"Mama! Mama!" Two years, Mujtaba called out at Zahra who was making dinner in the kitchen. He rose his little hands and caught the hem of his mother's shirt as he was trying to stand up.
Her eyes moved towards the wall clock as she quickened with her preparations.
"Gul zaadi!" Zahra called out for one of her maids and she came running.
"Yes madam?"
"Please can you take Mujtaba to his room," she said, before squatting down and grabbed the crawling toddler in her arms.
"What does my beautiful prince want?" she asked, running her finger against his little nose.
Mujtaba laughed, opening his toothless mouth and moved his small hands towards his mother's cheek before rubbing his hands against her cheek.
"Ay! Ay! Ma! Ay" he uttered gibberish but Zahra smiled.
"Ma's life. Why are you so cute?!" She rubbed her nose against his and kissed his lips before handling Mujtaba to Gul and she took him away as Zahra continued making dinner.
Today was Irtaza's birthday and she had decided to surprise him by making food.
She wasn't a good cook. Irtaza was way better than her and these days she had been taking cooking classes from him as she loved whatever he made.
And now she was trying to implement the skills she learnt from her husband, knowing he would be so happy to eat food that she made and it would be a great birthday surprise for him too.
She was too engaged in her work that she didn't notice two polished black boots moving towards her.
Suddenly, she gasped when someone placed his chin against her shoulder. Bristle like stubble connecting with her cheeks, instinctively making her shoulders raise and soon her eyes widened.
"Shit," she muttered.
It was Irtaza.
"Words, beautiful lady," he reprimanded.
Zahra turned around coming face to face with him before tapping her small fists against his white shirt cladded chest.
"Why did you come now?!"
"Tw kia na aata?" He asked innocently.
(So I shouldn't have come?)
"Nhi!" she folded her arms against her bosoms and looked away while tapping her foot against the floor.
(No!)
"Why?"
"You destroyed my surprise! Now, go out of the house and don't come back," her eyes moved to the wall clock, "don't come back till 7 o'clock. If you did then..."
"Then?" he laughed.
"Then," she rose her head, "then," her eyes moving here and there, trying to come up with a 'proper' warning, "I won't let you do what you do to me..... umm...like ev-every ot-other n-night," she stuttered, her eyes widening as she realized what she just said.
Irtaza burst out in laughter.
"What?" he asked faking ignorance.
"Wahi hi!" she said, now playing with her hair. Her cheeks turning red under his heated gaze.
(That you do)
"Kia wahi?" he rose her chin so she could look at him.
(What that?)
"Irtaza ab yeh b mein btao!" she scolded, "Mje pta hai apko sab pta hai. Zyada dramain na karain!"
(Irtaza I have to tell this too. I know that you know, now don't fake it)
"I don't know, my life," he tried to explain and she peeked at him, buying his lie.
"Apko nhi pta ap kia karty hain? Mtlb wahi jo ap karty hain... wo nhi karny deina meinay,"
(You don't know what do you do at night with me sometimes? I won't let you do that)
He stood there now folding his arms, "I'm not going until you tell me what do I do,"
Zahra turned red, "I feel shy, Irtaza. Don't ask," she looked down. Her voice turning into a whisper.
"Hmm where does this shyness go when we are doing that?" he questioned making her eyes wide as she looked up back to him.
"Look! Irtaza you know!"
"I don't know. Saying it just like that. Tell me so I can leave,"
Her eyes moved down as she moved back from him a little making him look at her expectantly, a smile dancing on their lips.
"I won't let you eat me!" she abruptly said in one go and her face turned to as red as a strawberry from her ear to her nose, she was all red.
Irtaza burst out in a laughter, throwing his head back. Once his laughs died down, he advanced towards her.
Oh no!
She judged his intentions and began to take a few steps away, "Look, Irtaza! let me cook," she rounded the small dining table as he stood on the other side.
"Don't tell me senorita, we didn't have a session in this kitchen," he sauntered towards her.
"I'M COOKING, IRTAZA!" She shouted.
"Well I know how to get my food," he eyed her and Zahra shook her head in disbelief, "no way," she muttered, knowing how firm he still was on his decisions.
"Irtaza let me cook!" she reprimanded as he stalked towards her. She tried to run away but in one single pounce, she was in his hands with her back against her chest.
"Where do you think you're going, senorita? Hmm," he kissed her temples before turning her around.
He made her sit on the table, before partitioning her legs and came between them.
"Irtaza," her voice lowered to a whisper as his eyes turned a darker shade. She knew what it was, raw desire dancing in his eyes.
For her.
Her cheeks blushed as a shy smile make its way upto her lips.
"You are my most prized possession. I can bring the whole world to your feet," he expressed. These were rare moments when he looked so solemn while staring at her and she cherished them will all her might.
"Even I can too, Irtaza," she answered and proceeded to place her lips on his.
Her lips perfectly moulded against his as she began the kiss, wrapping her hands around his neck and then closing her eyes. Then he took the control with his quick and apt movements and smooched his lips all over her.
They kissed wildly. With a raw a passion as the saliva dripped down but they continued to suck each others lips when suddenly Zahra pulled back from him and he looked as if water was snatched from a thirsty man.
"Let me cook food," she moved her brows in a teasing manner and got off of the table, winking at him.
Tit for tat. She thought
When suddenly her arm was caught and now her front was against the table and back at him, "Did I tell I'm done yet, senorita?" he muttered near her ear and she smiled knowing his intentions.
"What will you eat if I didn't make the dinner tonight?" she tried to turn to him but he didn't let her.
"Don't worry. I know what to have for dinner," he muttered and a laugh escaped her lips on realizing what he meant.
She again tried to turn away but he moved both his arms and caged her by either sides by placing his callous hands on the table so now they were in a bending position.
That's when he allowed her to turn towards him.
"Irtaza, I won't let y-" she stopped in the middle as suddenly one of the servants came.
Zahra's eyes widened as she tried to push him away given the compromising situation they were in but Irtaza didn't let his eyes waver from her even for a second.
"Turn that stove off and close the door before leaving," he ordered the maid while staring deeply in Zahra's eyes.
The maid quickly did as he ordered and immediately scurried away before closing the door on her way.
"I intend to prolong this session, Zahra," He spoke with an utter intensity in his eyes.
"Irtaza w-" she said and was stopped in the middle when his lips smashed against hers and soon they were making out in the kitchen with him taking her against the door as she moaned hard and fast.
"Irtazah!" her moans were filled in the room. They both lost in each other's warmth, gaining peace from the embrace.
He gave her one last stroke that had them both reach their climax as he pulled back from her.
Her breathing ragged as she tried to catch up her breath when he poured her some water that she drank.
Then they had gone to their room and took a shower together and changed clothes. Before she came back to the kitchen along with him and he helped her to cook the meal.
Mujtaba had slept by now as she settled the table for him and he was working on his laptop.
"Here you go, husband," she set a plate for him before sitting down next to him.
The table was set on the terrace.
The cool breeze would flow every and then, hitting them, making her feel ecstatic.
"Irtaza! Close your laptop!" she reprimanded and he turned the lid of his laptop down before focusing his entire attention on her.
"Start eating, now," she commanded and served the plate.
"As you wish," he stroked his finger on her button-up nose.
"Thanks for this delicious food, my beautiful wife,"
"Well, welcome but I don't think it'd be lazeez if you wouldn't have helped me,"
"Ahhan," he admonished, "bad girl. Have confidence in yourself. I just stood there. It was you who did and made this luscious food,"
She smiled at his compliment like a teenager. He always boosted her morale up.
"Thank you," she muttered.
As they were eating, when he noticed she was just poking her fork around the rice.
He rose his brows in a questioning manner.
"I just don't feel like eating these days. Just a bit nauseatic,"
A frown formed on his forehead, "Nauseatic? Why?" he checked her temperature but she wasn't running a fever, "we are going to the doctor. Finish your meal,"
"No. I'm fine. Please can we go tomorrow? I'm just a bit tired,"
"First thing we will do tomorrow," he told and she nodded.
"Why do you care for me so much?" she asked, supporting her face with her hands as she looked at him with her dreamy eyes.
"Because I love you,"
"How much?" she asked.
"Hmm," he uttered thoughtfully before moving his grey eyes moved up at her, "I don't know," he spoke, boring his eyes in hers, "when I will know, I will tell you but I don't know," he whispered. His eyes shining with sincerity.
"And you?" he asked.
"I see my father in you," she spoke, "when I lost him I never thought somebody would love me the way as he used to. But you did, Irtaza. You never let me feel his absence," Came her answer and he smiled before placing a chaste kiss on the crown of her head.
"What is there in me that you like, Irtaza?"
"Your heart," he answered in one go, "nothing but your heart,"
She smiled again, "Now don't compliment me so much or my jaws will break smiling,"
"Oh is that so?" he said and advanced towards her and began to tickle her making her laugh. The four walls heard her joyful laughter and when he left her, she turned around and started to tickle him that had him laugh as well.
Their cackles could be heard in the whole house.
The next morning she woke up with his arms snuggled around her. He had gone to his study for some work and came at room late night.
He was still sleeping when she woke up. Sneakily, she got up, so he won't get disturbed before doing her morning ablutions. She went to the kitchen to make breakfast for him. There was a chef hires but she wanted to cook for him, not anyone else. She wanted his complete attention. Undivided attention. Over the course of time, she had grown more and more possessive of him.
Sauntering into the room, she found him still sleeping with his head snuck into the pillow and body upside down.
"Irtaza, wake up!" she jolted his body when he suddenly woke up, going on alert. But when his eyes landed on Zahra, a look of realization entered and his eyes softened before he smiled.
"Come here," He whispered but he was already, grasping her arm and tucking her beneath him.
"I swear you will be late if you started what I know you're going to start,"
"Shhh," he hushed her before rubbing his lips against her, "I'm not doing anything," he pressed his lips against hers, "you will reach at your workplace on time," he told and continued to caress his lips all over her face before tugging his mouth in her warm neck.
A habit he had developed of sniffing her fragrance as the first thing he'd do upon waking up. And sometimes, it would escalate the heat between them, leading to a prolonged love-making session.
"You asked me how much I loved you," he whispered near her ear. She could feel her heart drumming in her ears partly because of his husky morning voice and more due to the intensity with which he spoke, "Just like that drowning man who loves the air, just like that mad man wandering in the Sahara desert desiring that drop of water to satiate him," As he spoke, for some reasons her heart began to explode in her chest. His voice held promises. Deep and dark, "You have allured my body and soul with these magical eyes. Magnetic eyes. Beautiful eyes. If there is Zahra, then there is Irtaza," he whispered, "I love when you get possessive over me but just so you know, I'm all yours, Zahra. All yours," he let him be vulnerable in her arms, closing his eyes and inhaling her scent and when he was peaceful enough, he pulled away, standing up.
She was dumbfounded. Short of words.
Zahra took his hand as he made her stand up.
"Get ready. I'm taking you at the hospital for check up, ok?" he asked, holding her cheeks and she nodded as he disappeared in the bathroom to freshen up.
Soon he came out and she has also dressed up, wearing her lab coat as she had the duty at the hospital. Irtaza didn't let her do the job but she had somehow convinced him to let her as she really wanted to. He didn't want to see her tired and stressed over anything as he knew how tough the work could get sometimes.
They both had the breakfast and Zahra instrcuted the head maid to take proper care of Mujtaba as they were now walking towards the porch when suddenly Zahra lost her footing, landing in his arms. He frowned and her eyes closed, her head hanging.
"GET THE CAR OUT!" He shouted.
All the colors flew from his face as he firmly held her in his arms and hurriedly drove her to the hospital. His heart beating like a drum in his chest and drumming in his ears. He felt as if life was leaving his legs but he had the hold on his nerves.
Now he was waiting outside in the corridor, sitting on a bench while continuously tapping his feet against the floor. The lady doctor had requested him to wait outside and now he was getting impatient as handful of time had passed according to him.
He got up to barge into the doctor's room when she came out.
"How's my wife?" he inquired.
"She is fine, Allhamdullilah and congratulations you are going to be a father. Your wife is expecting," she announced and his eyes wide opened. He couldn't believe what he heard before a smile made its way on his lips.
He rushed towards her wife who laying down on the bed. She was also smiling.
"I'm pregnant, Irtaza," Her eyes had tears.
He ran his thumb on her cheek, smiling. His eyes conveying all the emotions he felt.
"I know, senorita," he muttered and placed a kiss on the crown of her head, "I'm so happy," he expressed, caressing her cheeks with the back of his fingers.
"I'm happy, Irtaza and," she stood up to meet his height, "you know, if there is Irtaza then there is Zahra," she said and hugged him, snuggling her face in his chest. She heard him chuckle.
Her face, just like always, was tinted red whenever she would express what she have in for him.
"What am gonna do with you, Zahra?" And he wrapped his arms around her protectively.