CHAPTER 30
AHAD POV:
During the entire ride to Hyderabad, Ashar teased Hayat a lot; they bricked a lot, others were enjoying their little banter a lot, her demand to capture the moment, and her reactions to all the teasing.
She was silent when asked a question from both of us, her shiny eyes were fixed on receiving the flower, and she sent me the first-ever picture of herself with the flower stuck in her hair.
I loved and enjoyed every memory I made with her and others on this trip, and I loved how she was getting comfortable with everything, after reaching the hotel, I went to shower first as Hayat was a little tired, coming out of the washroom while drying my hair with a towel, I saw Hayat laying in the middle of the bed with eyes closed.
I went to her, gently taking her right shoe off when she suddenly sat up, trying to take her feet away from my hand, but I didn't let her, taking her left shoe off, too, I put them aside and set the pillows for her to move up and lay there… her being her denied by saying she needs to fresh up, I just shushed her and get her up to sleep, while getting myself in the covers too.
I woke up to pray Fajr and took my hand out of her hold, slowly moving towards the washroom to do ablution. As I spread the prayer mat for myself, I heard a soft voice of hers…
"Bubba"
And I froze just there and then…
My wife…
Gave me a nickname…
Bubba…
Me…
I looked at her, surprised, excited, happy. I couldn't believe she gave me the nickname; my whole being couldn't help but ask if she had called me. She sat there with her famous "duh" face, "Yes, you, Bubba, wait for me, I'll join you too."
And ran away…
Did she know what her nickname meant to me? It meant her taking a step towards me, our marriage, our relationship…
My cheeks were hurting from smiling a lot. After praying the salah, she gestured for me to lay my head on her lap … that moment, I felt my heart opening up, and I closed my eyes, finding peace.
I'm yet to tell her about my visits to a psychologist to get over my trauma and nightmares… It felt amazing to be able to share my joy, pain, happiness, sadness, and everything with her. It feels like I'm complete now, seeing her just being there for me, and it feels amazing to have her call mine forever.
We planned to have our breakfast at a dhaba, and ordered halwa puri, tea, biscuits, and other breakfast items, I was sitting on my wife's right side, and on her left sat Ashar, all of my friends were teasing her while Ashar gave much more gossips, in that moment, Seema came and asked for a seat, I didn't look up but at my wife's reaction.
She looked… irritated… Nah, Jealous, I wanted to pinch her cheeks, but not now… after a while, I found Hayat gesturing to me to come closer as she glanced at Seema. She whispered nothing in my ear, and I played along with my wife, looking at Seema in surprise, then at Hayat. Her eyes shone as I played along… and there I knew I could be childish for her anytime she needed…
I have noticed how much my wife loves gajray, and I have been watching tutorials to crochet some for her. I followed her here and there in the market, when my eyes met an old man's cart that had a lot of beautiful gajray.
I turned to see my wife busy buying stuff for everyone, so I went to get them for her. After I brought a pair, I walked up to my wife, wrapping my arms around her waist when she suddenly flinched.
At that moment, I felt my heart being pricked. Is she not comfortable with me? A lot of questions were running through my mind as I asked her a question, too, and she put those negative thoughts of mine in the dustbin with her words, "I am not uncomfortable, and I will never be, Bubba."
I was at the front while others were following my lead from the back, since I traveled around Pakistan on my bike a lot of times, and somehow, I knew the roads much better than others.
While I was riding the bike, I got a message from Hammad's sister, Asfia; it was a video attached to a caption, "Bhai, look at the video right now, it's urgent."
We were in heavy traffic and slowed down my bike, as others did the same, which allowed me to watch the video while riding. The video was of Asfia recording herself, but something caught my attention.
In the background, Hayat was standing in the shop alone, where I had left her to buy gajray. I was admiring my wife, and at that moment, I saw Zain and Seema walking up to the next shop close to Hayat.
The next thing I saw made my blood boil, and my jaw clenched… Zain touched my wife inappropriately and then moved back like nothing happened.
If one could die just from the heartache, I would have died just now. My wife stood there scared, looking around to find who did it.
I couldn't control it anymore and spoke in a hard voice, "Everyone, park your vehicle at the side and get down, right now."
Getting down from my bike, I went to my wife, immediately taking her in my arms. I felt peace, but I was disgusted by myself. I couldn't protect my wife.
After beating Zain for what he did to my wife, I felt myself being pulled away by her. As much as I love and want to kill him, I can't do it.
She tried to calm me down, but I was not in the mood to leave her alone, so I made up my mind to drive her to the next place myself while my guys placed my bike in Arham's GMC Raptor boot space.
I was driving her car with my focus on the road when I felt her looking at me, getting nervous from her continuous stares. I asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
She kept her eyes on me before flashing a soft smile and holding my hand, "Just admiring my handsome husband, Bubba," and there I was, dead shy. I shook my head and tightened my hold on her hand while continuing to drive to our destination.
Soon we reached Sukkur and got into the hotel, since it was winter season and knowing my wife catches a cold easily, I decided we would stay tonight at the hotel.
I noticed her voice getting a little hoarse, and I knew she was going to catch a cold soon, so I got some qehwa for her. Getting inside the room, I found her sneezing a lot. I put the cup on the side table and went to her to check her body temperature.
I touched her forehead and found her having a high fever. She looked up at me, and I saw her eyes were moist. "What happened to my baby?" sitting beside her, taking her in my arms, I asked.
"I hate cold, Ahad!" she whined a little. I tried to control myself from pinching her cheeks just because she is sick.
After having the medicine, my wife fell asleep, and I got out of the room.
"Hayat has caught a cold, and I think you guys should go ahead. I'll join you guys once she's alright," I told Ashar as soon as he opened the door of his room.
"Oh, how?" He asked, walking inside the room, wearing his shirt.
"Well, she's prone to cold," I told him, looking at him as he got out of the room, following me to my room.
I unlocked the door and found Hayat sitting on the bed… sobbing… running towards her. I hugged her, asking what was bothering her, "I thought you got tired of me and left me alone," she whispered, hiccupping a little.
"And why would I leave you?" I asked, all confused.
"Father used to tell me that I'm pathetic and right now I'm not well, so I thought…"
She looked up at me with her teary eyes, wiping her tears gently. I comforted her, "I'm sorry that I made you feel like this, but Jaan, I'm your husband, your partner, even if you beat me, insult me, kick me out of our house, I won't leave you, never, my love." I hugged her, patting her back a little.
"Ahm, Ahm, guys, I'm here too," Ashar came towards us, kneeling in front of Hayat. He continued, "Oh, come on, you're stupid, you aren't this fragile, get some rest, and well, soon so we can leave this place early to reach our destination together."
I glared at Ashar while Hayat slapped his shoulder, "Can't you be a little gentle to her, you stupid."
Early the next day, Hayat got upset with me because I told her to rest and that we would be staying in Sukkur for a day. Ashar was the gas lighter; he was taking her side like he wasn't worried for her.
I couldn't win against her, and here we are on Multan Motorway/M-5 to reach Lahore. The drive to Lahore from Sukkur takes 9 hours, and since it was early in the morning, we will be speeding up to get there before the evening.
"Jaan-e-jigar, are you upset with me?" I asked, trying to take her hand in mine, her being my cute wifey… trying to look stubborn… she folded her hands to herself, "Nah, I'm not, but… nothing," she confessed, confused. (Translation: My beloved)
I knew her mood was a little upset, so I asked, "Can you please help me unlock my phone?"
She looked at me, then took my phone from the front and asked for the password. I chuckled, replied, "W.I.L.D.C.A.T."
She gave me her favorite eye roll, unlocking my phone, "Go to the voice recorder, and check the list; you can find Aab-e-Hayat's other chapters recording there. Listen to it and cheer up, Meri Jaan."
The moment I finished my words, I found her looking at me with her hazel brown eyes wide open. She wanted to say something, but chose not to as she started the audiobook, "When did you record them?"
I smiled before replying, "Last week, when I got some time to rest in between my meetings. I thought you might like these whenever you feel a little low."
She looked at me the entire time, taking my hand in hers, she caressed the back of it and said, "If you're going to treat me like this, I won't be able to leave you ever!" to which I tightened my hold on her hand, "Who's telling you to leave me! Don't leave me! Even if you feel like leaving me, still don't leave me."
Reaching Lahore, we all moved to our hotel rooms after having our dinner together. We all decided that we would be staying in Lahore for three days before moving to our next destination.
Lahore is a beautiful place in itself, and Hayat wants to explore everything. I'm no one to stop her from anything she wants to do…
I was so tired from the journey that after freshening up, I went to sleep directly.