"You walked into the lion's den, sweetheart," he whispered, stepping closer. "And lions don't let go so easily."
He looked down at her leg, at her trembling hands, and the fear in her eyes.
"A beautiful young girl like you," he chuckled, "shouldn't...
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Mishti
The grapes were too sweet. Like abnormally sweet. Or maybe it was the hormones.
I popped another one in my mouth, lounging lazily on the divan near the window, my palm resting on my slowly swelling belly. Mommy sat beside me, her silver hair tied in a bun, one hand busy peeling an apple, the other giving me unsolicited but strangely comforting advice.
"You must drink milk twice a day, Mishti. Not that thin kind. Full cream. And eat ghee. Desi ghee. Your child should be big, fat and strong like Sultan was."
I chuckled. I couldn't help it. The thought of a chubby little baby bouncing in my arms was amusing enough. But the idea of that baby being anything like his father? Terrifying.
"God forbid he turns out like Sultanji," I whispered under my breath with a smirk.
She narrowed her eyes at me in fake scolding. "Arey! Don't say like that. That boy gave me hell, but look how much he loves you. Always screaming for you-"
And right on cue...
"MISHTI!!!"
The voice thundered from upstairs. Like a storm was brewing. Or more accurately, like a man-child who still didn't know how to behave post-hospitalisation.
I blinked. Mommy blinked.
Another wail echoed. "MISHTIIIIIIII!"
She snorted, shaking her head. "Why don't you go? Before he comes down and embarrasses himself."
I looked at her, tongue tied. What could I say? That her laadle beta had been doing very inappropriate things to me last night despite half his skull being stitched? That I had begged him to stop, that he said - "My pelvis ain't broken, is it, amore?" and kept going like a possessed man?
No. I couldn't say that.
Not when my thighs still ached from his madness. Not when he had smeared himself all over my belly, like he wanted to mark me even there.
"I think he... wants to take me to Noor Mahal," I said quickly, changing the topic.
Her hand froze in midair.
"Noor Mahal?" she asked sharply, voice suddenly stripped of its warmth. "Why?"
I shrugged. "He didn't tell me much. Just that someone's trying to take it. Some land dispute?"
Before she could respond, the headmaid came flying down the stairs,breathing like she ran from ghosts.
"What happened?" Mom frowned.
She clutched her chest. "Malik-he pulled out his pistol. I swear to Allah, I saw my grave flashing before my eyes. And all because... I knocked on the door to ask what he needed!"
