Farmeed / One-shot Series

~ through thick and thin ~

Umeed hadn't missed his increased stress levels. She hadn't ignored how he was getting up extra early, coming back extra late and staying up all night long for almost two weeks now. She had been noticing the eyebags growing bigger under his eyes, him stretching his arms and neck more often to ease the stiffed muscles and the frequent pulling of his hair. She had been closely observing it all. Every time she would ask, she would get the same response, 

"Aray nahi Umeed kuch nahi, bas kaam thora zyada hai aaj kal."

She knew he was lying. This wasn't usual work stress. A little over 10 months with the man were enough to tell her when he was lying and when he wasn't. But of course, it was Farjaad - he would let himself suffer internally than stress anyone else about it. 

That was the thing about him that pissed her off the most. Despite her constant efforts to show him that she wanted him to be open and transparent with her, he still did not let himself get fully vulnerable. He was very expressive when it came to love, but when it came to his tensions, he would make sure he kept them as far away from her as possible. There could be a tsunami building up inside of him, yet he wouldn't let her catch a hint. He'd always tell her, "sab theek hia meri jaan, tum tension na lo".

She hated how this man had grown up believing that he always had to have everything figured out. How he himself had to find the answers to every problem, and could never reach out to anyone for help. She hated how he always pretended to be strong in front of everyone, even when she knew he was hurting inside. 

It also made a part of her feel guilty. She felt like she still had not been able to make him believe that she would always be there for him, and try to help him out as much as she could. She felt like she had erred somewhere in convincing him of her unconditional love and support, and it made her want to cry. 

She was intently looking at him from the bed, seeing his eyes glued to his laptop screen, while constantly checking his phone for messages and listening to voice notes. He was a little too into work tonight, still in his office attire. Not once had he said an extra word to her apart from the formalities. She was getting a little worried about him. 

Getting out of bed, she made her way to the kitchen, heatied up food for him and took it back to the room where he was on a call. 

"To ye cheezein agar mene hi dekhni hein to aap sab ke aur aap ki teams ke honay ka kya faida hai? Aap logon ko kis cheez ki tankhua milti hai?"

He was pacing around the room, practically screaming into the phone. Umeed flinched slightly. She had never seen him this angry. He was a man known for his calm and composed persona, even in the worst of times. This Farjaad was not a bit calm.

"Mujhe nahi pata aap kya karein gay, kesay karein gay. Mujhe sirf itna pata hai that I want this mess cleared up in two days, warna aap sab ke sab nayi nokriyan dhoond lein!"

He shut the call and threw his phone to the bed out of anger. He ran both his hands on his face and then through his hair, his eyes shut closed. He was talking deep breaths to calm himself down. 

Umeed took small steps towards him, placing both her hands on his. Farjaad opened his eyes to be met by her big, round ones, staring right into his soul. As if on cue, Farjaad tried to put up a strong face, forcing a smile on his face, making Umeed's heart physically hurt. She wanted the earth to swallow her whole seeing her husband having to hide his true feelings from her. 

But this wasn't the time to be thinking of that. This was the time to be thinking of him. 

She intertwined his hand with his, dragging him along her to the bed, making him sit down. She then handed him the plate of rice she had just warmed for him. He took it without a single objection. She silently observed how he took quick bites as if he hadn't eaten in days - which he hadn't. He had left for the office without breakfast, he came home after Umeed had slept the previous night too.