Forever Yours

Chapter 11

11| Nawal

When Ahad and I went inside, we were immediately pulled into a hug by aunty, the two of us together. After recovering from the shock, we both hugged her back and she kissed us on the cheek and we smiled at her. She genuinely seemed to have missed us both, judging from her reaction to our arrival. Rumaisa came and greeted us two and hugged us, but separately. Uncle wasn't home, aunty told us he had some work to do.

We all sat down on the table and the maid brought out the dishes though aunty assured that she had cooked everything by herself. Ahad and I sat opposite to aunty and Rumaisa. I had offered for aunty to sit next to Ahad since she missed him but she said that we both were the couple here and that we were of equal importance to her, even if I wasn't her daughter, she considered me as one. Finding good mothers-in-law in our culture is very hard and I'm grateful to have such a loving one.

"You must be burning yourself out by working all day, again. Right, Ahad?" Aunty pointedly said and Ahad sheepishly avoided her gaze. Rumaisa looked smug and I understood. Something about your older sibling getting scolded had its own kind of fun.

"I have to go to Islamabad tomorrow, the threat I told you about? The client went through with it." He looked irritated, most likely at the client. I didn't want to be selfish but he already worked so much and I hardly saw him the past few days. If he went to another city, I won't see him at all for days or maybe weeks, how much ever long it took to deal with it.

"Allah! I hope everything will be alright!" His mother looked so concerned and that made me worry too. I didn't know much about business but it did sound like a serious matter.

"Don't worry, mama. Your son knows how to handle such people very well."  He held her hands from across the table and his mother smiled genuinely at her son's reassurance.

"Bhai, you'll be working again and in a different city and you just got married!" Rumaisa crossed her arms over her chest and threw daggers at her brother with her eyes.

"Rumi's right. Take Nawal along with you. I don't think you plan on taking her on a honeymoon anytime soon? Might as well just go to Islamabad and Murree together." His mother suggested. My eyes lit up as I silently hoped he agreed. I loved Murree but I had been there only once, that was also when I was a child.

"Hmm... Sounds like a good idea." He said thoughtfully and then smiled at me.

"Bhai, I swear if you keep working there and do not give bhabhi the attention she deserves, I will personally lecture you. Try to be a little romantic. Imagine I get married and my husband doesn't even know how to romance with me, how would you feel?" She shook her head in disapproval to her own thoughts.

"God, Rumi, I did not need to visualize a man romancing my little sister." He threw his head in his hands and all of us laughed.

"You ladies are evil! I'm never having another meal with only you guys. I need dad to stand by my side against you all." He sulked.

***

Ahad and I spent some more time with my in-laws before Ahad announced that we should get going now.

"I had originally planned to go tomorrow, but since you're coming along, let's leave tonight?" He suggested and I nodded.

"Sure, if that's what you want to do."

"The drive to Islamabad will take about 5-6 hours so let's travel at night and then we can stay there for a week before returning home." He said more to himself than me and I watched him do the maths in his head.

When we got home, I instantly got to packing since it was getting late and Ahad suggested we leave at around 10 tonight. It was the monsoon season so it must be cooler in Islamabad than in Lahore. Murree was a hill station so that was naturally cold so I packed warm clothes for myself.

"Hey, Nawal? Can you pack my clothes too? Usually, mom packs my bag whenever I have to travel but she isn't here so..." He rubbed the back of his neck as he walked over to me.

"Don't worry, I was already planning to do the packing for both of us." He walked over and gave me a one-arm hug before plopping down on the bed. I packed the bag and set it aside before laying down next to him. He rolled over and rested his head on his elbow as he looked down at me.

"You know, I dreaded going but now I'm actually excited to go." He told me as he played with my hair.

"Why did you not want to go?" I softly asked.

"I don't like traveling for work. Being in a different city and working pulls me out of my element and I don't like it."

"You work a lot, though," I complained but my voice wasn't above a whisper.

"I'm sorry about that. I can't help it sometimes." He apologized, mimicking my tone.

"I missed you," I said as I rolled over and hugged him while I buried my head in his neck, breathing in his earthy scent. He hugged me in return and gently rubbed my back. We stayed like that for a while before he pulled away because his phone rang. I cursed the person under my breath for ruining our moment and sulked a bit, he wordlessly chuckled at my reaction.

"Yes, dad?" Ahad smirked down at me as he sat up on the bed and my eyes widened. I quickly took my curse back and wished him well before moving over and putting my head in my husband's lap. I had to be the biggest sucker for physical affection and I was more than happy when he rubbed his hand over my hair, smoothing them out. I almost fell asleep but reminded myself that it was nearly time for us to leave. I got up to change into something simple and comfortable so I picked out a multi-pattern shirt that ended mid-thigh and paired it with black trousers. Ahad changed into a black V-neck shirt with blue jeans.

I securely locked all the doors and windows as Ahad took our bags downstairs and loaded them into the trunk of the car as I sat down into the front seat before he entered and we embarked on our journey to Islamabad.

–

(A.N): Please click on the star in the bottom left corner and drop feedback in the comments section. Thank you <3