It's been ten years since Haya has heard someone calling her by her real name. It was a different scenario during the nikkah but hearing Abrar call her Hayat made her feel nostalgic, to say the least. Only her parents were allowed to call her that. No one else did. Not even Abrar.
She splashed the water on her face and stared at herself in the mirror. She wasn't going to cry over it. She's stronger than that. Stronger than everyone else.
The girl in the mirror stared back at her numbly. Haya took the face towel to dry her face as she continued staring at herself. Her dupatta falls off her shoulders making her frown.

"You know the rules." Haya mimicked Abrar's words as she knelt to pick it up.
"Don't mind him, Haya. He's a jerk. A big one." Haya mumbled to her reflection as she stared at herself again and wore the dupatta on her head. But it wasn't staying still and all of her dupattas are netted ones. It annoyed her to no extent. She needed new ones as soon as possible. But Haya highly doubted that this village can have anything good or qualitative.
"Now what do we do?" she whined at her reflection.
"Who are you talking with?" came the voice of Abrar, as he stood outside the bathroom door in bewilderment.
"Nobody." Haya startled as she opened the door and gave him a pointed look.
"What were you doing inside?" Abrar asked again. Haya ignored him casually as she walked to the dressing table to apply face moisturizer. Her dupatta fell off her shoulders again.

"Damn you." Haya scolded that cloth as she bends to pick it up.
"Don't irritate me, Haya. Answer me when I'm asking you something." Abrar pulled her wrists making her face him. She stared at him wide-eyed.
"I was talking with myself. Now go away. Stop pulling me like this." Haya removed his grip from her hands and goes back to apply the face moisturizer.
What a crazy woman! Abrar muttered under his breath as he watched her keenly. After applying her face cream, she then applied something on her lips and then changed her earrings. All the while her dupatta fell off her shoulders three times at least. She scolded that cloth every time it fell.

"What are you staring at?" Haya pointed her comb at him as she glared at him.
"Nothing... Are you going somewhere?" Abrar looked away in embarrassment.
"Yes, we're going to the nearby town to buy me some things." Haya combed her hair as she stared at him through the mirror. She might as well buy some dupatta, she was bored anyway.
Abrar nodded his head but as soon as he registered her words, his eyes went wide in shock.
"We? As in you and me?" Haya nodded her head with a sly smile as she gazed at him through the mirror.
"When did I agree to come?" Abrar asked in his usual annoying angry voice which didn't bother her one bit.
"You're my husband, right? Then go with me." Haya smirked mischievously as she turned back to look at him.
"Take someone else. I'm busy." Abrar frowned but the innocent looks on her face terrified him slightly.
"I travelled miles away from my hometown just to get married to you and you! You can't even spare some time with me. What an unlucky girl you're Haya." she fake cried making Abrar tense.
"We both know you're not crying. Stop with your drama." Haya gawked at him stupidly and composed herself whilst plastering an evil smile on her face.
"Good then. Take me out. I need to buy something." Haya enjoyed making him all riled up and angry.
"Go with Meruza," he suggested with hopeful eyes. He didn't want to spend his rest of the day with her, he wanted to stay away from her as much as he could.
"No, she's not my husband. You are. So, you should take me." Haya smiled evilly as she watched his helpless face, "why don't you tell me clearly that you don't want to take me." Abrar heaved a sigh of relief as soon as he heard those words.
"Yes, I don't want to take you out."
"Good. I'll go to bi jaan and ask her help then." Haya dashed out of the room but he quickly followed her behind and caught her hand.
One of the servants who was passing by witnessed this scene and giggled to herself. Haya looked at her and then at Abrar.
"What?" both him and her asked at the same time, the scared servant marched off from there as quick as she could.
"What do you want now?" Haya then turned her gaze to him.
"Fine. Let's go." Abrar huffed as he started to walk downstairs. His hands still held hers, she followed him behind with a victorious smile.
"Masha Allah. Look how cute they both look." Sarah gushed to her niece. Meruza, who was talking with her Tayi Ammi paused to look at what she was pointing at. Her eyes then went wide at the sight of Abrar holding Haya's hands.
"Ammi... I'm going out with Haya. She wants to buy something from the town." Abrar told in an uninterested tone. Haya smiled at her mother in law who nodded her head excitedly.
"Of course. I'm happy that you kids are spending time together. Come back safely." Sarah smiled happily. She really was happy for her son and his wife. They both deserve a lot of love and happiness. She's happy that they're finally giving their relationship a chance. If only she knew.
"Okay then. Allah Hafiz, Sarah auntie. Allah Hafiz, Meruza." Haya waved at the both of them with her other hand as Abrar started to drag her out irritably.
"Stop dragging me, Abrar." Haya huffed as she pulled away from her hands from his grip. They both were now standing on the porch of the Shah Haveli, the guards of the house stared at them curiously. One angry look from Abrar and they all went back to mind their own business.
"Get in the car." Abrar switched on his keys, pulled open the door and got into the driver seat.
"Cool car," Haya muttered in awe as she took a nice glance at the insides.
"Where do you want to go?" Abrar ignored her compliment as he drove out of the Haveli.
"I need to buy some dupatta which would stay on my head and I also want to take a look at the dresses available here." Haya frowned as she replied to him.
He did not talk anything after that. Haya out of boredom stared out of the window and observed that a car was following them for a while.
"Is that car following us?" She asked him hoping that he'd reply and start talking something, anything. But nothing can be expected from a guy like him.
"Yes." is all he said.
Why? She wanted to ask but as though he read her mind Abrar added, "they're my men only, don't worry."
"But why are they following us?" Haya frowned in confusion.
"Ruling the village for over decades is no joke. We've enemies roaming around and they're just doing their jobs. That is protecting our family." Abrar replied in annoyance as he drove faster.
"Stop asking so many questions." Haya glared at him for this.
"I just asked one question. And a genuine one at that."
"Shut up, Haya." Abrar snapped at her.
"Same to you." Haya retorted childishly as she looked away.
Abrar rolled his eyes at her and concentrated more on the driving part. The town was an hour away from their village and it has been half an hour so far. From the corner of his eyes, he watched her doze off tiredly.
She looked so peaceful while sleeping. Anyone who watched her like this would really think she's an innocent angel or something but Abrar knows otherwise. He couldn't believe that she could look this innocent when in reality she was not. Shaking his head in disbelief, he looked away and concentrated on the driving.
He has never been shopping with ladies not even with his own mother. Look at him now.
That's why they say, there's always a first time for everything!
***
Glossary:
Tayi ammi= father's elder brother's wife.
Dupatta= a long piece of cloth worn around the head, neck and shoulders by women from south Asia.