Taking a stroll in park, Palwasha was thinking about her conversation with her mother

Palwasha asked some time from her mother, although the answer is crystal clear in front of her

It's a no! She can't marry Mohib, specially not when she knows about him loving someone else

"Palwasha!" She heard Mohib's voice calling her, she has just turned her head when Mohib came to her while running

"Hi!" When he reached her, he slowed his pace of walk and breathlessly greet her. Trying to regain his breath

"Hi!" Palwasha smiled at him and continue her walk. Mohib walking side by side with her

None said anything, not wanting to break the spell which night casted on them. Full moon which was hide behind the red clouds came out to peek at them while illuminating the park, making it look more beautiful

Palwasha lift her head side way to glance at him, walking by his side made her realized how tall he is, she just reached below his shoulder, he was maybe same height as Zaid

Shaking those thoughts away, Palwasha looked down

Mohib looked at Palwasha and saw her busy in her trale of thoughts, which made him wonder that does she knows

"Aaj.. mom tumhare Ghar gayi thi...." Mohib broke the silence

(Mom went to your house today....)

His voice made Palwasha startled, raising her head, she looked at her

Was he telling her or asking?

"Mamma told me about it." Palwasha informed him

"I know.. elders has made it awkward for us." Nervously laughing, Palwasha said

"Awkward?" Mohib stopped walking and turned ho face her, which made Palwasha stopped too

"Haan! Awkward.. I mean.. we just met weeks ago and I know we have formed a good bond but that doesn't mean that.... That we should get married. Specially not when we know the situation of other's heart." Shrugging her shoulder, Palwasha said whatever comes in her mind, she herself was not sure if she made sense but she needed to make herself clear

(Yes!)

"You know all about me and Zaid and I also know you love someone else...."

"And what if I say that someone else is you?" Mohib broke her rambling which made her froze

"What if I say I love you?" Mohib again asked

"Mo... Mohib, stop joking...."

"Why would I joke about this? Palwasha, I'm serious."

"But... How is it possible?" When she couldn't come up with any reply, she asked

"Why not? Why it is hard to accept this?"

"Aap mere barey mein sab jante Hain..."

(You know everything about me...)

"Janta Hoon, isliye tumse pyar karta Hoon. Palwasha, I really admire you and your strength, even after what you have been through and still you haven't let that change you, that's what I like about you."

(That's why I love you.)

"Look, Palwasha, you don't have to say anything right now but just hear me out."

"Main bachpan se akela raha Hoon, na hi koi Bhai behen ya koi dost, is akelepan ne mujhe aur tanha Kar diya bana diya, logo mein baithne ki adat nahi thi, kisike samne beena atke bol nahi sakta tha. Psychiatrist ne ek stick de di confidence ke liye which was very stupid but it worked. Agar woh stick mere paas hoti toh main waqai mein zyada ruk ruk ke nahi bolta tha. Lekin, Palwasha. Tumhare sath... Tumhare sath hota Hoon to mujhe uss stick ki bhi zaroorat nahi padhti. Tumhare sath main khudko express Kar sakta Hoon, apni feelings share Kar sakta Hoon Jo mujhe Kabhi Shanaya ke sath bhi nahi laga."

(From childhood I have having of being alone, the loneliness has made stand out from crowd, I can't even speak to someone without stuttering and my psychiatrist suggested a stick to me for confidence which was very stupid but it worked, when I have the stick with me I don't stutter. But, with you, Palwasha, I don't even need that stick. With you I am myself, I could talk about anything to everything to you, I didn't had this bonding even with Shanaya.)

Palwasha opened her mouth to speak but Mohib showed his hand to her

"Kuch bolne ki zaroorat nahi Hai, mujhe maloom Hai tum abhi mere barey mein aisa kuch nahi sochti, and it's okay, it is not necessary for you to reciprocate my feelings now. But I do want you to think about us, abhi jawab nahi Hai toh kuch mat kaho, kisi aur din jab tumhare paas jawab hoga tab kehna."

(You don't have to say anything, I know you don't think about me like that. You don't have to answer now, maybe later when you have a valid answer with reason.)

"And I promise you one thing, tumhari Haan ho ya na, hum hamesha achhe dost rahenge."

(We will always be good friends.)

≤≥

Palwasha put Mohib and marriage thought in the back of her mind, she was in her last year of college and got herself busy in her studies

Still, sometimes in the middle of night when she would try to sleep, the thought of Mohib kept her awake

In class, when she tries to focus in lecture, Mohib's words would play in the back of her mind

Whatever she was doing, Mohib's thought would disturb her

She didn't wanted to admit it but a part of her heart was missing him

Just because she was busy in her studies, that's why she doesn't go to the park anymore, nor she went to meet him, some days they would see each other out of their house gate and do the formal greetings, this was the thing which was making her miserable, se was missing those endless conversation with him

The conversation where she could say anything and now he won't judge her

≤≥

Laying on his stomach, one hand under his head and another on his side, his intense gaze, not for once leaving Jannat

When Jannat couldn't handle the trembling of her heart because of his eyes,she turned to him and raised her head at him,

Smiling, Zaid shook his head negatively

Jannat was getting ready for Palwasha's baraat function, she was wearing baby pink lehnga with zardosi and mirror work and same pattern loose kurti, dupatta on her right shoulder, hair in crown braid, make up enhancing her face while huge hoop earrings were hanging in her ear,

Jannat nurrowed her eyes at him then again turned to mirror, she was almost ready but something was missing

Touching her hair to ear, Jannat tried to check was she missed. Seeing her in confused state, Zaid smiled to himself and get down from bed

Standing just behind her, he picked her glass bangles from dresser which surprised her

Because of his constant gaze on her made her nervous and she completely forgot about the bangles

Taking her hand up, she asked for the bngles when Zaid held her hand and started putting the bangles in her wrist, blush crept her face and to hide it,she looked down

"You know.. I have a better idea." Zaid softly said, which made her raised her eyes to look at him, Zaid was looking at her hand but feeling her eyes on him, he also looked at her

"Let's not attend the function and stay back here." Zaid suggested

"Nahi!" Jannat quickly refused,

(No!)

"Palwasha ko achha nahi lagega ki Maine...." Jannat was explaining him when he caged her in his arms which made her shut

(Palwasha won't like it if I...(

"Palwasha ka khayal hai...Aur Jo tum yaha.. mujhe tadpa rahi ho uska Kya? Humara baby kya sochega ki mamma ko papa ki bilkul fikar nahi?" His accusation made her eyes widened

(You care about Palwasha but not your husband. What will our baby think?)

"Maine Kya kiya?" Putting her hands on his chest to get herself free from him, Jannat asked

(What I did?)

Zaid didn't replied to her, just turned her to face the mirror, while he hugged her from behind, his cheek on her head

"Itni khoobsurat lag rahi ho... Mujhe toh lagta Hai main aaj phirse apna dil haar baitha hoon." Whispering, he placed a kiss on her head

(You are looking so beautiful that I fall for you all over again.)

"Kitne dil hain apke paas Jo aap Roz haar jate hain?" Laughing, Jannat asked

(How can one fall again? Love happens only once.)

"Kya karu? Jab tum roz itni haseen lagogi toh Banda toh apna Dil harega na."

(Not my fault, you are so beautiful that everytime I look at you, I fall for you again.)

"Achha hum late ho rahe hain, aap taiyyar nahi hue ab tak." Blushing, Jannat freed herself from him and turned to him to push him little away from herself

(We are getting late and you are not ready yet.)

"Ek baar sochlo, offer is still open." Before leaving the room, Zaid told her, in return Jannat could only shook her head

(Think again.)

≤≥

When Mohib entered his room, he was hit by the strong aroma of lavender candles and red roses, which made him close his eyes, opening it again,his eyes searched for his bride who was standing by the window, looking at the moon

Closing the door after him, Mohib went to her

"Palwasha!" After thinking for some moments how to call her, Mohib finally said her name which made her turned to him

Looking at her face without any boundation of veil made his breath stuck in his throat

She was wearing traditional Ruby red lehnga with beige colored blouse, smokey eyes make up which highlighted her black eyes and loud red lipstick, her small nose adorned with pearled nose ring and she was wearing choker necklace in her neck

Heavy set of bangles in her hands which were nervously holding each other for her moral support

"You are looking beautiful." Breathlessly, he took one step closer to her

His admiration filled eyes on her was already making her nervous while his words made her senses block as she looked down

"Aap Sharma bhi leti hain?" Looking at her down face, Mohib asked

(You are blushing?)

"Toh apko main be-sharm dikhti Hoon." His question made her forget about her shyness and that she just got married to him, raising her head, she asked. And quickly bit her tongue between her teeth, as she again looked down

(Why? Can't I blush?)

"Nahi.. be-sharm toh nahi.. lekin aap aise zyada achhi lagti hain." Taking her in his arms, Mohib whispered, which increased the pace of her heart

(You can.. I just like you this way more.)

"Mohib!" She softly called him

"Shhh! Don't worry, I won't do something in which you are not comfortable, just let me have some moments." Whispering, Mohib hugged her

😬

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