Jahaan-Ara

Chapter 18: Snow Cold

"Why are you silent, Jane?"

I was experiencing an ordeal;
a hand fiery iron grasped my
vitals.
Terrible moment; full of struggle,
blackness, burning!
Not a human being ever lived could
wish to be loved better that I was loved;
and him who thus loved me I absolutely
worshiped; and I must
renounce love and idol. One drear
word compromised my intolerable
duty-- "Depart!"

"Jane, you understand what I want of you?
Just this promise--I will be yours, Mr Rochester."

"Mr Rochester, I will not be yours."

Another long silence.

-Jane Eyre

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The branches hung low with the weight of the snow like they were prostrating. The valley was covered with three inch thick sheet of white crisp snow. The ground smooth, even, picture perfect. The narrow roads were hazardous with black ice around the edges

No sooner had the Jeep's icy tracks imprinted on the road; they were erased by an onslaught of fresh white snow. Rohail Saab drove his Jeep up the steep narrow road, wheels spinning momentarily before they regained traction, their wipers moving frantically over the windscreen.

On entering the bustling bazzar, Rohail Saab beeped his horn when he approached a tight corner to warn the oncoming traffic of his arrival. The steam from the vendors stall circled into the air as hot Kashmiri chai cooked on their open air stove. Shopkeepers huddled round a fire with thick shawls around their heads and shoulders rubbing their hands on the embers of the fire. They waved at Rohail Saab welcoming him back after his two week hiatus in Islamabad. Rohail Saab stopped at the fruit stall and greeted the vendor.

"Give me three kilos of your best Clementines."

"These are fresh Rohail Saab. Picked by me from the valley."

"That's why I came from Islamabad to purchase them here. Only the best." He smiled taking the bag of orange bursts of vitamin C and paid the young man generously.

"Keep the change." Rohail Saab smiled and made his way through the bazaar.

It was a strange feeling at the pit of his stomach, like hunger growing each moment he neared the haveli. Never had he felt like this before. Excitement rushing through his veins eager to behold his bride-to-be in his arms. He chuckled at his thoughts as though they were teasing him. Jahaan-Aara would blush and step away. But he knew by looking at the rouge on her cheeks that she wanted to be held in his arms and he would break the barriers to show her how much he missed her.

Finally, he arrived at the haveli. Rohail Saab puckered his lips, straightened his back and brushed the specks of snow and grit from his knee length black coat. He took a moment to compose himself, to brush his hair and fix his flat cap conscious of how Jahaan-Aara would perceive him.

Gul Bahar Khan bowed his head and greeted Rohail Saab welcoming him. Quickly he began to unload the shopping suitcases out of the car.

"Where is my sweet bride?" Rohail Saab's voice echoed the large hallway. His deep authoritative voice echoing throughout the haveli announcing his arrival. "I have bought sweets, gifts and exquisite clothes beyond her imagination." He peeled off his coat and threw it over Bibi Firdousi's shoulder.

"Saab, she is not well. Over the past few days she hasn't eaten much."

He stopped outside the living room and turned to face Bibi Firdousi concerned by Jahaan-Aara's fledging health.