Dressed in blue pants and a blue silk shirt which was apparently in trend these days, he was gazing again and again at the entrance of the corridor. The sun was shining a little brighter today for the December afternoon and the winds were not fully blowing yet the coolness was present in the atmosphere.

But the same coolness was absent from a certain black-eyed man and the students of the economics undergraduate students as they were busy going through as much information as they could in the last minutes before their final exams of the second year.

But that wasn't the case with a certain man in blue as he was restless for someone's arrival, the bell rang informing the students to occupy their places, he begrudgingly entered the huge classroom and took two stairs at a time to reach his place, in the backbenchers.

He sat down in his place just as the professor entered the classroom holding a stack of question papers, his eyes still stuck on the entrance as the professor started distributing the question papers, he huffed out a breath when his gaze fell on his question paper making his insides happy and sad at the same time. Happy because the paper was too easy for his liking and sad because she wasn't here yet!

He was about to start his paper when he heard a rushing sound and his lipa lifted even before his eyes caught sight of her, he looked at her and his breath hitched in his throat just like all the previous times, there she was, holding bazaar's thela in her hand and rushing to take her place which was just advanced to him.

The professor gave her a stink eye as he placed a paper in front of her, she took some hasty breaths as she tried to look at the paper at the same time, he stealthily passed her bottle of water and pen. She looked at him and gave him a thankful smile before drinking water.

His gaze lingered on her more than it was necessary and half of the time, she hastily finished her paper as much as she could and ran after submitting it, an hour early to be precise. He shook his head in dismay once again knowing that even this time he couldn't manage to speak to her. He paid his attention back to his paper and finished it.

~*~

"Dekh pakka ye sahi baat hai na?" Furqan confirmed this from his friend Qasim as he got information about the girl he has developed a fondness for or more than it.

(listen here, are you sure this information is correct?)

"Ha yaar, wo humare Ismail bhai nahi he?" Qasim asked but Furqan scrunched his nose not getting the idea about said person "Yaar teri bahen ke jeth ke sale!" Qasim tried again and this time he remembered Ismail bhai.

(Yes Bro, you remember Brother Ismail ?)

"Ha" He said and Qasim continued "Unki biwi ki bahen he ye!" And after a moment a big grin was spread over his thin lips as he glanced at Qasim.

(Yes)

( She is his wife's sister!)

"Chalo zara Ismail Bhai se mil aaye, bahut waqt ho gaya he!" Furqan said and Qasim shook his head knowing what was cooking inside his brain.

(Let's go and meet Brother Ismail, it's been a long time after all!)

~*~

"Kya baat kar rahi he Khala, Allah chalein koi baat nahi unse kahiyega Furqan aaya tha. Aur ha unhe bhabhi ke sath ghar par bhejna, Shadi ke baad se to jaise gayab hi ho gaye he Ismail Bhai'' Furqan said disappointment lacing in his tone as his said friend was not at home, the poor lady felt bad for the young guy as he came all the way from his home to meet her son and he couldn't meet him. But what she didn't was he purposely came on this time when he knew Ismail won't be home.

(What are you saying Aunt, anyway no issues, tell him Furqan has come over. And please tell him to visit my house with sister in law, seems kike he has just disappeared after his marriage!)

"Beta tum fiqr na karo dono aaenge tumhare ghar yaad se bhejungi unhe," The old lady said to him who gave her a big smile in return while sipping his tea which was offered by the kind lady.

(Dear don't worry, both of them will visit your house soon; I will make sure they do that.)

"Beta, aur tumhara shadi ka kya khayal he?" She asked with a good intention. "Ab kya Khala, ye baatein to aap Ammi se kare" Saying he scratched his above eyebrow space with his index nail.

(Dear and what are your plans for marriage?)

(Oh aunt, you should talk about these things with my mother)

"Ha zarur baat karungi, meri bahu aa gayi hai to mujhe bahut sukoon ho gaya hai ab Fatema bhi to thoda aaram karein." She spoke and Furqan felt the need to put his point now, the opportunity is here.

(Of course, I would talk to her, I have been so relaxed after my daughter in law has come, now is also the time where Fatema should also be loosened up.)

"Aap bhi aaye dono ke sath ghar par, aap bhi kaha aati hai ab?" He complained to her who smiled in adoration at the young boy.

(You should also come with them, now even you don't visit our house?)

"Zarur aaungi beta ab tumhari shadi bhi to karwani he!" She said and he chuckled a little, knowing very well that soon he would be a married man and with the cards he had played, he prayed to get married to the one he wanted to.

(Surely I would come dear as now I also have to plan your wedding after all!) ~*~

"Mom today I have gone towards Ismail Bhai's house," Furqaan said to his mother when she was serving him a Roti.

"Should have visited his house then!" She commented as she went to make another one for her son.

"I have, but he wasn't home. I met Khala by the way, she was praising her daughter in law very much and was saying she got such an amazing girl for her Ismail. I have told her to visit you, they all will come soon to meet" He finished with a motive, just praying in his heart for everything to happen according to his plan.

"Yeah even though I have heard she has got a good daughter in law, I will ask her if her daughter in law has a younger sister!" And that sentence felt like honey for his ears.

Everything worked out in his luck!

~*~

"Aaisha" A young lady called out for her younger sister who ran out of the terrace, leaving laundry half done and deleted through the stairs running into the living room to meet her married sister who has come to meet them after a month this time.

"Jee Aapa" She breathed in short pants as she stood in front of her sister, breathless yet excited. Zareena just smiled at her younger sister and hugged her.

(Yes sister)

"Tum Khala banne Wali ho'' Zareena whispered shyly in her ear and Aaisha's happiness knew no bounds. Aaisha's doe shaped eyes get brightened up more as her pink lips formed an enormous grin on her oval-shaped face with big brown eyes and comparatively small nose, and the chin dimple she had got faded away for a second. "Ya Allah, Sacchi?" She asked with enthusiasm and Zareena gave a nod to her.

(You are going to become an aunt)

(Oh my God, Really?)

"Aapa ye to bahut acchi baat he" was the sentence followed by happy conversations between two sisters.

(Sister this is a great news)

"Aaisha kapde sukhaye nahi Abhi tak" A loud voice came from the terrace making her bite her tongue "Allah" She groaned and hit her forehead as she ran back to the terrace to complete her unfinished task.

(Aaisha you haven't completed the laundry yet)

"What were you saying about the proposal Zareena?" Her mother asked her as she sat down beside her on the bed in a room.

"Ammi, we went to my husband's friend's house. I am telling you Ammi he is very sincere, educated and well mannered. His mother asked my mother in law about my younger sister. She told me, ''I asked Amma if it would be a good alliance and she wouldn't shut down about the goodness of this family and this boy." Zareena completed as she narrated everything in a short manner to her mother.

"If your mother in law is so appreciative of this boy then he must be good. Tell them to come over this weekend. If everything seems nice then I would want to see her married before your

delivery" Her mother expressed her wish because to live in this society without her husband was tough for her and she was wishing to at least see her daughters get settled in as soon as she can.

"I will tell Amma for them to come over this weekend," Zareena said, giving a squeeze to her mother's hand.

Everything was settled down in the coming week, Faeza liked the girl for his son and family also liked her, and the wedding was fixed for the next upcoming week. Everyone was happy except Aaisha as she was worried about her studies, it was her dream to at least do graduation but she was finding no way out of the situation. And just like that once again she had to sacrifice her dreams for her mother's happiness.

~*~

Time flies, for Furqaan time was crawling at a turtle speed but for Aaisha time was flying at the fastest speed, she was sitting on the bed filled with roses and the flower curtains were placed on both sides of the bed. And the talk she got from her elder sister was not doing anything good to her nervousness, if anything then it was just adding fuel to it.

She doesn't know anything about her husband except his name, he was just an unknown man to her and he was her husband, the fact making her more anxious.

She was sitting in his room for quite a long time now but she couldn't dare to raise her gaze to look at her surroundings, her body was stiff in nervousness and she was sitting like a statue. And when she heard the heavy footsteps coming towards the room followed by a creaking of the door, her body became stiffer if possible.

She could feel a presence in the room, footsteps then echoed in the room followed by the dipping of the bed in front of her, her fingers got entangled with each other due to nervousness, a thin veil hiding her face from her husband but not for long as he lifted it only to feel euphoria rushed through his veins seeing her sitting in front of him as his wife.

"Aaj me late ho gaya," He said his first words and she could feel familiarity in his voice and curious about his statement as she peeked at him from her eyelashes only to feel relief spreading inside her.

(Today I am the one who got late)

"Aap?" She asked with a small smile tugging on her lips, at least she married a man she at least knows better than a total stranger, she knows him, after all, he was her helper all these past months.

(You?)

"Jee main, aapka shauhar!" And there she became nervous again, as she lowered her eyes with a flushing of her cheeks and he calmly admired his wife, making her more nervous. His gaze unwavering on her was making her nervous.

(Yes me, Your husband)

"Aise na dekhe!" She said finally gathering enough courage, and he got more amused seeing her reaction.

(Don't stare at me like that)

"Kyu na dekhu ab to haq halal ki biwi ho" Saying he grabbed one of her trembling hands in his making a shudder run through her spine and warmth settling inside her. She ducked her head lower in response, making him smile at her shyness.

(Why shouldn't I look now you are my legally wedded wife)

"Accha chalo ye to batao ki college ka kya chakkar he? Because I know that your family doesn't know you are studying" He says and her eyes widened in fear, she never thought this way, he could tell her family members about her secret which no one knows till now and that would do no good for her. Her eyes filled up in dread thinking about the consequences now.

(Okay come on tell me what's the matter about college?)

He noticed the transformation of her expressions and he knew very well what was going inside her brain but he never thought she would cry on this matter.

"I am not gonna tell them but now you are my wife and I must know everything about you, so let's start with your studies first," He said as he removed her veil from her head and straightened

her legs, rounding the bed he climbs the bed from the other side and settled beside her, he encircled his arm around her shoulder bringing her to his chest near his heart and she could only gape at him in response to his actions.

Her heart thudding inside her rib cage due to closeness, the touch, the intimacy, the proximity all was foreign to her and her poor heart was not getting accommodated to this, it took a few minutes for her to lean her head against his chest and get comfortable and he gladly waited till that time.

"I always wanted to study, I was a bright student in my class and have always dreamed of doing at least graduation if not more. I used to tell my father about it and he always supported me but when I was in 11th std, he passed away. Even after the 10th when our relatives were objecting to my decision to do further higher primary, he was there to support me and ignore them but after my 12th, my mother couldn't go against our relatives and I had to drop my studies thinking my dream has to be stopped there only." She was speaking and he squeezed her shoulder in between when her voice turned heavier talking about her father, supporting her silently and it worked as she composed herself and talked further, his sole attention on her.

"But Allah had other plans, my friend Nilofar, we both always wanted to go to college, she got the admission form and submitted it on my behalf as well. Her cousin was in college so she was able to do that but then we couldn't go to college regularly without telling our family. We came up with a plan that her cousin would lend us books before exams and we would only go to give exams."

"Everything was going according to plan, the first time when we were about to go to give exams, Nilofar backed away In fear of getting caught. I told her house I am going to her house and we would go to the market to buy a few things, but she couldn't gather the courage to come to give the exam and I had to come alone. The first time I was afraid beyond measure, I was alone in an unknown place and I lied the first time but it went without any problems."

"After that, I got more and more confident about it by passing time and that's why I would come late and would just attempt what I have studied, but it was enough for the passing marks. Nilofar's cousin would provide us with all the details so it was not a worry and that's how everything was working until now." She completed her talk and her secret which was hidden even from her family was out now in front of her husband, she doesn't know what he will do now. If he would let her continue her studies or if her dream was no more achievable.

She calmly waited for his answer as he stared at the wall ahead of him, he was lost in deep thoughts of her, her struggles to study and finally to come on to the decision.

"Do you want your family to know about this?" He asked her what she wished was important for him to know because that's how he will decide what to do next.

She shook her head in denial and he gave a smile in return telling her, he understands her.

"You will become a graduate, I will make sure of it don't worry" He spoke after a pregnant pause making her eyes shine in happiness as she looked at him with delight.

"Really?" She asked in wonderment and he nodded in a positive manner making a wide grin settle over her face only to disappear after a moment.

"But would your parents allow it?" She asked in a small voice.

"They don't have to know," He said with a mischievous smile and a wink in her way making her cheeks go pink at his action. He chuckled and his chest rumbling from the sound of it.

~*~

"Aap dusra kuch pehne," She said looking at his floral print shirt, he looked down at his silk floral shirt furrowing his eyebrows in confusion.

(Wear something else)

"Ye fashion me hai abhi" He stated pointing at his shirt but she scrunched her nose in return and turned her face to one side to her distaste for his so-called fashionable shirt.

(This is in trend right now)

"Tum hi nikal do phir kuch" He said with a sigh as he flopped down on the bed, she went through his clothes only to gasp in an answer.

(Then you only take out something)

"You don't have any normal shirts to wear?" She asked incredulously and he rolled his eyes in response to her question.

"You need new clothes" She exclaimed seeing the garden cum closet, which was looking like a garden only due to the number of flowers present inside, flowers on shirts to be precise.

"Aapko takleef hai to aap hi le aaye mere liye" He said to her in slight irritation and she bit her lips looking at his irritating expressions, she shouldn't have said that.

(If you have a problem with my clothes then you only buy something for me)

"Aap pehen le kuch bhi me... to bas... kuch nahi" She stuttered giving a random shirt to him and before he could say something, his mother called her, adjusting her dupatta on her head, and she flew out of the room before he could stop her.

(You can wear anything... I... I just... Nothing)

He released a sigh of annoyance looking at her fallen expression, she was just expressing her wish and he got angry at her, he should think before reacting, he got married to her after so many struggles for what? To make her sad? He mentally reprimanded himself as he got out in search of her only to find her in the kitchen making fresh Rotis for him.

"Aap baith jaye me bas nashta laga hi rahi hu." She said to him and he couldn't say anything to her as his mother was also present in the kitchen, nodding his head he sat down in his place to have breakfast.

(You go and take a seat, I am just coming up with your breakfast)

She served him his breakfast and came back to start preparing the lunch as she took out the vegetables her mother in law borough from the market just now and served tea to her mother in law she started cutting vegetables.

"Ammi, me soch rahi thi thode din ghar ho aau" She expressed her wish to visit her home in front of her mother in law as it was important to take permission from her before her husband.

(I was thinking to visit my house for few days)

"Furqaan se pucha?" Her mother in law asked her taking a sip from her tea.

(Have you asked Furqaan?)

"Socha pehle aap se puch lu" She replied, making him stare at her in astonishment as she didn't even tell him she was planning to go home. Was she leaving him?

(I have thought to ask you first)

"Okay, but ask him as well," She said and Aaisha gave her a smile in return.

"Aaisha kamre me aana zara." He informed her as he washed his hands, she gave a nod to him and picked up his dirty utensils to put them into the sink. And then made her way to their room.

(Aaisha come to the room for a minute)

"Jee," She said in a whisper, her eyes downcast as she fumbled with her fingers. She could see his feet coming near her and stopping just in front of her.

(Yes)

"Naraz ho?" He asked and she just gave one shake of her head negatively. (Are you upset with me?)

"To meri taraf dekho" He demanded and she peeked at him from her eyelashes below as she was in fact disappointed with the way he talked with her.

(Then look at me)

She heard him sigh as he took hold of her both cheeks in his palms making her look at him and he repeated his question,