A phone rang in the middle of the night disturbing the atmosphere created. After a full ring, the call ended and rang again when no one answered. For about two minutes, the situation persisted. A man stopped his movements, irritated, and rose from the bed. Underneath lay a beautiful woman, with only two piece clothes, hickey on her neck and chest area, swollen lips, hazy eyes with blush on the cheeks and ears.
"Ahem (coughing lightly) I.. I need to take this call. Take a bath and sleep early." Wearing the robe the man walked to the balcony.
The woman rolled on the side, covered her face and body with quilt shyly but a light smile never left from her face. Slowly dropping the quilt from her face, she looked towards the balcony. The man's back was only visible. Her heartbeat palpitated fast, face turned red just from his back and whatever happened earlier.
'He..he wasn't drunk today. He kissed me on lips…ahh…he kissed me willingly. Is he starting to accept me?' the woman in the bed questioned herself with thrill.
Happiness evident on her face she walked towards the bathroom slowly in her toes, took a hot shower and came out in a robe within few minutes.
The man was dressing up.
"Are…are you going somewhere?" The woman asked in a small voice. Her face was still red and the water drops from her hair made her look enchanting.
"Yeah, Assistant Brian is waiting downstairs, I need to leave." The man gulped his saliva looking at the woman. Even his lower body reacted seeing her like that.
The woman rushed to his side, tugged on his sleeves and questioned nervously, "Can…can you…not leave today? Please, please stay with me today." Unknowingly she was biting her lips in nervousness but to other it looked different.
"Hanna, please understand!!" The man spoke with a frown. He didn't have the patience to begin with.
"Please, please just for today." Hanna spoke carefully and with coquettish. She wasn't used to act such but didn't know why she didn't want to let him go. She had a feeling nothing good will come once he leaves.
"What happened to you? You never interfered in my matter, why are you behaving willfully? Hanna, don't test my patience." The man spoke coldly while removing Hanna's hand from his sleeves.
"Sorry!!" Hanna lowered her head. Tears formed in her eyes but she tried the best not to leak it.
"Hanna, don't forget we are in a contract marriage. There is no love between us nor will there ever be. It was your decision to be with me despite any consequences. I never forced you. You know I want to find her, can't neglect any clues even if it is a bluff. I already losed her once, I can't lose her again." The man spoke harshly before walking towards the door.
"I…I know (halting her sentence ). Riz, will you…will you return back by Friday?" Hanna spoke swallowing the uncomfortness. Her wishful thinking turned to be a joke.
"Not sure." The voice was devoid of emotions.
"I will wait for you that day. Lightning restaurant, evening at 8." The man was out of view when Hanna finished speaking.
Seeing the man didn't turn or halted, Hanna leg gave up, sitting in the floor, she sobbed. She didn't know how to describe their relationship, they were so familiar to each other but not close enough. There was no place for love or hate.
Half an hour later someone knocked on Hanna's door. Wiping the tears and cleaning herself, she opened the door.
A maid was standing outside the door, "Madam Evans has asked for your presence."
Hanna closed the door and followed the maid after calming herself. Whatever happened between her and Riz had to remain a secret.
A woman in a white blouse and skirt was sitting on the couch in the living room with an middle aged man. The maid left after dropping her.
Before Hanna could speak, the woman walked to her side and asked feriously,
"Where did Riz go this late? Don't tell me he is still searching for that nameless woman?"
"Mother, I…I don't know. He didn't say anything." Trembling a little, Hanna answered.
The woman slapped Hanna. Five finger prints was visible on Hanna's cheek. Some members opened the door and watched the drama, no one took a step to stop whatever was happening.
"You bastard, who gave you the gut to call me mother? And why can't you make him stop, useless thing? If you had a child with him, would he still search for other woman? It's all yours fault." Riz's mother scolded and made a scene.
Facing the man on the couch the woman spoke in an aggravated tone, "Hubby, I told you this woman isn't right for our son. What could a country bumpkin know? I don't know why father demanded her to be Riz's wife."
"Shh, don't speak nonsense. I don't want father to hear your words. Be careful before you speak. Don't bring father in between... Riz isn't a child. He knows what he is doing, don't interfere in his matter." The man's tone was softer patting his wife's shoulder.
Hanna had nothing to say in defense. This place was Evans' family old residence, Riz's home. Riz and Hanna didn't lived here but had to visit the old residence once in a month. Everytime when Riz was absent during the visit, other family member would bully or neglect Hanna. No one treated her well but still she tolerated all for Riz's sake.
Leaving her alone in the living room, the couple left. Not having a mood to return back to her room, Hanna walked out in the garden. Finding a bench, she sat. A full moon was radiating, lighting the garden. Watching the moon, Hanna got lost in her thoughts.
'Will Riz find her this time? What will happen if Riz really finds her? Will I be able to stay?' Hanna shuddered from the thoughts. Her future with Riz seems to be blurry. Maybe her presence won't be necessary anymore.
Even if Riz didn't say, she knew for sure he was desperately searching for love of his life.