Chapter Synopsis:
Shahzaib uses emotions to trap Nimra while Isra uses her intellect to access Khala Jaan's phone. Nimra behaviour irks Isra, but Shahzaib himself is uncomfortable. Later the two sneak out without anyone's notice to the other house, where they meet Razaa and Hammad in order to piece everything together.
******************
PART 2
I sneaked my way towards Nafisa Aunty's room, cautiously looking around. Shahzaib and I had come up with a lie that we knew would work.
Time to get to it.
When there were enough fake tears in my eyes and I noticed her sitting on the bed, I knocked on the door.
‘Who’s it?’
‘Isra’
There was a moment of silence. ‘Oh Isra. Come in,’ she said, slight venom and triumph evident in her voice.
I hung my head low and entered the room, ‘I hope I did not disturb you.’
‘Not at all!’ She was taken aback after seeing my appearance. The last thing she would expect was to see me in such a state, even though I knew it was fake. ‘What’s wrong beta? Come sit and tell me everything.’
Of course you want to know everything. You want to use it against me.
‘Thank you,’ I sniffled. ‘I don’t know where to start.’
‘Wherever you want to start from, beta.’ Had I not known her truth, I would have thought she is genuine.
‘Aunty, Shahzaib and I…we’ve been fighting,’ I said, faking crying.
From the corner of my eye I noticed a slight smile on her face, which she hid immediately, ‘What happened? I thought everything was fine?’
‘Its just that…I cannot understand why he won’t listen to me. Or agree to what I am saying,’ I fake-wept. ‘Don’t wives have the right to tell husbands what they deem wrong?’
‘Oh they do. Most absolutely do,’ she replied. ‘If you don’t mind me asking you beta, what is the issue exactly.’
I hiccupped and looked at her. ‘The presence of our exes is causing problems, aunty.’ Not.
Her eyes gleamed, thinking she won, ‘Oh no! That will not do! You know what Isra, I will talk to him. You don’t worry, I know my son very well and know exactly how to explain this situation to him okay? You relax and take a break.’
I started to cry harder, hoping she would do what I wanted her to do.
She panicked, ‘Isra, stop crying! Oh ho…Zareena? Zareena! Get some water here now!’
I hid my grin, covering my face with my hands. Zareena must have reached the market to buy the ingredients for Shahzaib’s truffle cake.
Aunty did not stop calling out though, ‘Zareena! Zar— God these maids are so bloody incompetent! Just wait here okay, Isra? I’ll be right back.’
As soon as she left the room, I spotted her phone at the nightstand. Jackpot. It would take her at lest 10 minutes to return with the water, more than enough time for me. Quickly I unlocked the phone, keeping an eye on the door. First thing I looked up was her contact list. My blood froze when I found it. Haaris’s number was one of the most dialled and was saved recently. I got my phone out, taking pictures of her call logs and everything. Next, I opened her WhatsApp. Haaris was there too. The chat boiled my blood.
From: Haaris
Thanks again for the bail.
To: Haaris
We’re working on the same goal.
You need to go to the hospital right now.
From: Haaris
Why?
To: Haaris
Isra’s there. So is Shahzaib. Her mother’s fallen sick.
From: Haaris
I’ll say Hammad called me.
To: Haaris
Keep me updated.
My hands were shaky but I took the pictures swiftly, closing the app and placing the phone back where it was. Genuine tears threatened to spill. Shahzaib’s mother is the mole? She had been informing Haaris about my whereabouts, that is how the creep would turn up everywhere. So if his mother was involved…that means Sameera and Nimra were too.
What kind of a family was this? What kind of a mother was she? She got sadistic pleasure by inflicting pain on her son. She was the happiest when her son was not. No…that is not what good parents do. This family was toxic, totally and completely toxic. And Shahzaib did not deserve such a mess.
One sentence did not make any sense to me though. Haaris said something about a bail, but that’s never happened, has it? How come I had no idea of this?
The sound of footsteps snapped me out of my thoughts. Nafisa Aunty entered the room with a glass of water. ‘Here you go,’ she said. ‘You’ll feel better.’
I pretended to take a small sip, not trusting her. If all I knew she would have drugged my water. ‘Thank you aunty.’
‘You don’t have to thank me. I am like your mother only.’
Liar.
I still smiled at her. ‘Aunty…would it be okay if I go stay at my mother’s today? I cannot stay with Shahzaib tonight, I need a break.’
Oh the sadistic pleasure in her eyes. ‘No problem. I’ll inform Shahzaib.’
Like hell you will. You think this is an opportunity to create misunderstandings.
I smiled and left the room, towards the pool area when my phone buzzed.
From: Shahzaib ❤️
Wru?
To: Shahzaib ❤️
M done
From: Shahzaib ❤️
Did you find anything?
To: Shahzaib ❤️
Discuss @ other place.
From: Shahzaib ❤️
OK.
Starting mine…come quickly.
As planned, Shahzaib would sweet talk Nimra and get hold of her phone. However, he wanted me to be around in case she behaved inappropriately. In English, it meant if she tried to get into his pants.
I knew he had decided to do this in the study, so I rushed towards it. The door was slightly ajar as expected and I could see Nimra’s back to me. Shahzaib noticed me, relaxing his shoulders. Nimra of course did not notice it. No one would except me.
‘What’s the matter, Shahzaib?’ Nimra asked him. ‘You look stressed.’
He sighed dramatically, making me grin. ‘Marriage is the matter.’
‘Oh no!’ She could not even fake remorse. ‘Is there anything I can do?’
‘Not really,’ he replied. ‘Things are tensed between Isra and I…I really don’t know if things would get better.’ To add to the drama, he placed his head in his palms.
I nearly walked into the room to punch Nimra when I saw her move around the desk and place her hand on his shoulder, ‘It will be okay Shahzaib. Don’t worry. I am here for you in anyway you want.’
That stress on anyway…b**ch.
‘Thanks Nimra.’ Shahzaib forced a smile on his face. ‘It means a lot.’
‘Anytime.’
I had not known what true jealousy and possessiveness was until this very minute. My heart was screaming at me to go into the room and claim what was mine, but my brain was telling me to calm down, it was all a façade. I decided to agree with the latter, very difficultly. I could be claim my husband later tonight.
‘Listen,’ Shahzaib said, getting up suddenly, which caused Nimra to drop her hand. ‘Can you do something for me?’ He asked her, adding a smile by the end of the sentence.
Nimra’s eyes were shining, ‘Anything.’
‘I need to go to a meeting right now and will be back tomorrow. But I think I’ve damaged my phone during my fight. Can I take yours?’
Hesitation crossed her face and my heart sank. Think Shahzaib, quick!
‘Not if you don’t want to,’ he added hurriedly. His expression got softer, eyes gentler. ‘But I don’t know who else to ask. I cannot tell my mother now that Isra broke my phone, can I?’
‘Isra did?’ She quipped. ‘Shahzaib, you can take my phone! The password’s 1990.’
‘Are you sure? I don’t want to be of any inconvenience,’ he asked her for confirmation, giving her puppy-dog eyes. Sneaky sneaky…but great job baby.
She smiled shyly, ‘You could never be of inconvenience. Take it, you can return it to me tomorrow.’
‘Thanks Nimra.’ He smiled at her. ‘I’ll get back to work now, if that’s alright with you.’
‘I’ll get you some tea.’
I ran into the next room, hiding behind the door until she was gone. When the coast was clear, I sneaked out and tip-toed to the study. Shahzaib was smirking at me, shaking the phone like a trophy.
‘Before you say anything,’ he started. ‘I know I am in trouble tonight.’
‘You got the mobile so you’re safe for now. But I don’t want to having tea with her, so get out of her.’
He chuckled and came to hug me, ‘Baby don’t get jealous. It is a part of the plan. If it makes you feel any better, I flinched when she touched me.’
‘Not good enough but it will do for now,’ I said, kissing his cheek. ‘Now leave and I want you to wait at Our Spot.’
‘Gotcha.’ He kissed my forehead in return and exited the study. I made sure everything was in place before sneaking downstairs from an alternate staircase route, which ended near the adjacent wing of our bedroom. I walked casually towards the poolside, noticing Shahzaib’s car gone. Smiling inwardly, I pretended to book a cab and got out of the gate.
The Spot, was actually a spot very close to Shahzaib’s house, around 10 minutes walking. It was where I would pick him from at times when he was not driving so that we could go out on dates. Never did I expect we would be utilising the spot in this way. But I made sure to glance around at all times, including for Haaris’s car. Fortunately, there were no signs.
My heart fluttered when I spotted the Toyota SUV waiting for me. Rushing to it, I got in. Shahzaib had put on a cap and sunglasses.
‘That was quick,’ he commented. ‘Couldn’t stay away from me?’
I rolled my eyes, ‘Just drive.’
‘So you can stay away from me?’ He pressed on, loving to annoy me.
‘This particular habit of yours will never go away, I assume?’ I countered.
‘Nope.’ His lips popped the “p”. ‘But you did not answer me.’
‘I’ll show you tonight,’ I replied, earning a huge grin from him.
‘That’s my girl.’
We drove in silence for the rest of the journey, my hands interlaced with his left one, only letting go when he would switch the car from D to P and vice versa.
When we arrived, I noticed Bhai’s car was already there and Raza’s was parked a few meters away.
‘Hey,’ I murmured, keeping my head low. We all stepped in quietly, getting inside the house. Razaa and Bhai sat on the dining table across us, their phones on the table. Shahzaib got Nimra’s phone out, while I got mine.
‘Nice,’ Razaa commented, recognising the device in Shahzaib’s hands.
‘Wasn’t easy.’ He replied.
‘Must’ve helped that she fancies you,’ Bhai added, smirking slightly.
Was I just witnessing the men bonding at the worst possible time?
‘Boys, we can do this later.’ They snickered at my comment. ‘Preferably when I am not around.’
‘Sorry,’ Bhai said. ‘So…who’s starting?’
Razaa unlocked his phone immediately, ‘You won’t believe your eyes when you see this.’
1.1k