*Unedited *

I played with the chain which Rehan has gifted me on our wedding night. A tear rolled down my cheeks as I heard the last ring. Why is he not answering my calls? It was yesterday afternoon he texted saying he is busy. It was killing me thinking something would have happened to him.

I never thought five days without him would be so boring and miserable. The only thing I wished right now is to be in his arms. To get his kiss. Just to be with him. I miss him. I miss him so much.

Though we talked on Skype every day, I miss him. This distance made me see my feelings clearly, those which I was too naive to understand. I am now sure that I love him. Yeah, you heard me right I love Rehan. I love him madly & I'm missing him badly. Hey! It rhymed. Hell, who cares? I can't wait to confess my feelings to him.

I took a glance at the message I sent him a few minutes back. I can see he has read it then Why can't he reply? Doesn't he know I can see it when he reads the message in WhatsApp? Feeling defeated I placed the phone on the bed.

I gazed back at the TV which was on for half an hour but I was not watching it. The song "Jeena Jenna" from the film Badlapur started playing. Even the awesome voice of my favourite- Atif Aslam did not affect me. The only voice I liked to hear is of Rehan. I never knew he had so much effect on me.

My lips break into a smile as my thoughts wandered at the last meet. The day he left for London.

"Can you please pack it?" Rehan asked scratching his neck and giving a cute smile.

"Finally!" I shook my head and placed his clothes in the bag. "All you have to do is ask" he was trying to pack his bag but could not do it with a file in one hand and mind totally in work. I tried to help but he refused. Now see he gave in.

"Thank you!" He gave a short peck on my cheek and continued his work. He will be leaving soon still he is working. Isn't he going to London to do this same work?

After packing, I dragged him out for the breakfast. "Aimen, I'll eat something later" he whined like a kid.

"Not gonna happen" I poured the orange juice in his glass whilst Mom placed the paratha on his plate. "Mom! I can't this much" he said with the food in his mouth.

"Eat! You will not be here for a week." Mom gave him a smack causing Sidra and me to giggle. Rehan scowled at us.

"Mom it's only a week," Rehan said stuffing the last piece in his mouth. How fast does he eat?

"It's a week. Take care of yourself. Eat on time and look for the halal food..."Mom started but was cut off immediately.

"Sleep well. Don't spoil your health. Call us when you reach there..." Sidra said laughing.

"Laugh. You will understand when you will become a mother"

"Someone is getting emotional. I will do as you say. It is not the first time I'm going somewhere" Rehan said hugging her. Dadi gave him a big lecture and all the do's and dont's list. Then dad had a brief talk about their business.Rehan was acting coolly but I know he will miss them a lot.

"Ya Allah! Stop it. He is going only for a week" Sidra said.

Rehan smacked her head "This is call "love" sissy. Don't get jealous everyone loves me not you" She rolled her eyes.

There was laughter, happiness. Mom was advising her son whilst dadi scolded her son- dad for sending Rehan to London.

I felt someone grab my wrist. "Come" Rehan whispered. He dragged me to our room. "What?" I said once in.

He pulled me close to him and looked at me intensely. "What happened?" I asked waving a hand before him. "Looking at my wife till my heart fills so that I could stay alive without her," he said kissing my cheek. The familiar butterflies arose in my tummy along with the red colour on my face.

"Stop being so cheesy!" I hit his arm.

"Ouch! You have hurt me" he made a cute sad face which made me laugh.

"I'm gonna miss this. I'm gonna miss your laughter" I rolled my eyes. "Cheesy again!" I said controlling myself from being flushed.

"I'm telling you the truth. I'm gonna miss you badly, love" I kissed his cheek. "This too.." He pouted.

"Then here's another" I kissed his other cheek. "In that sense, you need to give me six more" he smirked. I rolled my eyes and wiggled out his hold but he caught me in a hug "I love you, Aimen" he kissed my forehead.

*******

"Aimen!" I came back from my thoughts with ammi's voice. I'm staying in my parents' home. I hardly stayed a day after Rehan left. Mom and Dadi being very kind, sent me here on seeing my "miserable mood" their words, but now I can understand what they meant.

At the start, my so call holiday was amazing with Aisha and little Hammad around. Yesterday was tiring after shopping with Safa. She has accepted his cousin's proposal and they are getting engaged in two weeks.

"Aimen. Come down" ammi yelled. I went down.

"Yeah?" I asked yawning.

"What has happened to you? Why have you locked up yourself in the room?" Ammi asked as she dusted the flower vase.

"Bored" I answered honestly. I'm bored to hell.

"Of course you will be bored if you don't do anything" she mumbled.

"Do you need me to do something?" I asked looking at the clothes that have come from the laundry.

"Yeah! Fold them" Ammi spoke my thought. At least it would keep me busy.

It was nice spending time with ammi which I didn't do in a long time. It was just like the old days when my brother decided to interrupt "Why are you like a zombie?" He asked seating himself on a couch.

"I'm not!" I protested.

"You are. When was the last time you took shower?"

"None of your business" I snapped. If he has just come out of the shower it doesn't mean everyone around should look fresh like him.

"No wonder why Rehan jiju left you here" he smirked.

"Sarim!" I throw his shirt that I was folding at him but he escaped. Being this small he has the guts to annoy me all thanks to Aisha.

"He is right Aimen. What will Rehan think if he sees you like this?" Ammi said taking the shirt from the floor.

"Well he is not here"

"It doesn't matter go shower. Make your hair. Did you even comb your hair from yesterday?" She asked.

"I'll do it later," I said covering my hair with a dupatta so that she could not see it.

"Go now!" Ammi said. Huff! No point in arguing here. Feeling defeated I went to my room giving deadly glares to Sarim. He knows very well when to annoy.

******

After taking a long shower and performing my Zohar namaz, I jumped on the bed. I took the phone but no calls and no reply from Rehan.

Every possible thought found its way into my mind. What if something happens to him? Astaghfirullah. What if he found a girl there?

Of course, he would find one, you never loved him. Another voice spoke. Tears welled up in my eyes. Shoving all my negative thoughts I took "The fault in our stars" to read. I was reading the part of Gus's funeral. This was making me even miserable but I cared the least.

I was so engrossed in reading when someone knocked on the door. "Come in!" I said without taking my eyes from the book. Again there was a knock. From when do ammi and Sarim knock before coming. "Come in. It's open" I yelled back. Then they became frequent. Augh! This is definitely Sarim.

I opened the door and my eyes widened as I saw the person before me. I can't believe it. The next thing I did was hug him. I hug him as my life depended on it.

He laughed wrapping his arms around me. "Nice way to greet the husband" he kissed my head. A smile automatically found its way to my face. Gosh! How much I missed him!

"I missed you a lot" I accepted.

"Same here, love" he stroked my hair. I can tell that he is smiling now. "Are we gonna stand here forever?" Feeling embarrassed I dragged him in.

I went to the bed to pick up the books but a strong arm pulled me in a hug "I didn't say to break the hug" he whispered in my ear. Immediately my cheeks turned red.

I hit his arm "Why didn't you receive my calls?"

"I wanted to give you a surprise. Didn't you like it?" He asked rubbing the place where I hit.

"Nice surprise which worried me" I smiled sarcastically.

"It would have made me lie to you which I can't," he said cupping my face. How I'm supposed to reply to it?

I just beamed a smile looking at his perfect eyes. He kissed my cheeks " I love you, Aimen" His words made my heart stop. I wanted to blurt my feelings but something stopped me from doing so.

"You must be tired. Freshen up. I'll get something you to eat" I gave a short peck in his cheek and went, not before hearing his "Okie!" I laughed. Sometimes he can be such a child.