Rainy Rainbow

Ghazal's heart was thudding at its place just thinking about the coming minutes.

"Ghazal." With a whisper, Yawar's hand tightened its grip on her waist. His other hand was slowly opening her scarf. Just the way he was looking at her, she felt like she was getting filthy by every passing moment.

No. No. No. I can't lose hope. I have to do something.

"Yawar, please let me go."

Ghazal pleaded, the tears cascading down her cheeks. Her hands were doing pushing him on the chest with all their might, but all was going in vain. She again moved her head to the side to save herself from his touch, only to be forced by Yawar.

"Look at me, Ghazal."

Yawar ordered looking in her eyes, his hand slowly wriggling on the buttons of her abaya, increasing her heartbeats in horror.

"You know, we both need each other."

He said, his lips brushing on her jaw.

"You are alone, I will help you. Ghazal, I will move your loneliness away."

Yawar mumbled, now placing his lips on her cheekbone and Ghazal's scarf was slowly unwrapping itself as it's pin was now in his hand.

"Every woman needs a man, Ghazal. You need-"

Yawar winced clutching his stomach at which Ghazal had punched forcefully some moments ago. She quickly held a curtain rod in her hand for her defense.

"Don't come near me or I will not leave you alive."

"Ghazal, try to understand. It's for your benefit."

As a result, she hit the rod on his back and Yawar fell down on the floor. The tears were freely flowing on her cheek and she bit her lower lip to stop herself from crying. Yawar's touch felt like crawling insects on her skin and his words, she didn't even want to think about it. His words were clearly drenched in filthiness and hearing them Ghazal came to know how rubbish his thinking was.

"Just stop your rubbish, Yawar. What do you think? A woman is just as hungry as you are. Try to respect her."

"Baby."

"Stop it..." She said hitting the rod on the floor just beside his face.

"You... You men. You think that if a woman is leaving her house to earn money she will tolerate anything. It's your misunderstanding. "

Ghazal's voice was wet with tears and she was whimpering with her every statement. Being strong had its own drawback, you always had to show that you could face every challenge with ease, though you were shivering from inside, with fear.

"Get up..." she ordered, "I said, Get.Up. "

Yawar stood up in front of her, putting a hand on his back. He was silent and maybe a little bit afraid due to the weapon in her hand.

"Next time, if I see you in this hospital or near it. I will have to contact the police. Understand. "

Ghazal roared, "Leave this instant and never ever come back here."

Yawar stared at her for a minute, she was taking deep breaths to calm herself. As Yawar left the room, Ghazal tiredly dropped down on the floor, rod making a cluttering sound in the horrifying silence of the room.

******

Haaris's eyes snapped open at the sound of crash. Those nightmares were increasing day by day and were snatching his peaceful slumber. He gulped the glass of water to soothe his parched throat. His hands were shivering badly, in need of his addiction.

His mind was reminding him all his past incidents, boosting up his need to take something which would take him to another land where Haaris wouldn't have to remember anything. His breathing came shallow, sweat dripping from his forehead. He put his head down on his bended knees but it was of no use.

"Mr. Haaris."

Ghazal's voice felt like a serene magic, as it was giving him some sort of hope.

"Yes, try. You can do it."

Haaris felt Ghazal taking a seat beside him. He was now breathing from his mouth, he remained in that position for a moment or two then moved his head to look at Ghazal who was now taking out his medicines.

"What happened to your eyes?"

Haaris was unable to stop himself to ask that question. Ghazal's eyes were bloodshot red to say the least, there were circles under her eyes and her face was pale like she couldn't get rest properly. Just yesterday they got into an argument over his blunt tongue and today she was looking beyond tired.

What happened in that half-day? Was his intuition correct when he was getting bad vibes?

"Can't you mind your business, Mr. Haaris."

Ghazal asked in a cold tone, handing him his medicine with a glass of water. Haaris observed her, she was not okay. He could sense it by just looking at her.

"Sorry."

He mumbled giving back the glass. Ghazal didn't reply to anything. Haaris was still looking at her, observing her again. As she turned after putting his medicine on its place, he saw Ghazal holding her forehead in a tight grasp. She swayed in air and if he hadn't held her on time, she would be on the floor in no time.

"Ghazal."

Haaris called her, but maybe she was not in her senses. Ghazal was definitely not in her senses, because she couldn't tolerate being in his arms or at the least taking his help. Her eyes were tightly shut and she was swinging in his arm. Holding her body with his other hand, he made her lie on his bed.

"Ghazal."

He called again patting her cheek, which were burning with extreme fever. Was she crazy or what? How could someone be so workaholic? It was pretty early morning and she was present in the hospital in her sickness. What was wrong with her?

Haaris pursed his lips, staring at Ghazal who was away from her surroundings. He moved out of his room to find a doctor for Ghazal but something bumped his knee.

Adam.

"Haarish."

Adam gave him a perfect toothed smile, forcing him to chuckle.

"Adam. What are you doing here? No school."

He asked sitting on his knees, holding Adam's shoulders.

"No. Ma didn't shend me today."

What the hell is going on?

******

Ghazal opened her tired eyes to see a white ceiling in her view. The whole energy of her body felt like drained out. She couldn't decipher what had happened to her? Last time she remembered, she was with Haaris Yousuf during his panic attack and after that all was blank.

A gasp left her lips as she abruptly sat up and found herself in Haaris's room, on his bed. The first person Ghazal saw was Haaris who was sitting on the sofa with Adam in his lap. They were talking in hush whispers but Haaris looked at her way as she glanced at them.

She had instantly vanished yesterday from the hospital telling only Neha about her leave just after her encounter with Yawar. She didn't tell her about Yawar and hid her panicked state behind the general excuse of not feeling well. Ghazal was more than thankful to lunch hour as nobody but Neha saw her disheveled state.

Her whole night had passed in crying, Ghazal felt like her whole confidence was leaving her slowly and she was unable to do anything to help herself. Was she wrong, if she left her house to earn money, to support her family? What was Ghazal's mistake if she was left alone, without her husband, it was all her fate. People considered her bad omen and men such as Yawar tried to take advantage of her situation, as if they own her.

The whole night of her crying was resulted in extreme fever. But, she couldn't stay at home with her sister-in-law who would increase her problems just by wounding her with bitter words. So, she called at Adam's school for a leave and took him with her to the hospital. Less did Ghazal know, she would faint in Haaris's room. Allah knew, how she fell down and whatnot.

"How are you now?"

Haaris voice brought her back to earth and she looked at his face which was written with concern.

"Ma."

Adam squealed raising his hands, ushering to come upon the bed. Ghazal smiled at his adorable gesture and took him in her arms.

"I am fine."

Ghazal answered and looked at Adam whose head was hidden in the crook of her neck.

"Adam, what happened?"

"I wash getting afraid. You got a bug."

Adam's eyes were brimming with tears and Ghazal felt her heart squeezing at the mere sight. She had to keep herself strong for Adam, just for Adam.

"Adi, Ma is fine. See."

She took his small hands in hers and put them on her cheeks, "Ma, is all fine."

"Promish."

Adam asked innocently giving his pinky finger to her, Ghazal smiled and joined their fingers.

"Pinky promise."

Ghazal kissed Adam's forehead and saw Haaris leaving the room.

******

Haaris entered with the doctor who had checked Ghazal when she fainted. That woman, Ghazal was totally insane. Who does that? She was burning in extreme fever, he was sure if he would be having that type of fever, he must had taken at least two weeks of rest.

"How are you feeling, Dr. Ghazal?"

The doctor was now asking Ghazal as Haaris took his seat on the sofa. Adam quickly sat beside, giving him a toothed smile. Haaris was beyond nervous when he found Adam in the corridor some hours ago because he didn't know how Adam would respond to his unconscious mother.

But, Haaris came to know that he was an easy-going kid. At first, he saw Adam getting somewhat worried over his mother but Haaris took him to the corner sofa and began to tell him some stories which he didn't even know, he remembered. It was a sigh of relief from him when he saw Ghazal conscious.

With a click of the door, Nanna entered the room. Nanna was worried when she had seen Ghazal unconscious but now comfort could easily be sensed on her face. She sat beside Ghazal and patted her head lovingly. Haaris was still unsure, how could both the ladies get so well. Now, the doctor was gone and Nanna was talking to Ghazal seriously, as her expressions were showing concern, it was some important topic because Ghazal was silent and only listening to his grandmother.

Haaris's inner curious human was getting somewhat agitated in order to listen to their conversation but before he could stand up Adam's soft voice stopped him.

"Sho, you will tell me another shtory?"

Haaris smiled, that kid would never be satisfied even if he spent the rest of his lives just telling him stories.

"Don't you get bored listening to so many stories?"

Adam shook his head, "I can lishen that much shtory.", he opened his arms to show the amount and hitting Haaris in his eye in the process. Haaris covered his eye with a chuckle.

"I am shorry."

Adam said holding both ears. He was looking beyond adorable. In his entire life, Haaris never ever liked kids but Adam was different. He didn't know why, but he was.

"No problem, Adam."

Haaris said removing his hands from his ears. By that time, Nanna had come towards them.

"How are you, little boy?"

"I am fine. How are you?" Adam quickly answered with a smile. Nanna laughed at the sweet response.

"I am good," Nanna said pinching his cheeks.

"You are cute," Adam said pinching Nanna's cheek, getting a giggle from both of the ladies. Haaris looked at Ghazal whose whole concentration was at Adam, her face was showing how exhausted she was but a certain glow was present on her seeing Adam.

"He is a lovely kid, Ghazal."

Nanna said putting Adam in her lap. Ghazal smiled at her way and Haaris felt something happened to his heart seeing her smiling face, maybe because he was seeing her smile for the first time.