Out Of Wreckage?

Chapter Forty

My Iddah ends finally.

It's a waiting period of a woman after separating from her husband. For some, it may be like being trapped in a cage but for me, it's better than the cage I was living in for six years.

I can never forget that day when I left that house, that man.
I was scared that I would never be able to get out of it and he won't let us go.
But my Rehmaan Chacha was a blessing in disguise for us. Without him, we wouldn't have escaped that prison.
Because of him, I'm not married to Aslam, legally.
Because of him, I got my daughter's custody.
Because of him, I'm back in Hyderabad and now, I'm living under his roof.
Farhana Chachi is in Dubai with Rumana and her family. Chacha just returned a week before he came to meet me on that eventful day.
Sometimes I think what would had happened if I hadn't met him.
I had nowhere to go and protect ourselves from Aslam.
I thank Allah whenever I offer prayers.
Whenever I see Chacha, I see my Abba.

Since, he is my mahram, he can visit me in this room where I'm observing my period of Iddah.
I haven't met Fahad, but his wife, Arsheen is the only person apart from Chacha who can visit me.

Sometimes the way she looks at me makes me feel concious about myself and she's isn't so vocal about it but who am I to judge?
I'm just thankful and happy to start a new life here with my daughter who is equally happy to meet her cousins, Nomaan and Farhaan.

Bushra doesn't miss anything of Lucknow except her friends, Nida and Hamza.

Even I miss them both. They have always been a support to me.
While I can call Nida whenever I want, that isn't the case with Hamza.
It has been more than three months and I haven't heard anything from him or about him.
When I left, I couldn't contact Hamza but I had passed on a message through Nida.

More than being angry, I'm actually worried for him. The last time we met, he looked so troubled. I just hope, he's okay.
There's nothing more I expect from him.
I have realized that expectations only leads to disappointments and I'm done with it.

My only priority is my daughter and I can't be a disappointment in her eyes.
"I'll do anything for you."
I kissed Bushra's forehead as she slept beside me. Just one look at her and I forget all my woes. She's my tranquility.

Suddenly, I felt thirsty.
The jug was empty when I lifted it to pour.
I trudged to the kitchen and collided with someone.

Was it a burglar?

I was about to scream but then I heard my name.
It was Fahad.
He immediately switched on the lights.

"Rabia!"

There was an awkward silence between us.
I was meeting him after a long time. Though we shared the same roof but were not allowed to meet or even see each other. Now that my Iddah is over, there was no harm to meet him.

"Do you need something?" He asked me.

"Just water." I replied and filled the the jug that I was holding.

"Okay, I'll just warm some milk." He announced and started searching for a vessel in the drawers.

"That's a wok." I told him, suppressing my laughter when I saw his puzzled look.

He scratched the back of his neck, "Yeah."

"Wait let me help you." I offered and he placed the wok back in the cabinet.

"Thank you." He said and I smiled.

I added some turmeric and sugar in his milk before offering him the mug.

"You remember?" He asked, baffled.

I smiled, "Ofcourse, how can I forget the fuss you created when we were six? So much drama for a glass of milk!" I mocked.