It was the 7th day of their togetherness, and finally Madiha was happy. Today, Danish didn't scold her even once, he didn't even glare at her for her mistakes and ordered lunch from a famous restaurant, then took her for a small walk and now she was getting ready for Humera's reception party. Danish himself had chosen a mustard coloured suit for her in which she was looking stunning. Since evening he was out for some work and Madiha was feeling awkward as this was the first time when she was all alone in the home, moreover today wasn't any commotion because Humera's wedding functions were almost over now there was only some traces left in the form of dry flowers and some decorations.

Only today, after six days of getting married, she saw her new home properly. It was not a very large but not too small home. A large fenced gate was leading towards the ground floor which was divided into two parts. One part was empty and was used as a parking area for Danish's bike; however, the remaining part was looking like a small apartment which was occupied by Saad. From the very left side, stairs were leading to the first floor which was looking like a proper home. A sitting area with outdated furniture, and then a few rooms and a kitchen. Just it! This was the structure of the house which Madiha got as a home. She could dream for something better but this young lady was already grateful for this new shelter. She was from those people who wholeheartedly accept even small things in life and stay thankful for them in front of almighty, she didn't know how to complain regarding hardship of life, she only knew how to be thankful for the blessings she gets. Till now patience and her positive nature were her biggest power. She was from those who keep their eyes on the polestar in the dark night to cover the journey of problems and achieve the destination of satisfaction.

And she was considering Danish the same satisfactory destination however she didn't know that he was the journey of problems.

But Ignoring everything at this moment she looked at the mirror which was showing a beautiful figure whose hair was tied up in rollers. Madiha always looks better in curly hair and light makeup, she wanted to look best tonight so she was doing all the effort.

She just picked the makeup brush when her mobile started ringing. It was Danish's call, so she received it immediately. "Assalamualaikum." She muttered

"Hmm… waalaikum. Are you Ready?" He asked and Madiha looked at herself in the mirror.

"Not yet."

"I'm coming back within half an hour, be ready." It was an order which scared Madiha. "Okay, I'll be ready." Her heart and hands both shivered due to the overbearing voice, and the call was end soon.

"Ye aadmi mujhe heart patient na bana de." Placing her hand on her heart she was feeling that madly beating organ which should feel good about getting married only a few days back.

(I'm afraid, this man will make me a heart patient.)

"Only half an hour…" she muttered while glancing at the clock which was showing that she had wasted five minutes already. Without wasting more time she started doing her makeup but the problems were not Leaving her side… she wanted a very thin line of eyeliner but it was turning thick. In order to get a perfect stroke, this clumsy makeup artist took some ten minutes and the remaining makeup made her tired.

She didn't bother to look at the clock which was showing that the said half an hour was already gone ten minutes back, but a voice grabbed her attention. "Tum abhi tak tayyar nhi ho?" Danish opened the door of their bedroom and Madiha was surprised.

(You're not ready yet?)

"Aap aa gaye?" She muttered while glancing at the clock which gave her another shock. 

"Umm… actually... just 10 minutes more." She started undoing the rollers which were dangling from her hair and Danish rolled his eyes.

(You're back.)

"10 minute mein tayyar ho hi Jana warna yahi rehna, main akela chala jaunga." He picked something from the dressing table and Madiha looked at him with confusion. 

(Get ready in 10 minutes only, otherwise stay here, I will go alone.

Will he really leave her alone?

Will he really punish her if she will not be able to do what he wanted?

She was unable to blink her eyes, that overbearing face was just a few inches away from her, she could smell his aftershave lotion and hair gel. "Where are you lost?" Snapping his fingers in front of her eyes Danish asked, Madiha shook her head and focused on her hair. Danish took his time to groom himself but for Madiha it wasn't easy to do everything alone.

She did everything as soon as possible and within ten minutes when Danish came out from the bathroom after changing himself in two pieces, she was wearing earrings after setting the necklace.

"Ready?" He asked and she nodded nervously. Danish didn't say anything, just picked up a bottle of perfume from the dressing table and combed his hair.

"Hmm... 1 minute." she mumbled while wearing her 5 inch heels which elevated her and now her height was looking compatible to this tall man.

"Theek lag rahi hu?"

(Am I looking fine?)

Seeing herself beside her husband she asked nervously "Hmm…" and he nodded without even looking at her, all his attention was fixed on himself, he was wearing a wristwatch without knowing that his wife was waiting for a compliment. Madiha's big smile shrunk for a moment and next moment it was lost somewhere when he didn't even glanced at her and walked out of the room. She walked after him while trying to look normal but she was already sad.

'Keep smiling you look beautiful while smiling.'

'When did you see me smiling?'

'Never, but I know. You look beautiful while smiling.'

"The cab has arrived," he said looking at his mobile screen and she came out from the echoes of the past. Astagfirullah. Mumbling that she focused on Danish who was almost downstairs. He stopped when felt that Madiha wasn't coming, he turned to see his wife who was now smacking her forehead and turning back to go upstairs.

"Kya hua?"

(What happened?)

"Chudiyan to bhul hi gayi." She muttered and Danish glared at her then glanced at the cab present on the doorway.

(I forget to wear bangles.)

"Tumhe samajh nhi aata kitne ghante pehle kaha tha mene tumse tayyar rehne ke liye, itna waqt laga kar ab bhi kuch bhul gyi." Danish roared which shivered Madiha, she immediately got tears in her eyes and stepped downstairs. 

(Can't you understand how many hours ago I had told you to be ready, after spending so much time, you still forgot something!)

"Ab kya musibat hai? Jaldi karo jo karna hai."

(What's the problem now? Do whatever you want but fast.)

"Chaliye, chudiyan zaruri nhi hain." She muttered in her shivering voice. "Jaa ke dhang se tayyar ho kar aao, duniya se saamne tamasha banane ki zarurat nahi hai." Madiha couldn't help but drop tears on that roar and ran upstairs. It wasn't easy for her to manage in high heels but she had to. To save some more time she just picked the bunch of bangles and ran downstairs again. Saad was already standing outside his room which was locked now. Danish locked home and glared at her.

(Let's go, bangles are not necessary.)

(Dressed appropriately, there is no need to make a spectacle in front of the world.)

"Ab car mein bethne ke liye kehna padega kya?" He again roared and Madiha opened the car door for herself. Saad took the front passenger seat while Danish took the back seat beside his wife who was crying continuously and wearing the bangles. Opening her purse she drew out a handkerchief and soaked her tears. All thanks to waterproof makeup which didn't get upset due to tears.

(Now do I need to tell you to sit in the car?)

Looking out from the car window she was trying to conclude what she was facing in life. In these seven days of married life she only understood that Danish was emotionally a very strong and mature person. There was no space in his life for sweet gestures of love or fondness. For him everything revolves around facts, discipline, reality and rigidity, maybe it's all because of his age… on one hand Madiha was trying to find the happiness which every newly married girl tries to get but on the other hand there was no excitement or happiness of marriage in Danish's heart. He had already passed through that stage of life where excitement comes first, now there is only maturity and punctuality.

For Madiha, life should be a balance between reality and dreams but for Danish dreaming from open eyes was nothing but idiotism. Maybe his theories and behaviour would sound fine for his wife if he got married to a similar aged woman but here the difference was too big.

"Ab roona band krogi ya nhi? Aesa to kuch kaha bhi nhi tha ki aadhe ghante se aasu baha rhi ho." This time Daniyal didn't yell, his voice was holding softness, maybe he realised what he had done but how could he apologise so easily? Madiha didn't even glance at him, she kept watching outside the car window. Her silent tears were dried up by now but the glass of her small wishes was broken. Its pieces were hurting her heart.

(Will you stop crying now or not? It was not even said that you have been shedding tears for half an hour.)

This was not what she wanted.

This was not what she dreamt of.

This was not what she deserved.

Shutting her eyes she rested her head with the glass window which was as cold as ice. What's my fault? That's the only question she could ask herself!

"Enough! Compose yourself. We're just five minutes away from the venue." Danish furrowed and Madiha looked at him then took a deep breath while slowly dabbing the handkerchief on her eyes and cheeks to clean all the moisture present on her face.

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The reception party was going on smoothly, Humera was looking happy unlike other newly married girl of her same age. Danish was busy with his cousins and few friends without bothering to look at his wife who was sitting silently in the corner of the hall. This family was new to her so she didn't know anyone here. Moreover, she did not have enough confidence to initiate a conversation with little known people.

"Madihaaaa… is this you?" Madiha looked up at the call and her dull face lit up with a smile.

"Zeba. You. Here!" She muttered with a smile and stood up from her place to hug her school friend. "You got married?" Zeba asked and Madiha nodded her head. She was trying to hold a smile but the thought of this marriage never gave her happiness.

"Yeah, just a few days back."

"Arey… bulaya bhi nahi, aao main apne husband se milwati hu." And Zeba literally dragged Madiha with herself without noticing that she was not so comfortable in her five inch heels. "Wese Madiha tumne bataya nhi tum yaha kese? Mere husband na Dulhe ke second cousin hain to hum ladke walo ki taraf se hain aur tum?" Zeba asked in her babbling way and Madiha sighed when she finally stopped at a place.

(Hey… you didn't even invite, come let me introduce you to my husband.)

(By the way Madiha you didn't tell what you are doing here? Actually my husband is groom's second cousin, so we are from the boys' side and you?)

"Zeba tum kuch bolne ka mooqa dogi to main kuch bol paungi na! Tum aaj bhi bilkul wesi hi ho, hawayi ghode pe sawar." Madiha fake glared at her friend who laughed and looked at the handsome man standing just beside her.

(Zeba, I will be able to say something if you'll give me a chance! You are still the same, ready to go like a bat out of hell.)

"So, meet my husband." Zeba grinned and Madiha looked towards the man for a moment. She saw him keenly then widened her eyes and shifted her gaze towards Zeba again.

"Zeba?? Really?" Madiha whispered while trying not to smile too much but Zeba nodded her head with a big enough grin. "Is she your friend?" Zeba's husband asked her, before she could reply Madiha kind of rolled her eyes.

"Ji Haan Mr Shahzaib, main Zeba ki wo hi friend hu jise wo aapke sare letters padwati thi," Madiha shrugged and Zeba laughed.

(Yes Mr Sahzaib, I am the same friend of Zeba with whom she had shared all your letters,)

"You know Shahzaib, mene jab bhi tumse breakup kra tha na wo sab is Madiha ki wajah se hi hua tha, ye hi kehti thi love marriage karne mein bohot risk hai, kya pta baad mein wo insaan badal jaye to? Ise bharosa nhi tha aap par." Zeba told her husband and Madiha laughed.

(You know Shahzeb, whenever I broke up with you, it was all because of this Madiha. She used to say that there is a big risk in love marriage, who knows if that person changes later? He didn't trust you.)

"To aap hain meri love story ki villain! Aaj pta chala meri bechari Zeba to innocent thi, mastermind to koi aur hi thi" Shahzaib asked in a friendly manner while faking a taunting smile and Madiha gasped.

(Oh, so here is the villain of my love story. Today I got to know that my Zeba was innocent, someone else was the mastermind.)

"Astagfirullah. Zeba aur innocence ye do cheezein sath nhi reh sakti. Aapki biwi agar innocent hoti to aaj aapke sath na hoti, mene to bohot koshish kri thi isko samjhane ki lekin…" Madiha left the sentence in between and Zeba sighed dramatically.

(Zeba and Innocence cannot go hand in hand. If your wife was innocent, she would not have been with you today. I tried my best to knock some senses in her head but...)

"Thank God Maine teri faaltu advises nhi maani, warna pta nhi kiske sath hoti. Mana Shahzaib bhi kuch khaas nahi hai lekin theek thaak hi hai…" suppressing her laughter Zeba kind of teased her husband on which Madiha laughed.

(Thank God man, I didn't listen to your useless advice, otherwise I don't know with whom I would have been with. Well, Shahzeb is also nothing special but still...)

"Wese ek baat to bataiye Shahzaib sahab, wo letters mein itni cheesie lines aap khud likhte the ya kahi se arrange karte the?" Madiha raised her brow and Zeba widened her eyes. "Ye baat mene kyu nhi Sochi aaj tak?"

(By the way, tell me one thing Shahzeb sahib, did you write such cheesy lines in those letters yourself or did you arrange them from somewhere?)

(Why didn't I think of this until today?)

"Sochne ke liye dimaag chahiye hota hai wo tere paas hai nhi," Madiha replied without letting a single second go.

(You need a brain to think, you don't have it.)

"Khair Madiha, aapki is baat se to main sehmat hu." Shahzaib teased her wife who glared at him in reply.

(Well, Madih, I agree with you on this matter.)

"Batao Shahzaib, tum likhte the wo sari baatein ya koi aur?" Zeba asked while exchanging the number but Shahzaib widened his eyes.

(Tell me Shahzeb, did you write all those things or someone else?)

"Only I used to write dude, who else would write?"

"To ab kyu nhi likhte wese letters? Ab to sirf I love you kehne mein bhi tumhe aalas aata hai." Zeba asked and Madiha felt an unnamed pang in her heart but very next moment she felt happy for her friend.

(So why don't you write such letters now? Now you are too lazy to just say I love you.)

"I love you. Happy now? I'll write such letters too... After some years." Shazaib said the last part in a whisper but intentionally louder to let his wife listen which made both Zeba and Madiha laugh.

"Dekh lo Madiha, love marriage bhi achhi hoti hai. Tujhe kyu lagta tha ki love marriage buri hoti hai?" Asked Zeba when she remembered teenage Madiha who used to say that doing love marriage is one of the most horrible mistake girls make, but Madiha was answerless, she just ignore that question because the word love was unknowingly reminds her Athar and she wanted to forget him completely.

(Look Madiha, love marriage is also good. Why did you think that love marriage is bad?)

"Arey, Jiju se to milwa, kese hain wo? Aur teri Love marriage hui ya arranged? Wese tu love marriage karne wali ladki to nhi thi." Zeba again fired a few questions in a single breath and "Arranged marriage." Madiha muttered and looked here and there to find out her husband, surprisingly he was standing just a few steps away from them and his eyes were fixed on his wife only.

(Hey, introduce us to my Jiju, how is he? And is this a love marriage or arranged? Well, I know you were not a girl who had a love marriage.)

"Wo rahe…" Madiha pointed out towards Danish who was standing with Umaira's husband and Saad.

(He's there.)

"Wow yaar, Jiju is smart." Zeba muttered and Danish stepped towards Madiha.

"Hasi mazakh ho gya to aa jao rishtedaro se mil lo." Danish told Madiha in his cold voice and her smile lost suddenly.

(Let's meet the relatives if you are done with this laughing and gossiping.)

"Who's he?" Zeba asked in a hushed tone.

"He… he's my husband." Said Madiha in the same hushed tone and Zeba looked at Umaira's husband whom she was considering Madiha's husband.

"Oh… assalam alaikum. Jiju I'm Madiha's school friend." Zeba introduced herself and Danish looked at Shahzaib, his eyes asking for an introduction. "He's my husband. Shahzaib." Zeba introduced her husband and he passed his hand to shake with Danish.

"Nice to meet you." Danish shook his hand but his gesture was not friendly at all. "Chalo." It was an order for Madiha, she nodded and walked after Danish without even looking at Zeba.

(Come)

"Shahzaib, don't you think ye Madiha ka husband bohot rude aur badtameez sa hai?" Zeba asked and her husband pulled an unpleasant face.

(Shahzaib, don't you think Madiha's husband is very ill-mannered and rude?)

"Haan… tumhari dost ne kya soch ke is khadoos aadmi se shadi kar li?"

(Yes… what was your friend seen in this rude man?)

"God knows?" Zeba shrugged while seeing Madiha from a distance.

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After meeting many relatives and family friends Madiha was sitting beside Danish who was sitting with another level of attitude, his left leg was resting on right one and neck was straight as if someone told him not to look at the floor. "Kya baatein chal rhi thi tumhari apni dost aur uske Miya ke sath?" Finally the silence between them was broken.

(What were you talking about to your friend and her husband?)

"Kuch nahi bas school time ki baatein yaad aa rahi thi." Replied Madiha in a cold tone, she hasn't forgotten Danish's behaviour yet.

(Nothing much, just recalling the school time.)

Danish looked at her then Shahzaib who was sitting in another corner of the hall, still talking to his wife. But at the same time he looked in the direction where Danish was sitting with his wife, their eyes met and Shahzaib passed him a smile before looking away.

Danish looked at Madiha who was watching Humaira and her husband, they were looking beautiful together.

Did he smile at Madiha or at me?

Why was Madiha so friendly with him? She never talked to me in this manner.

Do they already know each other?

"Tumhari dost ke husband ka naam kya hai?" Asked Danish which grabbed Madiha's attention, she glanced at him then again shifted her eyes on her hands.

(What's the name of your friend's husband?)

"Shahzaib." Madiha replied without bothering to look at Danish, she was playing with her bangles.

"Tum pehle bhi mil chuki ho us se?" He asked with furrowed brows. There was something in his tone that forced Madiha to take a look at her husband and she shook her head. "No."

(Have you met him before too?)

Danish again glanced at the other corner where Shahzaib was sitting holding his handsome figure.

She was looking happy while talking to Shahzaib but she never talked to me with a smile, other than today morning.

"Khana kha liya tumne?" Danish asked

(Have you eaten your food?)

"Hmm," Madiha just nodded without looking at him, she was kind of ignoring Danish because of his rude behaviour but now he was pretending as if he did nothing.

"Sir, the couple photoshoot is done… do you want your photos?" The photographer who was appointed by Danish for Humera's wedding functions came to him with this question. Danish saw his wife and realised that there was no photo of their wedding other than a few which people took from their mobile at the time of nikkah.

"Hmm… take a photo of us and give me that in a big frame." Madiha looked up at her husband, and rolled her eyes in her thoughts.

Actually he doesn't even know how to talk to his wife but showing as if we're an ideal couple.

"Come Madiha." Danish ordered and she nodded without looking at him as she knew her refusal doesn't hold any power.

On photographer's demand Madiha created the same pose which she created at her reception. Placing her both hands on Danish's chest she was standing with down gaze and he was holding her by waist.

"Ma'am, look at sir and smile." The photographer demanded

"Wo to tum karogi nhi na." Danish whispered and Madiha suddenly looked up, she wasn't expecting this reply from her husband but even after the instruction she was unable to hold eye contact with Danish for more than ten seconds. She again lowered her gaze immediately after clicking the photo.

(you won't do that. Right?)

"Look at me, Madiha." Danish whispered and she lifted her eyes towards him but instead of love she could find only and only anger on his face. There was no trace of softness on that face which scared her. "Smile." An order and she forced a little smile while her heart was beating like a drum. Danish harshly sighed when her eyes again lowered down. He tightened his grip on her waist and pulled closer which gave her a sudden jolt, resulting… she looked up with wide eyes. 

"That's fine now, keep watching me in the same way."

"Kya kar rahe hain aap? Kitne sare log hain yahan." Madiha whispered, Danish smirked and then looked towards the guests, especially at Shahzaib. "Aur ye sab log jaante hain ki tum meri biwi ho," she was stunned, she was unable to understand the hidden meaning of his words but she felt nervous.

(What are you doing? There are so many people here.)

(And all these people know that you are my wife.)

"Ji sab jaante hain main aapki biwi hu iska ye matlab nhi hai ki aap is rishte ko sab ke saamne jatayenge. Achha nhi lagta aese sab ke saamne…" she somehow managed to free herself from that strong grip and stood a few steps away from him. Danish didn't like her act but he ignored and walked to the other side pushing his hands in his pockets.

(Yeah, Everyone knows that I am your wife, it does not mean that you will show off this relationship in front of everyone in this way. It doesn't feel decent in front of everyone.)

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