“I know they did a lot for us growing up,” I say, and he holds my hand in his, softly moving his thumb on the back of my hand. “But at the same time I think, what’s the point of having a family if you’re not going to help them out when they need you the most? If you won’t be lending a shoulder. And if you do, then why boast about it and make the other feel obliged to serve you in some way their entire lives?”
I heave in a big breath, exhausted from all the things I never knew I had been carrying along.
“I know that no matter how muchMaashows it doesn’t affect her, deep down even she feels the way they have always treated us. And I know things would have been different if maybe she had a son? I know that’s very misogynist and sexist, but unfortunately that’s the society we live in, right? No matter how much I do as a daughter, a son will always be preferred.”
Bile rises in my throat even when I say these words because every cell in my body disagrees with this mindset. I hate how much privilege and importance is given to men—especially in Indian society—when most men turn out to be incompetent and women do what any man can do.
“You are enough, Aisha,” he says, his one hand holding my hand, and with the other, he cups my cheek and brings my face closer to his. I can feel the intense gaze of his eyes on me, and that makes me want to look away, but the grip he has on me makes me stare right into his beautiful eyes.
“Not just for me, but forMaaalso. I know what you say; what you feel is right. The way they have treated you and her has always been unfair, and I hate it. But don’t think you’re not enough. What you have done for yourself and forMaa, no man would be able to do. I say this as someone who could never have the amount of strength you do. I could never face the world with courage with the cards you were dealt, and that makes me even more proud to be called your husband.”
I smile because his words soothe a part of me that I didn’t know could feel it.
“I know it is hard to believe, and I know it is even harder to see her be nice to those people. But you can’t change her. But you can protect her always, hm.”
I nod, because I know that’s true.
“I will always be there for you, Aisha. For you. ForMaa. You guys are my family. My own. You are my home, and I will do everything to make it feel safe.”
He leans in to kiss my forehead, and the amount of warmth that engulfs me with is unfathomable.
He brings his lips downwards, breathing on my lips just enough to make me weak. He looks at me with hooded eyes, and for one moment I let my ego go. I let myself fall.
I let myself kiss him, and I know he is stunned by the way he freezes before melting into the kiss. His hand glides into my hair, bunching it in his fist and pulling me closer so that there’s no space between us anymore.
I let myself fall into his touch, let him devour me whole because I am ready. We both forget that somebody could walk in at any moment.
We both forget that I am mad at him, that he still has to earn his forgiveness back and that the status of our relationship is still unknown to both of us.
All we know is the need to be closer, if possible. This desire to be with one another in any way possible.
He squeezes my waist, and I moan, opening my mouth to welcome him home. His tongue glides against mine, fighting for dominance, and I let him win because I am at a loss of strength.
I round my hands around his neck, and he pulls me on his lap, and I struggle to straddle him because of my tight pants.
I tap on his chest when I feel out of breath, and he pulls away merely, still breathing against my lips.
He looks at me with hooded eyes, and I can feel the emotions swirling in his eyes. My cheeks heat up, and I can’t help but admire how handsome he is.
He looks at me. He is finally seeing me for the first time, with the same look I recognize him giving me from the first time we met.
Without even knowing each other’s names, we knew. This was it.
“What?” I ask, breathless.
He smiles, his thumb rubbing slow circles on my cheek.
He leans down to press a kiss on that sensitive spot on my neck, and I unknowingly tilt my head to give him access.
“You are so beautiful,merijaan.”
He sucks on that spot, biting and licking, and I throw my head back, unknowingly moving in his lap, and he groans. I feel that sound in my skin and bones, and it makes wetness pool between my legs.
“Reyansh,” I moan out loud, and he just hums.
He moves his lips upwards, and just when I think he is going to kiss me again, the shrill sound of my phone’s ringtone makes me pull away from him like we were just caught making out somewhere we shouldn’t.
I pull out my phone and see my mother’s name flash on the screen.
