28| Nawal

When we reached home, Ahad got out of the car as soon as possible and shut the door loud enough to make me flinch. He stood outside the house door, tapping his foot on the floor impatiently because I had the house keys. I unlocked the door and before even a second could pass, he brushed past me and stormed inside.

"Ahad, are you okay? You're acting... different." It would be a lie if I said I wasn't scared of his anger.

"No, I'm not okay because my sister could have been harmed and her baby could've died and all this happened in the presence of my wife when I had clearly asked her to take care of my sister." Ahad's back was faced to me and I felt my eyes filling up.

"Do you really think I would want Zoha Appi to be harmed?" My voice was small and unbelieving of how he could even think so.

"No, but you could have been more careful, Nawal! What if something happened to them?! Would you be able to face her after that?!" He suddenly raised his voice and turned around as I flinched, taking a step back.

"I'm sorry, please. Ahad, I'm so sorry." A tear had already fallen and I kept my hand on his cheek but he turned his head away. I felt my heart shattering and the physical pain in my chest. I dropped my hand. Without another word, Ahad left the place and went upstairs into our room as I sobbed quietly into my hands.

Oh, what have I done?

I wiped my tears away and went to our room as well where the lights were off and Ahad was facing away from my side of the bed, his arm resting over the blanket. The darkness of the room took me back to last night as it was the only night we had slept without lights. I usually kept the small wall lamp lit because I couldn't sleep in complete darkness. Taking my pajamas out of the closet, I went into the washroom and locked it. As I stood in front of the mirror, my dried cheeks came into sight and fought the urge to cry again. I changed my clothes and quietly slipped into bed. I hated this. I hated this distance between us where I felt so far away from him even when he just behind me.

***

The next morning, I woke up alone in bed as I had expected after last night's argument. Unknowingly, a tear slipped from my eye and fell into my pillow. I knew Ahad wasn't going to be home if I checked so to save myself from the disappointment, I slid out off bed and changed for the day. I didn't have the energy to do anything so I ended up calling the maid to work. I would be fine if I starved myself the entire day but I didn't want to do any such thing after an argument. That would just be petty.

The maid got me my breakfast at the couch I was sitting on, with my legs folded under me.

"Beta, if you don't mind me asking, did something happen between you and Ahad? You seem upset." She was on older woman so it explained how she figured that out by just my mood. I didn't have my mother with me right now so I decided to take advice from her instead.

"Yes, aunty. We fought last night and I don't know what to do." I looked down sadly, as his angry expression flashed in front of my eyes along with his raised voice.

"If you truly love each other, you'll try and resolve the issue. Silence and ignorance is just going to prolong it. When he comes back, sit and talk to him and if it was your mistake then apologize. Don't let your ego get in the way of your love and marriage, it isn't worth it." She kept a motherly hand on my shoulder and squeezed.

"He wouldn't talk to me, he didn't even want to look at me last night how am I supposed to get him to talk to me?" I put my head in my hands.

"You know, my husband and I had a fight and, in anger, he left the house but never came back. I regret fighting with him so much." A lone tear fell from her eye and her face held a nostalgic look. "I'm not saying that something will happen to Ahad, Astaghfirullah, but resolve your problems as soon as possible until you don't have a chance left anymore. Treat every goodbye as your last."

"I will talk to him when he gets back." I said with determination and offered her a weak smile.

Later that day, I was pacing back and forth in front of the house door, rubbing my palms together and waiting for Ahad to come back. It was nearly the time that he came back everyday and I hoped he would come back today too instead of staying out longer to avoid me.

The door bell rang and I heard the sound of a key unlocking the door before Ahad walked in. His blue tie, that he decided to wear today, hung loosely on his neck with the first two buttons of his shirt undone. As usual, his sleeves were rolled up too and his jacket rested on his forearm.

"Nawal! Oh, thank God you're here!" He heaved a sigh of relief and before I could fathom what was happening, he strode towards me and hugged me. He made himself small so he could bury his face in my neck and stroked my hair while the other looped around the entire length of my waist, like he didn't want to let go. I wrapped my arms around him, returning the hug.

"I'm so sorry for everything I said last night. I shouldn't have blamed you, you didn't even do anything." He mumbled in my neck as his lips moved against my neck, sending a shiver down my spine. He pulled back and held both my hands as he led us to the couch and sat next to me.

"I just lost my mind last night. You didn't deserve any of that and I regret raising my voice so much at you that I have been miserable the entire day. But she's my baby sister, the first girl I loved with all my heart after my mother and something could've happened to her and her baby. This still doesn't excuse how I behaved with you and I'm very sorry for that. Believe me." He looked away from me and I slowly putting my hand on his cheek, because last night still stayed with me and I was afraid he'll turn away again.

"It's okay. You were right maybe, I could've been more careful." I sadly smiled at him.

"No, I was wrong, completely wrong. You being more careful wouldn't have done anything because it was bound to happen and you couldn't stop it." He told me as he rubbed the knuckles of both my hands with his thumbs as he still held my hands. I looked down at our intertwined hands and immediately frowned, all fights and apologies forgotten, as I took one of his hands in mine and examined his bruised knuckles that were turning all sorts of colors– red, blue, purple, black.

"What the hell happened?!" I asked as I lightly brushed my finger over his hand, careful to not hurt him and he chuckled.

"I punched that guy too much last night even though he deserved it and today I punched a sand bag because I was beating myself up for our argument and I needed to release it." He explained.

"Let me get a cream." I got up but he grabbed my wrist and pulled me back down, on his lap.

"Sit down, this can be done later. Tell me if you've forgiven me?" He hopefully looked at me as if I wouldn't forgive him. Feeling cheeky, I decided to play with him.

"I've forgiven you but for me to truly and completely forgive you, you'll have to do something for me." I thoughtfully placed a finger on my chin.

"And what would that be?" Sensing what I was doing, his mood lightened as his hands, that were positioned on my hip and thigh, started rubbing circles there.

"I think a kiss would do."

"Only a kiss? When I could do so much more?" Nonetheless, he complied and pressed our lips together. Unlike the setting and situation, the kiss was anything but soft and sweet as his hands roamed all of my body, causing me to moan several times. He took me off his lap, all the while still kissing me, and pressed my back to the arm rest of the sofa and leaned over me, continuing his movements.

"I want you right now, jaan." He said in between his neck kisses and I breathed heavily as my hands tangled up in his soft hair.

"I want you too." I panted out and he carried me to our bedroom, doing just what he told me he would.

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(A.N): Please vote and comment! P.S: I know Ahad got issues :/