'He was engaged at that time when he done nikkah with me in village' On the thought breath knocked out from her body.

Her hand left the spoon in the plate. Smile left from her face. She just sat there lot of thoughts running her mind.

Zuhair glanced at her but become worried seeing her pale face. His eyes went to her plate which was half eaten.

"Aroosa! Why are you not eating?" He asked in concern.

"I am already full." She replied with lower eyes. He was not convinced with it but not stretched the matter.

All others enjoy the dinner but she was not even a bit when her hunger died.

She took her leave making excuse about her project.

She was romanig here and there in room. She can't help but felt restless just rewinding that words.

'I directly ask him about this matter.' She thought.

"No no I can't do that" she mumbled to herself.

She closed her eyes and realsed long breath.

'Why I am affected by it. When it doesn't matter now that he was engaged or not before.' She thought.

"Aroosa! You just sleep now. You need a break from all thinking." She mumbled and went to the bed.

Zuhair when he came to the room þhen he saw her ready for sleep.

"Are you fine?" He felt she was disturbed about something.

"Ya. Just little tired." She closed her eyes and turned to sleep. He didn't satisfied with it but let it slide it.

He tired after long day so he also fall in deep slumber but on sofa like as always. They are now on good terms like friends. But sleeping position doesn't change.

**********************

Next day Kausar called her sister Zareena. She was worried for her health after Rizwana told her about it. She last called her when she told her that Zuhair like some other girl so he can't marry with her daughter.

They told same story to their every relatives. Just his and her family know about their village marriage not even his brother Aryan know about it. Zuhair kept it secret so people don't point finger on Aroosa.

After that she tried to contact her but Zareena didn't answer her calls. So she thought she was upset with her now but she will come around after some time. That never happened in few months. But now she can't wait after hearing about her health.

At first Zareena talked with her rudely and taunted her every next second. But she ignored it and daily call her and try to convince her come to stay in her house so they can consult best doctor here who better than village for her health and she can take care of her by herself. After week she finally convinced her.

Next day Zareena coming.

******************

She was wearing her bangles after that she all ready to go downstairs to welcome the guests. She was busy in kitchen since she came back from college.

In past week she came to know about all this from Kausar. Not in detail that how and when Zuhair and farida get engaged. All this time she didn't even ask to him about it.

First she tried to ignore it. But knowing they are coming. She felt insecure.

What she is more pretty than her?

Zuhair liked her that why he wanted to marry with her?

he was forced to do nikkah with her that why he carry this marriage all time?

But again he would have forgot their nikkah and carry on his life why he didn't do that?

Or he would give her divorce and do the marriage with farida like decided before but why he didn't do that also?

All thoughts disturbing her again and again.

On top of all why he didn't tell her about he was engaged before?

But again she was at fault here. If she didn't ignore him and misbehave with him then they would had got more closer to each other compared to now. So he would have definitely told her that. But she created more trouble in marriage life and now she was regretting about it. It almost three and half months to their marriage. But she was scared that her appearance in their life effect them.

"You are ready?" He saw her stood front of the dressing table.

"Ya" She was so busy that she didn't notice when he came in the room.

"Wait for me. I just change." He went to the washroom.

"One more thing" he was stood in holding the door open.

"What!" She asked looking at him.

"You are looking amazing. White colour really suits you." Saying that he closed door.

Hearing that all redness come to her cheeks and smile doesn't leave from her lips after that.

Few minutes later both of them went down together. Guests already came there.

"Asalam o alaikum khala( mother's sister)" saying that Zuhair bent towards the Zareena.

"Walaikum asalam" she patted his head and after he took seat on other empty sofa.

"Asalam o alaikum" Aroosa also greeted but replied didn't come. So she stood there silently behind him with her lower head While everyone seated. Zareena's two daughters farida and neelam also seated beside her.

Zuhair hold her hand and pull her to sit on the sofa beside him.

"I just want to know what she has which farida hasn't. That why Zuhair choose her over farida." Zareena remarked while eyeing her up and down.

Hearing that his jaw clenched and hands ball in fist. he was controlling himself to snort at her forgoting his all manners. While her heart sink on her words.

"Let's go to dinning table. Dinner is ready." Kausar tried make atmosphere light.

They had their dinner in pin drop silent. Zareena didn't utter a word after that but her eyes didn't left from her all the time.

****************

She made a strong tea for herself becuse she having headache.

It was three days from that night. Zareena didn't left a one chance to insult her and taunt her. But she didn't say the word in return thinking her daughter engagement broke just because for her. She can't help but felt guilty about it. She took everything silently which she gave her.

She clearly remember her conversation with Kausar which she had one day ago.

"Aroosa!" She was in the room after serving them evening tea. When Kausar came.

"Yes" she replied and sat straight on the bed. She also sat beside her.

"I am really sorry beta! I am really ashame of my self that time I didn't stop her to make harshly comments on you."

"No.. You don't." She was saying but she stopped her.

"No Aroosa! I am at fault. I should have stopped her all the time but I didn't. Just because I felt guilty about how I broke engagement. Now her health are disturbing me that why I keeping my mouth shut. Please forgive me for that." Kausar told her with lower head.

"No. don't sit like that. You don't have to say sorry to me. I am fine. Just don't worry about it." She sincerely told her.

"Just don't take her words to your heart. Just forgot that." She said while patting her head.

"Ok ! You just don't take a tension about it" she said with little smile on her face. Which Kausar returned with her own smile.

She sighed rewinding that. She told her that she doesn't take their harsh words to her heart. But their harsh comments and remarks on her that making her sad all time.

"Asalam o alaikum" Zuhair stepped in lounge where she seated on sofa.

"Walaikum asalam" she replied with faking her smile. But her eyes were telling him she was sad about something.

"Why are you sitting alone here?" He asked her while taking seat beside her.

"Mom has taken Zareena auntie to hospital for her check up" she informed him and stood up not before picking her cup from table.

That why she was now in peace for some moment.

Yes! You heard right. Now she was calling his mother as mom on Kausar's request.

"Now where are you going?" He asked her who was about to leave.

"Make a tea for you." She answered with frown on her face.

He shook his head in disapproval. He took hold on her wrist and pulled her on her place where she seated before.

"Just sit here. I don't want it." He told her and hold her hand in his.

"Why?" She whispered to him who was drawing small circles on back of her hand. Just his little act were creating havoc in her body.

"I just want to spend some time with my wife." He expressed it while looking in her eyes. She clearly see the how sincere he was just looking in his eyes.

Now days she felt nervousness in his presence. She can't handle intensity of his eyes she just lower her eyes but little smile spread on her face repeating his statement in her mind.

"What you wanna do?" He asked.

"I don't have any idea." She answered with her eyes fixed on their joined hands.

"Let's watch movie. I know how much you like it." He suggested.

"Ya let's see the horr-" she was happily telling him but someone interrupts her.

"Zuhair! You came?" Farida asked and took a seat on other couch.

'Can't you see with your eyes' Aroosa wanted to tell her but controlled her tounge.

Zuhair nodded his head and on the t.v.

"I am also join you both for watch the movie." She declared it.

'So she heard our conversation before that why she came.' Aroosa thought.

"Aroosa! Which movie you want to watch?" He asked while looking her face.

"Horror" She answered excitedely.

"Romantic" farida also said at the same time.

"Let's see the romantic movie today" he announced it.

Hearing that she felt pang in her heart. He clearly aware of that how much she hates the romantic movies because they already watched the movies together three or four times. Despite it he agreed with her. She saw the farida wickedly smile at her. She doesn't want to get insult in front of him. Nor she wants to just sit while they enjoy the each other company and movie.

She tried to free her hand from his grip. But he tightened his grip even more than before. He encircled their fingers and place it between them so farida didn't see it.

He started the one of romantic movie. Between watching movie farida comments on some scenes but Zuhair didn't replied or some time answered in short.

Aroosa tried to watch movie but she can't. So she just sat there with her close eyes but she was enjoying the warmth of his hand.

*******************

After Two days He returned from the office. He was looking for her in lounge but didn't find her.

He straight went to his room.

He stepped inside the room and his eyes fall on her who was murmuring something to her self while sitting on the bed. He closed the door behind him slowly.

She smacked herself on her head with her book.

"I just can't do anything prporly" she repeated Zareena's words which she told her more than enough to insult her.

"You are just unwanted thing Aroosa!" She again repeated and put her head on the bed in sitting position so she can't see him who was observing her every act with amusement.

But He didn't like her comments on herself. He aware of she was in stress now days because of his aunt. Didn't eating properly. Which making him worried for her health.

He also didn't like the His house atmosphere in their presence.

"They are right! You just forcefully entered his life" she again murmured with close eyes.

He heard that and went near her and tap on her shoulder.

"Aroosa!" He called her. Who sit up and stunned to see him.

He smiled seeing her eyes widely open.

'He heard all my blabbering?

I didn't hear sound of door or his foot steps.' She thought.

"Are you all right?" He asked.

'He properly heard that.' Her inner self confirmed it.

She closed her eyes feeling embarrassed.

'Now he really think me as a mental person.' She thought.

"Aroosa!" He worridly called her.

"Ya! I am all right. just..…." She couldn't tell him about their behavior with her. Which was disturbing and making her upset.

"You are missing your parents? You want to meet them?" He asked and sat beside her.

"No. It is not like that" now she daily talk to her parents.

"Let's go to the downstairs to join the others." He suggested and extend his hand front of her.

"No no.. I don't want to get insul-" she was saying but stopped when she realized what she was doing.

He saw the horrific expression on her face. Her eyes telling every thing to him that something happened or someone told her something in his absence.

"I am not hungry. You go join them for dinner." She composed herself.

"Let's go out for dinner today." He suggested looking at her.

"Really?" She excitedely asked him. Now He came to know why she didn't want to go downstairs not for dinner not every thing else. Why she making her self lock in room just because of his Zareena aunt.

"Yes! Now get ready fast." He told her happily.

"Ok." She almost run to the wardrobe for pick out her dress.

"You unknowingly make my day" she murmured and went to the washroom thinking he didn't hear her but he heard that.

"Your smile always make my day." He murmured to himself and lay down on his back while his legs on the floor.

......................

After half and hour they both ready and stepping down the stairs.

"We will go to meet your parents in return. what you say?" He suggested.

" I don't think so. We will be Come late home if we go there." She said in disapproval.

"We will go there. Let's final it." He end the topic.

"Ok." She gave in.

They were about to entered in lounge when he stopped and turned toward her.

"What?" She asked with frowning face.

"I just want to tell you that you are looking very pretty." He compliment her.

"Thank you" she whispered with lower head but little smile spread on her lips.

They entered on the lounge then all pair of eyes on them.

"Zuhair! You both going somewhere?" Kausar asked and walked towards them.

"Yes mom! We are going out for dinner." He told her while glancing at his wife.

"Kausar! Kesi bahu he tumhari isse ab ghar ka khana bhi khaya nahi jata" Zareena remarked again on her with her loud voice.

(How your daughter in low who can't eat the home made food now.)

He was about to tell something to her when his mother hold his arm to make him stop.

"Go beta! Enjoy your dinner" she told him with half hearted smile.

"Ok! By-" he interrupted by farida.

"Khala! Neelam and me also want to shop some things from the near shop. How about Zuhair drop us there on his way." Farida suggested.

"I don't think shop will be open on this time." Zuhair said to her.

"I am sure it will be open." She hurriedly told him.

"Ok. As you say. Driver will take you there. Please excuse us." Zuhair told her in his calm voice and glanced at Aroosa. Who was silent all the time.

"See! What you have done to our son. That he forgot all his manners and sending my daughters with driver. Before you came he didn't behave like that. He always respectful to everyone. Now you made him just like you ill mannered." Zareena accused her.

Aroosa just closed her eyes hearing that.

"Now he just all think about you. In which he forgot my daughter's safety. How they will go with stranger like that. You are not right person for him. You are one of girls who can't make a home but just broke it with your own hands." She spat on her and continued with it.

But she can't listen all that now she turned to go the room.

He hold her hand and stopped her who was about to leave.

He realsed long breath and his eyes met with his mother's pleading eyes.

"You two wanna come. Let's go. I will drop you there." Saying that he took her with him while holding her hand.

He opened the door make her sit on the front seat. He took driver seat and they both took back seat.

Few minutes later he stopped the car on the address which farida instruct him.

As he said the shop was closed now.

"I already told you that. What you wanna do now?" He asked with his gritting teeth.

"Sorry!" She answered.

"I will drop you home or you will take taxi to go home? It just 15 minutes away from home. I think that you manage with taxi." Anger clearly evident in his voice. And Aroosa aware of that. But farida not.

"No! Just take us with you. Neelam also want to take dinner out today." She quickly added last part. She secretly pinched the neelam so she agreed to her.

"Ya…I want it" she said while rubbing that place where her sister pinched to her.

Zuhair closed his eyes and realsed long sigh. He started to drive towards the restaurant.

While Aroosa sat silent on her place.

'I already knew this was going to happen when she first asked to drop them. She was knowingly doing everything just disturb us' She thought.

She aware of he was glancing at her now and then but she didn't look up on him.

Few minutes later He parked the car in the parking of restaurant and went out of the car.

She also stepped out of the car and went near him. They two already stood with him.

They went in restaurant and took the table.

Aroosa took a seat beside him and they two were sitting opposit to them.

They ordered their dinner. She didn't utter a word since they left the house till now.

"I just come." Saying that she went to the ladies washroom before he say something.

..................

She washed her face with water. She saw her self in mirror on the wall.

"Aroosa! Don't think about her words. You feel just pain rewinding her words." She mumbled to herself.

She was taking long breath to calm down. She doesn't want to cry now.

"Try to be strong. You can handle that much." She give little pep talk to her self and came out from there.

Seeing the front scene her all strength left from her body.

Farida had taken her seat in her absence. She was sitting beside Zuhair. They were talking and laughing about something. Without her knowing her heart felt pain seeing him smiling like that with her.

She controlled her emotions and went back to table.

"Sorry! Aroosa you can take my seat. We are talking." Farida sarcastically told her with fake smile.

She nodded and take a seat against them and beside neelam.

Their order came. They three were enjoying the food but She was not. She was glancing at him again and again who was forgot her in his cousins company.

He didn't event try to talk with her or ask her something. He was busy with them all the time. She was hurt but control her tears.

She can't help felt insecure seeing their closeness. She just sat there with her heavy heart.

She was happy when he asked her on dinner thinking that they were first time officially going out but now she felt upset about every event happened after that. Now she want to go home as soon as possible. But seeing their face she didn't think that will happen soon.

*****************

After that night. When she tried to spend some time with him farida always intrupte them.

Now they both didn't even talking. They both like in start of their marriage.