Ishq-e-Junoon

19. Aaghaaz

-Hum aapke ishq me uss maqam par aa chuke hain,
Jahaan aapke siwa kisi aur ko dekhna bhi gunaah lagta hain

☾

The soft glow of the evening lamps bathed the room in a warm light as Izzah sat quietly on the bed, adorned in her bridal dress, hands fidgeting with her dupatta, her heartbeat unsteady. The soft rustle of the curtains, the distant sound of evening prayers—everything felt surreal. This was her first night as Shahmeer Khan's wife.

She heard the faint click of the door, and her heart leaped. Shahmeer stepped in, looking princely in his white sherwani, his eyes instantly finding her. His gaze softened as it lingered on her shy figure.

"Nikkah Mubarak begum," he said, his voice gentle yet carrying the weight of something more.

[Congratulations, wife.]

She glanced up, her cheeks already warm with blush,"Aapko bhi Mubarak".

[Congratulations to you too.]

He took a few steps closer, his eyes never leaving hers, and then, in a playful tone, he added, "Mujhe toh pehle hi pata tha ke meri begum khoobsurat hain," he said, his tone teasing yet filled with admiration. "Lekin itni... I had no idea."

[I already knew my wife was beautiful. But this beautiful... I had no idea.]

Izzah looked away, biting her lip to suppress a smile. "Shukriya," she murmured, her voice barely audible.
She lowered her gaze, feeling the heat of his words seep into her, leaving her breathless.

[Thank you.]

He gently placed a small velvet box on the bed beside her. "Yeh aap ke liye hain."

[This is for you.]

Her hands trembled slightly as she opened the box, revealing a diamond bracelet that shimmered in the light. The bracelet was a delicate piece of art, crafted with fine silver links that formed a dainty yet chic band.

At the center, a brilliant sapphire was nestled, its deep blue hue gleaming against the shimmering diamonds that framed it on either side. The design was understated yet elegant, exuding timeless sophistication.

"Aapko pasand aaya?" Shahmeer asked, sitting down beside her now, his voice softer, more intimate.

[Do you like it?]

She nodded, her fingers tracing the diamonds. "Bohat... bohat khoobsurat hain."

[It's very....very beautiful.]

He smiled, watching her with deep affection. "Khoobsurat cheezon ka haqdar toh aapka haath hain," he said, and gently fastened the bracelet on her dainty wrist. She pulled her hand back shyly.

[Beautiful things rightfully belong on your hand.]

A moment of silence passed between them before Shahmeer leaned a little closer, his voice a soft murmur. "Aap itni khamosh kyun hain, Izzah? Mujhe lag raha hain jaise humara nikkah aaj hua hain, lekin main ab tak aapki muskurahat dekhne se mehroom hun."

[Why are you so quiet, Izzah? It feels like our marriage just happened, but I still haven't seen your smile.]

Izzah couldn't help the soft smile that tugged at her lips as she lowered her gaze further, her heart pounding in her chest. "Aap badme meri muskurahat dekh dekh kar thak jayenge," she whispered.

[You'll get tired of seeing my smile later on.]

"Main aapse ya aapki muskurahat se kabhi nahi thak sakta," he said, his tone honest and filled with meaning.