Yayy!! "The Awaiting Bride" hits 100K reads.. :D :D
If you all could see me do 'bhangra' hehe ..

Well all thanks to you all (the beautiful people) supporting me :)
Love you all and thanks for taking your time out to read my book :) :)

***

Amal

The sun rays fell over the draped midnight blue curtains creating a lighter effect in the room as the windows were covered with the fabric.The blue glow in the large room made it easier for me to study the man besides me.

Arsalan slept like a baby.His large warm hand enveloping mine, much smaller one.His face was in a deep frown.Wrinkles on his forehead.But his legs were folded as he slept closer to me.His grip so tight on my hand as if he feared I would flew away.

Reaching forward, I caressed his face softly careful not to disturb his sleep.As he seemed to be sleeping for the first time in decades.The hair on his jaw pricked my skin.I ran my hand over his small beard that he had grown over the few past months.His dark beard hair adding a more manly and handsome look to him.

I was already in love with his beard ..

His dark hair fell messily on his forehead due to the turns he had changed on the sides.His face remained pressed on the pillow.Brushing his strands away, I pressed my fingers on his forehead before unwrinkling the lines with my hand.

A smile curled my lips seeing his face so close to me.His words from last night and this morning now revolving again in my mind.Making me contended in what I had in just the reach of my arms.

Laying on my back, I frowned yet smiled, Marwa actually flew here, oh my poor husband.My selfishness and problems had made him suffer so much.We both suffered the same.Walking on thin lines.Yet still my one decision straight from my heart had led me erase all mistakes.

I could never think of travelling alone, yet when Arsalan was destiny I was ready to even walk to London just to get to him.Just to see him.Just to meet him even if it was for last time.Waving my hand in front of my face dramatically, I pushed all the thoughts away.Wanting only to live in the moment with my husband.

Warm fingers tightened around my hand as the man shifted.Turning to face him, a beamed at him.Arsalan grinned lazily as his arm moved around me.

" Good morning, love."The man said moving over to my pillow.

I looked at him with widened eyes.My eyes narrowing then at the change in his words.

Love ??

"Good afternoon."I replied turning on my side.

He smiled at me.

" Its not a dream, right?"He asked.My eyes glanced at him.I shook my head gulping down my throat.

" No, its not."I assured the man and myself too.

Closing my eyes, I inhaled a deep breath.A warm hand tucked my loose strands behind my ear making me open my eyes just to see the man support his weight on his elbow as he hovered above me.Butterflies danced in my stomach feeling his intensive stare bore into my skin.

Heat flooded my skin, shivers running down my spine as he leaned in.His warm breath hit my ear and neck as he whispered in a husky and low voice,

" So Amal Arsalan Khan, you weren't afraid to love me last night.Why don't you show me how much you love me?"My lashes fluttered as the warmth of his body surrounded me.His heat seeping in my body.

With shaky fingers, I placed my hand on his arm and tried to move him away.Pulling away, the man gave me a full blown smirk.His eyes roaming on my face as they read my each feature.

Hundreds of emotions swam in the deep charcoal orbs yet I remained mesmerized to even point out one.With hitched breathed, I stuttered out.

" I am hungry lets eat breakfast first."I almost suggested seeing the man tilt his head.Narrowing his eyes at me he chuckled shaking his head.

" Amal, I am in such a romantic mood and all you can think of now is food."His hearty chuckle reverberated from deep within his chest, directly reaching the strings of my heart.Smiling in embarrassment, I pushed the man away as he still laughed clutching onto his stomach.

Pulling the white creamy dupatta with me, I opened the curtains.Welcoming the sun light into the large room.Leaving the man in bed, I walked inside the washroom ready to start the late day.

After a quick breakfast with my husband hot on tail, as he helped me clean up the kitchen.I walked inside the bedroom to unpack my clothes.My eyes fell on Arsalan's shirt, laying all wrinkled up.Taking it in my hands, I smelled it.It smelled just of him, the musky manly cologne he always used.

Hugging the shirt close to me, I smiled.Thinking to put it in the laundry, I pulled it away just to see something I wasn't expecting.

A red lipstick mark.

The white collar was dirtied with the lipstick mark.My heart sank in my chest.Just on the side of the collar it remained mocking me.A hollow feeling suddenly gripped me.

It wasn't mine then whose-

" Oh shit."I heard from behind me.

Glancing at the door, I saw the large figure step in.His eyes worried and concerned as he looked at me.My lips trembled but I stayed put.Masking away all emotions.

" Amal- don't think what you're thinking."Arsalan said coming to stand besides me.Taking the shirt from my hands, he examined the mark.He cringed outwardly.

" It was a woman from the after party I had in New York and she was kinda- she was a little too clingy and then she just kissed my neck and I couldn't stop her."He said looking guilty.At the information my lips parted and the hundreds of questions arising soon went into a deep hole to never return back.

" Believe me, I left her then and there, nothing more happened."He said.Sighing out, I spoke wanting him not to feel guilty at all.

" I trust you Arsalan thats why I am here after all these months.Its the trust we had on each other that pulled us back together."I was honest in saying this.And I did believe him.

" I am never wearing this shirt again."My husband stated throwing the shirt away.I laughed silently.

Pulling at my hand, he beckoned me to follow him.

" Ahya and Imraan are going to celebrate Aaryan's birthday soon and Salah and Shahwar are blessed with a baby girl Maira and she's three months only."The man informed happily still beaming as he pulled me out of the room.

Opening the office door, we walked inside.My eyes widened seeing the new addition to the photographs on the wall.A big frame remained in the middle probably from Salah and Shahwar's wedding.A family picture with everyone smiling and the live reflecting on their faces.Another photo of Imraan's little cute family wad framed, and Salah and Shahwar's pictures with their daughter was also framed.I smiled widely turning to the man.

But my smile soon faltered as I looked at him more clearly.Leaning on the wall totally opposite from me, the man remained behind his table and chair but that wasn't what stopped me.It was the wall- A wall length picture of our laughing face was plastered on the wall.I was wearing a white dress with red dupatta that was placed on my shoulders and my hair were loose and open.The remained oblivious of the fact that a picture was being taken as I laughed on something Arsalan had said.

My memories reeled back before I got my answer, it was a picture from the pakistani fare night.

Tears brimmed my eyes as I looked at the beautiful photograph.It was so large that it covered all of the wall.My heart swelled up.In the picture, Arsalan's eyes were on me and I was facing him as I laughed.

" I was like a gol gappa in my childhood.I could barely run fast in comparison of Salah and Imraan."

He had said the words that night.Stepping towards the wall, I glanced at my husband seeing his eyes already on me.

" I have no words."I said to him.Completely shaken up.I couldn't even imagine something like this.Too overwhelmed, I caressed his photo.

" I have no words."I said again and just then a dam broke loose as my tears ran down my cheeks.

Large arms embraced me from my back as my husband rubbed my spine.

" Shsh Amal-"He said.

Sniffing, I felt all the events suddenly spin me down.

" I am sorry."I couldn't help but say.Leaning on his chest I said, feeling him kiss my head.

" Because of me, you had to suffer so much."

" Amal, its okay.This was meant to be.And this morning I just realised that something distances make relationships more stronger.And we are strong aren't we?"He asked.His words were like a soothing gel to my open wounds.

" Yes, we are."I whispered softly.

*

Hand in hand, we walked through the streets of London.Arsalan and Amal.

I don't want to be your Sun,
Who lightens all your days,

I'd rather be your moon,
That lightens up your darkest nights.

The words kept revolving in my mind with other thousands of things.I wanted to tell him so much, I had endless things to share with Arsalan but right now it seemed my words had flew away.

The sky above us remained quiet too.With light blue was contrasted hues of orange and pink as the sun set against the horizon.The canvas of the vast sky stroked with pink and white clouds.

If someone was to ask me what I missed about London then I might say that the sky but what more I missed was the love of my life, that walked besides me.Arsalan's face was stoic as he took long strides.His eyes cold and hard as he internally scowled at anyone that glanced at me twice.Making me cower behind him most of the time.

As we walked through the gates of the park, I scanned the place for benches.

I was already drained.

Pulling at the man's hand, I abruptly stopped his large figure.Pointing towards the benches, I indicated to sit.Nodding at me, he led me to the benches.Sitting down I breathed out heavily.Rubbing my hands and legs, I gulped large fresh breaths in.

The soft rings of Arsalan's phone distracted him as he excused to attend the call.I smiled seeing the twinkle in his charcoal eyes each time he laughed.Although he was at some distance from me and I couldn't hear a word he was saying but I knew he was talking to his family.

Family

My family.

Family brings happiness and family is where home is- Aunty Shahana used to say this most of the times after Uncles death.Just thinking about her made a whirl of memories to come crashing.

Ya ALLAH

I sighed glancing up at the man seeing him talk away.My heart bloomed with more love for him.Seconds turned into minutes.And ten minutes passed before the man came back.His lips lifted in a handsome half smile.

Looking down at me, he raised his eyebrows in question.Maybe because of the expression I was giving him.Biting onto my lower lip, I let the words out.

" I want to go home."I stated with my heart thudding against my ribcage.

" But we just came here-"The man seemed confused making me shake my head in negative.Standing up from the bench, I took a step forward.

" No, not this home.To our home.Where our family is."I said softly smiling at him.

Arsalan's expressions changed-shock-unbelievability-more shock.

" Are you serious?"His deep voice asked as he looked down at me.

" I am very serious."I assured him wanting to meet our family from the bottom of my heart.He grinned widely at me.

" oh janaan."He said before pulling me in his arms.His muscular arms enveloping my small figure.Resting my head against his shoulder, I smiled.The people passing by us awed and clapped making me blush hard but that didn't effect tbe man as he only tightened his arms.Keeping me close.Bringing me home.Where I belonged

"And a real man is not afraid to show off his woman, he is not afraid to love or embrace her wherever, whenever."

***

They are finally going back to Pakistan !! :)

Hope you liked the update so shower me with love, votes and loads of comments :) :)

Until next time,

_Hafsa