Unapologetically

chapter eleven

"Marwa! Uth jao yaar! Meri tie kahan hai?" Rohail buttoned his shirt, standing over her head as she held the pillow over her face.

"Rohail kya masla hai! Tumne toh mujhe sahi wali biwi samajh liya hai!" She whined, chucking the pillow at him.

"Bas kar wa lo tumse bakwas. Meine Craigslist se tumhe nahi order kiya. Sahi wali hi ho." He rebuffed.

She set up, catching him off guard as her cheeks tinted deep pink and long, curly hair cascading past her face and shoulders mesmerized him.

"Meine tumhe kitni dafa kaha hai! Mujhe aisay nah dekho karo!" She glared, getting up off the bed and walking to his closet.

"Mein kya phir neighbor's ki biwi jaa k dekhoon?"

"Tumhari marzi mere se naah poocho!"

She threw his tie at his face, getting back in bed. "Aaj mein pura din songi. Shaam mein tum mujhe Nano k ghar lekar jaoge."

"Typical biwi." He grunted, sliding on his watch.

"Hmm." She mocked. "Is typical biwi se tumhe koi see off hug nahi milna toh is liye shabash tashreef le jao."

He smirked. "Aur see off kiss?"

"Ulti naah kardun mein."

"Badtameez."

Things had been somewhat amicable between them. She was getting ready for her ward exams and work was busy for him. Somehow; the embarrassment of not being able to find anything that day had kept her away from her goal of unmasking Lubna. And Rohail could live his entire life acting as if that woman didn't exist if it meant Marwa stayed with him, fought with him, even looked at him.

Marwa was off today, and taking full advantage. Rohail had sauntered over to her side of the bed before leaving. He always found some stupid excuse to go see her before he left. As if he wished to take her up in his arms in case it would be the last time.

"Koi stupid harkat naah karna please. Okay?"

"Dafa ho." She mumbled, eyes already closed and halfway asleep.

He leaned over her, adjusting her blanket and cupping her cheek. Her eyes opened. "Meine mar nahi jaana tumhare wapis aanay se pehle. Don't worry."

He grinned, kissing her forehead before she could object. She made a face, wiping away his kiss as he chuckled.

///

When awoke again, it was nearly 11. She took a lengthy shower, washing her hair with care today. Her coconut milk shampoo moisturizing and infusing her hair with its sweet scent. Her curls clumped up and she dried her hair, running the leave in cream through it and going in which her hands as she scrunches. Her curls were bouncier today. Ever since she had revisited her house, she had been careful with her hair, splurging a little on hair products. Wearing it proudly.

She used the hair drier with its diffuser attachment and dried her hair, broke the gel cast with some hair oil so that the soft curls would be shiny and glistening. She looked at all her clothes, not daring to look through the ones that Rohail had bought before deciding on a cream shalwar kameez, with delicate silver embroidery. It had short sleeves and she wore a cropped cardigan with it, the colder weather not gone just her. She tied her necklace in the back and smiled at her reflections.

Her fingers were gentle as she added blush with the pads of them. Her eyelashes elongated with the mascara. She always took care in applying it. With each individual stroke she separated the lashes and coated them.

She used some of blush on her lips, just a dab. She left her dupatta in the room, there wasn't anyone home. Just her and Afia.

When she went down Afia was watching TV, a horror movie by the looks of it. She held back a smile as she approached the older woman.