Flashback:
Sheraz followed her to the kitchen and chatted with her while she made breakfast; after finishing his tea, he assisted her. They ate breakfast together. She took him to the study room to show him the pictures we had taken at the amusement park. They were talking about his new job and her new university experience with Miksha and Shravya.
"I'd like to tell you something, Farha," he began hesitantly, finally revealing his feelings for Nazia.
I drove him back to the airport after the high-voltage drama at home; I was embarrassed to initiate the conversation, I had ruined their togetherness; I shouldn't have brought the ladies inside to prove my point, I should have ignored them as usual.
"Shahrul, let me explain what was going on-"
"You don't have to, Sher. Don't worry, I have complete faith in her. I don't even need to know what was going on. Please believe me on this; I have no doubts about your relationship. Remain cool."
"Thank you, Shahrul."
"That's okay buddy, I know you both," I said, then apologised, "Sorry, I didn't want to create an awkward environment for us, which is why I agreed when you wanted to leave now. The next time, you must stay with us for at least a week."
********************************
Miksha and Shravya never contacted me after she left because they hadn't formed any bond with me other than being their friend's husband, but Sher and I shared a special bro code, he called occasionally, and never once did he ask about her or our separation. That is the extent to which they are connected. I envy her for having such wonderful friends. I'm not sure why Nazia and Sheraz aren't married yet. Sheraz is in a better position than he expected, and his career is on track. Nazia has also begun her career.
Flashback continues:
I was perplexed and frustrated when I received the visa and saw that the ticket was dated in five days. When she knocked on the door to come in, I locked everything back in the locker. I turned to face her and shook my head, motioning for her to enter.
"I'd like to talk to you."
I knew she'd want to talk about Sheraz and the drama that day, so I tried to avoid it.
"Please do not interrupt Shahrul ji."
I agreed and remained silent. For a few moments, she was deafeningly quiet.
"Sheraz and I are in love," she said, looking down.
I was enraged because she was blabbering nonsense because she assumed I didn't trust her for real. I wanted to slap her for degrading herself, to bring her back to reality and make her understand everything. Furthermore, I realised they share love, albeit not a romantic one.
I managed to keep my cool and simply held her arms tightly, saying, "Can't you understand? I'm telling this again. I. trust. you. I completely trust you. Even if you blab something nonsense like this. Just put a stop to it. Stop lying to me; you're not a pro at it. You regard me as a best friend, and even if you do not regard me as a husband, I have rights as a best friend. Right?"
She gave a slight nod
"As a best friend, I warn you not to belittle my best friend's character. Do you understand?"
She was staring at me blankly, not saying anything. I stepped back, releasing my grip on her arms.
'Understood?' I asked, gesticulating.
She nodded and quickly exited the room.
********************************
She has a bad habit of making assumptions, especially when it comes to me. Where she could directly ask me questions and get clarification, she will just assume and aggravate the situation between us.
My cabin door swings open, putting a stop to my thoughts.
She walks in, and it appears that she has washed her face, possibly to keep herself from crying. She also has a habit of concealing and suppressing her tears. She will never admit to being weak in front of others, not even her closest friends and family.
She appears to be walking towards her place, but she actually turns around and walks towards me. I pretend to be working by concentrating on my computer system.
"Sorry"
I stare at her, 'What?
"Uff… Not sorry… Thank you" she mumbles.
'She's blabbering again, implying that she's made a new assumption,' my mind concludes
"For what?" I ask.
"For dropping me yesterday."
"That's okay. I would have dropped anyone at that time."
She pauses, unsure whether or not to proceed.
"Now what?"
She has her gaze fixed on me, composes herself, "Congratulations." Her face gradually turns pallid with regret.
"For what?"
This has left me mystified.
"I apologise for interfering in your personal life; I realise I shouldn't. But I couldn't resist but congratulate you after learning that you have a baby boy."
'Baby boy?' I still have a puzzled look on my face.
"You had his vaccine yesterday. Right? That's why you were late; I shouldn't have acted in that manner," she adds.
I recall discussing Amir's vaccine with Saba the other day. 'Here you go… One more assumption'
I considered resolving the misunderstanding, but I refrained, "Thank you."
After smiling at me, she walks back to her place.
'What the hell was going on here? She had the audacity to presume that I had begun a new life apart from her. She believed I was married based on the fact that I didn't utter Saba's name. Furthermore, I am the father of a six-month-old child. Seriously? And she came over to me to congratulate me. Now she has gone a little too far. Isn't it true that she needs me back in her life? Isn't it true that I'm important to her? Or she's attempting to emotionally distance herself from me. Let me make it simple for her,' I fumed in anger.
'Hey, take it easy! Make no hasty decisions. Keep your cool,' my heart tries to convince me.
I ignore it and leave the cabin. I visit my manager to arrange for a cabin to be cleared and made ready for her as soon as possible. I finish it in under two hours. I instruct my manager to notify her of the matter.
The work on the site has begun, and I make every effort to avoid her. I don't want to bump into her by accident. Even when I have to verify project reports, I stop by her cabin after fifteen minutes at lunchtime to give her time to leave for lunch. I saw her numerous times throughout the day, but I made sure she didn't see me.
She hasn't seen me in about two weeks. I'm walking into her cabin at my normal time to check a report, and I'm about to collide with her when she unexpectedly comes out at the same time. I come to a halt and take a statue-like stance.
If I'm not mistaken, her face has shined upon seeing me, and she can't help but question, "Looks like you're quite busy these days."
"Nothing like that. If I do anything on a daily basis, it becomes a habit, and it becomes difficult for me to change; nevertheless, I must be careful not to form any new habits." I mean this as a taunt.
But she's either too dumb to understand what I'm talking about, or she's clever enough to act as if she doesn't. "That's really simple to modify," she says nonchalantly. "Just don't do it for twenty-one days straight, and habits will fade," she says, checking her watch. "It's already late. I need to leave for lunch. Please excuse me."
She moves past me.
"It's not easy to change everything in twenty-one days. Even twenty-one years wouldn't be enough to make me forget how great it feels to be with you, because you're more than a habit for me. This is something you will never understand." As she vanishes from view, I whisper, "Hitler for a reason."
Our team is putting together a Holi party, but she is the main planner and organiser. It's strange to receive an invitation with no venue information; on top of that, invites are issued to Fathma, Saba, Jazlaan, and family. I haven't told my family that she has returned to work for our company.
Two cars arrive at our mansion at nine o'clock sharp. Saba and her family left in the first car as Fathma had already backed away. I ask the driver about the venue as I slide into the passenger seat of the next car.
"I dunno sir. Madam will text me."
As soon as he sends, I have pick up MD sir. She replies to him with the guest house address.
'This should have been obvious; it's the simplest and most appropriate location for a Holi celebration party. My guesthouse has a shortcut that only I know about. I know she'll never come in front of my family, but what if Saba sees her? I can't take any chances.'
The outdoor guest house is all decked out for the occasion, with flowers galore. I can see a variety of colours all around the place.
When I get out of the car and see no one, I feel relieved. I am the first one to arrive at the location. I exhale a sigh of relief. When I first walk into the house, all I hear is stillness.
'Where she is?'
Without shouting out for her, I begin searching everywhere for her. She is nowhere to be found on the ground floor. Apart from the kitchen, no other part of the house appears to have been occupied. I then went upstairs to check on the bedrooms. She is nowhere to be found, despite the fact that all of the rooms are wide open.
'Did she decide not to come to the party?' Standing in front of the last corner bedroom, my mind wonders.
I spot her bags inside the room as I turn away from the room. I'm tempted to enter the bedroom, but a noise from the store or study area keeps me from doing so. When I walk into the storeroom, there is no one there. She appears in front of me from behind the door when I turn around.
"Please have a seat," she adds graciously, indicating the couch nearby.
Her hair is braided, she is wearing a spotless white lehenga with a long-sleeved top, no necklace or chain, only a long earring, and her hands are stacked with red bangles. She is also wearing her fabric-laced watch with bangles. Today's lace fabric is red and white in hue. Her dupatta is also pinned beautifully as usual.
She is waiting for me to sit while I am scanning her outfit.
"For what? In fact, I came-"
"Please, Shahrul ji."
I'm astonished that I didn't object to her before taking a seat on the couch. This damned heart is always on her side.
She has closed her eyes for sixty seconds, she is completely terrified, and her heartbeats are racing. My gaze is fixated on her features. I'm doing my best to forecast what's heading my way, and whatever it is, I can bet it'll be more ludicrous.
"Listen to me completely before you say anything," she says, her eyes closed. She lets out a sigh of relief and opens her eyes to see me. "I don't know if I still have the right. But whatever was left unsaid before three years, I want to say it now."