ABEER
✨

Life is like a merry go round. It's more like a merry go round in an adventure park with lots of ups and downs.

But they say right... what goes around comes around again. This one took a long time. A longer period. Had its own bumpy ride. Had its crucial jerks, ups and downs. Lost its track too but then if something is yours it would always find it's way back home.

She had found her home in me finally.
She was my home always...she was my everything the very first time I felt for her. I still remember she made my heart flutter.

It was one of those winter cold nights of December. Delhi is ruthless in its winters and the plant midnight lilly popularly called 'Brahmakamal' which Zoya and I planted a year ago was ready to blossom its first ever bud. We both were super excited about it.

I remember Zoya had even come back early from tuitions that day fearing she miss out this moment but when Daado said they usually flower in midnight is when she was relieved.

Like an excited teenager I had also waited with my camera to click pictures of the first blossoming lilly.

The flower blossomed.
It smelled like heaven everywhere with its strong fragrance.
I was mesmerised and I clicked pictures too...

However none of them consisted of the lily. It was all her.

The first time my heart had started beating for her. She was still a school going girl who had just hit her puberty but that night although she wasn't wearing anything special, it was the same night dress but instead of two pony tails her long hair was left open, flying everywhere. I didn't know what it was...

Whether it was the wind, the fragrance, the winters or the atmosphere....

I knew I had lost my heart to my little cousin.

Zoya wasn't just another cousin for me.

So much so that I wanted to someday call her my Zoja (wife) instead of Zoya. I chuckled at my thoughts. Honestly I thought it was my hormones then but when this feeling didn't go away and only sinked into me more and more is when I knew I had fallen hard. I had lost myself to my Zoya.

I was in love with my cousin.

But she never saw me in that light. For her I was still the same Abeer who was her cousin. She even called me Bhai. It pricked and hurt every time she referred me as Bhai. Initially I kept calm because I feared people would know how I felt about her. What will our family think? What if Chachu (Zoya's father) decides to keep her away from me? Maybe go have a seperate home.

I didn't want our big joint family to break down because of how I felt for Zoya but as I grew up my greed and posessiveness took over. I couldn't tolerate to her 'Bhai' from her mouth. It was getting tougher and tougher so I didn't care any longer and kept telling her to never address me as her brother but Zoya was habituated.

But then when Zoya told me how she felt for Peter is when my heart broke and I decided to go away to complete my education. I had got a seat in one of popular foreign universities upon merit. I took the chance and left to London to nurse upon my heartbreak.

I thought I will get over it sooner or later but sometimes longer you know the person deeper the wounds you feel. I completed my education, returned back to Delhi thinking it would be ok but one look of hers who had turned even more beautiful as she was 17 now made my heart run a marathon of its own. So much so that even Daado had started noticing how I stare at her.

I knew I could never have her so I maintained distance from her but then when our fathers net with the worst fate and we lost 'Sarbarah' (head) of the family is when it came with a cost. Daado wanted us to get married.

It would be a lie if I say I wasn't happy but when Zoya's confession hit me hard it left scars. I blamed myself for never trying to understand her emotions. We didn't have a chance. No every love story is a two sided one. Ours wasn't.

It wasn't even 'Ours'!!! It was only 'Mine'
So I just submitted myself to Allah's plans and walked out from her life just like she wanted.

She didn't know she wasn't just asking that she didn't want a Ruqsati...she was asking for my Ruqsati from her life.

It hurt letting go. I was finding peace in Quran as I read and absorbed the verses which explained how Allah would decide of what's best for us after we have let go off materialistic desires. 8 years I lived without desiring anything. Proposals, women, lust, desires nothing came to me. I wondered if I was turning a saint at times but then one look at her in our team meetings and I would know I'm not a saint. Maybe my heart only knew to beat for her.

Allah accustomed me to only love her.

I had honestly given upon hopes. I didn't even visit Delhi. Ammi and Chachi would come to meet me in Mumbai but I didn't come to Delhi fearing my own self but Pearl's wedding wasn't something I could skip. The only man who knew how I felt, what I went through. Only he knew how I was nursing my broken heart all these years. He stood by my side through every thick and thin. He was my best friend and his marriage is what I couldn't skip.

But never in my life did I know that my revisit to Delhi would change everything for me and Zoya again.

Today as I sit here on the stage waiting for her to take a seat beside me for our long awaited 'Walima' (reception) it makes me realise what a long journey we had. Pearl slaps my shoulder and nudges me to look upfront and there I see my heart...whole of my heart walking down the isle to reach me.

In a golden lehenga with a dupatta on her head which had it written in Urdu made me shiver.

It read
Inaayat Zoya Abeer Sheikh

I don't cry. I didn't even cry when I let her go. think last I cried was when I lost my father. But today seeing her taking those slow steps towards me with that smile I see behind that netted golden dupatta that she held in her Mehndi cladded hands which made the tingling sound of those anklets in her foot, those bangles which also had a bunch of glass bangles she mixed with all the expensive antique jewellery that belonged to the Sheikh household, she looked like an angel. My Zoya.

As she walked closer to me my heart felt like it was ready to explode.

It's only when Pearl whispered in my ear
'Saans lele Bhai (Breath brother)' is when I was out of my reverie. She looked like a doll. She took a seat next to me but I didn't know what was I supposed to do but when I heard Zafhar Bhai come closer to me and pat my back saying

'Baitho Burkhurdar...Baithke bhi Ghoor sakte ho koyi nahi rokega (Sit Mister. You can continue staring at her even after you sit. No one will stop you)'

And a loud laughter broke out in the hall. I was left flushed, embarassed but then nothing felt better than looking at her. She slowly whispered to me

'Abeer ...you are making me conscious please...' she said it so softly that I let go off my breath and tried not to stare at her like an owl.

'Teri Gardan Tod dunga Saale....idhar dekh...har photo me use hi dekhe ja raha he... (I will break your neck you jerk. Every pic you stare at her) ...I'm tired of clicking pictures from side angle'

Pearl threatened me and I saw how Zoya was fidgeting with her dupatta. I couldn't wait to once have a look at that beautiful face without the dupatta.

Soon the ritual for Ruqsati was completed. This probably was the first ever Ruqsati where everyone was smiling and no one cried. Zoya was leaving her home and coming back to the same home. It was really one of its kind. The only difference now was...

She was going to shift a floor higher. Her room was on floor one. She would be shifting to floor two.

To my room. Which would now on be...our room.

I smiled thinking how ever since childhood days she always wanted to acquire my room because I had a balcony which faced our backyard garden with our private manmade lake. It meant complete privacy because no one would enter the garden until and unless it was the gardener who visited twice a week. Little did she know some day she would be the queen of that room. She would own it along with me.

We would share it as husband and wife.

✨

'Credit card please!!!' Rehmat, Dharini and both my Bhabhi stood outside our room trying to bargain.

'But he already gave you cash. This is loot!!!' Pearl argued on my behalf. Honestly I didn't care. I just wanted to go to Zoya. But these idiots were arguing upon materialistic things. Honestly to enter that room right now I don't mind even I have to announce Rehmat as the next CEO of Sheikhs!!!

'But Pearl Bhai-'

Pearl was again ready to argue but I simply pulled out my wallet and kept it in Rehmat's hand and her eyes almost popped out. Dharini and my Bhabhi covered their mouths with their palms trying to hide their laughter when Pearl simply looked at me and asked

'This desperate? Woow! God bless Inaayat Bhabhi' and I slapped back of his head.

I slowly walked inside the room expecting my beautiful wife to sit on the bed with Dupatta covering her face and all that beautiful jewellery with all the elegance but hold on how did I forget...She is Zoya.

I cringed at the site when I saw my Biwi trying to pull the (Gajra) flowers of her hairs without any prior notice. She stood there in her wedding blouse worn upon track pants and there I noticed atleast 25 bob pins on the table and she was still plucking more from her hair.

But nevermind she still looked gorgeous.

My goofy little wife.

She looked at me via the mirror and I smiled at me.

'Ohhh hello Mister Shohar (husband)...can you please stop showing me your beautiful teeth and help me unpin these. It is so annoying!!!' she said and I quickly nodded and walked towards her. The closer I got to her the more intoxicated I felt because of the Jasmine and roses in her hair. Her big hair bun had a lot of Gajra in there with atleast another 20 pins. She was crying in pain. I felt bad for her.

'They simply glamorise these first night scenes in tv serials and movies. Believe me Abeer these jewellery and these bob pins are too much to tolerate. You bet this is why they don't show intimate scenes of first night because practically in real life I'm sure groom and bride spend half their night unpinning the bride's hairdo.' she said and I bit insides of my mouth to control my laughter.

She was right. It took us more than two hours to get rid of the pins in her hair and her blouse.

'That was the last one' I said as she finally got rid of the last pin to get rid of the Dupatta. She was finally off the jewellery, flowers and the dupatta and the first thing she did was throwing herself upon the bed.

I smiled but when I noticed how her blouse had a deep cut which gave me a peak of her cleavage is when I gulped dry. She was lying on the bed spreading her arms and here I was feeling my pants tighten. Damn it I didn't want to make it uncomfortable.

'Ummm Zoya....are you hungry?' I asked her offering some milk. She had a habit of drinking milk every night since our childhood days. She quickly sat up straight saying 'Yes please...I couldn't even eat properly. So many guests had come to visit us. I didn't like the function at all. I mean what is the use of spending so much if I didn't get to eat the biryani of my own Walima happily. Huhhh!!! That too it was the typical Delhi wali Biryani Abeeeerrrr!!! Ughhh!!!' she said and I chuckled offering her the glass saying

'I promise to take you to Old Delhi tomorrow night...eat how much ever you want to...' I said and her eyes twinkled and in one go she jumped and hugged me and I froze.

She slowly realised how she acted and tried to retrieve from the hug but this time I tightened the hold on her waist...So soft.

'Relax Begum...It's just me!!! You don't need to be so conscious' I whispered in her ears which had gone pink with all the Chand Baali she had worn tonight. I kissed her pink earlobe making her jump out of my hold. She took a step away from me. I saw how she innocently held the glass in her one hand and now coyly tried to tighten her hold on the glass.

My eyes yet another time fell on her deep cleavage which was heaving up and down due to our proximity.

Astagfirullah

I diverted my gaze by turning around and said
'Drink the milk and go change your blouse!!!'.

I didn't wait for her response and went to the washroom. I could notice the tent in my pants and I didn't want to scare Zoya. Yes I wanted to consummate our marriage but I didn't want to scare her. I took a cold shower and calmed down my hormones. I wrapped myself into a bathrobe and walked outside the room. She had changed into a tshirt and was now standing near the night stand fiddling with her fingers. I took slow steps towards her. She looked breathtakingly beautiful with her brown hair left open. I couldn't help but caress her cheek as she closed her eyes and her lips parted. I couldn't help but feel aroused all over again.

So much for a cold shower. This woman drives me nuts. But the way her lips quivered and the way I could notice her body shaking didn't make this feel right.

'Begum...If I can wait 8 years for you to accept me. I can wait a few more days for you to be comfortable with me. Your Raza was always important to me Zoya. And nothing will happen without your permission!!!' I said softly as I bent and left a soft kiss on her forehead and she closed her eyes.

'I think you must sleep Zoya. Goodnight' I whispered and walked towards my cupboard. I picked a pair of fresh tracks and tshirt for myself and went towards the washroom.

That's when I heard her voice
'Abeer!!!'

I turned around and looked at her and that's when she said something that left me shocked. She wet her pink lips and said softly

'I am nervous...I am a little scared...but I am ready!!! I want this as much as you want it Abeer!!!' her confession left me speechless. The clothes in my hand fell on the floor.

Slowly she took steps towards me and now I felt my heart was beating really hard. She stood infront of me. She was much shorter than me. Her head would reach my chest. That smile on her lips drove me nuts. She lightly bit her lower lip and I completely lost control. In one go I lunged onto her by getting a grip over her neck as I rammed my lips into her soft ones.

And before I knew I was sucking onto those beautiful lips. I could see and listen to Zoya smiling through the kiss. She abruptly broke the kiss and burst out laughing saying

'So much for a 'I can wait for a few more days' Mr Abeer Ahmed Sheikh!!!' she said and I narrowed my eyes while the next second I hoisted her in the air making her squeal and shout 'Abeer!!!'

But I placed her on the computer table by the window with a thud and her eyes widened.

'Oh you have no idea Begum!!! You have no idea!!!' saying I slammed my lips against her lips and my wife turning bold wrapped her feet across my hips while I continued sucking onto those juicy lips.

Ages and decades of wait and pain. I felt like a malnourished kid had just got his potion of food. I felt like a dracula who got his first drop of blood after centuries of waiting...I felt like a desert who craved its first drop of rain for ages and lifetimes.

She fisted the bathrobe slightly to pull me closer even if that was possible and responded to my kiss with equal fevour.

We were fighting in our own way by sucking onto each other's tongues for all the years for being away from each other.

That's when my hand touched her bossom and she stopped kissing me. I quickly retracted and broke the eye contact with her saying 'I....I am sorry Zoya...I didn't rea-'

But before I could complete the statement I felt her grind her hips against my member. I shivered at the contact of our intimate parts as she slowly placed both my hands on her bossom while she whispered

'Make me yours forever Abeer such that no one can seperate us. So that we complete this wedding. So I become your Zojha in every sense.' and I smiled.

I carried her on my hips while my bold one bent down and voluntarily invited me into yet another breathtakingly steamy kiss as I walked her towards my... our bed.

The moon and stars became the witnesses to the Raza my wife gave to our relationship. Tonight she became my Zoya. Abeer's Zoya Forever after.

✨

7 years later

'Ahhhh Abeer!!! No!!!' she yelled as I bit onto her left earlobe. She had dressed up in her green and gold Sharara and was looking absolutely delicious.

'Begum yaar!!! You look so beautiful and you don't expect me to touch you!!! Not happening... let's have a quickie!!!' saying I began digging my face into her backless blouse by sucking onto her skin

'Abeeeeeee ahhhh Abeer...you are so ahhh shameless!!! Stop it!!! Last time he caught us and I don't want him becoming as shameless as you!!! He is growing up!!!'

'Oh Shutup Begum...Bada Aya...ittu sa he (Big deal! He's this tiny)...and tell him...I am his Abbu (father)... he's not my Abbu!!!' I said still sucking onto my wife's neck. I wasn't satisfied with our make out session in shower today. It was our 15th wedding anniversary today. There was a huge boring party which my wife had planned but all I wanted was to have a cosy dinner with her in her favourite Old Delhi restaurant followed by a scoop of ice cream which we shared. But Zoya wanted to celebrate it with the family.

She believes I lost a lot of family time because of her decision for not giving Raza to her Ruqsati so we celebrate all the festivals together at home.

But then there was no restrictions in romancing my beautiful wife except for one fishbone.

'Abbuuuu noooooo!!!' I heard a loud voice

There he is!!! I rolled my eyes while Zoya chuckled.

And before I knew he came running. I heard his little pitter patter of shoes and before I could even know he pushed me away a little far only if that was possible and hugged Zoya's thigh shouting

'My Mammaaaaaaa'

Oh this posessive little fishbone of mine!

Yeah!!! I didn't have any villains in my lovestory except one which was my own sperm. This three year old output of mine would threaten me his green eyes which he got from me but that cute pink pout that he got from his mother would melt me like icecream.

'Mahir!!!! Noooo...you don't push Abbu like that' Zoya told my little son who looked at me with a pout and then looked at his mother with his cute puppy eyes.

'But I told him Mamma is mine!' he muttered and Zoya kissed his pout saying

'Ole mela Golu Baccha (oh my chubby baby)'

'Oyeeee...If you want one find one after you grow up. Stop eyeing my wife' I said glaring at him but she simply digged his face into my wife's neck while Zoya chuckled.

'Nautanki (drama)' I said and Zoya pressed her lips tightly. But then I pulled him into my arms and I kissed his cheek

'Abe Abbu ke bacche (Oh father's son) kiss me as well...I didn't adopt you...even I contributed in your making...' I said kissing his cheek but my son was an asshole. The mumma's boy simply wiped his cheek saying 'Abbu kissie chiiii'

And I wanted to whip his ass. I purposely kissed his cheeks and he whined shouting 'Mammmmmaaaaa'

✨

Allah is the best planner. He made me wait but gave me much more than what I had asked for.

We cut our anniversary cake together after blowing the candles. Zoya fed me and I fed the cake to her. My possesive little 3 year old Mr.Mahir Abeer Ahmed Sheikh bobbed his head