Chapter 19

Vintage Flow

@Vintage_flow

Chapter 19  

Jaadu hai nasha hai...madhoshiyaan

Paris was a vivid blur – beautiful, bewitching, indelible. Zoya lay tangled in the sheets looking at the chandelier that hung from the ceiling of their hotel room. Well, suite really. She was still in awe of the stops her husband had pulled in such a short time. She knew he fended well for himself and family but she had no idea he was this rich.  

She snuck out of bed and into the balcony, enjoying the cold evening breeze and the glittering sight of Eiffel tower.  

“You take your name much too seriously” she’d muttered astounded when she had first seen the view. 

“Jahapanah needs to keep his pride intact after all, especially when his begum walks beside him” Pleased, she had planted a big one on him. She was loving the new besharam, sassy version of him.  

And besharam indeed... 

He had taken her sight-seeing for all of one day. 

“You do know Paris dekhna mere bachpan ka sapna hai, right?” 

“What about all my sapna’s?” was his wonderful reply 

“What exactly do you think we have been doing for the last six days?” 

“I don’t think the grown- up Zoya minded. Not even a bit.” He was smug enough to relish in her blush.  

His strong arms snaking around her waist brought her back.  

They both sighed, content, marvelling at the countless shades of purple and orange the setting sun had painted. 

“Order – in tonight?” he said nuzzling her neck 

“Mr. Khan” she laughed turning around 

“Well stop roaming around in my shirt then... Just my shirt” he eyed her head to toe 

“I have a day planned for us tomorrow”  

He kissed her gently “Whatever you say” 

The next morning, she eyed him from across the table as they sat in a quaint patisserie of his choosing.  

Her husband was a man of his word, she found out. He hadn’t misbehaved once much to her annoyance. 

“You wanted to sight-see, what’s with the long face?” he asked as he sipped his coffee. 

“I miss the romantic you”  

“I am the romantic me” 

“No, I mean the other one” she added cheekily, her foot grazing the hem of his pants.  

“Zoya we’re in public” Asad said scandalized even though six different things skimmed through his head. 

“Don’t worry husband, I am just happy you don’t make me wear a six- inch ghunghat while we’re doing it...or better yet wear one yourself” 

“MRS. KHAN” 

xx 

From her seat they had a view of the twinkling streetlights. 

She fidgeted adjusting the sleeves of her dress nervously. As Asad pulled out a chair for her, she took a moment to drink in the fragrant air and the ambient music. The restaurant was vacant enough to easily out-tune the buzz of conversation into background. It was a good choice, she thought satisfied.  

She would talk to him tonight. 

No doubt Asad was a loving, doting husband – she woke up pinching herself these days, to make sure it wasn’t all a dream. But he had grown up different; contrasting principles and an imperative need to revisit his ideology on female independence was a perpetual war. 

She couldn’t guess his reaction. The last thing she wanted was to ruin their honeymoon. 

“I thought we solved the romantic problem last night Mrs. Khan” he said with an impish grin to lighten the mood. She had been quiet all day. 

Zoya could only smile. 

“Are you okay?” He was suddenly worried. Had he finally overwhelmed his wife with his constant need for her? 

“I was thinking of applying for some jobs after we wrap up the walima” she blurted out abruptly after a moment of silence. 

“Why?” he responded thirty seconds later. 

 Why? Seriously Mr. Khan! 

“Because I want to” she added firmly 

Zoya braced herself to deliver the fifteen-minute-long speech she had prepped in advance. She would talk until he saw sense. 

“Okay. Well I know a couple good firms that might be willing to take entry-level software engineers. We can go over your resume once we are home” he replied as a matter-of-fact going back to the menu in front of him. 

A waiter appeared with two glasses of water and basket of breadsticks. “Vous avez choisi? Are you ready to order?” 

“Just a moment please” Asad answered politely. 

As the waiter left their table, his gaze settled on the surprised face of his wife. Her mouth had hit the floor would be an understatement. 

He sighed, sadly, as he held her hand gently over the table. “I remember my promise Zoya.” 

To understand and change, for better, for you. His words came rushing back. She fell in love all over again. 

“Just one thing if I may...” she nodded through wet eyes. 

“You’ll always have me to fall back on, every step of the way. I never want you to feel pressured.” 

I will always take care of you. You’ll never be alone. Never deserted... like our parents 

She understood without him saying it. 

“I know” she said holding on tight  

xx 

Everything besides the time was clear.  

The congregation of clouds softened the shine of the brilliant beaming sun. It was morning, late afternoon maybe? But he didn’t care. The sound of their heartbeats thumping together was all he registered. 

This was his favorite part of the day– well one of his favorites. Watching his lady love sleep. 

It was peace, serenity.  

His fingers lazily moved down the bare skin of her back. Many a night he had fantasised how her hair would look mussed from his hands, how her love burnished skin be aglow from the intimacy.  

She felt delicate, like a fragile doll in his arms. It bowled him over; the strength she carried inside her.  

It was their last day of honeymooning in the city of romance. He had vowed to make it count – he knew now, of the things that made her sigh and gasp and sink her fingers into his shoulders. 

He peeled the sheets off her and woke her up to his kisses. Zoya’s low moans sent him into a near frenzy, like he couldn’t close the distance enough. 

He bit, licked, loved. She blushed, moaned, bloomed. 

Asad felt her shudder with overt pleasure. She pulled his face close with a sudden-fierceness and a million tiny pulse points made their appearance. Each kiss was a pleasure unmatched, each touch blitzed. 

“I don’t want to share you just yet” he panted after they were done. 

“Let’s run away then. We’ll pretend like we boarded the wrong flight” Zoya drawled 

Asad laughed “Sounds just like you Mrs. Khan” 

She elbowed him. “Ouch”  

“But you know what, I also can’t wait to find out just what teenage Zoya was like” he turned towards her, elbow propped. 

“Allah Miyan! What’s wrong with you? She was obviously as amazing as she is now” 

 Of course, she was. Asad had no doubt about that.  

“What if we met all those years ago, Asad?” His tummy did a back-flip at a mention of his name. He still wasn’t used to it.  

“Well...you would have driven me crazy then too” He got elbowed again “And I would have fallen just as crazily in love with you” 

Crazily in love? If somebody had told her that one day Mr. Asad, the Akdu Ahmed Khan would say that after making some ‘crazy’ love to her, she would have laughed her head off. 

She sealed the deal with a long, deep kiss.  

Nothing more than carnal sighs bounced off the hotel walls for that day. 

xx 

So....I decided to write more 😁