"How do you know Haseeb?" Suddenly, the sharp striking dominant voice resonated in the dining room and everyone's eyes snapped towards, him, Shehryaar, who was standing by the door, a girl standing beside him.
There questioning eyes landed on the girl and his questioning eyes landed on Haseeb.
They all were appalled.
Her big grey eyes, slender nose, pink lips, snow white skin and her pitch black hair. They all looked too similar to Jahan ara, his late mother.
'How can you do this to me?' she thought.
"Who is this beautiful girl Shehryaar?" his grandmother asked.
"She is Sheharzaad, my fiance to be" he announced, answering to there questioning glares.
"Assalam alaikum" she greeted everyone and they replied.
"Come daughter sit" she said and after that they settled on their chairs, Sheharzaad next to Shehryaar and Zahra next to Irtaza while the seat next to Moosa was empty.
"I will take an interview of you both but first start eating." Her grandmother announced, curious to know where he met this beautiful girl.
And then Zahra was confused. What she should eat?
Not finding any option she placed chicken roast in her plate and begin to eat it while everyone enjoyed there dinner. She wondered for how long this chicken roast will be her food.
Her eyes slightly moved towards Sheharzaad. She was sitting just next to her. Her posture was quite stiff as if she was nervous or disturbed. She wasn't eating anything just poking the salad with the fork, deep in a thought.
"Where did you both meet?" his grandmother asked, not being able to control her curiosity.
"She was my secretary." Shehryaar replied shortly.
"Oh and when you both are getting married?"
"Soon Dadi," he answered and looked towards her, tucking some stray stray strands behind her ear, while she just gave a slight smile, "she was excited to meet you all so I decided to bring her along with me and introduce her to you all" he continued before retreating her hand back.
"MashAllah, you are so beautiful, I must say my son has chosen a very beautiful bride." his grandmother said in her thick old accent.
"Thankyou" she muttered.
"I am really keen to know yours and Shehryaar bhai's love story." Dua asked
"Its nothing special, we both got interested in each other and then he proposed me. "She answered shortly, cursing herself.
She had never lied in her whole life and he made her a liar.
"And what did your parents say daughter? Did they accept the proposal of Shehryaar?"
"My parents had passed away, they died in a car accident."
"Oh I am so sorry to hear that. May Allah grant them the highest ranks."
"Amen"
"So where do you live then?"
"I share an apartment with my friend."
"If you want to, you can live here in this haveli. There is a lot of space here."
"No, no. I'm completely fine. Dont worry yourself."
"So shall we start the wedding preparations Shehryaar beta?" his grandmother asked.
"Not so soon Dadi. I will tell you later."
Soon the dinner was over, Shehryaar, Irtaza, their grandfather and both of their uncles then moved towards the study to discuss something important while Ammara and Asma helped with the maids to clean up the mess, their grandmother went in her room to offer her prayers and Dua called Sheharzaad as she wanted to talk something important with her.
Zahra had noticed Dua's off posture since she came into the haveli. She hadn't met her properly. When she hugged Dua, she gave a smile which didn't reach her eyes.
She wondered what had happened to Dua.
Haseeb, Haya, Saif and Zahra went in Zahra's old room. When Zahra entered there, her nostalgia clicked in and tears brimmed in her eyes. She used to live here, she was at peace closer to her mother but now in that mansion there is no one who can listen to her cry and pleads.
She didn't want to leave this haveli. She missed every bit of it. She was scared to go back into that mansion again.
Everyone settled down their when Ammara called Zahra in her room and she went there.
"Zahra" Ammara whispered and engulfed her daughter in a bone crushing hug.
"Are you happy Zahra?" Her mother asked pulling back, worry etched in her tone.
"Yes mama I am. I am so happy. So happy. Don't worry yourself."
"Can't you both shift into this haveli daughter?"
"I dont know"
"I miss you alot child. Whenever I see you, it suppresses my grief for Mujtaba, I miss you alot child" Ammara cried out and again took her in a hug.
Both mother daughter cried out in each other arms, sharing their unspoken sorrows. After a few minutes there cries died down and then they talked and talked.
A few minutes later, Ammara was informed that her mother in law is calling her and she left the room when Haseeb entered.
"Zahra are you fine?" Haseeb asked worriedly.
"Yes" she answered shortly.
"Did he go harsh with you?"
"Please Haseeb, I dont want to talk about it" she answered, trying to shrug off the topic, she didn't want to recall those horrendous memories.
"Ok Ok Zahra, but keep your faith in Allah, one day everything will be fine InshAllah."
"Nothing can get fine in my life."
"Yeah, nothing will not, but everything will get fine Zahra and wohoo damn you look pretty, even more beautiful than me." he said making her giggle.
"Boys are handsome Haseeb"
"My bad, You want me to say that I am the most handsomest person. Right?"
She laughed, nodding her head. She really missed him.
And then they both talk, with Haseeb making her laugh on and on. And then all of their cousins joined them prolonging their intense conversations, which mostly involved the discussion of paranormal activities they had experienced.
For a moment she forget everything.
Soon, Irtaza informed her that its time to go back and her heart skipped a beat. How can time run so fast? She wanted to spend some more time here.
Her eyes pleaded him to let her stay here but a stern glare did the deed and she stood up leaving the haveli before bidding farewell to the elders.
He held her cold hands in his warm ones and they both followed towards the car, settled themselves down and he drove it towards the mansion.
Her eyes kept staring the haveli from the mirror until it disappeared when he took a turn. Tears brimmed in her eyes and a sharp pain clogged through her throat. She didn't want to go back there. She was already missing her mother. She wanted to be in her warm embrace and hug her tightly. Cry in her arms. In that mansion she was so alone. No one was there. A weird silence had always enveloped her. Even in the day time she could hear the ticking of the clock.
She never liked to be alone. And she was left alone now.
Her heart begin to feel heavy and tears threatened to escape when a sob escaped her mouth grabbing his attention.
"What happened?" he asked, his eyes fixed on the windshield.
"I don't wa..nt(hiccup) to go back" she cried out, "I don't want to live there anymore, I am tired" she broke down into sobs.
She cried and cried but he gave no reaction and continued to drive.
On reaching the mansion, he parked the car when his eyes fell on her. She had slept, her head resting on the headrest of the seat, her face towards the window.
He got out of the car and moved towards her side, opening the door, his eyes fell on her tear streaked face, her lips chapped, her thick eye lashes shadowing her cheekbones, her wheatish skin illuminated under the moonlight.
She looked so exotic. An enchantress.
He cleared her dried tears and kissed on her forehead trailing down to the tip of her nose and then his lips connected with her soft cracky ones, placing a soft chaste kiss their. He pulled away before brushing his lips with hers.
"Everything will be fine one day" he whispered. He himself didn't know why he said that but his heart had that hope that one day everything will fine.
And then he carried her to her room in his arms.
............................
Three days passed in a blur. The chain was no more there but still she was confined to her room and the same food was being served her, last night he again had called her and demanded the same thing from her, to repeat her fake confessions to him. Nothing much changed but she was more than happy that there isn't any chain on her ankle.
It was night time, she was in her room, so tired of seeing these four walls on and on when a idea sparked in her mind.
Her eyes moved towards the clock. It was 12 and Irtaza might have slept so she decided to go and have some fresh air else she will die with claustrophobia.
Getting up, she wore her slippers and slowly opened the door without making any sound and got out successfully.
A small smile etched on her face and she rushed towards the lawn.
Reaching there, she smiled brightly under the moonlight and took in a deep breath, feeling the freshness around her. She looked towards the sky, it was dark but the moon shining brightly in between of it made it illuminated along with the sparkling stars.
She swirled around fastly, her hair flying and a soft giggle escaped her lips.
She was so happy. It felt so refreshing to her. For three days, she was impounded in that room, her taste buds were dying because of the same food she was getting and last night's horrible experience was making her mentally sick. The gush of fresh air she had in these few minutes was so relaxing that it soother her to no extent.
The main door was heavily guarded, thank God it was a bit away from the lawn otherwise some guard would have caught her.
She looked around and felt the beauty of nature. She missed it so much. She missed being under the sky, feeling the cool light breeze around her and two days ago it was heavily raining and she missed running here and there under the rain.
She sighed. She was caged in all ways.
She roamed here and there in the lawn when her eyes moved towards the terrace and her eyes widened. He was standing there, looking around.
One look and she will be caught.
Her breathing begin to get fast. She was standing in the middle and one slight turn in his pupils will get her caught, making her the victim of his wrath.
Her legs begin to shake, she immediately begin to run for the door without looking back and successfully got inside before he could see her.
She placed her hand on her chest, feeling the fast beating of it. She was afraid, she was about to get caught.
The danger was gone now and she relaxed.
Then another mischievous idea flickered in her mind. She went towards the kitchen. She had no idea where the kitchen was but all she knew it was left to the dining room.
At last reaching there, she almost jumped with excitement as her heart beated wildly with exhilaration making her titter. She didn't turn on the light, afraid she might get caught and stumbled towards the fridge.
Today she saw Biryani on the table, her first love.
Opening the door of fridge she got the plate out of Biryani and a big smile etched on her face. She took the spoon and filled it with rice. She was about to take in those rice when the lights of the kitchen turned on and the spoon fell down from her hands.
Her eyes widened and she turned around.
He was standing there.
Her breathing increased. He will punish her for disobeying him and this thought was enough for her to run for the room and lock it but he was standing at the entrance of the kitchen.
"What were you doing?" he asked, moving towards her causing her to scoot back.
She just shook her head, not finding any answer.
"Hmn Zahra?" He urged her to answer now standing just a few inches away from him.
"Nothing," she answered, shaking her head in negative.
He took a step closer to her causing her to scoot more back but the island shelf hindered her movements. With one swift motion, he made her sit on the shelf, settling himself between her legs.
He placed his hands under her thighs and jerked them up before pulling her closer to him. There face now a few inches away from each other.
He begin to rub her thighs, his eyes staring directly in hers, before wrapping them around his waist.
He could feel her breathing getting heavy, anticipation building inside her, her mind full of questions. He could see it, through her fear filled eyes.
He brought his hand closer to her cheek making her flinch but he caressed her cheeks.
They were inhaling and exhaling the same oxygen, her legs wrapped around his waist, the moonlight peeking from the window when suddenly his lips collided with hers causing a shiver down her spine.
He placed his hand on her waist bringing her more closer and tasted her mouth while his other hand resided on her nape.
He deepened the kiss by sucking her lower lips viciously before thrusting her tongue in her mouth and after a few seconds he pulled away.
They both were breathing heavily, her lips slightly bruised as she was rubbing her lips wildly with her cough to remove his touch but he pulled her hand away and placed a soft kiss on her lips again.
"You can't remove my touch" he whispered before removing her legs around her waist and placing the plate of Biryani inside the oven.
"Hungry?" he asked but she gave no answer and sat still on the shelf.
When the rice were nicely heated, he took the spoon before filling it with rice and moving it towards her lips so she could eat it.
Her eyes moved towards the spoonful of rice.
Why was he giving her something else to eat?
"Eat" he said and then he didn't miss the sudden flash of emotion in her eyes.
Rage.
It was rage.
And she threw away the spoon, before getting down from the shelf.
"Is my punishment over now? Are you done tormenting me now? Has your need of hurting me is fulfilled?" she asked, she could feel a sudden rage igniting inside her.
"With which right you are giving me this to eat? After torturing me for so long how can you expect me to take something from you? Why did you chain me?! Tell me why did you marry me?! Tell me why? Why did you force yourself upon me?! Why did you do that?! What I have ever done to you?! I accept it was my mistake that I broke your trust, and I deserved to be punished but you have crushed my everything, you have shattered my dreams, my hopes, my dignity. You have taken away everything from me! Everything! You have caged me! You have made me hate myself!" she shouted, an overwhelming feeling bubbling inside her but he gave no reaction to her rant and looked at her emotionlessly.
"You didn't even give me the right to eat what I want. Now I dont want anything from you, whether its even just a spoonful of rice." She cried out.
She didn't know what clicked her but this rant was filled inside her, she wanted to scream her emotions to him so he could know how much pain he had inflicted on her. And when he was standing there giving her something else to eat, she could feel her dignity getting more crushed.
After torturing her so barabarically how could he expect that she will take something from her?
She left the kitchen leaving him alone there when his phone rang.
"Bhai, Ammara aunty had a nervous breakdown. She is in hospital. Come fast" Haseeb informed.