Mannat

20 | He had prayed for her.

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Zayaan

I scurried towards the ward and thursted the door open.

Shiza sat their smiling at her parents. A sense of relief sweeped all over my body. I was feeling culpable all the while and when Shiza started screaming in her sleep it increased exponentially.

"Zayaan" Shiza called out my name breaking reverie of my thoughts.
Giving her a light smile I padded towards her, my eyes rambled all over her features. She looked better than yesterday.

"How are you feeling?" I whisper taking seat next to bed.
"I'm fine now... Where were you?" she asked
"Was just taking care of Nathan."

The door cracked open, Qulsum ambled inside with a bowl in her hand. I scrutinized her face, she didn't look happy, her face lacked the gleam she had in the morning.

Shiza words did effect her to another level. I saw how she burst into tears. I wanted to comfort her, tell her it was going to be okay but that would be a lie. I didn't knew how to announce the news of my wedding with Qulsum to Shiza.

Shiza will break and so will Qulsum.

"I got you soup." Qulsum muttered placing the bowl in front of Shiza.
"I am craving for some hot chicken." Shiza complained looking at the plain soup.
"Till you are discharged this is what you are going to get Missy." Qulsum replied pinning Shiza's headscarf properly making sure to cover her brown hair.

Yes I did see Shiza hair yesterday. She didn't have veil on her head when I barged into Nathan's house.

I wonder what colour Qulsum hair are. Qulsum glanced in my direction feeling my gaze on her. My stomach dropped and a frown etched my face when I perceived her neutral face.

Her face was devoid of any feeling. It was straight as if nothing effected her anymore. Something within me broke looking at her state. I don't know why but at least I wanted to see helplessness on her face.

Qulsum batted her eyelids and averted her gaze from me.

♡♡

I kept staring at Qulsum, plopped on chair next to Shiza's bed.
Qulsum had successfully ignored me and my presence the entire day.

Earlier today when I asked her to come with me and have lunch, she said she wasn't hungry. I couldn't argue with her cause Shiza was next to her.

Later when she said she has to go home to pick her laptop, I told her I will take her home, but she again declined my offer saying I should stay with Shiza.

She wasn't meeting my eyes let alone talk to me properly.

When Shiza was sleeping I tried to start conversation with Qulsum by asking her lend me her laptop for few minutes. She stood up placing the laptop on the couch and went out informing me to use it.

And now here I am constantly peering at her while she is busy giving all her undivided attention to the book in her hand.

Huffing I stood up drawing Shiza's attention.
"I will come in a minute... I need to make some calls." With that I walk out rubbing my temples.

I spoke to Asad, and he was as confused as I was. For the first time my condition had left him speechless.

I ambled in the hospital garden for some time and then headed back.

Shiza was sleeping on bed while Qulsum was sitting uncomfortably on couch with her head resting on headrest of couch and her eyes closed.

I cautiously lifted Qulsum in my arms and laid her on couch adjusting a pillow under her head. I sat down next to her sleeping form on couch and peered at her. She looked serene while sleeping. Her jasmine scent entered my senses and heedlessly I found myself leaning closer to her and studying every minute detail of her face.
I trailed my finger over her lightly bulged eyelids. I felt a sharp pang of guilt, none of this was Qulsum's mistake.

Somewhere I feel I am the reason behind all the events which has happened in our lives. I gulp whilst closing my eyes as the memory of my Nikah [wedding] morning replayed in my mind.

Early morning on the day of Nikah [ wedding] I remember sitting on prayer mat and asking God to grant me a happy married life and before I could complete my prayer a thought creeped my mind leaving me baffled. I contemplated how I would have felt if my bride was Qulsum instead of Shiza.

Unknowingly I had prayed for her to be my bride.

Shaking my head, I discard all those events and gaze at Qulsum. Leaning closer to her I place a kiss on her forehead.

"Good Night" I whisper caressing her cheek.

♡♡

Next day Qulsum again avoided my presence and it had started to infuriate me.

Why was she ignoring me?

I decided to speak to Qulsum at any cost. When Shiza was sleeping after taking her tablets, I initiated the conversation.

"Qulsum" I called but she didn't lift her head to look at me.

"Stop being immature. I thought you were better than this." I said swallowing all my vexation. I tried hard not to snap at her.

She hoisted her head glancing at me and then trailed her eyes towards Shiza. Inhaling deeply, she placed the laptop on couch and started walking towards balcony but before she could walk past me, I grasped her wrist and jerked her forward.

Her eyes went wide when one of my hands curled around her waist pulling her closer to me.

"What are you doing? Shiza will wake up." She whisper yelled, her eyes looked past me. She was struggling to break free from my grip looking alarmed.

"Let her wake up." I clench my jaws and tighten my grip on her waist.

She quivered under my gaze. "What do you want Zayaan. Why are you doing this." Tears welled up her eyes causing my heart to brim with anguish.

"Stop avoiding me Qulsum. This is not the solution. We can't run away from the fact." I mutter, I didn't want to make her cry or cause her more pain than she was already undergoing.

"We?" She raised her brow, "There is we here Zayaan. It's I and you." She snapped, her eyes radiating fury.

❤...