CHAPTER 07

After a joyful breakfast with her new family, Neha got ready for her University. It was her last semester and she didn't want to let go of what she had achieved by then. Azfar offered her a ride and she accepted it. She didn't want to show him that it wasn't a forced marriage for her. She was still pretending to be forced into this relationship. She didn't speak a single word and Azfar noticed it. He was feeling bad for forcing a lady into a relationship but he couldn't bear to see her with any other man. She was his and he made sure no other men would ever think about her the way he could think. He stopped the car by the University gate and turned to face Neha. "When will you be done by your classes?" He asked softly.

"I will be late. The practicals and tests and extra classes and…" she was explaining to him when he put his index finger on her lips and shushed her.

"I don't need your explanation why you would be late. I asked you about it because I wanted to take you shopping after your classes, then I will take you for dinner." He told her.

"Huhh…" was the only thing that came out of her mouth.

"You are my wife, Neha. You are my responsibility. It is my duty to take care of you and give you whatever you need. You don't have to tell me what you need." He explained. 

"Oh, thank you." She said. He smiled and pecked her forehead. She narrowed her eyes and her cheeks turned pink. She bid him goodbye and hopped out of the car. He chuckled and drove off. She made her way to her campus. Zara spotted her and ran towards her. She quickly wrapped her arms around Neha and thanked God.

"What happened to you yesterday?" Zara asked in a worried tone.

"You will never believe what happened to me yesterday. I am nikahfied. And I am happy." Neha replied.

"What are you saying?" Zara asked.

"Yesterday, I was kidnapped by a man named Azfar Raheem. He took me to his friend's house to marry me. First, I was very scared of him. But he is so nice and cute and I really can't believe my God has gifted me someone who is ready to give me everything I want, not a jerk like Arman." Neha replied.

"What about his parents?" Zara asked.

"They accepted me with open arms. Though, I can't tell them that he married me forcefully. I mean yes, he took me there forcefully. But Qazi asked me whether I want to marry him or not. And I accepted him." Neha replied.

"Are you sure Neha? He still forced you into this." Zara asked.

"I'm sure Zara. And when you meet him, you will say the same." Neha replied.

" What about your family? I have heard, your Chachu kicked you out." Zara asked.

"I know, but I don't understand why he didn't let me explain. He just told me that I'm dead for him and shut the door on my face." Neha replied.

"How did it all happen? Why did he kidnap you in the first place?" Zara asked.

"I don't know. He was telling me about a Facebook ID, with my pictures and my name. And we had chatted for almost a year. I don't know anything about it." Neha replied.

"Your Facebook ID with your name and pictures?" Zara asked.

"Yeah, why? Do you know something about it?" Neha asked.

" Of course I know. It's your culprit cousin, Laila. I told you about her Facebook ID with your pictures?" Zara asked.

"Yes, oh my God. She was behind this all." Neha replied

"Neha, are you sure he is in love with you?" Zara asked and Neha bit her tongue.  Neha didn't know anything about this. She wasn't sure if Neha was the person Azfar loved. He had told her that he fell in love with her. But it was only her pictures and her name, she didn't chat with him. She didn't know him. Neha excused herself and went to the restroom. She stood in front of the mirror and stared at her reflection. For the first time in her life she noticed that she was beautiful. She had big eyes with long lashes. Her skin color was pink. Her grape green eyes suited her complexion. She smiled seeing herself in the mirror. She splashed some water on her face and stepped out of the restroom. She attended all her classes. Her first day after her wedding went smoothly.

It was evening when Neha walked towards the University gates and found Azfar waiting for her. He was leaning with his car door, his eyes were on the ground. He could have been looking around at all the ladies who were leaving University after their classes. But he didn't, he kept his gaze on the ground, like he was only waiting for his woman. She walked towards his car and tapped his shoulder with her fingers. He looked at her and smiled. Butterflies erupted in her stomach and she felt something funny in the pit of her stomach. He opened the passenger side door for her like a gentleman and she hopped into the car. He shut the door and came to the driver seat. He hopped in, secured his seat belt and turned to face her.

"So would you like to go shopping first or you want to go home and get yourself freshened up?" He asked her. She could see his face looked tired, and his hair was messy. Yet he was still asking what she wanted. 

"I want to go home first." She replied. She wasn't tired or anything. But she wanted him to freshen up before they would go shopping.

"Okay then, we are going home first, then shopping, then dinner." He told her and started the engine and drove off.

After an hour or so, they reached his house. He parked his car and they both stepped into the house. "Amma, Baba, we are home." He announced as he stepped into the house. Fatima came out and pecked both of their foreheads lovingly. They both greeted Fatima and then they excused themselves. They went back to their bedroom. He offered to let her use the bathroom first but she refused saying she needs to choose something to wear for dinner. He rolled his eyes and went to the bathroom to take a hot shower. Hot water soothed his tensed muscles and he felt better after the shower. He stepped out of the bathroom, again half naked and made his way to the closet. She was standing in the closet lost in her thoughts about what to wear, when he came from behind and caged her between the mirror and himself. She felt a hot breath on her neck and turned around. She shivered seeing him this close to her. She narrowed her eyes and her cheeks turned rosy red. He chuckled seeing her blushing. She gasped as he leaned close to her ear.

"You look more beautiful when you blush. This pink and red color on your skin makes me feel like you are a rose and I have to take care of you so you will stay fresh forever." He whispered in her ear. She looked at him with tears in her eyes. His smile fell and he cupped her face.

"What's wrong Neha? Did I say something wrong?" He asked her.

"You married me because of my face only." She replied and started sobbing hard.