Humsafar .

six

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Chapter 6

Because I know if I look at you, 

I won't be able to stop.

--

HASSAN X ANAAYA 

They were finally alone.

It had been a long day for the couple. Anaaya had been awake since seven in the morning, while Hassan hadn't slept since Fajar prayer.

It was the day of his marriage and yet he had spent hours talking to a client back in London.

The Baraat had arrived on time and they had gotten done with the nikah soon enough. The Rukhsati had been an emotional time for Anaaya, the thought of leaving her mom and dad, finally triggered her heart.

She had to become someone else now, she had to start a new life with a man she barely knew. How scary was that? To live in a city you hardly liked, to live with a family you hardly knew and to build a life with someone you didn't even know.

She was sat on the bed while Hassan had gone to freshen up, or change as he liked to call it. She was still in her bridal clothes, they were too heavy for her to change, alone. So while he was out there wearing night clothes, she was nervous about how she would ask for his help.

Hassan finally came out of the bathroom, he observed that Anaaya hadn't noticed him yet. Instead, she was looking around the room in awe. He knew her taste, having visited her room once when they had met, so he had gotten their room furnished in such a way that it matched both their tastes.

And by the look on her face, he understood that she liked it.

He coughed a little, and Anaaya jolted straight, looking at him.

"Don't you want to change?" He questioned. She must have been uncomfortable. Heaps of jewellery and emroided heavy clothes. How was she even sitting there so casually?

I can't change alone, help me, you i***t.

She wanted to say, out of tiredness and frustration. Instead, she bit her lip.

"Can you call someone to help me out of thos dress, I can't do it alone." She told him.

Realisation hit him. Was he supposed to help her? Oh.

"Let's not bother them, I'll help you, come." He moved forward, holding her hand and helping her stand up.

She bent down to open her heel straps but he stopped her instead. He moved a little and used his right hand to unbutton the straps of her heels, helping her out.

She hesitated as she tried to wiggle out of the heavy lehanga.

She was wearing a capri tights underneath but it still felt awkward.

She unzipped the upper part while Hassan slowly moved it downwards and it fell on the floor.

Fuck, this s**t is heavy. He thought to himself.

Next step was taking off the heavy dupatta and the pins that were holding it.

"Okay so, first, umm you have to find the bobby pins, there are alot of them, only then this will come off." She told him softly.

He nodded.

"Can't I just snatch it with force?" He questioned, deep in thought..

She chuckled.

"Hassan, my scalp will be snatched too."

He rolled his eyes playfully, finding those damn pins and taking them off one by one. Anaaya would let out an ouch after a little while but didn't stop him.

The last one finally came off and he was done, he finally took the heavy dupatta off. Anaaya was left in her blouse and tights.

"Thankyou." She said gratefully and he nodded.

"Do you need help with your blouse?" He asked.

She shook her head.

"No, I think I'm good for now." She informed.

He let out a sigh.

"Damn, I was looking forward to do that." He remarked. Anaaya laughed at his open mouth.

"Patience, baby." She replied chuckling and then took her spare clothes, walking into the dressing room and closing the door.

Baby.

Anaaya didn't think it was a big deal, neither did he. But as she walked inside after saying that, there was a smile on both their faces.

A smile that showed the beginning of a beautiful new relationship.

The notion of arranged marriage was something that both Anaaya and Hassan could never understand. They knew that they would have to marry someone of their parent's choice one day but had no idea how things would turn out.

It had nothing to do with religion. Arranged marriages weren't something religious but were infact a notion built by the desi society. And no matter how modern you got and how westernized your actions became, you still had to abide by the choices of your parents.

Even love marriages were converted into arranged marriages sometimes. Things were changing, ofcourse. But at the same time, they were not changing at all.

Hassan was just glad he got married to Anaaya and not Zeenat. He had seen her blank face at the wedding, he knew she had a broken heart. She wanted more from Hassan and after all the hope that his own mother had given to her, all those promises about making Zeenat her daughter in law and at the end, it went all in vain.

Hassan saw a message from Lisa too, his ex girlfriend. She gave him nothing but good wishes and luck.

He replied with a thank you and put his phone at side. In the meantime, Anaaya came out of the bathroom.

Her hair was wet and it seemed like she had taken a shower in hurry, her face was now bare of any makeup. She was dressed in a baby pink, silk night suit.

Hassan gazed over her and then patted at her side of the bed, motioning for her to come there.

Anaaya had no idea what to do next. Would they do it? Tonight? Would she have a problem with it? Not really.

Did he want to do it?

Anaaya sighed.

Hassan was already laid across his side, his arm resting against his head as he turned his body towards her.

He angled it to one side and Anaaya sat at one side, her head resting against the bed. She felt drowsy already.

She looked at him and he smiled.

"It's hard to know what you're thinking." Anaaya whispered.

He was a hard man to read.

"You'll get used to it in time." He replied.

"So I figure you want to talk tonight?" He asked her. He wasn't a horndog. He was fine with anything.

Anaaya gulped feeling nervous for no reason.

"I mean I'm okay with anything really, I mean we can do it if you want and if you don't, then that's okay too like-" She rambled. Hassan looked at her amused.

She was calm most of the time but this side was amusing to him.

He held her hand.

"Hey, hey idhar dekho? (Look at me) This is a marriage, right? You can tell me what you really feel." He tried to tell her to be comfortable in this relationship.

Anaaya tightened her hold on this hand.

"Ofcourse, I will. I'm just-" She chuckled. "Confused. I'm confused." She whispered.

Hassan understood now.

"How about we start from the first base?"

He enquired.

She liked the sound of that.

So both of them looked at each other, deep into each other's eyes and then leaned in close for their first kiss.