Qurban

•48• Past / ماضی

  کچھ حادثوں سے گر گئے محسن زمین پر
   ہم رشکِ آسمان تھے ابھی کل کی بات ہے۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔

The night was heavy. The once beaming sky was now draped in a thick cloak of darkness like the stars itself were hiding themselves. The traffic had been clear. Fewer cars were in the road. The moon wasn't in sight anywhere in the sky, so the darkness was Zainab's only companion in the silence car ride. Her eyes kept stealing glances at her husband, but he appeared the same as before. Knuckles clutching the steering wheel tightly. Eyes pinned straight ahead, not ever once meeting her's. She tried to reach out to him for a couple of times, but each time something inside her stopped her.

Like another voice telling her to leave him as he was. That he needed space. That the only support she could do was sit beside him and let him deal with whatever he was fighting with.

The car stopped outside their home and Zainab quietly stepped out. The entire elevator ride was silent. As he jingled the keys in the lock and they stepped inside, Zainab felt like they were in a different world somehow. A world where only the two of them existed. A world where no one disturbed them. A world only theirs. Zainab heard the door lock and her anticipation increased. Slowly, she turned her back to him and faced him. She saw as he swiftly got rid of his coat and threw it on the nearby chair. Walking over to the kitchen, he poured himself a glass of water and took his time in drinking the whole thing.

Zainab watched him go through with the whole ordeal, not speaking once. The silence between them was edgy and she didn't want to puncture it. After the glass was empty, Altamash finally faced her. His eyes were pinned on her face. She was sure he would say something. Something that would clear her doubts about the whole day.

"Let's order some food."

Surprise overtook her anticipated expressions. She opened her mouth, trying to refuse his answer when he spoke above her

"Let's eat something before I..I tell you.... everything."

The sadness in his eyes and the emptiness of his eyes was what convinced Zainab. Nodding, she heard him sigh and taking out his phone. He walked away to phone the restaurant when Zainab's phone rang. Khirad's name flashed wide on her screen. Zainab put the device on her ear

"Hello?"

"Zainab. What an unexpected turn of events."

By her voice, she didn't sound so surprised. Zainab ignored her lack of surprise and answered.

"Yes indeed."

She heard some shuffling on the other hand before Khirad's voice greeted her ears.

"About the picture you showed me... I've found out who that girl exactly is."

Zainab eyed her husband who was still busy on his phone. She could ask Khirad about her, but something told her she wouldn't need to. She would be getting her answers tonight.

"I don't need to hear it. I'm going to find out anyway tonight."
***************

Altamash's eyes never strayed from his wife. From the moment he met demanding answers from Faryal till now, he couldn't help but look at her and just stare at her. Her eyes, her cheeks, her hands that held onto him. Most of all, he was scared he wouldn't get a chance to look at her again after he would tell her the truth.

He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply through his nose. As Zainab loaded the last bit of dishes into the dishwater, her eyes met his as she wiped her hand onto a kitchen rag. Her eyes were expectant. And Altamash knew he couldn't delay more. Straightening from his position from leaning onto the wall, he muttered quietly