Haya was annoyed. Enough said.
"You know he loves chicken tikka and especially the ones made by me." bragged the cousin of Abrar with a sly smile plastered on her face.
"Oh." Haya faked a smile whilst turning around and looking for Abrar, who has been vanished for the past half an hour. She was so mad at him at that moment. Apparently, important work has come in between, so he had to drop her at the entrance of Iflan's haveli and hasn't returned yet.
"Does he like your cooking?" the girl asked her. Haya felt like snapping back a rude reply or something. She really was testing her patience.
"Maheen beta, come here. Help me with the boxes." Iflan's mother called that girl, making Haya sigh in relief. That girl has been eating her ears since the time they've arrived here. Meruza has disappeared to god knows where, the Shah ladies were busy with the other ladies of their age and Haya was kind of left alone for the past half an hour. So, Maheen the younger sister of Iflan thought that it'd be fun to come and chat with her.
It was all good until the only thing Maheen would talk about was Abrar. She was going on and on about Abrar this or Abrar that. It was like she's obsessed with him. And that annoyed Haya as nothing else could.
"I'll be there in a minute. Don't go anywhere." Maheen excused herself as she ran towards her mother, who was busy with her elder daughter's engagement preparations.
Haya faked a smile yet again, the moment the girl left, she immediately got up from her chair and went in search of Abrar, hoping that he'd come soon. But as far as her eyes can go, there were only strangers everywhere.
The Khan Haveli was filled with lots of guests today. It was their elder daughter's engagement. And they made sure it was grand enough.
"Excuse me, can you please tell me where the washroom is?" she asked a random lady, who directed her to one room, mumbling thanks to her, Haya walked in that direction. The moment she was about to open the door, few voices were heard from inside which made her stop from opening the door.
"She is not even that beautiful. I don't know what that old lady saw in her." she heard one person mutter in annoyance.
"Like she's just short and her face is so plain. Look at her and look at me!" the same person boasted arrogantly. Haya couldn't help but roll her eyes. She hated such people, who think only they are superior or beautiful.
Allah's every creation is beautiful. That's that.
"Don't worry, Mahi. You still have a chance. He's allowed to have more than one wife. Seduce him or something." it was another voice this time.
What even? Haya already hates them. Whoever they are.
"He already likes me. It's not that tough of a job. Anyways help me pick these boxes." the first person chuckled proudly as she ordered the second person in a bossy way. And in a second the door flung open. Haya looked at them both curiously, wondering who they were both talking about.
"Hi... what are you doing here?" Maheen asked whilst trying to hide her nervousness. The other one almost looked like she was petrified.
"I- washroom. I was going to the washroom." if her guess was right, then they both must be talking about her. But she wasn't very sure. So, Haya gave them a polite smile as they moved aside, letting her into the room.
"Did you think she heard us? What if she figured that we were talking about her?" the other person whisper yelled at Maheen who glared at her angrily. Haya who just entered the bathroom heard that part unintentionally and her blood began to boil with rage.
"Shut up, Anaya. Come with me." Maheen dragged her friend out of the room.
Haya looked at herself in the mirror and all she could think of was their words.
So, they did talk about you. Your guess was right, Haya mumbled to herself with a frown.
***
Take me out of here or I'm going home on my own.
Abrar read and reread the text again and again. He wondered what went wrong. Haya was just fine an hour ago, so why'd she send such a message was his question. Wasting no time, he dialled her number who picked it in just the first ring.
"What was that text about?" he never beats around the bush.
"WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?" she yelled at him through the phone, he almost had to take his phone away from his ears. If the music in the background was loud, her voice was louder.
"Why are you yelling?" Abrar asked curiously, he sure was surprised.
"Abrar... there's music playing in the background and your girl cousins are having fun. I'm so bored. Where are you?" Haya who finally came out of the room asked him.
"I am on my way. Why do you sound annoyed?" Abrar asked as he put the phone on speaker and concentrated on the driving part.
"Because I am annoyed. Please come fast. Don't talk while driving the car. Allah Hafiz." Abrar stared at the phone in disbelief. Did she just hang upon him? No one has done that before.
***
Haya was feeling misfit as she sat in between the bunch of crazy cousins, who had no intentions of making her feel welcomed. They just left her to be and didn't bother involving her in their conversations. Meruza was still missing. That girl was so dead today. But that was not the matter now. She was waiting for her husband and that guy was nowhere in sight.
"Hi..." Abrar whispered in her ears, sneakily from behind making Haya jump in surprise. He caught her just on time and laughed at her reaction, as he held her in his arms from behind.
She felt shivers down her spine as his cold hands held her, he was literally touching her bare waist, well...somewhat bare waist. Blame the saree!
Haya's cheeks became red in embarrassment as everyone in the room stopped whatever they were doing and gawked at the couple. Maheen felt like punching Haya in the face. She couldn't digest the sight of them both together, standing so close like that, without saying anything she just leaves.
"Missed me?" Abrar asked in her ears, she pulled away from him shyly yet continues to be mad at him.
"Come with me." Haya dragged him out of that room. Abrar followed her behind curiously, she was behaving strangely suddenly. An hour ago, she was just fine.
"Take me to somewhere... alone. Where no one can see us." Haya huffed as she paused walking, realizing the fact that she's new here and she knows nothing about this house. Maybe she should have asked him before only. Two minutes have been wasted in walking to nowhere.
"Well... are you fine?" Abrar was seriously worried at this point. She was acting so weird.
"Just take me." her voice was so desperate. It sounded like she needs to leave from here or she'd end up crying.
"Come with me." this time he led the way, holding her hands tightly. Soon they were in the garden in the backyard, where no one was there. It was empty yet the smell of rose flowers was so refreshing.
"What happened?" was the first thing he asked, to his surprise she hugged him really very tightly and inhaled his smell. Although he was taken aback, Abrar hugged her back instantly. They stood still in the same position; his mind was filled with a whirlwind of emotions. Her heart was in haywire.
"Haya... you're freaking me out. What is wrong. Please tell me?" He cupped her cheeks, whilst making her face him. He could see teardrops forming in her eyes.
"Why does nobody like me, Abrar?" she asked whilst controlling a sob. He was so very confused at this point.
"You know I was so excited to meet your mom's family today but they just didn't care about my existence. Your cousin, Maheen did talk. But she was so annoying. I was feeling so alone the whole time like I had no one and I didn't feel like that for the past few months and today after coming here it was like going all over again. I was alone all the time. Why did you leave me, alone?" Haya asked as she looked up at him, her voice was cracking the whole time. A drop of tear rolled down her cheeks as she asked him the question, he looked at her speechlessly.
"I hate you so much... Aunt Muskaan was right. I must be cursed. Everyone will leave me one day and you will too. I hate you all." Haya blabbered as her emotions began to take a toll on her.
"I won't leave you, I won't okay? Stop talking rubbish." Abrar held her shoulders tightly as she stared at him, teary-eyed.
"You just did today. Left me alone in this unknown place. They all hate me." Haya blamed angrily as she glared at him.
"Why would they do that?" Abrar ran his fingers through her hair, trying to calm her down. She wouldn't stop crying though.
"Because I took their daughters place or something. Maheen loves you right? Then why did you marry me? You should have married her only." Haya pulled aback furiously.
Abrar stared at her wide-eyed as he spoke, "she loves me. I don't." he then pulled her waist, bringing her close to him, as she hit on his chest. Haya's slightly bare waist was so soft and cold, but that was not the point.
"I'm sorry that I left you alone. I had some really important work. But where the hell was Meruza?" Haya rolled her eyes at the work part.
"She has disappeared to god knows where and your Ammi, Chachi and bi jaan were all busy with the other aunties and I was left alone the whole time. You don't know how bad I was feeling. In this new place, where I knew no one and all of them were passing me glances which clearly showed dislike and hatred. I was so controlling myself from not breaking down." Haya complained angrily.
Abrar cursed himself for leaving her alone in the first place. He did not expect his family to be this careless. How can he blame them when he himself was not perfect? With a sigh, he gave her an apologetic stare.
Haya melted almost instantly, as his deep expressive charcoal eyes stared at her with some raw emotions which no one has ever shown her before.
Her hazel eyes twinkled in the dark as she stared back at him.
"I'm sorry," he whispered softly.
"Don't leave me alone, again. Okay?" she asked with a pout.
"I promise," he assured her with a nod.
"Abrar... do you also like Maheen?" Haya couldn't help but ask and he gave her a pointed stare.
"Of course, I don't. She did like me. I won't lie to you." Abrar replied honestly. She felt so relieved at that.
"Do you also think that I'm short and plain-looking?" he almost laughed at that question. Haya gave him a confused stare.
"Whoever told that needs to get his or her eyes checked. I mean, you are perfect. You look so beautiful even while crying. But I hate it when you cry. Please stop crying." wiping away her tears he continued, "you look so beautiful. So damn beautiful that it drives me insane sometimes. At this point, I just want to kiss your plum-like lips. It's too distracting with this red lipstick on." He paused as his eyes fell on her lips.
"Damn, you're so dangerous to mankind. How can you be this beautiful and have no fucking clue about it." he touched her lips for mere three seconds making Haya shut her eyes in glee.
Did he just say all of those aloud?
Suddenly he leans in, so carefully. Breathing in and breathing out. Her eyes opened widened in shock. Hearts beating between them so loudly. He was so close, so close that she couldn't feel her legs anymore. At that point she couldn't feel anything at all, all she could feel was him, filling everywhere, as he whispered, "please."
"Please don't kill me for this." and then he kissed her.
His hard lips against her soft ones. Haya almost froze at once as she felt his nose against hers whilst continuing to kiss her. After gaining back her consciousness she began to respond which brings a smile to his face. She though had no clue of what she was doing. She kissed him back anyway. Both of them had no clue of how to kiss, but they kissed like they've been kissing for years.
Their breathings became uneven as he tasted her lips, which was sweet yet sour. That was probably the lipstick but that didn't stop him from breaking apart the kiss. Her legs felt like jelly as she held his shoulder for support, Abrar took that to his advantage as he pulled her closer to him, his one hand held her waist, the other one held her hair, whilst continuing to kiss her hungrily. Their eyes were closed the whole time. Haya kissed him in the same manner as she still had no clue of how to kiss but followed his ways anyway.
Unable to breathe, they finally broke apart.
Haya still couldn't stand on her knees, as she held onto his shoulders tightly. Their breathings were loud and uneven. Her cheeks became so red that you'd think it was tomato. Her lipstick was now gone and her lips were swollen. She looked so damn irresistible that he felt like kissing her again. She didn't dare look at his eyes, which were already looking at her intensely like he wanted to kiss her again. That thought was really exciting but he didn't kiss her though.
"Don't ever feel that you're alone, okay?" Abrar whispered huskily as he pulled her into his embrace.
"You've got me, always!" an involuntary smile broke upon her lips as she hugged him back.
"Always?" she questioned him, doubtfully.
"Always," he assures her again whilst pressing a kiss on her hair.
"You'd never leave me?" she asked again, unable to digest all of that which has taken place.
"Never." he then kissed her forehead with assurance, making Haya shut her eyes in happiness.
Words like these felt so good to hear after leading a life of an orphan for ten long years. Haya was so happy to finally have someone in her life, who wouldn't leave her. That felt so surreal that it was unbelievable. But she has got him, forever now.