"Jeeju.......meri gift" Safa demanded a gift after the wedding rituals ..

"Maine specially tumhare liye gift order kiya hai.....aur wo gift mai har jagah carry nahi kar sakta...so u will get it next morning" Mihran spoke doing something with his watch.

"Itna bada...." Safa's smile widened imagining her gift

"Hmmm.....can I go now...I am tired" Mihran rubbed his neck with his calloused fingers.

"Haan...bilkul..this way" Safa showed him the way like a kaneez

------------------

"Assalawalaikum " Mihran greeted Inaya who nervously greeted back "Walaikumsalam"

He could sense the nervousness in her tone......he sat down and lifted the veil slowly........while doing so his fingers accidentally touched her cheek making her flinch....

He touched her chin and lifted her face "Tumhe itna ghabrane ki koi zaroorat nahi hai....mai kuch nahi kar raha yaar.....relax" ......his reassuring words brought a hesitant smile on her face "Nahin.....wo"

"Shhh" he kept his finger on her lips stopping the apology which was about to come....."Mai samajhta hun...aasaan nahi hota hai........mai chahta hun tum pehle mujhe jaano....time lagega I know... but.....I hope it's worth the wait" he winked at her making her cheeks red.

Mihraan didn't know his words had already rose a wave of respect in her heart for him.

True they had met once or twice before the marriage but they were too consumed in finishing all the prior commitments at their respsctive workplaces so that transfer formalities could be a smooth ride.

"Acha...change kar lo......" He tapped her arm bringing her out of her thoughts.

"Hmmm"

Minutes later, she came out in a simple white night suit and saw him already changed.

"Wahin khade rehne ka irada hai?"
he raised his brows

"Nai ... mai bas aa hi rahi thi" Inaya took swift steps and sat on the right side of the bed as the left side was already taken by him.

"Aur tumhare kya irada hai...kab se next job shuru karni hai" Mihran thought of taking about something which will make her relax.

"Mai na thoda company wampany se bahar nikalna chahti hun........"

"Matlab"

"Koi dusre tareeke ka job"

"Hmmm........." Mihran thought for sometime and then suggested "You can apply for the post of Assistant Professor...M.Tech toh kar hi rakha hai tumne.." he paused and then added "Mere university me hi try kar lo....."

"Yeah.....but I don't think I would be able to pull off the role"

"Huh....kyun..."

"Mai aapki tarah nahin hun na......aap professor material hain.....aap bold ho....intimidate bhi kar sakte ho.......padhate bhi acha ho"

"Acha...padhana last me aata hai" he fake glared to which she bit her tongue...."Wo Safa"

"Haan aapke reviewer ka mujhe ache tareeke se pata hai.........achhe achhe shabd toh aapne chhupa liye" he shook his head.

"Inaya....dekho....shuru shuru meh thoda nervous hona is natural...thoda odd bhi lagta hai...lekin....phir you get your own way of teaching....
Aur mujhe copy karne ki zarurat nahin hai.........waise bhi aapki smile kaafi hai 100% attendance score karne ke liye"

"Mihran.....aisa kuch nahin hai"

"Arre..tch...mai bata raha hun na...shart laga sakta hun"

"Wo tab ki tab dekhenge...aap apni batayein...aapko toh appointment hi prepone kar diya unhone"

"Hmmm.......maine socha tha tumhe kahin ghumane le chalunga...but " he sounded a little upset

"Koi nahin...Bangalore bhi nayi jagah hogi mere liye......wahaan ghum lungi" she smiled making his heart flutter

"Acha ab so jayein...mujhe bahut neend aa rahi hai....."

"Hmm....goodnight"

"Good night" he smiled and switched off the bed lamps making the room dim.

----------------------------

Next morning. ..the alarm clock broke the couple's sleep. "Mmmh Safa band karo" Inaya said in a groggy voice and again went to sleep. But she was again woken up...but this time by a touch on her hand.....she opened her eyes only to absorb the reality and she at once sat on the bed.

" Good morning" Mihran wished and Inaya reciprocated with a smile.

Both came down for the breakfast and wished their parents.

"Ahaan newly weds...time par..." Nausheen teased ..to which Mihran shook his head..his mother can never change..she was too cool . 

"Ammi I m a Professor. ..I m always on time" Mihran replied serving himself.

"Haan haan apna gyan mujhe mat de...aur Inaya tumhe zyada gyaan de..toh ise iske hi class se out kar dena" Nausheen said looking at Inaya.

" Haan hum mass bunk maar ke movie dekhne jayenge..kyu Nausheen" Rizwan winked at his wife which earned him a light slap.

Inaya was amazed to see such a cute family. Her mother passed away when she was 12..so she never got to see her parents teasing each other like this. She really liked her in laws..they were cool and fun to be with.

-------------------------------

"Noor chup ho jaa...varna" Safa throttled Noor who was laughing like a mad person after knowing what big  gift Safa received from her brand new brother in law.

"Kya kya sapne dikha diye mujhe....aur de diya itna bada carton pura books ke saath" Safa cried "Padhna toh door ki baat hai....aaj tak itne books sath me bhi nahin dekhe"

"Galat aadmi se kisne expectations rakhne ko kaha tha"

"Maina rakha?" Safa glared "mujhe rakhwaya gaya........ab toh bad dua bhi nahi de sakti......Jeeju hain...."

"Arre wo dekh..." Noor suddenly brought Safa closed pulling her hand.

"Zohair sir" Safa showed her teeth.......

"Jee"

"Mai theek dikh rahi hun na...." she set her hair

"Haan haan.....idhar hi aa rahe hain wo....."

"Zohair sir..." Noor called and then pulled Safa in front.

"Haan...." Zohair turned

"Aapki speech bahut achi thi...kal ke function me" Safa praised him

"Shukriya........but aap log wahaan kar kya rahe the......wahaan toh bas PG ke students hone chahiye the" Zohair asked them folding his hands.

"Bas..Sir...hum wahaan se guzar rahe the..toh sun liya"

"Acha.. phir meri speech ki sabse achi baat kya lagi?"

"Aap"

"What"

"Mera matlab .. aapke bolne ka tareeka....sir.....bahut hi acha tha" Safa  instantly changed the line

"Aap itni interested hain speeches me toh...mai aapka naam de deta hun is baar ki  Annual function ke liye" Zohair passed a genuine smile

Zohair was a serious person but...always respectful and sweet to others. His studies held the top most priority for him and his brilliant academic record spoke for that.

"Wo.....sir.... kuch dinon ke baad mera Bangalore trip ka plan hai....so I wouldn't be able to....." Safa brought remorse on her face and continued

"Par mann bahut tha"

"Mann toh bahut kuch ka tha" Noor muttered under her breath seeing her friend's drama.

"Oh..yeah...maine suna....Congratulations on your Aapi's nikaah"

"Thank you sir"

"Your Aapi is very lucky.....she got the best man" Zohair's fondness for Mihran was not hidden from anyone....he respected him like anything.

"Mauke par chauka maar Safa" Noor whispered in Safa's ears.

"You are right ..  he is a gem of a person sir........" Safa didn't know how difficult it was for her to utter those words...

"Wo tho bahut upset bhi the..ki mera final year hai aur unhe......." Safa was ready for her PHD in lying by now.

"Arre toh koi problem ho toh mere paas aa jao......haan unki tarah toh nahin but kuch madad toh kar hi sakta hun...........here take my number" Zohair was too innocent to catch the drama queen's lie.

Safa politely smiled punching Zohair's number on her phone...........

Zohair waved a bye and left after sometime.

"Tum se mil ke....aisa laga tumse mil ke.....armaaan hue pure dil ke...lala..la" Safa sang moving her shoulders making Noor laugh out loud.