Play of Fate

Chapter 9

                اس شور مچاتی دنیا میں
                اک تم ہی سکون کا لمحہ ہو
______________________________________

Tears dripped down my eyes wetting my cheeks. I closed my orbs feeling the sting but the knife clasped in my fingers didn't stop cutting the onions.

Were those tears really due to the sting of onions or it was that constant dull ache that was expressing itself in the name of onions? Two days, It has been two days since I last heard from my husband. I called him once occupied by two good morning texts. He didn't by reply or called me back.

It was like last time except that now my feelings weren't the same. Last time, I only required the comfort of the only relationship that was by the will of Allah bestowed on me but this time I was simply missing his presence. The room and bed felt too empty without him and the time it became limitless.

Gulbano entered in kitchen with my phone in her hand. She told me that it was ringing but I ignored it. Since two days, I have been looking at my phone again and again hoping for a text a miss call or anything only for my hopes to be shattered. I didn't want to go through this again so I asked her to place the phone on the slab.

"Bhabi ji, lagta hai k Jahan bhai k jane k bad apke gallon k gulab jaise surhe bhe un k sath he chale gayi. ( It looks like that after the departure of jahan bhai, the rose like redness of your cheeks has also left with him.)"

I couldn't stop myself from blushing whenever I would see Jahan off to office as he would always steal a kiss or two as it was mostly in open, it was like oil added on fire and I would blush fiercely. After seeing my state, Gulbano always made this comment to tease me further and that would make me smile shyly but now it did nothing but made me feel more sad.

My phone ringed again. I placed the knife back on my plate and washed my hands in sink before rubbing them with end my chiffon dupata. I slid the slider to right without even looking at the screen.

I placed the cell on my right ear and greeted in normal polite tone.

"Aslam Alikum."

"Walikum Salam."

The deep rich baritone voice greeted me after two days. I didn't know if I should be happy or upset.

"Kiya mein apka zayada waqat to ni lo ge? (Would I be taking much of your time?)"

I guess at the end my resentment decided for itself as it dripped from my lips. I heard a light chuckle from the other end. He was amused which infuriated me.

"Ap shikayat kar rahe hai. (Are you complaining?)"

"Ni to. Mein to sirf apke biwi hone k farz nebha rahe ho apka waqt ka kheyal karte howe. (I am just doing the duty of being your wife by caring about your time.)"

A minute later of the silence, he spoke in a contemplating tone.

"Mujhe samanjh ni araha begum k main khush ho k ap mere sath itna comfortable hogaye hai ya ma disturb ho k ap mere sath itna______ (I don't understand if I should be happy that you are this much comfortable with me or disturbed that you are this much________) He stressed on this much saying it slowly. _______ comfortable hain. ( __________ comfortable with me.)"