Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Author's pov

" Sorry! Have you lost your mind?" Mikaeel shouted in disbelief looking at Miraz.

Miraz replied," Bhai, just calm down. Say sorry to bhabhi and I assure you that she will understand."

" Never. I will never say sorry. Why should I? She shouldn't have put her legs in my matters. She always overreacts to every petty matter. So what I had a girlfriend? Do I still have any relationship with her? No. About telling lie, I don't like sharing Maryam's matter with othe..............." Mikaeel was interrupted by Miraz.

He said trying hard to convince his stubborn brother," Ok. I admit that she was overreacting. But, you should also accept your fault. You shouldn't have lied to her about such a trivial matter. Now, apologise to her and sort out this problem."

Mikaeel glared at Miraz when he said gulping down," Come on bhai. One sorry won't eat up your whole ego."

" I won't say sorry. If she wants to make it an issue then fine. I am tired of tolerating her nonsense," Mikaeel replied stubbornly and Miraz huffed in disbelief.

He said glaring at Mikaeel very annoyingly," Fine. If you want to fake an accident again please proceed with your egoistic bum!"

" Fake an accident?" Mikaeel questioned suspiciously and Miraz let out a sarcastic laugh.

He answered nodding his head," Come on, brother! I know that you faked that accident to convince bhabhi."

" How do yo..........." Mikaeel's eyes widened but he was interrupted by Miraz again.

Exhaling some air, Miraz replied," I am your brother. We were born from the same womb. I know you."

" So, are you going to tell Aurin about the truth?" Mikaeel asked and this time his voice was unusually calm.

Nodding his head in the negative, Miraz responded," I won't."

Mikaeel took a relaxed breath when Miraz suggested," Bhai, move on. By keeping those memories inside your chest, you are ruining your future. Maryam is married and far away from you. She is someone else's wife now and you should forget about her. You should concentrate on Aurin bhabhi. She is a jewel and you should treasure her."

" Don't try to lecture me, ok? I am elder than you," Mikaeel yelled becoming uncomfortable at the mention of Maryam's name.

Miraz mumbled rolling his eyes," Yeah. But, you are an infant when it comes to take sensible decisions."

" Did you say something?" Mikaeel asked and Miraz nodded his head.

Hours passed and Mikaeel is now sitting in his office. He is playing with the paper wet and thinking something deeply. Yes, he is thinking about Aurin.

After that heated argument, Mikaeel didn't talk to Aurin and she also didn't talk to him. It was like a cold war between them.

Opening the drawer, Mikaeel took out Maryam's photo and started trailing his fingers over her face. Looking directly into her eyes he lost himself in that time when they were together. Her smile, her talking, her caring nature for him, her expressive eyes, that melodious voice...he still can feel them inside his mind. No matter how much he tries to focus on other things her thoughts would always bother him.

Flipping her photo on the table he took a deep breath and started rubbing his forehead. Recalling that day when Maryam broke up, Mikaeel felt his chest heaving up and down with an unsteady pace. Closing his eyes he took a deep breath and poured a glass of water.

Chugging down the water he unlocked his phone and opened the gallery. The gallery was full of his wedding pictures. There were also some solo pictures of Aurin. Clicking at one solo picture he gazed at Aurin's face for a few more minutes and Miraz's words started ringing inside his head like a tape recorder.

'Aurin bhabhi is a gem and you should treasure her'

Remembering that line Mikaeel's mind travelled back to that time when he was acting injured. The way Aurin took care of his every need was amusing for him. Whatever she did for him was genuine. She never faked her feelings. He also realized one thing that she loves him a lot. But, does he love her? He doesn't know yet. He knows that he is attracted to Aurin but there are also some other feelings that he hasn't understood yet.

After thinking for some time he again looked at Maryam's photo but instead of feeling Maryam or seeing her, he started seeing Aurin. Taking a black cloth he didn't continue looking at the photo and wrapped it with that cloth. He threw the photo in the last drawer and locked it. And, then he decided to not open it again.

At Night

Sitting in front of the mirror Aurin was rubbing some body lotion on her hands and feet. Looking at her facial expression no one can assume the storm inside her. After Sobbing for almost hours she realized that there is no value of her tears in front of Mikaeel so she stopped shedding them.

Mikaeel hasn't returned from the office and she isn't interested to know where is he. Putting on the nightgown she was almost ready to lay down when someone knocked at her door. Opening the door, Aurin looked questioningly at the new maid Fatma.

" Aurin Baji(referring to elder sister), Mikaeel bhaijaan is waiting for you on the terrace," Fatma informed and Aurin blinked her eyes.

Fatma again said," He told you to hurry up."

Saying that she left the place and Aurin continued standing at the door having a confused look on her face. She wondered why he called her there. Then, his lying face flashed in front of her and she decided to not meet him.

A few minutes later Fatma again came and notified Aurin. This time Aurin couldn't refuse and decided to go on the terrace. She couldn't resist her curiosity.

" Mikaeel," Aurin called entering the terrace and wondered why all the lights are turned off.

And, the next moment her eyes widened with shock. Someone turned on the lights at one go and she was stunned. The whole terrace was beautifully decorated with lights and candles. There were written 'sorry' everywhere and Aurin was dumbfounded seeing all these. She wasn't understanding what to say or how to react at this moment.

Hearing footsteps approaching towards her she turned behind and found Mikaeel. She gave him a questioning look and he looked at her with hesitation.

" What's all these?" She asked trying to figure out his intention.

Rubbing his forehead he started murmuring," umm..... I was.....I mean.....forget the........what to.....say........."

" It's 12:30 a.m and I badly want to sleep," She reminded showing him her phone screen.

Burying all hesitation under the ground finally Mikaeel spoke out," Sorry."

While uttering those words Mikaeel felt like he was fighting in a war because he never apologises and sorry is like a foreign word for him. Even when he was in a relationship with Maryam, he never said sorry whether it was his fault or not. It would be Maryam who would say sorry from both of their sides.

" Sorry! Why?" Aurin asked calmly though she knew the reason behind his apology.

Keeping his voice low, Mikaeel said in one go," I am sorry for lying. Umm............"

He paused for a few seconds and then said," I lied because I was thinking if you come to know about my past relationship then you will lose your feelings and trust for me. I mean to say you won't take it easily and you will get hurt. That's why I lied to you. I didn't want to hurt you emotionally. And, about sharing my past with you, I am not comfortable, Aurin. I have buried my past a long ago and don't want you to dig and discover it."

" Did you?" Aurin asked shortly because she can't trust him anymore.

Taking a deep breath Mikaeel held her shoulders and said," Now, you are the only woman in my life, Aurin. I don't even remember my ex."

Looking into his eyes she searched for the truth and found another lie lingering in them. Removing his hands slowly, she freed herself from his hold and backed away a little. Her lips quivered and her eyes started wailing but somehow she controlled herself.

" Another lie! You don't even remember your ex! Then, would you please enlighten me in whose thoughts you are always engrossed?" Aurin questioned sarcastically but she failed to hide the pain in her voice.

Hearing her sarcastic response Mikaeel lost his patience. He has apologised then she should let go of this matter by now. According to him, her questions are ridiculous and she is dragging a simple issue like a drama queen. It took a lot of effort for him to say a simple sorry and she should be thankful for that.

" What do you mean whose thoughts? I am the Chairman of our company which has almost 100 branches in the whole country including abroad. Do you have any idea how much pressure I face every day? Meetings, conferences, business deals, clients and so on. I am stuck with all these every day. I am always engrossed in my work, not in someone's memory. Anyway, whom I am even trying to convince! You won't understand anything because it's your habit to make an issue out of everything, "He shouted on her face irritatingly and tears started flowing down her cheeks.

She wiped away her tears hurriedly and replied with a painful voice," I also used to think that the work pressure on you is responsible for your negligence toward me. But, I was wrong because someone else was occupying your heart. What do you think I don't understand? Just looking at your eyes I can tell how much considerate you are for me. You are always absent-minded when it comes to my wishes and my feelings. Even when it comes to lovemaking you always seem like lost. Like you expect someone else. Not me."

She screamed the last sentence when Mikaeel screamed back fisting his plams," Aurin!"

" What? Isn't it the truth? You are still in love with your ex-girlfriend and no matter how much you try to hide it. You can't. You can't fool me anymore," She whispered hiccupping and Mikaeel was annoyed by her words.

He asked frustratingly," Here comes your stupid assumption."

" What did you think I will melt seeing your stupid decoration where your mind is still in your previous relationship! You know what you are worst at surprising someone," Aurin replied with a heavy voice and Mikaeel felt her words insulting for him.

Controlling his anger, he shouted," So, now what? You will ask for divorce again. Seriously, Aurin. I am tired of your wailing every day!"

Without answering him Aurin forwarded her legs to leave where Mikaeel was fuming in rage. The moment Aurin left the terrace Mikaeel started demolishing all the arrangements. His frustration reached its peak with her every word. Finally, he thought to move on for her sake and even apologised but what she did in the end. She insulted him!! It was too much for an egoistic and self-centred man like him.

Aurin's pov

Two days passed in a blink after that argument and we didn't talk to each other even for once. We are living in the same room, eating at the same table and sleeping in the same bed but behaving like strangers. He behaves like I don't even exist in this room. He doesn't even look at me.

I don't know if he is missing me or not but I am missing him like a crazy person. I want to talk to him, I want him to talk to me and give attention to me but he is simply ignoring me. Doesn't he love me at all or it's just the outcome of his anger? Did I overreact that day? I don't know. I just expressed my true feelings. How can I not get hurt if he is always engrossed in his ex's thoughts!

Maybe I am wrong. Maybe I am just assuming too much. Maybe I just vented my frustration because I wasn't his first love. Yes, it sounds like I am behaving like an immature but what can I do. I still couldn't take it easily. It's ok to have a past relationship but how can I convince my stupid heart. Imagining him with another woman just breaks my heart into million pieces. What I should do about this jealousy. Those hands which touched me adored me, those lips which kissed me, that heart that belonged to me was occupied by someone else just breaks me. I know it's his past and I shouldn't react like that but how can I convince myself when he is always engrossed in his ex-girlfriend's thoughts!

He lied to me and then apologized too. But, I couldn't forgive him because he still loves his girlfriend. Then, why did he marry me? Shouldn't he forget about her when I am always with him? Shouldn't he move on with me? Did he love her that much? Then, why he lied that he loves me. Did he really lie? I don't know.

Urgh! I can't think anymore. Honestly saying now I just want him to apologise to me again and promise me that he will forget his ex. I know I am sounding like a desperate teenager but what can I do? My stupid heart isn't understanding anything. It was craving and crying for his attention.

My trail of thoughts was caught hearing something vibrating. I looked around and found that Mikaeel's phone is vibrating. He was taking a shower so I thought to receive it.

Looking at the phone screen I frowned my brows a little. Why this girl is calling him? It was Iqra. Miraz's would-be sister in law. What's her work with him?

" Hello," I said.

She asked hesitatingly," Umm...hi. Where is Mikaeel? Isn't it his number?"

" I am his wife. I hope you remember me. You can tell me what's the matter," I said in one go and I think she didn't like my answer.

She answered sounding rude," I just want to talk to Mikaeel. Not you."

I was going to lash at her when someone snatched the phone from my hand. Turning behind I found that it was Mikaeel who was looking pissed off. He glared at me and I did the same.

" How dare you touch my phone?" He shouted and I felt embarrassed.

That girl is still in line and how can he talk to me like that! He just insulted me. I kept looking at him in disbelief when he went to the balcony with his phone. Reaching there he started talking to her having the brightest smile I have ever seen on his lips!

What's he doing? Is he cheating behind my back? If he cheats then I swear I will bury him alive!