One Night...... (A SaAhil two shot.) pt2 upd june 7

Part 1:

The party had been a grand success. Aahil grinned to himself as he made to the kitchen to get a go at the yummy kheer that had been the last word on every guest's mouth as they had departed...

Enough was enough...after that delicious butter chicken and varieties of bread and melting kebabs...nothing was going to keep him from this 'absolute treat' everyone had harped on and on about...it was two hours since his dinner- 5 minutes since he had wished his last guest a good night...and now his stomach was humming for a sweet offering, to match the happy tune that was whistling in his head. Feeding the Nawab's uppity relations was his most dreaded task of the year, and this had been a cake walk...and he had to give credit to someone he was definitely not going to accredit...

He made towards the refrigerator..it was clear that Latif had done a quick job of clearing the leftovers and arranging the place...

He grabbed a bowl and spoon...in no time, he had discovered the kheer- hardly few helpings left...

He was about to turn and enjoy his dessert in his room, when he heard water flowing at the sink, to the accompaniment of dishes being washed. It must be Latif! He was in a mood to talk... he loved spending some time talking to his servants, so long as they did not annoy him..and today his mood could survive even Latif...in fact, nothing could dampen his high spirits today. He decided the kitchen counter was the best place to settle with his dessert, as he could catch up on some family gossip from Latif in the mean time...only...it was not Latif..it was Sanam washing the dishes...

Some unfamiliar curiosity made him want to stick on...

He climbed on to the counter that partitioned the kitchen, and installed himself to study this most disturbing addition to his staff.

He discovered soon that Sanam was not just a busybody, but also a busy body. He could not help admiring the efficiency with which she was stashing the dishes...it looked like she was creating a pattern with the plates and wares- she made it look like an art by itself! And it was a pleasure watching her...there was something...homely???..about it...! Aaahil helped himself to the kheer as his gaze and thoughts wandered around Sanam...

She had bathed and changed into a simple white cotton kurti...probably that was her night wear...her wet hair that had been tied into a loose pony had left a translucent window around it...that seemed to offer an enticing peak onto the creamy skin that lay beneath...

He quickly guarded his thoughts...never had this happened...he was thoroughly professional with his workers...in all aspects...never had he slipped up like this before...

He averted his gaze..in no time he had collected himself...

He took another helping and shifted his focus back to her. There was so much energy in her! He had seen her start the elaborate preparations from the night before...he had heard her voice as he had started for his early morning jog...he really couldn't help appreciating the grit and dedication ...

Sanam had already sensed Aahil's presence without looking back...

For once, he had eased into her comfort zone...

Her hard work had borne fruit...she had delighted about a hundred stomachs today, and the looks on the guests' faces was her reward. It had made her feel like a master of her destiny...she now had the confidence that she could survive any where with this gift Allah had blessed her with! Could that be why 'His' presence did not make her uncomfortable tonight?

She looked sideways in acknowledgement, and caught him at the corner of her eyes.That was a pretty huge helping! Sanam smiled to herself...it always gladdened her heart to see her food being appreciated ...in words or actions..and Aahil Razaa Ibrahim's actions were speaking louder than his words. Any other day, she would have loved to ignore the young Nawaab, but today, his innocent ceasefire made her feel altruistic.

"That would taste better if warmed a little", she offered to take the chill off...

To his surprise, Aahil found himself taking up that offer, as he silently handed over his bowl to her...it all seemed so natural...and..right???...!

A short heat at the microwave- she was no longer ignorant to that- and she handed him the bowl back, hardly meeting his gaze...

She was right! It tasted so creamy and luscious as the warmth tickled his taste buds and trickled down his throat...it seemed like every cell in his body wanted a taste of this feast...

He looked admiringly towards Sanam, who was lost at her art of washing dishes..he was fascinated by a drop that had formed at her temple and slowly coursed down her neck...Water? Sweat? ...He swallowed...

This was getting uncomfortable...he needed to break the spell...small talk...approval...criticism...anything...

He cleared his throat...

"It's a...beautiful night...!" (Wow! Seriously! Where did that come from? He definitely needed to sleep...if only this sense of elation would subside!)

Fortunately, Sanam did not find it odd...

"Yeah...a starry night..starry starry night, as Hayaa says..", Sanam stopped...

So far, so good. This looked like a normal conversation to her!

"Hayaa says?"

" Hayaa says many things", she chuckled.

"Hayaa says many silly romantic things. She says that the stars come out on some nights so bright to pay homage to a new beginning...or something like that...She says she believes there is love blossoming somewhere on nights like this.."

Sanam giggled...

"Can you believe it? That is such a silly romantic tale! Seriously! How would the stars come to know about the earthly happenings?...Like people believe in shooting stars and all that rubbish! Hayaa is impossible, I tell you!"

"So, what is it, according to you?", Aahil enquired, mouthing another spoonful of the Sensuous Delight. (If Sanam ever needed to patent and name this kheer and asked his opinion, he would name it just that!)

"What?"

"Love...? What is your definition of love?"

"Love?...Love ...is...I guess..it is an understanding...a promise you make when you are bound to a person...by ..say, birth...like your parents and siblings and all..or by friendship..or by...marriage...I guess. It is a humanly emotion...there's no need to bring the stars and moons into it!"

Aahil stared at her. Was this woman for real? She was too real! Too realistic! He had come across all kinds of women...from classy to flimsy...they all bored him. But this woman...there was never a dull moment with her. He had to give her that much! Her definition of love was too practical and impractical...impossible, coming from a woman!

"May be you are frigid!", he blurted out the first thought that came to his mind. Sanam looked back and stared at him. She had not asked him to psychoanalyse her! The best thing was, she was not even feeling offended. If she was frigid, all the more better. That would make her resist his subtle charms and even keep him away from her. But she had to show some response, so that he did not take this as the beginning of a truce that would lead to a more comfortable equation between them.

She looked at him sternly. Aahil shrugged, got the message and got up to walk away. It had been a long and tiring night, and he was not up for an excursion into Miss Dhaabewaali's crazy, demented psyche.

He was just outside the kitchen door, when he heard a crash. What the...! She had not taken that to heart! He had half a mind to ignore her temper tantrum, but something made him go back. Sanam was not by the sink anymore. The tap was still running...he looked down, to find her bunched up on the floor.

Dear reader,

I would have loved to take some more time polishing this story up. I started writing it much before Sanam even came working for Aahil...with the spoiler that we had in the first week of QH...and since I have already taken so long, I thought I will complete it before Sanam gets kicked out!😆

So this is part 1. Hope you enjoyed it. Do leave your comments behind...😳

Part 2 will be shorter and up in 1 or 2 days..

Where was she? Sanam tried to put things together. She had quickly turned her head back to the sink with a sigh of relief, as Aahil had left. And then she had gone dizzy. Now she remembered that she had not had anything since the morning tea. She had been excited about this dinner, and had forgotten about everything else as she had immersed herself in the preparations. A blurred vision of Aahil's face came next...he was shaking her. His voice sounded so gentle as he called out her name!...She supposed fainting dimmed all of one's senses.

Her forehead felt a little numb ...and now, she could feel some wetness trailing down her left cheek...Water?

Blood...He had seen plenty of it. Never had it made him feel so agitated. As he applied his handkerchief to the wound, Aahil hoped she was not in too much pain...(Why???)

Blood refusing to yield to a few minutes of pressure...Sanam staring emptily at him...He knew she needed help. He carried her, hugged against his chest- still applying pressure on the wound with his left hand.

Mmm...m right...', Sanam mumbled against him and he ignored her.He settled her into the front seat and yanked the bandage out of the First Aid Box...A tight bandage seemed to hold it checked for the meanwhile...

Sanam tried to put things together in her dizziness. Why was he taking her to the hospital? Why did this guy have to make a mountain out of a molehill? Did he want to add to the list of favors he had done to her?

"Blody Hell! I said I want the Plastic Surgeon!", Sanam knew her senses were well and truly back, now that she could discern the barely suppressed anger in his tone. She wondered what was the big deal, as the young doctor who had attended to her in the Casualty was already gloved up...They had said that she'd need a few stitches... Plastic Surgery! For what! She was quite happy with her looks...Why the hell did Aahil Razaa Ibrahim want to tamper with her beauty or lack of it???

"Sir, he is on his way...will be here soon",was the last thing she comprehended as she drifted away under the sedation.

"Five thousand for what could have been done for 150 Rupees!", she heard the attendant chuckle quietly.

"Dr. Mehta's work is well worth it!",the nurse had the last word.

Five Thousand! Her half month's salary! Was the guy out of his mind? Never mind. She did not have the energy to bicker about it.

Few minutes into their return journey, and Sanam could not help herself..."You called a Plastic Surgeon!"...it escaped her lips.

"You can thank me every time you look at your beautiful, scar free face in the mirror..", he replied emphatically. (Beautiful? He had said that about her?! Something was not right about this night! The stars did look unusually bright too!)

"Would have loved to keep that scar in memory of times I spent working for you", she bit back a naughty smile.

Memories? Memories belonged to times left behind...after one moved on...there was something unsettling about what she had just said. He brushed it away, as she shifted in her seat...

Besides...she belonged to him...had he not told her enough number of times that he owned her!

Was she comfortable? Hungry? He had felt guilty when she told the doctor about how she had been starving.

"Want to have something?"

"Huh?"

"Heard you have not eaten since morning..."

"I was...planning to go to ...sleep"

"Why did U...Why didn't U ...eat?"

"Eat?...I..forgot..."

Of course, she had been out saving the world the whole day! Oh No! She had been working on a Nobel Prize winning invention! Hell! She forgot to eat while she cooked! What a contradiction! And then she goes and faints and gets a huge bloody gash on her head!

"So.. I have to work... an extra month...before I can leave..."

Leave! She was at it again! Why did she want to run away all the time...He owned her!...She belonged ...where she was...as whatever she was...even if she brought out the worst in him...!

"It will be good if you can learn to even take care of yourself before you make your grand plans to ...whatever you have in mind...And by the way, you don't owe me anything for tonight. Aahil Razaa Ibrahim takes good care of his employees. You are covered."

Employee! Covered! Of course, this was one of those favours he was going to boast about...she would pay back all of it... It hurt...When someone took care of you and seemed to bother for a moment whether you ate or slept...and then put you down...in your place...Employee...Of course, who said she felt anything more?

The silent tears that brimmed in her eyes and the stinging sensation down her throat seemed to say so, but Sanam declared them strangers. And she vowed not to give them a thought.

Aahil glanced at her face turned towards the window and fumed- She had forgotten! To eat!!!

Both clammed up for the rest of the journey.

Back home,Rehaan opened the door for them. He sent a quizzical look at Sanam. Aahil had phoned him from the hospital, and he had been surprised. There were no further conversations. Everyone was tired. Rehan accompanied Sanam to her room and asked her about the wound on her head. He smiled as she explained in a slight daze. He had always been the one to reassure her that there was a giving and caring side to Aahil. Still, he felt he had to warn her. "Sanam...Please don't get me wrong. In all likelihood...Aahil Bhai will never acknowledge he did this for you, or that he let you see this side of him..." What he got in response was a nonchalant answer that left him confused. - "Rehan Miyan, mujhe koi farak nahi padta...I don't care. I am here to do my job...as long as I do that well...I don't care what goes on around me...so long as it does not come biting my head..." Rehan closed the door to her room as she put off the lights. This girl was very special..He was sure Aahil Bhai would have some idea of what he was talking about.

Aahil stared into the night...there was something striking about the world around him tonight. Why had he turned back and watched her retreating figure with a sense of...loss???Out of nowhere, his heart had found a long forgotten tune...something from his childhood...that did not send a shiver down his spine...

...She had been so light to carry...and fit so perfectly in his arms...

He moved out onto the terrace, sat by the wall and devoured the night before him. What was so charming about Mother Nature tonight? Why did he want to just lie down and bask in the nothingness and emptiness, and for once not feel restless about the silence?

Sanam gazed at the full moon outside her window. Haya and Badi Ammi would be be sleeping, hugging each other right now. Finally, Allah Miyan had helped her find a foothold. At least now she felt like she had found a road that would lead her somewhere.

...But she had to admit it was nice being carried by him...He had such strong arms...that made her feel safe...cared for...rested...

She drifted off into sleep, with a smile playing on her lips...She did not know when Aahil Razaa Ibrahim invaded her dreams; neither did she remember that the dream had warmed her heart and made her hug her pillow very close...

That night...nothing had really changed...yet, something had begun to change somewhere...

Dear reader,

OK. I am one week late on a do- or - die deadline here.😳😆

The week got busier than I expected...hope the update lives up to at least some of your expectations. Of course, it is an incomplete story, because it is just ...ONE NIGHT!😉

Have a great weekend...🤗 and do leave your honest comments...(I am all brave here!😉)

This is just beyond perfect and amazing. You are a beautiful writer Soup. Amazingly talented. 👏

I loved it. Loved it. The kitchen part. Aahil and Sanam's small conversation about love and him sneaking around to eat that sensuous delight. 😆 ( on that. Nothing could be better than this name for her kheer. 😆 ) Everything is so beautifully written.

And I was literally laughing when he tried to start the conversation and blurted out 'beautiful night.' 🤣 And then the way he was cursing himself mentally for that. 😆