Humsafar .

fourteen

Chapter 14.

And I will try to miss you.

Hassan X Anaaya.

"Hassan," Anaaya's drowsy voice shook him repeatedly, she patted his shoulders, trying for him to get up from his deep slumber.

He groaned, his hands tightening around her waist.

"Hassan,"

"Hassan! Utho!" This time, she exclaimed loudly, he woke up suddenly, every thought in high definition.

His eyes took in his surroundings and he looked at the clock, knowing damn well he had slept in alot. They both had. He sat up from the bed, Anaaya's naked form standing up with him.

"Your flight is in half an hour and you haven't even packed yet." She murmured.

"f*****g hell," He grumbled, standing up and walking towards the closet in a hushed manner.

Anaaya entered the bath quickly, she cleaned herself off, the shower head cleaning away all the sweat and semen that was somethered around her legs.

She got out, wearing a blue kurta and a capri, her hair was wet but she didn't bother brushing them since she was in such a hurry.

She looked at Hassan who had thrown all his necessities on the couch while packing. Anaaya walked towards him, picking up the things that were far from his reach.

"Come on, I'll help you." She smiled, and sat by him.

She didn't actually help since she didn't know anything about his stuff, but she still sat by his side as he packed away his suitcase.

He changed into a blue suit after getting done with his earlier task and then took out his laptop and a few files, putting them beside the luggage.

Anaaya picked up his files and laptop while he held his suitcase. He looked at her as she walked by his side.

"Are you coming with me?" He questioned, she nodded.

"Yeah, I'll see you off at the airport." Her response made him shrug, he put his stuff near the foyer and glanced at Anaaya.

"Okay, let me say bye to my parents."

Hassan walked inside his parent's bedroom and hugged his mother goodbye, his father patted his shoulder.

She saw his mother cover her head and blow at his face, reciting some Quranic verses for protection.

Anaaya saw her mother in law walk outside too, She was busy taking out her cell phone from the clutch and only paid attention when her mother in law called out her name.

"Anaaya?"

"Yes aunty?"

"The driver knows Rania's institute, just pick her up from there, tumhare raaste main parega, waapsi pay usko pick karte hue ghar aana. (It will be on your way back so just pick her up and then come home)"

She certainly had no probem in that so with a smile and an 'Okay, sure' she walked out.

The couple sat in the car, Hassan and Anaaya both in the back while the driver sat on the front seat along with Hassan's luggage.

The car ride for the most part was silent, with Hassan texting away on his phone and Anaaya lost in her thoughts about him, there wasn't much to talk about.

She had always read that when you meet someone special, you would know.

Because your heart would beat a little louder and your smile will be a little more bright. Because that person would make you feel special and respected, and important.

She stared at him and his hands, which were busy texting. She looked at the side of his face, at his beard and his jawline. At the way he sighed or gulped after a while

"You're staring." He stated without looking at her.

"I am." She confirmed proudly and he looked at her, chuckling.

"You're gonna be fine, yes?" He asked, seriously and she nodded.

"I spent more than twenty one years without you, husband. I'll be fine." Her response was playful but he rolled his eyes anyway.

They arrived at the airport, Anaaya got out of the car abd leaned against it as he took out his luggage.

He reached out and pulled her in for a hug, she wrapped her arms around him, murmuring a bye softly.

Anaaya realised his hugs were as overwhelming as his kisses, he would completely lean into the person, in a protective demeanour. The kind of hug you wouldn't want to get out of.

"Call me when you reach." She reminded him, the couple still ebtangled in each other's arms.

"I will," He confirmed, and then pulled out of the hug. His hands cupped her face.

"I'll make this up to you, we'll go on a long honeymoon." He promised, Anaaya shook her head, not really caring about the honeymoon right now.

What really mattered was them spending time together, the place would be just a bonus. Oh who was she kidding? She would kill to be in Corsica, or Greece, Or Istanbul. Ugh.

"Just come back soon."

"Is that your way of saying you'll miss me?" He enquired, teasing her.

She couldn't reply as the last call for the flight was made but they both knew the answer.

Ofcourse I'll miss you.

--

"We have to pick Rania from her college." Anaaya informed the driver chacha, he was a man in his late fourties, an affectionate look on his face at all times.

In about five minutes or so, they had reached Rania's college, a strict girls college at that. How was that like? Studying in an all girls institution? Wasn't it weird?

She rolled down the window and waved at Rania who was stood near the exit gate.

Rania smiled lazily at her sight. She was still in her college uniform, a small bag hung by her shouder and her tired eyes looked at her sister in law.

"Bhabhi? Hi. You came to pick me up?" Rania greeted as she sat with Anaaya. The driver started to drive the car towards home.

"You look tired." Anaaya stated, observing her.

"I am, can we go get some food first, I'm hungry." Anaaya actually liked that idea. She was feeling hungry too, besides she could bond with her youngest sister in law this way.

"I don't mind. Where are we going?" She questioned, glancing at Rania who was busy opening her tied hair and applying her lip gloss.

"I know this place nearby, come on." She told the driver chacha about a place called downtown house. He grumbled under his breath but said nothing and kept driving.

The girls entered the cafe, a cozy and dark themed place, the kind where you could take aesthetically pleasing pictures, the kind of place that Anaaya liked. 

"This looks like my favourite street one cafe, back home." She said out of nowhere, her heart suddenly missing Islamabad. Rania smiled at her, holding her by the shoulder.

"This is home, bhabhi."

Anaaya beamed at her and sat on the black sofa chair while Rania still stood up texting on her phone.

The waiter handed them the menu card and without looking at it Rania ordered her meal.

"Can I have the number three with coke and fries?" The waiter noted it down on the pad while Anaaya glanced over the menu twice, just to find something that she was craving.

"I'll have the pie, please." She said after a while.

Rania looked at her sister in law and then at the back side of the cafe, where the bathroom was located.

"Acha, I need to go use the bathroom. Be back soon."

She announced. Anaaya hummed and took a few selfies as Rania left. She stalked Hassan's i********:, seeing a few selfies here and there along with some quotes about law. One thing she did notice was the various pictures of his family and friends.

She stopped using the application and instead, opened up her iMessage, seeing a few texts from Ahmad.

Yo! We need to meet up, i miss your face.

Oh f**k, i forgot you're not in islu anymore :/

When you coming to islamabad, naaya?"

Anaaya chuckled at the messages, missing him like anything.

Might come there for the weekend, lets go to street one and eat those damn burgers, yeah?

She texted him back, it took a while before she received a reply.

How about going to Pir Sohawa and eating at monal instead?

Anaaya didn't mind at all.

Okay, that sounds fine.

She responded.

And how's that husband of yours doing? Done the hanky panky yet?

He asked, she rolled her eyes.

He's fine, and buzz off i aint telling you anything

The food arrived all of a sudden and she had to look around for Rania who still had not returned.

She stood up from her seat, still texting on her phone as she reached the bathroom.

She could hear Rania's giggles and as soon as she arrived at the corridor, she looked at Hassan's sister who was in the arms of a man.

Anaaya felt awkward all of a sudden. Was she really making out at the corner of a bathroom stall? Her eyes raised at the scene in front of her. Did Hassan know? Who was this boy?

"Oh," She mumbled but it was audible enough for Rania who gasped moving away.

"Bhabhi, wo-ye I-" She rambled trying to reach Anaaya who was already backing away.

"The food's here." She said weirdly and walked back to her sofa.

Rania arrived, sitting near her and holding her sister's hand.

"Bhabhi, listen to me please. Don't tell bhai or ammi, or abbu. Please." She pleaded. Anaaya sighed, not knowing what she could say.

It would be hypocritical of her to ask Rania to stop doing this because at seventeen, Anaaya had also made out with Ahmad. She still tried to explain her, just as any good sister in law would.

"Rania, you're seventeen. You're too young for all this," She pronounced, Rania sighed.

"We've been together for a year now, bhabhi. Please." So he was her boyfriend.

"Look, I'm not your mother or sister but listen to me, don't do something you'll regret. Okay?" She explained. And that was it.

Maybe she would tell Hassan and he could explain to his sister, making sure what she was doing was right or not. Anaaya didn't think she was in the place to do or say anything.

"Bhabhi, bhai ko mat batana..please. (Don't tell my brother)" Anaaya shook her head at that.

"I can't lie to him," She uttered.

"But-"

"I can't, I'm sorry. He'll understand." Anaaya vocalized but Rania already had big fat tears leaking out of her eyes.

"He won't. He's only understanding because you're his wife, because you're new. You don't know how he is when he's angry. Please."

How he is when he's angry? Was he really that scary? Anaaya didn't want to know.

"Rania-" She started off.

"Bhabhi, please..I beg you. Don't say anything."

Anaaya thought about it and realised maybe it wasn't her place to snitch on Rania. It was her life and her family should be the one making sure she's taking the right decision. She was just a new member in their family, her saying anything wouldn't even be considered thoughtful.

She nodded.

"Okay, fine. Just be careful. Come on now, eat."

With that the duo ate and then left for home.

Two days passed by in a blur and Anaaya didn't get any call from Hassan, which was explainable since the flight to London was long.

Anaaya tried to call him a few times but he didn't pick up. She texted him on the second night of his departure.

Hey, are you free? Can I call?

His reply came back instantly.

A bit busy, let me call you in a few minutes.

But he never called that night and Anaaya went to sleep, not waiting any more.

--