When she had entered the room, a very delicate and beautiful red nightie was lying on the bed. It was a full-length gown style, open at the front and secured with a drawstring, featuring fine net on the back and shoulders. Seeing it, she had bitten her lip. She wanted to give Kayan a piece of her mind, but she couldn't. She didn't want to create a scene by disobeying him, especially since everyone was present here. So, she quietly showered, put on the nightie, and sat at the dressing table. Then her mind worked, and she messaged Amna: "Come to the room after five minutes on any pretext and take me away." She was sure Amna would come, and in those five minutes, she would make Kayan understand her point.
Kayan lifted her by the shoulders and turned her toward him. Hooreen's gaze was lowered. Kayan lifted her chin with his right hand and spoke in a voice full of love:
"Look here, Hoor. Look into my eyes. See how much love they hold for you...?"
She didn't want to look into those enchanting eyes; she knew she wouldn't be able to withstand the emotions visible in them. But she still made the mistake of looking into his eyes, only to lower them immediately. That brief gaze made her forget everything; all her courage vanished. She spoke haltingly:
"Ka... yan... that... I..."
Kayan didn't let her speak, capturing her lips with his own. Hooreen gripped his shirt tightly. She tried to push him away, but her strength was no match for his, so she eventually gave up. His manner held a madness that was difficult for Hooreen to bear. He continued to quench his thirst for a long time. When he finally pulled away, Hooreen tried to catch her breath and spoke in broken words:
"My.....I....."
This time, he silenced her by placing his index finger on her lips and said:
"Shhh... not today, Hoor. Today, you will only listen to me, obey me, and feel only me. I have yearned so much for these loving moments, for your proximity and touch. You made me wait a long time, but not today...!"
She had tried to gather courage again, but his intoxicating words made her tongue stick to the roof of her mouth. His manner made her heart race. He carried her to the bed, laid her down, and leaned over her, continuing:
"You are my madness... my love... I love you."
Saying this, he kissed her forehead, then her eyes and cheeks. Feeling the heat of Kayan's warm breath on her neck and earlobe, her breath hitched. When Kayan's lips touched her earlobe, she shuddered. She felt as though her heart would burst through her ribs.
"Kayan... please... I... need to... talk...!"
"You talk, I am listening."
He was leaning over her neck, satisfying his thirst, while simultaneously untying the robe of her nightie with one hand. Hooreen quickly tried to close it to hide herself, but Kayan thwarted her attempt. Holding both her hands against the headboard of the bed, he looked at her with intoxicated eyes and spoke in a voice full of rapture:
"I didn't know my wife was not only beautiful but also this hot."
Her face turned as red as a pomegranate with shyness. Kayan watched the colors of modesty spread over her with great interest, which only made him lose more control. He leaned over her shoulder, and then his lips found the mole below her collarbone. She trembled as his intensity increased. She, who had planned so much to talk to Kayan and win him over, was now unable to even speak. She didn't even have the strength to resist anymore; she began to weaken before Kayan's intensity. Her whole body was trembling slightly, her heart was beating faster than usual, and despite the AC, beads of sweat appeared on her forehead. Just as his boldness was about to increase further, there was a knock at the door. He ignored it and stayed occupied. After the knock was repeated two or three times, he got up irritably. This interference had ruined his mood.
Hooreen felt a surge of relief. By the time he reached the door, she quickly fastened her nightie and got off the bed. Kayan opened the door to find Amna. He spoke with a frown:
"What are you doing here at this hour of the night...?"
Amna was already nervous and scared; seeing Kayan's commanding voice and expression, she became intimidated. Then, gathering courage, she said:
"Sir, Hooreen's students are being very troublesome, demanding their teacher be called. They want to stay with Hooreen. Actually, Hooreen is their favorite teacher, so...!"
"So what...? Should I send my wife at this hour of the night to fulfill their whims...? She is not an employee; she is Mrs. Kayan Zarrar. And you people can't handle students...? I'll see to it myself...!"
Before he could go out, Hooreen grabbed his hand. Seeing Kayan look at it, she immediately let go and spoke with her gaze lowered:
"You stay here... I'll handle it. They are my responsibility. You go to sleep."
Saying this, she immediately left. She looked at Kayan; the annoyance in his enchanting eyes was clear, which made her heart ache, but she didn't give Kayan a chance to say or do anything. He was watching her leave when she suddenly stopped, said something to Amna, and came back toward him.
"Amna, wait here for a minute, I'll be right back."
"What now...? I already got insulted by Sir because of you, and now you're going back again...?"
Amna spoke irritably, to which Hooreen replied:
"People are ready to give their lives for friends, and here you are, getting upset over a small thing!"
"Then go tell those people to come get insulted by Sir, too! I'm leaving."
At her words, Hooreen affectionately pinched her cheek and said:
"Okay, don't make a face! No one can take your place. I'll be right back, I just forgot something."
Telling Amna to wait, she came back, stood on her toes, and pressed her lips to his forehead before running away. He was left stunned and spoke to himself with a smile:
"It seems there is still more waiting required for your proximity... even this is acceptable for you. Your every manner shows there is no anger or hatred for me in your heart. You obeyed me without saying a word; that is enough for me."
She locked the door quickly after entering the room and sat on the bed, taking long, deep breaths. Amna could guess something from her disheveled appearance, but her priority was Hooreen's well-being. She asked: "Are you okay...?"
"Yes, I'm fine, but why did you take so long to come...?"
She spoke irritably. Amna looked toward Samara, who was sleeping peacefully, and replied with annoyance: "I could only come once this lady fell asleep... she has made life difficult. You left me with this calamity and disappeared yourself."
Hooreen looked at the other side of the bed where Samara was sleeping on her side. "Ugh... this one... she stayed here on purpose... but anyway, thank God you came in time, otherwise, I would have suffocated."
She lowered her head as she tried to relax, but her face didn't match her tone. The truth was that because of Kayan's passion, her heartbeat had not yet returned to normal. "What is going on, Hooreen...? Will you tell me...? And you, in Sir's room...? I know he is your husband, but for you to go like that...?"
Hooreen took a deep breath and told Amna everything. Hearing it, Amna looked at Hooreen with a mix of shock and anger and asked: "Hooreen, you used such words for your husband...? Disgust...? And all of this...? That too to Sir Kayan...? Knowing full well the status of a husband...?"
"Yes, well, what could I do? I was angry at the time, so I just said it. I would have received a terrible punishment for it, but my brain worked and I was saved. Otherwise, he was very angry. Moreover, I even got a warning that if I used such words for him again, he would make an example out of me that I'd remember forever."
She shuddered thinking of Kayan's anger and made a face at the last remark. Seeing this, Amna spoke angrily: "That's exactly what should happen to you! Only then will you understand anything, because you don't listen when spoken to with love. I'm just your friend and I'm this angry hearing it—imagine the state of the person you actually said it to...!"
"Yara... don't you get angry... I admit it was my fault, I already apologized. But when I came here, how was I to know he would show up so suddenly and I'd have to fulfill my promise?"
"Hooreen! How long will this go on...? How long will you keep running away from Sir and this relationship? Even as an outsider, I can read the script of love written in his eyes for you, and you...? Why can't you see anything? Regardless of the circumstances of this marriage, he is your husband. He has a right over you. How long will you deprive him of that right...?"
"When did I deny any of that, Amna? Nor will I deprive him of his rights. I'm not running away; I just need a little time..."
Her tone startled Amna, who shouted with joy: "Hooreen, you are in love with Sir...!"
Hooreen placed her hand over Amna's mouth and said: "Yes... quiet! Do you want to wake Samara up?"
She removed her hand, and Amna held her ears in a gesture of apology before asking: "When did you fall in love with him...?"
Hooreen lowered her head and replied: "When I saw him for the first time in the wedding hall."
Amna stared at her with her mouth open at this new revelation. Seeing her expression, Hooreen continued with a smile: "When I saw him for the first time, my heart skipped a beat. I wished that the man on the stage was my destiny. But at that moment, I felt ashamed of that wish because he was a groom waiting for someone else. I immediately repented for my desire. I was wrong, but what Kayan did after that turned my first-sight love into anger, horror, and fear. Perhaps it was the intensity and truth of Kayan's love that brought us here, and my heart also wanted to come to this place, even though I hadn't seen or known Kayan before. Kayan's love has ended the fear hidden inside me. Now, after going home, I will first tell Papa about my feelings and my decision, and then I will tell Kayan. I have already deprived Kayan of his rights, but not anymore."
"Phew! What a dark horse you are! You didn't even let me get a hint...? I am very happy for you. May Allah keep your pair safe forever, Ameen."
She prayed from her heart. Then her gaze fell on a red mark on Hooreen's collarbone, and she spoke with mischief in her eyes: "What happened here on your collarbone...?"
Hooreen got up and looked in the mirror. Her face turned crimson. She sat back down and stammered: "That... a mosquito... bit me...!"
"A mosquito, or Brother-in-law...?"
At this, Hooreen couldn't even lift her eyes. She looked even more beautiful while blushing. Amna teased her further: "You wanted a husband who was romantic yet intense in his love. If this is your state after just a little proximity, then his intensities in the future...!"
Before she could finish, Hooreen threw a pillow at her, which Amna caught. "Amna... shut up... I... don't want to talk about it... I'm... feeling sleepy."
Saying this, she pulled the blanket over herself while her heart raced. Amna also lay down to sleep with a smile. Both were unaware that Samara was awake and had heard everything.
Everyone was ready to leave, but first, they gathered in the hall for breakfast. Amna tried to wake Hooreen two or three times, but she didn't budge. Amna left her and went out to have breakfast with the others. Everyone was there except Hooreen.
When Amna came out alone, Kayan looked at her inquiringly. Understanding the meaning of his gaze, she immediately said: "Hooreen is sleeping. I tried to wake her up, but she loves her sleep too much."
A faint smile appeared on Kayan's face. He said to everyone: "You all may leave without Hooreen. I will drop her home myself."
At his words, Samara's hand stopped mid-meal. The others couldn't refuse him, so they remained silent. Leaving them there, Kayan went to the room where Hooreen was sleeping. She looked very beautiful while asleep. "You're sleeping so peacefully after stealing my sleep, dear wifey."
He spoke softly, looking at her with love, as he didn't want to disturb her sleep but couldn't suppress his heart's desire either. He kissed her cheeks. Even in her sleep, she could sense the scent of Kayan's cologne, so she mumbled: "First Mama doesn't let me sleep in peace, and now Kayan..."
A vibrant smile broke out on Kayan's face. "Sleep peacefully, my life."
He watched her for a while, then pressed a kiss of love on her forehead and went to his room.