In the room, Irtaza's grey eyes were struck on his laptop screen as he was working on something. To his left laid Zahra whose small snorts were echoing in the room followed by the tick-tock of the clock.
He had been trying to focus but his wife's snorts weren't letting him. It's been half an hour already. Her snorts were too heavy that first he had awaken up from his sleep and despite trying to focus on his work, he couldn't.
Sighing, he atlast closed the lid of his laptop and placed it aside before laying down and bringing her closer to him. He scooped her in his arms and it was not long before he nuzzled into her neck. He couldn't resist inhaling her fragrance.
It provided him calm.
Whenever he would be upset, the only thing that could calm his nerves was her scent.
"Senorita," he whispered in her ears, trying to wake her up.
She gave no response and continued snorting.
"Senorita," her name again released from his mouth as his fingers caressed her earlobe.
"Wha...is..t, Irtaza?" her groggy response came.
"Wake up," he uttered, placing his chin against her shoulder.
"Jayein na Irtaza, mje tang mat karain," she replied, agitated.
(Go away, Irtaza. Don't bother me)
"Zahra," his voice deepened suddenly making her eyes open and go wide.
"Yes?! yes?! What happened?" she jolted from her sleep and sat up, cleaning her drool.
He laid on her side and supported his head with his hand while looking at her. A smile playing on his lips.
"What is it, Irtaza? Now, what I've done? I promise I didn't have another tub of ice-cream. This sore throat is just because my voice has turned sore. I don't even know what is an ice-cream," she babbled. She thought he came to know of the crime she had committed.
She had a severe craving of ice-cream and Irtaza bought lots of bars of ice creams for her and she had literally consumed eight of them in a day. After that shekept on complaining about her throat and Irtaza forbade her from going even as an inch near to the ice-cream, until her throat gets better, and she did just that today.
"My beautiful wife didn't listen to me," he said, sitting up, "again,"
"Apko kesay pata meinay apki baat nhi maani," she whined.
(How do you even know I didn't listen to you)
"I know everything," He replied, brushing his thumb against her nose.
"Phir mje jagaya hi kiun?" she whined.
(Then why did you wake me up?)
"Kuch zaroori baatain karni hai," his voice lowered to a whisper.
(I have some important things to talk with you)
Her eyes expanded as she deciphered the meaning behind his words.
"Irtaza, mje sab smjh aa rhi hai," she replied, sliding back from him towards the headboard.
(Irtaza, I'm getting everything/0
He came close to her.
Red crept up on her cheeks. Her curly lashes moved down, shadowing her cheekbones.
"Irtazah," she murmured.
"Jaan-e-Irtaza," he mumbled, holding her chin. "Won't you look up at me?"
"Pehlay dur houn," she demanded.
(First get away)
"That I won't,"
"I won't look at you then,"
"You won't?" he asked, pulling her chin up but she kept her eyes down.
"Ah han," she shook her head.
"Not even," he said, stopping in the middle and suddenly grasped her lips with his taking her by surprise. After ravishing her lips savagely, he pulled away, "when I kiss you," he completed his sentence.
A breathless Zahra stared back at him.
"Ahaa that's my girl," he smiled, kissing her forehead.
"When did you come back home?" she asked, placing her head in his lap. He covered her with the warm comforter.
"When you were sleeping as if there was no tomorrow," he answered, caressing her hair.
His veiny hand moved as he placed it on her tummy, "and how is our little child?" he asked.
"She is fine," Zahra responded.
"She?" he arched a brow in a questioning manner. The gender reveal wasn't done. Zahra wanted to know it at the time of birth.
"I think its a girl," Zahra replied, "I can feel it,"
"Hmm..... if my wife says so," he said and kissed the top of her head.
"Jaha Ara it is?" Zahra asked, implying the suggestion he had given for a daughter's name.
"It is," Irtaza said and a sudden aloofness came over his eyes. Again.
'Forgive your mother, Irtaza. And name your daughter after her,'
His ears suddenly rung with his grandfather's word. He have always had seen his grandfather go in a turmoil at the mention of his mother. And since his grandpa asked him, he forgave his mother's soul.
He forgave her. After strong persistence and convincing by his grandfather's side.
But his grandfather never told him the reason that why should he be forgiving her.
He never told her and Irtaza did not press him either.
That forgiveness did give him peace. A peace he never felt encompassing him before. But again his mind, that always searched for the answers, always pointed out at his mother for what she did, Jaha Ara couldn't come out clear of his mind.
But from heart.
Yes, heart.
She did.
Clear as water.
The haze. The strong mist of abhorrence and resentment faded and had his steps to rush towards his mother's grave. Yet he couldn't express love or any gratitude. He just kept on standing at that clump of sand since his mind inhibited him from expressing what he felt. In his brain, she was still the culprit. Still someone who stole his childhood. Made him a killer. A monster. The seeds of mistrust were sown within him by her, his own mother, and that mistrust had let him do what he wanted to do with Zahra with no ounce of guilt in him.
He placed a bouquet of flowers at her shade less grave, stepped back and went away while reciting it within his heart, 'I forgive you.... it gives me peace... and I still love you.... I still have that toy car you gave.... your beloved Irtaza,'
"Irtaza?" Zahra shook her to reality and his grey eyes focused on her. His thick lashes slightly narrowing when his eyes landed on his Zahra.
"Jaan-e-Irtaza," he grasped her chin and kissed the tip of her nose.
(Irtaza's life)
"I want to....." she began and then suddenly stopped. Her eyes falling down.
He knew she wanted to talk about something serious. Something that must be pestering her since a few days.
Zahra sat up. Creating a little distance between them. Her eyes falling to her laps.
She was feeling scared? Maybe.
Nervous? A hundred percent.
Anxious? Very much.
No matter how close they get, her whole life, she would never forget whom she was married to and what her husband was capable of. She was aware that certain topics can have his mood foul and she really can't stand it. To this date, she was still scared of his anger. Though, he rarely showed any signs of aggression on her unless she had committed some grave error that can put her life in danger or anything. But still, she knew who Irtaza Haider Syed was. She was the first hand victim of his dark side.
The topic which she was going to address with him will definitely cause a stir and she was bracing herself for that. But she had to. It was for her friend, rather her sister, Dua.
Seeing sudden change in her persona, Irtaza's frown deepened as he straightened himself and held her chin, pulling her face up.
"What is it Zahra?"
"Can... I mean.... can you help me...like... there is something....that needs your...att-tention," she said, looking in his eye.
"What needs my attention?"
"Actually.... Dua and... Haseeb.... Dua does not want to.... mar-" Before she could finish the sentence, he placed his thumb on her lips which prior was on her chin.
"The decision is on Haseeb," His voice was firm.
"But-"
"No, Zahra. You can't defend Dua over here. I've left her decision in the hands of her fiance,"
Zahra remained quiet, looking away when Irtaza pulled his hand away from her face, "Have I made my point clear?"
She just nodded with a deep frown marred over her brows.
Dua had a complete right to decide whom she wanted to marry. No doubt, Haseeb was good. A really nice person but that didn't mean Dua had to marry Haseeb. Irtaza was only insisting on Dua's marriage with Haseeb after Sheharzaad's and Shehryaar child died when Sheharzaad tried committing suicide after the accusation Dua made on Sheharzaad. Zahra was aware that Dua was wrong and she deserved to be punished but that didn't mean she had to get married to the person of the choice of her brothers as to get her punished.
Irtaza's displeasure with Dua increased after Sheharzaad ran away and Sheharyaar was left alone. And who still was trying to find Shehrzaad. As if the whole motto of his life was to find Sheharzaad. He had now completed unassociated himself with the mafia and business letting him take the control entirely. Haseeb had gone to London after the completion of his degree to control the main branch of Shehryaar's office as he had shifted his whole set up from Islamabad to London.
And he was coming back after three months so the family had decided to get Dua and Haseeb married and this time Dua will go to London with Haseeb since her degree was finished. The marriage preparations were now in full swing.
"She has the right to decide whoever she wants to marry," Zahra mumbled.
"Not after what she did," Irtaza plainly said, "not after what Shehryaar has been going through and you and I both know, Dua does have a hand in it,"
"Irtaza lis-"
"Zahra,"
And her heart skipped a beat as she shut her lips. There was no point of arguing now. And Irtaza was getting angry.
"I'm sorry," she apologized.
Irtaza jerked her forward so she landed on his chest.
"No senorita," he brushed his nose with hers, "no. Don't emotionally blackmail me,"
The sides of her eyes expanded.
Why did she always under estimated her husband? He could read her like an open book.
"I...I wasn't,"
"You were, baby," he told and let his thumb caress the side of her lips, "Don't stress yourself over this. The decision I've made is final. I want you to rest and relax. Am I clear?"
"Jee Irtaza," she nodded her head, her eyes fixing on his chest.
(Yes, Irtaza)
He kissed the crown of her head, "But as far as I know this spitfire of a wife of mine, she is already devising ways to rescue Dua. Isn't it?" he murmured against her forehead before pulling away.
He could see panic in her eyes, confirming his suspicion.
"No... there is nothing,"
"It better be like that, Zahra," his voice held a warning. He laid back and pulled her to his chest, letting her head resting against his heart which was beating calmly as he caressed her head making her drift into wonderland yet unaware of the last though on her mind which was to stop this marriage at any cost and deal with Irtaza later. Her plan could only come to action after her delivery because for now Irtaza's wrath would be the last thing she would want to face in this situation.
3 months later
After long and streched hours of labour at last the baby came into this world. The whole Syed family rejoiced with happiness. The dark clouds subsided that were looming over haveli after Sheharzaad's escape and Shehryaar's current situation. Everybody was present at the hospital.
Irtaza entered the room as the nurse handed him over the baby.
"Congratulations. It's a girl," she told, giving the couple a warm smile. Irtaza's eyes were focused on the little happiness stuffed in the white clothe. Her eyes closed yet her little mouth open, letting out cries and tiny hands curled in fists.
"Jaha Ara," he named the girl, kissing the top of her head and pressing her close to his heart. The warmth seemed too subside her crying as her cried subsided.
His grandmother entered followed by the whole family as he handed over the tiny munchkin to her and his eyes fell on Zahra.
He bended down and placed a kiss on the top of her head.
"You did well, Zahra," he whispered, brushing his lips against her forehead before they descended down to the tip of her nose and then to her lips as he placed a chaste kiss on her cracky lips.
Straightening himself, he found his family looking in awe at the small creature. Their happy faces and then his little Jaha Ara's peaceful features had him smile.
He was content.
Thankful.
Thankful to his little wife.
And was already planning to make another baby with her.
....
One by one everybody left. Jaha Ara was sleeping peacefully in the baby cot. The hospital room was quiet as Zahra rested with her eyes closed. Irtaza had gone to meet the doctors while her mother and Dua was with her at the hospital. The rest had left.
Her mother had just gone out of the room to call the driver to bring certain things that Zahra needed to the hospital when Dua who was sitting nearby got close to Zahra.
"Zahra," she called her out and she looked at Dua.
"My marriage is....in two months..." she reminded her.
"I'm aware, Dua,"
"Will Irtaza Bhai stop this marriage?"
"No. But I will help you. The time I bid from you is over. My baby is here so now I will help you. I don't want you to get married forcefully with anyone. I won't let the history repeat. Haseeb is nowhere near Irtaza but still I know you've a complete right to get married to whoever you want. Nobody can force you even if they're getting you married to a good guy,"
"How will you help me?"
"Escape. I will help you escape,"