43. Persuasion

F A H A D' S  P O V

"Nada." I whispered her name looking at her. She was climbed up on a ladder to get something from the top of her cupboard.

"Fahad." She squealed as she turned behind to look at me, probably got startled and almost fell down. However, me being the knight in shining armour I am I saved her by steading her.

I was so lost in her that I didn't even realise that she had freed herself from my arms and stepped two feet apart. Why the distance, baby?

"Nada." I called out her name.

"What are you doing her? That too in my room?" She looked behind me anxiously.

"Why? I can't be alone with you in a room? Everything's halal (religiously legal) baby." Baby? Did I just say that? I could see that her already flushed cheeks were turning into a rose pink.

She started to look here and there trying to avoid my eyes.

"Nada." I took her hands in mine. "I-I am really sorry of my behaviour. You don't know about what happened that day. Please forgive me. Since you left, I have been feeling empty, my room has been feeling empty. Everybody has reminded me that you were planning something for my birthday. I also read the letter and was shocked that how could you be such a sweet girl. I am glad that a girl like you is my wife." I poured my heart out to her.

She looked up at me and stared at me into eye, "Why are you giving me false hope. I had already made my heart understand that if fairytales were true then I'd end up with you." Her green emerald eyes shined with glassy tears. "Also, apology, declined." She spat at me removing my grip from her hands.

I didn't know what to say, my heart couldn't take her negative response. I gotta reap what I sow.

"Nada, please tell me what has happened?"

"Still ask me that? Someone had told me that, you shouldn't be that good to anyone they will never know your worth. Guess what? I am realising it now." I remember that those were my words I had said to her.

"Look, it's your birthday today. Don't make it a bad one." She went back to arranging her things in the cupboard.

"It will be the best one if you forgive me. And if you don't, then it's already a worst one." Her back was facing me as she picked her things from the bag, which probably was brought by Uméma.

"Here." Nada forwarded a box, still not facing me.

I took the box from her and opened it to see a emerald green silk tie with a pair of cuff links.

"I had bought this for you a long time ago. But you didn't give me one good reason to gift it you. But still, I am giving it to you cause I have no use of it." I kept looking back and forth at the tie and her. Where is my old Nada? You changed her.

"Uh, I know it's not your favourite color. You can just dump it if you want cause Rahim told me that your favourite color is grey when I had asked about it. You-"

"No! My favourite is color is green. Particularly this shade cause it matches your eye color. Emerald green color became my favourite one, the moment I fell in love with your eyes." I slowly walked towards her, closing the distance between.

"Why?" She whispered looking up at me. "Why are you making things more difficult than they already are. Yo-"

"I love you." I finally said it. "I love you a lot!"

I was going to say more things but the commotion outside didn't let me. Nada gave me a brief glance at me with her teary eyes and walked past me when I held her hand making her halt in her steps. "Why are crying now?"

"I cry or not, it's none of your business, get it?" She snatched her hands away from me and moved forward. This time I whirled her back pressed her against the wall.

"Everything about you, is my freaking business, get it?" I was staring into her eyes with the utmost intensity and she also looked me back with her teary eyes. She was going to say something when the ruckus outside grew louder. Nada detached herself from me and opened the door not before wiping her eyes.

"What is happening here?" She inquired of. I, too, joined her not before quickly replacing my boring grey tie to the emerald satin one which Nada has got for me, also it went really well with my black suit. My wife's choice is the best!

"You tell us, why do you look so flustered?" Mira wiggled her eyebrows at me.

"Why are y'all gathered up here?" I stood behind Nada. My mind was still in daze that from our previous conversation and now when she was standing right in front of me. . . It wasn't helping either.

"Why were you in her room?" That Aman guy spoke. Why is he not of the house already? He soon received a series of a hit from Rahim, Uméma, Mira and Shariq.

"What is this, Rahim, Uméma? How did you guys allow him to come upstairs?" I asked them agitatedly giving that Aman guy a nasty look.

"You tell me what are you doing in her room?!" That Ali guy again jumped in between.

"What do you mean by that? I can be anywhere I want with my wife. Right wife?" I snaked my arm around her waist and brought her closer to me. Her face turned red and she shivered under my touch. I see Nada, you still love me. You can't 'un-love' someone in a span of two days.

"What is this cheap trick of yours? Leave me!" She gritted her teeth at me.

"Why? I have all rights!"

"Oh, so now you remember all your rights." She glared at me.

"I-I am sorry Nada, I really am. You can give me any punishment you want except divorcing you and staying away from you!" I pleaded to her.

"WHAT?!" Geez my ears. "What is he talking about Nada? You're married?!" Afan guy hollered. "Tell me Shariq who is this guy?!"

"Do you wanna answer him? Or shall I answer him with my fist first?" I muttered into Nada's ears. She gave me a one last glare amd turned towards that guy.

"Yes, Ashar." Came her short answer.

"And why?" He narrowed his eyes at her. Wait a minute, who are you to question her?

"We should ask you that why are you concerned about it?" Uméma glared at him.

"Miss, don't interfere in between. This is mine and Nada's matter." He spoke harshly. That was it. I am going to smash his face. I launched at him as Rahim held me back.

"You don't get to talk her like that." Shariq made Uméma stand away from that creep. Proud of you, Shariq! "Fahad, there, is her brother. Be careful, next time I shouldn't hear you talking to any lady like that, okay? Now chill out." Uméma huffed at Shariq but didn't say anything. Strange.

"How dare you talk to my sister and wife like that?! I will crush you right here!" I forwarded towards him.

"Fahad, stop it. Have you gone mad or something? Don't waste your time on him." Mira scolded me.

"Yes, Fahad. Right now he is not the one whom you should be worried about." Rahim looked at me briefly and indicated his eyes towards Nada. Ohkay, I get it.

"Nada, are you serious about what you said?!" That Atif guy again shouted.

"First of all, stop taking my wife's name from your mouth and second, shall I show you the marriage certificate now?" I scowled at him. "Wait I have scanned it, it is saved in my phone. Shall I-"

"Fahad, stop." Nada interrupted me and kept her hand across my chest. Ooh, the tingles! "I request you! Stop it." The way she was telling me didn't seem like she was requesting. But anything for my Nada.

"You, Ashar, why are questioning about my married life?" Nada quirked up her eyebrows at him. She looks more cute when angry. Oops.

"So you guys are really married, huh." He scoffed at her. "Why didn't you tell me before?"

"I don't think it's necessary to give my daily updates to a mere class fellow." She drawled. "Look, Ashar, I know that you like me. I have always told you not to do all these things. And I never gave any signals to you. Also, I would have informed about my marriage to everyone but I got married right after our final exams and didn't have a chance to meet you." She continued giving the explanation. It's not even required though.

"You got it? Now stay away from my wife." I piped in.

"Things have taken a nice turn, hmm?" Rahim murmured in my ear stood beside me. "She has finally accepted you. I mean look how she's confronting that Ashar guy." I looked at Nada who was busy scolding that Arhaan guy as Mira occasionally slapped his head and Uméma sniggered at the situation. On the other hand, Shariq looked lost contemplating to help his friend or not. I know if he chose the former one the girls won't spare him.

"No, yaar, she said ma-well in short she asked me to get lost and also that I am only making things difficult for her." I sighed and looking at the ground dejectedly.

"Fahad!" I hissed when someone hit me on the back of my head. This could be either Uméma aka Ummi, Almira aka Mira or Ibrahim aka Rahim. What was the need to specify the nicknames, Fahad? My mind has seriously stopped working. I turned around to see Mira standing there. See? Told ya.

"What Mira?"

"Did she forgive you or not?"

"No."

"But the change in your tie tells so."

"No, she said and I quote-'I am giving it to you cause I have no use of it'." I spoke air quoting the words.

"Ohoo, what to do now? Even I don't want my best friend to suffer. I know she loves you." Mira lamented as she looked at Nada.

"Nada. . . Please, forgive me." I implored as I gently took her hand in mine.

"Wha-" The Akram guy started when Shaariq cut him off in between.

"Uh, Ashar, I think you should leave. I don't think I will be able to join you to the football turf today." Shariq told him.

"No I am-"

"You are going right now!" Mira and Uméma spoke at the exact same time. Woah!

"Come, let me tell you one thing." Rahim held that Asad guy's arm and dragged him away.

After Rahim made sure that he was out of the house, I again started my sorry-session.

"Nada please, don't do this to me." I trailed behind Nada, who was descending down the stairs rapidly.

"Shariq, please come here for a second." She called out.

"What happened, Nada?" Shariq spoke.

"Agree with whatever I am saying or else I will disclose your secret, you get that?" She directs her point finger at him glaring at him.

She didn't even let him answer when she again started to walk her way down.

"Nada please hear me once!" She halted in her steps once she reached at the floor.

"Look how tables have turned." She whispered.

"Mom, Shariq's Mom, Aunt Sarah, has invited you." Nada spoke hesitantly.

"What? She didn't call me." Aunt Ayesha's eyebrows furrowed with confusion. Why are you lying Nada?

"Shehroz called Shariq, saying that Aunt Sarah has invited you. You were going to meet her anyway, right?" Nada lied. Shehroz was Shariq's brother.

"Didn't he Shariq?" She looked at Shariq, her eyes saying, 'You are dead, if you screw this up' whereas Shariq looked like a deer caught in the headlights.

He looked back and forth at Nada and me and simply nodded.

"Okay then I'll take my leave." Aunt Ayesha announced.

"You want me to drop you Aunt?" I asked her.

"No." Nada and Aunt spoke together.

"No beta, the driver will drop me." Aunt smiled at me.

"AllahHafiz kids. Nada do serve the lunch to them. It's ready." She greeted as everyone replied back to her.

"Why did you lie, Nada?" Rahim inquired.

"Cause my Mom won't like it when she hears that I am going to the advocate for the divorce." She said nonchalantly adjusting her sling bag on her shoulder.

"WHAT?!" Everybody, of course except Nada, exclaimed out of shock.

"Nada, are you sure?" Shariq asked her.

"Have you gone nuts Nada?" Mira was the one to ask.

"Nada, please think once." Rahim drawled.

"Please, forgive my brother, Nada." Uméma pleaded.

She looked at all of us and sighed. "Please don't make me regret the decision I am making. I request."

"Nada, when you both love each other, then what's the point in divorcing each other?" Mira asked moving her hands frantically.

"Will one of you accompany me?" Nada looked up at us completely ignoring Mira's previous question.

"No one? Fine I'll go alone then." She picked up her car keys from the teapoy when no one chose to answer.

"Nada, please hear me out. That day I was already pissed off. I- please forgive me. And if you think that I am not worth your apology, then you can surely go ahead with the divorce." With the utmost difficulty, I uttered those words.

She looked at me, intently, as the hoop-earrings which I had gifted her shined and I saw the reflection of the satin green tie which she gifted me.

Does she not love me anymore?

Asalamwalaikum and hello people!! How are you y'all? Well, I am really sad cause this book is going to end. Anyway tell me your thoughts of this chapter through the comments and don't forget to click on the little star icon. Until then, bye, thank you, stay home, AllahHafiz and take care ^_^

Also, do tell me your favourite part of the chapter.

01-07-20