Always at your side

Chapter 6 : Disappointment.

Sidra sat on bed waiting for Nabil, her heart thumping loudly against her chest. The thought of being alone with Nabil making her nervous and her hands to sweat as she rubbed them against her dress. It was half an hour ago that Aaniya had left Sidra in the room as she waited for Nabil but there was no sign of him.

She wondered what was taking him so long and was tired of waiting as she decided to atleast get rid of her heavy wedding dress. She carefully removed all the pins that kept her dupatta on it's place and removed her hijab, taking in a deep breath of relief feeling as if a heavy weight was lifted off of her. Her bags of clothes were brought to the mansion already as she found them placed in a corner of the room. Walking up to the bags, she pulled it open to shut it right away when her eyes landed on the article of clothing that rested on top of all her clothes, her cheeks turning red. Her eyes narrowed knowing her friends had kept it there as she opened it again and stuffing that piece of clothing aside, she took a plain floral salwar kameez and hurried to the bathroom to change.

Taking a quick shower as she walked out wearing the casual clothes, she found the room still empty with Nabil nowhere to be seen. Walking to the cupboard, she placed the heavy wedding dress in it and shut it close as she walked to the couch and took a seat. As Nabil still hadn't come, she thought it best to offer her namaaz that she couldn't offer in the long wedding functions and hence she made her wudu and stood on her prayer mat to offer her prayer, expecting Nabil to come till she finishes.

After she was done with her prayer as she placed the prayer mat back on it's place she found the room still empty. She decided to go and ask her mother in law about it but it was very late at night so she dropped the idea, as she started pacing back and forth in the room. A feeling of mixed emotions filled her heart as her mind filled with all the negative thoughts but she quickly shook them away. Her legs ached with all the pacing in the room as she took a seat on the couch, and didn't realise when her eyes closed and she fell in deep slumber.

She woke up to the sound of knock on the door and instantly her mind filled with all the thoughts of the last night. She looked around the room to find it still empty as she saw herself seated on the couch. She had slept on the couch waiting for Nabil and praying to Allah for his safety. She quickly walked to the door and pulled it open to find Aaniya standing by the door with a smile plastered on her lips.

"Assalamualaikum bhabhi. I hope you slept well last night." She spoke giving her a wink. Sidra replied to her greeting as she gave her a smile.

"Ammi told to call you both down for breakfast. Get ready fast and come down for breakfast with bhai." Before Sidra could get a chance to speak, Aaniya had walked away leaving a tensed Sidra behind.

She quickly took a shower as she got dressed as a new bride with simple jewellery and bangles and walked down to the living room to find it empty. She made her way to the kitchen which she found at the end of the living room, having a feeling that someone can easily get lost in that mansion. Her mother in law was done with preparing the breakfast as she held a bowl and turned around to leave when she noticed Sidra standing by the doorframe looking around awkwardly. Upon niticing her, Sidra quickly said her salam and proceeded to hold the dishes.

"Walaikum Assalam Sidra. So did you felt comfortable in your new room? Where is Nabil? Is he still sleeping?" Her mother in law asked. Sidra couldn't find the right word to convey to her that she didn't know of Nabil's whereabouts. Nonetheless she gave her a small smile as she fidgetted with my fingers, contemplating on how to speak to her.

"Don't hesitate Sidra. You are my daughter now. Speak up whatever you want to say." Sensing her discomfort, her mother in law spoke as she placed a hand on her cheek.

"Actually aunty I.."

"Not aunty. Call me ammi. I will be more happy." Cutting her mid sentence, her mother in law spoke.

"Ammi I...I don't know where is Nabil."

"What do you mean you don't know? Ah! He might have gone for jogging! Don't worry." She spoke rather nonchalantly.

"Actually Ammi Nabil didn't came last night." Sidra finally blurted.

"What?! He didn't came to the room last night?" She asked confused as Sidra nodded her head in answer. Worried lines creased her mother in law's forehead as she took a seat on the nearby chair, clearly confused and wanting to know where Nabil might have disappeared.

"Rukaiyya I am very disappointed with Nabil." Sidra turned around on the voice of her father in law as he walked to them and took a seat at one of the chairs.

"Fazal, Nabil is missing from last night." Her mother in law informed him.

"Yes he will be missing because he is not in Mumbai." He spoke, making them both look at him with confusion written all over their faces. " I just called Nabil's secretory to inform her that Nabil wouldn't be there for few more days and to reschedule all the meetings and if something urgent then contact me instead, but she told me that he is already present there and is currently busy in a meeting. He went to Bangalore immediately after arriving from the venue. He didn't even considered to inform either of us before leaving. Atleast he should have informed Sidra about it. He got married just yesterday. He should be here with us instead he chose work over family and wife. I am really very disappointed with him."

Sidra felt her heart crumble as she heard her father in law speak. Her smile suddenly fell and she couldn't help but feel hurt. It was the first day of their marriage and without much of a word, Nabil had left her and went to Bangalore. Her mother in law looked at her for a moment as Sidra saw her looking at her with a knowing look which she quickly masked.

"Uff Nabil!" Her mother in law sighed. "When will he change! He should at least have considered the fact that he got married just last night!" She exclaimed, feeling of disappointment was evident in her voice and Sidra just stood there not knowing what to say. She felt like crying but didn't wanted to let them know so she blinked back her tears and put on a smile.

'He might be having some really important business to attend or else he would informed someone about it.' Sidra tried to reason with her conscience but the heavy feeling in her heart wouldn't go.

Not having the appetire to eat anymore, Sidra silently walked back to her room as she collapsed on the couch and finally let her tears fall freely. She didn't know why she was feeling so overwhelmed with all the situation neither she didn't wanted to know.

She was having her mid term holidays and college was going to start in a week. In order to divert her mind from all the events happened lately, she decided it was best that she focused on her studies as she wiped her tears and walked up to her bags to get her books. Holding all her books in her hands, she walked to the table at the side of the room and placed them on it. She heard a sound of something falling as she looked down to find a frame which lied upside down on the floor.

She had bent down and picked it up when the door of her room opened and Aaniya peeked in, making Sidra turn and look at her.

"Are you busy bhabhi?" She asked as Sidra shook her head and told her to come in.

Sidra had instantly grown a liking towards Aaniya since the first time they had conversed. She found her to be sweet, caring, bubbly and cheerful. Having found a friend in her, Sidra felt happy.

"Missing bhai already?" She questioned giving her a knowing smile. "This photo was a random click by me when he was engrossed in a phone conversation. He liked the click as he framed it and since then he keeps it with him." Aaniya spoke and finally Sidra turned the frame in her hand.

Sidra looked at Nabil's photo in her hand where he looked engrossed in the conversation, his hairs properly styled as he wore a suit, looking dangerously handsome, making Sidra's heart flutter and her cheeks to go red making her blush