11
"I need to speak with the doctor for a minute, won't be long." Rehaan stood holding the opened car door looking at Shahwar who had just been seated inside.
"Okay." She passed a small nod before he closed the door and walked back towards the hospital entrance.
The passenger door opened and Ibaad sat inside looking straight at the windscreen. Shahwar had been sitting idle for too long as the three people in the car waited for their great master Kazmi.
"I wanted to tell you that I really liked the dress you picked for me for yesterday's event." Shahwar broke the silence finally.
Ibaad turned his head back to look at her, "I think the reception was day before yesterday, if I'm not mistaken, ma'am."
"It was indeed." She said in affirmation.
"I only selected the one for that day, as per Rehaan sir's instructions." He cleared his throat. "The one you must've received for yesterday wasn't my choice." He turned his back to the front.
"Oh." She sort of understood that he probably didn't want to say it out loud that who did the selection. Maybe some other employee? Or Isabel?
Suddenly the other side of the backseat door opened and Rehaan got inside. With that the driver started the drive towards the house. Shahwar at times looked out the window but her mind was in different places.
Rehaan may have not let her rot in the fatal darkness last night but she knew she didn't have much to live for anymore.
Now she was well aware that the man didn't want to ever be associated with her as he had another woman who had taken over his mind completely.
He'd made it clear, very clear last night.
She decided to accept the reality and live with it.
The one thing that her father had sacrificed was the only relationship she had ever revolved her life around.
And for what? The empty marriage. And that was a slap on her face for being a burden.
"Shahwar?" She'd been too lost in her own thoughts and hadn't realized when the car had stopped. Rehaan had called her twice and she'd not responded which made him worried when the driver opened the door for her and she didn't come out.
"Yeah?" She saw him looking at her in front of her opened door, waiting for her. "Oh right, I'm coming." She got out but he still stood there till she started to walk towards the main entrance door.
Isabel came and welcomed her back with a sympathetic smile which told her that she must know about her visit to the hospital. She just walked towards her room absentmindedly, not paying attention to Rehaan who was slowly walking behind her not going ahead of her steps all along.
Entering the room she immediately sat down on the edge of the bed first and then tilted her back a little she pulled the pillow forward placing her head on it in the half sitting position.
"I'm going for some work to the office. I'll be back in an hour." Rehaan entered the room standing near the bed.
"Hm." It was already night and she didn't want to even ask anything anymore about what work was it after working hours at his office.
She heard the door close and knew he was gone.
It wasn't the emotional negligence she was upset about in the marriage after knowing about his feelings for someone else, it was the label that had been put on her as his wife that she was upset about.
As long as only the two of them knew she'd been able to bear it.
The thought of his friends discussing and comparing Shahwar with the woman he loved had made her feel too shitty about herself.
She decided it would be better to take a shower and change her clothes to distract her mind.
She went for a long bath and sat in the bathtub for almost forty minutes trying to not think about anything.
It was hard. Then she got out and changed into her softy shorts and top to sleep.
The moment she pulled the bedcovers over her, there was a knock on the door and she sat up on the bed, "Oui? Entrez."
(Yes? Come in.)
"Madame, dois-je apporter votre d?ner ici ou souhaitez-vous descendre?" It was Isabel. "Ou je pourrais l'apporter dans la salle à manger qui est à l'étage?"
(Madam, shall I bring your dinner here or would you like to come downstairs?
Or I could bring it to the dining room that's upstairs?)
"Je n'ai pas faim." Shahwar set her head against the headboard of the bed.
(I'm not hungry.)
"Monsieur Rehaan a dit que vous devrez manger ou que je devrai l'appeler." Isabel looked down at the floor awkwardly and Shahwar frowned.
(Rehaan sir said you will have to eat or I will have to call him.)
"Bien. Je viens." She sighed pushing herself out of the bed with a displeased expression.
(Fine. I'm coming.)
She couldn't believe even eating was being forced upon her now.
Though she felt this was a different kind of slavery as she sat down at the table and started to eat.
This slavery involved following all orders to behave like a robotic wife.
Shahwar wished to be taught how to behave like an emotionless person.
She didn't even feel like eating fruits or having tea tonight when she was done with the dinner.
A huge plate of guavas cut into small pieces were served to her but she apologized for not feeling like eating more and excused herself after doing her minimal ghulami.
She went back to the room and laid on the bed spreading herself out taking most of the space of that massive mattress.
Then she spread her hand wide at Rehaan's side of the bed in annoyance and pushed his pillow down and put her hand over it keeping it extended.
"Ghulaam hoon toh kya hua, ab maalik nahi hai toh jagah lungi. "
(Even if I'm a slave so what, now that master is not here then I'll take the space.)
"I want to talk." Rehaan's voice made her pull back her hand to herself from his side and she immediately sat up.
"I will stay on my side. Promise." She said in a small voice.
"What?" He had his blazer in his hands and his sleeves were folded up, he looked a little tired which was something that would never really show on his face usually.
"Nothing." She smiled feeling relieved he hadn't heard her.
"Okay." He sat down on the bed on the edge of her side.
"First of all, you can do whatever you want, go wherever you want around the city and spend your time however you want except if we have to be at certain events together or if your presence as Mrs Kazmi is required.
" Shahwar looked at him without blinking.
"Second, I only made you come to this room that day because I felt this room was your first choice and you don't have to go somewhere that's not to your best liking. I didn't want to forcefully bring you here but..." He left the rest of it unsaid.
"Third, I should have asked you earlier but, if you want you can call your friends too if they didn't attend the wedding.
I'll arrange whatever you want for that, if only you want to introduce me to them as your husband.
I just thought maybe you didn't want to which is why I only invited my friends for that party.
" Another deep breath followed and Shahwar was still sitting with the same expression.
"Fourth—"
"Aur kitna saara hai?" She suddenly cut him off with a small pout.
(How much more is left?)
"Fourth, and most important of all, I should know everything, everything. Always. No lies. No secrets. Ever. It's the rule." He added the last one with a firm tone. "Understood?"
"Hm." She knew what he meant.
"A proper response Shahwar." He pressed his words.
"Yes, I understand." She replied.
"Good." He stood up moving towards the door of the bathroom and Shahwar frowned looking at his back.
"Kuch bhi good nahi tha yeh." She muttered to herself and lied down setting his pillow on his side properly then turned to her side closing her eyes.
(There was nothing good about this.)
Thoughts on Rehaan Kazmi???