N/B - This one is for you, Nafs!
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Khamosh Si Hai Zameen Hairaan Sa Falak Hai, Ek Noor Hi Noor Sa Ab Aasman Talak Hai
Nagmein Hi Nagmein Hai Jagti Soti Fizaon Mein, Husn Hai Sari Aadaon Mein
Ishq Hai Jaise Hawaon Mein
Aahil Raza Ibrahim was seated in his highly sophisticated living area joined by the company of Sanam2.
The woman took a relaxed glance around the house and smirked slightly. Everything is as it should be. Haayee.. Kya kismat hai meri..'
Meanwhile Jannat removed a few strands away from her delicate face, as she made her way down the long set of stairs of the Haveli. She tightened the light weighted shawl around her body and noticed The Nawab sitting with Sanam2.
She hesitantly slightly before walking toward them as there was nothing better to do. Sanam2 took a look up and saw Jannat approaching.
"Jannat. So nice of you to join us."
Aahil didn't take a single glance up and decided to put his attention on the document he was reading. Sanam2 couldn't help but smirk evilly when she saw the effect her so called husband had.
"You know, we were actually waiting for you. We were just about to have our afternoon Chai, but as we all know how wonderful you make it. Perhaps you could serve us this time? Kyu Aahil jee?"
He didn't say a word. He didn't even bother and turned his eyes down at the papers. Sanam2's eyes beamed as she saw how he tightly clenched his jaw.
Jannat could sense an awkward silence form and stood up. "Sure, I can make the Chai. Excuse me."
Returning a moment later, she came carrying three cup of Chai on a tray. She handed one to Aahil which soon resulted in a heavy eye lock.
"Thank you." He whispered.
Sanam2 took a sip from her cup. "Jannat, so how long is Shaad gone for? He left for some business quite a few days ago right?"
"Yes." Jannat took a small glance at Aahil as he sipped his Chai. "He will be gone for a while."
"Sad don't you think? But don't worry, he'll be back soon. After all he needs to come back to his dear wife. Maybe you should go somewhere once he's back? On a honeymoon kind of trip"'
Jannat nodded as she smiled gently. Her eyes caught Chui-Mui Lateef walking down the stairs.
"Uhm, Lateef.. Can you bring the suitcase I have left in the room. It's rather heavy so be a bit careful with it."
He nodded and went on to get it. After a while despite struggling with how heavy it actually was, he managed to bring it down near the front doors. Lateef wiped a small hand over his forehead. "Hayee.. Mari Nazuk Kamariya. I hope I haven't strained it too much."
Sanam2 was left in a slight confusion as she eyed the belonging.
"Now, do you want me to throw it out along with you or will you find your way out yourself?"
Sanam2 widened her eyes by the confident female voice. Stunned by the tone, Jannat reach for her own cup of Chai and take a rather calm sip as she crossed her legs.
"Kya Badtameezi hai yeh, Jannat!?"
"Jannat nahi, Mrs. Sanam Aahil Raza Ibrahim." Sanam spoke as her hand rested at the arm chair. "Kyu Mr. Aahil, did I say something wrong? Or should I just go with Aahil this time?"
The Nawab raised his gaze and a smirk spread across his lips. He placed the papers down on the table. "Unbelievable! I've been stuck on reading the same sentence for an hour now! But I've got to say, great move, Jaan! I'm impressed."
Sanam smiled finally allowing herself to breathe for the first time. "How does it feel?" Aahil asked.
"Oh, it feels great!"
Sanam2 was left shocked with her mouth opened. She sat staring at Aahil and could not comprehend what was going on.
What on earth is going on! How dare she speak to me this way!'
"What are you looking at my shouhar for? I'm talking to you, so you should certainly show some respect to the rightfully Begum of Bhopal."
"What nonsense! I am the Nawab Begum! You have absolutely no right to speak to me in this manner."
"Actually I have. So tell me again, dhake maar ke bahar nikaloon or do you still have some dignity intact?"
Yet there was still a small pride in Sanam2's eyes. She stood up, closing her eyes and began to mumble a few words.
Sanam shared a small look with Aahil before she spoke. "None of that will work anymore. You have lost."
Sanam2 blinked opening her eyes and looked rapidly around. "Lateef! Lateef!" But no movement came from the third person.
Aahil smirked as he stood up. "Too bad no one is around to help you. I told you that one day will arrive where you will be left all alone. That also because of your evil deeds." He shook his head. "And look what happened. I was right and you were wrong."
Clear black orbs stared into the souls of the couple. "You will regret this! You both will regret doing this to me!"
Sanam stood up in one swift motion and glared. "No we will not because you will be gone from our lives. For good!"
Fury made into her mind as he got a hold of the other woman's wrist and dragged her toward the front doors. "You ruined my life! Because of you I got separated from my husband! Because of you I have lost my sister! Because of you I had to live with another man thinking he was my husband! Because of you I have felt so much pain and misery. You don't even deserve to be called a woman let alone a human! "
Sanam took a short breath as she looked at the woman before her. "Surprisingly, I do not wish these things to happen to you. We have something called tehzeeb and only He has the right to punish others. Despite what has happened, Aahil is still generous enough to offer you a shelter. Otherwise you would be walking around begging for money again."
Sanam2 raised her gaze toward The Nawab. He crossed his arms and clenched his jaw. He has nothing but pity toward the woman.
Sanam shook her head. "I only wish you live your life with regret and remorse of your actions. May each day fill with regret of what you have caused others. You thought you were superior against The Almighty, but look at you right now? Who won the battle? The good or the evil?"
Sanam2 lowered her gaze and swallowed panicky. Why did she suddenly feel afraid?'
"You do not deserve our pity. I only wish you follow the right path in your life from now on. But if you ever cross this house ever again, then God help me, what I would do to you." Sanam slammed the wide doors on her face, leaving her alone for good.
Sanam took a few breaths in order to calm her spinning head and beating heart.
"Never knew you could be this badass, Miss Dhabewali. "
"I leaned from the best didn't I, Mr. Jallad Jinn." Sanam spoke.
"Indeed you have. Indeed."
But her expression changed as it became sullen. "I want to go far away, Aahil."
She turned around to meet his gaze. "So far away where no one shall get to us. Where only we are present."
Aahil stepped forward and took her hands into his. He could easily hear the desperation in her small voice. "Whatever it takes to make you feel safe, Jaan. You're all I have left. We'll shift to a place where it's just the two of us. Where we would start our family. Live a simple life with simple needs despite our titles. I can make that happen if that's what you want?"
The look on her face was all the answer he needed.
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Six Months Later:
Aahil stood in front of the porch of his new house. He brought it few months ago and was located just outside the main city. He even managed to restore a couple of things before they decided to move in for good.
His eyes caught the guard who kept watch every hour at the gate. The young man noticed the Nawab as he gave him a respected nod. Aahil nodded back and knew he was doing his duty the best way possible.
Turning inside he took a small glance at the garden where Sanam was roaming among the flowers.
A gentle smile ran across her face as she tried to adjust the new life they had started. They didn't reach the point which they were aiming toward, but they both knew it shall come to them one day. They had to be patient.
The whole place was highly secured. He couldn't afford any compromises not after what they had been through. It was one of Sanam's wishes and he decided to grant them for her sake.
Aahil slipped his hands into the pocket of his loose trousers and turned to go upstairs. He knew his wife would follow shortly as it was late on the night.
He made sure to check every door and window were locked. It was a routine for them both whenever they had to call it in for the night. Lateef was usually the one to do these chorus, but he was gone for a few days.
After checking every corner of the house, he went up the stairs into their bedroom. Soon enough, Sanam came up, already dressed into her night clothes, as she tied her long hair into a loose bun.
The Nawab watched how she maintained the very same procedure he did only a moment ago. She checked the balcony doors once again just to be on the safe side.
Aahil knew his wife had changed but then again, she hadn't really. The truth was she was struggling to accept the dreadful event in her life had done to her soul.
Sanam took one last glance at the balcony doors again, slightly moving her gaze over the heavy lock. Satisfied, she gently climbed into the bed beside her husband.
"It's habit." She told him, knowing well enough what Aahil was thinking.
But all Aahil could think of was how long this had gone on for ...
--
"Sanam.." A soft voice spoke from the top of the stairs. "It's closed."
Sanam blinked, ending her concentration on the front door where she stood downstairs. She turned around to meet her husband's soft gaze. "Uh.. I woke up because I was thirsty, that's all."
Aahil went down the stairs in the middle of the night. He had woken up once realizing Sanam wasn't in the bed. He turned her around, looking into her eyes. "No one can get inside. These doors and windows are highly secured. We both made sure of it, remember?"
She nodded yet he could tell her eyes were not reflecting the truth. "I know. I was only here to get some water."
"Sanam.."
She only gave him a small look where she left him to go to the kitchen. Aahil ran a hand through his hair and sighed. He decided to get back to their bedroom and wait for her.
She came back after a few minutes later, where she noticed how he silently eyed the water bottle which stood beside her nightstand.
".. I wanted ice cold water." Sanam said climbing in as she covered the blanket over her body and faced the other way of the room.
Aahil inhaled gently looking into the ceiling. "No need to hide, Sanam. I was in your place once upon a time."
--
Aahil blinked once returning to the present time. He took a small look down at him where her face was buried deep into his strong chest. "I will always be here to protect you. Always."
"I know," she whispered closing her eyes for the night.
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A few days later, Aahil entered the hallway after a long day with respective meetings and deals. He was about to enter the bedroom, where he was met with not-so-pleasant surprise.
"Whoa, it's me, Jaan. It's Aahil." He said stepping inside looking at his wife who stood only a few feet away, holding into something heavy in her grasp.
Relief ran over Sanam's face once she saw Aahil as she lowered the piece of electronic device in her hand. "God! I thought... someone else was here."
She sat down on the bed where Aahil reached forward and took the thing and placed it back where it belonged.
She ran a hand through her hair and sighed loudly. Aahil crossed his arms and studied her for a brief second. It had been several months still his wife was struggling with her emotions.
He kneeled down before her and cupped her face with one hand. "Remember what I've told you?"
She nodded.
"I want you to repeat it for me - loud and clear."
Sanam held his gaze before she responded. "You told me that you'd always protect me..."
"And?"
".. And I'd soon learn to protect myself. That all these thoughts and nightmares would vanish someday."
"Yeah." He said. "Along with taking a bit help from the house itself with all these things lying around, honestly, you never know when they get handy at times, huh?"
A small laugh escaped Sanam's lips as she shook her head in disbelieve.
A silence filled the room where he lightly nuzzled her neck.
"We're two broken souls aren't we?"
He raised his gaze. "What's the fun in being perfect? Didn't you taught me that, Miss Dhabevaali."
She avoided his soulful eyes. "That was a longtime ago.."
"But that doesn't mean you cannot still hold on to it? Hmm?"
Not getting any respond from his wife, he smiled instead. "Go finish what you were doing while I head downstairs to see how long Lateef is with the food."
Sanam watched how he stood up. "Aahil.."
He stopped by the doorway and looked over his shoulder. "It's okay. I know, Sanam. Don't worry about it. You've got me for life."
As Sanam finished what she needed, she headed downstairs. She saw Lateef setting the table, but there was no sight of Aahil anywhere.
"Lateef, where did he go?"
"Laad Saab was just here a minute ago."
She nodded and went to the other room next to the dining one and stopped by the sight. A soft expression graced her features. She leaned gently against the doorway as her heart filled with so much love for her husband.
Aahil was sitting and offering his evening prayer for the day. He must had not gotten the time to do so earlier.
He went down to do a Sajda, where he touched the soft material with his head and went up again. Her eyes moved to his lips as they moved ever so slightly.
Sanam closed her eyes trying hard to mask her emotions. It was so hard to for her. It was like she wanted to let out these feelings she had bottled up in her chest for months.
She silently watched how he raised his hands to make his final Dua. She inhaled a short breath, trying to control her eyes from getting welled up.
Once he finished, he stood up and caught her gaze. Their eyes spoke more than she ever could let out.
"Don't! You're strong." Aahil shook his head telling her not to shed a single tear.
He cupped her face into his hands and caressed her cheek with his thumb. "You've made your Nawab into a man. You gave me a heart I could touch and feel."
She leaned in, resting her forehead against his as she allowed herself to enjoy the small intimate moment. "Thank you for being patient with me.."
Aahil leaned in and sealed it with a kiss on her forehead. "Now, would you like to have dinner with your dear shouhar?"
Sanam nodded and slipped her hand into his as they made inside. This time The Begum didn't even spare a glance at the heavy lock at the front door.
She could finally breath freely without any worry. She had reached home.. where she belonged.
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The End!
My Writing Index (Updated!):
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/qubool-hai/4271118/deleted-post
