Unedited

___

"What are you doodling?" Maheen enquired, Saahil hid it, "Accha nhi bana hai (It's not good)."

Her eyes turned teasing as she leaned on the wall, "Kisiki tasveer hai? (Is it someone's sketch?)"

The old diary that he had carried through a war, "Wahi samajhlo. (Yeah...)"

"Seher? Kya socha hai tumne... aagey ka? (What are your plans for future?)" Naeema and Maheen had started getting close to Saahil. They would talk, he would pick and drop them from their college, and wait for them outside the gate till their classes were done.

Maheen didn't want him to leave, yet she wanted him to be. He was like an unpaid therapist to her, listening to her and guiding her.

"She is with her husband now," Maheen's eyes widened as she confronted him, "Phir tum yaha kya kar rahey ho? Jao uske paas... (Then what are you doing here?)"

"Waada nibhaara hu, tum dono ko yaha nahi chod sakta akele (I am keeping my promise, to protect you)," Maheen shook her head, not buying this, "You are too selfless, if not about yourself, think about Seher, what if Saad kills her?"

He flinched but covered it up, "Kis haq se jao waha, she doesn't want me there. It's her decision, and Seher isn't weak. me being there will cause her more problems."

Maheen couldn't believe it, "Why are both of you so stubborn and selfless? She sacrificed herself to save us, and you are ready to sacrifice your love to protect us. Saahil, please, me and Naeema can manage on our own, go fight for your woman."

"What if she doesn't me there?"

"A soldier never accepts defeats."

She placed the military hat on his head as Sahil smiled, "I will drop you two at my house."

"You have a house?"

"Of course I do... and it will be the safest for the two of you."

He drove the two to the military housing area, and into a unit, there was a tiny bed and sofa by the side, "I know it isn't beautiful... but-"

Naeema, who had been silent throughout the drive, finally spoke up, "Yahan hum donon safe hain, aur yeh hi sabse zaroori hai."Saahil sighed in relief, his shoulders relaxing a bit. "Main apna farz nibhaana chahta hu, par uske saath tum dono ki hifazat bhi zaroori hai. Main yeh responsibility kisi aur ko nahi de sakta (I want to keep my promise and protect both of you, I can't handover this responsibility to someone else)"

"Kuch waqt ki baat hai... aur maine Abdullah se baat ki hai, he said he won't let them harm me, isliye tum jao. And bring Seher back home."

(We will manage for a few days, and I have talked to Abdullah he said that he wouldn't let Jahangir Shaikh harm us in any way so you go and bring her back home.)

___

Romantic books, poetry and from looking through novels, Saad tried to grasp the idea of love. Can love change a person? Saad wanted to know how he could win Seher's heart, so he followed the books he knew about, 'cook for your lover and feed them by hand'.

Saad never thought he would enter the kitchen to cook for someone. Cooking was a woman's job, yet he wanted to cook for her.

Maybe he could win her heart, so he went through the recipe book and attempted to make chicken. The servants were mindful of him, and when Ayesha entered the kitched, she stopped.

"What are you doing?"

He gave her a look, "Tumhe kya lagta hai? (What do you think?)"

She rolled her sleeves, feeling her heart bloom. It seemed he was back to his old self, "Cooking for me?"

He frowned and stopped, debating what to say. Then, he slowly shook his head. Ayesha didn't have to ask him twice because his silence was enough.

He was making it for her. She felt pathetic... pining for a man who didn't care for her.

But who was more pathetic, Saad or her?

He was pining for a woman who wished for him to die while she was pining for a man who once loved her. Waiting for him to notice her again, but his gaze would brush past her looking for someone else.

Was she this irrelevant? For a second, she wanted to ask him, did he marry her for an heir? Made no sense...

"Saad, let's visit the garden together, I was thinking of making some sandwiches... "

"Look, Ayesha, I wanted to spend this day with Seher. Maybe next week?"

"Don't bother.. I understand," she said, leaving the kitchen thinking he would follow her, but he didn't. 

His indifference hurt. He didn't care...

___

Meanwhile, Seher was roaming on the terrace as Razia excitedly told her about Saad's efforts, "He is trying so hard, why make him suffer?"

"Am I being cruel by rejecting his love?"

Razia nodded her head, "He burnt his hand while cooking for you, and I guess it has some major cuts too."

"He cannot cook?" She asked, almost surprised. Her father could cook. Maybe it was because he served in the army, but she preferred a man with basic survival skills.

"He is a man", Seher nodded her head, "Too manly for me, I like men who are soft by heart".

"Give him your heart, he will turn soft for you," she couldn't,  she had once and he had crushed it.

He had made her feel ugly...

Unwanted

A waste

His love had broken her, poisoned her heart and soul till she became cold. How could she love a man who brought out the worst in her?

She didn't feel like herself around him.

"I don't have anything for him..."

Seher sat on the railing watching the open sky thinking about her future, how could she get away from this cage once for all. She couldn't kill him, he had a wife and a husband who depended on him. She couldn't runaway because they wouldn't let her, for a moment she regretted not escaping when she had the time to.

She could have left town, but looking at the state of village, something in her didn't let her. She couldn't abandon her people, nor let them down.

Currently she had no contact with the outside world. She was confined.

It was noon by the time Saad arrived on the terrace with servants behind him, there was a tray in their hand, as they placed it on the on the mattress they brought, along with some dining cloth.

He walked towards her placing his hand on her waist. Seher leaned away unconsciously, she hated his touch. It made her uncomfortable.

But he was never the type to get clues, or  he would ignore them. As he pulled her towards him by the waist, she didn't fight back. Because she was wondering if she pushed him off the terrace, would he survive like before.

Twice, he had survived.

Looking at the food, she went to the mattress and sat down at one side.

"You cooked this?"

"For you..", she was slightly impressed, "Ayesha would be happy to eat it with you."

He was infuriated, "Why bring her up? Is this jealousy?"

She scoffed, "No, I just felt it would be better if this food was eaten by a person who would appreciate it."

He didn't say anything. he just took a plate and put some gravy chicken onto her plate. Breaking a peace of roti, he dipped it in gravy and brought to her mouth, "Mera roza hai. (I am fasting)."

It was a lie. And Saad knew it, as he had seen the two cups near her bed.

"Stop lying, I made this for you. I cut the onions until my eyes watered, fried them until I got marks on my hands, the tomato gave me literal scars and this was maybe my fifteenth attempt of making the roti round. Would you be so heartless to reject your husbands efforts?"

Efforts... she didn't understand why he was doing this all of a sudden.

"Why are you telling me all of this?"

He tried to scoot closer, Saad was a handsome man, but he had no effect on her. She didn't have goosebumps when his grey eyes met hers. Instead, it reminded her of painful memories.

"Because I am your husband."

She hated that he could use this sentence whenever he wanted. He could beat her, assault her, punish her, kill her baby, cheat on her, because he was her husband. He could get rid of her humanity and treat her like an object. And then use his soft tone to appease her... just because he was her husband.

The softness on his face, the desperate look in his eyes, as if pleading her to save him from himself.

"You are delusional," she laughed as the hopeful look disappeared from his eyes.

"Bhookey maro, (Starve then)" with a glare, he stomped out, "Khushi se (Happily)."

Razia took the food away, as Seher ordered her to bring her some tea, "Khan ordered me not to give you any food, if I was found doing so... he will shoot me dead."

Razia's head was lowered, scared that Seher would punish her, but she simply agreed, "I understand."

Tears started dropping from the old servants eyes as she dropped to her knees, but she held her shoulders, "You're too kind."

Seher shook her head, "I am not. Listen, Razia... things are going to change around here. I don't want you to be a scapegoat in my war. Be on Saad's side, not mine. You are less likely to lose."

___

At night, he was back with another tray, he eyed her, as she sat near the terrace looking below on the street, he sneered, "Why so sad? Do you miss Saahil?"

He thought she would disagree, but she nodded her head honestly, "I do."

Saad's expression hardened, "That coward is hiding. You miss him while he's probably trying to steal someone else's wife."

"Not all men are like you, Saad," Seher continued, her voice steady and piercing. "Some sacrifice their lives for their love. Saahil is out there, risking everything to protect women who aren't even related to him by blood. And from whom? From men like you—men who don't even flinch before shooting their own sister, men who harm their wives, and men who can kill their own child without shedding a tear."

Saad's breath quickened. "Seher, you—"

"I have no interest in your sick excuses please I am tired of them," Seher interrupted, her eyes blazing. "You wonder why I don't love you? A woman can love a man, but you are no man, Saad."

His dull grey eyes watch her, sadness seeping through, as he picks up the tray, "Looks like you don't eat today. Remember your place, woman, otherwise, you will regret your words."

"No actually, I am quite proud of myself."

That night, Seher's stomach growled in protest as she laid down on the mattress to sleep.

She almost had the urge to sneak inside the house and steal food. But she simply closed her eyes and tried to fall asleep. At least she had water to drink.

The next morning, when he brought her a bowl of food, but she didn't move from the bed, closing her eyes and hiding inside the sheets.

"Seher, eat your food."

"I would rather die."

She couldn't accept his food because it would mean she accepted him, and Seher wasn't about to do so.

This time, he dropped the bowl onto the floor with a huff and left. His attempt to woo her turned to desperation, as he brought her watermelon at night, her mouth watered, her stomach grumbled. But Seher still refused to eat.

"Stop wasting food," he said, Seher rolled her eyes, he was the one wasting food, she was simply refusing to eat.

"Please eat," he almost pleaded with her, but Seher was far too gone in her survival mode she didn't say a word, but her eyes were on the juicy fruit. She closed her eyes...

"You are choosing this life, not me. If you die..."

Seher softly replied, "I will not blame you."

___

It was the next day when there was a loud knock at the main door, Seher, who laid on the bed squinting her eyes at the sun, Razia rushed to open the door when she saw him.

"You? You shouldn't have come here..."

He looked around, "Why? What's wrong?"

Razia sighed, not knowing what to say, then she glanced at the terrace, "She hasn't eaten for the last two days."

His expression changed to that of worry as Saahil barged in, Razia couldn't bring food for Seher, and she wouldn't eat the food Saad offered. But she wouldn't refuse Saahil, would she?

"Where is she?"

Raazia signalled to the terrace Saahil rolled his sleeves, "And where is the kitchen?"

She took him to the kitchen, and it was still early, Saad would usually have breakfast himself before cooking for her. These days, he wouldn't cook for her, knowing full well she wouldn't eat. Razia passed him the vegetables and eggs as he cooked them. Along with tea.

"Nobody can resist Anda bhurji, dekhna pura khaayegi Seher," he assured her before going upstairs as Razia stood guard.

He entered the terrace and saw her laying on the bed, thinking it was Saad she covered herself with the blanket, not wanting to see his face.

"Samne nahi aaogi kya ab?"

(You won't even look at me now?)

It took her a second to process as she lowered the duvet from her face, and to see his face, her eyes lit up as he smiled beaming on her reaction, "Sharam aati hai kya? (Shy? Shy?)" He teased further placing the food infront of her as she sat up on the mattress. 

"Haan.. (yes)", she giggled, breaking the roti and taking a bite.

Finally, she reached for the food, her fingers trembling slightly. She broke off a piece of roti and dipped it into the fluffy, flavorful Anda Bhurji. The first bite was a burst of comforting spices and rich flavors that immediately warmed her. She closed her eyes for a moment, savoring the taste, feeling the nourishment spread through her. Each bite seemed to melt away the stubborn resolve she had maintained, replacing it with a deep sense of relief.

Seher's hunger drove her to eat quickly, and she soon choked on a piece of roti. Her face flushed, and she struggled to catch her breath. Saahil handed her the glass of water gently.

"Aaram se yaar ( Be careful)."

Seher took the glass of water, her hands still shaking as she sipped slowly, trying to steady her breath. Saahil watched her with a mix of concern and relief, his gaze softening as she managed to regain her composure.

"You know," Saahil began, his voice gentle, "when I was in the army, we had turns to cook, and I would often wait for my turn because I loved to cook for others. It wasn't the best food, but it was something I could look forward to. I hoped it would be the same for you."

He wanted to look forward to cook for her.

Seher glanced up at him, her eyes glistening, "It's... it's really good."

Her heart was bubbling. Maybe it was the food, meeting him or both. She felt like she could breathe in his presence, like she was alive again.

"Should I leave?"

Seher, who was drinking her tea, shook her head, "No."

She said her cheeks blushed slightly as he teased her, "Magar tumhe toh sharam aati haina mujhse (But you feel shy around me, how can I stay?)."

His tone made her burst out laughing.

Saahil looked at Seher with a soft smile, his eyes reflecting a warmth that contrasted sharply with his usual demeanour. The way she looked at him, her cheeks slightly flushed, and her eyes sparkling with a newfound light, made his heart swell.

He took a deep breath, trying to steady his emotions as he said, "Saath chalogi mere?"

(Do you want to be with me?)

Seher hesitated for a moment, her eyes meeting his with a mix of shyness and anticipation. She nodded slowly, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Magar tum toh haath nahi pakadti. Mera saath kaise chalogi?"

(But you have never told me that you want to be with me. Do you really want to be with me?)

Seher's fingers lightly grasped the end of the shawl around his neck, pulling him closer so their faces were only inches apart.

Her voice was a whisper, filled with playful mischief, "Aise?"

(If I say yes, then?)

Saahil's breath caught in his throat as he felt the closeness between them, his eyes locked onto hers. Seher's gaze was both daring and tender, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.

"Toh bhaag chaley kahin? (Then shall we runaway?)" she asked, her voice carrying a hint of excitement.Saahil's lips curled into a grin, "Kaha? (Where?)"

Seher pointed towards the shore, her eyes full of dreams. "Kahi door, jahan tum ho aur mai ho (Somewhere far away, where there is just me and you)"

He looked in the direction she pointed, the serene horizon stretching out before them. The idea of escaping to a place where they could be alone, away from the chaos and pain, was tempting. Saahil's heart raced at the thought of starting anew with her.

"By the way, your father gave up Naeema and Maheen's location."

Seher's eyes widened, she felt so stupid... she was suffering again for nothing.

"I shouldn't have believed his promise", she cursed.

"Don't worry they are safe." He reassured her, "Where are they?"

"At my home."

He nodded slowly, his smile widening, but before he could answer, Razia entered the terrace,  "Saad Sahib kitchen mai hai aap dono ko saath dekhliya toh-".
(Saad Khan is in the kitchen, if he saw the two of you-)

Saahil nodded his head, "Chalogi?"
(Will you runaway with me?)

Seher was a little apprehensive, "Kabhi aur."
(Later.)

She couldn't leave yet, Jahangir Shaikh needed to get a taste of his medicine. Betrayal.

"Is kabhi ka intezar karunga mai (I will wait for your later then)", he said rushing downstairs as Razia picked up the tray and food, hiding them in the store room as Saahil left the house.

He stood outside, his figure framed against the soft morning light, as Seher watched from the terrace, her heart fluttering at the sight. He waved one last time before turning away, Seher's gaze lingered on him until he was a distant silhouette.

____

Chapter 34 spoiler will be available on my insta account.