Sarcoline

Adam will sleep in between and we at either side...

Ghazal was still reminding his words in her brain when she got to the bed beside Adam. Haaris had literally made her heart lighten by saying this. Gently patting her son's forehead, she began to whiff some night supplications on him. The pinging sound of mobile grabbed her attention, the screen blinked showing some message on it.

Ready to play a loving husband for one month 😉

It was from Yawar but why was he bothering Haaris that too on his wedding day and that too in his personal life. That man was surely disgusting to an extent. But that message was smelling of some kind of problem as if it was not sent for mere fun, as if it was hiding much more behind.

Leave it. It would be just a silly conversation between two friends, she might be exaggerating things. Ghazal's mind was still running around that message when Haaris came back in the room, water dripping from his hair.

She lied on her place and observed closely when Haaris went through his phone while lying at the other side of Adam. His face changed suddenly and quickly switching off his mobile, he turned his back towards her. Was it something serious? Was there something hidden which she was unable to see?

Closing her eyes, she took a long breath. Allah was with her, he knows what had happened, what is happening and what will be happening. If Allah had chosen Haaris for her, he will surely help her through everything.

Her gaze was stuck on the couple of pigeon who was trying to make their own nest on the neem tree just outside the window of her room. The knock on the door broke her reverie as turning her head from the birds Ghazal looked at Nanna who was standing at the threshold of her room with a tray in her hand.

"What's the problem, child?"

Ghazal felt herself somewhat stiffen at her questioning gaze which was roaming on her face in worry. Giving a tight lipped smile, she shook her head and held her hands.

"Nothing. I was just missing you so I came."

"Haaris let you come alone? In this condition? "

"Yeah. I forced him to let me come alone this time."

Ghazal said with a roll of eyes, silently praying for Nanna to buy her lame excuses. Her heart was cutting with every lie but she couldn't put herself up for speaking bad about her spouse. She never felt good talking about her married life with anyone whether it would be of happiness or of sadness.

"As you say. Do your breakfast and rest for sometime."

Nanna ordered with a kiss on her temple before leaving her alone in the room with mere silence and those recurring memories of last night. Ghazal was still finding it difficult to believe that Haaris had spoken those words. How could he think so low of her? She was not like that, he had hurt her dignity. Haaris's words had pushed her to self doubt herself, did she look like that or she behaved like a desperate woman trying to grab male attention? No, no. Definitely not! Ghazal had always feared Allah and had tried to walk on the straight path. Then why he felt that she would leave him for any other man. Why Farzan used to doubt her for cheating on him?

Maybe their minds are full of filth...

Ghazal took an exasperated sigh, looking up to stop her already flowing tears. Biting her lower lip she harshly wiped her cheeks. Didn't know where her destiny want to take her? But she agreed, it again was a tough path.

Last night Haaris was so dumbfounded to answer her query that she felt it better to left that topic dangling between them. He was surely hiding something from her. Today morning he had left for his morning walk too soon without speaking any single word to her, so there was no chance for her to know anything. Without waiting for his return, Ghazal had left the house to drop Adam to his school and had come at Nanna's house.

And now she was sulking in her anger and worry. What was the benefit to come to this house when Ghazal was still thinking about her man and the hurt he had given her? Ah, she would definitely damage her brain cells if she would think of him so much. If he wanted to apologize scratch that if Haaris had any idea how he had hurt her, he would have shown her some signs. But, no. The great majesty hadn't even tried to spare a glance on her. Great!

There was still a tiny hope in her that at sometime, her phone would beep with a sorry message of her husband and now she would damage her brain some more thinking of long lost possibilities.

***

Haaris opened the door of their room to be welcomed by the faint fragrance of jasmine instantly reminding him of Ghazal and her absence. Very well! Now he would remember her in every tiny piece of his room. His room was too betraying him, it was his room but it had also teamed up with Ghazal to bother his memory some more. Coming beside the bedside table he found a tiny note sticking to it with a neat handwriting.

Stop staring at the note. Go freshen up, you're sweating.

His lips tilted up slightly at the angry tone of her note. She would definitely not let him go back to his irresponsible self. Quickly pulling off his hoodie, he made his way towards the washroom. Standing under the shower, his whole being was busy in remembrance of his wife. He should learn to control his words in anger, Haaris clearly had hurt her gravely, those tears in her eyes, the wetness in her voice were the evidence of the pain she was feeling. He was still unable to decipher how did she ask him about that one-month thing. Ghazal had definitely read that message from the blinking screen because when Haaris had taken his mobile at that time, that message was still unread. He was just tiring himself thinking about everything and now he too was not living in peace, because the sadness of hurting her was killing Haaris from inside out.

Wrapping the towel around his waist, when Haaris came in front of the mirror, one more note was waiting for him.

Your clothes are here. Maid has prepared your breakfast. Don't you dare to skip it!

How could Ghazal be so selfless? He had hurt her just yesternight and yet she was taking care of his routine. Haaris placed his quivering lips on the note, reminiscing Ghazal. Some tears gathered in his eyes on the regret of his own mistake. He had no idea what he was speaking the other night and he was cent percent sure not even a single word held any meaning. His Ghazal was loyal, loving and caring and he and only he was wrong when Haaris had accused her of leaving him for any other man.

Crap, how filthy he was sounding! Didn't know what Ghazal had felt hearing those words from him. Haaris got ready in those clothes which his wife had chosen for him. Looking at himself in the mirror, buttoning his white shirt he remembered an incident of a few days ago.

"This will look good or this?"

Haaris watched with a smile as Ghazal confusedly stared at him who was holding two shirts in his hands. Today was Adam's mid sem result and parent's meet, so Haaris was getting ready for his son.

"That faint green is nice, I think."

"That's faint green? I thought it's cream."

Ghazal giggled coming towards him, her pace slow as she was carefully balancing her half weight on the stick. She rested the 'faint green' shirt on him and then the other one.

"I still think it's better. "

"As you say, M'lord."

Haaris pulled her closer to himself, his fingers gently making patterns on her purple dress and he was fully enjoying her warmth surrounding him. Ghazal wounded her arm around his neck as he kissed her tenderly. She shyly pulled away from him and caressed his forehead moving the resting hair.

"Don't you think you will get late?"

"Don't you think you are quite distracting?"

Ghazal giggled at his query, "Always answering my question with another question."

"That's what I have learned from you, my tigress."

Haaris didn't waste another moment to steal many more kisses from his laughing wife.

He closed his eyes taking a tired sigh, what he had gotten himself into? Taking a last look in the mirror, his hand halted in its place when he was trying to grab the perfume bottle. The dresser was filled with her accessories, though there weren't so many but her perfumes, kohl, her jewelry box.

"Come back, tigress."

Haaris was in conversation with her perfume bottle which felt like he was surrounded by Ghazal, that faint jasmine scent. Glancing at the clock which was showing half-past eight, Haaris immersed himself in thought as he left his room for breakfast.

He was wrong, he was utterly wrong and that meant he had to apologize for his mistake. How Ghazal could apologize so easily? Haaris was not liking that feeling of uneasiness which was building up in him just by thinking about asking her forgiveness. But there was nothing wrong to admit your own mistake, was there?

***

Opening the white gate of Nanna's house, Ghazal furiously came inside but composed herself a little seeing her son playing in the garden.

"Ma." Adam hugged her legs and she ruffled his hair in adoration, "Today I got two A plush."

"Wow. Very nice."

Ghazal kissed his forehead and Adam returned her gesture with a kiss on her cheek.

"Ma, dad ish waiting for you for sho much time."

Ghazal pursed her lips, nodding her head and sauntered towards her room whereas she knew was welcomed by her husband. Haaris was casually lying on the bed, his eyes hiding behind his arm.

"Welcome dear wife!"

Ghazal grabbed the cushion from a nearby chair and threw at him forcing Haaris to open his eyes to look at her with wide eyes, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.

"Mr. Haaris may I ask you why you picked up Adam from his school?"

Haaris came closer to her, his arms folded on his chest and his eyes which were dancing on her features too amusedly, making her somewhat uncomfortable in his stare.

"Firstly I should ask you who told you to rejoin your work in this condition?"

"It's my duty."

"So taking Adam back from school is my duty."

"So what happened today morning? It's also your duty to drop Adam to school, no but the great majesty was sulking in his anger."

Ghazal slammed her bag on the bed, unwrapping her scarf from her head in irritation. She would never be able to understand her husband even an entire century. She rejoined her work today in order to move her mind away from all the thoughts which were bugging her to no extent. Dr. Sharma had given her a half-day leave because of her condition, so that's why Ghazal had decided to pick up Adam from his school as she was doubtful; Haaris would remember anything besides his anger.

Haaris's laughing voice reached her ears as he held her arm and turned Ghazal to face him, "So much anger?!" Ghazal shoved off his hand and furrowed her brows at him. She had every right to be in a bad mood, in anger because Haaris had given her many more reasons to be so.

He won't even say a sorry?

No!

"Okay! Tell me what you said to Nanna, she was observing me so clos-"

"I don't have a habit to discuss my marital matters with anyone. Maybe she truly cares for me that's why Nanna had sensed my hurt. Why you have to always ruin which is already ruined badly, Haaris?"

Ghazal pushed him slightly away from her and moved to the washroom as tears were evading her space. Here she was thinking her husband would apologize for his mistakes but no, Haaris was assuming her meet with Nanna as a gossip session.

Foolish!

Ghazal took a long sigh to calm herself down. Her appearance was tired, in only one night the dark circles had made their presence beneath her black eyes. How tiresome it was going for her, only she had the idea. Her husband was unable to see anything.

"Calm down, Ghazal."

She consoled her reflection in the mirror, her fingers holding the basin rim too tightly as more tears flowed from her eyes. Maybe she was exaggerating the things, maybe she overreacted, it might be possible Haaris had came for apologizing. Ghazal never gave him the chance to speak, but he too was not in the mood to speak about his mistakes.

Splashing the handful of water on her face, she gulped down in worry. Ghazal entered her room to find it empty without any trace of Haaris. Coming near the window, she saw him standing in the garden.

Okay, she wanted to mend everything with him.

She had to just go in front of him and everything would be fine.

Nodding to herself, Ghazal left her room to meet Haaris who was still staring at the ivy jumper on the wall.

***

Haaris was dumbfounded looking at Ghazal who got vanished behind the washroom door. He was not ready for that outburst, he clearly had hurt her more than he had thought. Yeah, Haaris agreed that he didn't like it when he came to know that Ghazal had rejoined her work. There was still some rest needed for her and there was no way she could tire herself like this. How changed she was looking in just one night, dark circles under her eyes, her face pale. It was all because of him that Ghazal had to go through this.

Crap!

He spoiled everything again. He would never learn to speak proper words, especially to his wife. Haaris had come here to apologize for his mistakes but she was so much hurt that his simple teasing had made her irritated. Or maybe he didn't know how to apologize. He remembered the glass of water which Ghazal had thrown on him when he had crossed his limits, this time she could do something like that but after their marriage Ghazal had begun to respect him as her husband that's why he was safe from the slaps which was much needed for him at these times.

His phone rang showing the caller id of Yawar. Glancing at the closed door of the washroom he moved outside in the garden. But by the time he came in the lush green surrounding, the call got disconnected. He began to stare at the ivy growing on the wall, it was so small but had captured every single corner of the garden in its way. Haaris picked up the call as his phone again began to ring.

"My, my I am impressed by your charms Haaris. How you have trap Ghazal in your fake love I am still unable to understand. But I salute you, I will-"

The call again got disconnected, there was some serious issue of the network around him. Heaving a long sigh, he pushed the cell in his pocket. A slow rhythm of bangles forced him to turn to see Ghazal standing at the threshold of the house, her face devoid of any kind of emotion.

"I am sorry, Haaris. But the speaker on your mobile phone was on."

Haaris's heart stopped its functioning as he felt the whole blood had been sucked out of him. He came towards his wife in long strides because he had to erase all the misunderstandings between them.

"That was the reason for being a loving husband for one month."

"N-no Ghazal. You are taking it wrong. I ca-"

Ghazal showed her flat palm to halt his speech, her eyes red and bloodshot whispering the secrets of her crying. What was going on with them? Destiny was playing a terrible game and they had become just puppets in its hands.

"Haaris, I don't want to listen to anything. Because whatever you will say at this moment, my mind will understand it only as a lie. So please go, please."

Ghazal pleaded to close her eyes and rested her hand on the edge of the door as if to support herself some more. Haaris bit his upper lip in worry, his hands shaking as he turned to exit the house. He raked his hands in his messy hair to put his thudding heart at some point of calmness but all was vain. Every string of solace of his heart was attached to Ghazal, so how could he be calm.

"Haaris."

Haaris somewhat hurriedly turned to look at Ghazal who had come towards him at a slow pace, her tears wetting her whole face. She gently cupped his jaw and brushed her lips over his, her tears gently wetting his cheeks. What was this? Was she trying to show her love or her hurt or anger? Whatever it was, he just didn't want to let her go. His heart cut into a million pieces as his mind was not ready to accept the coming moments without Ghazal.

"You were the only one who I had trusted after a long time and this has scratched my heart badly, Haaris."

With that said Ghazal turned around, harshly wiping the tears she moved inside the house leaving Haaris all alone with his miseries, his pain, his sadness.