His Captive 21+

48

Anum looked up from the divorce papers to meet Irtaza's gaze. He appeared unnervingly calm, as if the prospect of their divorce did not affect him at all.

"Me lawyer dhoond ke- (I'll find a lawyer and—)

"Lawyer ki koi zaroorat nahi hai Anum, maine sab handle karliya hai. Tumhari sign chahiye that's it. Papers ache se read kar ke sign kardena phir Zafar Iqbal ko dedena." He said, his tone even. (You don't need a lawyer, Anum. I've taken care of everything. Only your signature is needed. Read the papers thoroughly and then hand them over to Zafar Iqbal.)

"Okay..me ghar chali jati hun phir." (Okay... I guess I'll go home then.)

"Tumhe yeh ghar chorne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Tumhara ghar hai yeh, me chala jata hun yahan se." (You don't need to leave this house. It's your home too. I'll move out.)

"Nahi me, me nahi rehna chahti yahan." (No, I don't want to stay here.)

He felt a slight sting in his heart. "Theek hai, tunhari marzi hai. Kab jana hai tumne?" (Alright, it's your choice. When do you want to leave?)

"Abhi jaungi toh ami abu pareshan hojayenge toh kal chali jaungi." (If I go now, my parents will be worried. I'll leave tomorrow.)

"Aur agar me rok loon toh?" (And if I ask you to stay?)

"Huh?" Her eyes widened slightly, fearing that he might not let her go.

"Mera matlab, kal ke bajaye agar parso chali jao toh?" (I mean, could you leave the day after tomorrow instead?)

"Faraq kya parta hai? Jana toh hai hi maine," she huffed a laugh. (What difference does it make? I'm leaving anyway.)

"Mujhe parta hai faraq." (It makes a difference to me.)

"Maine abu se kaha tha ke me kal subha hi ajaungi ghar." (I've already told my parents I'd be home by tomorrow morning.)

"Toh tum jao, shaam mein dinner pe chale jate hain ham? Ek aakhri baar." (Then go tomorrow, but let's have dinner together tomorrow night. One last time.)

She didn't want to deny him when he requested so earnestly, almost pleading. Besides, one dinner couldn't hurt, right?

"Okay."

He smiled at her.

...

"Beta khana lagadiya hai, aja khale," Fatima said as she entered Anum's old room, where Anum was brushing her hair. (Beta, dinner is ready. Come and eat.)

"Nahi ami, me Irtaza ke saath bahir ja rahi hun." (No, Mom. I'm going out with Irtaza.)

Fatima smiled at her. "Theek hai, taiyaar hoja phir. Me jati hun." (Alright, then get ready. I'll leave you to it.)

"Taiyaar? Me taiyaar hi toh hun," Anum said, looking down at her clothes in confusion. (Get ready? I am ready.)

"Beta aise kaise taiyaar hote hain? Na honto pe laali hai na aankhon mein kajal." Fatima picked up a lipstick and applied it on Anum's lips. (How can you say you're ready like this? You have no lipstick on, no kohl in your eyes.)

"Yehi toh waqt hota hai ghoomne phirne ka, phir bache hojate hain. Phir kahan kisi ko waqt milta hai?" She began to apply kohl and eyeliner to Anum's eyes. (This is the time to go out and have fun. Once you have kids, time becomes a luxury.)

"Kitni pyaari lag rahi hai meri bachi. Taiyaar raha kar shohar ke liye." (My girl looks so beautiful. Always stay ready for your husband.)

"Sun, tu..tu maazi se aaghey bhar gayi haina?" She asked, referring to Shehreyar. (Listen, have..have moved on from the past?)