Happy birthday, wife

Soon the party was over and everyone went back to their respective rooms. Zahra on reaching her room immediately called Daniyal and explained her situation to him.

"Daniyal I can't do it anymore. He is being so nice to me! Please find another way to get me out of this situation! My conscience is eating me! Daniyal I can't betray him! It's hurting my feelings. Please Daniyal, I don't want him to trust me! I don't want him to think that I've accepted this relationship! I can't put up a facade anymore!! It's enough for me! I don't want to play games with him anymore!" She explained in her troublesome voice.

"Listen Zahra do you want me?"

"Yes I want you but not through this way when I've to hurt someone in the process. Can't we simply run away?"

"Look you're not doing nothing wrong-"

"Then why my conscience is eating me?"

"Only because you have a pure heart that's why you're feeling guilty for that monster who forced you into this relation. We've no other way other than this Zahra. My plan is perfect. Just follow whatever I say. You're not doing anything wrong. Gain his trust, that's it." He again manipulated her mind.

"Daniyal it will be so low of me."

"Are you mad Zahra? Had he for once, just once said you sorry for what he did to you? Then why you're feeling guilty because of him?"

"Because he is he and I am me."

"Zahra, you're free to leave me if you're so hell-bent on thinking that you're backstabbing him. You're doing nothing wrong, Zahra. I'm saying it to you for the last time."

"You're not understanding me Daniyal. You're not understanding me." She said and hung up the call.

She changed her clothes and washed her face before going to bed. Her heart was still heavy because the sole love of her love was unable to understand her emotional state. She was feeling so cheap and low but Daniyal didn't leave any other option for her other than following whatever he says.

She closed her eyes as a deep slumber engulfed her.

She didn't pray tonight as well.

Half of the night passed. The cold breeze swayed through the air as the moonlight peeked through the window of her room. Her wheatish skin basked under the illuminating light. Everyone was sleeping soundly as some corridors of haveli echoed with the snorting sounds of its inhabitants.

He entered her room and his eyes fell on her sleeping form. His exhaustion disappeared as soon his grey weary eyes met her angelic face which basked under the moonlight making the moonlight appear more luminous for him.

He slowly closed the door behind without making any sound and moved towards her fragile frame. He squatted down so his face was against her sleeping face. His smoldering eyes traced her every feature, from her lips to her eyes. She was indeed the epitome of beauty and innocence for her.

"My heart only wants to trust you, believe in you, cherish you, and love you, Zahra. It's just you senorita. I don't know what's so special about you. It makes me happy when I call you are just mine. It makes me happy when I think that you know, you're just mine. You're mine." He whispered, "Since a decade I had been after you, each and every men of mine have testified your purity. This purity, Zahra, makes me want to have more of you. All of you. From your head to toe. I've never uttered these words to anyone, I've saved these three words just for you, my Zahra. My day and night. My life, my death, I love you. I love you with my entire being. With my whole heart. I just want you and you. never betray me. My heart won't be able to sustain such a load," he uttered and placed a kiss on her forehead waking her up in the progress.

Zahra's eyes widened as she gawked at him. Her mind was groggy as her eyes stared directly into his.

"Wake up Zahra. I've to show you something." He commanded whilst standing up.

Zahra continued to stare at her as her brain was still half slept and she was confused that whether he is there or not.

"Come on. Wake up." He hushed and it was confirmed to her that yes he was standing there. She instantly sat up and caught her dupatta while draping it over her shoulders, making him smile.

He always liked her modesty.

"Ap yaha...kia kar...rahay hein?" She asked meekly.

Her tone always turned low and meek whenever he was around.

(What are....you doing...here?)

"You'll get to know. Now come on stand up."

She stood up and hold her sweater before wearing it and following him to the backside of the haveli. His back, facing her as he continued walking without looking behind, knowing that Zahra was following him.

She suddenly felt a Deja Vu. The time, atmosphere everything was similar to that day when he married her. Her brain began to recall every memory of that day when he forcefully took her to that desolated place and married her against her will.

His raged grey eyes suddenly flashed in front of her making her breathe fast as she took one more step toward him.

The sharp sound of that slap resonated in her ear, making her ears go numb.

Goosebumps washed over her back recalling how ruthlessly he slammed her body on the wall.

She felt her throat getting constricted as someone is choking it in the same way he choked her throat that day.

Danger bells begin to sound in her mind. She thought that he was taking her somewhere to punish her for something and she stopped dead in her tracks. The memories of that day flooded into her mind

'Maybe he came to know about Daniyal'

This thought was the last nail in the coffin as she started to run in the opposite direction like a maniac. She didn't know what got in her but she did what she thought was the best at the moment.

She didn't want to face his wrath when he had already come to know about Daniyal.

'Ya Allah....save me." she whispered, continuously as she was getting more and more assured that he came to know about her and Daniyal's relationship.

On noticing, that Zahra isn't following him anymore he turned around and saw her running in the opposite direction to the main door of the house, making him completely confused.

"What the fuck?" he gritted, with a deep frown marred on his forehead.

Zahra might have taken two steps away from him when suddenly she felt someone's arm grabbing her and turning her around. It was Irtaza.

She held his shirt tightly to balance herself as both of them were just a few inches away.

"Why are you running away?"

Her eyes widened and her breath was hitched.

"I didn't...do...anything...I promise....No...I didn't....Don't...hurt...please." She stuttered fearfully, clenching his shirt tightly.

"No...I didn't.....Don't hurt...me...Please." She whispered it incessantly.

Her hands were shivering. Her mind was still thinking that he had come to know about her and Daniyal's relationship and that is why he was taking her to the backside of haveli to punish her.

She continued to whisper making Irtaza shocked.

"Please.....mje...Maaf.....kar...dein....mene...jaanbujh...Kar Nahi...Kia." she stuttered badly while crying.

(Please...forgive...me...I didn't...do...it...on...purpose)

He was getting suspicious now. That day when he told Zahra never to betray him, in the garden, she fainted the very next moment, today in the car she was also nervous about something and now he hasn't done anything to her yet she is blabbering god knows what to him. He was hundred percent sure that Zahra was concealing something from him, and the fear of getting caught by him was releasing these reactions from her body.

He slammed her body to the nearest wall and dug his fingers into her cheeks causing her lips to pucker out.

"What the fuck are you trying to hide Zahra?"

Zahra shook her head vigorously. Her limbs were shaking now but a sudden relief entered her heart that he didn't know about anything yet.

"No...thing...I..promise...there is nothing." She pulled those words out of her hardly as his fingers were digging into her cheeks.

"Then what the fuck are you acting like?!"

"I...wo...nikkah...uss....din...asal mein...ap mje...lei gaye....thay...uss waqt...bhi yhi time tha...mje....wo din...galti..sei....yaad aagya...tha.."

(It....was....actually...the same...time...when...you took me...for nikkah...that...day....I...accidentally...recalled..that day)

Irtaza sighed as his deep frown disappeared when he took in her words. His anger subsided as he released his fingers from her cheeks and engulfed her in a hug. Her head rested against his chest. He had no idea she was recalling that day, that was why she looked scared but still an uncertainty was in his heart that Zahra was trying to hide something from him but he turned it down, not pondering much on it. Though he knew very well whatever his sixth sense says most of the time was always right.

Zahra began to slowly hiccup as the whole situation was so striking for her. Her legs were still shivering with the impact of the whole scenario. Internally, she was thanking God that Irtaza didn't come to know about Daniyal. Her heartbeat was still not under control and her breathing was still ragged.

"Shh...Zahra. I'm not gonna hurt you." He whispered, massaging her locks trying to calm her.

Her head rested against his chest and she could hear his heartbeat. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath to calm herself.

'He does know about anything Zahra stop crying otherwise his suspicion will be back.' Her subconscious scolded and her senses came back with the mere thought. Her breathing calmed as her mind cleared and her small hiccupping stopped.

"Shh...relax. I won't hurt you" He continued to massage her locks and this soothed her more.

"Promise?" She asked, pulling away and looking straight into his grey eyes with her teary ones.

"Promise." He promised.

"But," he said and tucked her honey brown strands behind her ear before whispering the words which were enough to take her life, "I do not forgive deception." He warned her.

He was indirectly warning her that if she is trying to hide something from him then beware because sooner or later he will know.

Her eyes instantly widened with shock and fear.

"No there is nothing like that." She said shooking her head negatively.

"It better be." he asserted quirking his brows up before kissing her forehead and then holding her hand taking her to the backside of the haveli.

Zahra took long deep breaths and calmed herself down while following her.

'He does not know about anything.' She repeated it in her mind like a mantra to calm herself and she calmed down as her anxiety dissipated.

They both reached the backyard and Zahra nearly jumped with surprise as her eyes fell on the black horse standing in the middle of it.

Irtaza flicked his fingers in the air ordering the man holding the horse to leave the area and he instantly bowed his head before leaving. Irtaza took Zahra towards the horse while Zahra hid behind him making him chuckle.

He took her arm and brought her in front of him while standing nearby the horse.

"Why are you getting afraid senorita? This horse is for you." He revealed the news making her eyes widen with surprise.

"Is it for me?"

"Yes, your birthday gift."

"It's too much, a horse is very expensive. How did you get it? and I also don't know how to ride a horse." She exasperated.

"I bought it for you and do not care about it being expensive. What's mine is yours and as per regards you don't know how to ride a horse I will teach you to do so." He replied.

She looked towards the extremely elegant black horse. Scaredly, she moved her hands and slightly brushed them across his forehead. His lip line slightly curled down in a relaxed, soft manner as if he was smiling. Zahra begin to caress his forehead more and more, and the horse's jaw hung loosely showing that he was happy.

"He's happy," Irtaza commented and Zahra's heart fluttered with happiness knowing that her horse is smiling at her and she smiled brightly showing her white teeth.

"Do you like it?"

"Yes, I do. Um....thankyou." She smiled sincerely. She was happy. She looked towards him who was already looking at her with a passionate intensity.

She stared at him, tracing the severe intensity in his grey eyes. His eyes today were shining with sincere emotion. His eyes showed his happiness and satisfaction, the current state of his heart. The gratitude which he felt by seeing happiness in the eyes of the queen of his heart. The only one person existing in this entire universe whom he loves and most importantly whom he trusts.

He wasn't the person to trust someone easily. In his whole life, he had never trusted anyone. But he didn't know why but his heart was compelling him to trust her, love her and cherish her with all his might.

He smiled making her smile too

"Happy birthday my wife." He wished and leaned closer taking her lips in a hot fervent kiss.

Their lips begin to move in sync as they both shared the sweet moment, standing alone under the dark sky.

He kissed her like she was his oxygen.

He pulled away when both of them were totally out of breath. Irtaza placed his forehead against hers, holding her head from her nape. He was breathing heavily on the other hand Zahra was taking large gulps of air inside her.

"Zahra" he called out having her attention as their eyes meet.

Grey against brown!

And then he uttered the most unexpected words ever.