Hired Bride

CHAPTER - 4

After covering him with his blanket, she switched off the light and came out of his room closing the door behind her.

She turned to go to her room when she saw Rafia standing few feets away from her and was looking at her with scrutinizing gaze.

She felt her throat went dry and tongue got tied.

'What would she say to her now?.'

She was thinking when Rafia's angry voice boomed throughout the corridor making her tremble on her feet.

"What were you doing in Khizar's room."

Rafia has told her and Alina clearly some years before that they shouldn't go to any non-mehram's room alone because evils comes in between them provoking them to do haram things.

But today Ayesha forgot Rafia's teaching.

"Ayesha, I'm asking you something?" Rafia said this time her voice was little calmer, since she saw Ayesha trembling on her feet.

"Mu... Mumma, Khizar had very severe headache.... so..... so I was giving him

hea... head massage." Ayesha said stuttering.

A smile broke on Rafia's lips.

"You were worried for him?"Rafia came near her and asked her whilst putting her hand on her shoulder.

She nodded because she never lied to Rafia.

Hiding her smile Rafia asked her to go to her room.

She had came to check on Khizar but she moved towards her room without checking him since she knew now that he would be fine.

Whilst laying down on her side Rafia's mind was playing on what Sahil had told her the other day and after the revelation she was noticing things she had never noticed before.

They all were having breakfast whlislt happily chatting when suddenly Khizar announced about his dubai tour.

"When are you going then?" Sadaquat khan asked him.

"Tomorrow."He answered shortly whilst wiping his mouth.

"Are you kidding me? You know we are gonna have an important function in our house." Rafia was angry hearing about his son's sudden tour.

"Mumma its important, I've to go,besides I will try to reach home before the function."He said and got up from his chair and went out bidding goodbye to everyone.

"Sadaquat, why are you not asking him to cancel his trip?"Rafia directed her anger towards her silent husband.

"Rafia, He is very much passionate

about his work. The time I've spent working with him, I haven't seen him backing out from his any plan.

Besides he said he will be home before the function. " Sadaquat khan said proudly but Rafia grimaced looking at her husband's smiling features.

"You are unbelievable Sadaquat."She said whilst stomping her foot angrily and left the dining.

He sighed helplessly.

The young party snickered looking at Sadaquat khan.

It's been six days since khizar went to dubai.

Rafia was angry with him and wasn't picking his calls.

And now they were seated in Amjad khan's room.

"I've called you guys to announce something."Amjad khan initiated the talk.

All four of them were eagerly waiting to know the big announcement Amjad khan was about to make.

"We are all very much ready ro hear you dada jaan, now don't creat suspense and burst the bubble." Sahir wasn't bestowed with the thing called patience.

Amjad khan glared him and everyone snickered.

"Exactly on fifth day from today, Sahil's and Alina's nikah's date has been fixed and? "Amjad khan said pausing at the end.

Sahil gave a look to Alina and she looked away with a shy smile playing on her lips.

"And?" Sahir said again not able muster a little bit of patience.

This time Amjad khan smacked his head, irritated with his behavior.

"And we, I mean I along with all the elders of this house wanted you guys to know about the date so that you guys can go shopping and invite your friends." Amjad khan said and looked at them respectively.

"Nana jaan, this is it? I thought we are gonna hear something else. You just called all the way from our game room to here to just inform us about this which we already knew!!!" Sahil exclaimed dramatically.

"Young man, what were you anticipating to hear?" Amjad khan knitted his brows.

He didn't answer and looked here and there to escape from Amjad khan's calculative gaze.

"And how come you guys already know about the dates?" Amjad khan's next question made Sahir and Ayesha to shift on their places uncomfortably.

They were all silent giving each other looks which only they could understand.

"Answer me Sahil or I'm gonna cancel your nikah."Amjad threatened him.

"Oh come on Nana jaan, you can't do this. You can't separate two lovers, it's sin." Sahil whined and got hard smacked on his back from Alina on his shameless behavior.

"I can surely do that." Amjad khan said as if it was easiest thing to do.

"Dada jaan, me and Sahir sneaked inside your room and were hiding beneath your bed when you guys were planning about the nikah function."Ayesha being the kind

hearted girl, she wasn't able to see Sahil's hurtful look explained everything with tiny details as well.

"Dada jaan, Mumma is calling me, will see you later. "Sahir flee out from Amjad khan's room.

Amjad khan looked at Ayesha with disappointed look.

" I'm sorry...... "She said meekly.

That devil is rubbing his devilishness on you as well. Ayesha stay away from him." Amjad khan said to Ayesha whilst shaking his head hopelessly.

11 Now I know from where our Sahir has inherited his dramatic gene."Sahil whispered and both the girl snickered before storming out from Amjad khan's room.

They were all busy with nikah's

preparations and pulling each others leg.

Amidst all this, one person was dearly missed by everyone but he refused to acknowledge this.

He used to call every day but Rafia being as stubborn as her son, didn't for once talk to him.

Ayesha was going towards kitchen to help Rafia and Sameera who were busy with maids since afternoon and now it was past six but they were still busy there so Ayesha thought to help them.

Her step halted when she saw Rafia's cell phone on dining table was buzzing indicating about some incoming call.

"Mumma, you have call. "She shouted from there only.

Ayesha, pick it up and inform that person, I will talk to whoever it is later." Rafia shouted back from the

kitchen and she went towards the phone to oblige Rafia's order.

She looked the caller id. It was Khizar.

"Asslalm Alaiykum Khizar, how are you?" She chirped happily.

"Wa Alaykum Asslam, where is Mumma?" He greeted her back but ignored her question.

"She is busy in the kitchen since afternoon, she said she will talk to you later." She chirped again not minding his dry tone.

"You seem to be very happy?" She heard him say rudely.

Not understanding as why he was being rude with her she answered him jovially concealing her sudden sadness on his rudeness.

"Yes, I'm very happy. Why wouldn't I be? They are my friends and family as well."

"Wai...wait, whom are you talking about." Khizar's confused voice hit her eardrum.

'What happened to him? Why he is asking me stupid questions?' She thought now confused as ever.

"Ayesha are you there?" Khizar spoke again snapping her out form her self talking land.

"Yeah." She answered meekly.

"You didn't tell whom were you talking about?" He asked her again impatiently.

"Who else? I' m happy for Sahil and Alina after all they are going to soon open a new chapter of their lives." She said unknown of khizar's condition.

"You will come home before their nikah, right?" She said furhter.

"Hmmm."He said and disconnected the call.

'Weird.'She mumbled to herself and went towards the kitchen.

Khizar was spending everyday in dubai working endlessly. He was drowned into work so he could escape from the thought of Ayesha' s and Sahil's nikah.

Everyday he wanted to return home and claim her as his but he couldn't find himself to be the reason for two person's heart break. Both the person were very important to him.

His mother was angry with him and wasn't speaking to him adding upto his misery.

But instead her not responding on his call he regularly called her.

Today was also one of that time when he used called his mother.

His called was answered for the first time after he came to dubai, but the one who attended wasn't his mother instead it was Ayesha Ahmad.

But the revelation she made in the call made Khizar laugh on his own stupidity.

Sahil was interested in Alina but his love and possessiveness towards

Ayesha blinded him.

He was scared to loose her, he was scared that someone might make their way towards Ayesha's heart before him and the thought made him loose his sanity making him believe on things which wasn't even present.

Whatever happened but now Khizar's heart wasn't aching, his soul was at peace, his mind wasn't suffering from negative thoughts. Overall he felt like he was living after ages.

After knowing the truth he can't miss his only sister's big day. He packed his belongings and booked the first flight's ticket to his home. Not forgetting to message her mother that he was returning home.

"Mumma, you are looking very happy today. " Sahir said caging his mother inside his arms.

They all were seated in drawing room, girls were busy applying henna and boys were busy messing their henna designs.

All the men were gone for walk after dinner.

And for the women, they were busy gossiping around whilst sipping tea.

"Of course I'm happy. My daughter is gonna get married. "She said pinching his cheek.

"Alina see mumma is happy that finally you will leave this house and we will be at peace." Sahir couldn't let any chance go to tease Alina.

Alina knowing well his brother's antics laughed it off and Sahir stood up clearly not liking the calm and cool Alina unlike her usual self.

Sahir was going to his room when a someone caught his attention.

'Is this bhai or I'm imaging things.' He said and moved towards the figure hidden in dim light.

"Bhai, is that you? Oh my God!! Mumma, bhai is home." Sahir's dramatic scream made every one aware that Khizar was home.