Author's POV

Saim went to the sofa and held his head. Tears slipped from his eyes without him realizing. Reema got down from the bed and came to him, sitting beside him. She placed her hand on his shoulder, but he jerked away from her, breathing heavily. Reema quickly took her hand back, pressing her lips together.

His eyes turned red. “Stay… stay away!” he whispered unevenly with trembling hands. He clenched his fists to suppress the sensation overwhelming him. He wanted to run out of the room but couldn’t. He had put himself in this situation, and now he had to face it.

Reema’s eyes welled up at his reaction, and the realization struck her hard.

He had fallen for Aina deeply. He loved her.

She could see the tremble in his body, and now she hated Aina even more. She stood up, gathering confidence, and walked towards him.

She would have him, even if it meant manipulating him. She would make him hate Aina.

She held his hand. He tried to move away, but she tightened her grip.

“It’s okay. I was your friend before I became your wife.” Reema wrapped her arms around him.

“Reema, please…” he pleaded softly, not wanting to hurt her. She had already been wounded by him many times.

“Saim… I will be with you. I know it’s hard, but I will help you. You don’t have to feel guilty. She doesn’t deserve your guilt. Whatever is happening to her is because of her own actions.” She moved back and cupped his face. He tried to remove her hands, but she didn’t let go. “Saim… did you forget that because of her, you had to go behind bars? She proved you a rapist. Then why are you hurting for her?”

Saim’s hands, which had been trying to remove hers, fell helplessly to his side.

“Saim… I love you. You love me. We always wanted to get married. Then why are you spoiling our moments for someone who destroyed your reputation—not only in the family but also in the office?”

He didn’t reply, and Reema continued, “Your mother told me how badly she was hurt when twice you were accused of attempted rape. She cried to me that Aina’s parents blamed her for your upbringing.”

She hugged him again, and this time, he hugged her back, shutting off his thoughts.

She was right. Aina didn’t deserve his guilt. She had hurt them more. And whatever was happening with her…

She deserved it.

*************

Aina, who was awake, got out of bed to perform tahajjud (voluntary late-night prayer) to calm her shattered heart. It was around 2 in the morning.

She performed wazu (ablution), wrapped her dupatta over her head, and prayed. She raised her hands to make dua (supplication), but no words came out. Her eyes were empty.

She felt suffocated as the thoughts haunted her again—thoughts of Saim and Reema—thoughts that didn’t let her sleep.

She opened the door and ran out of the house. She stopped in the garden, lifted her head towards the sky, breathing slowly to calm her racing heart.

Her eyes fell on the flowers she had planted. They had blossomed.

"I planted it today. I want us to remember that as this plant grows, so will our love"

She heard her words rang in her ear and the tears she had been holding back since his nikah finally filled her eyes.

“Ya Allah, mera dil phat jaega” (O Allah, my heart will burst) she cried helplessly, falling in front of the flowers. “I know I deserve all this. I sinned for a man who was na-mahram (not permissible for me) at that time. I hurt my parents for him. I loved him with my entire being when no one deserves to be loved that way except You. I hurt everyone. Whatever is happening with me—I deserve it. But Allah Miya, mera dil phat raha hai (my heart is tearing apart). So easily they threw me out of his life and his room. Allah Miya, mai kya karun? (O Allah, what do I do?) Mera dil phat raha hai (My heart is shattering). Mai mar rahi hun (I am dying).” She began plucking the flowers as tears poured out. She was crying hysterically.

Saim woke up from his sleep, feeling suffocated. He opened his eyes and saw Reema lying close to his face, sleeping beside him. He instantly got out of bed. Turning around, he opened the window for fresh air.

But his breath caught in his chest when his eyes fell on the girl in the garden—crying, plucking the flowers she had planted with so much love. The moonlight bathed her in its glow.

It was cold outside, yet she sat without a dupatta or shawl. Suddenly, rain began pouring down, but she remained in the same place, unaffected by the freezing water.

Saim stood there, fighting himself. He didn’t want to face her, but he knew she was already unwell, and this would worsen her health. He looked away, his heart pounding. His back hit the wall near the window, and he shut his eyes tightly. A thunderclap startled him. He opened his eyes and saw her still in the same spot. He lost control. All the longing he had been suppressing since the moment he announced his nikah with Reema overwhelmed him.

He ran out of the room, his steps hurried. He didn’t care about anyone; he just wanted to be with her.

He stepped outside and stopped near her. He too was drenched in the rain. He silently stared at her for a few seconds before dropping to his knees beside her, watching her cry her heart out. She was crying over her loss. She had lost him, even after gaining him.

He placed his hand on her shoulder. Her body stiffened. Slowly, she turned, shocked to see him. Breathing stopped. Heart beating faster than before.

Saim was staring at her with so much love in his eyes. He pulled her into his arms.

“Shh… mai yahi hun, tumhare paas” (Shh… I am right here, beside you).

She clutched him tightly, crying harder upon seeing him here at this moment. She could smell only herself in him. She was a woman; she knew which fragrance came from her husband’s body. And it was hers. His eyes carried only her reflection.

“Bas…” (Enough…) he whispered, rubbing her back, feeling her shiver violently from the cold.

Scooping her into his arms, he carried her to the guest room. She wrapped her arms around his neck.

Inside, he placed her gently on the sofa.

“I’ll be back in two minutes,” he promised, running to their room to fetch clothes.

Opening the door, he saw Reema still sleeping soundly. His brows furrowed with dislike before he went into the dressing room. He took out a t-shirt and trousers for himself and a nightdress for Aina. He grabbed some medicine from the drawer and hurried back.

By the time he returned, Aina was shivering uncontrollably, wrapping her arms around herself. She tried to get up but collapsed on the floor, her legs too weak to hold her.

Saim rushed to her, lifting her up. She hugged him tightly the moment he touched her.

“Sa…aim… mujhe… bahut thand... lag rahi.. hai” (Saim… I’m feeling so cold), she stuttered.

He helped her sit back on the sofa. Her fever had returned. He gave her the medicine.

“You have to remove these clothes,” he whispered, brushing her damp hair from her face.

He cupped her cheeks. They were flushed red, her nose bright crimson, her lips turning blue from the cold. She had always been sensitive to cold, and now she was drenched in the rain at midnight.

Saim wanted to scold her but instead captured her cold blue lips. He unzipped her kurta and slipped it off without breaking the kiss. Aina, craving warmth, melted in his arms as always.

He removed her drenched clothes, picked her up, and placed her on the warm bed. She shivered under him as he discarded his wet t-shirt. Hovering over her, he kissed her neck, rubbing her arms and body to warm her.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer, relief spreading through her body as heat seeped into her veins.

Saim cupped her face—the face of the girl who had unknowingly stolen his heart.

He remembered her void, broken eyes when she walked out of their room. The way she hadn’t even uttered a word. That was the moment he realized he had completely lost his heart to her.

He kissed her eyes one by one, watching life return to them. He kissed pink her nose, cheeks, chin, lips—loving her like never before.

He had been worried for her after his nikah. Everything that happened had weighed on him with immense guilt. He was not a bad man but situation made him bad and now that he had a chance to steal moments with his beloved wife, he wouldn’t let it slip.

He hadn’t forgotten anything—but that was another matter.

Tujhse narazgi ek taraf.

Tujhse mohabbat ek taraf.

(Anger with you on one side. Love for you on the other.)

Aina had promised herself she would never go near him again after he accepted Reema in his nikah. She had lost all hope. But now, when he came to her on the very same night his new bride was in another room, Aina couldn’t keep her promise.

The only thought—that he left his untouched bride for his already-claimed wife—made her forget everything in that moment. Reema might have gained Saim’s name, but Aina had his love, his attention, his time.

They were so used to each other that nothing felt difficult, even though their situation was unbearable. They were bound by love and attachment that couldn’t be broken. He was her husband; she was his wife.

The peace they felt in each other’s arms—they could never find it anywhere else.

They had ruined each other for anyone else.

They both forgot what was happening in their lives and lost themselves in each other’s arms.

Saim stayed awake for some time while Aina, exhausted, drifted into a peaceful sleep in his embrace for the first time in days. A soft smile graced his lips as he kissed her forehead and pulled her closer before closing his eyes.

They had become each other’s blind spots.

*********

The next morning Reema woke up to a knock on the door. She looked around but there was no sign of Saim. She got down and opened the door of the room.

Shamim was standing there with a bright smile on her face. "Good morning, beta," she pulled her into her arms lovingly. Reema was in her night dress, a t-shirt and trouser that Shamim had placed in the room last night. "Saim kahan hai?" (Where is Saim?) she asked, still smiling.

"He is not here," Reema replied, looking around.

"Maybe he is in the bathroom," Shamim said, frowning. Reema only shrugged. Shamim went to the washroom but he wasn’t there.

"Where is he?" she asked again.

"I don’t know, maybe he went to the office," Reema said and glanced at the time. It was already 11 o’clock.

"No beta, I was in the living room since 7 o’clock but I didn’t see him out there. Let me call him," she said and rang his bell. The sound came from nearby. They turned and saw his mobile on the table where he had left it last night.

A frown appeared on Shamim’s face. Reema also became fully alert. If his phone was here, then where was he?

Shamim turned to Reema. "Did you… I mean did you both spend the night together?" she asked hesitantly. Reema shook her head.

"He was disturbed. I tried to console him and we lay on the bed, then when I fell asleep I don’t know what happened," she replied, her heart sank thinking the possibility of him going to her. No, he can't do this. It supposed to be her night. Saim shouldn't go there.

Shamim gritted her teeth and stormed out of the room. Reema quickly followed behind, grabbing the dupatta from the chair. She didn’t want to see what her heart wasn’t ready for.

If Saim was found in Aina’s room, then Shamim would teach them a cruel lesson.

Shamim bumped into her husband. "What happened, begum? Where are you going in such a rush?" he asked.

"What should I say? Your son has gone mad. First he makes decisions, then he himself forgets to stay firm on them," Shamim said, annoyed.

"What happened?" Hameed asked Reema, who was standing behind with her head bowed.

"He was not with Reema last night. I’m sure he went to that chudail (witch)!" Shamim shouted, and Zaid, who was behind, surpassed his smiled. "I will not spare Saim and his son called wife." she fumed, marching toward the guest room.

She knocked on the door, but Saim and Aina were deep in slumber and didn’t hear it. She gritted her teeth and called the maid. When the maid came, she ordered her to bring the keys.

"What the hell are you doing?" her husband came behind her, seeing from afar that she was asking the maid to fetch the keys. Zaid and Zubaida also arrived upon hearing the commotion. Zaid tried to stop his mother after hearing everything.

Zubaida was hurt when Zaid told her that his mother and Saim had sent Aina into the guest room this morning. She was heartbroken but couldn’t do anything since it was Saim’s decision. Yet now, deep down, she felt relieved hearing that Saim had gone to Aina last night, not Reema.

"Bhabi, please don’t open the door. It will be inhuman. Our children are inside…" Zubaida begged, but before she could finish, the door was opened.

Meanwhile, Aina stirred in her sleep hearing the commotion. She opened her eyes and saw Saim in front of her face. He was fast asleep. She caressed his cheek before kissing his nose. Just then she heard the noise outside, and her sleepy eyes widened. She pushed Saim slightly to wake him up, but he held her tightly.

"Saim…"

"Let me sleep, Ain," he mumbled, snuggling into her neck like always.

"Saim, I think someone is out—"

"Shh… koi nahi hai (no one is there)," he hushed her in his sleep and kissed her neck. Just then the door opened and both of them jolted apart.

Saim stared at his family standing in front of him with wide, shocked eyes. Luckily, they were fully clothed because of the cold, but still Aina’s state wasn’t proper to come before anyone. She was in sleeveless nighty. He quickly threw the comforter on Aina and jumped out of the bed.

"What the hell is this?!!" he shouted, his anger rising as he saw his father and Zaid there.

"You tell me, what the hell do you think you’re doing?" Shamim shouted back. Reema’s eyes filled with tears of anger and hurt as she saw the room—Aina and Saim’s wet clothes scattered on the floor and the two of them together in each other’s arms.

"Don’t, Mom! Don’t! How dare you open the door like this?!" he screamed in disbelief. Aina got out of the bed and turned her back towards them.

"I knocked but you were so lost in that girl that you didn’t hear me. And think about Reema, who was alone in your room!"

"First of all, you cannot treat me and my wife, Aina, like this." He emphasized the words Aina. "There is some respect I deserve. I know you don’t like Aina, but you should have thought about me before stooping this low. Ye meri izzat hai. Meri biwi hai. (She is my honor. She is my wife.) Yes, I was with her and I don’t think I have to explain anything to anyone about this. She is my wife, everyone knows this. and I can be with her anytime I want. No one has the right to barge into our privacy."

He stated with furious eyes. He didn’t care about anyone else but the one standing behind him and her silent sobs. Saim glanced at her—her back was facing them. He looked around and found the shawl he had brought last night. Picking it up from the sofa, he wrapped it around her and squeezed her shoulder in assurance that he was here.

Shamim grew scared seeing his reaction. In her anger, she hadn’t thought about how he would respond. He always respected everyone’s privacy, and in return, he expected the same. He was very touchy when it came to his own privacy.

"I am warning everyone," he roared, glaring at Reema and Shamim. Reema’s tear-filled eyes didn’t affect him the way Aina’s silent sobs did. "Never do this again. And don’t forget, Aina is my wife," he warned, emphasizing each word.

With that, he held Aina’s shoulders and took her to their room where their clothes were. He didn’t want to stay there in front of everyone, knowing Aina was feeling humiliated. Otherwise, he would have taught them the meaning of privacy.

Without raising her head, she walked slowly with him.

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