Bowled Over By The Broken

Chapter 37: Revisiting a Closed Chapter

13th February, 2018

It's crazy how many of you asked me for an early update! Not sure if an update within 20 days is early but considering how it's been from the past few months and given my jam packed schedule, I hope it counts as one. ;) JazakAllahu khiaran for all the votes and comments you guys leave me with, they make all the time and effort spent writing worth it <3

"O you who believe! Betray not Allah and His Messenger, nor betray knowingly your Amanat (things entrusted to you, and all the duties which Allah has ordained for you)"

[al-Anfaal 8:27]

Chapter 37:  

Revisiting a Closed Chapter

Anabya turned to look at Shamaaz, each letter of his previous question pounding in her head. She stared at him, a look that clearly conveyed her disbelief and anger for being asked something so outrageous.

Shamaaz, however, matched the intensity of her gaze, confident that he had done nothing wrong.

"How would you answer your own question, Shamaaz?" She asked, unsure how her voice managed to turn out so cold despite the fury bubbling in her.

"Well, I don't know, that's exactly why I asked you," he shrugged, not budging the slightest bit.

"Do you hear yourself right now?"

"It's a simple question," he replied, irking her all the more.

Breaking their staring contest, Anabya turned back in her seat, her fingers linked together in her lap as she stared at them, she blinked furiously to stop any traitors to leave a trail of their rage. She swallowed the lump in her throat but when nothing helped to gain her composure, or stabilize her thoughts that had simply decided to stop making sense, she stepped out of the car, trying to replace the suffocation with some air. 

She could feel her face turn warm while she made her way to the apartment, and she quickly ran a finger under her eye to wipe any telltale signs of wetness. She would never let him see her like this.

She heard the sound of him shutting his own car door, rather more roughly, before she heard heavy footsteps behind her but she most definitely was not going to stop.

"Bya, I'm speaking to you," she heard him say and when he was beside her, and she felt him reach for her hand to stop her in her tracks, she was quick to pull it away even before he could touch her. She was so mad, she couldn't even stand having him close to her, the thought of his touch could combust her. 

She rushed upstairs, not even bothering to wait for the elevators as she took two stairs at a time. She had to do something, anything to get away from him.

Ruled by his own thoughts, and the annoyance of all that happened a few minutes back at the restaurant, Shamaaz was too stubborn to actually make an effort to understand what was going on in Anabya's mind. Thus, clenching his jaw, he simply found his way to his apartment, this time without uttering a single word to her. 

"Anabya, I'm so glad you two decided to come early," was the first thing Tanliza stated and since she was so preoccupied, it took her a couple of minutes to process the statement.

"Yeah," is what she finally managed to utter, forcing a smile as she took a few steps forward while Shamaaz simply went upstairs to his bedroom.

"Some of our family friends are coming over for dinner, and they are really important people. They were not in the country during the wedding so it's the first time they'll be seeing you, make sure you dress well, alright?"