In The Grip of Trust

Chapter 8: The Family Game Night

Evening time ,

The room was alive with laughter, chatter, and the occasional burst of teasing. The glow of the evening wrapped around everyone as they gathered in the living room after dinner. Amir's mother had insisted that they all spend time together, and Hamza, ever the prankster, had eagerly suggested a game.

Amir sat quietly beside Ayesha, his mind elsewhere, while Zain curled up beside his new "Ayesha Mamma." His son had taken an immediate liking to her, and although it filled Amir with a strange sense of warmth, the thought of Layla gnawed at him. His parents, Hamza, and Sara had all showered Ayesha with affection since she arrived, and yet Amir still felt distant, fighting with his own feelings.

"Let's start the game!" Hamza's voice broke through Amir's thoughts, his grin mischievous as he laid out the rules. "We ask each other questions, and if someone refuses to answer, there's a punishment. Simple, right?"

Amir barely registered the explanation, his gaze flicking to Ayesha. She sat quietly, her posture stiff, eyes downcast, as if she were merely present but not really part of the gathering. He could sense her discomfort, her aloofness from the warmth and energy surrounding her.

Sara was the first to start, leaning forward with a teasing look. "Amir Bhai, what was the most embarrassing thing you've ever done?"

Amir forced a smile, knowing the room expected an answer. "That's easy, when I was seven, I fell into the neighbor's pond trying to catch a frog... in front of the entire neighborhood."

Laughter erupted. Ayesha smiled faintly, but it was more out of politeness than amusement. Amir noticed the hollow expression in her eyes, the way she seemed disconnected from everything around her.

Zain giggled and pointed at Amir. "Baba fell in the water!"

"Yes, Baba did," Amir ruffled Zain's hair, managing a more genuine smile this time. But inside, his thoughts were miles away.

Next, it was Hamza's turn, and he was already grinning like a cat who had caught a mouse. His eyes darted around before landing on Ayesha, and everyone in the room fell silent, curious about what he might ask.

"Ayesha Bhabi," Hamza began, his voice playful, "did you ever have... you know... a crush on someone before Amir Bhai?"

Ayesha froze. Her fingers gripped the fabric of her dress, her heart pounding in her chest. She hadn't expected to be put on the spot like this. She could feel everyone's eyes on her, especially Amir's, though he remained still, his expression unreadable.

For a moment, she thought about deflecting the question, refusing to answer. But there was something about the atmosphere, the warmth of Amir's family that made her feel vulnerable. She swallowed hard.

"Yes," she said quietly, barely louder than a whisper.

The room erupted in playful gasps and teasing. Hamza's eyebrows shot up in surprise, but he quickly recovered, giving her a wink. "Well, well, Bhabi! I didn't see that one coming! I thought Amir Bhai was the first and only!"

Sara leaned in, smirking at Amir. "Looks like you've got some competition, Amir Bhai."

Amir's jaw clenched, and though he forced a smile, the tension in his shoulders was unmistakable. He hadn't expected Ayesha to answer like that, and even though they were practically strangers, the thought of her having loved someone else-especially given his lingering feelings for Layla-struck him harder than he anticipated.

His parents joined in on the lighthearted teasing. "Looks like Amir Bhai needs to step up his game," his father chuckled, causing more laughter around the room.

Ayesha felt her cheeks flush as the teasing continued. Everyone was having fun, and though she tried to laugh along, the question had rattled her more than she'd let on. Amir was distant now, and she could feel the weight of his silence, even as his family joked around them.

As the game continued, Amir remained mostly quiet, answering questions here and there, but his focus was elsewhere. His parents and siblings teased Ayesha and him, making jokes about newlyweds, how she should expect to be pampered, and how Amir would need to be more romantic. Ayesha tried to smile through it, but Amir's coldness didn't go unnoticed by her.

As the game wound down, Amir's mother stood up, her eyes warm and soft. "Alright, I think that's enough fun for tonight. Time to get some rest."

Hamza grinned one last time. "Goodnight, Bhabi, Amir Bhai. Don't stay up too late!" His teasing wink made Ayesha's heart sink a little deeper, but she nodded politely.

As Amir and Ayesha made their way back to the bedroom, the silence between them was palpable. They both slipped into their side of the bed, as they had done the night before, but the emotional chasm between them felt vast.

Amir lay staring at the ceiling, the conversation from the game replaying in his head. The thought of Ayesha having had feelings for someone else shouldn't have bothered him. After all, he wasn't in love with her-he couldn't be. His heart was still with Layla, even though he knew he had to let go.

But the truth was, every time he looked at Ayesha, he could feel that something was wrong. There was a hollowness in her eyes, a void that reminded him of his own grief. He wondered if she was suffering in some way he didn't understand yet. He could sense her pain, even if she didn't talk about it. But what could he do? He couldn't fix her when he was so broken himself.

Ayesha lay beside him, her back turned, staring at the wall. Her mind was numb, replaying the evening's events, Hamza's question echoing in her thoughts. She didn't want to be here. She didn't want to be anywhere. The warmth and kindness of Amir's family were wasted on her; she didn't deserve it, nor did she want it.

In the stillness of the night, both Amir and Ayesha lay consumed by their own thoughts, each too far gone in their own pain to reach the other.

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