Qurban

•35• Beginning / ابتداء

Altamash took a long sip of his drink, staring at the sky decorated with stars above. He swirled the drink in his hand, clearly distracted by something. But before he could do anything or think anything, echo of footsteps surrounded him. Not just any ordinary echo, no these footsteps were sure and adamant and he knew too clearly to know whom they belonged to.

"Hiding?"

The taunt and the uncharacteristic jab was unusual from Idris Nawaz. He wasn't the one to beat around the bush. He was the one who believed in striking a bullseye. But with Altamash, he always liked playing games. Always liked toying with him. It was his favourite, the most twisted of ways to hurt him. To inflict pain on him. To get a reaction out of him.

Too bad for his grandfather, he was getting far too good at his own game.

"I haven't done anything to hide."

A fire simmered in his grandfather's eyes at his disrespectful comment but that only fueled the satisfaction running in Altamash's heart. He didn't enjoy it, but also he didn't mind staining his grandfather's ego.

They both were twisted in their own way.

"You've grown quite.... reckless."

Altamash's chest vibrated with laughter. Though it lacked any humour. He knew what Idris Nawaz meant by his offensive comment.

"I'm just playing this game on my own terms."

All playfulness left Idris's eyes the moment the words escaped Altamash's mouth. Settling his grandson with a lethal stare, his voice dropped to octaves

"You've brought that girl in my house. Be ready to face the storm you so eagerly brewed."

Altamash was unfazed. He knew this moment would come all along. Knew exactly what he was stepping into when the made the decision to marry Zainab.

"I'll be ready when it thunders."

He downed his drink in one breath and turned on his feet and left his dearest grandfather standing behind, feeling his penetrating gaze bore holes in his back. He turned on a corner and heard soft whispers growing louder as Faryal and Zainab came into his view. Both the women looked deep in conversation and he felt suddenly relieved. With all the chaos they would be surrounded with, a good company wouldn't hurt. His eyes stole a glance at his watch before he interrupted the two

"Sorry to interrupt you too, but it's getting kinda late. We should head home now."

Faryal's mouth shaped in an O and she nodded her head. All three of them casually strolled to the main hall where the rest of the family was seated except for Mansha who apparently looked like retired for the night.

"We should head back home now."

Nafisa stood up and Altamash hugged his mother placing a kiss atop her head. Her eyes then moved to Zainab standing an inch behind her son and she only tipped her head. Altamash placed a hand atop Faryal's head who in turn beamed at him before throwing her arms around Zainab surprising her. They left for home after that. 

******************

The crickets chirped in the quiet of the night, creating a melody of some sort. The sky was completely barren of stars, a blanket of darkness covering the earth. It was the perfect opportunity for Altamash to make a cup of hot tea and enjoy the wild storm of his thoughts with the serenity of the silence around him. His fingers curled around the balcony door sliding it open. However, his steps came to a halt at the figure standing a a good ten feet away from him. 

A black chadar  covered her shoulders, her hair hidden underneath the thickness of the fabric. She seemed oblivious to his presence. Her face tilted upward in the sky as if she was communicating with the universe.