𝑬𝒏𝒕𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝑫𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒚

18.

Suddenly the knock on the door made her jump on the bed she snapped her head towards it she could hear some murmurs her heart beats rapidly and with the sound of it, she knew it was Malakeh on the door. Fumbling with the dupatta of her salwar kameez her brain went on to work with what excuse she should come up with but then why was she to hide or lie when it's Arsalan who should worry about this? Being his wife doesn't mean that she has to take his blame on herself right? So gathering herself she went and opens the door to meet with a furious looking Malakeh with Asmara and Zaid behind her with a worried look on their face.

"Assalamualaikum" Sofia greeted with a smile and let the three of them in. The room was now cleaned up by the maids with a changed bedsheet and no more dried flowers or flower petals around the room.

"Walaikum Assalam beta" Malakeh runs her hand lovingly on Sofia's head she still can't believe she had married her best friend daughter into this house as her daughter-in-law she was happy that she was able to fulfil her late best friends wish. Then she remembered why had she come here for "he isn't here, is he?" she asked Sofia who looked at Asmara and Zaid and both sighed in response already tired of covering up for their brother.

Sofia looked back at Malakeh and opened her mouth to say something when they heard someone entering the room which made them turn towards the threshold of the bedroom.

"Shit!" Arsalan mutters lowly as soon as he sees his mother's furious look he knows now he would be earning a good earful from her.

"Khushamadeed nawab sahab kaisa raha aap k office ka safar?" Malakeh asked his son with heavy sarcasm making Arsalan cringe at that.

"Ammi woh...office me urgent kaam aagaya tha bas islye jana pada" he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

"Oh, toh excuse ready hai aapke pas. Aap k walima wale din se jyada important tha k aap uth chale office! Arsalan kab baaz aayenge aap aapni harkato se? Shadi k dusre din hi se kaam pe jana chalu kar diya aapne shakt mana kiye tha na aapko k kam se kam panch din chup chap ghar rahe lekin nahi Ammi ki toh baat kabhi maani hi nahi hai. Haina?" Malakeh looked at him annoyed with his workaholic self that always finds an excuse to get himself out of the house whether whatever the situation be.

"Aisa nahi hai Ammi mai bas..." he was cut by Malakeh when he tried to come up with another excuse.

"Chup rahein aap aaj ek nahi sunni hai maine aapki. Bechari Sofia aap k intezaar k chakar me nashta nahi kar payi" Malakeh shook her head at him and Arsalan looked at Sofia who was standing behind Malakeh, her eyes lowered to the ground as she tugs her curtain bangs behind her ear.

Arsalan brought his eyes back at his mother and didn't say anything he knows his mother won't spare him even if he comes up with tons of excuses instead he would really be kicked on his backside in front of everyone present in the house.

"Aap bina kuch bole bina koi office ka kaam kiye panch din aap ghar hi me rahenge aur agar is bar aapne na farmani ki toh mujhe se bura koi nahi hoga samaj aayi baat?" Malakeh said strictly frowning her eyebrows together which looked the same as her son when he is angry or irritated guess the anger issue he had got was inherited by her.

Arsalan nodded at that.

"Good," Malakeh said and turned to Asmara "Asmara aap jayein aur nashta le aayein" she looked at Arsalan who beamed at her "srif Sofia k liye Arsalan rahe bhuka."

Arsalan face falls immediately "Ammi maine kuch nahi khaya hai subha se" he pleads with her innocently.

"Kisne bola tha aapko subha subha office jaane? bhukto khamyaza ab" with that Malakeh walked out of the room with Asmara and Zaid who shook their heads at their brother.