Chapter 50 #5
Kabir had commented about 100 times by now, and khwaish had called Safiya too, and simply said, " You changed bhai so much. Ask him if we can go on that Uttarakhand trip, I hope he agrees. "
Zaviyar clearly said 'No.'
'khadoos muchhar nawab ', Safiya cursed him.
( Grumpzilla with a Moustache )
She would take Khwaish on a trip herself,but now she needed to knock some sense into her husband.
" Also, the world now knows that you are mine. ", he shrugged.
" Specially those idiots. ", she sighed, " I'm going to work. "
She said, turning to leave only to be pulled back, " Every time I go to work, I have to kiss you goodbye. "
" today you won't do the same to me ", he asked, making her purse her lips, " no you are being punished "
She said and was about to leave,just then he kissed her forehead and mumbled, " Then I'll find a way to persuade you. "
She smirked, " good luck with that ", she said before walking out of the room.
Zaviyar couldn't help but watch her with quiet admiration. She carried herself with confidence, every step purposeful, every expression reflecting the authority she had earned through years of hard work.
After exchanging a few final words, the senior lawyer excused himself. Safiya immediately turned towards the interns, patiently answering their questions before dismissing them with a stern nod.
Seeing the opportunity, Zaviyar pushed himself away from the car and began walking towards her. The corners of his lips had barely lifted when another figure approached her first. His steps slowed. The warmth on his face disappeared the moment he recognized the man.
Adeel.
His jaw clenched instinctively as he watched Adeel stop in front of Safiya. Her expression darkened almost immediately, the smile fading from her face as though someone had snuffed out a flame.
Zaviyar exhaled slowly, forcing himself to remain where he was.
This was her workplace. He wasn't about to interfere with her professional life simply because the man standing before her happened to be her past.
Trust wasn't built by breathing down someone's neck.
She deserved the space to handle her own battles.
Still...
If Adeel crossed even a single line, Zaviyar wouldn't hesitate to put him back in his place.
" Hello there. If it's not, Safiya's husband. "
The sudden voice pulled his attention away from the pair. He turned to find a woman standing beside him.
" It's me, Sajal. Safiya's friend. Remember we met at your reception. ",
Of course he remembered.
She was the same woman who had looked down upon his family, mocking both his background and where he came from. Her expression now was painted with confusion, but something about the gleam in her eyes made him instantly wary.
" I can't believe her audacity. ", Sajal scoffed.
" Her husband is here and yet she is busy entertaining her ex. Ohhh- ", Sajal let out a fake gasp, pressing a hand dramatically against her mouth.
" I'm really sorry. Safiya probably didn't tell you. Please forget that I said that. ", Zaviyar saw through her intentions as clearly as daylight.
Every word was carefully chosen, every pause deliberately placed. She wasn't apologizing. She was trying to poison his mind.
" my wife has told me everything I need to know. ", he said without turning to look at her.
" That's great you aren't insecure. After all she will have to work with him. She has ongoing cases after all. ", Her words failed to stir anything inside him.
Why would he feel threatened by a man who no longer held the privilege of being a part of his wife's life?
Yes, he was possessive. He hated people wasting Safiya's time, ruining her mood, or forcing unnecessary conversations upon her.
As far as he was concerned, every spare moment she had belonged with him, laughing, arguing or simply existing together.
But jealousy? That required competition. Adeel had already lost.
" Ahh- I didn't know village men were so open minded. Great for her. You wouldnt care about the rumors of her sleeping with several men to-", she gasped once again, " i mean her being busy with different lawyers to become successful "
That same exaggerated, cranky voice made Zaviyar suppress the urge to roll his eyes.
" Safiya is a great lawyer. No wonder she's busy, after all, everybody wants her because of her professionalism ", his words didn't falter but only if she wasn't a woman, he would rearrange her guts.
" What a joke? Her and professionalism ", Sajal scoffed.
" Do you think she got so successful because she is talented? Nonsense."
For the first time since she had approached him, Zaviyar truly looked at her. He found no concern in her eyes. Only jealousy. Raw, ugly, consuming jealousy disguised as casual conversation. It wasn't Safiya's success that bothered her.
It was the fact that Safiya had achieved everything she never could.
" There are a lot of fishes in the sea. Only a few learn to survive ", he said without blinking.
" It's nothing but connections and her manipulations. "
, Sajal snapped back. " it's impossible for young lawyers to rise the ladder so high without outside help. The people under her have been doing internships after internships. Her dad has many connections, enough to land her under the best senior lawyers. "
" not to mention how she was served with opportunities on a silver plate. She is not some saint. ", Sajal's voice only grew colder.
" lawyers more experienced than here are writing notices for 500 rupees while she's dealing in lakhs at such a young age? ", Zaviyar's attention never truly left Safiya.
His eyes remained fixed on the scene unfolding a few metres away. He watched Adeel place a hand on Safiya's shoulder, only for her to shrug it off without hesitation. There wasn't a trace of warmth in her body language. If anything, the distance she maintained spoke louder than any words could.
" She has no shame standing in the court and having an affair with her ex just to secure the lawsuit they are filing against a company. She's money hungry. ", Zaviyar drew in a slow, measured breath before finally responding.
" Connections might get you through the door, but they won't win every case for you. Clients don't hand you scripted victories. The reputation she's built over the years, and the fact that she's remained at the top for so long, speaks for her talent... not her connections "
As the words left his mouth, he noticed Safiya snatch a file from Adeel's hands before slipping it into her bag. She turned on her heel without another glance and began walking away.
Adeel, however, wasn't ready to let the conversation end. He hurried after her, calling out repeatedly, asking her to wait.
Safiya ignored him until her gaze drifted across the parking area.
The moment she spotted Zaviyar standing beside his car, waiting for her exactly as he had promised, everything else faded into the background.
A smile bloomed across her face.
At the same time, all the colour drained from Adeel's.
For a brief second, Safiya's smile faltered.
She remembered Adeel following her, remembered Zaviyar witnessing at least part of the interaction, and an uneasy thought crept into her mind.
What if he misunderstood? Without wasting another moment, she walked straight towards him.
The moment she reached him, Zaviyar's arm slipped naturally around her waist, pulling her close.
The silent gesture alone was enough to ease every worry that had begun forming inside her.
" Tum yaha? ", she said. Seeing him, she couldn't help but lean a little closer, instinctively seeking the comfort only he seemed to bring.
" Aapko hamari date ke liye lene aaya tha ", he murmured, gently tucking the loose strands of hair behind her ear.
" How was your day? ", he asked, his hand softly caressing the side of her head.
" like usual. ", she huffed, melting beneath the warmth of his gaze and the quiet security of his embrace.
For those few seconds, the bustling courthouse ceased to exist.
There was only him and her in his arms. Only the unspoken comfort they found in each other's presence.
" Great to see you Safiya. "
The familiar, grating voice shattered the moment, pulling both of them back to reality.
Safiya slowly turned towards the source of the interruption.
" Oh sajal didn't see you there. ", She hadn't. Truthfully, she hadn't noticed Sajal, Adeel, or even the curious eyes of the lawyers scattered around the courthouse. Her entire attention had been consumed by the man standing beside her.
" No that's fine. How would you spot me or your husband? You were busy with Adeel after all.", The accusation made Safiya stiffen instantly. The warmth in her expression disappeared, replaced by simmering anger.
Her jaw tightened as she stared at Sajal, already knowing exactly where this conversation was heading.
" By the way, Zaviyar it was good to see you. Here's my card. Just so you know I'm a divorce lawyer ", Sajal turned to Zaviyar with a smirk.
" I don't suppose I'll be needing that. ", Zaviyar said with a smile, " Your profession suits you miss... "
A flicker of satisfaction crossed Safiya's face as she watched the smirk disappear from Sajal's lips. Her expression soured instantly before she turned on her heel and walked away without another word.
Safiya, however, had already taken a step forward, fully prepared to return every insult Sajal had thrown at her.
Before she could, Zaviyar's hand gently caught hers, pulling her back towards him.
" Let her be. Let's go. "
Safiya glanced once in Sajal's direction before giving in with a reluctant nod.
Together, they walked towards the car. Zaviyar settled into the driver's seat while Safiya slipped into the passenger seat beside him. The engine hummed to life, and moments later, the car rolled out of the courthouse driveway.
They had barely covered a few metres when Zaviyar slammed on the brakes.
Another car had cut across their path without warning.
It was Adeel's.