8.6 • It Was A Tragedy

That night Iram was sitting in the living room and studying. She had a giant book opened in her lap and a neon marker in her hand. She could hear distant voices of owl and other night creatures. There was an eery silence surrounding the house.

Arzaan was at the office, working on an upcoming deal. He had informed her that he won't return before the dawn.

She was alone in the house. Alishba and her Dadi left in the morning to attend a relative's wedding. Other servants returned home in the evening. There was only a watchman outside.

It was past midnight when she got tired and closed her books. Iram was about to head upstairs when she heard some noise. A noise of door opening.

“It must be Arzaan.” She thought and went to the door.

“Arzaan, you came early-” She gasped seeing that it wasn't Arzaan but a masked man. Before she could react and run away, she was hit on her head by the burglar and everything went blank in front of her eyes.

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Iram slowly opened her eyes and found herself lying in Arzaan's bedroom. Her head was bursting with pain.

Oh, she remembered being hit on her head.

She closed her eyes again. Trying to not focus on the pain. So she focused on the sound of air conditioner and the cool air hitting her skin.

The door opened and Arzaan entered the room with a cup of coffee in his hand. She quickly opened her eyes, “Arzaan...”  She uttered his name weakly.

Arzaan had almost dropped his coffee hearing her voice. He ran towards her, put the cup on the side table and cupped her face, “Iram, thank God, you woke up.”

“I was unconscious for how long?” She asked with a soft frown.

“For three days. You were lying unconscious on the floor when I reached home around three in the morning.”

“What had happened? Who was that masked man?” She asked.

“It was the watchman. He stole the two antique vases kept in the living room. He is on a run. Police is after him.”  Arzaan sighed.

Iram nodded. She didn't want to ask further so she said, “I'm hungry.”

“I'll make something for you.”  Saying so he picked his cup of coffee and left the room.

Half an hour later, he returned with a plate of toasts and a glass of orange juice for her. Arzaan was feeling guilty for giving her such a plain meal but that's what he could prepare. It was past midnight and he didn't want to disturb Alishba.

Iram would take a bite of the toast and then sip the orange juice to gulp it down. When she finished the food, he tucked her in again so she could rest.

His attention was overwhelming for her. She had her eyes closed when he laid down on the other side of the bed. It was hard to pretend to be sleeping, so she opened her eyes again. But Arzaan was asleep by then.

“He must be exhausted.” She mumbled and closed her eyes again, trying to fall asleep.

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The next morning, Alishba came running to meet her. After crying for straight ten minutes she helped Iram with the bath and clothes. Arzaaan called the doctor who prescribed medicines and seven days of bed rest to Iram.

“You aren't going to the office?” She asked when they were alone in the room.

“No, I'm on leave.”

“You don't need to worry about me.”

Her words seemingly ticked him off. But he didn't speak, just went inside the closet. He returned with a ring box in his hand. He sat down beside her and held her hand. He took off the wedding ring he gave her on their Nikkah and made her wear the ring in that box.

“This is my mother's ring. And I have always wanted to give it to my wife as her wedding ring. It's yours now.”

“Why?”  She pulled her hand away from his hold.

“Because you are my wife.”  He replied.

“But-” He cut her words off.

“Do you want to divorce me?”  He asked her calmly. He didn't look angry or hurt.

“Umm... I'm not sure.” She hesitated.

“Keep it till the time we are together.”  Saying so he walked out of the room.

“Where are you going?” She asked him.

“I'm just going for a walk. I'll be back in an hour or so.” Saying so he walked away.

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Three hours had passed away and Arzaan didn't return. Iram wasn't worried though. She herself was confused about their relationship. He must be confused and trying to figure out his feelings. She was trying to pass time by counting the number of floral patterns on the ceiling when Alishba came running to her.

“Iram, Arzaan Bhai's father has came to meet you.” She told her.

Iram quickly took her dupatta and Alishba went to call him in. After few moments, an old gentleman entered the room. Looking at him, Iram could picture how Arzaan would look when he will grow old. Arzaan looked almost like his father. Anyone could guess at the first glance that this man was Arzaan's father.

“Assalam Alaikum, uncle.” Iram smiled.

“Assalam Alaikum, Beta.” He smiled.

There was a study table in the corner of the room. Alishba pulled the chair from there and put it near the bed for Arzaan's father. He took a seat and looked at Iram with warm eyes.

“I heard what happened few days ago. How's your health now?” He asked her.

“I'm good now. Just need bed rest for few more days.”

“I hope Arzaan is taking good care of you. Where is he?”

“He went for a walk.”

“He must be stressed. It's said that history repeats itself. Looks like it's true for our family. His mother died by the hands of a servant. Now you were also attacked by a servant.”

“It's a coincidence, uncle.”

“Tell Arzaan to be careful while appointing servants from now on. I'm doing the same since that driver Jahangir Zulfiqar murdered my first wife.”

Iram went silent hearing that. Her expressions grew serious, “He... his name was Jahangir Zulfiqar?”

“Yes.” He nodded, “Do you know him?”

“I... no, I don't know him.”  She shook her head.

“I have to go now. I'll visit you next week again. Take care of yourself.”

“Thank you so much for visiting, Uncle.”

And he walked away.

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“Oh, I'm so sorry I got late. Let me change the dressing of your injury and then we'll have dinner.” Arzaan rushed into the bedroom with first aid box. He noticed the grim expression on her. He sat down in front of her and began removed the dressing on her forehead.

“My father's name is Jahangir Zulfiqar.” She spoke.

He stiffened hearing her say that but maintained a calm expression, “I know.”

She looked up at him, “He had murdered your mother.”

He kept his focus on the injury on her forehead,  “I know.”

“Arzaan, are you hearing me?” She pushed his hand away from her forehead.

“I am.”  He replied calmly.

“Then why are you so calm?”  By then her eyes were red and teary.

“Because I'm tired of this hatred and fury. I can't hate you, Iram.”  His voice was tired, proving his words.

“I was the reason your mother died.”  She cried.

“It was a tragedy that ruin our lives. I fell in love with you knowing that you are my mother's murderer's daughter.”

“How can you love me even after knowing the truth?”  She asked him in disbelief.

“Trust me, it was very easy to fall in love with you. I just couldn't help it.”  He smiled sadly.

Iram sighed in defeat and wiped her tears, “Can you please leave me alone tonight?”

“Yeah, let me just do the dressing.”  He said calmly and began dressing her forehead injury again. After that he silently walked away from her and didn't return.

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Hello!

First of all, a clarification. In Junoon, there's a mention of period sex. But then someone commented that it's forbidden in Islam. I searched on internet to check if it's true. It is true. The reason that I could find is that during periods our vagina is vulnerable to infections. I'm still confused though. So if anyone can explain it, please do.

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These two weeks, when I didn't update, were spent doing something that I can't share. All I can tell is that I've realized that I'm very emotional and I am greatly effected when someone shares their problems with me. It was a nice experience though.

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How's the chapter though?