Possession by Laila Ali (young adult books to read .txt) 📗

CHAPTER 22

Both of them were on their way back to haveli when Zahra's eyes fell on a man selling cotton candies. Her mouth filled with drool as she desirously looked at those pink cotton candies and she couldn't stop herself.

"Irtazaaa stop the car!" She almost screamed causing him to instantly apply brakes making the car wheels produce a screeching sound, followed by the honks and screeching sounds of those cars as well which abruptly stopped behind them making the traffic jam.

"What Zahra?! What happened?!" He asked worriedly.

"Woh.... asal mein..... I want that." She said, cutely pointing toward the man selling the cotton candies.

(I...actually)

"Did you make the car stop for this?" He asked and she nodded her head sheepishly.

His lips formed a thin line as he took a deep breath to calm himself down before releasing the brake and moving the car again.

Zahra got the hint that he was angry and this made her panic immediately as she began to blabber whatever came into her mouth, which she always did whenever she was scared or nervous.

He stopped the car to a side and looked towards her who was blabbering something, scaredly.

"We could have an accident. Be careful next time." He scolded making her blabbering stop instantly.

"I'm sorry. I love cotton candies so I couldn't stop myself and screamed whatever came into my mouth.."

He smiled, her actions were similar to 5-year old Alizey.

"You're such a child Zahra," he mused, looking at her intensely, and left the car before getting back with a whole big bunch of cotton candies for her.

Her eyes widened as happiness danced in them as they fell on those cotton candies. They were too much for her.

"Are all these for me?" she asked pointing towards the cotton candies.

"Well, I don't like sweets so all of these are for you." He said handling her the candies which she abruptly took. She loved cotton candies to the core of her heart.

"Chalo shukar hai ab apko share nahi Karani parein gi," she muttered under her breath but he heard it, making him chuckle before he roared the engine to life and drove smoothly on the road.

(Thank god I won't have to share these with you)

The car halted again due to the traffic jam and that's when Zahra's eyes fell on a man selling garlands. Zahra was about to scream for the garlands when Irtaza's word came into her mind and she stopped before poking her finger onto his shoulder, diverting his attention toward her.

"Hmm?" he asked, looking towards her.

She hesitated, thinking about his reaction.

'Should I say it or should I not' she thought, confusedly.

"Ab meri biwi ko kia lena hai?" He questioned, striking at the exact point.

(What does my wife want now?)

"Mene gajray lenay hein," she replied, smiling, pointing towards the man selling garlands.

He smiled and teased her nose with his forefinger.

"My innocent wife," he muttered and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead. He loved her childish acts, it was her innocence that attracted her to him.

Calling the man, he brought the whole set of red and white garlands for her. She smiled wholeheartedly, only her father used to pamper her like this.

"Give your hand" he demanded so that he could set the garland of red roses on her dainty wrist.

She forwarded her hands and he delicately slide the garland. It was surprising for her, she wasn't hesitating much in front of him, it might be because she get to witness his softer side today.

Irtaza held her hands before she could retreat them back, and stared at her dainty, white hands, vehemently. His eyes held something potent and vigorous in them.

"These hands are only mine to touch, only mine to kiss, and only mine to hold Zahra. Remember this." he pensively said, a warning hidden behind his words as he intensely looked towards her hands before grazing his lips against the back of her hand.

"Got it?" He asked and started the car again as the traffic jam was over.

"Yes," she replied in her thin voice, looking down at her lap.

Her mind was abruptly filled with haunting thoughts about her future as her anxiety shot up. She was afraid for her future. She didn't know what disaster the upcoming days of her life will be held in for her. She was scared. His warnings were making it harder for her. She just wanted to run and hide somewhere. Away from this world and its inhabitants.

She was in a constant dilemma. On one hand, it was fear of Irtaza and on the other hand, it was her love for Daniyal. She knew Irtaza was trying to progress this marriage but she couldn't find it in herself to give her a chance to this marriage. The actual reason was Daniyal. She was in his heart moreover Daniyal had told her that Irtaza was only attracted to her beauty which is why he wanted this marriage. If she wasn't beautiful she would've meant nothing to him. This was also why her heart wasn't accepting this marriage. Because according to her beauty fades away, if it's only her beauty for which he has married her, then this marriage cannot last long.

But unaware of her, Daniyal has stuffed these things into her mind and her beauty was never the reason for which Irtaza married her, it was her pure heart and innocence. Irtaza was god-gifted with the ability to read people and when his eyes for the first time fell on Zahra's picture, he could only figure out innocence, his mind didn't know the meaning of beauty at that time. He still remembers how his heart started to beat fastly as he was staring at her small form cladded in a red dress.

But Zahra didn't know that, It was Daniyal who was attracted to Zahra's beauty. If it wasn't for her beauty then she would've meant nothing to him.....

The whole ride went in silent as no words were exchanged. Irtaza was busy attending a call and barking orders to the man on the other side. Zahra got the hint that they were discussing something about a drug consignment, a traitor, and a something about the loan. But she was least interested in his mafia life and didn't pay much heed to whatever he was saying.

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