Qurban

•47• Arrest / گرفتاری

Zainab rapped her knuckles lightly on the door and opened it only a crack. The back of her husband faced her as he ran a comb through his hair. He was already dressed in a crisp navy blue suit, his Rolex shining on his wrist in the blooming sun.

"Nashta tayyar hai."
(Breakfast is ready)

Altamash turned, his honeyed eyes smiling at her as he nodded his head. Keeping the comb back in it's place, he grabbed his coat off the back of the bed post and followed her into the dining room. The table was smelling of fresh buttered toast, mouthwatering omelette and steaming cups of chai. Altamash pulled the chair out for Zainab before sitting in his own. He made a hefty portion for himself as Zainab helped herself. They both started eating, a comfortable silence surrounding them like a mother's hand.

Zainab kept staring at her husband from the rim of her cup. He looked immaculate in his shiny suit. It looked new. Not to forget the way he had spent extra time in taking care of his hair. Not a strand was out of place. He looked strangely put together for such a random day.

"You look quite....posh today."

Altamash cracked a smile at her judgement.

"Handsome you mean?"

His smirk was cocky and it made Zainab's stomach did a somersault. He was such a flirt some times.

"I mean you never put so much effort in your attire."

Altamash nodded his head, agreeing with her. He took a sip of his tea, enjoying the taste of the warm liquid sliding down his throat.

"Let's say today is a very big day."

Although his voice was super calm and didn't convey any emotion, but Zainab couldn't help but feel a little concerned. She pursed her lips. Something was eating at her insides. What happened to him two nights prior? He came home looking like a wreck. He was burning up and didn't even speak of the night like it was the plague itself.

The suspense was eating at her brains. She needed to know what happened that night. Deciding to test the waters, she asked tentatively

"Where were you, that night?"

She watched still as Altamash's hand stopped cutting into the egg toast. He didn't reply for a whole second before meeting eyes with her. She stared, trying to find her answer.

She didn't get any.

"I'll drop you to your mother's after breakfast."

Zainab's eyebrows shot up at the blunt change of the topic.

"Why?" She asked.

"I have some matters to attend to. I'm not leaving you alone."

She huffed, feeling irritated all of a sudden.

"I'll be fine on my own, Altamash."

Altamash looked at her, like he was challenging her to disagree with him. She felt her veins protruding. She wasn't a child. She could handle herself. Her teeth gritted as she spat out rather angrily

"Stop treating me like I'm a doll who will break under a touch of your finger."

Her fork dropped onto the plate with a clank, casting eerie silence on the once serene atmosphere of their cozy breakfast. Altamash stared at her, his eyes boring holes in her face as she did the same, matching his stare to her own stinking glare. After a few moments of staring at each other, Altamash heaved a deep sigh. Standing up from his chair, he rounded over to her and dropped on one knee before her. Grabbing her fist that was clutching her shirt, he softly unclenched it before lacing his fingers with her.