I woke up to the sound of water running in the adjusent washroom but then my eyes flew open at realising that I didn't even have any attached washroom.

I took in my surroundings, the foreign yet beautifully decorated room that I totally didn't notice last night.

Last night.

And it all came back.

I was married. The tears had just threatened to fall out when the washroom door opened, revealing a just out of shower, freshly wrapped in a towel Zaidaan.

He was rubbing his head like a mad man with another towel, I guess to dry his hair, completely oblivious to my presence.

I just sighed and tore my gaze away.

Pushing the duvet off me, I stood up and walked towards the bed, keeping it in place and passing him as I made my way to the washroom. Not a word was exchanged and I was more than grateful for that.

The shpwer poured down a string of ice cold water and I shivered.

Does he not know it's winter? Who the heck showers with cold water in winter!

I had a thing for hot water. Be it summer or winter, I needed hot water for literally anything. There was a phase when I even used to drink boiled water.

After I was done, I came out and stood in the walk in closet, peering over cabinets and shelves to find my clothes.

There were none of my clothes.

I groaned when I realised all of my accessories were in the room and I can't go there like this.

Having no choice, I draped a towel over my front as if it was a dupatta and peeked out, making sure the coast was clear, I dashed out.

Quickly dragging my bag in, I rushed to get dressed.

Not really knowing what to wear, I settled on a blue kurti with red and gold zardozi work on it and paired it with white palazo pants.

My hair usually dries very fast, almost in one blow of the hairdrier, but as luck was not on my side, I found no hairdryer in here.

Today was so not my day, abd to say that it's my very own reception tonight. Awesome.

Tucking a wet strand behind my ear, I draped the maroon dupatta over my shoulders and stepped out, pushing my hair over my left shoulder and gently rubbing my towel over the ends in a weak attempt to get rid of the cold droplets that framed my hair ends like dew drops.

Not knowing what to do as I was left alone in this room, and Zaidaan was not seen anywhere in there, I did the only thing I could.

I went to my sister's room. I desperately needed that hair dryer

Now see, going to my sister's room wouldn't have been a problem if it weren't for two reasons,

One, it was also the infamous Aaban's room.

And two, this house was a freaking mansion.

Frustrated, I just went down.

Thank Allah the house was asleep and no one was up yet, it wasn't really considered decent in our society for the new dulhan to walk around the home unassisted and without the ghoonghat.

Turning to my right after descending the stairs, I was about to start my hunt for the kitchen and ask the maids about Fariyal's room but to my extreme dismay, I bumped into someone.

I almost braced myself for the fall but I grabbed the staircase railing just in time as the other person, I still hadn't looked up, held my arm and waist and steadied me.

I peeked open my eyes and wished I had never even come down.

Because holding me in his arms was the man behind the mess that I am, Aaban Farooq.

I mentally groaned and physicallt flinched when I saw him, Ya Allah, why!

He, however, was as blank and calm as ever as he stared down at me like he never saw me and I rolled my eyes,

"Will you let go now, or do you want to create a scene or do you want me to push you away?"

He seemed to sense the venom in my voice as he leaned away, abruptly giving the cold air it's way to my already cold body.

Standing straight I crossed my arms over my chest and gave him a sickeningly sweet smile.

Just as I was about to go away, he held my wrist and pulled me back,

"Kainaat, listen."

And suddenly, him taking my name made me feel disgusted to another level and I did something I never thought I'd do,

"It's not Kainaat for you anymore, I'm your elder brother's wife. It's bhabi for you now."

I looked back to show him that I was not to be played around with and the look of betrayel that crossed his face somehow satisfied me.

He let go of my hand as fast as he'd grabbed it and moved away.

I brushed past him and then realised I could ask him my questions,

"Suno!"

"What?"

Rude. "Where is my sister?"

"She's up in our room."

I turned back and pressed the bridge of my nose with my index finger and thumb,

"Am I supposed to know where your room is?"

Now, I didn't even know why I was getting annoyed but I was. And that too, to another level.

He sighed, the sigh which I learned was to calm his nerves, and said,

"It's the one which is two doors to the right from your room."

And with tbat he disappeared to Allah knows where as I slumped my way up, somehow knowing my way to my- Zaidaan and mine- room and then followed his instructions and not having the energy to knock, I barged in.

And there she was, my elder sister, sleeping peacefully.

I didn't realise how lonely I'd felt since last night until I saw her face, the face which grew up with me.

I shook her, "Faru,"

No movement.

"Fariya!"

She stirred and muttered something about annoying humans.

"Fariyal! Didi!"

At that she snapped her eyes open,

"Huh?"

I rolled my eyes, typical Fariyal.

She rolled to her side and mumbled,

"What do you want, Kainaat?"

"Good morning to you too, older sister."

She now faced me and took in my appearance,

"Morning, younger sister."

I just stared back at her. We were behaving as if we never knew each other.

She sighed, as if thinking the same as me, and shuffled the sheets as she sat up and snatched her dupatta from the bedside and and flung it around her shoulders,

"Why do you look so shaken and like you're about to freeze out? Are you alright?"

I blinked, "Freeze out, because my hair are wet and the water was cold as heck, shaken because I bumped into your husband downstairs."

Her eyes widened and she held my hands in hers,

"What did he say? Did you guys talk, please tell me you gave him a peice of his mind."

I gave her a look, "Aren't you supposed to be on his side? He's your husband!"

"And you're my sister. Go on, tell me what happened."

This girl didn't make sense.

"Well, nothing. I told him to call me bhabi because I'm his elder brother's wife."

Fariyal's mouth dropped open and she burst out laughing,

"On his face! I'm SO proud!"

I gave her a tight lipped smile,

"Yeah."

And looked down.

She frowned and played with my fingers,

"Is Zaidaan being nice to you?"

I nodded.

"What did you get for mooh dikhai?"

"Pazeb."

Fariyal paused, "I didn't see that coming."

I chuckled, "Me neither. What about you?"

She shrugged, "Basic. A ring."

I raised my eyebrows at her 'basic',

"I thought you guys were madly in love with the way he announced his undying love for you just days back at dinner."

She pursed her lips, "He never said he loved me, he just said he's over you but actually, he was trying to convince himself about it more than anyone else, and in all honesty he is trying, we are trying. But it's difficult. And with you here now, it's gonna be even more difficult for everyone."

I nodded and then remembered the reason I was up here,

"Do you have a hair dryer?"

She nodded and went ahead, searching for it in the midst of the mess of her room and a few minutes later, handed it back to me, plopping back on the bed.

Too lazy to go back to Zaidaan's room, I plugged it beside her bedside table and started drying my hair as Fariyal said,

"For a new bride, you're up too early. I'd woken up after asr."

I chuckled at her, "Seriously?"

She cracked a grin, "Yes."

We were silent after that, with her occassionally glancing at me a concerned look in her eyes.

When i was done, I placed the hairdryer back in it's place and pulled my hair up in a bun as I headed out, but stopped midway in the dooryway and turned my head to say,

"Don't let whatever me and Abaan had affect you guys, and your wedding. If he's trying, you try harder. Don't let this fail."

And with that, I walked back to where I belonged, in Zaidaan's haven, with a heavy heart and a lightheaded feeling, having no idea why I wanted their marriage to work more than I hoped for mine, knowing little that soon, his haven would become my haven too.

***

Zaidaan was sitting on his bed, playing something on his phone when I walked in.

"Where were you?"

I didn't answer him and instead went and stood infront of the full length mirror and wore my bangles.

I saw him look up from his phone and glance at me with a raised eyebrow.

Darn! How can he raise just one eyebrow?

Ignoring his look, I continued doing as my mom had instructed and hooked my chaandbali securely in my ear.

As I placed my wedding and engagement rings on their respective places on my fingers, I saw him standing up from his position.

Still not faltering, I swiped my matte liquid lipstick over my lips in one go and placed it bavk.

I was ready.

However, in my own world, when I turned around, I collided with a chest as hard as a wall.

Ye insaan hai ya khamba?!

"Insaan." Was his calm reply.

Oh, he heard that. I heard his hearty chuckle as I took a step back and tucked a stray strand of my hair behind my ear.

He didn't find it necessary to lessen the proximity between us and just looked down at me with a look I couldn't understand and a ghost of a smile on his lips.

I, on the othee hand, crossed my arms across my chest and looked the other way, causing some stray hairs to escape my low bun again and fall on my face, hiding the fire threatening to burn on my cheeks.

To my utter surprise, he reached behind me and grabbed the pazeb he had given me last night and bent down.

What happened next was something that would earn me a chappal and a good one hour lecture from my mom because I let him do this.

Zaidaan, in all his glory, bent down on one knee and placed the anklets on my ankle.

My breath hitched in my throat and my heart went into overdrive as the cold texture touched the bones of my ankle and he moved to my other ankle, securing both the anklets in place.

He then stood back up and reached behind me, again and grabbed his watch and took his time in wearing it, much to my dismay.

He stepped back.

And just when I thought he was done, he stepped ahead and pulled me towards him as he put an arm around my waist and reached behind me, again.

But this time, instead of grabbing something, I found his hand in my hair, carressing my roots as goosebumps rose on my neck and shivers ran down my spine.

I let out a shaky breath, "...w-what are you-what-"

"Shhh"

For some reason, I found it better to do as he said and I hushed up as his gentle stubble teased my jawline.

I closed my eyes as I felt his lips heave a hot breath against my ear,

"When I ask you something," I heard him whisper, "answer me back."

With that, he moved below as I opened my eyes in surprise, and gently lingered his lips over my neck and then moved an inch away, to look at me and smirk as he faced me again, eye to eye.

He untied the knot of my bun and let my hair flow behind my back to my waist as he ran a hand through them,

"You look beautiful, mashaAllah."

He tried stepping back, but then we looked down, him amused and I mortified, to find my hands clutching his shirt.

I quickly let go, not knowing when I'd held onto him.

As soon as he moved away, I felt the cold hit me square in the face and I let put a breath, swaying a bit as I grabbed the end of the table behind me and looking down, away from his tantalizing gaze.

I heard his chuckle as he left the room, leaving me alone, flustered, shaken and with a heart in overdrive.

***

At breakfast, everything and everyone was organised and Inaya kept a steady chatter up.

"I'm so, so, SO HAPPY! It's like our family is complete. I have two sisters now! AAAH, BABA! we need to go on a picnic soon."

"Really?," I heard Asma Baaji, Tayajaan's only daughter say, "you only have two sisters, Inaya? Ouch. I'm hurt!"

Inaya rolled her eyes, "Ofcourse you're my sister, baaji! I meant sister in laws!"

"Also Inaya," Abaan started, "this family won't be complete until you go away with your husband."

"Yeah," the voice beside me, Zaidaan's said, "good riddence."

I saw Inaya huff and stick her toungue out as everyone laughed and I smiled at the bond they shared. Though Abaan was more rough in his words and actions towards Inaya, I noticed Zaidaan was more gentle.

Asma Baaji shook her head and ate the salad in her plate and avoided everything unhealthy on the table, seeing as she was four months pregnant.

Asma Baaji, I was told, was the eldest of all cousins and she had gotten married last year.

Her husband worked in dubai and she use dto stay with him until she got pregnant, she'd come back here and was going to stay until her delivery at her in-laws, and then, she was to stay in this home.

Tayajaan was looking at all of us with an eye as sharp as an eagle and for his sake, I put a smile on my face and talked excitedly whenever I was asked anything.

He was to me like my Dadijaan is, and I made a mental note to keep him happy the way I try to keep my Dadijaan.

"Kainaat jaan?"

"Ji Asma baaji?"

She smiled at me, "You and Fariyal haven't been given a proper tour of our home, have you?"

We nodded.

"Abbu, can me and Inaya show them around today?"

Asma Baaji asked her father who smiled at her, the brightest I've ever seen him and nodded.

She smiled back and said with a wink, "It's fixed then! Sorry boys, we'll be stealing your wives for a bit!"

***

"The interior of this house was solely chosen by Zaidaan and confirmed by momma, she always says that of everyone in this home, Zaidaan has the best choice!"

I smiled kindly at Inaya as she rambled on who bought what and when and how, the girl really knew how to keep a conversation going.

As Inaya and Fariyal continued chatting, I slowed down, observing the painting on the wall.

It was of a full moon, there wasn't anything excrutingly special about it, but somehow it made you stop and stare at it, it was simple, yet it had something in it that took your breath away.

"Zaidaan was in his first month of Interiors and Arts when he did this painting, fresh out of his tenth grade."

Startled, I looked to my side as Asma baaji said that and nodded.

She took that as her cue to go on,

"Why are you so quiet?"

I shrugged, "I'm the quiet one, it's usually Fariyal who doesn't shut up."

She laughed and I was pretty sure I blushed at my choice of words,

"I was told otherwise!"

I chuckled with her. How do I tell her that she was told the truth, but I was still too shy to open up?

Somehow, I tore my gaze away from the painting and we fell in step, Inaya and Fariyal's conversation playing as a background humm to our peaceful silence.

"You know," Asma Baaji started, and I listened, "before my mother's death, me and Zaidaan never got along."

I raised my eyebrows, he seemed to respect her a lot.

"But after mom passed away," she continued, "he changed his ways with me and became more kind and that was the start of our friendship."

I nodded and said, "I'm sorry about your mom."

She waved her hand, "It's been ages." Her voice, however, spoke a different tale as it cracked in the end and she shook her head, silently apologizing for her tears.

Instantly, I felt a special liking towards her and gave her a side hug,

"May Allah ease your burdens."

"Ameen."

We fell silent and I realised that mansion was a small word for this house. It was extravagant.

Just as the tour was over and my mother in law had called me to see the jewellery she'd selected for tonight's valima Asma Baaji held my hand,

"Kainaat, I know what happened. And I may not know the depth of this situation but please, have faith in Zaidaan. He may seem like an emotionless man with no feelings or smiles, but give him a chance to peel off his facade and he will prove to be the softest person on this planet, I promise."

Not knowing what to say, I gave her a smile, "Ji, baaji."

And that was the end of it.

That evening as I was getting ready for my valima with the help of Inaya and all his far off girl cousins, the day's events flashed before my eyes and no matter how convincing Asma Baaji sounded, I couldn't believe that Zaidaan, in his insane pride and looks, was nothing but a beast, with a so-said soft heart.

******

Pazeb- anklet