HER POV

As I woke up at Fajr (dawn), I noticed Irfaz sleeping soundly beside me. I took my time to admire him. His hair had fallen over his eyes, and his lips were slightly parted. I couldn't believe that this amazing man was mine. 

In my life, I never thought I would receive love and care, especially since I never experienced it from my parents during childhood. I had always longed for love and attention. But let's not dwell on the past today after all, today is my Nikah (wedding) day. 

'Haan, I know meri pehli bhi ho chuki hai, par uss waqt zabardasti thi shaadi. Meri is baar main apni marzi se, apni pasand ke shakhs ke saath kar rahi hoon.' (Yes, I know I've been married before, but that time it was forced. This time, I'm marrying someone I truly want.)

From our first meeting, I used to hate this guy. He was so annoying right from the airplane to the office. But this guy turned my hatred into love, not with words but with his actions. 

'Yeh banda jab bhi bolta hai, yah toh mujhe zeher lagta hai ya phir shahed, itna sweet-coated bolta hai.' (Whenever he speaks, it either feels like poison or honey so sweetly coated.)

I brushed his hair aside, revealing his forehead, and placed a kiss there. I saw him giggle slightly in his sleep. Getting off the bed, I went to the bathroom, performed wudu (ablution), and prayed my morning namaz (prayer). 

'Aaj itna bada din hai, main kaise Allah ko bhool sakti hoon? Unhone hi mujhe aaj tak chalne phirne ki taaqat di hai, sabar bhi.'  (Today is such an important day; how can I forget Allah? He's the one who has given me the strength to endure and the patience to carry on.)

After finishing my prayers, I sat down for a long time, making dua (supplication) and pouring my heart out to Allah in the form of tears. 

"Yah Allah," I whispered, my voice trembling, "aaj tak jo bhi diya uske liye bohot shukriya." My hands moved to cover my face as sobs shook my body. I took a deep, steadying breath, my fingers trembling slightly as I wiped away the tears. 

"Jab koi nahi tha tab aap hi mere sahaare the. Aage bhi aap se umeed hai. Mujhe aapse hi har ek koshish, har ek zid poori hui hai. Aage ki zimmedaari bhi aapki hai. Yah Allah, aaj meri zindagi ka sabse ahem faisla hone jaa raha hai. "

a faint smile tugged at the corners of my lips. "Main kisi aur ki hone ja rahi hoon. Koi mera hone wala hai. Please mujhe yeh rishta nibhaane ki himmat aur aqal dijiye. " The warmth in my chest grew, a blend of anticipation and trepidation.

"Yah Allah, meri zindagi mein jo bhi hua hai maazi mein, sab aapko pata hai. Please unhe mere aane wale mustaqbil mein ahmiyat hone mat dijiye."

(Oh Allah, thank You for everything You've given me so far. When there was no one, You were my only support. I continue to have faith in You. You've fulfilled all my wishes and efforts; the future is also in Your hands. Today, the most important decision of my life is about to take place. I am about to belong to someone, and someone is about to belong to me. Please give me the strength and wisdom to honor this relationship. Oh Allah, You know all that has happened in my past. Please don't let it affect my future.)

As I was sobbing, lost in my thoughts, I suddenly heard him say, 

"Saari baatein aaj hi kar loge kya Allah se? Mujhe bhi toh mauka milna chahiye." (Are you going to say everything to Allah today? I should get a chance too.)

"Mera ho gaya aaj ke liye, tumhari baari. Jainamaz (prayer mat) khaali kar diya hai, wazu (ablution) kar aao," I said and sat on the bed with my Qur'an.

-----

After reciting the Qur'an, Irfaz sat down and pulled me toward him, wrapping his arms around my stomach.

"Kya ho gaya? Ro kyun rahi thi?" (What happened? Why were you crying?) he asked.

"Allah ke samne hi roongi na, jo diya unhone hi diya hai aaj tak," (I'll cry only before Allah. Whatever I've been given is all from Him,) I replied.

"Haan, jo diya hai, sab unhone hi diya hai. Unke alawa koi dene wala bhi nahi hai. Phir bhi apna thoda gham baant sakte ho mere saath. Kya pata Allah ne mujhe zariya banaya ho tumhare dukh-dard mitaane ke liye," (Yes, everything given to us is from Him, and no one else can give. Still, you can share some of your sorrows with me. Maybe Allah has sent me to be a medium to ease your pain,) he said.

"Haan, woh bhi Allah ne itna late bheja hai tumko mere paas ki ab mujhe sabr aa gaya hai," (Yes, but even Allah sent you to me so late that now I've learned patience,) I replied.

"Allah ko pata hota hai kab kaunsa cheez deni hoti hai. Mujhe hi dekh lo.... har maamla shukla tha, uss waqt tumko bheja mere paas ladai aur behes karne ke liye. Warna main itna kaam bolne wala insaan, yahaan itni baatein kar raha hoon Fajr ke baad." (Allah knows exactly when to give what. Look at me everything was smooth in my life, and He sent you to me for arguments and fights. Otherwise, a quiet guy like me wouldn't be chatting so much after Fajr.)

"Baat toh sahi hai. Chalo, chhodo mujhe. Kal mujhe jaldi tayyar bhi hona hai, upar se Nikah aur Walima ek hi din mein rakhwa diya hai. Saara mehnat ek din mein hi karwa lo mujhse," (That's true. Leave me now; I have to get ready early tomorrow. Nikah and Walima on the same day! All the hard work packed into one day,) I pouted.

"Agar saari rasmein waqt leke karwata toh gharwale pata nahi tumhe aur mujhe kitne din door rakhte milne se, rasam bolke. Ki Nikah ke baad milna allowed nahi hai," (If all the rituals were done one by one, who knows how long our families would've kept us apart, saying rituals don't allow meeting after Nikah,) he said, hugging me tightly and kissing my neck.

"Isiliye tumne Haldi, Mehendi sab skip kar diya. Very clever, you are," I said with a smirk.

"Ab tumse itne din ki judai kaun bardaasht kar sakta hai? Itni pyari begum ho, kisi ke paas toh sabr toh Allah khud shohar se cheen leta," (Who can endure staying away from you for so long? You're such a lovely wife any husband would lose his patience, even if Allah Himself gave it,) he joked.

"Haan, sahi hai. At least mujhe ek pyara sa proposal hi de dete, ek ring ke saath. Main khush ho jaati. Maine uss letter mein bhi likha tha apne wishes. Ek bhi poora nahi kiya ab tak tumne. Cheapster! Sahi kehti hoon main kanjoos, makhichoos ho tum," (Yes, that's true. At least you could've given me a nice proposal with a ring. I would've been happy. I even wrote in that letter about my wishes. You haven't fulfilled even one yet. Cheapster! I'm right you're stingy and miserly.)

"Bohot time hai apne paas, aapko surprises, gifts, ring aur aapki wishlist poori karne ke liye, jaan. Aaj ka din bas sabr karo," (We have plenty of time to fulfill all your wishes, surprises, gifts, and rings, my love. Just be patient today,) he said, pecking me.

"So jao ab. Mujhe neend aa rahi hai," (Go to sleep now. I'm feeling sleepy,) I said, and we fell asleep in each other's arms.

------

HIS POV

When I woke up, I didn't find Izel sleeping beside me like she usually does. She was gone. I got out of bed and checked the bathroom. The door was open and dry no signs of her having used it recently.

I went to the balcony, but she wasn't there either.

"Kaha ho, begum?" (Where are you, my wife?)

"Kaha chale gaye subah subah?" (Where did you go so early in the morning?)

I went back to the bed, grabbed my phone, and headed downstairs.

"Uth gaye, Irfaz?" bua (aunt) asked. (You're awake, Irfaz?) 

I nodded in response.

"Izel! Izel!" I called her name, but the lack of response only made me more worried and frustrated. 

Then I saw my mom coming out of the kitchen.

"Mom, Izel kaha hai?" I asked. (Mom, where is Izel?)

"Woh toh chali gayi subah subah, kaafi jaldi mein thi," she replied in a serious tone.
(She left early in the morning; she seemed to be in a hurry.)

"Kaha gayi? Kaise gayi? Kuch pucha nahi aapne usko? Kis ke saath ja rahi hai?" I asked in a questioning tone. (Where did she go? How did she leave? Didn't you ask her anything? Who is she with?)

"Waah, bhai! Bhabhi ko subah subah bed ke side mein nahi dekha toh aap seedhe niche aa gaye bina shirt aur slippers ke! Waah, kya pyaar hai," Dewan mocked me.
(Wow, brother! You didn't see your wife next to you in the morning, so you came downstairs straight away without a shirt or slippers! Wow, such love!)

It was then that I realized I wasn't wearing anything except my pajama. Embarrassed, I tried to compose myself because finding Izel was my priority.

Everyone burst out laughing at me, including my dad.

"Bataoge koi mujhe Izel kaha hai? Call bhi nahi utha rahi hai woh," I said.
(Will someone tell me where Izel is? She's not even answering her phone.)

"Arey, bataya toh. Woh ghar gayi hai. Aaj nikah hai, toh woh ready waha hogi," Mom explained.
(Oh, I told you already. She went home. Today is the nikah, so she's probably getting ready there.)

Before she could finish, my uncle interrupted her:
"Aur woh baraat aane ka intezaar kar rahi hogi, Izel. Par yaha toh dulhe saab bina t-shirt ke sabko apna body dikhane mein busy hain," Chachu teased.
(And she's probably waiting for the wedding procession. Meanwhile, the groom here is busy showing off his body without a t-shirt.)

"Okay, okay, I got it. Thanks," I said and went upstairs.

I washed up and got ready while humming to myself:

"Tere liye sehra bandh ke main toh aaya re,
Doli baraat saath main toh laaya re.
Ab toh na hota hai aur intezaar mahi,
Aaj nahi toh kal hai tujhko toh bas meri honi wehhh.
Tenu leke main jaa bhaga."
 

TO BE COUTINUE....