Negative Space

Haaris watched the gray sky pouring heavy shower, it was a rare sight to watch the rain in the wintery month of November. He was in his room at his grandmother's house. His visits here were getting frequent and he was unable to do anything about it. His heart wanted to see Ghazal and Adam but his mind always warned him, that he was wrong, totally and utterly wrong.

He left his room to move his mind away from the confusing and anxious thoughts. A soft voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Chubby Cheeks. "

"Chubby Cheeksh."

"No, no like this. Adi."

Haaris moved ahead in front of Ghazal's door and rested his back to the railing. She was reciting a poem to Adam, an unknown shine was present in her eyes as she showed him the gestures. She pinched her cheeks and said, " Chubby Cheeks."

Adam imitated her and Haaris's heart swelled with serene bliss looking at both of them. Why his life was playing its cruel and difficult game on him? It was not like Haaris was living with ease, he had already many problems and now this?

What should I do?

Help me, Ghazal.

"Dimple chin."

Ghazal touched her chin and Haaris felt her slight shivering as she spotted him at her door. It was as if she heard him, she heard his thoughts which were revolving around her. Haaris rubbed the back of his neck and moved ahead, stopping at the threshold. Adam instantly came running to him and hugged his legs, his adorable habit. Chuckling to himself, he picked Adam in his arms.

"Ma ish teaching me a poem."

"Very good."

Haaris said ruffling his hair, lovingly. Ghazal was looking at him with her furrowed brows clearly showing her disapproval on his sudden appearance.

" Is there any problem, Mr. Haaris?"

Her tone was cold but Haaris felt a sense of gratitude when she asked about him. He needed to hear those words, those words which would show that somebody was concerned about him. Haaris only nodded and Ghazal gestured him to take a seat on the nearby floor cushion.

"Ghaz-", Haaris cleared his throat, he surely knew how she hated her name from him, "Dr. Ghazal."

"Hmmm."

Ghazal hummed in response, her features showing her attention towards him. Haaris put Adam on the floor and he quickly came into Ghazal's welcoming embrace, Haaris was fidgeting with himself, how to say those words, that was now his new problem.

"Dr. Ghazal-"

His words died as with a knock, Batool Khala entered the room, "Child, Neha has come to meet you."

"Coming, Khala." she said and looked at Haaris when Batool Khala left, "If you will excuse me."

Haaris quickly nodded and she left her room with Adam in her arms. He held his head in his shaking hands, his eyes were burning with new tears and he was helpless, unable to understand himself. Why he was standing at that critical condition? Why it was so painful for him? What he should do? He would definitely die beneath this pain.

***

Where r u? 😐

A ghost of a smile formed on her lips as she read the message from Neha. Today was her wedding day and Ghazal too was getting ready for the big day of her friend. It was the twentieth message of the day from her, surely she could feel her nervousness with every message.

Just getting ready😊

Not ready yet 😨 I m also waiting 4 my stylist 😅

Gr8😄👍

Ghazal replied pinning her scarf at the place and removed those unseen wrinkles from her cream-colored long dress.

Haaris is also coming na? 😍

Ghazal rolled her eyes at that message. Her friend had a pathetic crush on Haaris Yousuf and she got one more proof when Neha happily gave one invitation card to Haaris, which he instantly accepted with a broad smile.

Idk. I should remind u babe, u r getting married 2day. 😒

Today's my day. I can do whatever I want. He's soooo cute 😍😘

Abt to leave. See ya later. 😊👋

Ghazal quickly replied and switched off the lights before leaving her room. She had already dressed up Adam and he was playing downstairs. Descending the stairs, she heard Nanna talking to somebody and her biggest fear came true when Ghazal saw Haaris sitting in the lounge, with Adam in his lap.

"Masha Allah."

Nanna's awed voice attracted her attention and unwillingly her eyes clashed with Haaris who was resolutely looking at her. Giving a tight-lipped smile to Nanna, Ghazal moved forward.

"I am glad Haaris is going too. I can easily give your responsibility to him."

"But Nanna, I can go on my own."

"No there's no need. You don't know how time's changing. The company of some trusted person is necessary nowadays. "

Trusted and Haaris.

Ghazal thought and huffed under her breath. She couldn't argue much more with Nanna because somewhere in deep, she felt good when Nanna fussed over her or scold her about her safety, health. Not getting a mother's love properly in her childhood, she starved for it. But, today her day was with Haaris and Ghazal dreaded his company.

Bidding her goodbye to Nanna and Khala, she took the back seat of Haaris's car, on Adam's insistence Haaris seated him on the front seat. She didn't like the way in which Adam became so frank with Haaris, he was just a stranger, but neither Adam nor Haaris showed it. Only Adam's soft voice was breaking the thick curtains of the awkward silence in which they both were enveloped.

"Adam sit properly, kid."

Ghazal admonished when she saw Adam playing with the buttons of the music player on the dashboard.

"I am shitting good, Ma."

"Let him do what he wants to."

Haaris said looking at her through the rearview mirror and she immediately averted her gaze without uttering a single letter. His eyes and his behavior were making her more nervous than before, Ghazal was noting some kind of change and that was making her anxious.

"Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Yousuf."

Ghazal's face color vanished hearing those words at the entrance. That's why she was saving herself from his company, something terrible waited for her every time when she used to be with him. Tightly holding Adam's hand, Ghazal entered the hall ignoring the man who had welcomed them. She had to stay away from Haaris Yousuf.

***

"Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Yousuf. "

Haaris pursed his lips to stop the smile which was eager to come to his lips. He used to paint but there was not a single palette of color that could produce such fine and elegant shades as Ghazal's blushed face. He loved to see her mostly with Adam because that was the time when she used to be herself and just that. He saw Ghazal vanishing in the hall with Adam in tow, ignoring the man at the entrance.

"Actually she's not my wife. Just a friend of mine."

Haaris said in his ear and the man became surprised at the newfound information. He patted his shoulder and moved inside with a tale-tell smile. He easily spotted Ghazal beside Neha and he too came on the stage.

"Awww, I am so happy you came."

"That's my pleasure. "

Haaris said giving a small smile to the couple, his only reason to come to this wedding was Ghazal and only Ghazal. He wanted to spend every possible moment with her and it became easy when he too got the invitation card.

"I have heard a lot about both of you from Neha."

Samar, Neha's husband said joyfully looking at both of them and Haaris's gaze moved towards Ghazal who was showing herself busy in her bracelet.

"Haarish, letsh eat."

Haaris chuckled at Adam's request and picked him up.

"This tummy is empty."

"Yesh, shee."

Adam said poking his stomach resulting in an amused laughter from Haaris.

"Doc." he called grabbing Ghazal's attention instantly, "I am taking Adam to the dinner table."

Haaris shook his head at Ghazal whose expressions were clearly showing her contradiction, "I will manage."

"Have you sheen my new cardigan?"

"That's very nice."

Haaris said putting a morsel in Adam's mouth. He didn't have the idea that he was able to do this kind of task, talking to a kid, enjoying his company and then feeding him. That was hell lot of change inside him and why it was happening?

"Ma hash made it."

"Good."

At her mention, Haaris looked at Ghazal's way whose searching gaze ended its journey as she found them seated at one of the tables. He showed an okay sign and she only nodded in response. Every time his heart did a weird dance whenever he looked at her, mostly when showed some kind of concern or worry about Adam. Suddenly Haaris's brain cells began to remind him all the good in Ghazal as if he didn't know.

She is pious.

Hardworking...

Why the hell I am thinking about her, again?

She is a great psychologist...

Beautiful...

Haaris shook his head to remove all his betraying thoughts and focused on Adam who was now playing with his food.

******

"Have you sheen Toy Shtory?"

"No."

Ghazal heard Haaris's answer from the back seat. Her day went okay, though she didn't much enjoy these types of gathering she felt happy seeing the couple who was grinning ear to ear. Now, they were returning home and as usual, Adam was proving himself a chatterbox by talking to Haaris on every single topic.

"I have sheen it with Ma. We will shee it, okay?"

"Yes, absolutely. "

Ghazal tiringly placed her head on the headrest, closing her eyes. All she needed was a break from everything, especially from the man driving the car. Yes, Haaris was good with Adam but the way in which he looked at her Ghazal could feel shivers all over her body. He intimidated her, fear built up in her every time whenever she looked at him or vice versa.

"Haarish, you have any shong?"

"Yes, many."

She heard Haaris's amused voice followed by a low sound of the song, it was some English song. Hearing to that, Ghazal didn't know when she entered into slumber.

"Will you talk to him?"

She shook her head furiously, tears dropping with their pace. Her arm was paining as the imprint of the leather belt could easily be seen on it. A heavy slap broke the silence of their room and Farzan held her hair causing her to whimper.

"I don't like gestures. Say properly."

"N-No."

"Good."

The only mistake she did was to talk with Farzan's cousin while she was handing him a cup of tea. The talk was also not initiated by her, it was his cousin who was asking about her well being. Talking to him had ignited her husband's anger.

Ghazal woke up with a jerk, her headbanging with a dangerous headache. She looked around her and found Haaris standing beside her opened door with Adam in his arms.

"He's asleep."

She only nodded, leaving his car. Still, her heart was thudding with full force thinking about that past incident. Ghazal remembered she had cried and pleaded all night but her husband hadn't shown her any kind of mercy. She didn't understand why all of a sudden she saw those nightmares.

Ghazal carefully took Adam from Haaris's embrace and began to stride towards the house only to be stopped by Haaris's voice.

"Doctor."

She turned her head to look at Haaris who was standing just in front of her, his eyes boring into hers.

"Marry me, Ghazal."

Ghazal's heart pounded gravely, her feet became stoned and her throat felt parched by Haaris's words of some seconds ago.