The 'How To' Series. A Series of Zain-Aliyah OS' [OS#3 - Pg 6]

How to realize your duty

Zain overheard his mother scolding his sister-in-laws about their failure and their inability to ruin Aliyah's Holi party.

He was pretty sure that someone had slipped him some bhang during the party because he had to lightly slap himself a few times to make sure he was hearing the conversation correctly.

His mother had tried to sabotage Aliyah's party? But why?

Gauhar went rushing past him, not noticing him standing in a niche between two pillars, into the sitting room to join the ladies, hurriedly fixing her appearance.

"Ah, Gauhar." His mother greeted her sarcastically. "Thank you for finally joining us. Where were you, and how did you get so much green colour on you?"

Zain recalled Mamu-ki-Bhanji tossing a whole platter full of green colour onto Gauhar's face and chuckled silently to himself.

No, Zain! Focus!

Right, right.

He focused again on the ladies and caught the end of what was a glance between the two sisters. Whatever silent conversation they'd just had, Shazia bhabhi was not happy about it.

"Aunty, I was... well...uhmmm..." Gauhar stuttered in an attempt to respond to his mother.

His mother just scoffed at the women. "The three of you have failed me today. We are no closer to getting Aliyah to leave this house than we were on her first day here."

Zain's brain felt fuzzy. Like there was cotton wool stuffed in there.

Why did his mom want Aliyah to leave the house? She was so nice. She was so annoying. He loved doing kit-kit with her. He loved teasing her.

He mentally slapped himself again but he was too late to catch anything else. The women had disbanded and were heading their different ways.

Zain made his way back to his room as well, attempting to sluggishly mull over all that he'd seen and heard.

Mamu-ki-Bhanji was sprawled across the bed fast asleep. She usually didn't sleep like this. She made sure to put her head at the foot of the bed. Maybe someone had slipped her some bhang too.

Zain trailed his eyes up from toe to head, taking in every detail.

Such beauty. Such simplicity. Such grace.

Millions of women strived endlessly to attain these which came naturally to her.

Yet all of it wasted on her sharp tongue and stubborn attitude.

He plopped himself down the couch and continued to watch her. However she may be, she wasn't bad at heart and didn't have any bad intentions.

Then why would someone, especially his mother, want her out of the house?

Suddenly, a crystal clear memory played in his fuzzy mind.

It was the day after his marriage and he was frustrated with his situation. He went to his mother and confessed that she had been right and that he should never have returned back to his phupphi's house.

His mother assured him that now she would handle things and fix the situation for him.

It was like the fog cleared and he saw clearly.

From that day on, weird and unexplainable things had been happening to Aliyah that caused her a lot of embarrassment.

A lot of questions were answered all of a sudden. Like, how was the door locked on the first day after marriage? (Aliyah had been right; she didn't even have a key.) Or like, who sent the publishers the photo of Aliyah's open blouse? (He had seen Shazia bhabhi at Shawn's party, and she was handy with that phone of hers.)

Zain wasn't sure how he felt about this.

His mother had made Aliyah sit outside in the sun for hours. She had nearly gotten Aliyah arrested. She had exposed such an embarrassing moment of hers to the world, and exposed her body along with it.

Sure, he wanted Mamu-ki-Bhanji out of his life, but not like this. This was pure cruelty.

No wonder Aliyah thought that he was behind all these instances. He knew how his mother's mind worked. She was not only trying to humiliate her, but make her hate him along the way.

Zain ran his eyes over his sleeping wife once more, in a much more sober state this time.

She looked so relaxed when she slept. Usually during the day, she was always on high alert. There were so many attacks on her now from him both him and his mother, that she always stayed aware of her surroundings so she could never be taken by surprise again.

She acted like she was in control of everything. Snapping at things before they were given a chance to snap at her and always playing the defensive.

Which is why he loved to bring out the little lamb hidden inside this prowling sherni.

He loved to tease her, as he had done today by putting colour on her cheek. To see the transformation from haughty and proud to timid and shy always gave him a thrill.

Zain felt a little tendril of guilt seep into his system.

He was her Shouhar. He was supposed to be the one that protected her. He was supposed to look out for her. She was right. No matter what, he had said qubool' to her.

He may not love her, or even like her for that matter, but it was his duty to protect her. And now Zain Usmaan Abdullah was going to do just that.

He wasn't sure if he would ever be able to get rid of Mamu-ki-Bhanji. She was now a member of this family. She had done things for them that others would never dream of.

What he was sure of though was that no matter how long he stayed here, their kit-kit would continue. And he wouldn't have it any other way.

Zain got up and pulled the blanket more snugly around his sleeping biwi.

"Sleep well Mamu-ki-Bhanji." He murmered, caressing her un-coloured cheek. "Things are about to change from tomorrow."

Well? Love it? Hate it? Let me know!