Meri Pehchan

•the love of a millenium•

Waking up in the arms of her husband, with his bare chest pressed up against her body — covered in his clothing was a feeling no one had prepared her for. The smell of his perfume mixed with the natural scent of his manliness tingled her senses. His warm, sturdy arms held her waist in a tight grip and she had no idea of where her skin felt the most alive. Was it her lips that still felt as if they were covered by his as he kissed her gently under the moonlight? Was it the region between her legs that stung still — a reminder of the consummation? Or was it her lithe waist that was warmed by his arms? Perhaps it was her back that felt his toned muscles move with the beat of his heart.

Samra was flushed. Her cheeks felt like they were on fire, but she knew the raging red would be invisible to the naked eye and for the first time she felt confident about having a darker skin — it's camouflage was superior. She stroked his hairy arm with her fingers each limb attached to her working with a mind of its own. Sighing deeply she relived the night she had shared with him. His sweet words and gentle touches had turned into soft kisses and then into harsh bites that were spread our across her warm skin. The confidence of his touch had melted her into a pile of soft bones and marrow. She felt like jelly, spreading out under him, his hands manipulating her as they wanted. He had held her like a mother cradles its newborn, with love and infinite affection. Carrying her to the private bathing chambers and helping her wash up in the cool pond filled with water lotuses. Only sleeping after they had watched the sunrise and prayed, his loose kaftan giving her body all the cover it needed.

Shy now that she could hear voices of his guards outside the bedroom, she hid her face under the silk pillows. Her breath halted for a second, his beard grazing the inch of visible skin from wear the plum dress and slipped off. Inhaling with silent, deep and cautious breaths Samra felt for the edge of the mattress in the dimly lit room. The one burning candle, that was at the end of it's thick stump like a badly butchered arm was flickering it's last. It cast a gloomy shadow over the rich and luxurious furniture but did little to guide her about where everything was. She felt the tips of her fingers graze air, the wind biting at her stained palms. Stretching out now, more confidently she began to slide out from under his arms. Holding her breath lest she wake him up.

It was of course a bit too much she wished for. Having forgotten her fate in just one night — she later thought. For as soon as she made the lightest of movements to get out from under the sheets, his hand pulled her by her forearm. With his sheer brute force, she ended up smashing against his toned chest. A soft groan spilled from under her mouth, no signs of resistance though. His hand brushed the damp lock of hair, pushing it behind her soft ear. He leaned over brushing his lips ever so softly against her cheek, feeling the warmth of her cheek. Samra's heart beat ran fast like an elephant that had caught a glimpse of fire. She clenched her hand, the deep shell of her palm carrying nothing but air. With the stealth and agility of a cheetah, Fadhunsi pushed her on the bed. Her back coming to contact with the fine sheets, her palm flattening against his sweaty chest a surprised cry escaping her lips.

"Har dafa eik mulzim ki tarah bhagnay ko kyun tiyaar hoti hain?" He whispered.

[Why are you always ready to run away like a criminal?]

His warm breath was neared than she had anticipated. The wildly thick arms caged her from the sides and his body sunk over hers, dangerously low, with each breath the top slope of her breast brushed against his. Not even a thin hair could pass between them without grazing them.

"Ais—aisi koi baat nahi hai," she gulped.

[It's—It's nothing like that.]

Samra could for some reason imagine the dip in his facial muscles as they turned to sit in a prideful smirk. A hint of his dimple appearing on his left cheek with the action. Fadahunsi dragged a hand from her lips to just above her heaving breast. Flattening where the beat of her heart was loudest.