A Different Kind of Game
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Chapter Four
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** For the purpose of this story the second
wife's name will be spelled Sanaam. The double a' is to distinguish her from
our Sanam. **
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Sunlight
slowly streamed into the room, almost in a shy manner as it illuminated the two
individuals residing inside. The light finally hit the closed eyes of the young
man who furrowed his brow and gently awoke from his slumber.
Aahil
slowly came back into consciousness and the first thing he registered was the
stiff crick in his neck. He slowly, and cautiously, lifted his head from the
bedside and gave a small yawn. It took him a minute to process the position he
was in and in no time the events of the night before flooded back to him.
With
a smile that could rival the morning ray's he gazed at his begum, who was still
sleeping peacefully. He brushed a kiss against the back of her hand, the hand
it had seemed he had kept a hold of the whole night, then raised himself to
press a kiss to her forehead, stopping to inhale her scent.
He
finally let go of her hand and made his way out of the room, stopping to look
back at her with a loving smile.
Aahil
rushed towards his own room, intent on showering and changing before Sanam
awoke. Before he could enter his room
the door opened, almost of its own accord, and he was met with surprised black
eyes.
"Aap?"
Sanaam questioned nervously, staring up at her husband'.
Aahil
stared at his so called second wife, but didn't deign to give her a response. He
had no time to waste, he wanted to be by Sanam's side when she woke up.
Brushing past the woman frozen at the door he walked towards his cupboard,
grabbing a fresh change of clothes and went into the bathroom.
Sanaam
sadly stared after her husband, pain and longing mixing in her heart. When he
didn't return to his room last night she had guessed he had kept vigil at Sanam's
bedside. She didn't know that when she promised to reunite the two that it
would be so painful, and it wasn't the first time she had regretted the
decision. She slowly made her way down towards the kitchen, to prepare tea for
Begum Sahiba.
After
a quick shower and a change of clothes Aahil bounded down the stairs.
"Lateef!
Lateef!" he called. Irritated at the lack of response he marched over to his
manservant's room, knocking on the door.
"Lateef!
Lateef!"
The
door flung open and the person in question stared back in comical horror,
clutching a teddy bear to his chest. His hair was in a tangled mess and he
regarded Aahil with fake tears in his eyes.
"What
is this Aahil-baba?" he questioned dramatically. "You have to get a hold of
yourself! You can't just knock on this delicate flowers door in such a way. What
will the neighbours think? You're already married, why are you defaming me like
this? Who will marry me now once word of this gets out! You have to control
yourself! Main to hui chui mui!"
Aahil
rolled his eyes, bemused at the rant. At his chuckle Lateef stopped, regarding
his master. It was remarkable how things had changed so quickly overnight.
"Lateef
hurry up and change," Aahil demanded. "Get a breakfast tray ready for Sanam and
call me when it's ready. I have to make some phone calls, I won't be going into
work today."
Seeing
the childish joy on Aahil's face as he talked about the Chote Begum made Lateef's
own features soften, and he nodded, determined to make this the best breakfast
ever. After all he was better than Sanam and she would be blessed to eat by his
hands this morning!
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The
lady in question stirred in her sleep upstairs. Gently yawning she pulled herself
up, smiling at the well rested sleep she had gotten. Once her eyes turned onto
the clock at the bedside table, she gasped in shock.
"Ya
Allah!" she whispered, throwing the covers off and standing up. "It's morning
already! What happened last night then if I was asleep?"
A
sense of dread washed over Sanam and she hurried out of the room, intent on
finding her sister and getting the details of what had transpired. Had their
plan succeeded or not?
She
walked out of the hallway, intent on going to the secret room when her phone
beeped.
S: Meet me in
the garden. Under the awning of the tree by the fence.
Sanam
furrowed her brow worriedly. What was Seher thinking asking her to meet in
plain sight so early in the morning? Shaking her head, the black haired beauty
quickly changed direction and headed outside.
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Aahil
distractedly listened to the man on the other end, rambling about something or
another. Pacing his office he glanced towards the clock, grimacing as he
noticed only five minutes had passed. Why was it everything felt so long when
he was away from Sanam?
Just
the thought of her brought a smile to his face. He rushed through his conversation,
cutting off the poor man on the other end of the line with a rushed goodbye.
He
made his way back to the kitchen and he was pleased to see that Lateef was
almost done arranging the tray. Setting a glass of orange juice on the tray,
the manservant assessed his work and made a pleased notice. He turned,
surprised at the presence of his master.
"Are
you done?" Aahil questioned, striding towards the counter. Lateef nodded.
"Yes,
now I can go and take-,"
"No
need," Aahil cut off, grabbing the tray himself. "I'll take it.'
Lateef
watched Aahil leave with the breakfast tray, a small smile playing on his lips.
Shaking his head he began preparing breakfast for the rest of the family.
As
Aahil got closer and closer to the room he suddenly began to get nervous. What would
he say when she woke up? Should he hug her or apologize first? Would she
forgive him?
Just
the thought of Sanam not forgiving him caused him to halt, and dread and
apprehension began to fill his mind.
What
if Sanam didn't forgive him? What if Salim was right and Sanam left him because
he had been such an idiot to her?
Aahil
paused as he got to the room and shook his head. Yes, he had messed up royally.
But he would beg for forgiveness, and hopefully in her heart of gold Sanam
would forgive him. He gently pushed on the door and peered in.
His
brow furrowed as he surveyed the empty room, slowly walking in he sets the tray
on the bedside table. Straining his ears he tries to listen for the sound of
running water, wondering if his wife was in the shower.
"Sanam?"
he called out, waiting for a reply in the silent room.
"Sanam?"
he tried again, louder. But again no response.
Dread
began to creep into his heart and his mind raced with hundreds of possibilities.
He tore out of the room, calling for his wife.
"Sanam!
Sanam!" he hollered.
His
so called second wife appeared before him, looking shocked.
"Yes?"
she replied.
"Not
you," he snapped, continuing his desperate search for his missing begum. Sanaam
flinched back, and watched her husband tear across the house, screaming for his
wife.
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Sanam
stood in the garden, relishing the fresh air. She hoped the cool morning breeze
would soothe her frazzled mind, as she thought back to the conversation with
her sister she had a few moments earlier.
She
couldn't believe her sister had tricked her in such a way! Seher had lied to
her and while she was passed out cold, had gone through with a plan she would
have never agreed with!
Which
was probably why her twin had done what she had done in the first place. If
Seher had told her to original plan in the first place there was no way Sanam
would have agreed! Not only was it such a big lie, but also a bit ludicrous!
"Ya
Allah," Sanam murmured to herself, gazing heavenward, "Please let everything be
ok. Please let everything work out. Please-"
"Sanam!"
She
was startled out of her small prayer at the shout of her name. Turning around,
she regarded her husband with shocked eyes, staring at him from across the
distance.
When
his eyes finally found her a sense of relief washed over Aahil so fast that he
thought he would collapse. Standing in the garden at that moment, eyes towards
the sky she had never looked so beautiful. She still wore the same clothes as
the day before and both the clothes and her hair was mussed but for him she was
perfect.
As
her dark eyes turned towards him, a pressing need made itself known. In an
instant he ran the distance between them, stopping a hairs breath away from her.
His eyes hungrily traced her face, from her dark almond eyes to her rosy lips. Then,
without a moment's hesitation more, he pulled her into his arms, crushing her
small frame to his body. He inhaled her scent, engraining the moment into his
memory.
Sanam
was unsure of her husband's reaction. The man he was today was so different
from the man he was yesterday and she didn't know what to do. When Seher had
told her Salim's visit made an impact she wasn't quite sure what to expect.
Aahil
slowly came to realize that Sanam wasn't reciprocating his hug. He slowly
released her, keeping her at arm's length. He regarded her nervously.
"Sanam,
I-," he cut himself off, not sure on how to proceed.
Staring
at her husbands, Seher's words flooded back to her.
Don't forgive
him so easily. He needs to realize that you were hurt and this is the best time
for him to learn that. Otherwise whatever we do will be in vain because he'll
think that even if he does something wrong you'll forgive him easily. He needs
to realize that there is a possibility he could lose you.
But
more than that Sanam wanted to make her husband realize how much she loved him,
and to do so meant she'd have to distance herself from him. It was like pulling
at a rubber band, the farther and farther it stretched, the more quickly and
stronger it came back together.
But
could she do it?
Sanam
regarded her husband. Could she distance herself so he would know her worth, so
that when the time came he would fight for their love?
Aahil
nervously regarded his begum, hoping she would say something so he could
respond. When he said he would apologize her very well intended to, but saying
something and doing it were two very different things.
His
heart flinched when his beloved's eyes seemed to close off and she moved a step
back. She stared at his face so coldly that he flinched back, it was almost
like looking into a mirror.
"How
can I help you Nawab-saab?"
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Hey everyone! I am so sorry for the late update! I was planning on posting Wednesday night when I got hit with a really bad flu! Between work, classes and being sick this took a back seat! Thanks for your patience and I'm so sorry it took so long!
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