Over the next two months, Pari attended a lot of events with Salem - charity events, movie premieres, success parties of Salem's recently released film. He even took her to one of the theatres where his movie was playing and his team planned to surprise the fans. She stayed at the corner as a sea of fans gathered around Salem, screaming his name and everyone wanting a piece of him - to shake his hand or to touch him in some way. She saw them taking his autographs and posing for photos for the paparazzi.

They returned home after the event and Salem poured himself a drink. She looked at him in displeasure, her face twisted at the smell but didn't say anything.

"You don't say anything when I drink these days, why?" He asked her. Earlier, his drinking was the major point of their fights.

"I don't think my opinions matter, so I stopped giving it." She said honestly as she caressed Jammy.

Salem kept quiet but something didn't settle right with him. Pari was not the person who keeps quiet. She was someone who made sure you know she hates a habit of yours, it didn't matter whether you hear her or not. He was happy for the past months, especially since they came back from the Europe trip. They didn't have big fight - not for once and that was the primary reason for him being happy but now, it didn't feel right. 

The next day, while at the gym, Salem asked Tiger about Pari. He had put excess security for her since her escape attempt but these past 3 months, they were almost normal and Salem removed the security which kept an eye on her. Now, it was only Tiger or Wajid who accompanied her when she steps out. But Salem wasn't feeling well since past one week about Pari. 

"What does she do?" Salem questioned while doing weight training. 

"She reads a lot of books, mostly cooking books and then end up watching a movie. Sometimes, she informs you and goes to meet Priya." Tiger answered. 

"Is that book called 'How to murder your husband?'" Salem joked sarcastically as Tiger shook his head. "This is wrong, Bhai." Tiger felt the need to defend Pari. "Now, Bhabhi behaves so well with you and you are making jokes on her."

Salem laughed a bit. "Oye! Bhabhi ke chamche (Bhabhi's pet) Something feels wrong. This is not Pari." Salem said as he started the treadmill. "Why'd you say so?" Tiger asked. 

"As much as her family thinks Pari loves money, she does not. Pari doesn't like to share stuff but she is not a greedy person. She has never stopped me from buying stuff for others. In the beginning of our marriage, it never mattered to her what gifts I bought for my siblings. I have got more gifts for them, always. But now suddenly, she hates it. I thought she was just in one of her moods when we came back from the vacation. But this thing has continued. And now, she doesn't argue with me about my drinking habits...nor asks me about business and films I do for Moosa's production." Salem let out all his thoughts.

Wajid who was listening to Salem's talk interfered, "Isn't it nice? Isn't it what you always wanted - for her to not fight with you on these things? Also, people change all the time. Same goes for Pari. She was okay before when you got things for them, but now you are buying properties for them...and she may not like it." 

"Yes. I didn't want her to fight with me on alcohol or other businesses." Salem answered still thinking deep. 

"I never thought I would see the day where Salem is overthinking." Wajid made fun of him, "That's why I don't want to marry. See, what women do to you." 

Salem glared at him and said, "I wish I am overthinking. That girl left our home and went to her maternal home after our fight, then she made an attempt to escape. All this while - her two main pain points were alcohol and working with Moosa and now she doesn't care about it. But I know her. She is not someone who lets go of things easily." 

Tiger and Wajid looked at each other, both had the same thought but only one of them had the courage to say it out loud. "Easily? I don't think she let it go easily...you broke her hand and face. May be, she doesn't want to test your patience anymore." Wajid said as a logical explanation. "Plus, you told us she is thinking about growing family with you. That has got her more protective over the property. It's normal."

Salem stood up and looked at Wajid, "You are right...maybe its the thought of future and children that is making her insecure. But..." He looked deadly now, "You better wish that whatever you both are believing is the truth. If there is some alternate story to this, she won't be hearing the end of it....and neither will you both for being fools." He warned them. 

On the other hand, Pari had gone to meet Priya and Yug at Priya's place after shopping at a mall. Priya was checking what all Pari bought as Pari was playing with Yug. 

"Wow! This kurta is so beautiful. Can I borrow it?" Priya asked and Pari didn't bother to look and gave her the permission. 

A while later, Priya brought tea and snacks for Pari and asked her, "Is everything okay?" Pari said yes and sipped her tea. 

"Don't lie." Priya looked angrily at Pari. 

"I am not lying." Pari defended herself. 

"I have grown up with you. The girl who hates to share clothes is giving her newly bought clothes, without a thought. Trust me, I know you. You can give me a share in your property but not clothes that were bought for you." Priya yelled. 

"Shhh! Keep it low. Do you want to kill me?" Pari kept her hand on Priya's mouth even though there was no one who could snitch to Salem. 

"Something is cooking in that head of yours. Tell me what is it?" Priya tapped Pari's head and asked. 

"Me? I only want two things - to grow my family and not let anyone take my husband's money." Pari fluttered her eyelashes innocently. 

"Pari, I know Kabeer can irritate you but you have never humiliated him this bad, especially when he is actually asking money for education. I know you would never deny him achieving his dreams." Priya paused and looked at her intimidatingly, "and to grow your family? Is this the lies you are feeding  Salem?" Priya asked in shock.

"Why? You don't think I want children of my own?" Pari asked quickly.

"You want children? Are you sure?" Priya feared that she might have offended Pari, so she trod lightly around the topic of 'children'.

Now, it was Pari's turn to hit Priya's head. "I am on pills. The children are not coming anytime soon. I was just joking about it." Pari rolled her eyes.

"Pari." Priya glared at her. "I don't think these jokes are going to be taken lightly by Salem. You are lying to him that you want children? What more lies are you telling him?"

Pari remained silent, thought for a while and answered, "I never said I want children now. I said I am thinking about it. What is so wrong in telling him that I am thinking of our kids?"

Priya stared at her, "You can play with words how much ever you want. But don't play with Salem, it's like playing with fire. Why even give such hopes to someone?" She questioned Pari.

"He gave me bruises, at least I am giving him hopes about a non-existent future." Pari was too casual with her answers.

In the three months, she had to put an act daily telling Salem she is thinking about growing their family, talking about trust and love in their relationship. She was successful in getting his trust. Of course, he knows that she carries the bitterness of the past and she shows it to him time and again, but her act of accepting the current situation and wanting to work on the relationship and its future, has gained his trust and to her delight, he removed those annoying security around her. It was easier to contact Richa after the security removal. She only has to tackle Wajid & Tiger at times.

"I don't know what you have in mind and what you want to achieve but don't do it. Don't increase your problems. If he is actually being good to you, just go with it." Priya advised.

"He is being good to me because I don't argue with him about smoking or his alcoholic ways. That doesn't mean that he is right about it. You know me, I can't be unbothered by his wrongdoings." Pari said putting a strand of her hair back.

"Don't you dare to runaway this time." Priya warned to which Pari shook her head. She was not going to runaway but had bigger things planned.

After she left Priya's home, Pari went to her in-laws place. Jenny loved to spoil Pari by giving her a box full of sweet dishes that Jenny makes. Earlier, when Pari was on good terms with Jenny, she had taught Pari so many recipes but now Pari just doesn't talk to them the same way. However, she enjoys the tasty food that Jenny makes and there was another advantage at Jenny's home - no Wajid or Tiger to keep an eye on her. She could call or email Richa freely in Salem's room. In the beginning, Richa found nothing wrong with Blue Eyes but as time passed and she started researching, she started seeing the wrong practices of Blue Eyes that went beyond alcohol and partying - drugs and women. So many women were mistresses to the powerful men. They were used and abused by them.

"Look, all our evidence about Blue Eyes is either against Joel - the manager or Asif who was spotted with these guests. There is no strong evidence against Salem." Richa had told her. "However, all these evidences makes a strong story that could tarnish Salem's image. Him working with Moosa is also a big red flag." Richa concluded.

A month back, Richa insisted on knowing Pari's identity so Pari told her that she is the sister of an employee at Blue Eyes. Her brother was now addicted to alcohol and started drugs due to this club. Pari was good at telling half truth. She concealed her identity of being Salem's wife. 
Pari told her that her aim was to take her brother out of this mess and also expose the place. 

"My boss would love these exposing stories of Blue Eyes but since it's such a big story, I am sure Natalia and Salem would come to know of it before it publishes. We won't know the consequences of this story and may be it won't even get published due to pressure from them.

 All the research would go waste so I think we should publish these on blogs first and then our newspaper can publish it, citing the blog. The blog will obviously be anonymous that means the blame can't be on us." Richa spoke. Pari sighed. It was already 5-6 months and she couldn't find evidence against Salem. All the papers that Pari mailed to Richa are against Joel and Asif but not Salem. 

"Be ready! This week, Blue Eyes is going to be all over the news." Richa said with a smirk. 

_________________________

28th Jan 2025

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So you all know what's cooking!