chapter 33

.

Athar's POV

.

I was sitting on the bed and pretending to watch a movie on my laptop, i had earphones plugged in, but the movie was playing on mute. My whole attention was on Ayesha, she was pacing in the room restlessly.

Every time I see her like this my heart hurts. This is not what I wanted for her. She looks in pain. It has been two week since she is here, but she has not even gotten a moment of peace.

What should I do to make her comfortable?

Ayesha sat on the bed next to me and picked up her phone, she stared at it, then put it back. She was looking confused. From my peripheral vision I was noticing her every activity.

She called someone then pressed the phone on her ear, then she put the phone down, in a minute she dialled someone again

"Hello" a voice came from the other side, the volume of her phone was so high that I could hear it clearly. She looked at me to make sure I wasn't listening.

"Mumma, it's me. I have been calling you for so long, why are you not answering your call?" She cried

"How dare you to call me? I told you, that i don't want to hear anything from you"

"Please don't talk like that. For how long you are going to be upset with me? My heart can't take it anymore. Please forgive me"

"I will never forgive you and how can you only think about yourself! Do you even have any idea how much you have hurt us"

"I'm sorry"

"I don't want your sorry, just don't call back ever again. I told you earlier also that we have disowned you."

"No no no please, don't say that. I will die" she broke into tears

"You are already dead to us" she said and then there was silence.

Ayesha was crying badly, I wanted to hold her in my arms and comfort her, but i knew I was not in a position to even lay a finger on her.

I controlled myself and kept on pretending to be busy with my laptop

She got up and went to the washroom. I kept the laptop away and stood up. I was waiting for her to return, she came back from the washroom, i looked at her, her eyes were red.

"Ayesha! Are you ok?" I asked, she glared at me and turned into the closet.

"I heard what aunty said...."

"You heard it, right? Now go and celebrate" she snapped at me, fresh tears appeared in her eyes, she left the room.

It's all because of me. I forced her into marrying me and now she is hurting.

That's it! I won't let her cry anymore, I went after her. I saw her walking in the prayer room, i stopped at some distance.

She spread the prayer mat and offered namaz, i stayed where I was, waiting for her to finish. After she was done, she raised her hand to pray. She began crying again, soon her whimpers turned into loud sobs. The whole room was echoing with her sobs.

I couldn't watch it anymore, i took a step towards her, just then dadi entered the room, i took a step back.

Dadi went to her and sat beside her, dadi caressed Ayesha's head, she hugged her and cried even louder

I couldn't hear what dadi was saying, but she kept on rubbing her back. I was standing there helplessly, i couldn't do anything to bring peace to Ayesha

Her sobs died and she laid in dadi's lap. I left from there. I was feeling bad for her. My decision has turned her life upside down, but what else could I have done, i didn't want to lose her at any cost.

***

"What is it buddy?" Izhaan asked

It has become a part of our lifestyle now, when everyone goes to their room, Izhaan comes in my room and Ayesha goes to Reem.

"You look troubled" he asked, i sat up straight, he followed my actions

"It hurts to see Ayesha in so much pain" i said

"What happened now?" He asked, i told him about, Ayesha's phone call with her mother. He sighed deeply

"Only time can solve all these issues now. I noticed dadi behaving differently with her at the dinner table"

"Dadi wiped her tears when she was crying, her heart has softened for her"

"Isn't it good?" He asked, i looked at him

"I don't like the way maa treats her. What is wrong with her? I've never seen her so rude to anyone in my entire life"

"Her behaviour surprises me also, but it's just the reaction of an action. She believes Ayesha is equally wrong in this marriage"

"Then I will tell her the truth"

"You will not" he pointed a finger at me

"I can't see her treating my wife like this" i said, he sighed

"I have been telling you repeatedly to give  some time, everything will be ok"

"But it's becoming hard to bear"

" Think about the consequences of telling to everyone. Are you ready for that? Are you ready to let her go?"

"No"

"Then? A little more time, buddy" he put a hand on my shoulder, his support gave me courage

I would have been devastated without his support. He has been there for me like a rock. And I have made his life miserable also.

"Sorry buddy" i said, he frowned

"For what?"

"One decision of mine has impacted everyone's life, you have been sent out of your own room because of me" I felt bad, he smiled

"Stop being so hard on yourself, it was all in the fate, and one thing more, I am not here because of you, I have left my room, only because of Reem. I know she wants space, that's what I'm trying to give her"

"You really love her, don't you?"

"Yes I do" he sighed, I nodded.

"I wish she could see what Allah has blessed her with" i said

"Oh she will. I will make sure she does" he said smugly

We both laughed.

"By the way Mr Khan, please clear your schedule soon, Nani has been calling to find out when are we going to meet her!" He said

"Yeah she called me also" i remembered

Since she couldn't come for the wedding so now she has been asking all of us to visit her soon

"Let's make a plan soon" he said, i nodded, "I'm going to sleep now"

*****

.

Ayesha's pov

.

It feels great to have dadi on my side, last night she held me and whispered soothing words to me. I felt so relieved for her to be with me.

I woke up feeling happy. It feels like today is going to be a good day. Reem asked me to go to her university with her. She has to submit some documents for her upcoming exams.

She has gone to the administration building, while I was in the cafeteria waiting for her. I was watching in my phone, just scrolling through my email, I have missed so much in the past few weeks, there were so many unread messages, there was one email from my university, the subject was my degree, i opened it, I could hardly read it when a voice interrupted me

"Ayesha" I froze, i didn't want to look up, i knew whose voice was it

"Won't you even look at me?" He said, I gathered every ounce of courage in me and looked up

"How are you, sufiyan?" I asked, he chuckled

"How do you think I will be?" He said, i was feeling so guilty about what I have done with him, he didn't deserve it

"I'm sorry" i said, "what I did with you is unforgivable, and i understand, if you are angry with me, I would have..."

"That is the problem" he said interrupting me, "I can't stay mad at you" he said with a sigh, i looked down, "just one question, why? Why did you do it?"

"I can't tell you the reason behind it, but believe me, I never wanted to hurt you"

"I know! I tried hating you, i said a lot of mean things about you, but my heart defended you every single time. I could never stop thinking about you, i cannot stop loving you" his confession made me uncomfortable

"Sufiyan, I can't tell you how bad I feel, but nothing can be done now, you have to forget me and move on in life" i said, he chuckled dryly

"It can be your choice, if you want to stay in my life or not, but you cannot decide what I can or cannot feel for you"

"What is the point now?"

"Can we stay friends at least?" He asked taking me by surprise

"Friends?"

"I told you once that I want you to be in my life, if not as a life partner, then friend maybe"

I was unsure of what to say. I looked around

"Please Ayesha" he said, i sighed and nodded.

*****

Reem and I were on our way back to home. She was on the phone talking to Prajakta, the incharge of the NGO in her absence. She was taking briefs about what was happening.

I was thinking about Sufiyan. I wonder if I did the right thing by being friends with him. But I don't see anything wrong with it? We are anyway not going to meet every day.

"A penny for your thoughts?" Reem asked, I sighed

"I met Sufiyan" i said, she looked at me

"Ok! Then what happened?" She asked, i told her about everything.

"So what is bothering you?"

"I don't know if it is a good idea to be connected with him" i sighed

"Why not?"

"Just like that"

"You are overthinking. I don't see anything wrong in it"

"I don't know. Anyway what was Prajakta saying?" I asked

"Just giving me details about what is going on, it's been almost three weeks since I have last been to the NGO, I don't know how to handle it now"

It reminds me I never told her that I have told jeeju about everything she does.

"I think you will have to tell everyone about NGO now" i took a chance

"No way" she shook her head

"Then how will you manage? You will have to lie to everyone constantly" i said

"I'll see" she shrugged, i groaned and blurted out

"I told jeeju everything" she frowned at me

"You what?"

"He deserved to know. I had to tell him" i sighed, she glared at me

"I didn't want to tell him specifically"

"Why?"

"He thinks I'm some spoilt brat, i wanted to let him believe in that" she looked at me, then focused back on the road

"You are being silly Reem. You had to tell him, your work requires a lot of going out, you will need him by your side. Or you can forget about the NGO" i said honestly, she rolled her eyes

"Whatever"

The rest of the journey went quietly. And soon we reached home, when I entered my room, i found Mr Khan pacing around, when he saw me he came to me

"Where did you go?" He asked, ignoring him i went into the closet, I was scanning the cupboard to change.

"I'm talking to you" Mr Khan stood behind me

"But I'm not" i said and was walking past him, but he held my arm and pulled me to him

"How dare you to go to the university? Don't you know that monkey works there?" He seethed, I looked away

"I don't want that guy anywhere near you, do you understand?" He shouted, i felt so angry, i pushed him with all of my strength, since he was not expecting this he stumbled a little

"Who are you to tell me who to meet and to whom not?"

"I'm your husband"

"You are not. And don't think for a moment that I will ever listen to you. I will only do what I want and you cannot stop me" I snapped at him and walked out

Aye bade, husband (husband, my foot)

I feel so tired, i just wanted to go to sleep.

*****

.

Izhaan's POV

.

When I returned home after work my eyes were looking for Reem, I was expecting her to welcome me with a glass of water, but I knew it was too much

Dadi was sitting in the living room.

"Assalamualaikum" I said

"Walekumassalam my child" she smiled widely. I went and laid on the sofa, i was feeling so tired, I kept my head on her lap, she started massaging my head, I closed my eyes

"How was your day?"

"Tiring. Where is Reem?"

"She was sleeping."

"I thought you said that she will be welcoming me whenever I will return from work" I pouted, she chuckled

"Soon"

"Athar told me how you pacified Ayesha, that was very nice of you, I'm so happy"

"I have always liked Ayesha, i was angry, but i couldn't see her crying" she said

"Dadi" Reem came running, i sat straight

"What happened?" Dadi asked, she looked at me, then back at dadi

"I just got a call from the university, one document is missing from what I have submitted" she said

"Oh god! Now what?" Dadi asked

"I will have to submit it by tomorrow."

"Then?"

"I have to go to my house to find the document, i don't even remember where I kept it" she said

"This is your house beta, that is your father's house. When do you want to go?" Dadi asked

"I'm going right now, I wanted to ask Ayesha if she can come with me but she is sleeping and I don't want to disturb her, So I will just quickly go and come back" she said

"Why will you go alone, izhaan will take you" dadi said, she looked at me

"It's ok dadi, let him rest, he must be tired" she said, i immediately stood up

"No not tired at all" I shook my head.

"Both of you can go right now" dadi said

Reem just stayed quiet. I went to her.

"Shall we?" I asked, she sighed and nodded

I took the car key and both of us went to my car. She sat on the passenger seat. I  dropped on the driving seat, i began driving.

"Which document you are looking for?" I asked

"Just drive" she said

I shook my head, and actually just focused on driving.

I was parking the car while Reem went inside. Our plan was she would go and bring the document while I will just wait in the car. Suddenly her father's car came in the driveway. I got off the car to greet him. He grinned ear to ear when he saw me.

"Assalamualaikum" i said

"Walekumassalam beta" he hugged me, "what are you doing here? Come inside"

"Reem has just gone to get some document, i am waiting for her to return" his face brightened

"Reem is here? Let's go" he held my hand and pulled me in the house

"Reem! Beta!" He shouted as he entered the house. He was looking around. Reem came till the stairs

"Beta when did you come? Come here" he opened his arms for her

"I'm looking for something" she said and turned around. My eyes widened in shock at her such a cold behaviour. Uncle's arms dropped and his smile was long gone, he looked so embarrassed, he looked at me and gave me a weak smile, i felt so angry at Reem

"I will bring her" i said, and was about to walk, but he stopped me

"No beta, let it be" he sat on the couch

"Sahab water" a maid came and brought two glasses of water, for me and uncle.

"Prepare for dinner, make everything Reem Bibi likes, it has to be special, my izhaan is here" uncle instructed, she nodded and left.

"We won't be staying till dinner"

"Nonsense, i won't let you go" he shook his head

In any other situation I would have avoided Reem's coldness but now I deserve to know everything about her so I just asked

"Why did she behave like this with you?"

"She is busy, that is why" he shrugged

"No! I saw her face, it was something else"

He heaved a sigh then he told me about the behavior of Reem with him, how over the year she changed and blame him for leaving him alone, it was so shocking for me, i could have never imagined she thought like that.

"Why do you never talk to her about what you actually feel and went through! You have also lost a lot, she should have been your support" I said

"Reem was not like this, but she has become a very complicated person now, she might give you hard time, but my daughter has a heart of gold"

I was just looking at him blankly. I didn't know how to feel about it.

"Anyways, how's everything? How's everyone at home?" Suddenly he changed the topic, even i decided to let it go now for now.

We both were busy in making small talk, Reem's mom never showed up, i did not even ask about her.

Reem didn't want to stay for dinner but on the persistence of Rukhsana aunty she agreed, little by little I am discovering her. She is so much more than what she shows

After the awkward dinner, we left for home.

I wanted to ask Reem about what uncle told me, but decided otherwise, we have not reached to that level, where she would share her feelings with me.

Her phone rang, she took it out of her bag, she sat straight when she saw the caller then answered it

"Hello! Chandni!... What? Since when? Oh god! I'm coming" she said and hung up, then she looked at me

"Stop the car" she said

"Why? What happened? Is everything ok?"

"I have to go somewhere very urgently, just stop the car" she was looking very worried

"Tell me where you want to go, I will take you" i said with finality, she sighed and gave me the address

It was some slum area where we reached, it looked very under developed. She got off the car and ran, i followed her.

"Madam" a woman shouted looking at Reem, she went to her

"Chandni" she said, two children were standing there with the lady

Reem was inquiring with the lady, she told her that her husband got drunk and hit her and the kids. Then he thrown them outside the house

I felt so angry at whoever the guy is.

"He's drinking again? Even after a year in rehab?" Reem asked

"He changed completely after returning, but he lost his job last month, and since then we have been having difficulties, in stress he started drinking again"

Reem held her hand

"Come with me" she pulled her towards some closed door her, she banged on it loudly

"Get lost" a male voice said, i quickly moved near her

"Open the door" Reem shouted

The guy answered the door. Reem walked inside with the lady, i face palmed myself. What the hell is she doing? Going to a drunk man! I stood at the doorway of the small room

"How could you throw your wife and your ill kids out like this?" She shouted

"This is my house, not your NGO, so stop shouting" he said

"Chandni! Throw his bottles, he will not drink now" Reem said

"who the hell are you to stop me?" he took a threatening step towards her, i ran and stood in front of Reem

"How dare you?" I slapped him so hard, that he fell on the bed and fainted, everyone gasped, I held Reem's hand and brought her outside Chandni followed us

"I'm calling the police, they will arrest him for domestic violence" i said

"No no, sir please no" Chandni joined her hands in front of me

"Why? Why are you still saving him? He hit you"

"However he is, he is my husband, if police catches him what will happen to me then? Who will feed my kids? How will I live?" She cried

"You can feed them" i replied

"I am a woman, I'm weak. I have to think about my children, I can't take care of them on my own, I need him by my side" she said, I scoffed

"Who said women are weak. If you ask me they are the strongest, much stronger than a man can ever be. You don't need a guy like him in your life. You think he is a good influence on your kids? Stand up for them, if not for yourself. Seek help from the law. Just because he is a man, he doesn't have a right to walk over you, know your worth and remember it. A woman has a choice to choose what she wants" i told her.

"Madam" she looked at Reem.

"Go home for now, we'll see what we can do in the morning, come to the NGO, I will be there." Reem said

Then Reem took out some money and handed over to her. She hugged Reem.

After sending them to their house Reem and I made way to the car. She was silently walking, she stopped near the car and spoke

"If a woman is stronger than a man, then is it right to force her into something, if she has a right to choose, then is it ok to take away that right?" She asked, i knew she was referring to Athar and Ayesha, I walked to her

"Love makes you do things you can never imagine yourself doing"

"Blackmailing is not love" she scoffed

"What is love? What is the definition love? Who decides what love is?" She frowned at me

"Doing stupid things just because you are so scared of losing someone is love, putting your life in danger to save someone's life is love, taking taunts and hatred from someone and still not saying anything is love" I made her count everything Athar has done for Ayesha. She stood quietly

"Love is complicated, sometimes it makes you so big that you sacrifice your own life for the sake of the one you love, and sometimes it makes you so selfish, that just to keep your love with you, you can do anything, right or wrong"

I went really near her, she looked at me with her big eyes

"Leaving your comfort zone for someone is also love" i whispered

my bed is my comfort zone and I left it for her.

"Hmm?" She asked

I smiled, i lightly caressed her cheek with my thumb

"let's go" i immediately turned around and sat in the car. She also settled in, then i began driving.

I concentrated on road, but I could feel the heat of her gaze on me, I looked at her

"What?" I asked. She shook her head and looked outside the window.

Rest of the journey passed in silence, not awkward silence, just peaceful silence.

When we reached home I found maa and dadi sitting on the sofa in the living room, what got me alarmed was maa's pouring tears. I ran to her.

Please vote and comment