“Irfa please come here.” Shehreyar again pleaded. He hadn't seen her for four hours and according to him it was too much time.

“Sherey why are you doing this? I have so many works and beside the function is in middle.” Irfa scolded. She was tired of listening the same sentence for the nth time.

“Just once.” He whispered from the other side of the call making her close her eyes in frustration.

“No.”she said and hung up the call.

“Shifa…all fine?” Irfa asked entering Shifa's room in which she was sitting as a bride all ready in her deep maroon dress. Shifa looked at Irfa and instantly a worried look formed on her face.

“I am not at all fine...what will happen? What if Khizir says no?.. What if I fall in the hall?... What if I write my name wrong on nikkah papers?” Shifa bombarded the question at her sister-in-law. Irfa's widen a little listening to all her worries.

“Shh...stop these what ifs, nothing will happen... I was also scared. You know Khizir from your childhood, it doesn't matter how much he irritates you but at the end he apologizes. He will always keep you happy...and if he says no then we are there for him with brooms and slippers.” Irfa said holding her hands. Shifa was being way too worried, but then she was the bride. Irfa's assuring words proved to be relaxing to her a bit but still there was nervousness inside.

“Irfa mami is calling you downstairs.'' Alizeh said entering the room. Irfa nodded and asked her to stay with Shifa.

She came out of Shifa's room and proceeded towards stairs but before she could reach her destination a strong hand grabbed her wrist pulling her towards its owner

“Finally.” She could hear the soft voice near her ear as he nuzzled in her neck's crook.

“Leave me Sherey.” she said in a slow voice as Shehreyar had hugged her very tightly.

“First tell me why are you working so much in this condition...what if something happens to you?...what if our baby gets hurt.?” As usual, he was way too concerned. Irfa pushed him and smiled. She looked in his eyes seeing the love and worry, making her thank her Allah for giving her a blessing like him.

“First I am not working...no one is allowing me to do any work...and stop your what ifs, both siblings are same.” She said giggling making him smile softly.

“Ok my love...don't you think you deserve punishment?” He asked holding her from her waist. The mischief in his voice didn't go unnoticed by him.

“For what?” She asked.

“For looking so gorgeous in this saree and not coming when I called you.” He said in her ear.

“No I don't deserve any punishment and leave me please.”she started struggling in his tight grip.

In a blink of few seconds Shereyar captured her lips and all her struggle died. The blissful contact left her knees weak making her hold his shoulder tightly. His hands around her waist pulled her more to himself as he pulled back.

“So my loveyour punishment is this...dare to disobey me the results will be more dangerous”' He whispered.

“Ok now I can go.?”she asked.

“Wait”

“What?” She asked in annoyance.

He bent down and placed a kiss on her baby bump It has been six months to the day she had found out about her pregnancy and everyday it was nothing but bliss. The thought of nurturing a life inside her was overwhelming.

“Baba loves you more than your mamma.”

His childish act made her laugh. It was his habit, he would talk with the baby though it was childish he insisted that he wanted to.

__________________

“Finally my little rat is in my room.” Khizir said taking a seat in front of her. The smile plastered on his features was making him more handsome than he was looking. His eyes glistened with love.

“Khizir stop calling me that.” as usual Shifa snapped. Her bridal attire was already switched with much comfortable clothes and to a point it had irked him. If it was in his control he would never let her change the deep red dress.

“Shh Shifa we are married now we shouldn't fight like this.” Khizir hardly said suppressing his laugh.

“Who started this?” Shifa whisper yelled. He made an expression pretending to think and after a second and two smiled.

“You little rat.”he said and within a second received a pillow straight on his face.

“Ow... Shifa you are so crazy...who hits her husband on their wedding night?” He said rubbing his nose. She looked at his overly dramatic reaction and snorted.

“Obviously your little rat.” She spoke.

“That's my girl...you know you are little rat.” Khizir again teased. Her face started turning red as if about to burst, he prepared himself to run and then the very next moment he ran. Shifa too followed him with a pillow in her hand.

“Stop.” Khizir shouted making her stop.

“Ok I am sorry I won't call you little rat again” He said holding his ears yet there was a mischief in his eyes.

“Better for you...dare to call me little rat again and trust me you are dead.” Shifa said.

“But my wife…you will become widow then.” Khizir said coming closer to her which she obviously didn't notice.

“I don't care.” she shrugged her shoulder and as soon as she turned back, Khizir's hand snaked through her waist...tightly gripping her.

That's it...all her strength drained, all her anger too. Her legs became wobbly like jelly...as if she would fall in few seconds. Her face had turned red as tomato...if she had been in her bridal dress no one would be able to find her face in that red dress.

“So now...what will you do little rat.” Khizir said emphasizing 'little rat.'

“Leave me your owl.”her voice was a mere whisper though she wanted to yell.

“I love you my little rat...infinity times.” He said in a deep voice. The intensity making her heart clench differently...a good different.

“I… I love...love you too but the square of infinity.” She said and he laughed at her choice of words.

____________

“Alishba up...it's your school day.” Irfa tried to wake up her four-year daughter who was a heavy sleeper just like her dad.

“Amma...please.” Alishba had repeated this line for the nth time.

“Get up or I call baba?'' Irfa faked anger and that worked well. Her daughter jumped out of the bed straight on the floor she didn't know how. Her eyes widen at the little stunt.

“I am up!” she exclaimed and rushed to the washroom.

Alishba was scared of her father's way of waking her up. He had some special tricks to wake her up that was like pouring water on her, tickling, many annoying kisses and most scary one for her a bone crushing hug.

Irfa dressed her daughter trying not to end up crazy. The tantrums and little stunts she was pulling here and there was enough for irking her. Anyhow they went downstairs for breakfast though the little munchkin had jumped nearly ten time on the way.

“Assalamoalaikum every one.” Alishba greeted in her soft cheerful voice. She hoped towards her dada, dadu and baba placing kisses on their cheeks.

“Walekum asslam princess.” Mr Ahmed said and made her sit with him.

“So what's today's plan?” He asked.

“Today phupo (Shifa) will take me to Aliyan.” She said happily.

Aliyan was Shifa and Khizir's two years old son who was double in naughtiness than his parents.

“Ok Alishba, let's go…and don't trouble phupo.” Shehreyar said holding his daughter's hand.

“Irfa.”he called his wife as usual making her smile softly and follow him to the car.

“Allah hafiz.”he said kissing her forehead. Irfa had decided to quit going to work after Alishba's birth, but she used to help Shehreyar from home as Mr Ahmed had too retired.

The family was complete, they were contented at whatever they had. There were few tough times but together they fought against them. Shehreyar and Irfa's relationship had reached another level of understanding. Though they had their fare share of fights, nothing changed. Most importantly their love.

Because eternal love is for eternity...forever.