chapter 47

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Reem's POV

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"I feel so guilty yaar, I'm taking all the credit for something I have not even done" the guy said

Who is he? And what are they talking about.

"That is not true, all this wouldn't have been possible without you, how can you say you have not done anything" Athar held his arm

"Because it's you who invested the money in Aftab uncle's company, if he is able to see this success today, you are the reason behind it. Not only you invested financially, you helped him in coming out of this mess and nobody is aware of that, that's unfair to you"

My jaw fell on the ground hearing this.

"Oh come on Shazib" Athar smiled

Shazib? The one who helped baba? What did he mean by Athar did the investment?

"Bhabhi ko to bol do (Tell bhabhi at least)" he pleaded

"Usi ko to nahi bolna (I don't want to tell her)"

"What do you mean?" He frowned

"Nothing! Thank you once again for everything, I'll be grateful to you" Athar said

"Firstly, you only used my name, otherwise from money to strategies everything was yours only, and secondly this merge has been too beneficial for me" he shrugged, then they both laughed, Athar gave him a quick hug and then the guy left from there.

I was frozen on my spot, after what I have just heard I could not even move.

Athar turned and found me standing there, he paled. He was coming towards me with small steps.

"Hey" he smiled, and then was walking past me, but I stopped him

"Listen" I said, he stopped

"Yes?" He said

"What was that?" I asked directly without beating around the bush

"What was what?" He frowned, I rolled my eyes

"I heard you talking with Shazib, why was he saying that you invested money in baba's company?" I narrowed my eyes at him, he looked horrified

"N..no .. he didn't say anything like that" he flat out refused and was about to run away, but I was not in the mood to let him go without finding out the truth

"Don't lie"

"I'm not lying" he gave me a "I'm not going to open my mouth" look

I heard clearly whatever it was, he didn't want Ayesha to find out, so I played the trump card

"Ok! Don't tell me, I will ask Ayesha, she will definitely tell me" I said and turned around, as expected he stopped me immediately

"Fine! I will tell you" he said, I smirked. "but please, not a single word to Ayesha"

"Ok" I nodded, I just wanted to find out the truth "you helped baba?"

"Yes" he nodded

"How? Why? I'm so confused right now"

"I will tell you everything, but promise me that you will not share anything with Ayesha" he said, I nodded, then he told me everything about how he put forward Shazib and did everything.

"Does baba know?" I asked, he shook his head vigorously

"Of course not"

"When will you tell him?" I asked, he sighed deeply

"Look! I don't want anyone to find out about it, so please just forget about everything I just told you" he pleaded, I looked at him with doubt in my eyes

"What's the catch?" I asked, he frowned

"Matlab? (What do you mean?)"

"Matlab yeh k aapse itni mahanta ki ummeed nahi hai mujhe, aap jese ghamandi insan ne itna kuch kiya hai to koi na koi wajah to hogi iske peechhe (I mean that such greatness is not expected from an arrogant person like you, you must have a reason behind it)" I snapped at him, everything he did with Ayesha played in my head like a movie

His face turned hard, I saw him clenching his fists.

"Wajah hai, par tumhe batana mai zaruri nahi samajhta (there is a reason but I don't think it is required to tell you)"

"Ayesha ko to bataenge na (you will tell Ayesha, right?)" I spat at him

"You promised?"

"Reason?" I crossed my arms at my chest, he exhaled heavily

"When we went to our ancestors house to celebrate dadi's anniversary, i found Ayesha on the terrace, she looked upset, I asked her about the reason and she told me she was suspecting something wrong with her father because her parents were behaving oddly"

I felt so bad hearing it. She was upset and she told him, not me! Quietly I stood and heard the rest of the story

"I told her that she was worrying for no reason but she got upset, there was something in her eyes, which made me want to wipe away all the stress and all the tension from her life. I just wanted her eyes to spark so at that moment I decided that if he is having any problem I'm going to fix it. Next morning I had some guy to did a check and I found the problem so I provided the solution" he shrugged

"Why did you do it?" I asked

"I just told you because of her eyes, even at that time I was in love with her"

The word "love" from his mouth made me scoff

"Yeah right! If it is really true then why you made this excuse to marry her? It was very cheap of you? And why didn't you tell her that you did it, she would have been grateful to you and still married you, in order to pay back for your favour"

"It was never in my plans to marry her that way, but when I got the news of her engagement, I blanked out, all I could see was her slipping off my fingers, I panicked and made the best decision of my life in the worst way possible."

I listened to him quietly

"I loved her too much" he said

"Even sufiyan loved her, so was it ok to steal his love from him?" I asked, he sucked in a sharp breath and tightly pressed his lips together, like he was stopping himself from speaking

"She didn't love him, she had feelings for me" he said, and I rolled my eyes

"Wow! What confidence, I feel like clapping for you"

"I tested her, I know she had no feelings for him, but for me."

Come to think of it. She really never had feelings for sufiyan. She always used to compare him with Athar. So is it true what he is saying?

"Anyways it was all in the past, now I am trying to become a better person for her. I love her. I want her to be happy. She's my whole world" his voice was really filled with love for her.

"Reem please! I beg you. Never let her find this out, things turned ugly later, but when I decided to help baba, I had no selfish motive behind it, believe me"

My heart was believing him, but still it's a lot to take in

"I can't hide it from Ayesha"

"Please don't, if you tell her she will definitely take it in negative way. I can't afford any more misunderstandings between us" he pleaded, I don't know why I just agreed with him to not let Ayesha find out the truth

"Thank you" he smiled

How should I react? This side of Athar is a surprise for me.

"Let's go back inside" he said, I nodded and walked back in the party with him.

I found Izhaan standing in the corner, he was talking on the phone, I quickly went to him, his back was at me

"Naraz hai aap mujhse? (Are you upset with me?)" He turned around and looked at me

"Email me that document" he said on the phone then hung up the call, "tumhe kya lagta hai (what do you think?)" He asked, his eyes were too serious, I sighed deeply

"Izhaan please, don't be like that. Mumma will feel bad if I don't stay here with her, even the last time I couldn't give her much time. Ayesha would also want me around" I said, he smiled bitterly

"You care about everyone except me"

"No that's not true, I don't see anything wrong in staying here, anyways dadi, maa, papa and dada ji will not be there"

"So you really don't care about me?"

"That is not true, stop saying it. You also stay here with me"

"Oh really, what about my work?" He raised his eyebrows at me

"You go for now and return tomorrow " I shrugged, he shook his head

"I wish you cared enough for me, you took everyone's name other than mine, I thought you will be more interested in going back to home with me"

"I am"

"No Reem! You aren't. After the long wait I have found you, now I just want to spend all of my time with you. You have always just given me stress, and now when things have changed between us, I don't want to be apart from you, I want to wake up with you, after the stressful day when I return back home, I want to bury myself in you, I want to go to sleep in your arms, but sadly it's only me who wants all this"

"No I also w..."

"I have seen the truth, I confess to you that I can't even live a second away from you, but it's ok, you never cared about me in the past, why will you do it now?" He said and left from there leaving me alone with my thoughts.

*****

All of us were at the airport, we came to see off dadi and the rest, they will be gone for a whole month, I miss them already.

After seeing them off, it was time for Izhaan's flight, Athar decided to stay back since there was some work in his Chandigarh branch.

"Bye buddy. Take care" Izhaan hugged Athar

"Bhai you also stay" hayat pouted

"Next time kiddo" Izhaan patted on her cheek lovingly

"Jeeju, we will miss you" Ayesha said, Izhaan smiled and looked at me for a second then looked away

"I'll go now" he said

"Wait!" I shouted, he frowned at me. "Let me get my luggage first" I said, and a smile broke on his face

"Bhabhi? Reem?" Ayesha and hayat were surprised

"I am going back with Izhaan" I said

"But we already have so much planned, you can't go like this" Ayesha said

"Seriously bhabhi, Bhai can also come back later, but don't go now" hayat pouted

"I really have to go, Izhaan would need me"

"He is not a child" hayat said, I giggled

" I really have to go otherwise. Who will wake up Izhaan in the morning and who will sing lullabies for him to sleep? You know he cannot live without me even for a second, I have become more important than oxygen for him, then how can I leave him alone" I said in a playful tone to tease him

"Sach sach bol do na k jeeju k bina tumhara dil nahi lagega (Just tell the truth that you can't be happy without him)" Ayesha said, I smiled

Baat to yahi hai, mai kaunsa Izhaan k bina reh sakti hun (that is true even I can't live without him)

"Here" Athar passed my luggage to me, I happily took it then said goodbye to everyone and walked inside the airport

We checked in and soon boarded the flight, I looked at Izhaan who looked too serious.

"I thought you will be happy about my decision of coming with you, but here you are sitting with a long face" I elbowed him, he stayed quiet

The flight took off. We were served food, I closed my eyes and had a power nap also but all this while he was sitting very quietly

We landed on Delhi airport, the driver was already waiting for us. We sat in the car and made way home.

We entered the house and headed straight to our room, he was still not talking

"It feels so weird to return to an empty house" I said to start a conversation, but he scoffed

"Then you should have stayed there" he snapped at me

"Why are you behaving so coldly with me? I'm here because of you"

"Oh! I will be forever grateful to you" he said in a tone which irked me

" What is your problem Izhaan?"

"Seriously? You really asking me that?"

"Yes I am" I said, he shook his head

" I shared my feelings with you. I opened my heart to you, to make you understand what I want from you and what I think about you not to make fun of me in front of everyone" he said in a high tone and I looked at him with blank eyes

Oh he thought I was making his fun?

"No I wasn't making your fun"

"Please Reem! You have shown how much you really value my feelings"

I took a step towards him and held his hand

"No! You are getting me wrong" I said, he pulled out his hand out of my grip

"I'm tired, I need to sleep" he said and went into the washroom.

Ya Allah! What should I do now?

This is not what I thought how it would be

******

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Ayesha's pov

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" We have reached" Mr. Khan said and stopped the car in front of my house.

"Oh thank God! I am so tired and sleepy" Hayat yawned, she got off the car and walked inside the house, Mr Khan was about to open the door, but I stopped him

"What are you doing?" I narrowed my eyes at him.

"I'm opening the door " he shrugged, I rolled my eyes

"Why did you stay back? You were supposed to go back to Delhi, but you didn't, may I ask you why?" I couldn't hide bitterness in my voice, but he surprised me by smiling widely, he got out of the car and went in the house, I was looking at his disappearing back

His action angered me, I couldn't even move for a few minutes from my seat, then I got up and followed him, I found him peacefully sitting in the living room, it worsened my anger, I marched and stood in front of him

"Himmat kese hui yun mooh utha k chale aane ki, baap ka ghar samjha hai kya, hotel mei rahe jaake (how dare you to come here like that? This is not your father's house, go and stay in the hotel)" I shouted at him

"Ayeshaaaa" an angry and shocked voice came from behind me, my heart stopped beating, I feared turning around

"What is this behaviour?" Baba was standing there with his mouth wide open, I froze in my spot

"B.. ba.. ba" I stammered

"So disappointing" he glared at me

"Ohho baba, it's ok." Mr Khan stood up and put his arm over my shoulder. I looked at him in shock, how can he be so shameless

"she is still mad at me for thinking about going back to Delhi, while she is still here." Mr Khan lied, Baba's face softened a bit when he listened to him, I pulled away from him

"Yes baba, he is right" looking at baba's evaporating anger I quickly agreed with Mr Khan

"Still, it was no way of talking to your husband. Be respectful, I don't want to see you talking like this with him ever again. You should thank Allah that your mother is not here, if she saw you talking like this she would have been so mad at you" baba shook his head

"I'm sorry baba" I said

"Say sorry to Athar" baba said

"What? Sorry? To him? Never" I said with arrogance, but quickly bit my tongue when I saw baba glaring at me, unwillingly I turned to Mr Khan

"I'm s. so.." I was speaking but Mr Khan cut me off

"No need to say sorry, you were right to be upset with me, how could I put my work above you. I'm sorry for that" he said sweetly, I clenched my fist in anger

I knew why his tone is dripping in sugar syrup, he is doing this drama to show baba.

"See! He is such a nice person" baba grinned

"Yeah! Really really nice" I said chewing every word

"Now you both go and get some rest, we'll meet in the morning. Good night" baba said and left

I narrowed my eyes at Mr khan, he gave me a goofy toothy smile.

"I wish I could break your ugly teeth right now" I spat at him

"Ayesha!" I made a crying face when I heard baba's voice from behind me, I turned around to face him, "I just told you to be respectful and again you are talking so badly with him, what is wrong with you?" He said angrily

"It's ok baba, she was just messing with me" Mr Khan said, I glared at him

"Stop taking her side you are spoiling her" baba said to him

"She deserves that" he said looking at me, "anyways you were saying something?" Mr Khan asked to find out why baba returned after calling it a night

"Oh! I just wanted to ask you if you need anything" he replied

"No I don't. Thank you. And if I will need anything I will tell it to Ayesha" he smiled

"Ok" baba left again, without even looking at Mr Khan I headed to my room

I entered my room, I was about to close the door, but stopped when Mr Khan stepped in my room

"What are you doing in my room?" I asked getting angry

"I'm going to sleep" he shrugged

"No way! You cannot sleep in my room. Go somewhere else" I said

"Fine" he nodded, I frowned

He agreed? So easily. There has to be something fishy

"I will ask baba to show me the guest room" he said innocently and was about to exit the room, I quickly ran and held his hand

"Are you threatening me?" I asked

"No Mrs Khan, I would never do that" he smiled, I rolled my eyes.

I knew if mumma or baba find out that I threw him out of my room they will get after my life, I have no other choice than enduring him. Aaahh I hate him

"Is this why you stayed back? To make my life miserable?" I asked showing my irritation

He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me to him, my eyes widened at this sudden closeness, I looked at him in shock

"No my love, I would never make your life miserable in fact on the contrary I want to fill every moment of your life with the colour of my love" he whispered, then he held my hand and interlocked our fingers, I was in trance

"I want to make you so happy, that you will be reciting Qur'an verses day and night to save us from the evil eye" he said looking in my eyes. Then he brought my hand to his mouth and placed a kiss on the back of my hand and that broke my trance, I quickly pushed him away

"You are here to sleep, right? Then go to sleep, stop this nonsense" I pointed a warning finger at him and turned around, I was about to walk away but stopped when I heard him.

"It's not non sense, it's my love for you, why can't you see it, I love you" he said, I looked at him

"Stop it! I don't want to hear your crap" I said and ran to the washroom immediately.

I locked the door and stood infront of the mirror, my heart was beating crazily.

What has happened to Mr Khan? Why has he started behaving like this? And why do I give such a strong reaction at his stupidity

"Get a hold of yourself Ayesha" I scolded myself, then I did my night chore and changed into night dress and walked back in the room

I found Mr Khan sitting on the bed, his back was at me. The size of my bed is smaller than Mr Khan's bed, How will I sleep in this bed with him?

Whenever I sleep I always make sure to put a boundary between us, but it's a mystery to me how and why I push it away in my sleep and go close to him

I noticed there was only one comforter on the bed, I quickly went to the cupboard and took out the spare comforter.

Without looking at him I laid on the bed, closed my eyes and wrapped myself with the comforter, since there was no space to make a boundary between us I laid as close to the edge as possible. I badly wished I had a couch in my room.

"Ayesha" he called, but I pretended to be asleep. After a while I heard him sighing, then I heard the sound of door closing, I opened my eyes and found him gone to the washroom

I closed my eyes again I was so tired that it hardly took me any time to fall asleep.

******

The sweet aroma of food broke my slumber, the familiar scent. I opened my eyes and inhaled heavily treating my lungs with the fresh smell.

I turned to look at Mr Khan, but found the space empty, I thanked God, I really didn't want to see him.

Removing the blanket, I got off the bed, suddenly I was so excited for breakfast, after months I'm going to relish food cooked by my mom, I am sure she has made everything of my choice, I can't wait to eat it.

I ran into the washroom to freshen up, inspite of everything I really had a good sleep last night, I missed my bed, my room, I was feeling refreshed, now I just wanted my parents to pamper me

After getting ready I made my way to the dining room, there was a huge smile on my face. The moment I entered the room my smile dropped.

Mr Khan was sitting like a king on the dining table and Mumma and baba were on his either sides

"Assalamualaikum" I said to everyone

"Walekumassalam" baba looked at me, he still looked upset with me, I gave him a huge smile

"Good morning" Mr Khan said to me, he was trying to look innocent, I rolled my eyes at him and brought my attention to mumma

"What's there for breakfast?" I asked excitedly

"There's so much" she replied

One by one I removed the lids from all the pots kept on the table, my mood became bad immediately, there was nothing of my choice

"Maa! Why have you made all this, you know I don't like any of it" I complained making a disgusted face

"I have made everything of Athar's choice today" mumma smiled looking at Mr khan, my blood boiled in anger

Baba and mumma were so engrossed in Mr Khan, mumma was serving him food and baba was continuously talking with him. I did not like what I was seeing, I was so annoyed with Mr Khan at the moment

"But what will I eat?" I asked getting irritated

"The food is really yummy, I will serve it for you" Mr Khan said sweetly, his acting was making me feel sick, I immediately got up and put the plate away

"It's not required, you enjoy your breakfast" I snapped at him and left the table ignoring mumma's glare

I know she will not like what I have just done, but honestly I'm tired of pretending now, I'm in my house I can be myself.

I took out my phone and called Nitya

"Hello" she answered immediately

"I am staying in Chandigarh for a few days, you guys must come to visit me" I got straight to the point.

"Awesome! I will inform the rest and we will come to meet you" she said excitedly, I smiled, "I'm anyway dying to meet properly with your husband, last night we only greeted each other"

My smile dropped at the mention of him

"I'm calling you to meet me not him"

"Of course I will be coming to meet you, but I would really like to meet Mr Athar Khan, you are so lucky that he is yours, I'm so impressed by him, he is so handsome, and he is so sof...."

"Enough Nitya! Let me know when you guys are coming" I said and hung up the call

First baba, then mumma and now her, I don't know what is wrong with everyone, why can't they stop praising him.

"Ayesha" mumma came

"Yes" I said

"What was that behaviour?" She narrowed her eyes at me

"What behaviour?"

"I didn't like the way you behaved with Athar, your father was also complaining about your attitude towards him. Behave yourself" she scolded me, I stopped the urge to roll my eyes

"Mumma it's fine, I talk like this with him"

"So shameful, I don't want to see you talking like that again, he is such a sweet guy, he is not eating properly because he is worried that you have not eaten anything, now come and have breakfast with him"

Oh my God! What a drama he is!

"Mumma I...."

"Right now Ayesha" she glared at me, I stomped my foot and went to the dining room

I clenched my fist when I saw a victorious smile on Mr Khan's lips when he saw me walking in.

God! He is so annoying!!!

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