Ya Amar (My Moon)

Seventeen

"Assalamu alaikum" I said as I entered the living room. Aaliyah Khala was laughing at something she was watching with Nani on Nani's phone.

"Walaikum salam" Everyone answered.

"Aunt Noorie" Zahra left the doll she was trying to plait along with her sister and ran towards me.

"My little pixie" I dropped the cup and jug gently on the floor then opened my arms ready to engulf her. She wrapped her hands around my neck laughing. "How are you?" I asked lifting her up.

"Fine" she answered kissing my cheeks. I laughed at her unexpected act.

"This is called cheating" Farhaana jumped down from the chair and stomped her feet on the floor.

"Aww, my little princess" I dropped her sister and picked her up. Her lips curled up into a smile. She kissed my cheeks.

"How are you feeling now?" she asked placing a hand on my neck to check my temperature. I giggled throwing my head back.

"I am fine"

"Good" she nodded her head then moved to leave my arms. I dropped her.

"Hello batman" I shook Yusuf's uninjured hand. Yusuf had a bandage around his head and an arm that had broken but will heal with time "Nani" I said leaning down for Nani to kiss my forehead.

"Noor jaan" she smiled taking my head in her hands. "How are you?"

"Alhamdulillah" I answered. I leaned towards Khala and she kissed my forehead.

"May Allah bless you" Khala said as I pulled away.

"Noorie jaan" Khalu called. "Heard you did not go to school today"

"Yes Khalu, I was just a little bit sick" I replied.

"Are you okay now?"

"I am fine Alhamdulillah"

"You should rest. It might be due to stress"

"I will Khalu" He returned back to what he was doing together with Rizwan mamu while I picked up the cup and jug.

Aisha jumped on her father's lap and Farhaan wanted to be like a baby once again as he pressured his father who conversed with his Faiz to lift him up. I smiled then turned towards the kitchen. Soft tiny giggles came from the kitchen. Tubassum and Shazia walked out laughing. Shazia wore denim bump short and a white cashmere with thin straps with no bra under. I liked her denim bump shorts but I can't wear them freely like she does. When they sighted me, they stopped laughing, threw me a dirty look before skidding by me. They giggled whispering to themselves and turned down the corridor.

"So you have to take care of your health very much and be careful during your pregnancy" Sahibah bhabi's voice came through the kitchen.

Just like every other day, I had expected the clatter of pans, pots and other kitchen equipment but none came except the voices of Zoya bhabi and Sahibah bhabi.

"Sahibah" Zoya bhabi sighed. "This is not my first pregnancy"

"Even though your health matters the most" I walked into the kitchen.

Zoya bhabi and Sahibah bhabi stood by the sink in the kitchen. Sahibah bhabi stood by Zoya bhabi who rinsed fruits a ceramic bowl that was surely expensive. A maid stood beside them holding a ceramic bowl where the washed fruits were kept. They wore matching salwar kameez, bangles adorned their wrists. As they moved their bodies, the exquisite metals jingled. Zoya bhabi's salwar kameez was red while Sahibah bhabi's salwar kameez was deep orange.

"Sahibah" Zoya bhabi called switching off the tap before turning towards her. Her wet hands dangled inside the sink. "About yesterday, I am sorry"

"Bhabi" Sahibah laughed. "That has gone already"

"No Sahibah" She grabbed Sahibah's hand looking into her eyes with worry. "I am a mother and I know how it feels to see your child lying unconscious at the end of the staircase bleeding. You should be angry"

"I was bhabi" she smiled holding Zoya bhabi's hands "But not anymore. It was something no one could stop. It was destined to happen and my son is alright so why should we hold grudges or get angry due to such issues"

"Sahibah" Zoya bhabi's painted lips moved up. "Thank you" she hugged her.

"Well, I hope I am not missing anything?" I said making them break their hug.

"Noor, you are awake? How was your sleep?" Sahibah bhabi asked.

"It was relaxing" I placed the jug and cup on the kitchen island. The made whose name was Grace greeted me and I replied with a smile.

"How are you feeling now? I hope the pain has reduced" Zoya bhabi questioned

"Yes" I stood close to them. "I just want to warm water to drink. It will help me a lot" I said opening the electric kettle to fill with water. "Why are they not making dinner?"

"Nani wants everyone to go out and eat dinner today"

"That's a good thing"

"Yes, so call your husband to join us there. We shall leave after Isha" Sahibah said winking at me. I wanted to blush but stopped it and cleared my throat.

"Grace, take that to the family" Sahibah bhabi ordered her voice calm.

"Yes ma'am" Grace left.

"We will take the fruits to the living room for everyone" Zoya bhabi picked another bowl of fruit I never noticed "You should join us there"

"Okay, I will join you soon" I answered opening the tap. They smiled and walked out of the kitchen, the clinker of their bangles leaving a trail behind them.

I filled the kettle with water, plugged it so the water will boil a bit before leaning against the worktop to chat on my phone. Few minutes later, I switched off the kettle, got a mug and filled it with the water. The water was hotter than I wanted so I mixed it with cold water. The kitchen was awfully quiet. It was too quiet for my liking maybe because it was never like that since my arrival at the manor.

"I did not know my princess was sick" Aaban's voice came through the kitchen. Calmly, I turned around to look at him then turned away. His quiet footsteps became closer. My heart raced when I felt his presence behind me. His alcoholic scent pooled around me warning me he was so close. I choked then picked up the mug. "I would have" I felt his finger on my hand then his finger began to move up my hand. I jerked away turning around to give him a warning look. He smirked then moved closer.

"Don't you dare move closer Aaban" I warned, my voice firm. He laughed then took another step closer. I leaned harder against the worktop.

"Taken care of you. You look pretty this evening and I can't take my eyes off you" he touched my arm. What a bastard? I sprung away again, my eyes wide. I felt anger rushing through me. My breathing became denser as my heart drummed harder against my rib cage. He disgusted me with the lust in his eyes and glint of the unknown on his face. "Isn't that one reason why a man will not take his eyes off you just like my cousin" his burly frame loomed my frame allowing me to look small.

"I know my cousin is never around and being a new wife" he placed his hand on my side. My forehead became damp. Noor push him away. Slap him. Kick him. Just do something, anything. A voice screamed in my twirling head. I was scared, very scared about what was happening and I knew Aaban could see my fear. "There are some things you must be missing like your husband bedding you" he brushed his finger over my breast. That broke the last straw.

I splashing the water on his face then slapped him hard. My palm stung after the deed. I was furious like I have never been before. How dare he? He was shameless and unremorseful. Angry, I sauntered past him. Aaban caught me by my arm catching me off guard. The force at which he pulled me back made me teeter. I whimpered due to the pain his hand inflicted on my arm. He pulled me roughly against his body.

"Aaban" I whined looking up at him with fright that could not be hidden.

What happened next was unexpected. Aaban slammed his palm on my face. Aaban's eyes were wide, anger blazed in them. They turned red, narrowed, cold and hard. As I struggled out of his hard grip, he pulled me ruthlessly grabbing my hijab from behind. He was strong and surprisingly too tough. His hold on my arm was too tight. I droned trying to pull out of his firm grip. The power he had and the way his muscles flexed under his shirt showed how angry he was. The veins that lined his arms prodded against his skin. His face was stone cold and hard that it made my legs shake. My heart pounded unsteadily.

"Leave me" I wiggled out of his clutch but he pulled me closer to his chest. Aaban pulled my hands to my back then pushed me backwards. My back struck the wall behind me.

"Who did you think you are?" Aaban grunted. "Just because I left you alone and did nothing while you slap me does not mean you can continue doing that" he pressed his body on me. I can feel his muscles ripping under his shirt. I exhaled and inhaled forcefully as I struggled harder instead Aaban pressed me to the wall. "My cousin must really be enjoying your luscious lips, kissing you every time he gets" he laughed. "Do you know how much I want your body on me?" he pressed harder on me.

Aaban was tall just like Amir but his physique was huge. He had too much muscles and a very wide chest. He had the body of a bouncer, tall and intimidating. Despite how much I tried pushing him away, he was too strong for me. The way he pressed his body against me made it harder for me to push him away.

"You are too juicy and I want to kiss you" I struggled harder as his hands moved around my body, his words irritating me. "Let's see what you can do now" he yanked my hijab. Pins flew away and the scarf loosened. I gasped then he tried tearing my blouse. In the heat of things, he released my hand but still pushed his body on mine. His free hand moved to my skirt, trying to lift it up to touch my thigh. "I have thought how much you will feel screaming under me" he laughed to my face.

"You are mad Aaban" I roared already feeling vulnerable.

We were both sweating from our struggles. He laughed then lowered his face to mine. I was quick enough to move my face away preventing his lips from touching mine. He gripped my chin hard turning my face towards his. I moved my head away, my eyes shut. He kept trying to keep my head in place but I moved my head away each time he wanted to kiss me. His hold on my chin got harder and more intense. The muscles in my chin hurt.

I did not want to beg. I can never beg him to stop. I will just look too easy for him to get. His hand kept trying to pull away my blouse trying to rip it apart as he buried his face into my chest. I cringed twisting.

"What's going on here?" a familiar voice asked. "Aaban" it called quietly.

Aaban stopped what he was doing, looked at me then smiled, an evil twinkle in his eyes. Gently, he released me and pulled away then turned around to look at the person. I panted trembling, my shaking hand moved to my forehead to wipe away my sweat. I moved out of Aaban's shadow gripping my loosened scarp to my chest as I pushed back sweat that nearly fell. Ya Allah! Never in my entire life has a man done that to me.

"Noorie" the voice became clearer and I knew who it belonged to. I pulled my scarf that had moved to the middle of my head.

By the entrance of the kitchen, Tubassum stood her eyes wide, hands over her mouth, nostrils flickering, blood drained from her face and an accusing look laced her eyes. Shaken, she dropped her hands from her mouth gently. Her lips opened and closed like a fish gasping for air but no sound came out of her lips. I knew what she was thinking. I knew what was going on in her head were not good words. My state said otherwise. My blouse's neck had widened granting the blouse ability to fall off one of my shoulders and my scarf had loosened. My wrinkled clothes gave the wrong message. I knew I was in a big pit. With Tubassum staring at me with accusation, there was no going out. Ya Allah, please help me.