20. Life is beautiful..

Life was getting beautiful indeed, both of them were filling in the voids they had in their lives. They had learnt how to live with each other's faults and how to cherish each other's qualities, love and companionship.

Farah had  taken over  over the cooking, with Wali being her teacher, well most of the teaching sessions were converted into romantic closeness, but still she managed to learn.

Wali's legal status case in court was progressing well, as his wife was a Canadian passport holder. 

"I am sooo happy k kahin tu main tumhain help kar rahi hon", she frequently used to repeat this sentence and Wali just used to nod.

Farah really didn't know what to do with her salary now?, 

"main soch rahi hon Wali k apne paison k jahaz bana k uraon, what say?, she said ,"hmm..go ahead, then let me know about their flight routes", he said turning to the other side, "very funny!, Wali main apni salary ka kia karon?"

"mujhe kia pata, it's your money, kuch bhi karo"

"Wali tum mujhe ghr ki installemnts dene do..

He sighed turning to her side again, "no thank you,"

"Wali kia problem hai! sab log kaam karte hain, just for the reason k burden thora kam ho, aur main fazool kam karti hon, u don't let me help anywhere, kia faida itni exertion ka, main ghr beth jati hon, I am leaving my job", she said all of this in one breath,, turning to the other side, she was totally convinced that Wali won't let her help anywhere,"ok fine, installments tum de dena", and his voice was so unexpected, as always!, "really Wali, I mean tum ne sach main mujhe..

"ik aur baar confirm kiya tu decision reverse kar don ga!', he strictly said and closed his eyes, while farah kissed his check, "thank you, ab tu tum ziyada jaldi debts finish kar ..

And Wali opened his eyes giving her an angry glare, "ok ok sorry, nahi baat karti, so jao",she placed her hand over his eyes and Wali just couldn't help his heart flow over her innocence.

Wali was the same quiet types, but farah did speak of his part, she was now getting used to his ways, and she loved the way he was. She never did demand anything from him, because she knew that was not his nature.

Maynak was lying with his head in farah's lap, and farah was stroking his hair and simultaneously reading a novel, she had the novel in one hand and her other hand was  stroking Wali's hair. Wali was sensing that her concentration was more towards the novel, initially he decided to ignore, but compromising had always been difficult for him, he opened his eyes as her hand movements completely stopped and her eyes were glued to the book.

 Farah was totally engrossed in the novel, it was going through an interesting turn, she was feeling her pulse rise with every word, the protagonist was about to find out the killers of her husband.

She ran through the names on the list, each and every name was unfamiliar, except for that name, she couldn't believe he could be the one who killed her husband, she read the name aloud.. it was..

And the book closed

"Waliii!!"

She was left dumbfounded when Wali took the book form her hands and closed it, he looked at her, with his head still in her lap,"what?", his tone was normal, "you very well know I hate when your attention is diverted", he said and closed his eyes again and farah was just staring him in disbelief, "Wali plz, just two lines more, wo .."

He opened his eyes and farah felt as if she lost all her words because his eyes had such a strict expression, "you prefer to read?", his voice was stiff, strict and commanding. She slightly shook her head in disapproval, 'good", he closed his eyes again and farah's lips broke into a smile, she slowly started  stroking his hair again. She could sense the contentment on his face, she loved when he was authoritative with her, she loved when he commanded with the assurance that he had full right over her, she loved when he behaved like a typical demanding husband. She never got angry on all of this, because his commanding showed his love, his affection and the feeling of assurance that his wife will never back off from showering affection on him. Soon he slept, but farah didn't read the book again, she kept on stroking his hair until she fell  asleep herself.

Life was getting beautiful, with destiny playing its part in their relation as always, they both were there for each other, farah announcing this fact and Wali's silent assurances, but whenever they fell short, it was destiny there for them.

Wali returned home at about 11, "aj jaldi kaise a gaye?", farah asked while they were having dinner, "the subway was to close after 12, repair hona tha, so I came early",.

 They finished dinner and farah got busy in the kitchen, Wali came in the room. Farah's files scattered on the table, he pushed them all away to place his watch and wallet, when an envelope fell down, he was about to place it back but he read the words HAPPY BIRTHDAY FARAH on it. He was stunned, he opened the card immediately and it was from her colleague, he took out her id card from the drawer, reading her birth date, it was today!! 3^rd January!!.. he glanced at the clock and it was 11.45, he still had 15 minutes. He smiled with disbelief, destiny at its work!

Farah was in the lounge and just placing some bills in the shelf when she was hugged from back,"happy birthday", her hands stopped midway in placing papers, she turned in his arms, seeing him in disbelief, "kia?", Wali started giggling seeing the shock in her eyes, so he kissed her cheek, "happy birthday!", the shock was still evident, "tumhain pata tha??', but her voice was jubilant and eyes started sparkling and at that time Wali cursed himself for not knowing it, "nahi, I read your card", he said, and suddenly farah's excitement faded a bit and Wali felt guilty, "I am sorry for it, btw tum ne ku nahi bataya?, the whole day u  talk non-stop!", he tried to cheer her up, "aisey hi, I was..

"shy?", he chuckled and farah hugged him blushing, "yes and thank you, and u don't need to be sorry," farah expected him to say something more but he left her and went to his drawer in the lounge, "that was rude", she spoke in rage as she didn't expect him to leave her like this, that too on her birthday, she turned to the shelf  when  he again hugged her, this time grabbing her hand, "choro mera hath," she was still angry but was amazed when he slipped a ring in her finger, "happy birthday farah, I cherish the day u came in this world, just to make my life beautiful," he said and kissed the finger with the ring, farah was just speechless to react to what he said, , "ye ring maa ki hai, I don't have anything precious than this", he said brushing his thumb over the ring and farah was just trying to adjust words , "Wali! Tum..!", she spoke in a voice broken due to tears of joy and hugged him tightly, she didn't know what to say more, she just hugged him and seeing the ring with teary eyes, " btw if u allow me than I need to give some other gifts also", she pulled herself back and  saw the typical twinkle in his eyes and understood his other gifts, "no thank you, waise bhi its 12, my birthday is over," she said looking at the time piece on the shelf, "as if I care", Wali said and placed the clock upside down, and before farah could say anything she was picked up in his arms.

Farah never gave up; she still always pushed him to speak about his past. It was not that Wali wanted to hide something, it was just he didn't want to talk. He didn't want to transfer his painful past to his sensitive and emotional wife, but not knowing that his wife could make his rough decisions reverse just by her one imploring look.

"Wali, coffee", she quietly placed the cup on the table and adjusted herself near him, placing her head on his shoulder, "do u mind giving me some privacy?", Wali said closing his book.

"yes I do", she cuddled more close to him, "farah you are being a kid now", he said again but farah took no notice, he lifted her chin and looked in her eyes. Farah opened them wide.

Wali was working on his accounts and whenever he used to do it, farah used to silently come near him.

Today she saw the same strict expression in his eyes and she moved away, but what Wali saw today was different. Everytime before, her eyes used to show anger but today he saw her getting disheartened.

Farah was really disheartened, she couldn't understand why wasn't she allowed to look in his affairs, she slipped in the covers  and closed her eyes firmly, with a tiny tear coming out, but soon she felt a kiss on her check, "parh lo, but don't question", he placed the book in front of her and turned to other side. Farah got up immediately, she was shocked, but at the same time happy, she was not curious , she was concerned.

She read the book, it was his accounts of the last five years. It was really huge amount, it was not only debts, but he also had to support his home, the money he spent here. So much of his money was on interest, and the first 3 years he was just paying interests, his real debt money was started 2 years back, and he was right, it was really about to finish. Her tears started flowing and she closed the book, and obeying to his command, she didn't say a word, just hugged him.

Although Wali was silent all the time, but he knew when and how to make farah happy, and he knew what mattered the most for her.

Wali entered home and held farah's hand, "I need to show you something,"

"kahan Wali?', she dropped the spoon, "bus chalo," they were about to step out of home,"Wali let me change atleast,", she stopped staring him in disbelief,

"jaldi karo, just 5 minutes"

"Wali lekin.."

"jaldi karo farah"

"you are just impossible", she went inside stamping her feet and retuned in about 5 minutes, dressed in a jeans and sweater, "jaldi karo", Wali held her hand and they stepped out of house, the weather was very chilly, "Wali itni sardi main kahan le k ja rahe ho?, but Wali was quiet and as farah was quite used to his shocks till now, she kept on walking silently.

Wali stopped in between a road and farah looked at him in a puzzled way , "kia hia?"

Wali stood behind her and slightly lifted her chin and she saw something which stunned her. She was speechless and ecstatic.

"OH MY GOD!",

 the white cloth gushed down the hoarding and it was the banner of HER add!. She had just approved these designs the last week, and she knew they were to be put up around the city, but this was the exact time, it was being put up!. "I wanted you to witness your work first", he slowly said and farah came out of her banner and looked at Wali who smiled lightly, "I don't believe this Wali ", she hugged him, " thank u soo much".

After a couple of minutes he broke from the hug, "chalen ghr?", Wali asked and she looked at the banner again, trying to capture it in her eyes, it looked gorgeous in the moonlight and dark,"hmm", she nodded and they started walking back to their home, farah slipped her arm in his arm, holding his hand tightly, "tumhain kaisey pata chala Wali k ye display ho raha  hai?'

'Jab ghr a raha that u I heard these people talking about putting up the Stevenson's adds for display"

"oh! Ummm..tumhain kaisa laga Wali?', she asked

"I told you I like everything about you", he said normally and farah smiled contently, she was used to his silence and she vowed to herself that she will never let his silence come in between their relation, he was just the perfect person for her and his one fault won't affect their relation, she vowed increasing her grip over his hand, not knowing that she will have to prove all this soon.

Pyar kiya tu nibhana..