Meraki

4●

Walking hastily he entered his apartment, wearing a gray suit with black polished shoes, holding a phone in his right palm, he was on a call with someone.

Sitting on the sofa of the living room with a glass of chocolate smoothie and a bowl full of wedge fries she just observed him keenly. He's still snubbing her. It's been two days since that incident and he's still fuming. She came numerous times with different ways to apologize but he shunned her completely.

Following him inside the bedroom, she found her displeased husband tossing his clothes inside an open bag that was kept on the bed. She looked at him in flummox.

"Are you going somewhere?" She questioned.

For the past two days, he still chooses to be silent.

What was her mistake? She only reciprocates his words.

After packing his stuff, he extended his legs in her direction, who was looking lachrymose. Her eyes are speaking? She's demanding an answer.

" I'm going out of town for a few days." He told her looking at her disquieted state.

"Kyun?" She asked.

"Related to work." Keeping his words minimum he alludes.

After a pause, he continued "Zardaan would be here at any time. He'd take you to the Khan Villa.." He is speaking when a ringtone of his phone ceases his line. He looked at the phone and dashed out of the room dragging the bag with him. He didn't say any polite or affectionate word of farewell.

Though he told her honestly the reason for his leaving but she didn't buy it. She closed the door loudly and wander inside. She's feeling too many things at once. He wasn't very lovey-dovey since the beginning but she gave him, his time to adjust. Her insecurities are right somewhere, he's the one who makes her feel like this. He wasn't like this when they were together. He used to seem happy. Tears were flowing like an Ocean, she was hurt. His ignorance hurts her. His behavior hurts her. His words hurt her. His making her the least priority hurts her. They're back to square one even after all her efforts.

+++

She dawdle inside the Villa, behind Zardaan.  It's almost evening and nobody is present in the living room. She took the stairs and moved toward the direction of her room. The path to her room seems to be the longest, she has ever taken. She doesn't want to meet anyone. She wants nothing but to hide and cry her heart out. Over her fate and feelings. Over her heartbreak and insecurities.

She turns the knob and steps inside her room. She sat on the bed and tears formed in her eyes. She cried. She cried, cried till she is exhausted, till no energy left inside her body to remember anything or him. Sleep consumed her and she slept crying.

She awoke to somebody knocking on her door, calling her name. She blink her eyes a few times to adjust to the room light and shut them immediately. She's having a headache, a bad one. She massages her forehead with the tips of her fingers and somehow manages to give a reply to that knocker.

A few minutes later, she forced herself to bed and freshen up. She randomly pick something and went inside the washroom.

She steps down the stairs and saw her cousins and siblings sitting there, chit-chatting.

"Assalamualaikum!" She greet everyone and took the vacant seat.

'Apiiii!!" Her brother jumps on her. Why wouldn't he, after she came here to stay with them for a few days?

She hugs him and ruffles his hair. She missed them.

"Maha, in murjhayi hui kyun ho?" Her mother asked in concern.

"Kuch nhi ammi, bus Zara sa sar dard hai." She enunciates.

"Beta, Zaef ki call thi , adhe ghante pehle. Pahunch gaya hai woh." His mother informed her.

She felt a pang in her heart. He doesn't care to be aware of her.

"Jii, tayi ammi." She nodded lightly and turn to the right side to call Rukhsana begum and ask her for a cup of strong tea.

"Chalo merey saath, kal humney kya shopping ki hai woh dikhati hun." Laraib told her. Though she is aware of everything happening inside this house, especially about shopping girls are girls.

Trio Zifaal, Maha and Laraib got up and straightly went to Laraib's room. Yesterday they bought some formal and casual dresses for Zifaal and did a little shopping for Laraib too.

"Yeh dekho Maha, yeh dow lehngey mainey  short list kiye hai, lekin mujhey samjh nhi aara dono mei kissey select Karu." Zifaal said, showing her pictures.

"Dono Lelo appi phr , ekk nikkah Wale din aur dusra walima kay liye." She replied looking at the pictures. One is in hot red while the other one is in subtle pink color.

"Nhi maha, yeh possible nhi hai." Laraib utters with a teasing smile.

"Huh?" Her response came in complete bewilderment.

Arey Zardaan Bhai khud select karenge, walima outfit. Zifaal cheeks are red due to blushing. She looks happy.

+++

It's been two days since she came here and there's no call, no text from him. She also doesn't try to contact him every time she cried before sleeping. She wants him to initiate but her insecurities are telling her, he doesn't want her. He doesn't need her.

She become so dull nowadays. She doesn't look like Maha. Bubbly and happy soul. She doesn't eat much. Rarely does she leave her room then too when someone forced her.

Carrying shopping bags, she entered the house with Zifaal talking about some random topics. It's already quarter past seven. They were out since the afternoon for shopping.

Her mother and tayi ammi with her younger brother Saim was sitting in the living talking to someone. She didn't care much and passed them without greeting but a familiar raspy and dominating voice echoes in the hall making her halt. Her heart starts beating rapidly. She looks nothing but like a mannequin for a few seconds. Why is he here all of the sudden? All of the sudden, no, maybe he planned to come today and she is not aware of it.

"Maha!" Her mother called her in a high pitch breaking her chain of thought.

Instead of turning back, she runs to her room. She's not ready to face him. She doesn't want to cry in front of everyone. Enough is enough. She has already made up her mind about her behavior towards him. She won't tail behind him anymore.

+++

How was it?

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