𝐒𝐔𝐊𝐎𝐎𝐍 - rewritten | ✓

EIGHTEEN

Maham spent two days, crying and praying for her uncle's health. He was a patient of high blood pressure and this could take his life. Zayan and Shahnaz were staying at the hospital. There was a serious and quiet atmosphere in the house.

Maham was in the middle of her Tahujjad prayer when she heard the room door opener and quiet footsteps. She continued praying and then raised her hands to make a dua. When she finished, she looked behind her and saw Zayan looking at her with a cold look in his eyes. She shivered at the look. His eyes were red as if he was crying.

"Woh theek hain?" She dared ask. Her voice was low.
(Is he okay?)

"Fout hogai," He only said, his voice holding no emotion but she could hear the pain.
(He died.)

She gasped, her hand over her mouth and then she started crying again. Her cries silent as she closed her eyes and looked away. Her uncle was no angel to her. He ignored her. He ignored her cries, and pleas, and let his wife do whatever she wanted. But she still cried for him.

The funeral was held. Many people came. The house was filled with the cries of the women of the house -- minus Maham. She served people, watching as Aaima comforted Zareena. Her eyes moved outside where she saw Zayan sitting on a couch, his back turned to her. Aziz sat next to him, keeping a hand on his back and saying something to which Zayan didn't respond 

After the guests had left, Maham was sitting on her bed staring out the window. Tears had dried on her face and she hated the atmosphere. It was suffocating her. The door opened and Zayan entered with a plate in his hand. Some relative had prepared it and bought it and Aaima handed it to him so he would eat.

He slowly walked towards Maham as she looked at him. There were dark circles under his eyes, his eyes held no emotion or pain. He looked cold and it scared her. He sat in front of her, making a small bite and forwarding it towards her mouth without looking at her. 

She stared at him. It reminded him of their first wedding morning but she felt as if this was wrong. His father had just died and she was supposed to be taking care of him and not him taking care of her. She took the food out of his hand and kept the plate on the side. She wrapped her arms around his neck

"It's okay to let it out," She whispered.

He stayed still, heartbroken from the death and her "infidelity" But after a while, he wrapped his arms around her body and started crying into her shoulder.

━━━━━━━

2 MONTHS LATER

━━━━━━━

These two months had been extremely confusing for Maham. Zayan had been ignoring her. He had become so cold towards her and she didn't even know why. Everyone in the house would give a dirty look whenever she passed by them and she should've gotten used to it but it wasn't the dirty looks she always received.

And she was also scared. Her baby bump was not being visible. She also hadn't told Zayan yet because she couldn't find the right moment. He was grieving even if he didn't show it so she didn't think it was right to share something so exciting. She grabbed her chadar, wallet, and reports. 

She left the house. Aaima saw her leaving and immediately assumed Maham was off to see her lover, so she ran into the living room where everyone was seated and told them. 

Maham stopped a rikshaw and got inside. When she reached the hospital she shared her concerns with the daughter of why her stomach wasn't growing even though she was 3 months pregnant. The doctor calmed her by saying that bellies grow in the second trimester.