Chapter 52 — Glow & guns

05: am...

Hay barn.....

******

A rooster's crowing.....

Emblem of dawn...

crackling fire, like geese dance....

Herculean chest, and an innocent fawn......

****

The barn. Husky smell of hay around. Bonfire in the tub. The burning wooden logs, crackling sound. The natural scent of incandescent charcoal–the already burnt out light in lantern. All was looking as whimsical as Rumpelstiltskin story.

But Faraan made his night golden.....not those straws or hay around.

His arm was under Noor's head, her soft murmurs of breathing was hitting on his sternum. He saw her face....cute lashes were over curled due to repeated drenching. He leaned and kissed on the super pinky nose tip.

Slowly getting up on his elbow, he jammed for a second as Noor's head shifted on his forearm. She slightly whimpered and her breath transferred on his stomach.....soft yet warm. His heart heaped with love, as he was recalling moments, couple of hours back. He slowly undid his arm with her head, carefully adjusted her on pillow, closely watched her face and found himself a helpless paramour of her. A sudden urge and he couldn't resist himself to peck on those cherry lips...

Ahmmmm!

He got down and was stretching. The charpoy was small to his length.. He had a bit struggle to sleep...but he was loving that charpoy, which had complemented him for some time. As he stretched, a very sweet and strange flavor of pain got erupted... in his every pore.

His body was feeling an untellable sensuousness, ruffling through hair, his gaze deeply laid on Noor, now she was all hidden in the blanket, only her honey Brown locks were spread over the pillow.

A soft smile appeared on his face, liked the way she was sleeping.

An epic smile crept up on his face as he examined,  some scratches on his chest and arm. Gifted by Noor.

"Baby fighter!" He coaxed with amusement.

Rooster crowing again....this time quite nearer..

There were few flames remained in tin tub, any time room was going to welcome the darkness inside.

He slowly put on his shirt and searched the phone.

Signals were so weak.

He saw around and found a cabin in faraway corner. He turned on the flashlight of his phone and explored the cabin into small wash area with mere necessities...

He moved towards the door, unlatched it and prowled out.

As he stepped out of the barn, checked the door, there was an old rusted lock was hanging in the latch outside, he saw around...there were wooden pallets were laid in a pile, may be for the expansion of barn.

He thought for a second.....and picked the wooden pallets in sets and made those stand against the door, the door just got hid behind the shield of pallets. After doing such MacGyver thing, he walked ahead..

At the east, the sunrise hue made him pause. In a reverie, he marveled at the peeking over the horizon, and the clouds like a sea of pink cotton candy. As he resumed his walk, he raved over the sight of that vista.

The cold breeze hit his body...he sniffed a humid air, as already sensed water's hegemony in atmosphere. Seriously felt need of a bath. He was moving in the direction of that lake which Sajawal told him earlier......

"Ohh....wow!"

There was a natural lake he found, it was still dark around...as sun yet to be popped on the face of the Earth.

He found a perfect escape to unleash his mind, amongst surreal beauty of the lake. He quickly took off his shirt and looked around and then, as he slowly unbelted then unzipped his pant...

Rooster' s crowed ....very near...

"Abay chup....yaar!"

(Oh shut up)

He literally jumped up, turned his face and found a rooster roaming around near lake bank. Staring at him.

He took off his pant, now he was in his boxers....he placed his cloth on a bench like large rocky stone, and...

splash!!!!

He dived in the water, and swam around.... the temperature of water was so welcoming to his body, not so cold as he assumed it, before diving in....

He saw rooster moving towards the rocky bench side.... He held his breath, plunged in and swam under water....as he popped up and released his breath...he saw rooster was poking into his shirt, As it picked his shirt in its beak...

"Hey dude.....Build your muscles first..." He called out. Bird stared him for a second then poked into his pant.

"Yar apni tangein to dekh, tujhay nahi aye ge meri pant!"

(just look at your legs...too short for my pant)

He called out after another plunge and popping up.

He saw rooster left his pant, jumped down and started scrapping the ground with its claws.

As he got done and came out, ran fingers through his hair to rinse out extra water.

"Aren't you a gay?"

He smilingly asked that, as found rooster staring at himself.

He moved ahead, picked his pants, jerked and put on..then did the same with shirt..

"Farigh admi ....where is your better half?"

He spoke to rooster, which now jumped up on wooden fence near a small grassy area, flapped its wings and crowed with its full might.

"Laga reh...macho.."

(Keep doing)

He moved ahead to his car....eyes were witnessing the picturesque sunrise. The golden beams permeating from the sky behind the hills. The cool breeze brushing against his face....it was the perfect escape for anyone who is fond of nature.

***************

Date of boring......(.......)

Depth.........300 feet.

It was a rusty hand pump, standing in his way...with a bucket hanging in its nozzle. The date was like faded engraved in a marble slate, but depth was quite visible.

He placed Noor's bag on quite dry place and gripped the handle, as he lifted up then pressed down for couple of time, a fat stream came out from its outlet.... He washed his hand first, then drank it by using his palm.

That was great in every proportion...

"Mineral water, original..

Yeah... what a taste". He drank few more gulps as he was feeling a pure replenishment inside him..

He looked around, now a quite clear view. Remnants of downpour were visible everywhere, as most of the village was  transformed into marshy land. Small puddles of muddy water in walking ways. making you jump over them.

He picked out mobile, battery was on its verge of dying.

Time was half past 5 of the morning. While carefully taking step to the barn, he witnessed morning routine was about to start in that village....as smoke was spewing out of fewer of houses,

He took the bucket, filled it from Lukewarm water of hand pump, picked Noor's bag, which he decided to get from car earlier, as a thought hit his mind, in the way that might be she needed something from her bag.

Now he was heading towards hay barn, where his wife was in deep slumber.

He took sigh as barn came into his view........he placed both the hangings on ground, removed pallets carefully, and dashed inside.

He saw her still curled in rope bed, beneath the blanket. He closed the door slowly and latched it. As he drew closer, he saw, she took turn and few part of her back was exposed.... He felt an intense intoxication, at once.

like an Ayurvedic botanical herb, she was yielding natural vigor for his body....

He left the hanging on ground, looked around..... put some hay in tin tub to prevent bonfire dying out.

Slowly he sat on charpoy, gazing her back , he was getting into a trance....

An urge.....again....

****

Noor's POV:

"Noor"

His Nirvana filled tone, like calling from heaven on earth, like all he attained.

Slowly moving his hand all over me....he was feeling me from over the blanket, as I'm his Persian Cat.

The way he called me, wrenched my heart...it started squeezing then pumping so fast...and beneath the blanket slow shivering hit my body again.

His entire form, his stateliness, leaning yet rubbernecking over me, was enough to hatch an unwanted situation....yes obviously for me...

"Beauty must not be sleeping, when in need."

His whispers peeking through his voice, and moves of his hand, stung me at the same time. That lead me to a big lurch...and two muscular arms held my numb and dire physical state in his tight embrace.

"Zaalim..."

I slowly parted my lids...labelled him..slowly and tightly closed my eyes again...

"So shy!" He was now brushing his lips on mine....

"Ahh....What do you want now....beast?"

"Babe....get..up."

Now he was pecking on my forehead.

Drip.....

A few drops of water, dropped on my face, made me shot open my eyes...

"Noor are you OK?" He was asking very, very closely.

'Yes, I'm ready for heavy weight championship'

I didn't know, why he was asking even, he knew my state....it was just a formality of him...hunh.

I was in pain...but he truly gained.... All of his groans, were stuck into my mind....even he was not convinced to my sobs. "Easy....just Easy!" That's all he replied to my resistances during his work. All I heard his heaved breathing competing my erratic heartbeat — my mute cries.

I thought, I would die...because kiss is the innocent plus easiest part, that's what I experienced.

He was responsible for my that state, I never thought myself in this situation ever.

Weird mixture of feelings, emotions..

Let me tell you clearly, what was my thought.

I felt then my status...it had changed... I became woman.

I don't know why....but my heart sank...I was just missing my girly existence.....with this again my eyes pooled up....I know you will think it a mistake of mine ....but....please... it's my uncontrollable thought which I stated.

Drip....

"Noor..."

Water drop and my name from his mouth dropped same time but with two different properties, water drop was cold...and the way he dropped my name was deep heated...

Before flinching my face away, that was the reaction of mine. .......I caught that, water was dripping from his hair...

'Cruel....beast...water dripping monster'

My unvoiced thoughts.....the love for my beast replaced...and now he was truly... Justified...certified beast.

"Hey....here." He turned my face towards him....his voice weirdness loaded again..

Danger zone....Danger zone...

His flamelike touches alarmed my nervous system.

"Noor...I need it. Again. Wanna hold you again. Got it?"

His hot breath swirling with demand on my face....

'Please.....beast.....no'

"I want you more." He kissed on cheeks, then lips.

"More!" He licked on chin then. "More!" He got on top of me again. "More.." He was roughly kissing my shoulders, nipped my Adam's apple. He was nuzzling around....and started to trail down.

"Faraan!"

His dominance, all in his actions....my eyes again pooled up.... all the pain I bored in the night, came in front of my eyes...I voiced my dumb request with my palms on his, chest ...and pleaded brokenly.

"Queeny! Calm down....why tears?" He brushed my tears off with his thumbs.

I was still, in blanket....there was only a blanket on my body. I never wanted that again...helplessly two tears left the slit corner of my eyes and slipped on my temples.

He saw, all me beneath trembling...he bent on my face...hold my hand in his, kissed with his searing lips and spoke in honey glazed voice.

"Noor, I want babies from you."

Ammmh!!!

A little whimper, when I found him again grazing my face. He trailed to my bosom. His grip around me was going tight to tighter.

I squirmed with full of my strength, tried to pushed him away...but he was miles ahead in strength.

"Please....I..I'm..in....p-pain."

I tightly grasped the blanket, and pleaded to him, who was clearly wanting an intrusion in the blanket again.

Beast stopped, his firm grip, transformed into gentle touch...he pulled gently my face towards him me in never more than a whisper. "I was very gentle!"

I hid my face inside the blanket, like mute protest.

"Noor!" He called.

"Go away!" I replied within sobs.

****

Faraan's POV:

"All your fault... Why you fought...mujhay apni Mom k pas jana hai...ab bhugto!"

(I want to go to my mom. Now bear with this)

I was blaming her, rehearsed her demand to me, when she fought.

I caressed her over the blanket to sooth her minimal jolted body..

"Now come on get up, we have to depart."

I spoke again and found a break in her jolts...

I saw she poked out her head out of blanket...... Saw me with wet eyes And an angry look on her face....

Woah!! She was looking more seducing with this anger on her face. I know it's weird to find seduction in anger looks but believe me—I was resisting hard there.

This girl has antics.

I thought in mind and looked again at her. The victim was again plunged in the blanket...

"Come on get up...freshen up...I know you need it...don't shy."

A smile crept on my features....then I spoke again gently to the hidden item, she was really doing weird. Response of her, innocent plus annoying.

"You go outside." She ordered in drenched voice and made me stand at once.

"Itna ghussa!" I smirked.

(Angry much)

"Like you care? Hunh!" Only her eyes were out of the blank through which she was glaring at me.

"Noor, I'm your husband. Mind it. You are behaving like a rape  victim." I tried to convince her, but couldn't control over my voice for being quite louder and in return I earned her more sobs in reply...

"Faraan...no!"

She pleaded to me while I started detaching slowly the blanket from her..

"OK then get up at once....we are not in our room. It's a barn! Anytime soon, Amma or Sajawal can come. Got it baby?"

I spoke and picked my watch from her side, glanced through and put it on.

"Ahh!"

I saw she was trying to sit in the same wrapping position.. I moved ahead and helped her...

"Come on!" I picked her heavy shawl type veil and wrapped around her to leave the place without blanket. She was looking so hesitant on my every move...looking in between towards me with her doe like eyes, cringing on my touches. So helplessness I found in those crystals.

"What!..yeh....kia?"

(What....... this..)

She was quivering and looking at the spot where she was present few moments ago. I saw and first time in my life I had to bit my lip. Printed cotton bed sheet was fully stained, she was trembling....and looking into my eyes with her brown widened orbs, fright sailing inside, and I was ruffling my hair. Just searched mentally — how to calm her.

"Noor...,listen...... it's OK!"

I felt her feebleness at the scene... and quickly removed sheet from bedding and threw in bonfire tub...

Noor was shocked at all...she gripped my arm for support, and said meekly.

"What have you done?......what have you done to me?"

She was shaking like her voice.

"Listen, everything is normal....you know.. it's not scary thing...not at all....OK?"

I scooped up her trembling figure in my arms and tried to calm her, but she was looking at me with tight lipped quivers....

"Here is a small washing area ..just be fresh in time. It's a village, people here, surly early riser. Do you want to be seen by Amma in this situation?"

I moved towards that wash area and spoke softly to the shawl wrapped fragile girl, who was simply shocked, beside shying. I heard that, girls blush on the next morning of their wedding night but this girl is.....(sighhhh) (speechless)

"Faraan..."

She was continuously tremulous yet pale at the situation.

"Noor easily fresh hojao ...do you need something from your bag?"

I saw she was still standing in wash cubical, truly not in easy stance... Biting her lips there. I simply found myself fail to cope up with her at that arena...

"Should I give you bath?"

I peeked from shoulder length wall and asked.....threatening tone of mine.

She nodded in big *No* with tears about to shower...that was the invitation of mine. I barged in at once.

"Fa...raan!" She spoke in shaky voice.

"Jan e Faraan! What's the problem ...just tell me."

I tried my ever best tone mixed with care and love, I knew she was needed this at that time.

"Hitch...." (a sob)

In reply she moved ahead and hit in my torso softly.....freed tiniest sob there, I covered her back with my arms around, rubbed her back in soothing way....my other hand was caressing her head....I was feeling her shivers....at the same time I was cursing myself to use the barn as my wedding night, this girl was so naive to handle the "adventurous excursion".

"I know, Mai buhat bura hoo."

(I am so bad..ain't I?)

I bent on her face and asked with Little whisper. She froze for a second and poked her beautiful head in my chest and spoke inside with muffled voice.

"Bura?....nahi... bulkay buhat buray ho. Buhat buray....buhat....buhat...buhat ziada buray ho!"

(you are not bad but very very really very bad)

She was nuzzling yet sobbing in my chest.

I leaned and kissed on her head couple of times....

"Angry bird! It's OK. I accept I'm bad, but you were so little. Just like a Rosebud!" I declared my defeat, feeling another round of secret sensations.

"I hate you....I ...hate...(hitch)....you!"

She was sobbing yet single handedly punching with her baby like strength in my chest.

"But I still love you!" I caged her tightly, hummed at her soft floral form, an evident sensation started in my body.

"Is it your love....is it called love?" She asked with her face upward, eyes into my eyes, her nose tip was red due to nuzzling in me. She gestured like wanted me to dumb in reply.

"To yeh kaha likha hai k Ashiq Baap nahi ban sakta?"

(lover can't become a father, where its written)

I smirkingly asked.

"Kia!!!..baap...kon baap?"

(What??.... father... Whose father)

I loved the mixed expression on her face like confused plus annoyed.

"Yeh baap...tumharay baccho ka baap!"

(This Father....Father of your kids)

I replied with my thumb stroking in my chest.

She was enough genius (pheww) to understand the word Baap or Father, so was testing my patience there with blushing.

"Na kero Noor, again charge horaha hoon."

(Don't do this...I am on charging again)

I whispered in her ear.

She stumbled back at my boldness, her shawl got bit misplaced, I saw the beauty treasures... ..just gripped her both wrists in my one hand... fondly touched her, she was struggling hard...

"Mat kero .....haar jao gi."

(don't.... You will lose)

I whispered that and made her froze....A sudden intoxication filled inside of me.

"I brought Warm water for you .Naha lo...is say pehly k pani thanda ho or mai garm hojao"

(Take bath...before water gets cold and me hot.

I made her sit on short length plastic stool carefully, and strode out.

****

11 : 30 am A desi wedding..

***********

Dha...dha....clapping...

Dha...clapping... Dha..

Tambour was in so rhythmically, beaten by a middle aged fully adorned woman...gathered by a joyous crowd of young and teenage girls.... One girl was continuously stroking a steel spoon on tambour to enhance the Melody.

Singing woman was quite old but fresh face...she was singing Tappa.

[A form of subcontinent's semi-classical vocal music with special lyrics. Its specialty is its rolling pace based on fast, Its tunes are melodious, sweet and depict the emotional outbursts of a lover. Mostly sung in Punjabi and desi weddings]

Noor, saw Amma beside her looking at her so affectionately..... A sudden gush of shame hit her, she lowered her head and felt Amma's lovingly Pat on her head....she was in cultural dress, provided by Amma, so embellished with hand embroidery.... Amma's daughter in law, Ameena was on left of her....completely attracted to her, providing info about the wedding and relatives. Noor was continuously replying her smiles with her owns delicate ones.

She was enjoying a lot to be a part of purely desi wedding. She was quite interested in Bride, who was bowed by jewelry and flanked by cheerful women relatives.

They both were participating in that wedding as guests, After her

ghusl (specific bath for purity again) she came out in grey woolen suit, which Faraan handed her with her body wash, they decided to leave but on Amma's heavy amount of love and insisting they stopped for breakfast.....

A pure desi festively arranged breakfast.... Patathas, fried in pure clarified butter, the aroma of fry eggs and green chilli's fat n fluffy omelet was so mouthwatering...along with Amma roasted a chicken to present a nice feast to her Saab....

Noor was looking so mute, and eating slowly, just to avoid the another fill up of her plate by Amma....Faraan was enjoying every bit of it.....as they done with breakfast, Sajawal's wife brought steamy aromatic tea in kettle, it was covered with tea cozy.....

As she placed tea, Faraan thanked that woman, who was serving them in that state of her.

As a token of thanks he picked out his vault and handed her a biggest Money Note.

Sajawal's wife, Ameena was so overwhelmed, she took note humbly, and made a request to attend wedding of her brother, just going to be held in this morning.... Faraan thought for a second, saw Noor's face but she was looking at Sajawal's wife.....he gave the consent...

Away from the city frenzy, this place welcomes you with a lot of love.

So then out in the open, the groom, who was seated next to Faraan, was clearly a young man, looks equally garlanded with money and colorful tinsels, around his neck covers almost his entire frame. A heavily embellished red silken shawl around him, guests were clustered near cauldrons of food or vast courtyard of Bride's house. that wedding was being arranged by a professional caterer of villages.

Few boys and some elders were bobbing their heads to songs on Radio . Everything about this place was so amusing.

An elderly man seems prominent between the villagers, may be community's head, with heavy salt n pepper, upward pointed moustache was talking with Faraan.

"These locals don't have anything, yet they are so content and have so much to give,"

Sardar Hameed ullah was saying.

He was cordially inviting Faraan to his house and Orchards he owned.

Tea continuously was being served... made on a bonfire in very large silver kettle had a unique taste.

Dogs and cats equally roaming by the catering side, in hope to find any meat scrap. Excited kids were running around, this place was truly decorated with colorful buntings...the Shamiana (tent) colorful plastic chairs all were taking part to facilitate this wedding.

Later, a singer from a nearby town arrived rattling on a scooter, a man in a festive yellow Shirt with perfect black hair and jet white teeth and the self-conscious air of a minor celebrity.

As he reached all were amazed...how can he sing alone.... But soon his band too arrived on a noisy and jerky pick up of late 80s....as all crew member gathered with their instruments....the crowd gathered around and gave them a big round of applause.

Faraan smiled at the guitarist.... He was in his mid-fifties...holding an indigenous guitar in his hand....Faraan's interest grew and he bit straightened up....

As the musicians with singer seated, all roaming platoon came and made their places every one possibly tried to become near.....

All women too started peeking outside as may be the most famous celebrity visited once in a lifetime there...

As bamboo curtain was being lifted by every other woman, inside of the room, Noor took glimpse of him, she saw, Faraan was seated with a mist probably groom .with his careless style....

She saw his face was glowing, at the situation around, a minimalist stretch in his lips. He was attracting her to himself with a beautiful notion of a smile...

Someone levelled the curtain...

'"Oh... Beast ...you are so happy....why shouldn't happy..you should be happy.....hmmm.... "Beauty Won't hurt you"....hunh...cruel..."

She was thinking and mimicked him inwardly....

Few girls again lifted the bamboo curtain...beauty was again busy in staring the beast....

Noor smiled when she saw, he was stretching....then he blocked a yawn, and he was rubbing his eyes....

Someone again levelled the curtain and cut the view of outside....

"Oopss!! Mery beast ko neend arahi hai"

(my beast is sleepy)

She thought and her cheeks got tinged with natural rouge.

Meanwhile Singer, at last positioned and started the famous desi pop song.

As song started women gathered outside the room, few were utterly glued in threshold with bamboo curtain permanently tied up...

Tainu Chaddiye Tay Thaan Mariye Dil Tainu Day Baithay Hunn Kariye Taa Ki Kariye (If I leave you, I die there, you have my heart,

Now, I can't do anything)

Tainu Pyar Ho Gaya Mainu Saiyaan Kehndi Haan (I love you...my love I'm saying to you...)

Jay Main Tere Kol Rahwaan Tay Main Raazi Rehndi Haan, (If I stay with you...

I feel happy and content)

Gaddi Tun Manga Day Tail Main Pawandi Haan (Bring me a car....

Don't care about fuel)

Naan Tera Lay K Menu Chairhdian Sakhiyaan Tak Lya Onna Tenu Wich Meri Akhiyaan (my friends tease me..

By your name...

In my eyed. They have seen you)

Sohni Akhaan Walyaa Tainun Wehndi Rehndi Haan (O, you have beautiful eyes, That's why I keep staring you)

Nit Yaar Nu Jee Karna Nit Yaar Nu Jee Karna Yaar Jay Kol Howay Asaan Duniya Nu Ki Karna Asaan Duniya Nu Ki Karna (I will always follow your rules,

If you are with me, I won't care about the rest of the world)

Loki Samjhaun Sachaa Pyar Nai O Labhdaa Dunya Di Bheer Wich Yaar Naiyo Labhdaa (O, people just understand this, Love can't be find in true form, In this overcrowded world It's hard to find true love)

Dil Nai O Manda Jadon Tainun Wehndi Haan Dil Nai O Manda Jadon Tainun Wehndi Haan (My heart never obeys me.

If I see you...it completely.

Gets out of control)

Noor with all other women , stood at threshold, completely lost in words...she never noticed that, Faraan had caught her glimpse, and was staring at her....

She was amazed at her own state...as her cheeks become all of a sudden hot....she was radiant with granting him shower of blushes....

She saw Amma was standing near Faraan...he was asking something from her, as Amma walked away...he again fixed his gaze at her.

A group of boys started dancing... Faraan did a move .....he saw around, found everyone busy in watching dance...he waited for meeting his gaze with her because like everyone, his wife got busied in dance for a while.

As she again laid her eyes on him, he "air kissed" her. She left the threshold in a flick... ran into a chair and stumbled....

"Bibi ....are you fine.... Come on sit take some rest.."

Ameena said, she was quite worried at her sudden stumbling..

Noor was mute, controlling her heartbeats there...

"Consider it your home, you're family, lie down bibi...I'm sure someone had jinxed you." Ameena spoke while feeling her forehead.

Noor smiled overwhelmingly at her unbelievable amount of love she was showering at her..

"Bibi...take some milk...its fresh....our goat's milk very famous in our area"

Mother of the bride saw, Ameena was worried about her special guest...she as a host, presented herself more hospitable with a large steel glass full of warm milk.

Noor saw mother of the bride....then Ameena..and slowly took glass from her hand with a thanks, as Ameena nodded at her as an approval.

Mother of the bride thankfully pat her head and moved away.

Noor found them, humble people with full of pride.

"How long since you got married?" Ameena asked with interest.

"Umm...few time ago". Noor replied.

"Pregnant?" Ameena spoke with smile...

"No"....Noor lowered her head, she felt her palm moistened, glass of milk shook in her hand...

"I'm pregnant of 8 months" Ameena this time shyly told her.

"MashaAllah, may Allah bless you with healthy baby...Ameen"

Noor cordially prayed for her.

"Ameen ..you are very sweet....just drink it please"

Ameena lifted the glass with her hand towards her mouth...

"Oh...OK" Noor spoke sheepishly and took a sip....

She listened.....a sudden break in song, music was stopped...she watched Ameena's face in confusion, who was in same boat...

She saw all the crowd of women...ran inside the room, left no air to breath...she felt some suffocation....

Loud humming of women...and an eerie silence outside.

Soon that ear piercing sound broke the silence.

The several gun shots fired and the air shattered. The bullets tore through space and silence simultaneously....

It was like a battle between two groups.

"YaAllah...Far....aan"

Noor squealed loudly and glass of milk fell on floor, her innocent heart couldn't bear the roses transformed into guns...

"Please stop it.... Please...

Faraan"