SaHil SS: Junoon... (part8 pg 15) *new* 28/9 - Page 11

Part 8

"Actually , you being here is helpful. Saves me the trouble of looking for you. Please have a seat. Lateef? Please get Nayi Sanam some tea." Puzzled, everyone did as Aahil told. Nayi Sanam sat with a smug face.

Aahil then walked to the door and invited his guests in.

In walked the Maulvi Sahab and his two assistants, with 2 other Badi masjid officials and his lawyer. Aahil welcomed them respectfully and seated them opposite Nayi Sanam. Aahil looked up and saw his beloved Sanam looking at him worriedly. With a gentle smile he beckoned her to join the party. He met Sanam at the foot of the grand stairs and walked her to a seat to his right, hand in hand.

"Assalamualaikum Maulvi sahab. Thank you so much for coming at my invitation. I need your help to sort out a legal issue. I think it's best done n the presence of the elders and those who are learned. I don't have my Abbu with me, so I turn to you for help." Maulvi sahab nodded appreciatively and Aahil continued.

"I have a problem. The first time I was married, my Ammi changed my bride to Sanam," he said putting his arm around Sanam," but I knew who I was marrying when I said Qubool Hai. As did she. Sanam knew she was marrying me, and we said our vows to each other and signed our nikahnama. Our marriage is valid, without a doubt , right Maulvi sahab?"

To that the Maulvi agreed wholeheartedly without hesitation. Aahil felt Sanam relaxing beside him, as he watched Nayi Sanam twitching in her seat opposite him. Rubbing Sanam's arm assuringly, he spoke on.

"I treated my wife Sanam badly, and I wanted to renew my vows to her openly. However , Ammi switched my Sanam with this other Sanam Khan. Nayi Sanam knew she was marrying me but I said my vows to my Sanam. Imagine my shock to find someone else in my wife's place."

Maulvi sahab clicked his tongue and shook his head disapprovingly. "Your Ammi has caused so much unnecessary trouble beta..."

"I have not accepted her as my wife, because I have no intention of having two wives. I accept that Islam allows for men to have more than 1 wife, but I personally am not able to keep it. I love my Sanam more than my own life, and I just am not able to love another, let alone be fair to a second wife. .."

With that, Nayi Sanam broke into loud sobs, adding drama to the grave discussion.

"Maulvi Sahab, I want to sort out this second marriage, if it is valid I want to dissolve it because it is causing untold misery and unhappiness for me and my wife. Please tell me what you advise .."

Maulvi sahab looked at Nayi Sanam, who increased the volume of her wailing accordingly, and then at the stoically silent Sanam.

With a deep breath, "Beta, Is there no chance for a middle way for all parties to live together? Allah hates divorce. Although it is permitted, it has to exhaust all means of negotiation first. "

Calmly Aahil answered. "No Maulvi sahab. Not only has she tried to grab power of my company, she even tried to hurt my wife and her family. I offered her a monthly income and a house of her own, but she wants it all. She has used terrible means and methods to get her way, and I don't see any middle way here. I would like divorce her."

Maulvi sahab turned to Nayi Sanam and asked of her opinion.

"Maulvi sahab! I was coerced by Tanveer Begum, that I would get a Nawab as a husband, and he will love me. She told me over and over that I must make him mine, win him over. That is all I have been doing. But every step I take towards him, he steps towards her. Where will I go, Maulvi sahab? I am pregnant too ! He can't impregnate me and abandon me !!"

Maulvi sahab turned sternly at Aahil, "What is the meaning of this, Aahil !! She is pregnant and you want to divorce her??"

Aahil calmly took out some documents from a folder. "I am prepared for this Maulvi sahab. These are the DNA test results for the child she carries. It says I am not the father of the child. "

Maulvi let out an angry gust of disapproval at that evidence. "The young these days, are such in a hurry for riches and stature. Such is the race that they forget to be decent people along the way !"

With that stinging rebuke, Nayi Sanam's wailing halted into a hiccup.

"It looks like there is no way this marriage can continue. I advise that an amicable divorce might do all parties some justice. But , like it or not, Aahil beta, you were her husband for this short time. Even though she was unfaithful, she is your wife. I think you are well within your means to provide some compensation for her and her unborn baby by way of decency..."

"I am willing to give her the wedding mahr and a small house, together with a generous monthly sum for her for one year, payable to an account on the first of every month. She will have the house under her name and she must find her own way to support herself after that year. If she remarries, the payment stops. But I want one thing in return..."

"What is that, Aahil beta?"

"I have drawn up a restraining order against her. She must not come near or attempt to contact me or my wife or any other members of my family ever. If that were to happen, she would be arrested and all monetary support will cease immediately. Full legal action for all her crimes against my family will be started."

Maulvi sahab sighed. "It looks like you have done way too many terrible things to them, Nayi Sanam! Have you any conscience at all? What are you inclined to do now? "

Quietly she spoke, " What if I refuse..?? "

"Then we go to court. And I will drag out every single horrible thing you have done with proof, and we'll see if I don't send you to jail for a very long time at the end of it all." Aahil said in a forbidding tone.

Maulvi sahab shook his head in regret. "Beta, I suggest you accept this amicable settlement and leave peacefully. What you have done is punishable by the Law. Aahil is giving you a chance to leave, maybe you should take it. Because the proof of your guilt seems to be in their hands. At least think of the child you are carrying."

Nayi Sanam decided she'd heard enough. "I'll think about it..." and she moved to leave.

"Not so fast...! " Aahil stopped her. "I have the papers drawn up. It is ready for signing now."

Nayi Sanam looked with such horror and dismay. Aahil's lawyer got up and arranged all the papers for the divorce, settlement and the restraining order. Under the stern eye of Maulvi Sahab, she signed them as did Aahil.

"I divorce you Sanam Khan with the third talaq..."

"This alliance is over. I trust you will not cause any more trouble for the Nawab and his family. From now you will deal with Nawab Aahil's lawyers. Now leave..."

Aahil watched Nayi Sanam leave the house, shoulders slumped in defeat. He offered to send Maulvi sahab back to the Badi masjid with his assistants. They all moved to the entrance to leave.

At the door, Aahil turned back to look at his wife. His smile didn't reach his eyes and met her tense ones ,blinking reassurance. He blew her a kiss and mouthed, I'll be back soon Jaan..

***

Sanam straightened the bookshelf for the 5^th time, rearranging the book by size, before by alphabetical order. Seher watched from the couch warily.

"How long are you going to do that over and over? What's bugging you Sanam? You should be relaxed now that Aahil has sorted out everything. And super coolly too, without excess drama. Bringing the Maulvi and the lawyers was a stroke of genius really!"

"DO you think she'll just go quietly? Just like that? I'm worried she'll find a way to get back at us. I'm worried Seher ..."

"Come on.. It's not like she can conjure herself into the house just like that..."

With that, Sanam turned and gave her such a horrified look that freaked Seher out.

"Sanam! Stop scaring me ! Looks like you're going to convince me that werewolves and vampires exist too.."

Sanam still looked serious and Seher hit her in desperation. "Come on !! Focus on the positive, okay. Your hubby Jaan just threw out your sauten with complete divorce papers. I doubt he'll let anything happen to you again, Sanam, seriously."

Sanam smiled wanly. She then tucked Seher in bed with her medications and went back to ready a dinner table for two. She waited and waited, but the exhausting day got the better of her and she fell asleep on the couch.

Aahil found her like that, sleeping cosily on the couch. He squatted and watched her sleep deeply. He then carried her sleeping form back to their bedroom and tucked her in.

Before he lay down next to her, he had a word with the guards and personally locked all the doors especially their bedroom door. Thrice.

He was terrified of losing Sanam again. He sat watching her sleep for hours, disturbing her occasionally by holding her hand, smoothing her hair, cupping her cheek. He'd been doing that everynight since she came back. Until he couldn't keep his eyes open any longer and slept.

He'd wake up in cold sweat sometimes, when he woke up and found her gone, but within minutes he'd locate her , either in the bathroom or in the kitchen for some water. He struggled with his terrible phobia, he didn't want to scare Sanam. She had enough worries on her plate, with Seher being on the mend...

In the dead of the night, Sanam awoke to his voice.

"Sanam?" she stirred and hmm-ed a reply.

"Sanam! SANAM !!" within minutes he was thrashing and shouting her name aloud desperately. She tried everything, shaking him, holding him, cuddling him, but he wouldn't wake up. Suddenly, his arms went around her with a stunning force and he stopped thrashing abruptly. She cried in his embrace and fell asleep that way.

The trauma of their separation was far deeper than either had realized.

When Sanam woke up, it was still dark out, but Aahil was gone. She sat up and found him sitting at the couch staring at her.

"What is it Aahil? Are you alright? What is it?"

"I'm afraid Sanam... I'm afraid I'll lose you again..."

Swallowing a fresh surge of sadness, she went to kneel at his side.

"Aahil I'm right here. We are together now. We have to move past this..."

She took his hand and placed it on her heart. "Feel this beating? Feel it... I'm right here."

She ran her hand all over his face urgently, "Aahil, we either waste our time worrying about things we cannot control, or we just grab what we have and be happy..."

He hauled her up against him in a tight hug.

They kissed fiercely, hands clinging to each other, fighting to get closer. They had missed each other so much for so long that mere meeting of bodies wasn't enough. If Aahil could absorb her into himself he would.

Clothes flew in haste, kisses interchanged with vows of love. Sanam held on to the rollercoaster of passion as Aahil loved her to the point of distraction. Aahil was raw and hasty but Sanam was right there with him too. Lying in a tangle of gasps and labored breathing, they shared a private giggle over what was their most romantic quickie ever..

Curling up into his chest, she hugged him tightly.

"Will we ever be normal again, Aahil?"

"Do you want normal, Sanam? It's going to take time..."

"I don't care. I just want you. For as long as I live..."

Aahil sealed that vow with a kiss...

Next : Conclusion... soon.