Chapter Twenty

Perhaps, the loneliest thing in life is to be on bad terms with someone you're living with. Ever since their argument, neither Zahid nor Amal made a move to clear things with the other.

They lived like they always had, except now, the conversation had vanished from between them. With every passing moment, Zahid grew silent. He was starting to lose sleep, the bags under his eyes proof of his condition.

Amal grew reserved as well. Firm on her decision, she did not leave for Islamabad. She cooked, wrote just as passionately, and still made extra coffee for Zahid every morning. Zahid too fulfilled all of his duties. He checked if the doors were locked, prepared her warm honey-water before he woke her up for Fajr, and told her if he was going somewhere but now his conversation was reduced to short phrases.

It is truly a wonder how two people can care about each other so deeply and yet, refuse to open up their hearts about certain matters.

Things weren't supposed to be this way, and yet, life had somehow shadowed over Amal and Zahid and the once happy couple who believed that they were unbeatable against the whole of society as long as they stood together were now beginning to lose faith. For how could they possibly remain unbeatable if they failed to understand each other and give the other a chance.

While Amal was stubborn on her side, the lack of action from Zahid was beginning to worry her. With every passing day, the boulder on his shoulders only seemed to be getting heavier and even if Amal was angry, she cared far too much about him for her heart to remain unmoved.

Two days passed and Amal was beginning to consider Zahid's suggestion. Should she really go to Islamabad? While her heart openly argued against it, Amal could not help but consider Zahid's peace of mind. If her leaving would really lighten the cloud that hung about his head, then perhaps Amal was willing to make that sacrifice.

Then, as quickly as it had come, the thought vanished from her head. No. Let the world team up against her, Amal wasn't going to leave Zahid's side. The irony was that her man himself was now begging her to leave.

Clutching at her hair, almost helplessly, Amal let out a light groan. At times, she wished that she could switch off her thoughts.

The bell ringing outside snapped Amal out of her chain of thoughts and while she was glad of the distraction at first, the threats Zahid had been getting brought her back to reality.

Moving a bit cautiously, Amal made her way towards the door. She tried peeking through the door but to no avail. Straightening up, Amal cleared her throat, "Who is it?"

A minute passed... and then another. Her guard now completely raised, Amal looking around the gate for some sign of a letter or something. Releasing a relieved breath once she failed to spot any, Amal was about to make her way back- deciding that it must have been some kid playing a prank, when- just as she had closed the main door behind her, the bell rang again.

Now seriously unnerved, Amal found herself in front of the gate three minutes later, a poker stick in one hand and her phone in the other. Her plan was simple: in case it was someone dangerous, Amal would hit them first and during the time they would take to get over the shock, she would already have retreated to the house and called the police.

When the bell rang for perhaps the fifth time, Amal inhaled slowly and opened the door.

A lot of actions require explanations, and opening the door to your neighbor with a stick in hand is one of them.

"Hafsa," Amal smiled sheepishly, hiding the stick behind her. "I was er.... working out."

While Hafsa looked like she did not believe Amal, she must have been in a hurry for she asked no questions.

"Oh, Maryam, Walid. Assalamualaykum!" Amal waved at the kids who were peeking at her from behind their mother before her questioning gaze turned towards Hafsa who looked flushed.

"I know I said that I won't bother you again, but I need to be somewhere for the day. My brother in law promised to look after them but something came up and he can't come anymore. I am so terribly sorry-"

"How did you know I was craving company right at this moment?" Amal cut her off, dramatically raising a hand to her heart, and nodding solemnly, "I promise that I will protect these two with my life."

Hafsa blinked, looking at Amal with so much gratitude, Amal felt embarrassed. "Go along now," she brushed Hafsa off and while Hafsa looked like there was something she wanted to say, she nodded and hugging her kids one last time, turned around.

"Don't blame me if they don't want to come back!" Amal called out, waving at Hafsa before she closed the door behind her, the smile dropping from her face and replaced by an expression of empathy.

Hafsa always seemed so embarrassed whenever she asked Amal for a favor, even though Amal had told her many times that she need not be so formal with her. Realizing, then, that Hafsa was not able to let go of this feeling that she owed everyone who helped her even the slightest, Amal had decided on a different strategy. Making her feel like Amal wasn't doing her a favor at all.

A sigh escaping her lips, Amal looked down at the seven and four years old. Maryam, the older of the two, was looking around the house while Walid was already running inside.

"Okay, kids," Amal clasped her hands together, "We're going to have some fun today."

~~~

His whole world was collapsing.

The song of fear would ring in his ears at all times. It surrounded him, completely, till at times, Zahid would become deaf to everything else. It was as if someone had suddenly taken a Deluminator and sucked away all of the light from his life.

Zahid stayed at home longer now. It was hard, for he knew that he had hurt Amal and while he was filled with guilt seeing the hurt in her eyes, his own words echoing in his ears like some unending curse.

Love makes you weak.

But it was true, wasn't it? If Zahid did not love Amal, if he were not married- he would not have had anything to fear. Now, though, he had a weakness and Raza's men had obviously taken note of that.

Amal, though, refused to leave, and at one point, Zahid had almost called her parents. Surely, they would convince Amal. Who would allow their daughter to remain in a position where she would be in danger? What was he to say, though? Please convince your daughter to come back to her house because she isn't safe with the fool you married her to.

Zahid closed his laptop with a snap. Harris turned to look at him, his brows raised, but Zahid gave no explanations, putting his laptop and files in his bag and walking out.

Since she wasn't leaving, Zahid worked from home mostly. That was the only thing he could do now, wasn't it?

Lately, Zahid had been working like crazy. He analyzed every single clue, searched for even a slight deflect somewhere- anything that would help him win this case. Till now, though, he knew that his case wasn't strong enough and it wouldn't get him anywhere.

A sigh escaping his lips, Zahid drove back home. He knew how the day would go by. Neither he nor Amal would be willing to make a sacrifice and they would remain quiet, their hearts screaming at them to make a move.

The house was silent, and Zahid locked the door behind him. What was he expecting anyways? For Amal to come out and greet him? As he walked into the living room, however, he was met with a peculiar sight.

On the sofa, in the middle of the room, huddled together, Amal was asleep- two sleeping kids by her sides. The living room was a bit of a mess too, the rug turned over, papers, color pencils, and empty snack packets spread over the table. Zahid looked around, recognizing these kids as their neighbors- for this wasn't the first time Amal was babysitting them.

Dropping his bag on the chair, Zahid found himself moving towards them. Amal's head was resting on the back of the sofa, her shoulder-length hair spread around her. She had an arm around Walid, while Maryam's head was resting on her other arm. As Zahid observed the scene, a sudden warmth spread through his body.

Amal's eyes were closed, her eyelashes kissing her cheeks, and serenity spread across her expression. The very sincerity that Zahid now craved for with such intensity. His body moving on its own accord now, Zahid neared her, gently raising his hand. His fingers were inches away from her face, when Maryam shuffled from the side, sitting up. Her movements disrupting her sleep, Amal's eyes blinked open.

Zahid pulled back his hand quickly. For three painful seconds, brown clashed against hazel, before he quickly pulled his gaze away, his heart pounding wildly. By now, Walid had woken up as well, and as the kids sat up, rubbing at their eyes, Zahid muttered his salam, and as if this is what he was here for all this time, he sat down on the other sofa, picking up the remote and turning on the T.V.

The sound of the T.V filled the otherwise silent room, and glad of the distraction, Zahid tried to ignore the wild pounding of his heart against his ribs.

"Mama isn't here yet?" Maryam asked, and Amal shook her head, getting up from the sofa and starting to clean the mess on the table.

"She'll be here soon, sweety," she said, gathering the color pencils and the papers. Maryam nodded, still a bit sleepy. Silence fell in the living room again, the voice of the news reporter the only thing that could be heard. Both Amal and Zahid though, could not hear a word the reporter was saying, for their own minds were far louder, and they were both busy thinking about the other.

"That man is evil."

Maryam's voice snapped the two of them out of their daze and they turned to look at Maryam who was pointing at the screen, her brows drawn together.

They turned to look at the T.V screen and Amal's eyes narrowed when she spotted Shahid Raza's image on the screen. The pictures she had seen in Hafsa's house flashing in her mind, Amal snapped her head back towards Maryam whose eyes were glued to the screen with an expression of maturity that one would not expect to see on a seven-year-old's face.

Of course, there was no doubt that Shahid Raza was evil, but a seven year old saying such stuff hit Amal as strange.

"Why do you say that, Maryam?" Amal spoke quietly.

Zahid too was observing Maryam closely, and her next words sliced through the silence.

"Mama once said that Baba can never come home because of him."

Amal inhaled sharply, her eyes widening. Everything made complete sense to her now, and as Amal dropped down on the soft next to Maryam, her heart reaching out to the kids, and even more so- to their mother, she did not once glance at Zahid.

Perhaps if she had, she would have noticed something flashing across his eyes. She would have noticed the way his hands clenched. Amal would have seen the emotions vividly through his eyes; and the intensity of his gaze would have sent a tremor down her spine. Perhaps, if only she had glanced at Zahid, Amal would have known that something was wrong.

Assalamualaykum.

Writing this chapter was just as emotionally intense. Zahid and Amal's feelings, and then Hafsa's past. Not sure if you guys remember, but in the very first chapter, I mentioned that this was the second time Raza was charged with murder. Ai, things are getting dark by the moment but I'm hoping for the next chapter to be more light-hearted.

Most of you were on Amal's team in the last chapter. In this chapter, I've focused a bit more on Zahid's thoughts. Do you still think that Amal shouldn't leave? I absolutely love reading your comments, so please let me know what you think!

If you liked the chapter, consider leaving it a vote. Jazakillah!