Qurban

•Prologue•

Zainab could feel her heart beating wildly in her throat. The rhythmic thump!thump!thump! of her heart was so potent, she felt it in each and every fibre of her being. Her hands trembled a slight bit as the chillness of the air caused the goosebumps to rise on her tanned skin. The curtain whooshed from how windy it was outside. Her eyes nervously glanced at the wall clock in her-his room and her breaths puffed, falling on her lips like waves crashing. She clutched the hem of her heavily embroidered dupatta. It was a beautiful dark maroon shade that highlighted the wheatish tan of her skin. The aroma of the mehindi wafted in her nostrils as she clasped her hands tightly together so as to stop them from shivering so much.

It wasn't the cold acting on her body. It was the nerves. Her tensed eyes eyed the clock again in an attempt to either stop the time or fast forward it. She wasn't so sure what she wanted. Having enough of it, she stood up from her sitting position, the long maroon kameez of her bridal gown dropped behind her feet like a puddle. Her steps took her to the balcony. Despite the chilling air, she felt her heart and nerves calm down a notch. As she wandered her gaze, it stopped momentarily as soon as she saw her own reflection in the mirror. Dressed in a beautiful, heavily jeweled maroon bridal gown was Zainab. Her.

Her lips were painted a deep red. Her hair twisted in an elegant bun with the soft brownish tendrils framing her face from the sides. Heavy jewelry adorned her ears, neck and nose where a big nose ring dangled, adding beauty to her already stunning appearance. It was no doubt she was dressed as a bride.

Hammad's bride.

As if she summoned him or something, the door rattled behind her and her gasp got stuck in her throat as her arms and posture grew stiff. Her heart started it's wild beating again, she feared it would burst out of her chest and fall below her feet. She clamped her eyes shut upon hearing the soft footsteps nearing her. He stopped just inches away from her. She felt his presence right in her bones. Felt the spark between them lit up her entire body as it irked to turn around and peek a look at him. But she didn't even open her eyes. Although, she felt the goosebumps covering her skin as she felt him behind her. Breathing and standing so close yet so far.

"Zainab?"

His heavy yet velvety voice made her heart dive into a feral. There was always some thing different about how he said her name. It sounded more breathy, heavy and...and...like she was his everything.

"Please turn around."

She didn't. Instead, she clutched her dupatta at the hem and closed her eyes more tightly if possible. She heard his intake of breath loud and clear. He was standing so near, but she also knew she would notice all the small details about him even from a thousand miles away. He was embedded in the deepest pits of her heart. Of course, she could sense him, feel him, notice him. Anytime and everytime.

The phenomenon of breathing sounded alien to her when she felt his presence just in front of her. He must have changed his position and now stood directly in front of her, so that she would have no choice but to look at him if she opened her eyes.

"Open your eyes."

She stubbornly shook her head while only a amused smile crafted his lips. Leaning toward her, he whispered lowly to her, finding her reaction to his proximity far too amusing.

"Why not?"

He almost laughed out loud at how she pursed her lips in an attempt to keep her gasp from escaping her mouth. She was adorable. She shook her head again and he lifted a brow

"Why?" He asked again. He was teasing her. He shouldn't, but she was way too adorable to miss the opportunity.

"I'm shy."

Her silent whisper crashed over him like thunder. A foreign feeling capturing his heart and sealing the organ with a key only she possessed.

His Zainab. His Zaalima Zainab. His only and first love.

"Why?"

He mused, enjoying her misery too much. He was such a bad husband to enjoy teasing his wife on the very night of their marriage.

"Because... you're.. you are.."

He took a step forward and wrapped his arm around her waist pulling her body closer to his. Her hands landed on his shoulders and a surprised gasp escaped her lips before  her eyes flied open and stared into his dark onyx with a mix of both surprise and shock as he stood there handsome as ever in a cream white sherwani. Her groom.

He couldn't help it then, he laughed. His body shaking as he chuckled at his wife's horrifying expressions. She was too out of it to gauge anything at first, but then her senses knocked back into her brain and her eyes widened before she muttered

"Stop laughing at me!"

She tried to sound angry, but this was the thing. Whenever Hammad was concerned, Zainab has always found her senses leaving her deserted. Her brows puckered and she glared at her husband as he calm down from his laughter session.

"Are you done?"

Hammad only stared in her eyes. A mix of honey and brown. He could drown in them happily and wouldn't come to the surface.

"Aww, don't be angry now."

He teased while flicking her nose as a habit. She hissed and glared harder.

"Leave me!" She wriggled only to have him tighten his hold on her. Pulling her face close, his thumb found her cheek, slowly caressing the soft skin under his thumb. Her attempts at escaping his arms halted as her eyes rounded at the corners.

"I've only gotten you now, why would you talk about leaving?"

He whispered while continuing his notion on her soft cheek. Zainab smiled. Putting her hand on the same hand that was on her cheek, she leaned into his touch and muttered

"God forbid, I never want to be separated from you."

Hammad smiled down at his wife. He leaned in and pressed his lips tightly on her forehead.

"No force will be able to separate me from you, Zainab. I solely belong to you."

Her arms shot up and wrapped around his shoulders as she put her head on his chest cocooning herself in his secure embrace. His arms tightened and he made sure that she felt safe.

He would always keep her safe. Keep her away from the line of danger. He would fight her battles for her.

"I love you to no bounds, Zainab."

As always, she couldn't mutter the words back due to her shy nature. She only tightened her arms around his body, wishing to convey her feelings through actions.

Now she wished she would have said those words over and over and over again. She would give everything now just to be able to tell him how much she loves him. How much she craves him. How much her heart beats for him.

But no matter how much she shouted, prayed and begged for....

Some wishes are meant to be left unfulfilled.
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Asalamoaliukm everyone. Finally, Zainab and Altamash are here. Here's the prologue. I hope you'll love it and show your support to this story too.
I hope you will enjoy.
Until the next update, Allah Hafiz.