Meri Sanam Ki Yaddein

Part Seven

Part Seven

Aahil awakened due to the sun shinning in the room. He opened his eyes slowly to see the curtains had been drawn back. He reached over to see if Sanam had come back to bed. She had not. The bed felt cold next to him, which made him realize she must have been up for quite sometime.

He freshened up quickly and sauntered off into the kitchen. The first thing he noticed was a stool and on it was his begum precariously balancing herself on it. His instincts screamed at him and he knew he had to lunge forward.

Sanam was trying to retrieve a packet from the top cabinet but she realized now she had utilized the wrong method in getting it. She felt the stool slip beneath her and she feared the worse as she began to fall.

Strong arms enveloped her around her shoulder and the small of her back. Her closed eyes opened slowly as she opened them to realize she had landed on the muscular body of her husband. She looked up into his eyes feeling a very deep sense of déjà vu. She sensed this was not the first time he had cushioned one of her falls.

Aahil felt relieved that he had been able to be her cushion again in time of need. He recalled several moments when he had the chance to save her and the many times she too had saved his, which caused them to lay together with their eyes locked with each other.

" Aap theek haina?" she whispered softly.

" Hahn main theek hoon. However your habits never seem to go away," he added.

She got up from leaning on him. He instantly felt strange when she pulled away from him like this. Then again he reminded himself he could not expect her to be all-affectionate and tease him when she had to get to know him all over again.

She turned to offer him her hand; he couldn't help but smile with glee as he took it. He got up and stretched.

"What are you up to?" he asked.

" I was just going to cook some breakfast. We can discuss the dhaba after and I would like to go exploring to find some connections and supplies for the project," she stated in a matter of fact way.

He smiled. His Sanam was in there somewhere. So what if she didn't remember everything, they had each other that are what mattered most anyway.

Aahil offered to help prepare breakfast.

"Ek Nawaab hoke khaana banenge?" she asked innocently.

Aahil pinched her nose where some flour had landed. She squirmed and scowled at him.

He couldn't help it but brought her close to himself and he leaned in to kiss her. She returned the fervor to his surprise. He had expected her to push him away. They pulled back after feeling breathlessly.

" Sanam, I.

"Shh! Don't be sorry. I don't know how I could have forgotten how passionate, patient and loving you are," she rasped.

He caressed her cheek, becoming emotional hearing her words.

"Aahil I think this may sound strange coming from a girl, but can we have another nikkah? I want to experience it all with you again," she stated.

Aahil thought about all the other times they had wanted a fresh start in their lives but had failed to obtain true happiness. However he knew this time things would be better. They would be stronger and be able to work together to maintain their world.

" If this is what you really want Sanam, then I have no objections. I just want to make you really happy," he admitted.

She smiled.

"This would make me very happy Aahil," she affirmed.

A knock on the door broke their reverie.

" Sanam stay here. No one should be visiting us here," he said warily.

Sanam wanted to go with him to open the door, but indicated for her to stay back.

Aahil opened the door slowly.

A woman wearing a burkha was standing there.

"Aap kaun?," he asked.

She quickly brushed past him and launched herself to hug Sanam.

Then she stepped back and took off her veil.

"Hello Jeejai. Sorry to rain on the parade, but we need to save Bhopal," Seher declared.

Aahil and Sanam exchanged confused looks.

" What is going to happen in Bhopal, Seher?" Aahil asked.

"Shashi Kapoor has been spotted in the area, rumor has it she is going to become the new mayor next week, if we don't create a diversion to pull her in, she may succeed in destroying the city of our births," Seher declared.

"Why would she want to destroy Bhopal? It must be something personal as when I was in Pakistan she killed Shaad's friend and family members because they found out her true identity," Sanam pondered aloud.

Aahil frowned. So Sanam met this mysterious character before?

" Yeh Shashi Kapoor kaun hai?," he asked puzzled.

"Jeejaji, she is none other than your stepsister. I do not know her original name or what caused her to become an international criminal but she is here in our motherland. As citizens and as her family we must stop her," Seher stated.

"You are right, She is Tanveer Begum's daughter but if she is indeed trying to hurt the people of Bhopal we must stop her," Aahil declared.

Sanam was confused she didn't know how her husband's stepmother's daughter would end up in her life in more than one incident. However she was determined to stop her from taking more lives. She had tried to save Shaad's family but she was outnumbered and unaware of what Shashi Kapoor could do. Now she was fully aware and she had two people that could help her prevent more tragedies from occurring.

"What is the plan Seher? What does my saali have in mind to end this situation?" Aahil asked.

"Jeejai, we need a grand diversion. We need to announce aapa has returned. You must hold a news conference to officially announce the true Begum of Bhopal has returned. Shashi Kapoor will try something and we can catch her red handed. She will try to expedite her plans," Seher stated.

"Who gave you all this information?" Sanam inquired.

"Shaad Aftab Khan," Seher stated.

Aahil cringed.

"You know he has tried to take advantage of your aapa," Aahil hissed.

"Yes but now we will use him to end Shashi Kapoor's reign of terror," Seher retorted.

Aahil saluted her.

"I knew only you could be this clever!," he declared as he gave her a side hug.

Sanam smiled seeing her sister and husband's interactions.

Suddenly Seher's stomach growled.

Aahil and Sanam laughed.

"Come on you two! I have barely eaten or slept the past few days. Let's have breakfast and then focus on the planning!" she said with glee.

Sanam hugged her and said," Sure after all it's been awhile since I have met my sister. Today we will eat to our heart's content."

Aahil was happy to see the sisters together again but he feared what Shashi Kapoor's plan was and he hoped Shaad would not cause any more issues.