Chapter 29
This chapter is not edited so read at your own risk
Please vote, comment and share.
Happy reading ??
_______________________________________
Author's POV
The clink of cutlery against porcelain echoed softly, a fragile sound swallowed by the vastness of the dining hall. The long table gleamed under the glow of golden chandeliers, polished to perfection and set with silver bowls brimming with steaming curries and closed pots.
Zaviyar sat at the head chair, his posture unyielding, back straight as if carved from stone, his presence commanding the entire room without him needing to utter a word.
His silence weighed heavier than speech, pressing down on everyone at the table.
To his right, Safiya shifted almost imperceptibly, her back stiff as if she were bracing against an invisible force.
The rich aroma of roasted meat and spices lingered in the air, wrapping around her senses but her appetite refused to stir.
Her plate remained barely touched as memories of their heated exchange in the hallway played in her mind on repeat and every so often, her gaze would flicker toward Zaviyar only to meet the rigid line of his jaw and his deliberate refusal to look at her.
For a while, the only conversation was the sound of spoons scraping against plates, the rhythmic clatter oddly magnified in the heavy silence. Then, Zaviyar set his glass down with a faint thud, his deep voice cutting through the air with calm finality.
Nauman and Riffat sat opposite with Kabir, all three momentarily stilled by the shift in atmosphere. The spell broke when Zaviyar suddenly announced, "Kal subah hum Bhanur jaa rahe hain." (Tomorrow morning, we are going to Bhanur. )
All eyes lifted to him in unison. Riffat's hand froze mid-bite, her spoon hovering just above her plate. "Bhanur? Kis wajah se?" (Bhanur? For what reason?)
Zaviyar leaned back, his broad frame sinking into the chair with deliberate ease.
His arms rested against the carved wooden armrests, a picture of controlled authority.
His voice held no edge of hesitation, no opening for argument.
"Rathod sahab ke bete ne hume dawat pe bulaya hai.
Unke aur hamare taluqaat barson purane hain.
Mana karna begairti hoti." (Rathod Sahab's son has invited us.
Our relations with them go back decades. Refusing would be dishonourable.)
His tone was decisive, leaving no room for protest.
The sharp clink of Safiya's fork against her porcelain plate rang louder than intended, startling even herself.
She quickly forced a faint, practiced smile to disguise it but the tightening of her jaw betrayed her inner turmoil.
She understood the underlying meaning in his words, words that felt less like an announcement and more like a reminder of her place.
Zaviyar's eyes flicked to her at that exact moment, sharp and unreadable before sliding away as if she were nothing more than another object at the table. "Tayyar rehna." (Be ready.)
The words fell with the weight of stones dropped into still water, rippling through the silence.
Kabir leaned forward, curiosity sparking in his youthful expression. "Bhanur... Wahan ke log bade hi mehmaan-nawaz hote hain. Dost kaun hai wahan?", he said cheerfully. ( Bhanur... The people there are known for hospitality. Which friend is this?)
For a fleeting second, Zaviyar's lips twitched, not into a smile but into something faintly resembling restrained fondness. "Lage haathon Khwaish se bhi mil aana.", Kabir added. (While we're there, we'll also meet Khwaish.)
Nauman nodded approvingly, his face lighting with a smile.
"Yeh toh bohot achchi baat hai. Rathod sahab hamare purane dost hain.
Aur unke intekaal ke baad, yeh dosti bani rehni chahiye.
Lage haathon Safiya ki mulaqat bhi ho jayegi unse.
" (That is a very good thing. Rathod Sahab was our old friend, and after his passing, we must ensure that this friendship continues.
At the same time, Safiya will also get a chance to meet them.)
As his phone buzzed insistently, Nauman rose from the table, excusing himself with a nod before stepping away.
Riffat's eyes softened as she turned to Safiya.
"Safiya, kal subah hi nikalna hai. Aaj hi tayyari kar lena beta.
Aur kisi bhi madad ki zarurat ho toh mujhe bata dena.
", Riffat said softly before getting up as well.
(Safiya, you both have to leave early tomorrow morning.
Get everything ready tonight, dear. And if you need any help, just tell me.)
Safiya's hands curled into tight fists beneath the table, nails biting into her palms. She turned her face toward Zaviyar, silently demanding acknowledgment but he refused to grant her even the courtesy of a glance. His indifference burned more than anger.
Without another word, Zaviyar rose from his chair, his footsteps steady and unhurried as he left the dining hall.
The scrape of his chair against the floor lingered in the silence he left behind.
Safiya, her chest heaving with contained fury, pushed back her own chair and immediately bee-lined for their room, her footsteps quick and clipped.
On the way, she passed Mansi and Rida, who paused in their chores and offered her bright, polite smiles. Safiya managed only a half-smile in return, brittle and fleeting before sweeping past them without slowing. Their puzzled glances followed her retreating figure.
When she reached their room, she pushed the door closed behind her with a muted bang, the sound reverberating in the quiet corridor outside.
The weight of her dupatta suddenly felt suffocating.
She tore it off and flung it carelessly onto the bed before collapsing onto the edge with a huff of frustration.
Her foot began tapping restlessly against the floor, her anger seething like a storm barely restrained as she waited for Zaviyar.
But time stretched on mercilessly, minutes slipping into hours.
Her fury dulled into exhaustion without her realizing it.
At some point, her head sank into the pillow, her eyes fluttered shut and the heaviness of sleep claimed her leaving the dupatta still sprawled on the bed beside her like a discarded reminder of her unrest.
_______________________________________
Safiya blinked her eyes open, her lashes fluttering as she rubbed them gently, adjusting slowly to the soft lights of the room.
For a moment, her mind was hazy, caught between sleep and wakefulness snd then the sudden realization struck her like a splash of cold water. She had been waiting for Zaviyar.
Heart skipping, she sat up abruptly, her gaze darting around the room. The clock on the wall reassured her that only an hour or so had passed. A soft sigh of relief escaped her lips. At least she hadn't overslept the whole night.
Her ears perked at the faint sound of running water, the shower was running.
So he was back, without her even noticing and was now freshening up.
Impatience bubbled within her chest as she waited for him to get out of the shower.
She grabbed her phone from the side table, scrolling aimlessly before opening a game to distract herself.
The sharp edges of her anger had dulled but what remained was a quiet, simmering rage, a slow burn that hadn't gone away.
The creak of the bathroom door broke her focus.
Zaviyar stepped out, steam rolling into the room behind him.
His sweatpants hung dangerously low on his hips, a towel draped casually around his neck.
Droplets of water slid down his torso, clinging to his skin before slipping lower, tracing paths over the ridges of his toned back.
Wet strands of hair clung to his forehead, a few droplets still falling, tickling the edge of his jaw.
Safiya's eyes followed him, her lips curling as she muttered curses under her breath. Her gaze, however unwilling, betrayed her irritation by lingering too long on the droplets gliding down his muscled back.
'Ashleel kahi ka, baheer pura din shawl pehen ke ghoomta rehta hai aur room mein nangu pungu hoke-' (Shameless man, he spends the whole day roaming around draped in shawls, but inside the room he's half-naked-)
"Nangu- kya?" (Nangu-what?)
The sudden roar made her yelp, her eyes flying wide as she looked up.
Zaviyar was staring at her, his expression hard, his voice still echoing with anger.
Her throat went dry as her gaze darted between his face and his dripping frame.
She knew that look the one that told her she had, indeed, spoken her thoughts aloud
She shot him a guilty look that practically spelled out, 'I said that out loud, didn't I?'
Swallowing her embarrassment, she quickly snapped, her voice sharp, "Maintain some decency and wear clothes because I feel uncomfortable seeing you roaming around like-", She stopped short as he took a deliberate step closer, his towering figure leaning into her space, making her eyes widen until he was just inches away.
His voice dropped, taunting, his tone almost lazy. "Uncomfortable or attracted? And I should be the one feeling uncomfortable because you keep ogling me..."
He said it with a shrug, as if it were the most natural observation in the world. Safiya gasped, scandalized, her jaw dropping at the audacity of his narcissism.
"Oh really? So you're telling me that you won't feel uncomfortable if I roam around without wearing a t-shirt, huh?" Her glare burned hotter as the words slipped out in the heat of the moment. But the instant they left her mouth, her brain caught up, and she snapped her lips shut.
'Ya Allah, main itni jhalli kyun hoon.' (Oh god, why am I such a fool?)
She cried inside her head, mortified while her cheeks heated with fury. Her anger, however, only intensified when she saw the smug grin spreading slowly across Zaviyar's face, pride curling his mouth into a victorious line.
He took deliberate steps towards her and leaned closer cornering her.
He placed his hands on either side of her head, trapping her between him and the headboard.
She could feel the warmth radiating from his body, even though drops of water trickled down from his hair.
As he leaned closer, a few drops from his hair landed on her face and on her chest, which then slipped into the fabric of her kurti.
She looked down not being able to ignore the red hue spreading across her cheeks, only for it to intensify the moment she saw his abs and v-line perfectly aimed to her view.
She immediately looked up only to see him extremely close to her.
He leaned closer making her shut her eyes, close when she felt his hot breath fan against her earshell.
She felt a shiver run down her spine when she felt the warmth of his heavy breath tickling her nape.
"Tumhe khuli azaadi hai kamre mein, kapde pehno ya na pehno.", her eyes widened at his teasing words. She could see the corner of his lips curl into a smug smirk.
(You have complete freedom in this room - to wear clothes or not.)
His words, casually thrown, left her mouth opening and closing like a stunned fish. Safiya stared at him, aghast. Was this really the same man she had been fighting with in the morning? His mood swings were impossible to follow, ruthless one second, smug and teasing the next.
"Wha-what?", she stammered, scrambling to her feet as Zaviyar plucked the pillow from the bed, tossing it onto the couch. She let out a sigh of relief but was shocked at the same time. He had leaned in to take the pillow but she-
She mentally slapped her head. Without a care, he dropped down onto it, sprawling with the casualness of someone who owned the world.
"We will be departing early tomorrow, so pack whatever you will need there." His voice was clipped now, practical, as he turned away, offering her nothing but the broad expanse of his back.
Safiya blinked, remembering with a jolt the real reason behind her seething anger. The trip. The underlying meaning of his command. Her eyes narrowed.
" I'm not going anywhere. You cannot just decide for me , make plans without asking me and accept me to go along with it." she said firmly, marching toward him and poking his shoulder. "Get up... we need to talk, Zaviyar."
Her teeth clenched when he didn't so much as flinch. His shoulders didn't move, his breathing didn't change. It was as though she hadn't touched him at all.
"So you won't reply, huh?" she hissed, narrowing her eyes.
Her patience snapped. Whirling on her feet, she stalked toward the bedside table, snatched up the water jug resting there and returned to the couch with a wicked grin playing on her lips.
She hovered above him for just a second, savoring the petty victory, before tilting the jug and letting the entire contents spill onto him in a rush.
The water cascaded over his chest and arms, soaking through his sweatpants, dripping onto the couch.
Safiya stepped back with a satisfied smile, arms crossing smugly over her chest as she drank in the sight of him. Zaviyar, the great unshakeable Zaviyar, sitting there with shock written across his face.
And oh, how delicious it felt.
Zaviyar immediately jolted upright, his body tensing as the ice-cold water splashed mercilessly against his bare skin.
The shock made him shiver involuntarily, droplets streaming down his chest and tracing the hard lines of his abdomen before soaking into the waistband of his sweatpants.
His jaw clenched, breath coming out in a sharp exhale as he snapped his head up.
There she wa. His wife, standing a few feet away, a satisfied grin tugging at her lips. Her arms were folded proudly across her chest, chin tilted upward in defiance, the jug still dangling loosely from one hand as though it were her weapon of victory.
"Now, your ears are clean and you can hear me, right?" she snickered, her eyes dancing with mischief.
Zaviyar's glare could have cut through stone. His hand fisted the cushion beside him, the veins in his forearm flexing as he rose from the couch in one smooth, dangerous motion. The air around him seemed to thicken with menace.
Safiya's confidence faltered instantly. His predatory gaze locked onto her, sharp and unblinking like a panther closing in on its prey. She instinctively stepped back, her breath hitching. The jug slipped from her fingers and hit the floor with a dull thud.
Her calves struck the edge of the bed frame, trapping her. Before she could even draw in a sharp gasp, Zaviyar's arms shot out and she was suddenly lifted off the ground swept up in a bridal carry that stole the breath from her lungs.
A gasp escaped her lips, sharp and soft, her eyes flying wide in disbelief.
His grip was firm, unyielding, his chest radiating heat against her side as he carried her effortlessly, not even sparing her a glance.
She opened one eye cautiously, the other still squinted, her breath stalling when she realized he wasn't stopping he was walking straight out of the room.
"Zav-what are you-" Her words were swallowed by panic as he continued without pause.
Safiya started thrashing in his arms, her fists pounding against his bare chest again and again.
Each strike was nothing against his solid frame, his muscles absorbing the blows as though she were nothing more than a feather. His steps didn't falter.
"Let me down or I'll scream!" she demanded, her voice rising in desperation.
His reply came smoothly, without hesitation, his tone laced with dark amusement. "I can give you better reasons to scream but sure, go ahead. Let everyone hear you. "
He didn't even glance at her, his focus fixed as he turned a corner and began climbing the stairs with her still flailing in his arms. His voice lowered to a taunting murmur. "That is, if you want to give them the hope of expecting a new heir to the Khan empire soon."
Safiya blinked, her brain stumbling over his words. For a moment, she couldn't decipher what he meant. But then realization dawned, and a furious blush crept across her cheeks. Her ears burned crimson as the weight of his innuendo hit her.
Was he seriously-? Was he actually trying to talk dirty with her? Tease her? Because if that was his idea of seduction, he was failing miserably.
"First of all eww. I would never - never ever have sex with you.
Gross, soch ke vomit aa raha hai mujhe. Eww - okay.
And second, please stop trying to be sexy because you are not.
" Her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her nose scrunched in exaggerated disgust as she turned her face away, refusing to wrap her arms around his neck.
"Let me down.", she instantly crossed her arms on her chest, refusing to hold onto him for support of any kind.
His brow arched, his voice deliberately mocking. "So, you want me to let go of you?"
She nodded stubbornly, still turned away, but curiosity got the better of her. She peeked over her shoulder and gasped sharply.
Her stomach dropped. In her blind fit of anger, she hadn't realized they were now standing at the very edge of the terrace. Beyond them stretched the night sky and below, the dizzying view of the marble courtyard.
Her breath caught painfully in her throat. In a heartbeat, all defiance drained out of her. She snapped her head back and clung desperately to his neck, her arms tightening like a vice, her cheek pressing into his damp chest. Her eyes squeezed shut as fear pulsed through her veins.
"P-please don't let go of me." Her voice trembled, cracking with genuine panic. The bravado was gone, leaving her sounding small and vulnerable. She hated how weak she felt weak, pathetic even but she couldn't help it.
"But you told me you wanted me to let go of you?" His voice was calm, soft, teasing her even now.
Her lips quivered as she tried to hold on to her pride. "You will become a widower, you nasty pig. And I'll make sure to haunt you till you die."
Despite her words, her voice shook, betraying the fear she couldn't conceal.
Zaviyar's lips curved faintly. His tone softened, almost coaxing. "You can open your eyes now."
Hesitant, she peeled her lids apart, letting out a long, shaky sigh of relief when she saw the polished marble floor beneath them instead of a dizzying drop. Her heart still hammered in her chest, her pulse wild.
But confusion quickly followed. Her brows knit together. Why had he brought her here?
"I'm not so cruel to let you die, Safiya." His voice was gentle now, almost tender but beneath it hummed a dangerous edge. He adjusted his hold slightly, rocking her with a deceptive gentleness that made her squint at him suspiciously. "But I take my revenge seriously."
Her lips parted in question, eyes narrowing. "What do you me-"
She never got to finish. His arms shifted suddenly, and before her brain could process it, he released her.
Her scream tore through the night as she plunged, her body crashing into the pool below.
The icy water enveloped her in an instant, stabbing through her skin like a thousand needles.
She gasped but her breath was stolen as water rushed into her mouth, and her arms flailed desperately, trying to keep herself afloat.
The cold was brutal, biting, her body shuddering as she fought to break the surface.
Above, Zaviyar stood at the terrace edge, his arms folded casually, his voice carrying down to her with infuriating calm. "It's just a 7-feet deep pool. Nothing much, wife."
"Zav-" she tried to cry out but her voice was cut short as something cold and heavy coiled suddenly around her legs. Her scream dissolved into a strangled gasp as she was yanked downward.
The water swallowed her whole. Her limbs thrashed wildly, lungs screaming for air as she felt herself being dragged lower, deeper. Panic clawed up her throat as the surface slipped further out of reach.
Something, a strong force was pulling her down. Drowning her. Her chest burned as she flailed in the water, desperate, terrified, her mind going blank except for one thought. 'I'm sinking. someone save me-'
She tried her best to remain above the water level, arms flailing, nails clawing at the empty air but every time she took a desperate plunge upward, the unseen force beneath seemed to drag her back down with twice the power.
The icy water closed in around her, seeping into her ears, stinging her eyes, suffocating her chest.
" Pl-pleas...," she gasped, mouth breaking the surface for a fleeting second as droplets clung to her trembling lips.
" I ca-cant swim. ", she gasped. Her arms thrashed wildly, sending ripples echoing through the still night but with each failed attempt her strength waned, her lungs screaming for relief.
A burn spread inside her chest, sharp and unbearable like fire in the depths of her lungs.
Her vision blurred, darkness creeping in from the edges and for the briefest, most terrifying moment, she thought this was how it would end.
The water swallowed her whole, dragging her down into its cold abyss, until the last thing she saw through the wavering curtain of bubbles was Zaviyar's broad shoulders his retreating back walking away, deliberate and unhurried.
Zaviyar had turned, each step slow, heavy with finality, the echo of splashes fading behind him.
But suddenly, the silence gnawed at him.
The frantic splashing, her cries, her gasps.
Gone. Everything had turned dead silent.
His eyes narrowed, his instincts prickling like sharp needles under his skin.
He froze, the air tightening around him before he spun back sharply, gaze darting to the water. No trace of her.
Without another thought, he dove in. The cold smacked against his skin but his body cut through the water with swift, practiced strokes.
He searched frantically, eyes stinging, lungs tightening, bubbles spiraling around him.
Panic shot through him, a rare, foreign feeling clawed its way into his chest when he saw nothing but an endless void beneath.
And then-
A crushing weight slammed into the back of his head, forcing his skull downward, shoving him deeper into the suffocating abyss.
His lips parted in shock, a stream of precious air bubbling away into the darkness.
He could hold his breath long, yes. He had trained himself to endure pain but not for that lonb.
The pressure pressed against his ribs, his chest burning raw.
When his strength faltered for just a second, he involuntarily gasped.
The water flooding in through his nostrils, stinging like acid.
Fury surged through his veins, igniting every nerve. Twisting violently, he reached back, seizing the intruder's wrists in a punishing grip only to find Safiya.
Her eyes gleamed with something dangerous, victorious, her lips curved with the faintest mocking defiance. She had been pretending all along, feigning helplessness, tricking him into diving after her. The realisation was a knife to his pride.
Zaviyar's jaw clenched, his nostrils flaring as his fury boiled beneath the calm mask he forced upon his face.
Not done, not by a long shot, he twisted her arms behind her and yanked her body flush against his.
Their chests collided, his solid frame pressing against her soft, trembling front.
Water clung to every inch of her, her soaked white clothes now a sheer veil, sticking to her curves, outlining every forbidden line of her body.
" Looks like it's in your blood to attack from behind." His words, low and mocking, vibrated against her ear, but his eyes were sharp enough to cut through steel.
Safiya bared her teeth, thrashing against him, rage twisting her delicate features.
Her movements were wild, frantic but his iron grip didn't so much as budge.
With sheer stubbornness, she attempted to headbutt him, only to choke back a gasp when his other hand shot up into her hair, tangling into the roots.
His fingers twisted cruelly, yanking her head back until her neck arched, water cascading down her flushed throat.
She hissed in pain, the sound swallowed by the vast body of water around them.
" Easy there, kitten," he drawled, his voice dark velvet against the cold bite of the water.
" You are getting too wild now-a-days. " His lips brushed close to her ear, his breath somehow burning hot even in the icy lake, sending a shiver down her spine.
" Tell me what I should do with you? Should I go along with my threat and chain you to my bed, huh? "
His voice was poison and honey all at once. It was sharp enough to wound, sweet enough to sink into her bones.
Her heart pounded erratically, traitorous, as the heat in his words stirred something dangerous in the pit of her stomach.
The proximity suffocated her in ways the water hadn't.
Her skin tingled, alive with awareness. A strange, unbearable warmth coiled low inside her, an unholy mix of rage and something else she refused to name.
Maybe she was sick in the head, but the way her body responded made her feel betrayed by her own blood.
The way his fingers wrapped around her brown strands, and the intensity with which he pulled her hair back.
" Let go of me, you bloody sick pervert. " Her voice was venomous, dripping with disgust, but her trembling betrayed her.
A low, dark chuckle vibrated from his chest, deep enough to echo through the water and into her bones. It crawled over her skin, leaving goosebumps in its wake. He didn't move away. Instead, his lips dipped lower, grazing the crook of her neck, his damp hair brushing against her cheek.
" Let go of you? I did, and you almost killed me. Don't you have any feelings for your husband? Hmmm? "
His words were a blade disguised as a whisper, cutting sharp, taunting, daring her to break. He was testing her, teasing her, pulling her closer to the edge until she snapped and begged.
But Safiya's eyes blazed. She would drown in this water before she succumbed into his trap.
" No, you bloody bastard. I don't have any feelings for your perverted ass. " Safiya hissed out every word, her jaw clenched so tight it ached. And then, in a sudden burst of defiance, her knee shot forward. A sharp, brutal kick between his legs.
Zaviyar's low hiss cut through the air, guttural and raw, his face twisting with momentary pain. His grip faltered, the iron hold on her wrists loosening instantly.
' Fuck, she's made it her plan to end my lineage'
Safiya wasted no time. She wrenched herself free, twisting her body away from him and immediately pushing through the water with long, desperate strokes.
Her arms sliced through the surface, her legs kicking with adrenaline-fueled force as she swam toward the corner of the pool.
Her breath came out ragged, splashing mixing with hurried gasps of air, a small, almost victorious smile tugging at her lips.
Freedom was just within her reach-
Until she felt it. A strong, merciless grip clamped around her ankle, yanking her back into the water with a force that stole the breath from her lungs. She let out a startled cry that broke into bubbles as her body was dragged against the slick tiles of the pool wall.
And then, in an instant, she was trapped.
His chest slammed flush against her front, hard muscle colliding with her softer form, squishing her breasts painfully against his cold, yet calloused front.
His arms shot up on either side of her, caging her in.
The sound of her frantic heartbeat thundered in her ears as she gulped, eyes darting upward only to meet his - darkened, burning, unreadable.
" Zaviyar-" she started but her voice betrayed her, trembling.
She gasped sharply when she felt him lean in.
Out of instinct, she snapped her head to the side, pressing her cheek against the hollow of his neck and chest. But her eyes widened as she felt it.
.. his lips, not touching but hovering so close they blew soft puffs of warm breath against the damp skin of her neck.
It tickled. God, it tickled. Her body betrayed her, making her squint her eyes shut in an attempt to resist the shiver coursing down her spine. She tried to move away, tried to slide against the wall but his chest pressed harder into her back, keeping her locked in place.
Then his lips shifted, brushing feather-lightly against the shell of her ear.
" So... You still don't feel anything. Hmm? " His words dripped like molten heat into her veins, each syllable grazing her skin, making her shiver uncontrollably.
Her nails scratched uselessly against the tiles as she pulled herself forward, desperate to break free but her body betrayed her. A weird, gnawing warmth spread in her stomach, coiling low, hot and unbearable. Why was she feeling this way? Why now?
" And now? " His voice dropped even lower, huskier, threading itself into her very bones.
Safiya's breath hitched, staggering as she struggled to calm herself.
She bit down hard on her bottom lip until she tasted metal, only for her control to waver when she felt his lips resting right where her neck curved into her shoulder.
Her head craned back instinctively, baring her throat to him, every tiny hair on her nape standing upright.
She tried to hold it back, she really did but when his nose brushed against her nape, nuzzling lazily as if he had all the time in the world, a sound slipped past her lips. A soft, broken moan.
Horrified, she instantly slapped her hand over her mouth, clutching it in shame. Heat flooded her cheeks, her ears burning crimson. Her whole body felt aflame, trembling between anger and humiliation.
Zaviyar drew back just enough to look at her, his smirk spreading slowly, devilishly, his eyes glinting with something wicked.
" You do have feelings for me. "
Safiya froze, her lips still sealed beneath her palm, eyes widening with rage.
His tone hardened, low and dangerous now as he leaned closer one last time.
" From next time, think twice before you try anything, because I take my revenge seriously. "
And just like that, he let her go. The absence of his touch was sudden, shocking, leaving her body trembling against the wall.
He pushed away, hauling himself effortlessly out of the pool in one swift motion.
Droplets slid down his sculpted back, trailing across his muscles as he walked toward the exit, leaving a trail of water in his wake.
Shivering due to being submerged in the water, she immediately followed suit and got out of the icy waters. He was almost gone when he suddenly stopped, turning around. That damned smirk curved his lips again.
" Red looks good on you, wife. "
Safiya blinked, confused for a second, until instinct pulled her gaze downward. The air whooshed out of her lungs in a horrified gasp.
Her soaked white dress clung mercilessly to her body, outlining every curve, every dip.
And beneath- 'OH GOD', she cursed herself mentally.
Her hands immediately flew up as she covered her chest from his view.
Her red, lacy lingerie screamed through, leaving nothing to imagination.
The bra, delicate and sinful, pressed tight against her heaving chest. She looked exposed, scandalous.
" You bloody pervert, I'll cut your dick into pieces and make nihari of it and feed it to you, you fucking dog!
" Safiya's scream reverberated through the pool chamber as she scrambled out of the terrace, fury replacing every ounce of shame.
She bolted after him, fists clenched, hair dripping water down her flushed face.
Zaviyar turned once, glancing at her over his shoulder. And what he saw only widened his smirk. Her wet dress clung obscenely to her curves, the red beneath blazing like fire through the sheer fabric. She looked... dangerous, tempting and utterly furious.
Safiya noticed his lingering gaze and her own eyes dropped widening as she took in her state again. Mortified, she yelped and darted behind the nearest wall, pressing her back against it, her chest heaving with both exhaustion and embarrassment.
Zaviyar, meanwhile, only shrugged, unbothered. He strode toward the room, each step confident, droplets trailing behind him.
Moments later, Safiya rushed in after him, cheeks still burning, running straight for the wardrobe as if her life depended on it. She yanked it open, hands shaking as she fumbled for anything, anything to cover herself.
Behind her, Zaviyar's smirk deepened, his eyes flickering with a mix of mischief and possession.
'Red is definitely my favorite colour from now on.'
_______________________________________
Safiya finally emerged from the wardrobe, her hair still damp and sticking to her cheeks in soft waves.
She was now dressed in a simple cotton nightdress that reached just below her knees, dotted with tiny, cheerful prints of stars and moons.
The playful design contrasted sharply with the storm brewing in her eyes as she squinted at the sight before her.
There he was, Zaviyar lying on the bed as though he owned not just the mansion but the universe itself.
His broad, shirtless back rose and fell in calm rhythm, as if he hadn't just spent the past hour tormenting her.
The casualness of his posture, one arm tucked under his head, the other draped lazily at his side made her blood boil.
" Oye..." she stomped closer, tapping his shoulder with insistent fingers. " Utro neeche. Aaj mera din hain bistar par sone ka. Get up... get up."
( Get down. Today is my turn to sleep on the bed. Get up... Get up )
When he didn't budge, she tried pushing him onto his back, but he may as well have been carved from stone. Zaviyar lazily lifted his head, his hair messy from the pillow, eyes still heavy-lidded.
" Kisne kaha tha paani fekne ko? Ab jao aur udhar sou." He gestured at the wet couch with infuriating nonchalance, then turned his face back into the pillow as if the conversation was over.
( Who told you to dump the whole jug? Now sleep on there. )
Safiya's nostrils flared. She huffed loudly, grabbed his wrist and tugged with all her might. Not even an inch. Zaviyar's arm was solid, immovable. Her lips curled into a mischievous smile as a memory flashed in her mind. Upper body strength belonged to men, but their legs... not as much.
Her eyes gleamed with determination. She marched to the foot of the bed and wrapped both hands tightly around his ankles.
"Safiya...?"
Zaviyar feeling a delicate yet firm grip on his ankles glanced up instantly, suspicion flickering across his face only for his eyes to widen when he saw Safiya looking at him with a smirk, before she started pulling him down from the bed.
He let out a startled grunt as his body slid across the sheets. His hand shot out to grab onto the headboard, but she had already pulled again, harder this time.
" Safiya-!"
Thud! Before he could reach out to hold onto something she gave a fierce yank and pulled him down. Zaviyar landed on the floor, sitting unceremoniously on his butt, a look of pure disbelief spreading over his face.
Before he could even react, Safiya scrambled up onto the bed like a victorious soldier capturing her fortress. She immediately dove under the blanket, yanking it over her head with a triumphant grin.
But her victory was short-lived. The blanket was ripped right back out of her grip.
" Aye! Chor!" she shouted, holding on tightly as Zaviyar tugged. Back and forth they went, the comforter caught in a ruthless tug-of-war. Her knuckles turned white from holding on, his biceps flexed as he tried to wrench it free. The bed squeaked under the strain of their battle.
Finally, with a sharp pull, Zaviyar managed to rip it from her grasp. Both of them sat there, panting and glaring, their hair messy and breaths uneven, like enemies fresh from a battlefield.
" Today is my turn to sleep on the bed!" Safiya finally screamed, her chest heaving.
" Then where should I sleep?!" Zaviyar shot back, gritting his teeth.
" Sleep on the floor. Or on the recliner chair in the balcony." She shrugged and flopped back against the pillows, pretending indifference.
" Bahar machchar hain." His tone was calm, too calm.
(There are mosquitoes outside. )
" Touh achchi baat hain, tumhara khun piyenge." Safiya's eyes gleamed with mischief as she rolled to the side, facing him. " Waise bhi garmi hain tumhare khoon mein, thoda machchar prajati ko donate karoge touh kuch bigad nahi jayega tumhara."
Zaviyar narrowed his eyes at her, wondering not for the first time if this woman was truly the same sharp, feared lawyer outside these four walls. Right now she sounded more like a rebellious teenager, throwing tantrums at bedtime.
" Machchar ki kya zaroorat," he muttered under his breath, his lips twitching despite himself. " Tum ho na mera khoon pine ke liye."Safiya jolted upright, scandalized.
" Kya kaha? Mein machchar?!" she squeaked, her nose flaring red with indignation. She crossed her arms tightly, planting her fists on her hips. " You know what? You deserve to sleep on the floor."
" And why should I listen to you, huh?" Zaviyar growled, trying to climb onto the bed again.
But Safiya was faster. She shoved at his shoulder with surprising force, pushing him right back off balance. Her voice rose, sharp and furious now:
" You can make plans on your own without even consulting me once and expect me to listen to you. But you can't bear it when the roles are reversed." She scoffed, her eyes blazing with fire as she threw the words like daggers.
Zaviyar froze. The humor drained from his face, replaced by a flicker of something else realization, maybe even guilt. His jaw tightened as he stared at her, the memory of her earlier anger hitting him in full.
His voice came out quieter, strained. " I didn't plan it. It was sudden and I didn't get the time to ask-"
But Safiya immediately cut him off, her voice sharp as glass. " We literally see each other more than 30 times a day!"
Zaviyar sighed heavily, as though the weight of the entire day pressed down on his shoulders, before walking across the room and sitting at the edge of the bed.
He gestured silently for her to sit opposite him.
Safiya folded her arms across her chest, stubbornness gleaming in her eyes.
She refused to acknowledge his presence.
His gaze sharpened, dark and commanding, pinning her in place until she finally gave in with a rebellious huff, sinking onto the mattress with a jerk of defiance.
"Don't look at me like that," she muttered under her breath, refusing to meet his eyes. He leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, his voice quieter than usual. "It was a sudden call, Safiya. I couldn't refuse."
"Oh really? Guess what- I also have some urgent work. So I'm not going. You can go there yourself." Safiya snapped, crossing her arms, chin raised high in defiance. Zaviyar's jaw flexed. His voice dropped into the low, authoritative tone that always made the air in the room heavier.
"Mujhe bhi koi shauk nahi hai tumhe saath leke jaane ka." He paused deliberately, eyes narrowing. "Lekin woh khaas karke tumse milna chahte hain. Unhone yeh dawat Khan ki biwi ke liye di hai."
Her lips curled in mockery, rolling her eyes. "Haan toh Khan Sahab ab apni biwi ko puch lijiye. Kyunki Safiya Shah waha nahi jaana chahti."
The use of her maiden name was a deliberate knife. His entire frame went still, shadows flickering across his face before he rasped dangerously, "Safiya Zaviyar Khan...". The way he said her name- slow, deliberate, with warning in every syllable- made her look at him with seething anger.
"Jo karna hai kar lo. Main toh nahi ja rahi." She turned her back to him, hair flicking defiantly over her shoulder- only to freeze at the sound of her phone ringing.
Her eyes darted to the screen. Baba. With a flash of irritation toward Zaviyar, she immediately answered, her voice turning honey-sweet.
"Hello, Baba. Assalamualaikum."
From behind her, Zaviyar leaned against the wall, arms folded across his chest, watching her with an unreadable expression.
"Hello, beta. Kaisi ho?" Wajahat's voice carried warmth from the other side.
"Theek hoon, Baba." she replied softly, her tone in stark contrast to the steel she had just used against Zaviyar.
"Achha beta, I called to tell you something. Earlier, Nauman bhai-sahab told me that Mr. Rathod's son has invited you and Zaviyar to their house. When you go there, he'll give you a file. Do take it. The relations between the families are really old, and I am glad you will also meet them."
Safiya's heart sank, annoyance rising hot in her chest. Her father's words had cornered her before she could fight further.
"Yes, Baba." she replied, voice clipped.
The moment she ended the call, she threw her phone aside with an annoyed huff and dropped onto the bed, yanking the blanket over herself like a fortress. But not before she caught the satisfied smirk curling on Zaviyar's lips. She wanted to strangle him.
Meanwhile, Zaviyar's phone buzzed. Seeing Wajahat's name flash across the screen, his features darkened with pure distaste. He stepped into the balcony, sliding the glass door shut behind him before answering.
"For now, I've convinced her to go along with you," Wajahat said immediately. Zaviyar's grip tightened on the railing, fury coursing through him. "I didn't ask for your help. This is a matter between me and my wife. I don't need your interference." His teeth ground together as he spoke.
"I know I shouldn't have spoken between you two, but it was Nauman bhai who asked me.
I just did what bhai-sahab asked me to do.
", Zaviyar's eyes narrowed, the night wind brushing against his face.
His thoughts seethed. And here your foolish daughter claims you love her.
What bullshit. But beneath the venom, something gnawed at him, the irony that the man Safiya trusted most valued the word of another elder more than hers.
"I know my daughter, Zaviyar. She would never agree to go with you willingly," Wajahat continued.
"See, I know you hate me for what happened years ago, but I'm telling you this as her father.
She grew up seeing love, equality, and respect in a marriage.
If you behave like your grandfather, she will never listen to you. Try talking to her nicely... with lo-"
The word never finished. Zaviyar cut the call with a sharp swipe and switched his phone off, jaw tight. He stared into the darkness, chest rising heavily.
When he finally walked back inside, he had dragged the recliner chair with him. For a moment, he thought about dismissing everything, letting the silence win. But then, against his instincts, he let out a long sigh and moved to the edge of her bed.
He stood there awkwardly, towering over the mound of blanket where Safiya hid. His throat bobbed as he forced himself to speak without authority.
"W-will you go to the Rathod's with me?" His tone was hesitant, unfamiliar even to him.
There was silence. Then, muffled under the blanket came her sharp retort.
"No, you stinking piece of shit. Get lost." His blood boiled instantly, but he clenched his fists at his sides, forcing restraint. He exhaled once, then tried again.
"P... p-" His voice faltered. He swallowed hard.
"Please. Will you come to the Rathod's with me?
" The word hung in the air- please. It tasted foreign, bitter on his tongue, but he meant it.
He waited patiently for her answer as time stretched on.
But her muffled scream erupted from beneath the covers.
"Nahi jaungi!", That was when his fragile patience snapped. His voice thundered through the room. "Theek hai! Toh phir ghar walon ko aur apne baba ko bhi bata dena kyun nahi jaana tumne!", His roar made her flinch under the blanket, palms covering her ears.
Seething, Zaviyar grabbed his pillow and blanket, stormed toward the recliner, and dropped heavily into it. He adjusted himself with jerky, irritated movements before throwing the blanket over his frame.
The silence that followed was deafening. Only the sound of his ragged breathing, and the faint, hidden thud of her heart under the covers.
The room fell into a tense silence, heavy with unspoken words and clashing tempers. Zaviyar had all but collapsed onto the recliner, his tall frame folded awkwardly, pillow jammed under his head, blanket half slipping to the floor.
For a few moments, Safiya lay buried under her covers, seething and angry. Her ears still rang with his roar, her chest rising and falling with indignation. How dare he... who does he think he is? Ordering me. Threatening me.
And yet, slowly, her anger dulled into reluctant awareness. Curiosity got the better of her. She peeked out from beneath the blanket, her eyes adjusting to the dim light spilling through the curtains.
There he was, arms crossed tightly over his chest, one leg dangling off the side of the recliner, brow furrowed even in half-sleep.
His jaw was set, his lips pressed into a thin line.
He looked uncomfortable, his body too big for the narrow chair.
Every few seconds, he shifted, trying to adjust but finding no relief.
For a fleeting moment, something tugged in her chest. A memory flickered.
Her own first night in his room. She had twisted and turned on the couch, unfamiliar and miserable, while he had slept soundly on the bed.
The sting of loneliness, the coldness of rejection, the ache in her back. .. she had felt it all.
And now he was tasting the same bitterness.
Her lips curved into a small, victorious smirk as she whispered to herself, "Good. Ab samajh mein aayega."
But the smirk didn't last long. Because even in his stubborn pride, he wasn't like before. He hadn't forced her. He had atleast tried to mend things. He had at least asked. She blinked at her thoughts. Clumsily, angrily, but he had asked. He had even said please.
Safiya's chest tightened strangely at the thought. She quickly ducked back under the blanket, squeezing her eyes shut as if to erase the image of him. Not my problem. He deserves it.
But no matter how tightly she wrapped the blanket around herself, she couldn't block out the sound of him shifting restlessly on that recliner, as though he carried more discomfort than just the chair beneath him.
_______________________________________