Suffocation ھوٹن (A Pakistani Romance)

Part 6

Omair had fought with himself endlessly, knowing deep down inside that it would only hurt their relationship if he showed up to pick up Nina a day earlier than the two weeks would have ended. But these dreary thought of her moving on without him, realizing she didn't want anything to do with him, or perhaps being convinced by her family to leave him drove him up the wall. He had never felt so afraid when it came to Nina. Sure, there was that moment in the beginning of their marriage where he'd look at her and become lost. Loving her was unsafe. She was wild, carefree. Not the right kind of woman to fit his structured lifestyle. But he had been so wrong.

Nina was the type of woman men died for. Nina was the type of woman men killed for. Nina was the type of woman that all the songs and books in the world were written for.

And he'd been so utterly fucked by his own stupidity that he muddled the one thing he owned that was more precious than anything he'd ever achieve.

It was this fear, this fear that she'd release herself of her bond with him, that made him drive to her familial home. Ignoring the additional cars in the driveway, as well as the various flip flops and idle items cluttered in the yard, Omair bounds up the steps. He's prepared to meet unfriendly faces considering everyone knew he had essentially deserted Nina, but he knew he could always rely on his mother in law who had been so happy that her son in law would balance out her daughter's boisterous personality.

What he didn't expect was Nina bounding down the steps, a pink and green floral dupatta so bright flying behind her. Her chocolate hair had shades lighter in it, tiny wisps of hair escaping her braid and framing her face as she grinned wholly. His shocked gaze dipped, to the twinkling anklets on her feet, matching the silver of her bangles and earrings. In front of her was Nameer, her younger cousin holding onto what looked like a cell phone. But the way they both were smiling it was evident they had stolen it from someone else.

Omair just stood in the doorway watching her as she stood on her tiptoes to peer at the phone over Nameer's shoulders, whispering soemthing and then giggling when he began to type it. Unnoticed, as if he didn't make sense there. It was only when Nameer turned and saw him did his face regain feeling.

"Neenz-!"

But it was too late. Nina had spotted him looking at her with that small smile. And her face had crumbled. It devastated him. The way her shoulders fell and a look of utter horror washed over.

Omair moved forward, trying to greet her, but she stepped back, ignoring Nameer' timid voice trying to get her to breathe evenly. Ignoring Insha coming down the stairs in a horrid mood which only turned to worry the sight of him.

Before he could say anything, Nina went back up the stairs, practically running. And without thinking, Omair followed. He ignored Insha telling him to stop. But he couldn't make it in time because Nina had slammed her bedroom door in his face.

Face as if he'd seen a ghost, he slipped down the side of the door burying his head into his hands and trying to still the pain wrenching his heart.

Nameer and Insha didn't follow. They seemed to know what he didn't.

And what felt like eternities later, the door opened. Out stepped not Nina, but the woman he had made out of his cruelty. Her face looked bleached of color, matching the pale blue of her long cotton kameez and trousers. Her hair was pulled back into a knot. The ensemble was pretty, but entirely opposite to how full of life she'd been.

"Why are you here?"

The question sends the smile he wore for her off his face in seconds. "I missed you Nina."

The words are simple and he'd never been more honest than when it came to her. But she only shook her head, her newly cut her disobeying her wishes as bangs escaped her Bobby pin and settled across her cheek. Long, face framing. Kissing the skin.