Unapologetically

chapter twelve

Rohail looked up as Marwa approached him and the shopping cart. She had a small bag and receipt in her hand that she gingerly placed into the cart and then pocketed the receipt.

"Yeh kya hai?" He gestured towards the bag.

"Kuch zaroori cheezein."

"Mujhse nahi keh sakti tum?" Rohail had never felt as emasculated as he did now. Marwa was refusing to meet his eyes, straightening her shawl over her head and tucking in the curl that framed her face.

"Mujhe acha nahi lagta kisi se mang na." She admitted, browsing the masalas with interest.

"Mein koi aur nahi hoon. You are my responsibility."

"Jab tumhe pata hai k hamari relationship normal nahi hain toh baar baar mujhe kyun kaiday aur kanoon samjhate ho?" She snapped, angrily meeting his eyes.

"Chalo gee." His nostrils flared. "Yeh achi baat hai! When I can pay for food, shelter, the bills, the car, and everything else, do you really think of me incapable of paying for your toiletries?"

Marwa groaned. "De diya na thaana? Is hi liye mein tumse nahi kehti. Pehle gold digger kehte rahe ho tum ab mein kya ek dum sab bhool jaoun?"

"Tumse baat karna fazool hai!" He retorted, angrily mussing his hair.

"Toh kisne kaha hai? Khud hi karte ho!"

"Bas tum mujhe pyari hi itni lagti ho k har dafa apna iradha badl k tum se kar leta hoon baat."

She blushed furiously.

"Lekin is waqt tum chudail lag rahi ho."

She clenched her jaw. "Badtameez."

He stifled a laugh as she whirled on her feet and walked away. "Kahan ja rahi ho?"

"Jahannum mein! Arahe ho yah nahi?" She turned to look at him briefly and he lost his breath. There was a teasing smile on her face. A mischievous look in her eye.

He pushed the cart behind her, shaking his head as she stopped to look at a baby. She smiled lovingly and he was hit with this deep sense of longing.

She was so much younger but carried so much of the burden of her life. If only she'd let him shoulder some of it. If only this could be their future.

"Do you like kids?" She asked suddenly as they got into the car. He had shifted the car into drive and was now a little off put by her question.

"Does it matter? It's not like you're gonna have mine."

Marwa gave him a dirty look. "Iska yeh matlab toh nahi that you don't ever have them! Kar lena dobara shaadi."

He clicked his tongue, pulling onto the freeway. "Yah toh tum, yah phir koi bhi nahi."

"Hadd se zyada romantic nahi ho rahe tum."

He gave her a look out of the corner of his eyes. "Yeh mere lehaz se romance nahi, realism hai. When I'm romancing you, sweetheart, you won't be able to talk back."

"Wah! Itna confidence?"

"Tumhare kareeb aata hoon toh tumhare gaal laal ho jaate hain, haath lagata hoon toh bolna bhool jati ho, hont lagaye toh Allah jaanay tumhara kya haal ho jayega."

"Qaatil ban jaoun gi. Tumhara khoon kardun gi." She gritted her teeth but the redness of her face didn't go unnoticed by him.

"You're blushing right now." He grinned.

"Eyes on the road."

"Dadi ne tumhe bataya phir?" He changed the topic.

"Hmm. Mera jaana zaroori hai kya?"