Part 6:
Sanam: That is not what she said! She couldn't have.
Sanam went into a long drawn explanation that Aahil tuned out. He was too distracted and lightheaded from hunger.
Why had Sanam's Badi Ammi interrogated him to that extent? It took time to understand her, with her paralysis. He understood the general interest, afterall he had married her grand-daughter. But, the old lady seemed particularly interested in the addition of Ammi to his family and about how they acquired the house. Aahil had explained that it was his dad's wedding present for her. But the woman looked very upset by the information. Then, she went on to ask about Aahil's relationship with Ammi. It was all quite perplexing. Nothing quite shook him like her inquiries about his relationship with Sanam though...God...
Badi Ammi: So, why did you marry her? You love her?
Aahil was stumped: I...uh...I...ah...
Badi Ammi: What was the rush to get married?
Aahil more quickly: I needed to get married before my 30th birthday. Sorry, we couldn't wait for you.
Badi Ammi: Why did you need to get married before then?
Aahil: Legal stipulations in my...dad's will.
Badi Ammi: Why Sanam though?
Aahil swallowed hard: She's...she...Well, I...
Badi Ammi: Do you think she loves you?
Aahil knew this answer: No.
Badi Ammi cracked a rare smile: You are sure?
Aahil knew alright: Yes, she doesn't.
Badi Ammi: You mean, she never told you.
Aahil: She did.
Badi Ammi: Did you tell her?
Aahil nodded his head and immediately looked alarmed.
Badi Ammi: So, you love her then.
Aahil: That's not what I meant...I meant...
Badi Ammi: Really Aahil, you won't lose points for loving your own wife.
Aahil blushed: Fine then, yes. But she doesn't.
Badi Ammi: She thinks love is filmi melodrama. She hasn't grown up with many couples around her. I am afraid her understanding of these matters are very limited. From what little I saw between you two, she seemed to regard you well.
Aahil complained: She's that way with everyone. With Rehan she is way friendlier!
Aahil stopped! What was he saying!?
Badi Ammi: She shared a friendship with him, they were on equal footing when she worked for you. She didn't know Rehan cared about her either. I am afraid my Sanam is clueless like that. Whereas you, she worked for you, there is a gap.
Aahil considered this.
Aahil: Well, your grand-daughter did not mind the gap when fighting with me.
Badi Ammi smiled: She has a temper.
Aahil wholeheartedly agreed: Yes, she has been on me since yesterday.
Badi Ammi: I am afraid she got that from her father. Got it in virasaat, can't be helped. Well, you seem like a nice boy. Will you take care of her?
Aahil: Of course.
Badi Ammi grew serious: She is not safe. Will you promise to protect her no matter what?
Aahil: If she let's me, that is! (Then more seriously) Yes, I will. I promise.
Badi Ammi sighed: Just be a little patient with her on that score. She doesn't know her own heart very well. I am afraid that is also inherited from her parents. Those two were running around in circles not to fall in love...(she smiled tearfully).
Aahil: They sound like quite the personalities.
Badi Ammi smiled: They were. My son did not get Rashid or my romantic side. I am afraid, he had good reason not to. We had seen a lot in our lives. He grew up strict, conservative, quite controlled actually...and so so correct. Then came my little Zoya...crazy, messy, a blast of fresh air...more like a tornado. They would fight like two cats.
Aahil smiled: Sanam mentioned that.
"Aahil! Are you listening!!!!?"
Aahil snapped out of it.
Aahil: What is it now?
Sanam: Get out, we are home. I need to get that Anwar.
She stomped out of the driving seat, ready for battle in her chiffon garb.
Aahil sighed and got out: God help you, Anwar.
When Sanam was on a mission, she stopped after she won. Who would would have thought such a soft looking creature could wage such a war? Me. I do. Of course, I do. He reflected back on the day when she almost fed him a laddo from the groud before pulling him by the hand and breaking a whiskey bottle on his pride.
Aahil held Sanam back and questioned Anwar. First about the jewelry and then about the jameen Sanam mentioned. The stick thin driver cowered and mumbled some apologies, more to Aahil than Sanam. He said something about keeping his job.
Sanam: Job! Haha, you will have quite a job in jail. You betrayed my Badi Ammi's trust. Teri aur teri maaki to ab khyar nehi!
Aahil carefully looked Anwar up and down. What made Sanam want to marry this loser? He was still scrutinizing Anwar's husband potential when Sanam nudged him.
Sanam annoyed: Kya hai?
Aahil ordered the guards to take Anwar to his house for the land papers and jewelry before taking him and his mother to the police. Then escorted Sanam into the house.
A little later...
Aahil was rubbing his temple, trying to read the pending files in his room. Sanam came in with a trolley of food.
Everything was cut in itty bitty pieces, down to the rotis.
Aahil: What is all this?
Sanam: Khana. Food. I know you haven't eaten anything since yesterday. I have cut everything to small pieces so that your temple doesn't hurt. Now, gussa thuk dijiye aur khana khalijiye.
She came at him like that seheri night, trying to spoon feed him.
Aahil's first instinct was to resist, but he remembered Badi Ammi's words and gave in. This was Sanam's way of loving. Afterall, she was a cook and he was starving.
Aahil: You have more vanilla cake?
Sanam sighed: Finally. Yes, after all the trouble I went through to make it this morning, you would not touch it.
Aahil: I had good reason not to. What did you say? No one will feed me in the hospital? Well, a nurse brought me dinner.
Sanam retorted: And did she feed you? Did you eat at all?
Aahil looked away.
Sanam: You didn't eat. It shows. I know a hungry face when I see one. You should have just let me stay.
Aahil: No, I couldn't. Not after all that you put me through yesterday!
They both looked embarrassed as yesterday came up again.
Aahil: Anyways, I want some cake.
Sanam: Fine.
At night...
Sanam came into the room to find Aahil setting up shop by his rock hard couch. He layered some blankets on the tiny thing and was trying to lie down on it.
Sanam: What are you doing?
Aahil mumbled: Hume aapke saath nehi sona.
Sanam angrily: Toh mein kaha mari ja rahi hoon, aapke saath sone ke liye!?
Aahil looked at her, they both looked away, aware of that innuendo.
Sanam: You are not well, if you don't want to share the bed anymore, it is fine. But you take the bed. Waise bhi, I am smaller. I can take that.
Aahil defiantly lay down on his makeshift couch: I am fine here.
Sanam: Fine! Don't wake up in the morning with a thousand different aches and pains and don't tell me I didn't warn you. Insuffrable! You have an injured hand and temple! Make it all worse, I don't care. I am going to sleep starfish style on my king-size bed.
When Aahil didn't say anything more, she went on the bed and sighed.
Sanam: How peaceful this is! So soft! And it's all mineee. Thank God!
Aahil retorted: Enjoy. Goodnight.
Sanam: Yes, goodnight to ME only!
Deep in the night...
Sanam was awakened by a faint cry. She shot up in her bed and looked around in the dark. Aahil had moved down to the floor. Still wouldn't come take the bed. Jallad Jihn!
He was crying in his sleep, tossing and turning. She quickly went up to him.
Sanam: Aahil, Aahil, you okay?
Aahil: I am sorry, I am sorry, Papa. No...NO! No no! It hurts! It hurts, Papa! Nooo...(he cried).
Sanam heart caught in a vice. He was having that dream again. Tears sprang to her eyes as she hugged him tight. She whispered into his ear, but nothing consoled him. Finally, she decided to wake him up.
Aahil woke, heart beating frantically. Sanam could feel it as she hugged him fiercely.
Sanam rubbed his back: It's okay, it's okay. You are okay.
She felt a few tears drop warmly on her back and sink into her skin.
Aahil breathless: That felt so real. It felt so real!
Sanam rocked him from side to side: I know honey, I am so sorry. It's alright nowww...
Aahil shied away from her as soon as he realized what was going on.
Aahil took on a strong, forbidding tone: Go back to bed.
Sanam: But...
Aahil: I am fine. Go to sleep.
Sanam: No, you are coming with me. It got worse because you are on the cold floor like this.
Aahil protested, but she cajoled him into sharing that damned sexually tense bed with her.
Aahil, exhausted from his nightmare struggled against her feebly: You don't get it. I can't share a bed with you!
Sanam: Of course, you can.
Aahil: It feels awful.
Sanam: I know, I know.
Aahil: You don't know anything!
Sanam was extra-indulgent of him after seeing his dream: Fine. I don't know anything. Now let me tuck you in, just so.
She wasn't going to listen. At last Aahil gave in, despite his bruised ego, and let her comb through his hair until he fell fast asleep. Sanam kept her hand on him the rest of the night.
A few days passed with that awkward compromise. Aahil stoically accepted the truce - though it still hurt the way she flung his confession back to him.
Sanam made an effort to be kinder after his accident. His good deeds were too many. First saving her life, yet again, then being nice to Badi Ammi and now he had seen to Anwar and brought her back the family jewels and the land.
One day he took her to a fashion boutique...
Aahil: Pick some outfits. We are going to Lucknow for a few days.
Sanam: Oh, for little Anisha's birthday party?
Aahil: Yes.
Sanam: What should we get her!? They have one year old's clothes here?
Aahil rolled his eyes: No, only clothes for women with the maturity of a one year old. This is for you! (Sanam made a face). We will buy something for her next. I am thinking, gold.
Sanam: Oh, we could get her some little girl bangles.
Aahil smiled despite their current situation: She will look like a little doll. Baby girls are so cute.
Sanam nodded happily.
Aahil lost his smile and said grimly: Anyways, pick some dresses. Model them so that I can approve.
Sanam huffed: I don't need your approval.
Aahil: Yes, you do if you want to set a good example as Bhopal's Begum! Everyone who is anyone will be there.
Sanam begrudgingly obliged.
In the dressing room...
Sanam twirled around: Well!?
Aahil snapped out of it and picked his jaw up. His throat was dry.
Aahil: It...'s passable.
He drank the coke the manager kindly provided.
Sanam offended: Passable!? It's so pretty! (She twirled again).
Aahil hesitantly: Guess, that's one. What's next?
She flew out with another dress on...What the hell was wrong with this girl? It is like she was rubbing it in his face that she was some ethereal princess he couldn't have.
She went back in before he could respond, coming out in another image.
Sanam: This one or that one?
Aahil: Both. They will go well with your jewelry.
Sanam: Nehi, that's too much.
Aahil looked at the manager: We are taking all three so far.
The manager had stars in his eyes. That was going to be some comission!
Manager: Yes, Nawab saab. They will all be ready for delivery by tomorrow morning sir.
Aahil: As soon as you can. We are leaving tomorrow for our vacation.
Manager nodded.
Aahil saw another exquisite piece behind the manager's back. He didn't need to see that on Sanam to know it was sooo Sanam.
Aahil pointed: And that one too.
Sanam protested: That's too much.
Aahil shushed her with a finger.
In all honesty, she was eyeing that one too, but was too shy to say anything. It looked EXPENSIVE! And she couldn't ask that of him. She could never imagine owning something like that.
Aahil gave the guy his credit card information and started to leave. Sanam huddled along behind, whining.
Sanam: I really can't accept. It's too much.
Aahil: Keep quiet, Sanam.
When she kept pestering him, he finally turned on her.
Aahil: I don't want my Begum to show up to the palace with nothing decent to wear. You want to look silly next to my cousins? In front of everyone? (She looked properly chastised). No? That's what I thought. Now for those baby bangles...
Coming up next is the palace of Lucknow and more Arhi!!!!! Hope you guys are having fun. I was having a lot of fun writing this piece. Let me know what you thought. Write to me.
Part 7:
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/112562088 Edited by Marybarton - 11 years ago
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