Unwanted Relations

Chapter 29

" what happened, are you?" He said coming towards her. Noor didn't noticed the softness of his voice nor paid attention to the expression on his face.

" move away from here." He directed her. Noor looked once again at the small shards of glass scattered on the floor; one was right next to her foot if she moved even an inch, it would stab her.

" what happened to you?"

Noor raised her eyes to look at him. For a moment, it took her a while to understand his expression. She saw no anger, hatred or uncertainty in them. Yet, there was a fear in her heart.

" what's wrong with you? Were you crying? And what happened to your face?" He questioned her one after another. Anyone who would saw Noor now would have panicked. Her swollen eyes, red nose, the marks of tears, scratches on her face and evident fear in eyes.

" yes...No. I just woke up, so that's why." She stumbled over her words. But her inner fear had slightly subsided; Umer didn't got to know anything.

Umer continued to watch her for a while. He knew she was lying.

" and what happened to your face?"

Noor unconsciously put her hand on her face.

" I got hurt."

Umer knew this was also a lie.

" I bumped into something. I'm just-" she left her sentence half way and then bent down to pick up the broken pieces of the vase.

Her state was causing Umer great concern. " leave it. You'll hurt yourself. The maid will clean it up." He said after seeing her crouch.

" Noor, I'm saying something. Get up. This will be cleaned up." He spoke again. This time, Noor, seeing the firmness in his voice stood up immediately.

After a short while, the maid had cleaned everything and left. The room was filled with silence, which Umer broke. As he looked at Noor who was now sitting on the couch, deep in some thought, he went towards her and sat on the low wooden table in front of her, keeping his distance.

" why were you locked in the room all day?"

Noor didn't expected this question. She panicked. She had no answers even if she knew, she wouldn't tell him.

" and how did you get this injury?" Another question.

" I..." unable to form a response, he was looking at her that she couldn't even lie.

" I..." and here, Noor lost her courage. She forgotten everything. She cried. And she cried so suddenly that Umer, sitting in front of her, panicked for a moment. She kept crying, not able to say anything.

" why are you crying? I was just asking a question; what's there to cry about?" He was genuinely surprised. On the other hand, Noor's tears won't stop.

" okay, no more questions. Just stop crying." He spoke softly this time.

Noor didn't stopped. She felt like crying would erase all her sorrows, and her tears increased.

Umer, now worried, poured water in the glass and offered it to her. Noor took the glass from him and took a sip or two before putting it back down on the table.

" Relax, nothing has happened Noor." He reassured her. At that moment, he realised  again, how truly, she was just a fifteen year old girl. And Umer was not good at comforting someone who was crying.

Noor managed to gain some control over herself, making efforts to stop crying. She wiped her face with the back of her hand. Not looking fine at all. When she calmed down a bit, Umer thanked god.