2. 2. NOSTALGIA

Ghazal’s P.O.V

"Hello!" I whisper surprised as to why Farooq returned the call.

"You are running from me now but that night I am going to take revenge for all this. I am going to kiss you so hard...so hard that you will bleed...and I am going to..." He threatened as I couldn't believe how much he scared me as my feet turned cold along with my palms.

"Shut up, Farooq! You are very mean!" I snap at him revealing my anger and hung up as I hear him laugh hard. I grew restless at the thought of marriage and intimacy too. Days flew by and I had sleepless nights and cold feet now and then. I went through mixed emotions.

So, finally I am here in his bedroom as I look around and wait with a thudding heart for him to show up. It is fifteen minutes after her husband's sister's left her inside as I hoped Farooq to join me any minute but it appeared that something was keeping him. I wondered if everything is okay with him and his parents who were really hard to please.

I rest my back to the headboard feeling exhausted as I scan the huge bedroom which has air condition running somewhere that has turned it so chilly that I didn’t feel any heat at all even if I am draped in these heavy bridal suit. It appeared to resemble a suite from a luxury hotel and I enjoyed the peaceful ambience as I looked at the walls, lights and decors wondering how much it costs for a day? Why didn’t Farooq tell me about this? I was lost in my thoughts and without knowing, fell asleep resting my head on the headboard. I had removed my heavy 'ghoonghat' as I was covered with flowers so I chose to give her aching back pillow support and in no time I dozed off.

I heard a knock as I sit up and another knock brought me to reality as the pain from my back shoots around my body but, I ignore it. A soft click makes me jump as I see the knob turning and eagerly snatches my 'Ghoonghat' and covers myself as my hands come around my knees hugging myself as I shivered slightly making my heart pound in my chest.

Ya Allah! He is here. I thought trying to get hold of myself from panicking digging myself in the flimsy ‘ghoonghat’. I feel I won't be able to survive this night as his voice echoes in my mind making me shudder from inside.

"And that night I want you to say my name....after I give you a beautiful kiss on your lips. I am going to kiss you so hard. And that night I want you to say my name after I give you a beautiful kiss on your lips. I want to hear my name when I am going to make you mine...for the rest of my life."

That's when I remembered before the Qazi asked me to sign the nikah papers. How the Qazi went on in his regular, firm voice.

"Ghazal Rehman bint e Abdul Rehman ka nikah Irshad Khan wald e Waleed Khan se taye paaya hai. Kya aapko ye rishta qubool hai? ( Ghazal Rehman bint e Abdul Rehman is going to tie herself in a marital knot with Irshad Khan wald e Waleed Khan, so is it acceptable to you?)"

"Qubool hai!" I said slowly as the words tumbled from my mouth but they got encrypted in my heart forever. That moment I felt something deep within me as I made a silent promise to Allah to abide by it and protect this marriage with my best capabilities and fulfill the duties with great care and utmost dedication.

Tears stung my eyes at that time and even now when I think about it, my eyes fill with tears yet I smile. I am married now and I knew his name. It is 'Irshad Khan' and how perfectly it suited me. Ghazal and Irshad.

Little did I know that very soon my life is going to tumble down and an unexpected turn of events are going to take place making me confused and terrified of my own marriage.