Chapter 21: Chapter 21

RABIYA’S POINT OF VIEW:

My heart furiously beat when I saw Maaz with some other girl, yet I stayed quiet. I did not want to let my friends know about my husband’s infidelity.

Moreover, after seeing Papa’s condition, I couldn’t burden him with my problems too. Thus, I quietly went to the room and broke down into sobs. But then, I stopped.

Rabiya, stop behaving like weak women. How much will you cry, and for whom?

But, how can I digest the thought of my husband sitting with another woman, let alone fathom it?

Husband, husband, husband! You served him day and night, and he broke you and threw you away. He is a heartless, brainless person.

Ten days back, Maaz was nothing but a name you read on an invitation card, and now, you are ruining yourself for him?

Amidst the chaos between my heart and mind, I walked to the window. The sky was a calm blue and a few clouds flying by. The sun shone brightly, and birds sang on a crumbling wall. The changing shapes of clouds are one of the biggest attractions of nature.

With all the thinking, my mind was running wild. I wanted to discuss it with someone, I wanted to let it all out. That moment, I heard the door opening and I turned around.

“Rabiya…” Maaz whispered as he closed the door behind him. My heart pounded mercilessly looking at him, but then, I decided, I would talk to him. He was the only person I could express these thoughts too.

“Maaz, I want to talk to you.”

“I want to talk to you as well.” He sat on the edge of my bed, and his eyes wandered across the room, lasting longer than necessary on the huge teddy bears.

Teddy bears are my first love.

I quietly sat in front of him, and tense silence lasted for a few minutes until we both muttered each other’s names together. Our gazes met, silencing our voices. Looking away, I took a deep breath and started again.

“What was that, Maaz?” I clenched my teeth, trying to control my rage.

“Rabiya, I was telling you something, but had to stop when Ammi came into the room,” he said looking at me, while I controlled myself from burning down in rage.

“Rabiya, listen to me carefully.” He tugged me up by my chin and looked into my eyes. I could’ve sworn he saw the pain and anger in my eyes. Breaking from my trance, I swatted his hand away.

“Yep. Say what you want to say. I’m listening.”

“Rabiya, you are wife, and I promise you, I’ll never give you any problem in life. I’ll provide you everything I can, but I can’t love you.”

My eyes widened. It felt like someone had stabbed me right in my chest. I stammered, “What do you mean?”

“Rabiya, I don’t want to hide anything today. I love Rimsha- we both love each other for the past three years. We wanted to get married but…you know very well what happened to us.” Anger had left me long ago, and now I sat appalled as he retold his painful tale of unfulfilled love.

“But…” My heart urged me, but my tongue couldn’t form a coherent sentence. I didn’t want to show the pain inside. “Do you still love her?” I asked slowly.

“It is not possible to forget love,” he said. His voice had turned deep and hoarse, and I felt his pain echoing in it. He is in the same pain as you are, Rabiya. Why didn’t you think about that?

“If you still love her, why are you promising me?” My brows furrowed.

“I am promising you because you are in my Nikah. I cannot neglect the fact that you are my wife.” He opened his heart for me and showed me all the truth.

“Rabiya, you can trust me, if you want to.” I looked at him, but he fixed his gaze at the hands in his lap.

I never wanted to get married like this, but what can I do now? I cannot tell these secrets to anyone. I have to live my life with Maaz. I sighed. After a long time of being lost in my thoughts, I heard Maaz’s voice. “Rabiya, ask what you want to, say anything.”

“I don’t have any option but to live with you.” He nodded.

“We both are trapped in this marriage, and now we have to live our lives with each other.”

“Don’t cry, I don’t want to see tears in your eyes,” he said, wiping my cheeks gently. He then held my hand. Rabiya, it’s on us now, how we spend our lives together. I know I won’t be happy, but I’ll never make you suffer. You will never regret your decision of saying yes.”

I freed my hand from his grasp. He is right indeed.

It’s on us how we spend our lives.

I don’t need anyone to live a happy life. I am not a weak woman, not a woman who depends on her husband for survival. I’ll live in his house, his room, but…

MAAZ’S POINT OF VIEW:

She silently sat in front of me, lost in her daze. I felt bad for the three of us, but Rabiya was suffering from all this without any fault. She would’ve been childish, but her behaviour had matured since last night.

Suddenly, she gave a loud exhale, startling me. “Hmm…so Mr Maaz Waqaar, I never cried as much as I did since last night.” Her tone exclaimed confidence. I couldn’t be more startled than this in my life, but I inwardly exhaled in relief, recognizing the Rabiya I bickered with all the time.

“First you frighten me with that aggressiveness, then you promise to make me happy. But, then I see you with your girlfriend, and you make me cry again! It’s enough now!”

I simply blinked in astonishment. “Five minutes ago, you were crying and…now…you…”

“I think I’m giving you more important than you deserve,” she said, pointing straight at me. WHAT HAPPENED TO HER?

“You love that girl, she loves you. Where am I in all this chaos? Why do I sacrifice my happiness for you?”

Wait. Is this the same girl who cried like a baby in her father’s arms, and now she scolding me?

“Let me tell one thing very clearly, Maaz.” I nodded in shock.

“I’m not interested in you anymore. You can go to hell from my side,” she declared. “But I’ll to be your wife in front of everyone,” she said as though she were giving me life’s biggest favour. I never witnessed anyone like her in my life.

A smile appeared on my face listening to her innocent but confident words. I didn’t even get annoyed at her rudeness because here she was, speaking like a spoiled, offended child.

“Okay, but whatever you do, please don’t cry again,” I said, grabbing hold of her hand. She tried to shake out of my grasp, but this time, I held my hand firmly.

“Cry for you? Forget about it!” She rolled her eyes. “And don’t you dare touch me!” She slapped my hand. “I’m not at all interested in being your wife!”

Being your w- Oh God! What does this girl think? Her innocence made me smile all over again.

“But you are my wife…” I held her hand and tugged at it, pulling her towards me.

“Get out of my room!” she screamed angrily, pointing at the door. But with a little smile, I pulled herself towards me again.

“Go hold you’re your girlfriend’s hand,” she shrieked, pushing me away, but since she was too lean compared to me, I hardly moved an inch.

“Okay,” I said, getting up from the bed, but what amused me was the colour draining off her face. I stood up and walked to the door.

“Maaz!” she called out just as I opened the door. When I turned around, I saw a little spark of hope in her eyes. Her head slightly tilted and she asked, “Do you still want to marry her?”

Rabiyaaaa…understanding you is so impossible! Moments ago, you were sending me to hell, and now you are interested in knowing what I want.

I went back and sat beside her. Her gaze was downcast. “What kind of question is this?” She sat still even then. “Rabiya, I’m asking something!”

“Why do you think that?” I asked.

“Because if you love her, then you…” she stopped after that.

“Don’t you feel bad when you talk about my girlfriend?” I frowned when she gave a small nod. Pain and regret filled my heart for all of us, but Rabiya was the innocent one among us.