Chapter 25: Chapter 25

He was standing in the middle of his room, Mum was standing behind him both were glaring at me but Dad's eyes were bloodshot with rage, on the other hand mum was showing disappointment from her gaze.

"Rimsha, did you go to meet Maaz,the day before yesterday?" Mum asked to confirm and I nodded

"Yes I went to meet him in the same restaurant where we use to meet" without any guilt, any shame or hesitation I informed both of them while looking right into his eyes

"When I discussed your proposal with Umar and his Father..." Dad said and grinded his teeth before restarting "Umar informed me you were sitting there holding the hand of some guy.", dad completed his sentence with great difficulty. But I was still looking at him without blinking my eyes.

"So what, what's wrong with it, if I went to meet Maaz?" I yelled

"Do you have any shame left with you??"

"Do you have any idea how I'd face Ameen and Umar when he informed me about your meeting with Maaz?"

"Do you have any idea how I felt when Umar said that he will not marry a girl who is in love with another man?"

Dad yelled at me . I was looking at him continuously, but I gathered all my rage and confidence. I decided to give him a reply.

"Dad, do you have any idea how I felt when....when Kinza informed me that Maaz's nikkah has done with some other girl?"

"Do you have any idea how I felt when I returned back here from my own marriage as an unwed bride?"

"Do you have any idea how I felt when Maaz said that, that girl is his wife...."

"Do you have any idea how I feel when I witnessed Maaz as someone else's husband?"

"No dad you don't have any idea about my pain, because you are just feeling a single emotional. Selfishness!" I yelled and and cried

I yelled at dad for the first time in my life, I couldn't control myself to say what I had in my heart. He was looking at me with mixed emotions he was angry, surprised, confused and what not, but I didn't pay attention to him and marched towards my room

I took two steps when dad's words started ringing in my mind about discussing my proposal with Umar and his Father.

I turned back to him, "One more thing, don't think about my marriage or about my proposals. I am very thankful to you for what you have done with me" saying that I went to my room after locking the door, I kneeled down on the floor and cried loudly for almost an hour. And then thought to call Maaz. I looked at my mobile phone which was showing 18 missed calls of Maaz and 6 text messages

'Rimsha, where are you?'

'Why are you not answering my call?'

'Are you fine?'

'Are you angry with me?'

'Please don't be angry, I was busy in the meeting, that's why I didn't attend your call.'

'Rimsha... Plz... Yaar try to understand.'

These all were the messages of Maaz.

'' Maaz I'm not offended by you but our faith. Our destiny is offended with us.That's why we are dying to see each other. That's why we are unable to talk to each other'' Mumbling the same. I dialled Maaz's number after wiping my tears.

"Where were you? I was worried for you, are you fine?" He didn't say hello but asked all these questions in a single breath . I took a relief breath after listening his voice, and a smile made its way to my lips

"Maaz I am not offended with you.... I was not in the room so I didn't attend your call." I informed him

"No issue, what were you saying, actually I was busy in the meeting at that time." He asked me but I listened the sound which was coming from his behind

'Maaz which one is better, this or this?' That was a sweet voice, I knew she was that girl.

"Who is she?" I asked to Maaz

"You know very well...." He replies in muted tone

'Maaazz.... I'm asking something, tell me! Whom are you talking with?' That girl asked Maaz when she said 'Maaazz..' I felt a sharp pain in my heart.

"Rabiya pack anyone which you like most... They both are equally nice" Maaz and I were confused. Did I listen correctly? Did he say pack? But why?

"Maaz I want to meet you tomorrow,'' I said but he was talking to that girl.

'Maaz, who are you talking with?' I again listened to the sound of that girl.

"It's my friend's call, you complete your work and if need help then call Reshma" Maaz said to her very politely

"Maaz I'm saying something... I want to meet you tomorrow" I said and he realized I was also talking with him

"Huh... tomorrow? It's not possible I'm going somewhere tomorrow." Maaz informed me but I don't like his reply. "Where?" I asked

"I'm going Bangalore tomorrow," Maaz said but I felt something fishy, he must be hiding something

"Is she also going with you?" I asked because Maaz said to her to pack something.

"Tell me, why do you want to meet me? Is this important? Or just...?" He asked but I wasn't a small baby who didn't know that he wanted to avoid my question.

"Maaz I asked. Is she going with you or not?" I asked and his answer made me cry.

"Yes," he said with a muted tone.

"Ohh so you are going on your honeymoon... Congratulations Mr. Maaz, enjoy your honeymoon with your wife" I said with anger.

"How do I explain in front of you, I'm going to attend an official meeting, it's not like that.." Maaz said to me I was sure he must be lying.

"And you are taking your wife with you on your official tour. Really? Maaz am I a fool?" I said with rage

"Please Yaar try to understand," Maaz said but my eyes were flowing tears silently

'Maaz Ammi and Baba is calling you for dinner I again heard a soft voice

"You go, I'm coming in a few minutes" Maaz replied in a polite way. How sweetly he was behaving with her. My blood boils.

"Please yaar, try to understand Ammi and Baba insisted me to take her with me otherwise I wouldn't be going to take her with me,'' He told me but I was not interested in his lie.

"Were your Ammi baba also insisting you behave politely with her?" I fire a satire on him

"Why are we quelling?" Maaz asked me and I hung up the call.

"Why Maaz? Why?" I mumbled and cried aloud

THIRD PERSON'S POV:

Rabiya happily agreed to go with Maaz when Asma made her understand, Maaz also agreed because of the pressure of his father.

Rabiya was reading the book sitting in her room when she listened to the car horn, as usual ,she gave water to Maaz, but today he was looking very tense.

"Maaz are you okay?" Rabiya asked and he nodded without giving her attention

Sitting on the bed he was thinking about Rimsha, he was thinking about what's wrong with her because she was not receiving his call.

"Maaz coffee" Rabiya passed a mug to him and took another for herself, sitting beside him she switched on the TV.

A comedy show was running on it, Rabiya was laughing loudly and madly but Maaz was sitting like a statue without any expression as his mind was running for Rimsha.

"Rabiya turned off the TV." stopping himself to yell, Maaz said softly because he didn't want to make Rabiya upset but he was irritated.

'What's wrong with this Man?' Rabiya asked herself and switched off the TV as she didn't want to argue with him just because of a TV show

"Maaz I have done your packing, Once you check if something is left," She said politely but he didn't listen to a single word as he was busy thinking about Rimsha.

"Maaaaz. Where are you lost?" shaking his shoulder Rabiya asked the same.

"Hmm, what.." Blinking his eyes he looked here there and came to his senses

"Maaz, I'm feeling you're not well" Touching his forehead Rabiya said worriedly

"I'm fine, please leave me alone for some time,'' Maaz said to Rabiya controlling himself to say something rude or wrong.

"Okay, but tell me if you need anything"

'I need my Rimsha beside me, but you are here as my wife and I can't do anything in this. You are also stuck with me Rabiya... Sometimes I felt bad for you' Maaz said to himself but his gaze was fixed on Rabiya's face

'Why is he looking at me continuously? ' Rabiya asked herself and lowered her gaze but a smile made a way to her lips.

'She is smiling! But why? whatever it is She is looking beautiful' Maaz thought and a smile made its way to his lips

"Have you done your packing?" Maaz asked this time his mood was a bit better after seeing her smiling

"No, but I'm going to do that.."

"Hmm, Good" Maaz nodded.

Rabiya started doing her packing in the dressing room, on the other hand, Maaz was sitting on the bed when his mobile phone started ringing

Picking her dresses up she was confused, what should she pack?

"Boring" she throw away a dress

"I'm not going to someone's wedding" she rejected one more time.

"Umm… just fine, not good" another poor dress came to her rejected list

"This is good"

she was categorising her dresses when she stuck between two dresses and she decided to take advice with Maaz.

"Maaz which one is better, this or this?" She asked Maaz but he was busy talking with Rimsha.

''Maaz whom are you talking with?'' Rabiya asked and Maaz looked at her suddenly, but he masked his expressions very easily.

"It's my friend's call, you complete your work and if you need help then call Reshma" Maaz replied to Rabiya and she didn't realise for a single moment that he was lying, she happily packed her bag and left the room.

On the one hand, Maaz was telling the truth to Rimsha but she was considering everything as a white lie but on the other hand,Rabiya was trusting blindly on his falsification.

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Rabiya was getting ready for her journey where Maaz was busy collecting his files and documents.

"Maaz, Rabiya, are you ready?" Asma asked happily when she entered their bedroom.

"Ammi I'm almost ready" Rabiya said loudly from the dressing room while trying her hair into a loose side braid. And Maaz just nodded his head to show his answer

Asma went to Rabiya in the dressing room. "Ammi, I'm ready!!" Rabiya said happily but Asma smacked her forehead

"What happened?" Rabiya said while looking here and there trying to find out any problem

"This girl is..." Asma mumbled and hit Rabiya's forehead with her fingers lightly. "Rabiya Starts behaving like a mature girl, now you are married..." Asma said in whispered while glaring at her, but she was not angry

'What have I done this time? What is wrong?' Rabiya asked to herself trying to remember if she had done something

"Ammi, what have I done?" Rabiya said with a lower gaze and hesitation

"Dear, at least apply lipstick, you never did makeup after your reception" Asma advised her daughter-in-law. "But I don't like it." Rabiya was saying something when Asma interfered

"Shut up, and do makeup" Asma said while looking at her with wide eyes and Rabiya started applying lipstick

'Where I'm Stuck?? Why is it important to do makeup when I don't need it?' Rabiya said to herself.

"Listen carefully, take care of yourself as well as Maaz, if you need anything don't hesitate to contact me. Got it?" Asma said happily and rightfully after caressing her head. Rabiya nodded happily.

Asma moved to Maaz and Rabiya went to the balcony to call her mother.

"Maaz" Asma said and he nodded.

"Dear, take care of yourself as well as hers." Maaz nodded while taking his mobile phone.

"Rabiya... We are getting late" Maaz summoned her but he didn't look at her as he was checking the tickets and other stuff. Asma went out of their bedroom.

" Maaz I'm ready to go.." Rabiya said and Maaz looked at her.

"Looking nice" he couldn't control his tongue to say that, Rabiya suddenly looked at him with amazement, he gave her a compliment for the first time.

Rabiya was looking into his eyes, as he was.

' Please don't look at me in this way, I felt something different with your gaze.' Maaz said to himself, but he averted his eyes. Rabiya also turned her face to another side.

" Come" Maaz said in a muted tone and she followed him after giving him a nod.

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