ARRANGED MARRIAGE- 1950's Love Story (COMPLETED)✔

CHAPTER 5

KNOCK...KNOCK...

Amreen woke up with loud knocking at the door, 'We are coming.' She heard a manly voice and jumped up. She sat on the bed and looked to her side. Faizaan stood by the mirror buttoning sleeves of this Kurtha.

She glanced at the grand-father clock and her eyes widened- 8am. She over slept on her first day at her Sasural. She quickly stood up. Faizaan looked from the mirror and smiled looking at Amreen look for her one slipper. He turned around.

'Relax.' Amreen froze hearing his name, she quickly stood straight in attention and lowered her head.

'Yesterday was marriage and it is normal to oversleep next day. Don't worry.' Faizaan said softly. Amreen relaxed little with his tone. Faizaan then walked towards her, 'And please don't stand like this, (Faizaan extended his hand to hold hers but retracted his hand feeling awkward) stand straight but please look at me, I am not that bad looking.' Faizaan teased her. Amreen smiled but quickly wiped off her smile.

'Go freshen up, I will wait for you.' Faizaan said sitting on the bed.

'No!' Amreen said abruptly and then bit her tongue, Faizaan looked up at her, she lowered her head.

'Why?' Faizaan shrugged looking at her. She clasped her palms together and slowly looked up at him, 'Woh...you must be getting late.' She said meekly.

'Don't worry. I am fine.' He said politely. She didn't argue and nodded her head obediently.

Amreen walked towards her trunk with her head lowered, Faizaan watched her. She found her trunk very heavy. She huffed making it stand with great difficulty. Faizaan quickly walked towards her. He bent down and placed his palm over the handle of the trunk where Amreen's hand was. She quickly moved her hand feeling a strange tingly feeling. This is the first time she felt a man's touch. Faizaan also moved his hand thinking he scared her.

'I will place it on the bed.' he said and Amreen nodded taking a step back, she stood with her head lowered. Faizaan shook his head, he must do something to make her comfortable so she stops doing this, it is annoying him.

Amreen went into the bathroom and quickly showered.

Faizaan sat on the bed playing with his fingers. He smelled strong ether fragrance and looked up. Amreen walked out from the bathroom dressed in golden and blue Banarasi Saree, her waist length hair wet and open resting on her shoulder. Faizaan is awestruck by her beauty. Indeed, he has gotten a beautiful bride. Amreen looked at him and he quickly looked back at his clasped palms. Amreen looked away walking towards the mirror. Faizaan watched her from the corner of his eyes.

She wiped her hair with a towel, and placed the towel on the back of the chair. She wore her gold bangles, she then combed her hair tying her hair in perfect braid. Faizaan stared at her as she applied her make-up. As she applied her lip stick, from the mirror she caught Faizaan looking at her.

She felt strangely happy he is looking at her. She heard her cousins tell stories about how they enjoy their husband's attention and love. She is yet to experience the feeling of Faizaan's attention but she is liking the start of it.

Faizaan on the other hand is simply bowled over by her beauty and is now more excited to know her better, he is sure he will fall harder in love with her.

Amreen adjusted her dupatta over her head and turned to look at Faizaan who quickly looked away.

"I am ready, let's go." Amreen had wanted to say but she kept silent. Faizaan frowned wondering why she is simply standing? Then he remembered they are getting late.

Farheen and her mother giggled as Amreen walked into the kitchen. Amreen didn't understand why they were giggling, she wondered if she has over-done her make-up or perhaps wore her saree wrong.

'What.... happened...Ammijan?' she asked after few seconds. The mother-daughter stopped laughing. Ammijan walked towards Amreen and held her chin lifting her face little. She smiled,

'Look Farheen, your sister-in-law is glowing.' Fiza complimented and Farheen giggled, Amreen looked clueless.

Fiza then asked Amreen to make some sweet dish while cook make breakfast.

'Tonight, is the Walima, I have sent you the clothes wear that...and the jewelry?' Fiza asked. Amreen stiffened.

What is she to tell her? how can she tell her that her husband has asked her to keep the jewelry to herself?

'I had taken the jewelry to give it to you, but...he.... said to...keep...it to.... myself.' Amreen said in a small voice. Fiza's smile faded. She simply nodded her head looking clearly offended and Amreen is worried, she had made her mother-in-law upset on the first day.

'So, Faizaan. How was last night?' Feroz winked at his brother. Faizaan blushed in response and Feroz continued teasing him till they heard their father's footsteps. They sat quietly.

Their father came and they greeted each other, he sat on the head of the house chair. The butlers plated the breakfast. Farheen sat opposite her elder brother and beside her father. Fiza walked in the dining room followed by Amreen carrying the sweet dish she has made, her head lowered. She placed the vessel and stood beside Faizaan, he looked at her but she avoided his gaze.

'Amreen Beta, serve.' Fiza urged her daughter-in-law. Amreen nodded and served Faizaan while Fiza served her husband, a butler served Feroz while Farheen helped herself. After Amreen was done plating for Faizaan, she looked at her mother-in-law who also has done serving her husband.

Fiza went and took her seat next to her daughter, taking the hint Amreen too sat beside Faizaan.

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Faizaan came out from the bathroom dressed in a black bandhgala Kurtha and white pajama. He looked at Amreen who stood by the mirror wearing her bangles. She is dressed in Maroon and Golden Gharara, her long hair tied in a bun. Faizaan walked towards her. She wore her necklace and looked at him. He smiled at her, she looked away feeling shy.

'I want to say something to you.' he said and she nodded smiling little, still having her gaze lowered.

Faizaan thought for a minute before extending his hand and holding hers. Amreen shivered, he looked at her as her lips parted little.

'You...are very beautiful.' He complimented her. He had wanted to tell her this since he saw her last night for the first time.

Amreen slowly looked up at him. His complimented made her heart flutter.

She then looked away shyly. Faizaan titled his head little and admired her from a different angle. Feeling his gaze on her, Amreen felt butterflies in her stomach. Her cousins were right, this feeling is amazing.

Their sweet moment was interrupted when they heard a knock, a butler called from outside asking them to come out.