Aisling [A one shot collection]

Ours

Muntaha | Aarib

Muntaha had always been a solitude lover. Silence has its own language. And these days it was trying to tell her something she didn't want to ponder upon. Leaning against the pillar she looked deep into the sky. The stars and the distant moon were helping the night chasing away the darkness. She laughed at her own thought. Night is a synonym of darkness then how can the darkness be chased away from it?

Bride, marriage, newly wed. All these words had been echoing around her for so long, even before she had gotten married. Her mother had told her what was expected out of her but Muntaha was never told what she should be expecting. Muntaha's mother in law was not some reincarnation of a soap opera vamp. She was just a regular woman who was treating Muntaha exactly like a new member in the family. There were two sisters in law, both married and well settled in their lives. No drama, no hard feelings and no pretense. It was simple and smooth.

Then what was the problem? Yeah, Muntaha would love to know what the problem with that husband of hers was. But if only he'd let her know. And letting in and getting to know wasn't something he was specifically good at. She had understood at least that by now.

Their before marriage meet was fresh in her mind. Aarib had come out to be calm and composed but now she'd termed it as closed off. A workaholic in his truest sense and on top he loved playing this game which included ignoring Muntaha like he was supposed to do that.

Muntaha was prepared for every situation. Being brought up in a household where she had always seen her mother being the best example of a housewife and daughter in law. But that hadn't come easily. Her mother had endured every obstacle thrown her way. Muntaha knew somewhere she might have to go through all this as well but it hadn't come to this. Hers was another kind of plight where she wasn't sure how to approach the situation.

She remembered the wedding night. How nervous and unprepared she was feeling. Seeing her state, Aarib's cousins had come up with an idea to light up the situation. Pranking them in their bedroom was one risk they had taken. Muntaha had laughed it off but the same wasn't true with Aarib. He was looking angry and that's how he went to sleep without even saying anything.

Yeah, straight to sleep.

The audacity had her rolling her eyes. This wasn't supposed to go like this, right? But the next few days proved she was in for a surprise. Aarib Mughees was proving to be an enigma. He was no different than any other human, that'd be so far fetched but he was still something. He had his way of doing things and he didn't like anyone interfering in his personal space.

For the first few days, they were at the main house of Mughees family but due to Aarib's job they had to come back to his city apartment. Those days spent with his whole family were the main highlight of Muntaha's married life. After that nothing exciting happened.

She had tried initially but he was used to doing things in his own way. Her help was deemed as intrusion and she was given just one disapproving glance to tell her she was not invited in his personal aura. Fair enough

From that day on wards, Muntaha had stopped trying to do any such thing again. She would spend her day in making dishes and baking things. Her mother in law had told her all about Aarib's favourite dishes. Muntaha had tentatively tried and this worked. Her cooking had not been discouraged but that made her even more wry of the situation. What was she? A maid? He would eat things made by her but wouldn't say a single word to her. She was at the brink of losing her calm. With frustration there was hurt as well. It had been three weeks to their marriage and there was no understanding whatsoever. She was reluctant to even try now. What's the point when her extended hand would just be rejected? This isn't what she had thought marriage would be like.