The evening sky has sprawled. The blue hue was everywhere as the bird chirped, returning back to their respective abodes.
There sat Sheharzaad on the sofa of the study reading the same page again, trying to regain her focus. Yet her eyes would move in between the page of the book that read, 'Karachi. The city of lights. Rather previously known as the city of lights....'
The book was titled, 'Zaryaab' after the name of the male lead of that book.
Sheharzaad's grey eyes again fixed on the sky, witnessing the birds. As the sun reached the horizon, the sky was a mix of orange and blue.
Her mind was wondering to Shehryaar.
Where was he?
Should she apologize?
Or should she wait for him?
She found herself guilty in this situation. She should have broke it on the very first place to Maaz that she was married instead of going for that lunch. She knew that Maaz was interested in her but she was just finding the right time to reveal it to him and to everybody that she was married that too to Shehryaar Haider Syed.
She was scared of him.
Of his reaction.
Of his outburst.
Especially after seeing what he did with Maaz. She was aware that Maaz must be lying somewhere in some hospital.
The situation wouldn't have escalated but Maaz retaliated.
Rather bad mouthed about her infront of Shehryaar, saying, 'if this woman would be interested in keeping this marriage then she should have disclosed it to us on very first place rather than showing herself as single to the world so other men could approach her. She allowed me to approach her an-'
Maaz never got the chance to finish the sentence as Shehryaar dislocated his jaw by a single punch before crushing his jaw with his shoe.
Sheharzaad tried interfering but the way he glared at her had her take a step back. The situation was out of her hands.
He had squatted down, crushing his skull to his lot and grabbed his hair, boring his grey eyes in his, 'Your tongue won't be able to speak again. The same tongue which took her name with any other man,' With that being said, he banged his head to the floor and ordered his men surrounding the area to take Maaz to the hospital. And after the hospital to the torture cell.
Then he had gripped her arm in his vice-like grip and led her to the car, before opening the door, making her sit in the passenger seat and banged the door shut before going to his side.
The whole drive had went silent. Sheharzaad didn't utter a word, fearing Maaz's word would affect him. She saw his tightened grip on the steering wheel and his jaw ticking after a few seconds but she remained quiet.
She was wrong here.
Very wrong.
He had asked her to reveal their marriage to her colleagues but she didn't. And now here was the consequence.
They reached home and he had opened his door, alighting the car, banging the door shut which made her flinch as he walked inside, not paying any heed to her.
She felt fear bubbling up inside her so she had gone to the study and locked herself, fearing he would come and inquire her.
She feared his inquiries. Especially when she was the one who was wrong.
And the evening had sprawled and she still had locked herself.
The blue sky turned darker and darker as the night came and the moon and the stars dazzled. She had slept near the fireplace. The book in her hands lying upside down on her chest.
Her eyes closed and face faced the moon.
The lock of the door turned as the door was opened. He came inside and his eyes fell on her bewitching sleeping form.
He took slow and quiet steps towards her before squatting down infront of the settee on which she laid.
His eyes observing each and every feature of her with affection. As if his eyes were kissing her without even touching her.
He neared his lips towards her and rubbed her cracky ones with his.
"My scared little lady," he muttered under his breath before a small chuckle escaped his lips.
"Yes. I'm very angry," he rubbed his nose with hers, smiling, "but you can not let me away from you, Zaad,"
He stood up, and covered her with the comforter he had brought before kissing her forehead and took his leave.
...
A week passed.
Every moment and every second fell heavy on Sheharzaad.
Because Shehryaar was ignoring her. He wasn't talking to her.
In the morning, at the breakfast table, he used to be the one to initiate conversation with her but he had stopped. He acted as if she did not exist. He would come home late at night and whenever he would come, he'd be sleeping in another room rather than sharing one with her.
It was breaking her.
His aloofness towards her was slowly breaking her heart.
She didn't know how to amend things now. She knew she was at fault and she should apologize but whenever she initiated any conversation with him, he would give crisp response to her, cutting the conversation short. He did not give her the same attention anymore as if she was fading from his life.
She had not gone to her office after that day because she was aware it would fuel his anger.
Today, she decided to make food of his choice and try making up with her.
She called him and the phone was picked up after two bells.
"Assalam alaikum," she said, "I've a request," He remained silent and she took that as a cue to continue, "can you come home early tonight?"
"I'm in a meeting, Sheharzaad,"
No Zaad?
No little lady?
Her chest constricted and she felt tears brimming her eyes.
"I'll try," he told and hung up the call.
She sniffled. Nevertheless, she decided to make the food, hoping he would come early.
She made biryani, pasta, chicken jalfrezi, and in dessert, she made some dessert the recipe of which she saw on youtube. The chef and the other kitchen staff helped her in the chores. At first, they straight away denied that they could let her cook fearing that their boss might punish them for letting his wife cook. But she convinced them, rather threatened them with their boss's name and they had no option but to agree and follow her commands.
The clock hit 7 and she set the table for him. Chahat had gone to haveli for some days since everyone there was missing her so she decided to send Chahat to haveli for a few days.
She sat on her chair as her eyes waited for him. The refreshing aroma of the food was arousing her hunger but she didn't. She wanted to eat with him.
And slowly the aroma of that sizzling food subsided as the food turned cold. An hour had passed but still there were no signs for him. She tried calling him but he didn't pick up.
She suddenly felt anxious as she began to stroll.
Why he wasn't picking up?
Her eyes glued to the main door of the house but there were no signs of his return. It was 11 now.
She called again but he didn't pick up.
Fifteen minutes later, her phone rung with an unknown number and she immediately picked it up, hoping it would be some news related to him.
"Shehryaar sir has met with an accident,"
And the ground slipped beneath her feet.