Untainted: The Purest

Chapter 3–The Little Things

—Ahad's Mansion—

"Ahad? Get up." She gently shook him.

"What time is it?" He mumbled sleepily.

"9.20. Wake up." She shook him vigorously this time.

"Wake me after 10 minutes." He said idly and dug his face in the pillow again.

"Ahad, you said the same thing 10 minutes ago. Get up now." Saying this she tried to pull him up with his arm.

"Oh man..." he lazily sat up and pulled her closer, caging her between his arms. "My Angel slept well?" He asked her.

"Very." She said with a bubbly laugh and he resisted the urge to kiss those dimples on her either cheeks. Her happiness made her prettier than she already was. Happy people are beautiful. They become a mirror and they reflect that happiness in others. Her shy eyes, her pink lips, the crimson blush made him fall in love with her every time he saw her.

"Now what?" He asked bending over burying his nose into her moist hairs.

He inhaled her scent and stayed there for a while. It felt so peaceful. He would stay there for eternity if Umeed wasn't pulling him off.

"Now go and get ready before breakfast gets cold."

"Okay." Saying this he was about to swiftly get up when she placed a hand on his chest. "Wait."

"What?"

"Did you say the supplication of waking up?" she asked her brown eyes boring into his black ones.

"Why?" It was a long time since somebody had reminded him of these things. These little things. For him, it didn't matter anymore. Life was one big mission. For her, it was a million little things that gave her happiness.

"What do you mean by 'Why'? You woke up this morning safe in your home, in good health and have enough provision for the rest of the day. It is as if you have all the good things in the world. Shouldn't you thank God?" She asked obvious.

Those words. Exactly same.

He stared into her eyes for a minute when she asked, "What?"

He shook his head. "You talked like my mother." He closed his eyes, prayed in a soft voice then got up to do his chores.

After breakfast, Ahad asked her to get ready.

"We're going somewhere?" Umeed asked excitedly.

"Not we. You are. I got a call from the driver. He'll be arriving with your family at the Hotel within an hour. Spend the day with them, that'll lighten up your mood. But be back by evening. You have to get ready for the reception." He said caressing her cheek.

"Jazakallah again." She said touching her cheek to confirm whether it was a dream. "Until they arrive, why don't you show me the house?"

"Ya sure. Come." He said extending his hand which she hesitantly accepted.

***

"So, did you like it?" He asked, walking through the corridor with her.

"Okay just so that I get this clear... There are servants for cleaning, chefs for cooking, butlers for bringing groceries etc. So, what am I supposed to do all day? Look at them and feel sad?" She asked, really worried.

He was amazed at her perspective. Who thinks like that? People dream of a life like this one and she just... questioned it? For her it was not satisfying enough.

"My Angel can do anything she wants. There are books, you can read, you can cook, watch TV, go shopping..." he trailed off thinking of more but he couldn't trust his own answer. "I'll think about more." He said quickly when he heard the car Honk.

"Abrar must have come. Go." Ahad held her hand to walk her to the car.

"Just a minute." Saying this she ran to her room and came back covering herself with a big shawl. "I feel extremely uncomfortable without it. Allah Hafiz."

"Take care. Don't worry about anything. Be back by evening." He reminded again kissing her forehead. She went numb for a few seconds after the electrifying moment. His lips would make her collapse one day.

"Yes. Aap bhi time se khana khaiyega. (You also have your lunch on time.)" She said before leaving.

•••

She sat in the car and saw Mumtaz beside her. She looked gorgeous as always. The royal blue dress completely complimented her fair skin and the Dupatta that kept hanging from her side. It was a rare combination. Her lean self was adorned with bold makeup and little to no jewellery nor did she need to. The plain jhumkas went well with the dress. Her hairs were tied in a fit, clean bun but she kept waving her hands over them again and again. "Assalamualaikum." She greeted with a hug.

"Walaikum Assalaam. You here?" Umeed asked excitedly.

"Yes. Ahad asked me to accompany you. It wouldn't look nice that you go alone."

"Yeah sure." They talked and chatted about random things, people and Umeed realized she was a very charming, independent personality. She owned a publishing house of her own. She published mostly amateur writers who didn't stand a chance with other reputed publications.

Umeed was delighted to meet her family. Her mother again gave her a few advices on being a good wife, her sisters teased her taking Ahad's name and mimicking him, and her father and younger brother watched everything contentedly from the side. Umeed felt a surge of discomfort as they teased her about their wedding night. It was something she didn't wanted to talk about right now or ever again.

Forgiveness and sacrifice are the two wheels that keep relationships going. You must be willing to do any of them any time for a love story to last.

They all had their breakfast and as Ahad had asked, the driver took them for a movie, shopping, lunch one after another and then dropped them back to the hotel. Umeed had never imagined she would one day be so far far from her village and here, as the bride of one of the most influential men in the city. She was ecstatic and grateful to Allah for crafting her life so beautifully and also prayed for strength to endure the difficulties. Indeed Allah rewards those who are grateful with more.

•••

"Angel, are you ready?" Ahad shouted from the hall.

"Almost." Came her confused voice.

He was surprised because the beautician didn't leave anything to almost. He walked to her and saw a tissue in her hand bringing close to her face.

"Stop!" He hissed from the distance. "What are you doing? Ruining the makeup?"

"No. Just carefully removing the lipstick." She told him.

"That IS spoiling the makeup. Why?" he said, taking the tissue from her hand.

"Ammi says if girls wear deep red lipsticks they look like prostitutes." She said staring at him with innocence in those big brown eyes. For a second, he thought she was mocking or joking but when he looked at her face, it was serious. Was she really so simple and obedient? He had to deal with this diplomatically.

"But you applied it on our wedding." He asked, making an innocent, curious face.

"I was the bride that day." She rolled her eyes.

He bent his face to her level, looked into her eyes through the mirror and said, "You are still my bride. And you will be until the day I die."

"Haye Allah! May god grant you years of my life too! Don't say this." She snapped placing a finger on his lips.

His lips curved into a smile. He carefully threw the tissue away.

"I brought this to give you on the wedding night." Saying this, he placed a simple and elegant Pearl pendant around her neck.

"Masha Allah." The words left her lips as she saw it.

"I know it's not very heavy and-"

"It is. It is more precious than all the jewellery you gave me at the wedding. It's your first gift." Umeed said with a smile.

"Okay then. Don't touch the lipstick and come with me. The photographer is downstairs. We'll wind up the photoshoot in half an hour, then leave for the venue." Ahad said adjusting his cuffs.

"I... I won't." She said with a strong voice.

"Excuse me?" He asked uncertainly that he heard it properly.

"I... I mean I can't. Allah does not like the women who display their beauty to anyone other than their husbands. I don't want someone else to look at me, ask me to give poses, talk to me or click my pictures. It will make me feel uncomfortable.” She said looking down.

He paused for a moment, came closer to her and said, "Are you real?" looking into her eyes. Who binds themselves with such strict morals in this age? That too when nobody was watching? Many a times, a thought did cross hos mind that her behaviour was just social conditioning and would wear off with time but now he realized it was not. It was real, her Character.

He thought he would never understand her. One moment she becomes so naïve and the next moment she is the wisest person in the room, headstrong and ready to fight or reject what she doesn't like.

He pulled her closer and said, "Allah also doesn't like women who disobey their husbands. The Prophet (pbuh) also said, 'Had it been permissible that a person prostrate himself before another, I would have ordered that a wife prostrate herself before her husband.' Isn't that a true hadith, my Angel?” She was dazed and speechless. He really had knowledge of his religion. Then why did he pretend he doesn't? Why does he behave that way?

"I..." she had no answer. “Okay I will do it if you want." She heaved a sigh lowering her gaze.

"Good. Come." He walked downstairs holding her hand. She was feeling uneasy but she couldn't argue with him. He had defeated her in the argument. As she descended the stairs, and raised her eyes, she gasped slightly.

It was nothing like she had expected. It was just one female photographer and a spot girl. They greeted her and adjusted the big tripod carefully. Umeed smiled wide and looked at Abdul Ahad in surprise.

"What do you think... that if you don't say anything, I don't understand, I Don't see? You think I didn't see while we were leaving the hotel to come here, the first thing you searched for was your shawl. You think I didn't notice that this morning you didn't leave without it even when no one reminded you? And the truth to be said, I myself wouldn't appreciate anyone looking at my Angel. Come."

Umeed was ecstatic. He cared so much for her. He loves her so much. Just the way she was. She felt her eyes go moist but she blinked fast afraid she would spoil the makeup.

The photographer asked her to smile, even though she didn't need to. Love and compassion are the mother and father of a genuine smile. When you have them in your heart, there is a smile on your face.

They completed the photoshoot and headed for the reception venue.

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