PART 3:
Hammad, Razaa, Isra and Shahzaib all manage to sneak away and meet at the small house small house in order to piece everything together. Everyone is shook, given the kind of planning and conspiracy involved. Shahzaib decides to think of a plan for a few days, the others pitching in ideas to lie to everyone else.
As Razaa and Hammad leave, Isra is hit by an epiphany.
*************
Pin-drop silence.
Everyone had solemn expressions on their faces, not knowing what else to say. To see almost every person around us was a part of such a huge conspiracy. Naina Bhabhi too, hell she was recruited by Haaris himself. It turns out that not only were all of them together, but Nafisa Aunty had bailed Haaris out when he was arrested; something I was unaware of until Shahzaib admitted it was his doing. I was not mad, if anything, there was something extremely appealing about the way my husband had made such a power move.
Altogether, hatred for me was one thing, but to break apart a couple for their own selfish reasons was downright disgusting.
Which brought us to this moment.
I had my arm around Shahzaib, who did not know where to look. Razaa was fidgeting while Bhai was seething, he had never been one to be able to conceal his temper.
Finally I decided to break the silence. βGuysβ¦I know this has been toughβ¦but you have to say something.β
Razaa sighed, βBhabhiβs right. But we canβt just say something, we have to do something.β
βDo what?β Bhai said. βEveryone seems to be involved. Right now the only one who isnβt barring us is my mother.β
βShahzaib?β I said, rubbing his back gently. βAre you okay?β
He turned to look at me, eyes lifeless. It sent chills down my spine. βWhat can I say, Isra. Have I been a bad son or brother?β
βNot at all, Shah!β Razaa interjected. βNo one in todayβs time would do what you did. As a son or brother. The way youβve taken care of everything after dadβs death, never once complained about motherβs unnecessary and toxic dominance in the house or my will to do nothing in life. Bhai, you are the best and you should know it.β
βThen why did all thisββ
βEgo,β Bhai said simply. My eyes moved to his crestfallen expression. βWe all had that, didnβt we? It nearly took everything from us. And while weβve managed to sort it out, some people unfortunately havenβt.β
Shahzaib nodded slowly, I could notice the gears change in his head. With new conviction in his dark eyes, βI am going to need some days to think about what to do next. Can you guys wait till then?β
βWhat if they try something new? Haaris is anyways going to be lurking around, looking for Isra,β Bhai said.
I pursed my lips, βHow about you say I am staying with you?β
Bhai scoffed, βThatβs impossible.β
βNo listen, hear me out okay? Tonight you take Bhabhi out for dinner to some fancy place. And genuinely pamper her, go for a driveβ¦basically make sure she is exhausted when you get home. Just do one thing, tell mumma to lie that I stayed with her at night. She will be so tired that she wonβt bother to check and wonβt get up early. So you can lie that I left early in the morning.β
βDamn Bhabhi, youβre good!β Razaa grinned. βShah, I think sheβs better than you.β
βWellβ¦I learned from the best,β I replied, squeezing Shahzaibβs hand.
His returning smile was infectious, βI love you too.β
βOkay!β Razaa said loudly, clearly uncomfortable. βStop flaunting your happy realtionship in front of us. Our marriages are failing here.β
βSorry,β I said sheepishly.
βWell I can lie for one dayβ¦what about the other days?β Bhai asked.
Shahzaib responded almost immediately, βWhy donβt you drop her off at her parentβs house? She has wanted to visit them for a long time anyway. That way you and Aunty donβt have to lie everyday.β
βI could do thatβ¦and Iβll ask Haaris to not come home for some days.β
βKeep the main gate shut at all times, Bhai,β I said. βSo he cannot step on the premises. And make sure Saima is aware not to let anyone on the premises other than you.β
βSo Israβs part of the lie is complete, everyoneβs going to think she is staying with mom and I. But what about Shahzaib?β
βSimple, Iβll lie that I have to go out of town for a business meeting. They will think I am in Islamabad, but I will be right here,β Shahzaib said, moving his hand under the table to place it on my knees. I knew exactly what his intensions were.
βNimraβs phone, Shah,β Razaa said pointedly.
βI know. Iβll come home tomorrow around 11 am to pack some of my stuff, return her phone, announce that I will be out of town for some days and leave. You just make sure you are around me. Come to my room with me too, the last thing I want is Nimra scurrying around me.β
βNo problem,β Razaa agreed.
Bhai spoke, βSo now everything is decidedβ¦we just have stick to it.β
βI am sorry for making you both go through this, but its important for me to make a foolproof plan. I donβt want any of this to get messier than it already is,β Shahzaib said.
βIts alright, stop apologising,β Bhai replied. βWe are all on the same page and that is what matters.β
βCool then. I think we should leave,β Razaa said, getting up. We followed suit. βIβll leave first and then Hammad can after a couple of minutes. In case I see anyone outside Iβll warn you.β
Razaa exited while we waited in silence. When Bhai received a text saying it was all clear, he started to leave too.
βTake care, chotu,β he said, hugging me. βYou too, Shahzaib.β
βThank you for having faith in me,β Shahzaib replied.
Bhai patted his back and with a bit of hesitation, said, βYou knowβ¦baba would have really liked you.β
I gasped loudly, stopping my tears. Shahzaib too looked moved, unable to say anything. Bhai gave us a small smile and stealthily exited, leaving us to our thoughts. Turning to face Shahzaib, I noticed him staring at nothing, his huge form shaking softly. What Bhai ended up saying before leavingβ¦I doubt he ever expected that. Hell, I did not expect it.
Slowly, I wrapped my arms around him, engulfing him into a hug, stroking his hair softly. He hesitantly reciprocated the gesture, resting his head on my shoulder. The sound of birds chirruping and the wind caressing our face was all that was around us. Everything else was forgotten in the moment. Gradually, I felt the shaking reduce.
βThank you,β he whispered. βFor trusting in me.β
βYou proved yourself,β I replied. βIt had nothing to do with me.β
βEverything has had to do with you.β He was looking straight at me now. The same brown orbs that had stolen my heart a year ago. βIf it werenβt for the love I have for you, I wouldnβt have had the strength to fight so many people. You are not just the love of my life, but my strength too.β
I blushed, βYou are mine.β
βI know,β he chuckled, kissing my forehead. βLetβs get in, okay?β
I complied and we stepped in, his arm around me. It was all so different this time, the last time we were in this house, there was only tension. I had just ripped the papers and was giving our relationship a chance. It was all so complicated. But not anymore. Today I was proud to be his wife, and even prouder after what my brother said.
Whether it was the intense feeling of pride or the immense love I had for him, it was overwhelming me now. I noticed Shahzaib had moved to the kitchen to get a glass of water. The same kitchen where I tried to slit my wristβ¦and where I had made him his favourite meals while he was recovering from his car accident.
Had I really been so close to losing him forever? What would that have been like?
A searing pain rippled through me, nearly knocking me off my feet. Even my body was indicating I would not be able to take it. Not waking up in his arms everyday, or seeing that beautiful smile every time he saw me, or the sly flirting and footsie around others, the regular ice-cream dates, stolen kisses, long drives, his endearing concern for meβ¦
βIsra?β I snapped out of my thoughts. Shahzaib was leaning against the kitchen counter, finishing his glass of water. A frown was etched on his forehead, βAre you okay?β
No, I am overwhelmed, I wanted to say. But instead of using my words, I walked upto him and sealed our lips in a kiss. Shahzaibβs eyes widened as he gently reciprocated. But I was having none of it, going on my tiptoes to hold him.
βBaby calm down,β he said softly. βI am right here.β
βIβve just had an epiphany,β I replied, not stopping what I was doing.
βWhat?β He half-groaned, given my actions.
I caught the collar of his shirt, βWe can talk later.β
I do not know when the sky darkened. All I remember is stepping into our room, the same one where I had vowed to make his life hell, and where I had kickstarted our relationship again. I found myself pushing him against the same dresser where I had helped him change during his injuries. And this time he did not show self-restraint either. His hands found home in my hair, while his actions took my breath away.
We stumbled towards the writing table. The same table where I had torn the divorce papers. New vigour ran through my veins when I realised how close had been to end everything we had built over the one year we dated.
βSomethingβs different about you,β Shahzaib panting against my neck. βI canβt put a finger on it.β
βI said, we will talk later,β I growled loudly, tugging roughly at his light blue denim shirt, the same one he wore the day my brother had beaten him black and blue. A few buttons flew off, catching him off guard. But he knew better than to talk. Words ceased as we got rid of the layers between us.
As we fell on the mattress, realisation hit me second by second. Of what my life would have become had Shahzaib not fought for us. Everything about my life that I was thankful for today was because of him, and to imagine none of this would have existed was nerve-wrecking.
These thoughts along with my actions caused me to shed a few tears. Shahzaib pulled back immediately, stroking my cheek, eyes full of frantic, βBaby whatβs wrong?β
I smiled through the tears, stroking his cheek, βNothing. Just donβt stop.β
βBut whatβs wrong?β
βFor the love of God, donβt stop, Shahzaib. No words now, please.β
His eyes softened further, the pools of chocolate inviting me closer. For once he complied to what I said, kissing me softly, before moving south again. We were a clash of lips, tongue and teeth, not knowing where one ended and the other began. Tears were pouring out of my eyes as we were in unison. Shahzaib cradled me, letting me bury face in the crook of his neck, not stopping.
Just as he promised.
I was engulfed in the enigma that was Shahzaib, not knowing how else to express the magnitude of my love for him. Every moment, every touch, every kiss, every sound we made meant much more to me today. Nothing else truly mattered except him and I.
I held onto him as I finally drowned in the crash of the tidal wave, he following soon after. Not wanting to stay away from him, even for a second, I lay on top of him, still hugging him. Shahzaibβs returning little forehead kisses were consolidating, his free arm stroking the length of my back.
βIsra, now can you tell me whatβs wrong?β He murmured.
I smiled, βEpiphany.β
βWhat epiphany?β
βWhen I stepped into the house again, after Raza and Bhai left, I could not help but remember everything we had been through.β
I heard his heartbeat stutter. βI am sorry.β He sounded ashamed.
βOh no I donβt mean it like that! Its justβ¦I realised how close I was to losing what I have with you. It was this very room where I didnβt let you sign the divorce papers.β
βI remember. You had made me the happiest man in the whole world.β
βAnd thatβs what I mean,β I said, propping my chin on the back of my hands, looking at him. βNot only did I visualise what it would be like to lose you, but I also realised the importance of what I have with you. It did not happen under the best circumstancesβ¦but I love you. Nothing can change that.β
βI love you too baby,β he replied, a genuine smile spread across his gorgeous face. βThank you.β
βNo, donβt thank me,β I said. βEven though you chose some crazy ways, you made today possible.β
βI am not proud of what I did,β he admitted. βThe repercussions of my actions will haunt me for the rest of my life. But the fact that you are here today, with meβ¦you have no idea what that means.β
I kissed him softly, βI love you.β
βI love you more.β
My stomach growling brought us back to reality. We giggled when we noticed the time.
βThereβs nothing in the kitchen to eat,β I said. βAnd its nearly dinner time.β
βDonβt worry,β he grabbed his phone off the side table. βIβll order a pizza.β
βSure? You are so particular about your cheat days,β I asked him.
βNone of that matters to me anymore. Besides, youβve been making me burn calories in a different way.β
I blushed, playfully smacking his chest, βYou know you love it.β
βOf course I do.β
As I stared at him while he placed the dinner order, I could not help but let myself soak into the bliss of marriage, one I had with the man who truly loved me.
Life had thrown a lot of hurdles at us, but we were born fighters. This was the last of them and for sure, we would make it through. Just like we always did.
Edited by Ashley.Tisdale - 4 years ago