Author's pov
Mikaeel reached the court with his lawyer and brothers while Aurin reached the court with her lawyer & sisters. Reaching there both of them didn't even look at each other let alone talk to each other. There was some anxiety noticeable on Aurin's face but Mikaeel was looking completely calm.
" Mrs Sheikh, I suggest you read the divorce paper carefully and if you have any further demands then you can say right now," Mikaeel's lawyer told Aurin handling the paper to her.
With trembling hands, Aurin took the paper and read it carefully. Diverting her eyes she looked at Mikaeel and found him lowering his head. After whatever happened Mikaeel doesn't want to face Aurin at all.
" Since you guys don't have any kids so the divorce is easy for you. You don't have to go through shared custody," Aurin's lawyer said and as expected both of them were silent.
This time Mikaeel's lawyer said," Mr Sheikh, sign the paper."
Mikaeel didn't waste another second. Grabbing the pen tightly he signed the paper without any hesitation. He didn't utter a single word nor did he look at Aurin. There was nothing left to discuss. He fulfilled her last wish. If the divorce make her happy then he doesn't have any objection on it. You can't keep someone forcefully.
" Mrs Sheikh, now it's your turn. Once you sign the papers you guys will be legally divorced," Mikaeel's lawyer said forwarding the paper to Aurin.
Taking the paper Aurin was silent for a few moments. She was thinking something deeply. All the incidents that happened recently. Simon and Maryam's confession, Mikaeel's continuous effort to convince her....everything was coming into her mind and she started to rethink her decision. Clutching the pen tightly she looked at Mikaeel who was still looking down.
" Mrs Sheikh, sign the papers," Aurin's lawyer reminded her.
Thinking for a few moments Aurin finally spoke to Mikaeel," I want to talk to you, Mikaeel."
Mikaeel was startled by Aurin's sudden voice. His pupils dilated and slowly he raised his eyes to meet her eyes. Looking at her eyes he tried to understand what was going on in her mind but couldn't understand anything. He doesn't know that it's not easy to understand a woman's emotions.
" I want to talk to you alone," Aurin said while Mikaeel only nodded his head.
Coming out of the room they both headed towards a quiet place. Mikaeel didn't say anything while Aurin was trying to talk to him. He was following her silently. He was wondering what she wants to say now. Isn't the discussions enough now?
" If you have any other demands you can tell me now," Mikaeel said to Aurin with an emotionless face.
Aurin asked out of nowhere," If you were in love with Maryam then why did you marry me?"
Mikaeel was dumbfounded after hearing her question. He tried to understand why she is asking such a question to him suddenly. He blinked his eyes confusingly.
" I asked you something," Aurin said loudly.
Letting out a breath Mikaeel answered truly," Because I am a practical man. Maryam ditched me for her own reasons. After the breakup, I decided to spend the rest of my life with her memories. But, it's not possible when you have a mother who is eager for grandchildren. My family started pressuring me constantly to get married. Moreover, I realised that today or tomorrow I had to move on. My family has expectations from me and as the elder son, I have responsibilities toward my family. I wanted to marry a girl who is submissive, obedient and perfect in my eyes. And, I saw the perfection in you and that's why I married you. It was my misconception that you are like Maryam. If Maryam is the north pole then you are the South pole. Yes, I was in love with Maryam until I realised my feelings for you."
Aurin tried to ask him something when Mikaeel said sounding hurt yet pissed off," Aurin, I am tired of explaining everything. How Maryam returned to my life, what she did, how she did, why I chose to lie..... I have explained all these things to you already. Don't ask me the same questions again. It was my fault that I let Maryam enter my life again. It was my fault that I feared losing you. If I didn't have the fear of losing you then I would have told everything to you. Then, all this chaos could be avoided. I shouldn't be scared of your overreactions. Your demand of asking for a divorce after every single argument used to scare me. Now, I understood that I shouldn't have feared all this at all."
Aurin heard him but couldn't say anything further. She didn't share with him that Maryam came to meet her. She didn't tell him that she believes in him. She realized that he didn't cheat on her. He became a victim of this complicated situation. His only fault was he lied to her.
" After the divorce, you can go back to Maryam and your daughter. Maryam still loves you. You will be happy with her," Aurin told him emotionlessly though her chest tightened up while uttering those words.
Letting out a chuckle, Mikaeel got close to her and she took a few steps backwards. He grabbed her shoulder tightly looking directly into her eyes.
" After the divorce, it's completely my choice whether I want to go back to Maryam or not. You don't have to suggest me. Be happy with the divorce and your freedom," Mikaeel said while Aurin lowered her eyes.
After staring at Aurin for some time, Mikaeel said sighing," I wish you could try to understand me at least for once. I wish you could trust me at least for once. Anyway, I can't blame you though when everything was just my fault."
" Who gave me the chance to not trust you anymore?" Aurin asked looking directly into Mikaeel's eyes.
Mikaeel couldn't answer her question and looked in another direction. He was tired of explaining why he lied to her. He doesn't know what more he should do to make her understand that he lied because he was scared of losing her forever.
" I do believe that you didn't cheat on me," Aurin finally told what she was thinking all the time.
Mikaeel's head snapped at her in disbelief while she continued explaining her feelings," But, I am scared to trust you again. There is always a fear in me that you will lie to me and I have to go through this emotional pain again. Mikaeel, I am your wife. I deserved to know every single thing about you. I never hid anything from you. You shouldn't have hidden such a trivial matter from me. If you chose to tell me everything at first then we might have to face serious arguments. But, it wouldn't lead us to divorce for sure."
" And, you think those arguments would have been very pleasant. No, Aurin. Do you remember how many times we argued over petty matters? I was tired of arguments. I just wanted to live peacefully and it was my only fault. If I knew or understood that the situation would turn like that then I would have never signed that deal with Maryam," Mikaeel let out pulling his hair behind. Frustration was clearly visible on his face.
Having a frustrating expression Mikaeel continued saying," Let's just stop this argument, Aurin. I admit that I was at fault. I committed a sin. I admit that you deserve better. That's why I am here to free you from this marriage. I have already signed the papers and now it's your turn. Once you sign the papers you will be freed from me. You can start your life fresh. No one is going to argue with you. No one is going to lie to you. You are young, intelligent, beautiful and even self-employed. You can get a better guy than me. I wish you all the best."
Mikaeel told these words in one go. He tried a lot to sound normal but Aurin can feel the distress and grief in his voice. She looked at him and found him looking in another direction. It's like he is trying to steal glances from her. Her mind was chaotic and her heart was confused. After hearing his words she wasn't understanding what to say.
" What about you? What are going to do after divorce?" Aurin asked blinking her eyes.
Letting out a chuckle Mikaeel answered," Don't worry about me. Don't think that I will do something to myself because for the second time I was ditched. I am not that type of man. I know how to deal with reality. I will deal with my emotions. I am experienced in this matter."
" Let's go. Everyone is waiting for us," Mikaeel said and then forwarded his legs to leave.
But, before he could take a step forward, Aurin grabbed his right wrist. Blinking his eyes, at first he looked at her hand and then looked at her eyes questioningly.
Having a nervous expression Aurin said," I don't want to deal with this situation alone."
" What do you mean?" Mikaeel asked sounding suspicious.
Aurin answered sighing," I don't want a divorce."