My Four Eyed Husband

Chapter#12

Ehtesham's POV:

After a few rounds of wrestling and tickling, Taha finally went to sleep on top of me and after five or six minutes, he starts to pull my earlobe in his sleep. It is quite bothersome and I keep putting his hand to him but sooner or later his hand find his way back to my ear.

Tch... I don't understand how Fiza keep up with this...

He got this habit since he starts to cling to Fiza. Her earrings fascinated him for some reason and he won't hesitate to touch it or sometimes pull it. I have seen him pulling her earrings many times and now I realize how much pain she felt. Speaking of Fiza, I don't understand why she is so repulsive. I thought girls always give in, once they get married. Getting angry is another thing but they don't avoid physical contacts.

So what is her problem?

Does she keep distance because she likes someone?

I quickly try to suspend the thought but couldn't do it and I don't like the itchy feeling it gives me. She can't like someone. I mean... this is impossible. How can she like someone, when she is married to me?

Like you can...

My subconscious snapped at me. But I am not deceiving her. She knows everything about me, yet I don't know anything. Where she goes, whom she meets, who are her friends. Hell, I don't ever pay attention to her family boys.

I frown on realizing it, but I was dragged out of my thought when Taha starts pulling my earlobe again. I sighed and lay him beside me, so he couldn't reach again.

"Taha, will you and Sadaf tell me if I ask you about your Bari Ami?" I say looking at him and tucked into the blanket.

~*~

Fiza's POV:

"Hello, Assalam o Alaikum." I say receiving the call. Knowing very well who would be on the other side.

"Wallaikum Assalam. How are you?" Sheharyar asks in his usual polite way. He daily calls on landline phone this time to talk to kids. He never calls on the cell phone of mine or Ehtesham's. It is very thoughtful of him.

"Alhamdulillah I am fine and you?"

"Alhamdulillah. Where are kids?" And he never talks more than needed. "Taha is watching TV and Sadaf is sleeping. She has a slight fever."

"Oh! Did you give her medicine?" He sounded concerned.

"No, I don't want to give anything without doctor's consult. So, I'll be taking her to the doctor once she wakes up."

"Should I take you?"

"It's okay, I can go with the driver."

"I don't think you will be able to handle her alone. She is afraid of doctors and besides, you don't know about their doctor too. I will come in twenty minutes to pick you guys, okay. Allah Hafiz." He says and hung up.

Ary! I looked at the receiver in my hand and put it down. I don't like the idea of going with him but on the second thought, he could be helpful if she is really afraid of doctors. I never saw kids getting sick and don't know how to handle them if they get scared. Plus that i***t husband of mine switched off his phone for some reason. I left a message on his office reception but he didn't call back.

Why that guy disappears in need...?

~*~

Both me and Taha looking at Shaharyar, while he struggles to get a hold of crying Sadaf. Taha clench my sleeves tight when Sheharyar threatened Sadaf that he will ask the doctor to admit her in the hospital if she doesn't behave herself. Well, his trick works out and she stops crying instantly and glance at me with hopeful, teary eyes that I would save her from going to doctor. I quickly looked away and Sheharyar takes her into the clinic.

"Mamo will leave Api (Sadaf) there?" Taha asks, turning his face to me, with a big question mark written on his face.

"No, she will be back. If she would be a good girl."

"... I am a good boy." He says after a pause, to assure me or maybe himself that he will not be taken to doctor and turn back to look at the clinic entrance again. Shaharyar suggested me to stay in the car because Sadaf will cry even more. Not knowing what is better to do, I agree to him and stayed in the car.

Almost after half an hour or so, both of them came back, with Sadaf still in her Mamo's arm. As soon as Sadaf saw me, she wiggles herself free from his hold and runs towards me like he was about to kill her. Trying my best to stop myself from laughing, I scooped her in arms and start saying soothing words to her. Looking at us Shaharyar shook his head with a small smile on his face.

We get into the car and drive us home. All this time Taha sat quietly, too scared with the thought that he would be taken to doctor if he does anything and Sadaf was quick to sleep.

"Thank you." I say to Shaharyar when he was about the leave the house after laying Sadaf on the bed.

"For what?" He suddenly turns and came face to face with me.

"For taking Sadaf to the clinic. Even though, it wasn't your responsibility."

"How can you that? While you are the one who is taking care of these kids, without having any relation with them."

"It's different with me." With a half-smile and averted my gaze.

"Yes, you are different. Different from the rest, so gentle and kind. No one does what you are doing. For kids, for Ehtesham, for his parents and for me. You alone handle all the burden of their responsibility like they are your own kids and free four of us. What I did it's nothing compared to you. These kids are the responsibility of both Ehtesham and mine. Who does what for kids, doesn't matter. So, don't thank me and call me if you need anything." He smiles softly after giving me a lecture, which I also return.

"Allah Hafiz." He says and leaves.

"Allah Hafiz." I mumble, staring at his retrieving form in a daze, as his voice echoes in my mind.

'You are different...'

~*~

'Because of her I lost my daughter, I don't want to see her face.'

'Poor girl, her mother died giving birth to her.'

'People will say, that she knows nothing about household because her mother died.'

'Stay away, I don't want to be called us the sister of an ugly creature like you.'

'She is crazy.'

'You are ugly.'

All these words keep echoing my mind since Sheharyar left. Those were the words I received from my Nani (mother's mother), my teacher, my Dadi (father's mother), my sister, my little brothers and my husband. Out of everyone I met in my life, Sheharyar is the only who didn't give me a look of pity, anger or disgust. I saw respect in his eyes, something I see in Qudsia's eyes too and I wonder why? For a person like me, who is cornered by every relation of her life? Where I can see them living their life and having fun but cannot be a part of it.

Can't they see what others saw in me? Or it's just my imagination that they respect me?

'You are different...'

His voice echos again, as his eyes flashed in my mind. I know, I shouldn't pay attention to it and it is wrong. But as a person, I longed for that respectful gaze and those praising words. I inhale a deep breath and try to divert my mind. But before I could succeed in it, I was violently spin around by someone and when to understand had happened, I find my pissed looking husband in front of me.

"Are you deaf?" He shook my arm quite violently.

With a hiss, I jerked his hand away and say, "What sort of behaviour is this?" I frown.

"I have been calling you for the last two minutes."

"I wasn't dead na? I would hear from you sooner or later."

"I cannot stay here all day and call your name, hoping that you would hear me. Where is Sadaf?"

"She is sleeping." I say and turn my attention to the TV again.

"Why she is sleeping right now?"

"She has a fever."

"Fever? ...Why didn't you tell me before? Wake her up I am taking her to doctor." He orders me, grabbing his car keys which he just put on the table.

"I already gave her medicine." I say without looking at him.

"You know you shouldn't give medicine without doctor's advice." He sounded irritated but I didn't look at him or bother myself to answer him. I am already mad at him for not contacting me and coming late. Still, he gets his answer from Taha who is sitting beside me watching Kung Fu Panda with me.

"Mamo will leave Api with the doctor if she cries." Taha repeats what Sheharyar said, turn his face to Ehtesham.

"Mamo? Sheharyar take her to doctor?" He asks and I didn't answer again. So, he asks Taha.

"Did Mamo take Api to doctor?"

"With me and Ami." Taha answer shaking his head violently in 'yes', that I have to hold his head from shaking it further.

"You can tell Sheharyar but not me?" He frowns.

"I called you but your phone was switched off."

"I was in a meeting, you could leave a message on office reception."

"I did that too. It's not my fault that the receptionist didn't inform you."

"Don't lie, Fiza. She would definitely tell me if you had left any."

"I am not lying." I said gritting my teeth and got up from the sofa.

"I don't believe you." He says looking into my eyes.

"And it is not my fault." I say staring back before walking away from him.

It's no use, lecturing a bull. It can never understand...

~*~

"Ami, I punch Papa and win." Taha finishes his story of yesterday night when Ehtesham take him to his room because he kept messing with sleeping Sadaf. He doesn't like to be ignored by her, no matter what the reason. Even now they both had fought because Sadaf being grumpy because of her fever, which is much better now. Taha wanted to play with her but she kept pushing him away and they start fighting in no time.

I pick Taha and ask him to help me in the kitchen by giving him a spoon and bowl. He happily agreed and start mixing a little amount of water and food colour which I pour into the bowl.

While mixing it, he starts telling me what he did with his Bare Papa last night and I kept saying 'yes', 'really?' and 'good' without even listening to him. Soon he got fed up with mixing and returns me the spoon and bowl.

"Thank you for helping me." I say and kissed his cheek.

"Ami, don't kiss like the auntie." He says with a confused look.

"Which auntie?" I froze.

"Auntie on TV."

"Oh!" I say taking a sip from water. Suddenly a thought made me frown and I turn back to Taha.

"Beta (child) how did that auntie kissed?"

Don't tell me what I am thinking is true...

I waited for his answer but instead, he reach out his both hand to come in my arms. I sighed scooping him and ask the same question again. This time he answers by kissing on my lips and pull back with a big smile like he is proud of himself for reading full counting till twenty.

It took me a few good minutes from recovering my shock and I carefully ask him, "Taha when you saw that auntie?"

"Yesterday." He answers, touching my earring.

"Which time beta?"

"Night." He mumbles in response, trying to take off my earring.

"Taha beta, wait here. I have something to talk with your Bare Papa." I quickly put him down ignoring his protest and rushed towards Ehtesham's room.

I can't believe how stupid he can be. Watching stuff like this, in the presence of kids is not good. Kids of Taha and Sadaf age, tend to repeat things what he saw and hears. He should've been more careful.

"Mr Ehtesham Ghori, have you really lost your mind or just you are not used to use it?" I stormed into his room, yet didn't forget to knock before. But my steps come to halt when my eyes landed of my Hubby dear, who was sitting comfortably on his bed, working on his laptop.

Not only this is the first time I see him working but the thing is, he is wearing glasses.

Allah! Have mercy on me...

I plead to Allah in my heart.

I always loved men with glasses and now I find out that my own husband wears glasses.

Why life is so unfair..?

As much as I try to ignore him, his charms keep pulling me to him.

"If you came just to look at me then I won't mind spending my nights with you, so you can see me as much as your heart content but right now I am rather busy." He says in a very calm but arrogant manner.

Huh???

"Sorry, for staring too long. It's just... I never say four-eyed monster." I say with an annoyed look. Seriously, I never saw the biggest narcissistic than him. So I decided that I am never going to tell him how hot he looks in his glasses.

"Monster?" He raises his brows, still sitting on the bed.

"Yes, a monster. They do what it feels like doing without using their brains. Just like you." well, I really want to use the word 'jerk' instead of 'monster'.

"What?" He asks, completely clueless about the point I am referring to.

"What were you watching yesterday night?" I ask folding my arms.

"A movie."

"Which movie?"

"Some action movie, don't remember the name. What about it?"

"You were watching an action movie in Taha's presence?" He let out an 'Oh' when the realization hits him.

"Yes, 'Oh'. And don't you ever watch those... those kissing scenes in front them too."

"Something happened?" He asks with interest.

"Well, yes."

"What?"

"Taha was asking me why I don't kiss him like that auntie from TV." I try to give him my best serious look, because all in all, the entire situation was quite funny.

It took Ehtesham a minute to register what I say but when he does, I find him smiling.

"Well, I must say that my nephew is getting sharp. So, tell me, my wife, what did you answer him?"

"What do you mean answer?" I shrieked, "How can you answer a kid when he kissed you on lips out of the blue?"

I was in complete shock and he is asking about my answer...

He is really an idiot...

I wasn't excepting an apology from him but didn't expect this behaviour from him too and my anger gets even worse when he started laughing, as he strides towards me.

"So, my nephew is the reason behind your red face. It's cute... still I am a little jealous, he should've found his own girl. Putting his hands on my girl is not fair." He smiles coming face to face with me.

"O, hello! I am not your girl."

"You are my wife."

"Unfortunately." I say, looking into his eyes and when I was about to turn, he grabbed me from my arm.

"I need to know the answer." He whispers.

"What answer?"

"What Taha asked you. Why don't you behave like a normal girl? Why you resist when I come near? Why don't you give in like a girl should be?" He says leaning closer and looking into my eyes.

For a moment I literally forgot to breathe, but quickly snap out of it.

"I am sorry my four-eyed husband but those are more than one question." I yanked my arm and ran outside of his room.