LOVE TRIALS

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Hamza rolled over as streaks of sunlight teased his barely opened eyes, his arm outstretched looking for his wife by his side only for his hands to come up empty, nothing but cold air.

"Sabeeha," Hamza breathed. His eyes opened, sharply, had it all been a dream? A deep sense of loss squeezed his heart, he shifted to lay on his back.

"Morning," Sabeeha greeted when she heard him. She smiled at him when his disbelieving eyes found hers, she stood in front of his mirror. His day instantly brightened along with smile dancing on his lips. Burying his ridiculous doubts, he ran a hand through his dishevelled hair and stretched his arms behind his head, "Morning, what time is it?"

"Seven," Sabeeha mumbled, moving about the room. His keen gaze followed her around, "Why are you up so early? Do we have to go somewhere?"

He sat up in bed and threw his legs over the edge.

"Only me," Sabeeha corrected as she wore her earings. The crease between his eyebrows deepened once he noticed her attire, she looked ready to leave in a clean pair of monochrome formal shirt and trouser pants.

"And where are you off to without your husband?"

"Baba called, earlier today, he wants me to oversee something at the office."

Hamza eyebrows rose, "How early?" He added, momentarily, "We just got married, a day ago, Sabeeha." He reminded her. If she had detected the hint of suspicion in his tone, she didn't express, continuing to run her hands over the ironed dupatta draped on one shoulder.

Her uncaring attitude disturbed him, not exactly how he'd planned his first morning with her.

"Your family will come for breakfast? Hajra-"

She cut him, halfway, "No. We are meeting for dinner, anyways."

"I see, "Hamza trailed as he threw the covers off his lap and rose to his feet."Give me ten minutes and I'll take you. We'll grab breakfast on the way. I am sure uncle won't mind."

Sabeeha rejected his suggestion within a heartbeat, "I appreciate it, Hamza but I have already had breakfast. I am sorry." Hamza clenched his teeth. At least, she had the decency to apologise.

Sabeeha glanced at the watch enclosed around her wrist, "And I have to leave, right about now. Baba has sent the driver."

Hamza took a deep breath to calm his flaming anger, "Come, then. I'll walk you to the door. When will you be back?" He faltered when she trailed behind him, allowing her to fall in step with him.

"I'll go directly with baba so I guess, I'll see you at my house."

Her words were utterly disappointing.

"I'll meet you, there," Hamza told her with a solemn nod of his head as he held the car door open for her to sit in the backseat of her father's car. "Have a good day, wife."

Hamza tried to smile. Sabeeha pulled her lips in a straight line, waving at her unwanted husband, she had singlehandedly ruined her life and their first morning, together.

●

"Are you ready, yet?" Hamza inquired as he walked into the room, struggling to fix his cufflink. He wore a charcoal three-piece with a crisp white shirt under the fitted vest, every angle, every line framed his lean stature to perfection.

"I am," Sophia nodded, wrapping a watch around her delicate wrist. "Do you need help with it?"

"No, I'll do it. I have done this, every day for almost eleven years, now," Hamza told her with a small smile.