Chapter Fourteen

'God, I miss you. It's so frustrating without you here.' 

'That's the closet to a compliment you've ever given me. ' She typed back with a grin. 

"Is that jeeju.?" Mahira's teasing voice came from behind, as she tried to peek in and read the text. But it wasn't her intention to read anything, all she wants is to get on her sister's nerves. 

"Mind your own business." Mawra smacked her head and goes to a deserted corner of the shop and waited for his reply. Knowing Ibrahim, it'd take him forever to reply, considering how much of a workaholic he is, but still she waited anyway. 

'That's not true?' came his immediate reply. Well, that was a shocker. He never wastes his time in the office hours. These days it feels more like she's talking with a whole new person than the Ibrahim she knew. 

'See! You don't sound too sure. ' Mawra  chuckled once again, but got startled when the phone began to ring. Her cheeks turned slightly red while reading the caller name. 

"Hello." her voice was so meek and soft, very unusual from her original self. But ever since the marriage proposal, she's showing him a entirely new side of hers, which she wasn't sure existed before. 

"Hey, are you free now?" Ibrahim's deep and husky voice came from the other end, it's been a few days since she has heard his voice. Upon her parents insistence, she took a month leave and was staying at home. Taking care of herself and helping her parents in stuffs. It was a much needed break before her wedding. 

"Not really. Why?" 

"You sound tired?" she was amused at his accuracy. 

"I am, but why'd you call?"

"I want to know where is the Khurana's file and how far are we from closing the contract with them." came his desperate voice, she couldn't stop herself from giggling. 

"Its in my cabin's cupboard, on the third shelf, left side corner. Red color one. We have two more months, and then the project can be terminated." Mawra replied, while he followed her instructions and she could hear him sigh in relief, "thank god. I was freaking out in frustration. Nothing is going on smoothly here." 

"Admit it, I'm the best assistant you've ever had. Look what my absence is doing to you." she added teasingly. 

Mawra didn't expect him to accept that so easily though. "Of course you are. These people are so useless and I feel like firing everyone."  Ibrahim sighed making her to go speechless for a moment. Did he really say that aloud? 

"What exactly are you doing now?" Ibrahim asked once again, and a blush crept onto her cheeks as she looked at her surroundings, "I-, We are doing my bridal shopping." 

"Oh. That explains your tired voice." he sounded amused. 

"Did you select any dresses?" gone was his whining dull tone. As soon as the word bridal was mentioned, Ibrahim turned into cheerful and excited mood, making her to smile shyly as she hummed in response. 

"What is it like?" he sounded too eager that it made her to blusher if that was even possible. 

"Take a guess." 

"Pink color?" he sounded thoughtful. 

"Ewe, no. I won't wear pink. Not on my wedding at least. " 

"Pink looks good on you though. If not pink, then it could be golden?" Mawra blushed at his statement. Did he observe that much about her? It was definitely a surprise. 

Hearing no response, Ibrahim continued, "Red?" 

"Orange?" 

"Maroon?" 

"You can go on guessing but I'm not telling you." Mawra chuckled at his excited self. Months ago, it'd have been next to impossible for her to talk and joke with him so casually like this. She was shocked at her own confidence, the nervousness was nowhere to be seen now. And Mawra liked it this way.

Things took a drastic turn ever since her betrothal. A smile formed on her lips as she eyed the ring on her finger. It was so beautiful and elegant. Looked pretty on her hands. 

After she said yes, they exchanged rings the very next day and the dates were also fixed. Things are moving too fast that it was getting unbelievable at this point. 

"Send me a picture?" he sounded so hopeful that she was almost going to do that, but decided against it, "can't. Let it be a surprise. You can see it on our wedding day." 

"Our wedding, huh?" Ibrahim decided to play along and began to tease her, as expected her cheeks turned pink in shyness. 

"Who else? Do you have someone else in your mind or what?" Mawra retorted with a huff, not liking how the tables have turned. 

"I don't plan on getting killed." Ibrahim laughed, his laugh was so contagious that she felt herself getting lost in them, with a dreamy look on her face. Her annoying sister was smirking at her direction, rolling her eyes Mawra cleared her throat. 

"But seriously, I can't get my works done without your assistance. How am I going to manage for two more weeks?" Ibrahim groaned. 

"Take my advice and have a break from your work. I mean, it's your wedding as well. Why do you have COO and others?"

"Hmm. I wish it was that easy." 

"Where there is a will, there is a way." she added with a laugh. 

"Look at you becoming a philosopher." 

"No, seriously. Why don't you ever stop working?" 

"I love my work." was his only answer. 

"What a lame reply." she rolled her eyes at that. 

"Can we meet somewhere?" he asked so out of the blue, making Mawra to cough suddenly. 

"Um, no." Mawra denied almost immediately. 

She could feel his disappointment and bit her lips, "I'm sorry." 

"Its alright." 

"I might not be a perfect muslim. But I want us to keep everything halal, Mr. Qureshi. Wait for two weeks and then I am all yours, we can meet whenever we want... after that." Mawra replied in a flow, but face palmed at the 'I am all yours' phrase. Heat raised onto her cheeks as she scolded herself mentally for not choosing proper words.

"All mine, huh?" And of course, he'd pick on that line. 

"I was stating the truth though. Two more weeks." she tried to sound nonchalant, but was a blushing mess from within. Her sister raised her brows curiously, but still the blush refused to leave her face. 

"Yes, two more weeks. And then, you're all mine." Ibrahim muttered huskily, her already heated cheeks were so warm now. 

"Stop teasing me." she whined like a child, Ibrahim laughed at that. 

"You're so funny." 

"And you're so mean." she huffed. 

"Hey. I am not." 

"Yeah, whatever." 

"But I like your thinking. Lets keep it halal." Ibrahim smiled at her thoughtfulness. She hummed with another shy smile. 

"Guess you're right, I'm going to take a break too. Its my own wedding and I don't want to work at these time." Mawra was shocked at the sudden change in him, but was glad nevertheless. 

"Good for you." she added teasingly. 

"Don't start with the teasing now. We both know who will win at the end." Mawra could almost feel his smug smile from the other end, and she simply rolled her eyes. 

"Mawra is this dress okay?" her mother, who finally picked a mehendi dress after a lot of debate asked her opinion. But frowned seeing Mawra busy in phone. 

"Who are you talking with?" Rashidha frowned at her daughter for not being serious and wasting her time in phone. 

"Look at her shy smile and guess who is it ammi. It's jeeju, right?" Mahira stated mischievously making Mawra to glare at her. Ibrahim laughed from the other end. 

"I like your sister." 

"Of course, you do." she huffed whilst continuing to glare at her nosy sister. 

"Why are you staring at me like that, I was telling the truth." Mahria shrugged innocently. 

"Can I talk with him for a minute beta?" Salika asked eagerly. Ibrahim's eyes widened from the other side as he yelled, "DONT DO THAT." but too late, She has already handed over her phone to his mother with an evil smile. 

"I heard you." Salika huffed faking a hurt. 

"Give her phone back, mom." Ibrahim asked in a pleading voice. 

"Well, what a surprise. How come you're wasting time in phone? That too during office hours?" 

"I was talking business related stuffs." he lied with a groan. 

"Too bad, my daughter in law is on a break. Stop bothering her. We should buy a lot more things. Go and do your work." Salika hated how he's working eve when the wedding was just two weeks away. How much more workaholic can a person be? 

Mawra chuckled at that. 

"Alright, give her phone back., mom. Please" 

"Hello?" Ibrahim sighed as he heard her meek voice again. 

"Why did you do that?" 

"Will talk to you later. Allah Hafiz." Mawra hung up the call nervously as the three of them kept on staring at her with teasing looks. She lowered her gaze shyly and distracted herself by walking to the restroom. 

Both the mothers passed each other a knowing smile, while her sister observed everything with amusement. 

Mawra on the other hand, stared at her reflection in the restroom mirror and flushed hard. 

Two more weeks. Both Ibrahim and Mawra thought at the same time, he; from his office and she; from inside the restroom. There was this wide smile on their faces. Both of them were equally looking forward to that big day.