A Tale of Hearts

Chapter Forty Eight

Fahad's POV:

I know I claimed to be liberal and open minded. And I actually was until I met the Ice Queen. I was indifferent to my exes affairs. They would try to make me jealous and it would only have the opposite effect of me getting annoyed with my exes for being so pathetic. Rather than getting jealous, I would ditch them immediately. No questions asked.

I couldn't care less if they tried to talk or look at other guys. But the moment they did, I would lose interest in them. It was boring, predictable even. The way they tried so hard to keep my attention on them. Going above and beyond. And then I met her. I turned my head to look at Rubab.

She was glaring daggers at the windshield ever since I asked her that question. Maybe it was Karma, maybe some ex of mine cursed me but I wanted all of Rubab's attention. I wanted her eyes on me. I wanted her to rely on me. I wanted her smile and rare laughs directed only at me.

When she had smiled at Sultan at the wedding, it took every muscle in my body to refrain from whisking Rubab away from there and throwing her against the wall and leaving bite marks on her neck to make sure everyone knew she was mine. All of her belonged to all of me.

I used to judge Ibraheem for being whipped with Misha. He would get uneasy if he didn't talk to her every few hours. He would want to see her or listen to her voice to calm his antsy self. I used to think he was a simp. Little did I know, I was probably worse than him.

I wanted Rubab more than anything or anyone. I wanted her whole focus on me. I know I was growing more obsessive by the day but I didn't want to scare her away either. That day when she stepped out of the bed to go get water, negative thoughts erupted under my skin.

Fahad Abroo was scared. For once. Apart from God and losing my loved ones, didn't fear anything. Ever. And yet that day, I woke up in a fight and flight mode. I was afraid that she was going to leave me in the middle of the night. That she would want to let go of me. I couldn't absorb that reality. I couldn't accept my own thoughts.

I hadn't slept that night. I kept thinking why? Why did I turn out this way? Why did the idea of Rubab leaving me shake the very foundation of my existence? I didn't deny the fact that I had grown infatuated with her.

She is charming. Beautiful. Cold. She is truly different. She has her self respect intact. She is emotionless at times but that makes all the more stunning. But that wasn't it. My addiction for her superseded purely physical aspects.

I really enjoyed her personality. It was a breath of fresh air. I could be my absolute genuine self with her and I didn't have to worry about being judged. I was raw with her. Crazy. Unpredictable. Messy. And she accepted all of it. Sometimes with a glare and sometimes with the faintest of smiles.

With her, I never had to pretend to be something I wasn't. I was accepted. Just the way I was. She would frown me and judge me but she would never complain. Never truly hate it. She enjoyed my company just as much as I enjoyed her company.

And then I realised it that night. I was surprised at the fact that I didn't see it earlier. Maybe because I had never felt it before despite my relationships. Maybe because the emotion was non-existent before I met Rubab. That day, I was scared because I thought I was going to lose Rubab.

I want her heart because she already has mine.

I don't know when it started. Maybe it was when I offered her my jacket and she almost said something to me. Almost gave me hope. Maybe it was when she held my hand in the car and asked me save her from Zohaib. Maybe it was when I saw her as my bride for the first time and lost words at how beautiful she was. The fact that she would become mine had changed me.

I never denied these feelings. I was just blind to them. I wanted to protect her from all the filth of this world. I really loved her with all of me. I planned the weekend getaway for a reason. I had planned to tell her my feelings on this trip. I know we were married but I still hadn't told her this properly. I didn't want this to be a contract. It was never a contract for me. I am never letting her go. Ever. We are in this together now.

I wasn't a religious person but at that time, I felt myself looking outside at the sky and up above. To where God was.

The prayer left my heart before I could stop it.

Ya Allah, I want this woman, this ice queen with me at every step of my life. You have united me with Rubab in this world and I pray that when death comes to me, I meet her again in the hereafter. I want to spend both lifetimes with her. I am a sinner but for her, I will become a better person. So please, never break us apart. I don't think I could handle it. Not even the slightest.

The prayer made my heart lighter. It felt like He was actually listening to me. God wouldn't abandon me or her. He accepts His creation's sincere forgiveness, doesn't He?

"Fahad, are you listening?" Rubab's eyebrows were knit together as she looked at me with concern.

"I am always listening to you, begum." I squeezed my hand that was comfortably resting on her leg. She hadn't swatted it away. She tried to scoot away before but that bothered me far too much. I didn't realise how badly I wanted to keep touching her and feeling her warmth. How ironic. The ice queen made me feel all warm and cozy inside. "So what about the answer to that question I asked you?"

"Are you seriously asking me something this absurd? What? Are you going to track them down and hurt them or something?" I was surprised that she was starting to understand me so much better now. She was damn right about that. I will find each and every one of them. The silence was deafening. "Really? You are impossible. I am not answering this question."

"Come now, begum, don't be difficult." We were both stubborn. I wonder who would give up first. "Agar ap nahi bhi bataogi, men dhund tou phir bhi lena hi hai. Tou araam se bata dou. (Even if you don't tell me, I am still going to find them. So just tell me quickly.)"

"Pehle ap Zohaib ka tou kuch karlo. Phir men apko bata dungi. (First deal with Zohaib and then I might just tell you.)" She was lying in the second sentence. I had picked up on her habits now. If she was lying, her voice was getting a little lower as if she was afraid that people might actually hear her lies.

But does that mean there are men who are after my wife? I felt my jaw clench. They must have balls of steel for even trying. Well, I had a few suspects in mind.

"I will handle Zohaib. Don't worry your beautiful little head over it." I squeezed her thigh and rubbed it up and down feeling her flinch under my touch. Good.

"And I will handle the men around me. Don't worry your evil head over it. I am your wife, I won't cheat on you while we are together." While that statement made me burst with joy. The last bit made me twist with anger.

"While we are together?" I repeated her words.

"Yeah, only until we are together. I will consider other options once this entire ordeal ends."

She was still thinking about that? What delusional world was she living in? I slowed the car to focus on her words and give a proper warning to her.

"Rubab, there are no other options. It is only you and me from now on. They is no 'until'. We are in it for the long haul. I don't plan to let you go even after I get rid of Zohaib for good. You are mine. I am yours. It was never a contract for me." I kept my voice levelled although my insides were erupting like a volcano at the thought of her leaving me. I parked the car on the side of the road and turned to look at her. I placed my hand at the back of her head and brought her close to my face. "I will be damned if I let my wife leave me. Ever."

With that, I crashed my lips against hers.