Chapter 63: Chapter 63

She sat in his office with her head bowed down, eyes staring at her lap. Hands resting between her knees and shoulders slumped up.

He was standing near the table, going through a file and simultaneously waiting for the call he had just made.

She was looking at him with her peripheral vision. Her hands went clammy suddenly as she saw him putting that blue cased file on the table as he came near her and occupied his prior position sitting on the sofa infront her again.

She sat on a swivel chair that he had dragged infront the couch and made her sit on it before sitting on the settee. Her legs sandwiched between his when he had made a call asking for the details of all the incoming and outgoing calls for the last two weeks. While he was giving instructions in the phone, his eyes were on Sheharzaad as he was playing with a few stray strands of her hair that managed to escaped from her pony tail. Once done making the call, he went to the table looking for something and now came back again.

Her legs were in between his and she wasn't moving up her eyes to look at him. He rested his back against the sofa as he drummed his fingers against his thigh.

"What is so mesmerizing?" he suddenly asked and she looked up at him with those big grey  innocent eyes of her.

"Hunh?" Her breathing was labored

"About the floor?" he addressed the question in her eyes and she just shook her head.

"No-nothing," she whispered.

"Then let your eyes remain on me," he told and for a moment she thought his voice was cold. It unnerved her instantly.

Rather she had been unnerved the very moment, Alizey told about the phone call at the dining table and he dragged her all the way up to his study. She hoped he won't hurt her or worse he would be suspicious of her and send her back to the cell.

The thought has been eating her. The anxiety was becoming unbearable with every passing second. She was praying to God to save her this time from this phone call blunder and the next time, she won't even stare at the phone ever.

The way her heart was pounding, she had a hunch, he could hear it.

"Whom were you talking to?"

The question she feared. And this time, she did not have an answer either. The blood flowing in her veins was freezing as she stared at him with the look of pure horror.

She was struck. Struck badly.

Her tongue now didn't have the courage to move and say anything. Even if it had the power to speak she was so confused and in an intense dilemma to go with the truth or the lie. Because in both the cases, she would be cornered.

He snapped his fingers breaking her trance. His eyes could detect how her face was going from pale to white.

She shook her head, "I-I was,.... m-me?" she stuttered in the middle when he leaned closer.

Things were getting serious for her.

Terror began to course through her veins.

"Yes you, Sheharzaad?" his eyes probed in his.

The hairs on her neck stood as she tightly clenched her fingers together. She dug her nails in her palm so the pain would overtake her overwhelming fear. Her face depicted nothing but apprehension as if someone had asked her the most difficult question of her life and if she won't answer, it'd result in her doom and death.

She shook her head. "no-noh," she whimpered in her tiny voice.

She was so overwhelmed that she didn't notice the slight blood drawing out of her palm where her nails were piercing through her skin.

"What no?" his brows furrowed in a frown. He was relentless. Not taking mercy on the quivering girl rather rising her panic attack with every passing second.

His frown alone was enough to do the deed as her head began to feel light.

'Take her to the cell. I will deal with her personally,'

His voice from her dream played in her mind.

A tear dropped from her eye out of utter fear.

"It w-was n-no one. I don't know anyone. May be-may be some random person. Alizey m-m-ight be mistaken," she said in a low voice at last.

He poked his tongue against his cheek and again leaned towards her. This time paralleled his face with hers. Her heart skipped a beat as his intense stare probed in her eyes.

"We will know, Zaad. We will know soon," he uttered and she couldn't help but gulp in fear. On the cue, his phone rang and she knew it was the person calling whom he had asked for the details.

Sheharzaad felt her breath shortening as he saw him picking up his phone from the sofa's seat and then swiping on the screen before placing the phone next to his ear. Her lips slightly fell apart.

He was listening carefully to what the next person was saying. And he came to know, it was an international number calling. The number was not possible to trace yet but most probably it was someone within the country who was using a different sim to make a call at the haveli. A person who might be associated to government institutions because they have such facilities or to a criminal gang. Also, they have activate the phone recorders of the haveli now to tab the conversations. Heeding all the information he got, Shehryaar hung up the call and his eyes settled on an anxious Sheharzaad again.

Her doe-like eyes, similar to a deer. Innocent. Fearful. Full of anticipation, were staring at her as if he was about to announce the verdict of her life. He wanted her. So much. All of her. That still he couldn't understand why was he marrying her? She didn't fit in the frame of his ideal but whenever she was around, he felt he had all the happiness, all the contentment of this world. Just like now. He just wanted to stare at her and keep staring at her until his eyes getting tired. For hours. Long long hours. Rather his eyes could never get tired of her.

During the time he had kept her in the cell, he had a camera installed and through that CCTV he would keep on staring at her. He was aware of her every move. Every breath and every blink. Every night he would drunk himself to sleep because living without feeling her, touching her or hearing her voice was playing with his sanity. His mind was slipping out of his hand. But he needed to carve it in her brain, to deeply carve it in her mind that she was owned by him.

Because if she'd have feelings in her heart then she might begin to take interest in other men as she had began taking interest in Hannan and he won't bear that at any cost.

He had to kill her feelings.

This was Shehryaar.

Just to have a girl completely; physically and mentally for himself; he killed her, reducing her to nothing but a walking dead body.

Nothing but a dead soul in a living body.

Only because he wanted her.....

A fearful soul that would now shook with just his frown.

"You won't tell the truth still," he asked her and it was then when she began to whimper. A girl who was once full of life, who once had aspirations and dreams shining in her eyes was now struck with the devil himself.

She became restless on her chair.

"I... I lied...not...lied-n-not," she shook her head, squirming under his stare. She was now in a dilemma whether to tell him about what the person said on the call or not. The thing was she wanted to tell but the idea of running those words, that he knew her name, on her tongue and that too infront him, this thought alone was making her tongue numb.

His eyes fixed on her hair as a small piece of string was struck in her locks. He moved her hand to remove the piece, his eyes on her locks as he said, "was it a man?" his voice was a low rumble, sending chills down her spine. And when his eyes moved from her hair back to her eyes, it was her undoing. The dizziness in her head intensified.

"You're going to faint," he just said and un-tucked the piece of string before giving her, his undivided attention.

Suddenly, his hand snaked against her waist and he jerked her forward making her land on his chest and wrapped his arms around her before caressing her hair, gently. He could still feel her body being stiff and tense.

She whimpered as she tightly fisted his shirt and moved her eyes down. Small tremors shook her body.

"Acha ab iss baray mei nhi baat karty. Nahi karty baat ab," he said in an assured manner, as if consoling a child and continued caressing her hair and felt her body relaxing a little. His touch somewhat comforting leaving a soothing affect on her messed up mind.

(Fine. We won't talk about it. We won't)

"Shhh don't shiver," he muttered in a low voice, near her earlobe and continued his soothing ministrations.

She had reached to that stage of life where the want of affection in her had intensified so much that she couldn't care who was providing that affection to her.

As much as he wanted her in his life, the same way she needed affection and love in her life.

After a few moments, when her ragged breathing had subsided, he pulled her away and made her sit on his lap. Her back resting against the armrest of the sofa while her legs, dangling between his legs.

"Do you want to say something?" he asked, noticing her changed demeanor as she was constantly looking adown and then up at him.

She shook her head but ended up nodding.

He smiled and brushed his fingers underneath her chin, "say,"

"I w-was... thinking," she said and then stopped to look at him whose eyes were fixed on her, as if in a trance. Hooded, narrowed grey eyes fully concentrated on her as if she was the most mesmerizing then he had ever seen.

"Thinking what?" he arched his brow up.

"Ijazat... ijazat chaiye,"

(I need permission)

"Kesi ijazat?"

(What permission?)

"Woh... ap ny bola tha... kay... kay haveli mei hi rehna aur apki-apki ijazat k beghair bahar nhi jana iss chaar diwari sei," she said and then suddenly shook her head, "aur meinay kuch galat nhi kia... blkul aisey hi kia," she tried assuring him, "woh asal mei... mje bahar... haveli k bagheechay... mei... mei jana hai. Wahan parinday hotay hain... phool bhi... aur uss din baarish ho rhi thi... tw mera dil ker rha tha boht... jab sab bahar nikly thy," she told with utter difficulty. This was the longest dialogue she had ever spoken infront him since she had been out of the cell. Rather, it was the first time she was genuinely asking from him for something.

(That....you-you told me...to be in the haveli and without your permission I shouldn't step out of these four walls. And-and...I didn't go against your order.... I did exactly what you told me....I-actually.... want to go the garden of the haveli. There are birds...and flowers too....and that day it was raining as well....so I wanted to go out too...when-when everybody was enjoying the rain)

There were those times as well, when she had her own will, a feeling of independency, when she abhorred bowing down infront anyone and now today, her mind itself forced her to ask him for his permission to even step out of the haveli.

He remembered telling her not stepping out of the haveli without his permission but he couldn't imagine that she would think the lawn of the haveli would be exempted from the premises she was allowed to walk in. It was a part of haveli as well.

"Those four walls included the lawn, little lady," he stated as a matter-of-fact.

"mje lga k bahar nhi jana... tw mei bahar nhi gayi," She said so innocently that he found himself chuckling.

(I-I thought...that I was not suppose to go out...so I didn't)

"Hmm my fiancee is very obedient," he said and moved her neck forward by snaking his hand behind her neck and suddenly captivated her lips in a kiss.

Her heart skipped a beat when their lips came in contact. No matter what how much torture, mental torture she went through but it was still very unacceptable for her to someone touch her so intimately without wedlock.

Would it have been months back, she would have pushed him back and slapped him just like she did before at his mansion but now she let him do what he wanted, not having the courage to back or push him away.

His lips slowly moved against hers while her shivered. She formed a tight fists of her hands and let her hands rest on his shoulders as he took her lips. He realized the pleasure and lust was taking over her and before the things could escalate, he moved away from her, slowly retreating his head back while staring in her widened orbs.

He gave her the time to stabilise herself as she was slightly shaking and then held her hand, "let's go," he said and she frowned.

"Where?" she abruptly asked, and when his eyes fixed on her, she shook her head. "I-I...I didn't mean to-" She realized that she committed the grave error of questioning him.

"Jaha janay ki ijazat chahiye thi,"  He replied, cutting her off.

(Where you asked the permission for)

Tears released from her eye when she took the first step out of the threshold of the haveli. The same doorstep which she would stare for long long hours, wishing she could go out as well as others do. She tightly held his hand as they stepped out and then her eyes met him.

He saw tears in her eyes. Her eyes glassy as her chin wobbled.

He stopped and turned towards her, before holding her arms. His thumb moved and connected with her eyes as he cleared her tears, "I don't like your eyes getting teary," he said, without even realizing what he said.

Those words were foreign coming from his mouth. And as soon as his brain detected it, he stopped his actions and then let his eyes get fixed on her face.

Her innocent angelic face.

And oh the helplessness, the war and the dilemma in those orbs, it was all evident to him.

He wanted to console her.

He wanted that war running in that eyes end.

But.... instead he took a step away from her and turned away, his back towards her. Taking a step ahead, he began walking on the grass as she followed him behind.

While the fate laughed at him.

Maybe one day he too would want, desperately, earnestly, her not showing her back to him.

Maybe.... she won't even let him follow her behind.

The lawn was huge. The back yard was very vast. And upon walking further there was a stable of horses. There was a swimming pool. Not just a swimming pool. In that area, three to four different mansions were located and they were connected with the man haveli. Every mansion, or every wing of the haveli had its own essentials to be termed as a mansion. The place spoke of wealth, power and class. She never had the tour of the whole haveli and given its space, it wasn't possible to do in a single day. While passing through the corridors, that at places had glass windows and the backyard was visible through that window while the moonlight would enter giving it an ethereal look. The intricately designed walls would carry paintings worth millions. The haveli was a mix of modern and old age designs. Giving it a rustic and a glamorous appearance simultaneously.

Her legs were too tired to walk now. She still hadn't habituated her limbs to walk much. She would walk a little and then get tired. Her appetite had subsided too so her body couldn't get enough nutrients required to make her energetic. They were just halfway through when her legs worn out and her breathing heavy as she had been walking since ages.

"Tired?" he asked.

She nodded her head, "I can't... walk much. My legs g-ive out easily,"

His eyes stayed at her for a few seconds before he descended his eyes down to her legs that were shivering.

"I was told you skip your meals nor do you come to the dining table for dinner. Why?" He questioned with an arched brow. He had been meaning to address this to her. Even last night he asked the same question but driven by his desires, he couldn't reach the answer to his question. Her report was provided to him by a personal servant he had hired for her to look after her and he was often told that she skipped meal and despite taking food to her room, she would eat very less.

The shivering of her legs intensified now. Her voice suddenly loosing its strength.

"I'm sorry,"

"This shouldn't happen next time," he warned.

"It won't," she whispered.

"Hmm," he hummed and suddenly stopped before turning his head towards her and then completely turned as his eyes bored in hers. A small frown formed between her brows as she began to think of any mistake she just committed.

"A week later is our nikkah," he said and proceeded to hold her face with both his hands, "I will kill you if I ever saw you as much as an inch near any guy,"

"and I need you to understand this,"

"Jee?" She looked worried. Her voice not above a whisper.

"Don't make any attempt to escape or I will restrict your legs to a wheel chair, Sheharzaad. Trust me with this. If you ever had any man in your life who still might be in your heart, forget him because if I ever found you involved with a guy, or even near as much as an inch to a guy then what I will do, won't be in my hands. You'd be responsible for the death of every life I take. That person may die but you my sweetheart," he grasped her chin, moving her head up, "what I'll be doing to you, the time you spend in cell would look nothing infront it," he uttered in the deadliest of manner.

She was too stunned to speak as slowly her life in the cell began to revolve infront her eyes. Tears forming around her eyes. The darkness of the cell invaded her mind.

The chains.

The ropes

The voices.

And a hanging dead body.

His threats mixing with the voices, the only voices she heard in those three month.

'You will be punished if you disobeyed him,'

'You belong to who?'

'Shehryaar,'

'Scream his name,'

'Scream. Keep on shouting that you belong to him until we ask you to stop,'

Her face turned white and suddenly her body went stiff. Her sympathetic system activating to protect her and she lost consciousness. Before she could fall, he held her and this time again, she fell in his arms.

He placed his hand on her face, "I'm not a nice man, little lady," Was his dark whisper.