Chapter 88: Chapter 88

"Assalam alaikum, sir," Sheharzaad received the call from her office. She had taken a leave for few days from her work because of how hectic her life had become due to the project that was hanging like a sword on her head. And the CEO Raza, happily relaxed her from her duties. His wife, Tuba often called her. And she only picked it up when she was away from Shehryaar.

"Walaikum salam, Sheharzaad. How are you?" Raza asked.

"I'm good, sir,"

"Uhh... the company actually needs you. I know you're on a break but we've started a new project under my son Maaz's supervision. You'll work under him,"

"Under Sir Maaz?" she frowned. Shehryaar shouldn't know about this.

"Yes. I'm trying to launch him in the industry. He needs capable indiviuals like you on his side,"

"Alright. I will try joining in the coming week. But I've some work at home. I don't promise,"

"Okay. Take your time. I just wanted to intimate yo. Thank you for your co-operation, Sheharzaad,"

"You're welcome, sir," And she hung up the call when suddenly she got startled on feeling someone's presence behind her.

She turned around only to find Shehryaar standing there. His expressionless face always managed her heart to skip a beat.

"Isn't your CEO so fond of you, little lady?" he asked and she diverted her lashes to his chest.

"They... needed me... that's why he called. And it can't w-w-work like that... if you kept on suspecting everyone I work with,"

"I trust you but not them," his voice lowered to a whisper, "no matter how far we are, I'll not let any third person come in between. You're my wife," he uttered before moving his lips to her ears, "wife of Shehryaar Haider Syed. Please, never forget that," he told, before kissing her temple and walked away.

She understood the underlying meaning of his words. She needed to be careful because she was aware he had sensed something odd in the Kirmani's that was why he just cautioned her.

...

Irtaza and Zahra were shifting to haveli. It was Zahra's decision and Irtaza supported her. Zahra's mother, Ammara, their grandmother, Irtaza's father, Haider and everyone else was happy that they will have little Mujtaba and Jaha Ara playing around and it would somehow alleviates the gloominess surrounding the haveli.

Sheharzaad was happy for them. Especially for their grandmother. The old lady would cry alone in the nooks and corner of the house as if the lonliness was slowly eating her.

Currently, she was in the kitchen preparing breakfast for Shehryaar. For some reason, she liked making breakfast for her husband. She wished to be like that. A cute little wife to her husband, who would make him food and he will take care of her. Those emotions had yet not developed between the two but she could atleast fulfil one of her little wishes.

It was a french style omelette and since every ingredient was at her disposal, she enjoyed cooking. While beating the eggs, she was just thinking of Shehryaar's silence to her suggestion of forgiving his mother. He never said a word after that.

She knew he still hadn't forgiven his mother. Despite his grandfather's last will, despite her asking him to do so. He didn't.

It made her take a sigh.

How can a child hate his mother so much?

He really wanted to eliminate the hate from his heart after knowing Jaha Ara's story.

His mother deserved forgiveness. She deserved the love of her children. It was eating her from inside. The injustice on the poor soul was clawing up at her heart. And she wanted to bring everyone to justice they was long over due. The justice they deserved.

Done making breakfast, she handed it over to the maid and asked her to take to Shehryaar's grandfather's study. He spent most of his time there so he could be attached with his grandfather's things.

Her heart really pitied him.

His whole life was a mirage. A sketch drawn by his grandfather and he had no option but to believe it. She wondered how immensely his heart would shatter and break after knowing the truth.

He spent decades hating his mother.

And now he would spent decades hating his grandfather. The man who loved him more than his own father.

Nobody deserved such pain.

He needed healing for his previous wounds given to him by his mother.

And now he would need more healing after knowing about the reality of his grandfather.

She needed to be careful regarding the truth that was handed over to her by his uncle. Maybe, he won't believe her instantly. For that, she would have to find a letter. She knew he won't trust anyone's word when it would come to his grandfather but only proofs. For that she had to get her hands on that letter, as well as on, Jaha Ara's medical reports.

She needed to find answers to the questions. Many questions. The most important of them was.... who raped Jaha Ara?

Because what Haroon narrated to her, according to that, someone from Shabbir's servants raped her. Only one person could help her regarding this, the one who was with Shabbir all the time over the years. His dear friend, Agha Hassan.

Only he had answers to her questions. But she knew, he won't slip those secrets out that he had been sustaining within his heart for years.

...

Chahat had managed to discovered an abandoned store room in the haveli while playing with Mujtaba. So she dragged Sheharzaad there. The room was locked and she never paid attention to it. Chahat insisted on opening the door. So she had to go to some family member to ask for the keys. And they all to the keys of that room were with their grandfather and now probably with their grandmother.

So she went to her room, and told her about the wish of Chahat and Mujtaba. Her face suddenly fell which had brightened earlier to see Sheharzaad there.

"That... room contains some things of Irtaza and Shehryaar's mother," she told, "nobody opened that room after her death,"

It spiked Sheharzaad's interest and she somehow persuaded her to give Sheharzaad the keys.

Opening the lock, she entered in that abandoned room. Chahat had slept. Shehryaar was in an online meeting. And she did not know about the rest.

The room did convey that last it was opened must be decades ago. There were spider's web and just dust everywhere. Some old pieces of furniture. And darkness. She only depended on the light coming from the old lattice panel.

She searched and searched throughout the room so she could get her hands on anything which can be used as a lead. She wanted to get it before Shehryaar would come to know of her presence in this room. And at last she lost hope. There was nothing but scraps. And some old clothes of Jaha Ara. Even her jewellery. The make up she used was also present there but in worn out condition. Shehryaar's grandmother had told her that the children and Haider did not let anyone touch their mother and his wife's belongings so they were shifted to this room and it was sealed.

She was about to go out when her eyes fell upon a brown worn out diary lying underneath the broken dressing table.  She retrieved it quickly.

Her heart was drumming in her ears. She knew something was there. Her gut feeling told her. As she opened the diary and overviewed it.

And all she got was that it was Jaha Ara's diary.

She decided to read it carefully afterwards because it has been quite a time, Shehryaar could come here anytime. She needed to go and take a shower.

So she went to her room, hid the diary underneath the mattress and quickly took a shower. With her drenched hair, wrapped in a towel, she came out of the washroom before standing infront of the mirror.

She was humming a tone of the song she had recently heard while releasing her jet black hair from the towel. They reached her waist.

She had always loved her hair. It reminded her of her mother's hair. She inherited this beautiful feature from her. Sometimes, some aspects of herself that resembled her parents reminded her that their parents existed within her. In her heart. And they were not far away from her. Always there to help her, encourage her and support her as they used to.

Some times when she looked at Chahat and how she loved her, it just made her recall her mother and the times she used to take care of her when she was a little girl.

The memory of her parents clenched her heart. And she didn't realize when a tear escaped from her eye.

A decade has passed. But she still missed them.

And on the cue, the door to the room opened and Shehryaar entered making her clear her tear. He got closer to her and stood behind him in the mirror. His hands rested on her waist as he suddenly jerked her towards him making her take a sharp breath.

"What happened, little lady?" he asked

"Nothing," she broke their staring competiton which was going on in the mirror and tried to leave when he held her hand and pushed her towards him and this time it was her chest that collided with his front.

"Something is there," he brushed his nose against hers.

She felt nervousness enveloping her.

"Shehry..yaar," she avoided her gaze and tried to pry her hand off which was holding hers but to no avail.

"Sherry," he reminded her.

"Sherry... mje jana hai," her voice was a nervous whisper.

(I have to go)

"Kaha jana hai?" he asked, while their hands were in a competition. He was trying to hold her and she was trying to released herself from his hold.

(Where?)

"Neechay..."

(Downstairs)

"Kiun?"

(Why?)

"Baba... baba k paas,"

(To... to your father)

"Wo tw sou rhay hain,"

(He is sleeping)

"Sherry... woh...woh... asal mei..."

(Sherry... actually...I..)

"Asal mei kia?" he asked, nearing his face towards her. And she looked up at him. Their eyes connected. A spark ignited.

(What actually?)

And then his gaze flickered to her plump lips.

The pad of his thumb instinctively connected with her lips as he caressed it.

Sheharzaad found herself gulping hard. She couldn't utter a word.

She found his gaze asking for her permission to touch her lips... with his.

She remained quiet. There was no answer to his question. It wasn't a yes nor a no.

Taking his silence, he neared towards her and she closed her eyes, already expecting his touch on her lips.

And it was then his lips connected with her cheeks that made her eyes open. His lips travelled to her ears as he whispered, "I loved that breakfast. Aur ainda ksi aur k haath nashta bhijwaya... tw nhi khaon ga,"

(And next time if someone else brought it... I won't eat it)

He stepped back and left the room leaving her flustered.

She turned towards the mirror and found red crept up on her cheeks.

She was blushing...