HIS POV

As I drove us home, my hands on the steering wheel felt steady, but my heart was anything but calm. Every now and then, I glanced at her sitting beside me, her face glowing with a quiet beauty that I couldn't take my eyes off. She was sparkling like phosphorus radiant, luminous, and utterly captivating.

Her shy, delicate smile and the way her eyes darted away whenever she caught me looking at her made my heart race even more. She wasn't just beautiful; she was mesmerizing, like a light I never wanted to look away from.

In that moment, it struck me how surreal this all felt. She was no longer just Izel Khan; 

she was my Izel ..

my wife, 

my life partner

And as I watched her, I couldn't help but think of how much I wanted to protect that glow, that happiness, for the rest of our lives.

Every glance I stole felt like a treasure, and with each passing second, I found myself falling deeper for her. I knew she noticed my stolen gazes, the faint blush on her cheeks betraying her, and it made me smile. She looked down at her hands, fidgeting with the delicate embroidery on her dupatta, and I wanted to reach out and hold her hand but I stopped myself, knowing it might overwhelm her.

As I stole another glance at her, I noticed something had changed. Her glow was still there, but it was accompanied by something else something that made her look restless. She wasn't just shy; she was lost in thought, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the edge of her dupatta.

It hit me that whatever she was thinking about was making her anxious. I couldn't ignore it. She was my responsibility now, my amanat, and I wanted her to know that she could share anything with me.

"Kya hua, bacha?" I asked softly, my voice full of concern, breaking the silence between us.

She looked at me suddenly, startled as though she had been pulled out of her thoughts. Her wide, expressive eyes met mine, and in that moment, I could see the vulnerability she was trying to mask. Those big, beautiful eyes spoke volumes, even though her lips didn't move.

"Bde bde ankhein karke dekhne ka matlab kya hai?" I teased gently, trying to lighten the mood and coax a smile out of her. 

But even as I said it, I kept my tone soft, letting her know that I was here for her, ready to listen whenever she was ready to share. Her lips twitched, as if caught between a smile and hesitation, and I knew she was trying to gather her thoughts. 

"Yrr mujhe kch theek nhi lag rhi h..." she said, her voice trembling slightly. 

She paused, and I could see the conflict in her eyes. 

"Mujhe ajeeb si bechani feel ho rhi h, pata nhi kiu," she added, her hand moving to rub her neck as though trying to release some invisible tension.

The moment those words left her lips, a wave of worry surged through me. Without a second thought, I pulled the car to the side of the road, the hum of the engine fading as I turned it off. The world outside seemed distant, unimportant, as my entire focus shifted to her.

I unbuckled our seat belts, leaned closer, and gently took her face in my hands. Her skin felt warm under my touch, and I could feel the tension radiating from her.

"Izel," I said softly, my thumbs lightly brushing her cheeks, "bacha, meri taraf dekho." Her eyes met mine, wide and uncertain, and my heart ached at the sight of her vulnerability. 

"Kya ho raha h? Kahan discomfort feel ho rha h? Mujhe batao," I urged, my voice steady but filled with concern.

She hesitated, her lips parting as if to say something but then closing again. Her breathing was uneven, and I could tell she was overwhelmed.

"Mujhe sharam nahi aa rahi," she said defiantly, her voice filled with playful stubbornness. I could tell she was trying to distract me, but I wasn't going to let her off so easily.

"Konsi sharam? Achhe khaase toh gaal red-red ho rahe hain," I teased, smirking at her.

"Mujhe bahu wali sharam nahi aa rahi!" she protested, crossing her arms like a child trying to make a point.

"Koi na, mat aane do," I said with a chuckle, deciding to play along.

Driving a little further, I spotted a small roadside shop. I stopped the car, went inside, and came back with chocolates and chips in hand. I placed the bag in her lap and looked at her mischievously. 

"Ab batao, main reason kya hai?" I asked again, trying to read her expressions.

"Kuch nahi, bhool gayi," she said nonchalantly, unwrapping her chocolate like it was no big deal.

I narrowed my eyes and quickly snatched the chocolate from her hands. 

"Batao pehle, phir milegi chocolate," I said, holding it out of her reach like a playful threat.

Her eyes widened as she tried to snatch it back. 

"Oi, Mr. 6ft ka bandar, wapas karo meri chocolate!" she said, leaning toward me with a mock-angry pout.

Grinning, I decided to turn the tables. 

"Ek kiss dedo, tab dunga," I said, tapping my cheek and smirking.

I fully expected her to refuse, to shy away like she always did. But to my surprise, she didn't hesitate. Grabbing my face firmly with both hands, she leaned in and left a soft peck on my forehead, and then another on the tip of my nose.

The moment her lips touched my skin, I froze. My entire body erupted with goosebumps, and a wave of heat surged through me. I could feel my heart racing uncontrollably, and suddenly, the car felt way too small, way too warm.

She pulled back and smirked, her eyes twinkling with victory. 

"Ab do meri chocolate," she said, holding her hand out like nothing had happened.

I was still processing what just happened, trying to control the storm of emotions she had just unleashed in me. Clearing my throat, I handed her the chocolate wordlessly, my hands slightly trembling.

"Thank you," she said, unwrapping it with a grin, oblivious to the havoc she had just caused in my heart.

And me? 

I sat there, gripping the steering wheel, silently trying to compose myself. 

Because in that one unexpected moment, she had managed to turn my world upside down.

------

As we reached home, the energy shifted from the quiet car ride to the warmth of our home. Everyone settled down in the living room, It wasn't just a normal evening this was our first evening together after everything had changed.

"Magrib ka waqt hogya h, sab namaz padh ke tayar ho jao wallima ke liye," my mom's voice rang out in the room, reminding us all of our responsibilities and duties, as always.

I glanced over at Izel, who was already standing, her face a mixture of excitement and nervousness.

We made our way back to our room, the silence between us almost peaceful, the kind that only comes when two people share something deeper than words. I watched her, still processing the touch of her lips on my forehead, the warmth of her hands on my face.

In the privacy of our room, Izel took a moment to collect herself. I could see her lost in thought, probably replaying everything that had happened today. Her hand instinctively went to her veil, adjusting it, as if trying to keep herself together.

"Are you okay?" I asked, breaking the silence and stepping closer to her.

She looked up, her eyes a little distant, but she managed a small smile. 

"I'm just... trying to take it off," she said softly, a slight sigh escaping her lips.

"I'm here for you, always," I whispered, my words barely above a breath. "Whenever you're ready, we'll face everything together."

She nodded, and we both took a moment to pray, offering our maghrib namaz in the quiet of the room, each of us processing the day in our own way.

Izel removed her makeup, the room seemed quieter, almost reverent. She made wazu, and we stood side by side, offering our maghrib namaz together. The peacefulness of the moment wrapped around us, a reminder that no matter what, we had each other.

When we finished praying, I felt a sense of tranquility settle in the room. But before either of us could speak, we heard a knock at the door.

"Come in," Izel said softly, her voice carrying a hint of curiosity.

The door opened, and in came everyone. My family entered the room with grins on their faces.

"Aaj kal bhai kuch zyada hi badal gaye hain. Aaj kal bade namaz padhte ja rahe hain," He couldn't resist teasing me, and I could feel my cheeks turning pink as he spoke.

Ayesha, always one to join in on the fun, added with a sly smile, 

"Arey, Allah se shukrana toh ab karna padega. Aakhir Izel bhabhi mili hain unko apni biwi ke roop mein!"

I felt a rush of shyness wash over me, my heart skipping a beat at her words. I glanced at Izel, and she looked equally shy, her face flushing a soft pink.

"Yeh... yeh sab kya hai?" I stammered, trying to hide the warmth spreading through me.

Izel simply smiled, but I could tell she was holding back laughter.

"Chalo, chalo, ab bas, kro raho dono,"  mom said, her voice warm but with a hint of authority. "Suno meri baat, ab dhyan se. Chalo dono niche, ab rasme karni hain kch."

Izel and I shared a quick glance, and with a nod, we headed downstairs, now it was time for the traditions. 

 TO BE COUNTINUE.......

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