers too to an extent. Suddenly, my train of thought led me somewhere else and I was lost in my own world again.
By then, Imran had already taken me to the men's room where we were sitting. Imran started attending to his relatives, his cousins and others, and I just sat there with my head swirling with thoughts about one and one person alone.
Anisa.
Oh Allah. Everything about her was starting to look more beautiful. Her hands and her eyes. It was like it was the only thing I could think of. The way she bit her strawberry pink lips made shivers rush through my body and controlling myself was almost painful. Her every move moved something inside me and all I wanted was to get closer to her. I wanted to see her cute expressions and her furious face when her nose would turn red. I wanted to feel her as well.
But I knew I was stupid to think that.
I already had girls waiting in a line for me. All of them better than the other. Easy to get and pretty hot. Getting one into my bed wasn't a problem for me but of course I knew I wouldn't go that far. The feelings I were having for Anisa were strong and I knew that if I couldn't get her then I had to distract myself. Honestly, I was a helpless case.
I was starting to think of someone who was totally out of my reach despite being right there in front of me.
"Ali,"
I blinked.
"This is Musa bhai." Imran shook me out of my trance once again. I looked at him, confused for a second. After realizing what he had just said, I nodded once acknowledging the brown haired, dark eyed man who was sitting on the sofa across me.
"Nice to meet you." I said to him casually as soon as I recovered. He smiled at me. "The pleasure is all mine. I was really excited to meet the young man Uncle Malik chose for our precious Anisa. And now that I'm here, I must say, I'm quite satisfied."
"Thank you," For some reason, I started feeling anxious. Finally out of my thoughts about Anisa, a realization hit me. I looked around the room and saw all the people sitting there. I could see Asma Baji's husband, Salman sitting far away.
Every person in the room glanced at me every once in a while before leaning in to talk to each other. My frown deepened. Something was out of place.
I was weirdly, the center of attention. Like everyone was judging me. I then looked to Imran and he gave an assuring look.
Then it dawned upon me.
The very purpose of the dinner was to meet the newly Wed couple. And if those people were Anisa's relatives, then it meant all of them were there to see me. To check me out. And to approve of me.
I groaned inwardly.
This was going to be rough.