Sara looked absolutely ethereal in the white outfit she had worn today. Her hair was up in an elegant updo. She applied a slight gloss and mascara to enhance her lashes, making her eyes pop out. She looked at herself one last time before heading downstairs.
"Sara!" Pari exclaimed in excitement as soon as she saw her. She had really missed her dear friend.
"Pari," Sara replied and gave her friend a big hug. They had just came back from the Haveli after Arsalan had picked them up.
Sara looked at Maryam and her daughter Anum. She was the cutest baby ever. She had the chubbiest cheeks and the cutest smile. After giving Maryam a hug, Sara held the 10-month old baby in her hands.
"Hi, baby Anum," she cooed gently, causing Anum to giggle. Sara laughed at the sweet sound.
"Aai, khana katay hain hum saab." They all followed Sara to the dining room. Ghazala, with the help of others, had cooked lavish meals for them all.
(Come, let eat food)
Since Sara had already ate breakfast, she held Anum so her parents could eat in peace.
Everyone conversed with each other, a smile plastered on their faces.
The conversations halted when Ayesha came in. All though she looked presentable, her eyes were red. Masooma broke the silence and asked her how she was doing, a kind smile plastered on her face.
Ayesha faked a smile and replied in a sarcastic tone, "Bohot khoob."
(Very well)
"Aao, baitho," this time Maryam spoke up. The only available space was next to Sara as for one side, Arsalan, Maryam and her husband, Saif were sitting and on the opposite side, Masooma, Pari, and Sara were sitting. Ayesha walked towards the chair and sat down.
(Come, sit)
Sara tensed a bit before resuming to play with Anum.
The joyful conversations once again started.
All of a sudden Sara felt something wet on her. She looked down in her lap to see her white kameez had all been soaked with oil from the Nihari.
(Shirt; an oily gravy with beef)
"Oops, my bad," rang out Ayeshas sickly sweet voice. By now everyone's attention was on them.
"Koi baat nahi," Sara whispered and faked a smile. She handed Anum to Pari before rushing to the bathroom.
(It's ok)
She looked in the mirror, tears gathering in her eyes. This white shalwaar kameez had belonged to her mother. It was a gift for her mother from Sara's father. She knew getting out the oil stain would be a big problem. She let out a low sob as she looked at the huge stain. It was the only thing of her mother's she had left.
She had remembered what Ayesha had done earlier in the morning. She had barged into Sara's room in the morning, almost knocking the door off it's hinges.
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Sara was fast asleep when she heard the door slamming open. She sleepily looked up to see a furious looking Ayesha standing there. She felt something nuzzling her breasts so she looked down. Arsalans face was in the valley of her breasts and his arms were wrapped around her waist, him completely on top of her. Her hand was placed in between the silky strands of his hair.
Ayesha couldn't stand that.
"Waah," she scoffed loudly, waking up Arsalan from his slumber. "Agar aik biwi mou nahi marti, tou shohar ko iske dusri biwi kay Paas jaana chahiya, hain na?!"
(Wow. If one wife doesn't pay a heed to you, then you should go to your other wife for attention, right?!)
"Ayesha," Arsalan started, a frown plastered on his face.
"Tum muhje se baat hi na karo. Maine tum jahsa gatiya insaan apni zindagi may nahi dehka," she roared.
(Don't you dare talk to me. I have never met a horrendous man like you in my life)
"Yaha kiya horaha hain?" Bi Jaan questioned. She had heard the commotion and walked there. By now, both Arsalan and Sara had stood up.
(What is happening here)
"Dekho apni potay ki harkatay," Ayesha exclaimed whereas Bi Jaan raised an eyebrow at her. "Jab Maine ise inkaar kardiya, yeh apni mehbooba kay Paas agaya." Ayesha taunted looking right at Sara. Sara looked down to the floor, hurt visible on her face. She wasn't his mistress she was his wife.
(Look at what your grandson is doing. When I rejected him, he went straight to his mistress)
'Second wife,' the little voice in the back of her head taunted Sara.
"Ayesha, zaban samhal kay. Aur agar tumne Arsalan ko dekna bhi na chaha, to tume itna gussa ku ara hai? Wo baas apni dosri biwi kay hi Paas gaya hai." Bi Jaan said.
(Ayesha, watch your language. Plus, you didn't want to see Arsalan so now why are you so mad? He is just with his second wife)
"Aaj dosri biwi ke paas gaya hai, kaal ko woh apni aik hor mehbooba kay paas jai ga," Ayesha spat, venom coating her words.
(Today he is with his second wife, and in the future he will be with his other mistresses)
"Ayesha," Arsalan let out in disbelief at the horrendous accusation.
"Baas hogaya. Ayesha tum apnay kamray may chalo aur agar kisi nag iske cheez kay baray may koi aur baat ki, toh mujse bura koi nahi," Bi Jaan said sternly, and sent a warning glare to everyone. Ayesha scoffed and went straight to her room, Bi Jaan following out after her.
(That's enough. Ayesha, go to your room, and if anyone talks about this topic again, watch what will happen)
Sara turned to look at Arsalan, who had his head down. She slowly walked up to him, and placed her hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her for a few seconds before gently pushing her aside and leaving the room.
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Sara sighed at the memory and started washing off the mascara that had gotten all over her face due to the tears. She jumped as she heard a knock on the door. She contemplated on wether to open it or not and decided to go with the first option.
Arsalan looked at his wife's tiny figure in front of him. Her cheeks were flushed a baby pink and her eyes were slightly red, indicating she had been crying. He looked down at her kameez and sighed at the big stain of oil on it.
He had known that this outfit had belonged to her mother. He had overheard her telling Ghazala. He also knew this was the only thing she had left from her mother.
He looked in her eyes again to see them watery. He gently brought her closer towards him and placed her face in his chest. Sara clung on to his shirt and let out a sob.
Everything that had happened recently had taken a huge toll on her and she just want to cry all the guilt and hurt out.
Guilt because she was the cause of the restraining between Arsalan and Ayesha and hurt because of what everyone thought of her. A home wrecker.
Arsalan ran a soothing hand up and down her body. "It's ok," he gently whispered in her ear.
"But it's all kharab now." She said, and pouted like a toddler.
(Messed up)
"Hmm," he started, "don't worry, I will somehow try to get it out."
Sara looked up in his eyes that held sincerity. She nodded her head and whispered a small ok. He then grabbed her hand and led her upstairs and asked her to change into another outfit.
Arsalan looked at her once she was finished. She looked beautiful in literally anything. He moved closer to her and grasped her face in his hand and laid a gentle kiss on her forehead. Sara closed her eyes as she felt tingles all over her body and a slow smile spread across her face.
After staring at each other for another minute, they both went downstairs. By now everyone had finished eating and had moved to the lounge. Masooma had bought gifts for everyone, including her sister in law, Farida Begum, so she had went to her room to give it to her.
The rest of the afternoon was filled with jokes and joyous conversations.
Maryam and Saif had went to meet a friend of theirs that was only in town for a day or two. Hence why they had left Anum with Sara after she had offered to take care of the cute baby.
Sara had always loved little kids. Especially babies. Anum was lying on their bed and Sara continued to tickle her. Anums giggles were the cutest thing in the world. Even Arsalan thought so. He stared at the both of them with a soft smile on his face. He had wanted kids for as long as he could remember.
He walked up to Anum and Sara, which caused for Anum to immediately reach her hands out for him. She wanted to be picked up by him. Arsalan grabbed her before gently raising her upwards. Anum once again giggled before wrapping her tiny chubby hands around his neck. Sara just watched the both of them with a soft smile on her face. She knew that Arsalan would be a great father one day.
After all that giggling, she fell asleep. Her parents came home not that long after and took her with them. Now it was just Arsalan and Sara in the room.
Sara got up and went to change into her nightwear. When she came back out, she was shocked to see Arsalan still seated there, in his sleeping wear that consisted of nothing but trousers.
She moved towards her side of the bed and closed her eyes, willing for sleep to come.
She felt the bed dip, before she was pulled to Arsalans chest. He placed his face in the crook of her neck, near her ear.
"Aap ghose hai?" He questioned her.
(Are you mad)
There was a moment of silence before Sara replied. "Nahi tou."
(No)
"You are,"
"Am not."
"Are to."
"Arsalan," she said in a stern voice. This was properly the first time she had said his name. He laughed at her expression before pulling her inhumanly closer and started laying kisses on her neck.
Sara's breath starting coming out harsher and her heart started beating harder against her chest.
"You look so beautiful holding a baby," Arsalan murmured, kissing her soft pink cheeks. "Imagine how stunning you would look pregnant." He said and Sara let out a moan.
And that was how the rest of the night was spent. The couple once again became one in the darkness of night.
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Ok so this is probably the second longest chapter in the book. Shocking ik
Anyways remember to vote and comment!