Dark Night , shining stars , brightening moon hide somewhere shying away after witnessing the burning passion and love of two soul uniting with each other until the end of the dawn. As if the elements of the night ensouled the sun and morning clouds and now with all its glory sun is peeking from the clouds want to be a witness of their love too, the union of two hearts, body and soul.

Sky flushed, Sun radiated golden blush, clouds long parted away unveiling the snooping sun when they witnessed the evidence of the tale of the night through the window of their room.Shameless sun rays caressing pair of two tangled feet peeking out from white quilt.

Couple, unaware of the shameless witnesses were still sleeping soundly, peaceful look on their faces. When stubborn rays tickled them in attempt to disturb their sleep and Mahi started opening her eyes lazily feeling sunrays direct on her face.

The ceiling, the wall, flower canopy first confused her but realization hit her when she felt a presence glued to her back and a heavy manly arm wrapped around her delicate frame. Last night memory started flashing Infront of her eyes and carlett red spread on her face and her cheeks looked like blood will flush out practically from them. She was smiling like a stupid.

She can't believe he finally belongs to her.

"stop blushing or else I will mistook you for apple and bite it. " She gasped hearing his groggy voice, his hot breath fanning her neck where his head was nestled.

"Yo..you..re..up." She stuttered feeling suddenly too shy and started to get up. She doesn't even have courage to turn around and look at him. She removed his arm from her.

"Where do you think you are going?" He pulled her back to himself mocking playfully and she yelped falling right on his naked chest.

"Za.. Zayan.. choriye..de..der..ho rahi hai..sb intezaar kr rahe honge." Her eyes looking down in shyness not meeting his gaze. The blush adorning her cheeks making her look like a gorgeous chaos. Her dark brown hairs now look messy, looking like golden threads under the reflection of sun. Her shyness and innocence doing things to his heart that he never felt before.

"Kl k baad apki sharm khatm hone k bajae badh kaise gai?" He said thoughtfully removing the curtain of her hairs hiding his view more beautiful than a sunset. A teasing smile on his lips.

"Zayan, na tang karein na!" She whinned pouting like a child hearing the mention of the night trying to suppress her spreading blush and he laughed in response.

"Or aap bhi uth k taiyyar ho jaye, 9 baj gae h sab wait kr rahe honge." She slapped his she lightly scowling and started getting up again after freeing herself.

"Acha Mahira!"He held her wrist before she can run inside the washroom. Now sitting on the bed with his back on headboard.

"Ji?"She turn around in question but to her luck he pulled her again to him. She fell in his lap and instantly glare at him.

"Mera kurta to de dein varna main kya pehnuga!" He said making a serious face while opening the top button of his kurta that she was wearing. Her body froze and eyes wide in horror. She gulped before holding his hand to stop him when he was already done with two buttons and now was working on the third one. And seeing her reaction he couldn't continue the serious face and burst out laughing.

"Huh!" She gasped realising what he was doing. "Za.. Zayan aap..ap bohot bure hai." She made a crying face. She slapped his chest continuously in frustration before disappearing in the washroom with angry scowl leaving him laughing there at his wife innocence.

*******

"Baba sorry na!"

"Kabtak yun naraz rahogi!"

"Mazak kar raha tha meri jaan main!"

Zayan was whinnig like a puppy for his wife forgiveness after that stunt he pulled on her but she isn't ready to listen to him. She isn't speaking to him after that and it is irking Zayan, her silent treatment is torchering and today he also realized she is silent kind of woman when she is angery and believe it they are the worst.

He stopped her by her arms turning her to face him when they almost reached down stairs.

"Aaj hamara shadi k baad pehla din hai sath main please mat kro na aise." He pleaded gently. His eyes filled with hurt. And this was it she can bear anything but seeing him hurt. Her heart melted right away realising she overreacted too.

She was never the kind of woman to be angry on such little things then what's wrong with her today? Why her heart behaved like this?

Because now someone is there to take care of her, to bear her tantrums, pamper her and to love her. Her heart replied.

She smiled "Fine! you're forgiven." and the happy smile she witnessed on his face as if he just has won a lottery was everything to her.

"Oh thank God!" He rolled his eyes looking up in relief.

"By the way congratulations!" She spoke teasingly and he frowned.

"Congratulations on our very first fight after the wedding Mr husband." And he laughed at her child like behaviour.

"I love you wifey!" He breathed kissing her forehead and she grinned widely. Her cheeks turning red and her eyes twinkling with happiness the kind of happiness that he never witnessed in her eyes increased his heartbeat. And in that moment he promised himself to do anything to not let that smile wipe out from her face.

**********

Silence.

It was an awkward silence on the dinning table. Only sound of cutleries clinking, chewing, gulping, pouring glass of water. It wasn't anything like the breakfast after the wedding filled with teasing and laughter.

When the newly weds came everyone just addressed Mahira's soft Salam greeting with a nod and Zayan with a happy smile, this is the first time Mahira joining them for meal. Mahira didn't feel hurt though, she knew ice doesn't melt so easily and if they are now acknowledging her presence that's only because of Zayan.

Everyone was present there except Muskaan and her family because they are still hurt about what Zayan did to Muskaan. Its been six months since all the wedding drama. But Rubina Phuphu is still hurt she stopped visiting Haveli after Zayan's rejection and declined to even be a part of his wedding.

Bijaan wasn't happy too but with time they all forgave Zayan after all he is her ladla but she knows it won't lessen her trouble. Bijaan blames Mahi for her daughter disrespect. If she is quite its because she loves Zayan too much.

*******

Its already been three days to her wedding now. Mahira was cooking chicken Biryani; Zayan's favourite. He has been out for some work since morning and she was feeling bored so she decided to cook something for her dear husband.

"Kya kar rahi ho yaha?"

She got startled by the female angry voice when she was straining the boiling rice from the pot accidentally pouring hot rice stock on her feet burning it.

"Ouch!" She yelped pushing the pot back before it can fall ruining all her hardwork and turn around to face the intruder only to feel shock and nervous. Her mother in-law stood there smirking staring at her burnt feet in satisfaction instead of helping her.

Mahira's heart twisted in pain watching the heartless woman whom she always considered a motherly figure in her life; and respected her because she is her husband's mother.

"Maine pucha kya kar rahi ho yaha?" She asked again but this time calmly.

"Vo..vo...main biryani bana rahi thi Zayan ke liye." She nervously told her looking down. Her mother in law face grimaced in displeasure.

"Or naukar kaha gaye sare?" She asked now looking around for servants.

"I was cooking tonight for everyone.. to maine unhe thodi der pehle hi ghar bhej dia." Her tone now sounding scared.

"Oh to badi Begum khud hi Haveli k faisle bhi lene lagi hai. Bada jaldi sikh gai aap?" former grand dutchess mocked the new dutchess on her title while Mahira bite her lip in embarrassment.

"Acha jab aap naukro ko ghar bhej hi chuki hai..." Former Begum started speaking suggestively. "Aur aaj ka khana jab tai hi kar lia hai k aap ne banana hai to batadu.. Bijaan, Main or Asmara biryani blkl bhi pasand nahi karte to hamare liye kuch or bana dijiyega." She said eyeing her feet sadistically that she was rubbing with eachother to ease the pain and left from there.

Mahira fell down sitting on the ground clutching her burning feet wincing the pain. The tears that were in her eyes now started pouring down. She doesn't know what was she crying for; the burning pain of her feet or the pain in her hurt. How can someone be this cruel to anyone.

Mahira stood up again with so much difficulty she didn't have enough courage to walk to her room for first aid so she grabbed the baking soda from there and started rubbing on her now red swollen feet to ease the pain. She wiped her tears and get back to her cooking for everyone ignoring the pain she feel whenever she move around.

*******

"Assalam Walaikum!"

"Walaikum Assalam bache!"

Zayan greeted everyone after coming home while crashing on the couch in living area where members of the family already were lounging.

"Mahira kaha hai?" He asked not finding there with them.

"Pata nahi kamre me hogi apne. Hamare sath kaha baithti hai vo. Tum nahi the to aaj dinning table pr bhi nahi aai." Bijaan said taunting.

"Acha?" He frowned.

"Aisa nahi hai Bijaan bs use aadat nahi hai. Thode din me comfortable ho jaegi." He defended assuring Bijaan who just ignored distastefully.

"Zayan beta khana lagawae aap k liye?" Zayan's mother asked lovingly interrupting them.

"let me change first." He replied before getting up leaving for his room.

****"*

After suffering all the physical and mental pain Mahira felt tired. She finished all the chores alone before coming to her room and after taking pain killer she fell into deep slumber.

Door of the dark room creaked open with Zayan's presence inside. He frowned seeing a sleeping Mahira soundly and instantly reached to her side when worry washed his calm face. He touched her forehead to check but sighed in relief when he felt her temperature normal.

"Mahira!" He called her name softly caressing her cheeks with the back of his hand.

"Mahira get up." She was in deep sleep; effect of pain killer. After few more attempts she finally fluttered open her eyes.

"Aap?" She smiled still sleepy but happy to see him after a long painful day. Its like she forget all her pain by just seeing his handsome face. She instantly get up sitting on bed with her back leaning on headrest.

"Ji main." He confirmed playfully.

"Or apne abtak dinner kyu nahi kia?" He asked sternly and she looked down at her hands in embarrassment.

"Aap ka wait kr rahi thi." She excused.

"Agr der ho jaye to next time se mera wait karne ki koi zarurat nahi hai. Samjhi aap?" He ordered strictly and she nodded with a smile.

"Acha aap change karlein main tabtak khana lagati hu." She told him while getting up from the bed after grabbing her dupatta from the couch and wrapping her silky hairs in a loose bun.

He kissed her forehead nodding with a smile before disappearing into washroom.

She was feeling little uncomfortable while walking but thanks to painkiller she isn't feeling that terrible pain anymore. Although her feet is still red.

*****

She was setting the table with a very unnoticeable limp in her leg when Zayan walking down stairs now dressed in his loose white kurta spotted her. However she didn't notice him and turn again to the kitchen to bring something when Zayan frowned in confusion noticing the difference in her walk tonight. She is walking too slow; like creeping with a little limp on her leg.

"Mahira wait!" His sudden voice made Mahira to abruptly stop.

He rush towards her, brows creased in curiousity while she frown in confusion but it was soon turned into panic when he started inspecting her feet and knelt down in front of her after noticing her feet harsh red.

"Mahira ye..ye kya hua..?" He asked worried caressing her swollen feet and she winced feeling his rough touch on her infected sensitive skin.

"Kuch nahi bs...bs jal gai thi thoda khana banate waqt." She assured him pulling her feet away from him.

"Thoda sa?" He gritted his teeth in annoyance. And he lift her in his arms out of blue making her yelp in response. "Mahira you can't even walk properly or ye tumhe thoda sa lagta hai?"

"Aur kisne kaha tumhe kitchen me jaane k liye?" He asked still annoyed after placing her on chair. Now inspecting her red feet. Seeing her in pain hurting him too.

"Pata nahi is pagal ladki ne kuch lagaya bhi ya nahi." Mumbling to himself he went upstairs to grab first aid.

"Zayan maine pain killer le lia hai already." She informed when she saw Zayan coming with first aid box.

"Pain killer k alawa b ointment naam ki cheez hoti hai." He sarcastically replied showing her tube before applying it on her feet while blowing air on it. The pain she isn't feeling now evident on his face as if he is the one who suffered the burn.

She sat there staring at him with a stupid smile on her face. The love and care she always craved for he is showering on her with interest. She can't thank her Rab enough for giving her a generous man like him.

"Sare naukar kaha mar gaye the jb ye hua? And I don't understand why you needed to cook. We have helpers for that Mahira." He asked angrily when he was done taking care of her burn.

"Zayan kitni tension lete hai aap." She rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Main aap k liye cook karna chahti thi is liye maine unhe jaldi free kr dia. Unki koi galti nahi hai." She explained.

"Look Mahira! I can deal with normal food but I cannot deal seeing you in pain. Samjh aai?" He denoted sternly and she nodded obediently with a smile. Her heart flipping on his words.

"Acha chale ab khana khaye." She pulled him to the chair beside him. "Or please smile karein dekhiye maine aap k liye specially biryani banai hai." She tried to lift his mood while filling his plate but he sat there only staring at her blankly.

"Abhi bhi naraz hai?" She asked innocently "Acha main apne hatho se khilaun?" and added further when she didn't get any response while taking his plate in her hand to feed him.

"Sach to main Mahbooba se pata kar hi lunga subah." She stiffened when he mumbled securitizing her behaviour.

He sensed Mahira is hiding something even after all the good acting. And the burn on her feet ; looked like left unattended for too long. He knows she is careless but not irresponsible. Her stiffness give blow to his suspicion.

On other hand Mahira don't want to blame or to trap anyone. She is now content in her life, for her his love and care is enough and she doesn't need anything anymore. She will conquer every stage of her life as long as she has Zayan and her immense faith in her Rab.(God) Because problems are never ending you just need someone by your side to forget your problems.

An imperfect life is actually a perfect life. If there is pain then there is cure too, if there's someone to hate you then there must be someone to love you. Everyone has their own sort of problems in life but there is still something in everyone's life to hold on to either it's hope for a better life or the support of people you love.

If life can be a bed of roses there still are thorns underlying it. Even a fairytale won't be a fairytale anymore without interference of a witch. Even the books end with few questions unanswered. And no one really bothers to know the story after the happily ever after And if it's written further it will always with a new trouble knocking the characters until its really a happily ever after.

(New story prologue below)

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