SaHil FF: A Tangled Love- pt11 pg 39 (*new) - Page 14

Part 7

Sanam opened her eyes to the sensation of Aahil nudging her jaw, wanting to burrow into her neck. She smilingly tilted her head. His body leaned on her partially, his hands lazily running over her. He nuzzled her neck upwards, pausing at her ear to say "Good morning, wife..."...

She chuckled in response, "Good morning, husband..."

"Hmmm, Husband has a nice ring to it..." Aahil smiled into her eyes, "but please call me Aahil, I like the way you say my name. So Sexy...makes me feel like..." he started grinding his hips against her. She giggled at his amorous expression, clasped her hands around his head to pull him close. He was about to kiss her, when the moment was rudely interrupted by a shrill ringtone.

Aahil froze. Ammi calling...

(gif credit-mystical paradox@tumblr)

Like a programmed robot he moved away from Sanam, and reached for his phone. Sanam felt a horrible awkwardness, like they were being caught doing something wrong. She scooted out of bed quickly and fled into the bathroom, unable to stand the strange detachment in Aahil's face.

Aahil glanced sideways at Sanam's retreating back. Ammi was asking where he was all night. Why do I have to hide this? I was with Sanam, so what? But still he kept in back from her.

"Ammi, relax... I spent the night here at our hotel. I was very tired and just stayed back after the Chamber of Commerce event. Why do you sound upset? What happened?" he countered, changing subjects.

"I don't care Aahil ! I want you back home this instant. Something horrible is happening and I need you here. Listen! Just come back now...!"

"Yes, Ammi. I'll be there soon." She hung up abruptly, and he looked at the phone like it just bit him. He looked up hearing Sanam turn on the shower, having vaguely had a notion of wanting to be in there with her earlier. Ammi's call had rudely burst their bubble, now there was a gigantic elephant sitting in the room.

After a few minutes, Sanam emerged fully dressed, tell-tale red marks of crying under eyes. She averted her gaze and went to the kitchenette to make coffee. He quickly used the bathroom and dressed.

He couldn't stand the strange distance between them too, not after last night. He went to her and simply engulfed her in his arms. "Sanam, I'm sorry things are weird. We'll sort this out soon, okay? I'd like very much to stay here and talk this through but Ammi is in one of her dramatic moods, and I have to go to her. I'll come back here, will you stay?" he coaxed her.

"I'll try Aahil. But we know your Ammi, whatever this is, it'll take time. Just call me okay?" she mused. Aahil nodded absently and put his shoes on. He gave her one last hug and left. Sanam sat thoughtfully, finishing her coffee. She began putting the cups away when the house keeping lady came in.

"Oh, I'm sorry Miss! I thought since Sahab left, it's okay to clean now. I can come back later..." the smiling older woman said.

"Please, don't mind me. I'll be leaving soon..." Sanam returned her smile.

The older woman continued staring at Sanam thoughtfully while she went about her chores. Finally she said, "I'm sorry Miss, don't mind me but you look like a proper girl, from a good family. Why are spending the night with the Sahab like this?... Oh, God, I'm sorry, curse my loose tongue... I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked..." the busybody old lady said insincerely.

"I am Sahab's wife..." Sanam faltered.

"OH GOD ! I'm so sorry !! I didn't know Sahab is married !! I thought you were one if his girlfriends... Umm...the ones he... Umm .." she stuttered.

Nothing good is going to come from this, Sanam thought. "Please aunty, I think I'll leave now. This is all very uncomfortable.." Sanam picked up her purse to leave.

"Maybe you have changed him Miss. I hope for your sake. He needs a strong woman to keep him on the right track. You look like a nice girl, do take care of yourself, dear" the old woman advised. Sanam said nothing and just walked away, a disturbing knot in her tummy replacing the butterflies from last night.

She returned to the flat to noise and merriment. She zeroed in on the sight of Badi Ammi laughing with Uncle Ayaan. "Badi Ammi !!" she ran to her smiling grandma, all her worries take a backseat.

***

Aahil stepped into his house with a wary expression. Lateef exclaimed , "Aahil sahab! Begum Sahiba wants you immediately !! She's been yelling at everyone from morning !! Please hurry ..." Lateef bundled Aahil towards Begum Sahiba's room.

"Ammi?? " Aahil walked in. Tanveer froze, schooling her scowl into a tame smile for his benefit.

"Aahil my boy! Finally, you are back. Sorry I panicked you earlier. It's just that these lawyers aggravate me sometimes, but now I have it all sorted. I just have some papers you need to sign right away. It's right here..." she waved some legal papers at him.

"What papers are they Ammi?" they were a thick wad of papers and Aahil was about to look them over when Tanveer grabbed him.

"Aahil !! I have already exhaustively looked them over, just sign them ! We need to take it to the lawyers' office this afternoon..." she prodded him until he sat down and quickly signed the papers without looking them over.

"You signed them? Good..." Tanveer breathed a heave of pleasure. "We have a meeting with some lawyers about some properties this afternoon. Please come with me?" Aahil agreed immediately, wondering what this was all about. He looked at the bystanding Rehan enquiringly, by he also shrugged his shoulders.

While he freshened up, his thoughts were on Sanam. While dressing he tried calling her, but she wasn't picking up. He kept trying, but to no success. A surge of possessiveness grew in him, jealousy at what could possibly be more important that her husband's call. He then laughed to himself, She'll call you back...

Ammi half chased everyone out of the house and into the car. They drove to a prestigious lawfirm, a rival or their own lawfirm. Aahil didn't like this one bit,What business has Ammi been up to that I don't know about? Rehan looked just as confused. But they sat around the plush conference room, waiting.

Then something surprising happened.

The doors opened and in walked Mr Ayaan Ahmed Khan and Mr Haider Shaikh, in their formal business avatar. Behind them was Dilshaad Ahmed Khan, looking regal and happy, walking with her granddaughter Sanam. They made such a formidable picture- Ahmed Khan family.

Aahil's eyes were glued to Sanam. She was more beautiful than ever, because she was his. She looked up and smiled in surprise to see him, wondering why he was here. It was supposed to be a family affair. Aahil shrugged his shoulders in reply.

Before Ammi could stop him he jumped up and went to Sanam's side. He bent his head at Badi Ammi and gave salaam, "Badi Ammi... How are you?" So respectful and polite. Sanam was beaming with pride and happiness.

Badi Ammi gave him a strange look, searching his eyes for something, then unsmilingly nodded and led Sanam away. When he made to follow Sanam, his Ammi demanded he return to her side. Aahil reluctantly walked back to the opposite side of the long conference table.

It was uncomfortable, Sanam not standing with him, but it was more uncomfortable not knowing what the heck they were doing here. A bunch of distinguished looking lawyers walked in and the meeting convened. Everyone seated themselves around the large conference table, the Ahmed Khan's on one side and the Ibrahims on the other.

Aahil chose the seat opposite to Sanam, and sat staring at her broodingly. She blushed and silently chastised him for the outwardly display, but smiled softly, defusing his possessiveness. The senior lawyer cleared his throat and spoke.

"Good afternoon everyone. This meeting has finally happened after 20 years; we have been honoured to hold his trust, but now that his heir has been found we must relinquish it. Let us now read the will of Mr. And Mrs. Asad Ahmed Khan."

" We have with us the lawyers of Begum Tanveer, wife of Nawab Ibrahim, because there is contension to the will. As Mr. Khan's will has irrevocably stated, his estate in total goes to his daughters, Sanam and Seher.

" But Begum Tanveer has had a longstanding claim to the estate as the step mother of Mrs. Zoya Asad Ahmed Khan. Because Ms Sanam has been found, she intends to contend for her share in the will."

There was a collective gasp of shock from all over the room. Aahil sat up in shock and turned to stare at his Ammi. Rehan stood up angrily and walked out of the conference room. Tanveer sat there stone faced but determined, ignoring all the silent condemnation.

Aahil whispered, "Ammi? What's going on? Why do you need Sanam's inheritance? Please explain, this doesn't make any sense! " But she didn't reply, kept her head held up high.

"We shall read the will first..." began the lawyer. Aahil turned to look at Sanam, who was looking at him suspiciously, as was Badi Ammi. This is terrible, I've got to stop this somehow.. This is going to explode in such a horrible way that only Sanam and I are the losers...

" The Last Will and Testament of Mr Asad Ahmed Khan and his wife Zoya Asad Ahmed Khan, states that their personal assets, their share of the business assets, properties and bonds are to be divided equally between his two daughters Sanam and Seher Ahmed Khan, failing which would go into a trust fund managed by their appointed lawyers and in discussion with their business partners Mr. Ayaan Ahmed Khan, and Mr. Haider Sheikh.

A special fund has been set aside for Mr Asad Ahmed Khan's mother Mrs. Dilshaad Ahmed Khan, at the sum of 10 crores, along with the Khan Villa. A sum of 5 crores has been set aside for Mrs. Najma Qureshi, Mr Ahmed Khan's sister.

"Strict observation to this will was to be taken, no other relatives were mentioned or to be considered as eligible for contest of the will. Except if the persons named in the will have perished, then the inheritance goes to their immediate kin. "

A hushed silence fell upon the audience. Half were solemnly absorbing the information, most of the other half were wondering what they were doing there.

Suddenly Begum Tanveer spoke up.

"I am the step-mother of Zoya Farooqui, being the wife of her father the deceased Gafoor Ahmed Siddiqui. I demand half of all properties that belong to my stepdaughter Zoya. I am prepared to go to court to contest this will."

Aahil turned and looked at his mother, aghast. What the hell?

"My son also demands half of Sanam's inheritance, as settlement of their annulment of marriage."

A collection of gasps and exclamations filled the room. Aahil is floored by this announcement and stands up in surprise.

"I'm sorry, I am not aware of the nature of this claim by my mother. I would like some time to speak with my mother in private.." His voice trembling in the unexpectedness of this blitz attack upon him.

"There is no need Aahil," his mother reassures him," The divorce papers have been signed by Aahil, awaiting Sanam's signature. Then the annulment of this contract marriage will be done."

Aahil stood alone, watched by everyone. But he was looking straight at Sanam, who was staring right back at him in fear, Do something Aahil! Her eyes pleaded.

"Annulment of marriage? That could only happen if this marriage was not consummated, Begum Tanveer. On what grounds do you take this action? You cannot just skip steps of divorce laws just to suit yourself," The senior lawyer spoke up sternly. He personally hated families deciding on divorce of a couple, when it should be a private decision of parties involved.

"I know for a fact this marriage has NOT been consummated !! .. Right Aahil ??" Tanveer demanded.

Aahil went stony silent. Staring at Sanam, who looked down at her lap and began to weep silently. Badi Ammi threw a venomous look at Aahil and Tanveer, barely restraining her temper.

The silence spoke volumes. Begum Tanveer threw an exasperated sigh.

"Oh well, so it was consummated. Cheap girls do throw themselves at rich boys. Who wouldn't want to take advantage of her position as wife of a Nawaab? She has rights to half of the Nawaab properties too? Clever little minx this Sanam is..."

"Ammi..!!!" Aahil was shaking in rage. Sanam was crying heartbrokenly now, looking straight at him, the expression of betrayal in her face. Begum Tanveer threw the signed divorce papers in Sanam's direction. Before Aahil could snatch them back, Sanam grabbed them and stood up.

Dilshaad stood up and spat out angry clipped words directly at Begum Tanveer. "You and I go way back Tanveer. You robbed me of my whole family... You watch your back Tanveer, I'm coming for you..." she grabbed Sanam's hand and marched her out.

Refusing to meet Aahil's eyes anymore, she walked out of the conference room, her family in tow. Aahil went after her...

"Sanam !! Listen to me! This is a HUGE mistake !! I'll make it right !! Don't sign those papers, PLEASE!! Sanam .. LISTEN!!!

But Sanam didn't turn back.

Instead her uncle Haider met him with a menacing threat.

"You have just humiliated Sanam. You better watch your back, because the next time I see you ANYWHERE NEAR her, I'm going to bury my fist in you, GET IT !!!"

Haider pushed Aahil back, and walked out.

Aahil ran his hands through his head. What the hell just happened?? Just a few minutes ago everything was fine!!

I need to talk to Sanam.

Without looking back at his mother, he walked out after them...

To be continued...

***

Part 8