Chapter 11: Chapter 11

*Rabiya’s point of view*

I felt bored sitting in the bedroom, so I skimmed through dozens of television channels, yet did not find anything worth watching. I didn’t even have my mobile phone, and mummy told me that she didn’t have it when I asked her. Which only meant that I lost it somewhere during my sudden nikah.

“Ma’am?” A maid came and informed me that ammi had summoned me to her room. Switching off the television, I walked out to her room.

“Yes, ammi?” Umema bhabi sat with ammi too. They both gestured to me to sit as well, and I took a seat on the sofa chair.

"Rabiya, have you both started talking to each other?" Ammi asked me and I shook my head, embarrassed.

"Why, Rabiya?" Umema bhabi questioned.

Because your devar is a khadoos man, who never tried to talk to me, and I'm not interested in talking to him too! I mentally replied bhabi. But well, I couldn’t really say all that so,

"I don't know what to talk about with him," I said politely.

"It's been 4 days since your marriage, and you didn't get any topic to talk about?" Ammi asked, and I just simply lowered my head, answerless.

Ya Allah, where I stuck? I'm living in some peace already, why they all are pushing me to him? My heart said helplessly.

"Rabiya, ask him about his day in office, about his likes and dislikes. Tell him what you like or dislike," bhabi suggested, while ammi nodded.

"And what should I do when he is not interested in any topic I talk about?" This time I asked in a straightforward manner.

"For getting his interest, you should at least start talking," Ammi said and I nodded. Honestly, I wasn't paying attention to anything, because I didn't want to pay attention to that Mr. Khadoos.

"Rabiya, do you want this marriage, or not?" Bhabi asked. Ammi and I both looked at her in shock. I know I was angry with my Mr. Khadoos, because of his ignorance, but still, he is my husband and I am his wife. I have married him, and it wasn’t a play from which I could simply drop out.

Hearing bhabi's words had my stomach go in knots!

"Bhabhi- I- O-of course, I want this marriage," I answered, still in shock.

"So make it work, Rabiya. You both are ignoring each other. Do you think your marriage will work this way?" I gave a blank stare to bhabi.

She is right. I have to do something, but what? I thought.

"Start behaving like his wife. Groom yourself, talk to him, take his care, and most importantly, share your feelings with him. Make him feel that you are with him in every decision he makes, make him feel he is incomplete without you." Bhabi answered my unasked question.

"Okay bhabi," I nodded, deciding to make my Mr. Khadoos a normal human being who knows how to talk and laugh.

"I want to see you happy in your life, just like my Abdullah and Umema," Ammi said, gesturing towards bhabi, who gave a beautiful smile at her husband’s mention.

"Are you done with your packing?" Ammi asked, turning towards bhabi.

"Packing for what?” I asked.

"We are going back tomorrow," She replied, reminding me that Abdullah bhai lives with his family in the U. A. E., and had come here to attend the marriage.

"I'll miss you, bhabi!" The words came right from my heart. Umema bhabi had treated me so nicely in these four days of marriage.

"Don't focus on me, just focus on him," She said with a smile and left the room. I started thinking about the responsibilities.

Yeah, mummy always gives tea, coffee or juice to papa when he returns home from work! I remembered the very normal daily routine I saw since I was a child.

***

*Maaz’s point of view*

After a tiring day at the office, I slumped on the sofa as soon as I came home.

"Bano~, Bring water!" I called out the maid, as I do every day.

I expected the below-average face of Bano to appear with a glass of water. Instead, I saw a fairy-like beautiful face. She passes me the glass with a smile, and I gulp it all.

Why did she bring this? Where are all the maids? I questioned.

Let her go to hell! Why are you even thinking about her? My heart answered.

After spending some time in the bedroom with my laptop, I went to the dressing room and drew out my clothes. My blood boiled again when I saw her rubber band on the dressing table.

"Rabiya, you are testing my patience. Now it's enough! I'm tolerating your things around me for four days, and now, you should understand it is not your place," I mumbled while grinding my teeth and throwing it in the dustbin. I closed my eyes and sighed, feeling relieved.

When I entered the bathroom, I was amazed when I saw my night suit already hanging.

"How did it come here? Did I hang it?" I questioned myself.

After changing into my night-suit, I was busy remembering her, when I heard a soft voice. Of course, her’s.

“Maa-“ She slowly tried to pronounce my name but stopped when I looked at her. She had been standing near me, nervously playing with her fingers, her eyes fixed on me.

"Dinner is served, have it."

Are all the servants dead? Why is she here to call me for dinner? My mind asked again, but my stomach’s call was louder, and clenching with hunger. I ignored her and left the room. I took my usual seat, and little Zunni sat beside me. I pulled her cheeks and kissed them. My gaze unintentionally goes to Rabiya, and I see her smiling at me.

Why is she smiling? Silly girl. I immediately averted my eyes and tickled Zunni, who laughed.

*Third person's point of view*

Wow, he is smiling! Mr. Khadoos is smiling!

Strange. Anyway it's not his fault, it's Zunni's charm which does this impossible task. Rabiya thought, while a taunting smile played on her lips. She took a seat opposite her husband, yet he was avoiding her. He was busy feeding himself and Zunni.

"Rabiya, pass me the rice, please?" Raahim said, and Rabiya did so.

"Raahim, why are you calling her by name? Call her bhabi" Asma scolded.

What the hell is this? Maaz rolled his eyes.

"But she is younger than me!" Raahim argued.

"She is the your elder brother’s wife, you should call her bhabi," Waqaar explained to his son. Raahim looked at Rabiya, then at Maaz. Both of them were giving completely different expressions.

Bhabi? Four days back, I never even thought about this, and now… look at destiny’s sudden turn, Rabiya thought in surprise.

Call her your daughter-in-law, bhabi, chachi or whatever, just don't say that she is my wife, Maaz angrily screamed in his thoughts. He pushed down the glass tumbler, and stomped away from the dining hall.

"Maaz!" Waqaar called, but he had already left.

What is the problem of this man? Can't he let us live peacefully? Idiot! Donkey! Khadoos! Rabiya huffed.

"Rabiya, don't worry about him, everything will be fine." Umema whispered as she patted her shoulder.

"I'm not worried! Throw him in hell, and enjoy your meal-" Rabiya rolled her eyes and bit a piece of cucumber, without even thinking of the presence around. Her mouth fell open as she realized what she had done and the poor cucumber she held, dropped on the plate.

She bit her tongue and lowered her gaze. What you have done Rabiya?! She mentally smacked her head.

Now what?

DISAPPEAR FROM HERE!

Within seconds, Rabiya scooted out of the dinner hall, without even glancing back. Everyone looked at each other in amazement, hearing Rabiya’s words and expressions.

“She did say correct- Enjoy your meal!” Raahim said after a chuckle, and everyone glared at him.

Rabiya entered the room, only to find a furious-red Maaz sitting on the couch. She slowly whispered, “Maaz?”

Get out of here... get out of my room... get out of my life! Maaz screamed, but only in his thoughts. He knew it would lead to nothing but another disaster. He got up and walked to the door, but before he could twist the doorknob, she stopped him. "Maaz, please, listen to me."

Rabiya said in a single breath. This time, he turned to her. Rabiya you did stop him, but you don't have anything to say! She bit her nails in nervousness.

"You stay here. I'm going," She said looking away, and left the room. While Rabiya simply told this because she didn’t have anything to say, Maaz was rather relieved. For the very first time in these four days, she did a good job, he thought. He lay down on the bed, and didn’t even realize when sleep consumed him.

Rabiya was stuck in between, neither could she go to the bedroom, nor in the living room where everyone was sitting. Thus, she decided to kill time on the lawn.

After a lot of life-thinking, Rabiya began feeling sleepy. Her eyelids started feeling heavy, and she lay down on the bench she had been sitting on.

***

Maaz opened his eyes hearing his stomach’s grumbles, considering he had left his dinner unfinished. He turned to the other side and found the bed empty. He glanced at his mobile, and the clock showed 1:57 a. m.

"Where is she?" He ignorantly mumbled, and stumbled towards the kitchen to calm his hunger.

“What is SHE doing here? This girl… He muttered, when he saw Rabiya crouching in the fridge. Even a small sound could be clearly heard in the silent kitchen, which meant, Rabiya heard everything.

"I'm hungry, so I’m heating food," she said, putting a dish in the microwave. Maaz walked out of the kitchen.

Voracious, silly girl! He mumbled, rolling his eyes.

Mr. Khadoos, can't you just tell that you’re hungry as well? Rabiya thought.

"Maaz, I know you are hungry too. Have some food," Rabiya said. Maaz immediately turned, looking at her with a shocked expression on his face.

How does she know that I'm hungry? Maaz quietly sat on a stool beside the kitchen counter.

Mr. Khadoos, I at least know that you can bear anything, but hunger.

Rabiya served food for Maaz, as well as herself and sat down next to him. Both silently began having their food.

Asma entered the kitchen to fill her empty water bottle, but was amazed when she witnessed them sitting together, having their food. Maaz lifted his hand towards the water jug, but simply accepted the glass Rabiya handed him, without any hesitation.

A satisfied smile played on Asma's lips after seeing the silent exchange, and she quietly tiptoed to her room with her filled bottle. Once they had finished with the dinner, Rabiya placed all the utensils in the sink, and both of them walked off the kitchen. Rabiya turned towards the lawn, and Maaz, towards the staircase.

"Where?" Maaz asked her when he saw Rabiya going towards the house’s exit.

Really? Is he talking to me now? In about four days and five hours, at last he spoke a single word to me! Rabiya’s heart beat a little faster, and she felt a little happy.

"I was sleeping on the lawn so I'm-" She was stopped by Maaz gesturing for her to come upstairs, pointing towards his room. He silently meant to say that Rabiya could sleep in the room. Maaz didn't wait for her, and climbed the stairs.

"Huh. Mr. Khadoos, why would you think that I'll sleep on the lawn, I was just going to lock the door, which I left open while coming inside!" Rabiya silently made fun of Maaz and giggled.

This is not just your bedroom, but mine too. I'm never going to leave it, nor you, my Mr. handsome Khadoos! Rabiya mentally challenged Maaz, and lay down after changing into her night clothes. Both of them lay on the bed as usual, facing their backs to one another. Busy in their thoughts, they didn’t realize when they were consumed by sleep.