Suffocation ھوٹن (A Pakistani Romance)

Part 9

While Noorulain was growing older day by day, Nina seemed to grow past the hurt she had experienced so early in life. Her coldness was ebbing away and no one knew it better than Omair.

Each time she'd smile towards him without any pretense, the stress of the day and work melted. His work load could grow but with the knowledge that Nina was healing, he could tackle it all. They had built a safe haven away from their past. Omair's old condescending friends. Toxic family members. Their fights and the words thrown towards each other.

Nina had just come home from a day at Almas Yousafzai's house, carrying a sleeping Noorulain upstairs to her bedroom. When she was finally tucked in, Nina returned to her own room, finding a sketchbook and a set of expensive colored pencils, graphite, and other art supplies.

She sank to the floor, her fingers nimbly grasping the materials, her voice gone from shock. Somehow, she managed to open the sketchbook, tracing over the page. Before she could stop, she had taken a pencil and begun to etch away, following her mind's instructions. Lines came together to intricate designs.

In the shortest hour of her life, sitting on her bedroom floor as the clock ticked 9, Nina Tahir she created her first design in two years.

When Omair came home, she showed him the sketch and he was surprised to see she wasn't crying.

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Omair hadn't had a minute of free time since he had arrived at the office. There were piles of case studies and before they'd be sent off to Dawud, he had to carefully review each one and assess whether the defendant was guilty or innocent.

By the time lunch rolled around, he was working on the 36th case, highlighting and annotating carefully. He hadn't even realized that it was past lunch in fact until the door swung open wildly.

He was about to reprimand whichever employee had entered but his mouth morphed into a full smile as he took in the sight of his wife.

She grinned back, her pink lipstick matching the vivid dupatta she wore. While her shalwar kameez was plain white with lace appliqués, the dupatta was a mesh of hot pink, yellows, and greens with matching tassels. She'd been experimenting with colors and each time Omair saw her try he'd be elated. On her hip sat his serious daughter.

Noorulain was staring at the paintbrush dipped in red paint in her hand, her finger pulling at the brush and coating her hands lightly. Her hair had been neatly braided and with a bow attached to the end, matching her mother wearing a bright pink dress, matching her rosy cheeks.

He let go of the papers as Nina approached him, carrying a large bag of what looked like takeout. She dropped the bag on the desk and leaned forward to kiss his mouth briefly in a hello.

"Hey Angel, this is such a nice surprise." Omair took Noorulain from her, smothering her in kisses as she streaked the red paint onto his white shirt. Nina waited for Omair to become upset but like always he didn't seem to even notice let alone care. It still surprised her.

"I thought we'd eat lunch together." Nina smiled, opening the bags and pulling out the containers. She had brought chow mein, egg fried rice with a side of chicken, and diet soda. For Noorulain, juice.

Once Nina had dished out food for the both of them, they sat back and relaxed. Noorulain got full fast and began walking around and exploring her dad'a office.

Omair stared at his wife, her chocolate brown hair sleek as it swept down her shoulders. Her eyes were shining as they usually did and her cheeks were glowing, lips glossy with the oily food and he wanted to kiss her softly.

She caught his eyes, giggling softly. "What?"

He shook his head, leaning down to get another bite. "Nothing. I just feel grateful."