CHAPTER 3- RIFAAT SIDDIQUI

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Air India from Australia to Delhi- landed- on time. A young woman wearing an ink blue ruffle top and white knee length shorts, white and brown thong slippers stepped out from the exit of the busy airport in Delhi. She dragged a trolley with her luggage. Removing her sun-glasses she looked around searching for a familiar face among sea of unknown people. Dragging her trolley further she tip-toed and looked around.

'Madamji, shall I take your luggage.' A taxi driver approached her. She waved him off, shaking her head. The driver insisted but she pushed her trolley away from him, ignoring him. After one driver, had left another came, and then another.

'Leave her alone.' A booming baritone made the drivers to finally leave her.
'Papa!' she exclaimed placing her sunglasses on top of her head.

'Rifaat, my princess.' The man said and hugged her daughter. Rifaat insisted that she took the luggage but her father denied, instead he dragged the trolley. At the parking lot a driver awaited them, he placed the luggage at the back of the car while the father and daughter duo sat at the back of the car.

'I am so happy. After two long years, I am seeing you, Papa.' Rifaat said and side-hugged her father. He placed his arms around his daughter and smiled, 'Same here, beta. Same here.'

At home, Rifaat's eyes widened on seeing the food her mother and a cook had prepared for her. The place tip-top, it didn't look like it the same paternal bungalow Rifaat had left two years ago. 'Mera Bacha. See, how thin you have become.' Her mother expressed her displeasure. Rifaat smiled, somethings are always common in all mothers. Her room was well-done, new bedsheets, curtains, the entire room smelt of paint- Blue, her favourite colour.

'Ma!' Rifaat exclaimed and hugged her mother, she hugged her back. After Rifaat had freshened up, she changed into her casuals and climbed downstairs to the dining room, where her parents were. Her father sat on the head of the family seat, while her mother stood by him plating him food.

'Beta, there is something I want to talk to you about.' Mr. Siddiqui began, Rifaat nodded eating her rice.

'I was thinking of shifting you to Mumbai. Work for your Chacha?' he asked looking at his daughter. Rifaat looked at him and smiled, 'Great.'

'Excellent, he was telling me he needed a new marketing head. Why not you?' Rifaat nodded her head, now that saves her the effort of job hunting.

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'What is this ***** doing in my house and on my bed?' Rifaat is mad with rage. She had gone out for shopping with her friends and when she returned she finds her husband in his boxers with a "good friend" of his, who lay on the bed with a duvet wrapped around her. Both looked terrified on getting caught.

'Mind your language, Rifaat.' Her husband said sternly

'I? Why should I mind my language? What else am I to call a woman ******* a married man.' Rifaat yelled angrily. The woman seemed to be in the verge of tears.

'RIFAAT' Rifaat welcomed a tight slap on her cheek, tears filled her eyes instantly.

'I love Akira.' The man said. Rifaat slowly moved her hand from her cheek, 'Love? then me? Don't you love me, Hariz?' she asked, her voice cracking. Hariz sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, 'I am sorry Rifaat you had to find out like this but I can't help it. I just fell out of love with you.'

Rifaat is shocked, 'Fell out of love? Hariz we have been together and in love since school days how can you fall out of love, darn it?' she held his shoulder and shook him. Hariz placed his hands on hers and jerked her away, 'Everything had become monotonous, okay. I just don't love you anymore.' He said simply.

'You can't do this to me, Hariz. I love you.' she pleaded, tears streaming down her cheek.

'If you can, then why not me?' Hariz said darkly. Rifaat looked at him confused.

'Oh, please don't act so innocent, okay. I know that you are ******* your boss.' He smirked. Rifaat's mouth dropped open.

'How can you? How can you think so low of me? I have never ever looked at another man and you are accusing me of....' She felt disgusted to complete the sentence.

'Please Rifaat. I know everything, understand. Not Akira but you are the ****.'

Rifaat stood simply gaping at her "once madly in love with her", husband, Hariz Ali. She is speechless and shattered.

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Rifaat woke up with a jolt, her breathing uneven. A sweat bead trickled down her forehead. She quickly wiped the sweats and tears and sat up straight on her bed. She leaned forward and held her head in her hands.

'Stop haunting me.' She pulled her hair in frustration. Few minutes later, she climbed down her bed and went to the washroom. As she splashed cool water on her face she felt calm. She looked at her reflection and she wondered- Where had she gone wrong? She and Hariz were in love since they were sixteen, and how easily he said he fell out love with her. Did these years of togetherness meant nothing? At times Rifaat wondered, did Hariz ever loved her? or was he just with her because she was the most popular and hard to get girl back in school? Was she just a trophy for him to flaunt? Or was she his infatuation, attraction, lust perhaps?

She leaned forward and held the washbasin, 'It has been two years, Rifaat. Move on...' she shook her head.

'Move on...Move on...MOVE ON!' she spoke to her reflection. As she stared at her reflection, she felt miserable.

'Arghh...' she walked away. She opened the window and looked out, she sighed sadly. Closing her eyes, she leaned against the window. A lone tear escaped her eyes.

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'Good morning, beta.' Mr. Siddiqui greeted his daughter brightly.

'Good morning, Papa.' Rifaat said sitting beside her father, she placed her coffee mug in front of her.

'Here!' Mr. Siddiqui said forwarding an envelope to Rifaat. She smiled guessing what it is inside. She tore open the envelope and took out tickets, tickets to Mumbai. Just the escape she needed.

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Guys, how did you find the first three chapters? do mention in the comments. And, next part the leads are going to meet. Excited guys!!!!

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