My Quiet Wife

Chapter 9: First Night Together

The car came to a gentle stop in front of Sheesh Mahal, and Jahanara was lost in her thoughts, holding Malika who slept peacefully in her lap. The soft hum of the car's engine was the only sound in the stillness of the night. Jahanara's thoughts wandered, her heart heavy with the weight of everything that had happened in the past few hours. She had married a man she didn't know. She had no choice but to accept it. What is my life now? What will happen to Malika?

The sound of the car door opening jerked her out of her thoughts. Sufiyaan's cold, composed voice followed soon after. "We've reached."

Jahanara blinked, disoriented, realizing that she had barely noticed they'd arrived. She carefully shifted Malika in her lap, trying to maneuver her heavy lehenga as she struggled to get out of the car. Before she could make much progress, Sufiyaan was already at her side, his expression unreadable as he reached inside the car.

"Let me take her," he said, his tone neither gentle nor harsh.

Jahanara barely had time to react before Sufiyaan took Malika from her arms. His fingers brushed hers as he cradled the child, and for a moment, both felt a strange, almost electric tingle pass through them. It was as if their contact had the power to heal something deep inside both of them, a quiet, unnoticed wound that neither of them had yet acknowledged. Sufiyaan, still grappling with the weight of his own thoughts, held Malika with an unexpected delicacy. She was small, fragile—more delicate than anything he'd ever held before. Just like her mother, he thought, but before he could sink deeper into that train of thought, Anila's voice interrupted his reverie.

"Come inside, everyone. It's getting late. Let's show you to your rooms."

Reyan, ever the bundle of energy, led the way, jumping up and down with excitement. "Mama, come, I'll show you my room!" he beamed, his face lit up like a million suns, eager for Jahanara's approval.

The family followed, and when they entered the room, the spaciousness and the modern, child-friendly luxury surrounded them. The walls were painted in soft shades of cream and pale blue, and toys were scattered across the floor. There was a large bed with fluffy pillows, and a giant window that overlooked the garden below. The room was decorated with bright, fun accents—an assortment of stuffed animals, a play area, and shelves filled with books and games.

Reyan looked eagerly at Jahanara, awaiting her response, but she remained silent, her gaze distant. Her lack of enthusiasm seemed to strike Reyan hard. He couldn't understand why his new mama wasn't excited for him. He felt a sinking feeling in his chest. Does she not like me? he wondered, his face falling ever so slightly.

Sufiyaan noticed his son's expression, and for a moment, anger flared inside him. He clenched his jaw, fighting the urge to shout, but he quickly stifled it. Not in front of Malika, he reminded himself. He didn't want his daughter to feel his anger, especially as she slept soundly in his arms.

But before Sufiyaan could give in to his frustration, Jahanara spoke, her voice quiet but enough to lift Reyan's spirits. "It's nice," she said, looking around the room briefly. Her simple approval brought a broad smile to Reyan's face, and he instantly brightened, the tension in his small shoulders lifting.

Reyan then led the group to the next room—the room that had been especially prepared for Malika.

The room was stunning, a peaceful sanctuary designed with the utmost care and luxury. The walls were painted in soft pastels, with a delicate mural of a garden in full bloom, birds perched in the branches, and clouds floating lazily in the sky. A large, white crib sat at the center, surrounded by plush rugs and soft lighting. The room exuded a gentle, tranquil energy, perfect for a child as delicate as Malika.