Tere bina jeena

***

Amal

I shook my head once again at the super bright earrings.My eyes searching through the stall that was decorated with all the traditional earrings.Jhumkas standing out the most.

" No please, they are very bright."I said to the stall man who attended to another lady.My grey eyes searched through the earrings, that were made of finest silver, embellished with pearls and beads.The tiny detailing in them attracting people.

" What happened?"The man besides me asked patiently.

I turned to look at him, my face falling sad as I glanced at my husband.

" I can't chose which one to take."I said.

Arsalan moved besides me, his eyes travelling up the trails of various pieces.His fingers brushing through the golden ones to the silvers.I looked at him with all my attention.My eyes noting all of his actions.

" Show us that one."He said to the man behind the stall.Handing over a silver antique pair to Arsalan, he handed a hand mirror too.

My husband held out the pair to me, beckoning me to wear them.Taking the Jhumkas from him, I tried to wear it but my loose hair wouldn't let me do so.Brushing the strands away, I hissed again missing the piercing hole of my ear.

Cold hand brushed against the soft of my skin before my hair were gathered.Arsalan's loose grip made it easy for me to wear the earring, my heart swelled with happy and lo- for my husband.

I traced the earrings dangling in my ears.Already loving them.Antique silver dome was contrasted with a round ring.The ring making the dome dangle from it as the little detailing and the chunn chunn made noise whenever I moved my head.Small embellished stones in the jhumkas making them look even prettier.

I smiled at the mirror.The man moved behind me as he held the mirror.His reflection behind me in the mirror as we stood before the stall.

" They look perfect."He complimented but what looked more perfect was the mirror image of us.His manly figure behind me, and his smiling features.

" They do look perfect."I said softly meaning every word.

He let go of my hair as he paid.My eyes moved to the glass bangles in my hands, my hand brushing against the jhumkas once more.

" Want to get your henna done?"Arsalan asked once we stepped away from the stall.My eyes lit up.

" Yes."I breathed out with joy.

" Great.Then go and I'll just sit there."

He said pointing to a stood a few steps away from where the henna designers sat.Nodding my head in affirmation, I walked to the ladies.

Soon enough I sat with two young women on either side of my as they started on my mehndi.Loud laughter and giggling filling around me as the women chatted away.

A hand turned my chin towards them,

" MashALLAH, so pretty."An older woman said making me smile at her.Her words caught some attention as the women started to speak to me.Everything seemed so much better as I experienced things I should have experienced before if it wasn't for my awful first marriage.

I sat on a low wooden bed and so did the other women sat.The group in the middle of the fair as the men sat in a corner or ate food waiting for their women to get their work done.The bright lights and fairy lights all looking magical.Everything colourful and decorated around me.

" Oh God, just look at him, he is so damn handsome."A girl said as she ogled at someone.Averting my eyes from my henna imprinted hands, I followed her stare only to widen my eyes.

There a man sat on a stool with little children all around him as he blew colourful balloons for them.That man was my husband.

The kids jumped wanting his attention as a little boy sat on his lap.His hair all messy as he smiled down at them before granting them their wish.Every little kid wanting Arsalan all for themselves.

As if sensing my gaze upon him, he glanced straight at me.I sat in a group of woman but his gaze was only directed to me.The intensity in his eyes didn't flatter any where else.It was meant for me only.Seeing the grin on his face, I smiled softly.The distance between us wasn't a complication.Raising his eyebrows at me, the man asked but I shook my head gently.Jhumkas only being my favourite thing now.

" Yeah, just look at me."Another voice said.

" His wife must be very lucky.He set this all up for her."The young woman doing my mehndi looked up to the girls who spoke.Her words getting my attention.

Arsalan did this all for ME.

I remained in awe at the new information.Glancing at the henna designer I saw her look at me,

" Do you know who he is?"She asked me.Something about her expressions telling me that she knew the answer.

My eyes moved to my husband, who remained oblivious of the conversation as he tickled a little boy.Looking at the woman before me, I answered softly,

" He's my husband."Gasps erupted around me as the women gathered closer.

" Really?"Was the first question I heard.Nodding my head at them, I zoned out as they chatted loudly.My gaze landing on my hand that seemed utterly cold with mehndi being applied on them.Simple yet a beautiful design being created.My pale hands now looking much fuller with the red bangles and mehndi.Loud Pakistani music being played now.

"What is love, Marwa ??"

My eyes landed on my husband's face.His cheeks filling up with air as he blew a blue balloon.

When he cares about you only, when it seems that only you exist for him in this world, its love.

My head tilting to the side as I stared at the man.

When your in a crowd but your eyes only search for him.And when you know he's not there but you still imagine that he's there, its love.

A smile forming on my face as he held a baby in his arms with a motherly woman standing besides him.

When you want a family with him.When you see a husband in him with all your heart, its love.

" Take whatever you want"Arsalan's words from a few minutes ago whispering in my ears.I turned my face to the side, imagining him to be sitting besides me.

When he's not afraid to shower you with all the precious things in this world and your heart swells up with love for him, its love.

Everything disappearing around us, what remained was my husband who sat on a stool and me who stared at him.

When you trust him with all your heart and you travel in his light, his darkness even seems to be your light, its love.

I wanted to tell him so much.My words weren't even enough, I wanted a lifetime to tell him everything.

When he's not afraid to see your scars, when he respects you more than anyone, when he's not a coward to leave you on your darkest times and you still fight him, its love.

In the dark of the night with the brightness of lights.I met a side of him, I've never seen.

When your jealous of any other woman who stares at him, but you know that he's not even gonna look at her way, its love.

Questions after questions buzzed my mind as I looked at him.His body relaxed and his demeanor welcoming and boyish.

When you know that he's the only man you are ever gonna trust because he deserves it.When he fights for you even when your resisting him, its love.

Can you listen to me-Arsalan

When you want his warmth.When you feel that building walls for him is useless because you become soft for him, its love.

Charcoal eyes met mine.A collision of two different worlds.A different story in them.Two different colours but the message in them same.His eyes looking straight at me.

When he's broken all your walls and secures you in his own cocoon where you want to live forever, its love.

My heart skipped beats and my body turned cold.Butterflies floated in my stomach as if their owned my body.The flow of blood in my veins quickening.

When your heart races with just a look at his face, and unknown emotions smear all around your body, its love.

I gulped coming back into reality.Where I sat with the woman on either side of mine, just completing my design.

When you want him, when your heart only beats for him, its love.

A sudden nagging voice going off in my mind.Nervousness drowning me.

And when home changes from a place to someone.Home is not a place but a person that comforts you, that keeps you happy and warm, its love.

Marwa had left me more confused till now.But as I thought of everything, the fog began to subside immediately.

When he's just the right amount of possessive for you and you are comfortable with it, its love

The realization warming my heart with love as I stared at my husband.

I was falling hard for Arsalan Khan.

Arsalan

Dressed in a white shalwar kameez contrasted with a red dupatta that was around her shoulder, she looked like the queen of my heart.A queen ready to rule its kingdom.And I the slave always ready at her service.

Just a word from her and I'll move the world from here to there.

Her fiery long black wavy hair were in a loose braid, the wild strands shaping her face.The long black strands resembled to a wild fire in forest.Just something about them very captivating.

Sitting in a group of women, she looked like an innocent fairy as she blew at her hands, wanting the mehndi to dry on her hands while the

designers did her feet.

Mehndi on her feet.

I chuckled to myself at the irritation she showed on her face when her hair disturbed her.Teasing her nose and tickling her cheeks, making me resist the urge to walk over to her and ease her off her problem.

My last weeks progress hadn't been very eventful as I barely spent any time with her.But if I had done the latter, I wouldn't have been able to see this happiness on her face.The sparkles in her eyes or the bright smile on her face.

Her smile- this is what I craved for.It made me crazy.Amal made me crazy.Her little actions only pulled at my heart.She played with my heart strings.Somehow in the process of her healing heart she had peeled off the black layering of my heart too.

As she stared at me, I wondered if she could read what I couldn't vocalize. If she could read what I wasn't understanding.

Her grey eyes averted as she turned a little to the other side as per the instructions of the woman doing her henna.Leaning on my elbows, I still looked at her.Her earring calling out to me.The clinking of her bangles only meant for my ears.

The people had started to go off to their homes and the once crowded platform subsided.But still with enough people who enjoyed among their selves.

Amal talked to the designers and smiled and them.Bending down she picked up her flat pump shoes in her hands and stood up.I watched her actions keenly as she looked at me.The nervousness visible in her body.

Taking the first step.

And second step.

She stopped.Her mehndi was probably still wet.Standing up I walked over her.

" Isn't not dried?"I asked looking at the delicate design around the sole of her feet.

" No."She said softly looking down at her feet.

" Okay."I said.

In a split second, I scooped her up in my arms, bridal style.A loud gasp bubbled out of her lips as her widened eyes met mine.People from around us looking at us, but it didn't matter.

" Put me down."She shrieked wiggling in my grip.

" Amal, stay still or you'll fall."I said calmly before walking over to the parking area.

" No.Put me down."She argued as her cheeks filled with colour.The crimson colour, heating up her skin.

" Fine, the stay here all night."I said pretending to loose my grip.Her dried mehndi clad hands tightened around my neck as she hid her face in my chest.A loud chuckle escaped me as I walked us to where my babe was parked.

" Well you weigh like a feather, I could even walk us home."I suggested settling her carefully on the bike's seat.My hands stilling on either side of her body as I leaned closer.

" Wyhhaatee"Her stuttered out.Her eyes blinking in nervousness.

" Or we could just stay the night here."I said teasingly, my lips curling in a smirk.

" Home, I want to go home."She said with her eyes fixed on my black jacket.

" Your order my lady, Home is where we'll go."I said feeling her shiver.Probably the cold night was effecting her.

The ride back home was beautiful.I never imagined to ride this bike with someone, yet here I was.My most precious possessions.

My babe and,

My baby.

The night with the darkness and brightness passing by us.The winter vacations making people go more crazy as they shopped and ate and drank and enjoyed.

Parking the bike in the lot where I usually parked, I got down first seeing Amal struggle again.Not caring, I carried her again receiving another gasp from her.A smile remained on her lips.Making mine grow more.

An idea sparked in my mind as I twirled us.Amal was caught off guard as she tightened her hold around me.Her right hand held her shoes as I twirled us again.My wife giggled, the soft sound warming my heart.She threw her head back as she remained in my arms.

Soon her giggles met my chuckles, as I twirled us.

" Please stop."She managed to say breathlessly.

I stopped, my head spined but my steps didn't flatter as I carried my wife to our home.Opening the door to the apartment.I eased Amal on her feet.

Closing the door, I stood before her as my arms went around her waist.She seemed to be drunk on happiness, ecstacy.Her grey eyes were sparkling and she surprised me by linking her arms around my neck.

Placing my forehead on hers, I pulled her closer.Careful enough to not destroy her mehndi.

" I am very happy."She said softly.Her eyes closing momentarily.

" You make me happy."She added with a sigh.

I grinned.

" Amal-"I hesitated not knowing how to say it.She hummed looking at me.

" Jalal Khan was killed in an encounter.He was involved in drug shipment and some other illegal stuff."I said holding her closer to be.

The woman stilled for a few seconds before she pulled back from my forehead just enough she could see all of me.The smile slipped off her face and I regretted telling her.

" I never wanted him to die, but he doesn't matters.You matter."Her answer was enough to satisfy me as I grinned.Earning a huge smile from her.

Was she really drunk?

" I am very happy Amal, ask me anything tonight and I promise to grant you it."I said truthfully wanting to place all the happiness by her feet.

The woman before me thought for a moment, her eyes searching mine before she spoke completely surprising me with her answer.

" Freedom.Freedom is all I want."She said sliding her hand from my neck to my arms.

Wanting to even fight death for her, I made the promise to her.Just to see her smile like this.Forever.

" I promise."Sealing it with a kiss.

Little did I know that I signed my destruction with my own hands,

Little did I know what a mistake I did that night.

***

And that's a wrap !!

How was it ?? Did you all enjoy ??

What do you think will happen next ?? Do you know where the story is headed ??

I hope I am a little early this night :)

I do hope you loved it so show me more love by commenting loads and of course voting ..

Happy winters to All !!

Until next time,

_Hafsa