CHAPTER 35
AHAD POV:
I have been here in Chicago for some days now. Sahil needed us, and here we are with him, helping him and solving the problem as we can. After my stay in Chicago, I moved to China for my new project meeting and work.
The client delayed the meeting three times in a row, and I couldn't voice out as he was genuinely busy with his wife and newborn baby; time has been going slowly… way too slowly, like everything's taking its longest time moving forward.
As if everything around me was stopping me from going home to my wife, as everything in me was desperately in need to see her… hug her… kiss her… admire her… observe her… and everything… as if everything in me just wanted to have her in my arms at the moment, talking to her daily on video call was not helping the situation as I just wanted her near me, every night sleeping without her in my arms as the night pass by with coldness filled the other side of my bed, as every morning tells me how much I miss her yet can't be with her, as everything in me desperately need her.
I came back to my hotel room after my visit to the project site. I sat on the couch, feeling thirsty and tired since I was not able to sleep last night.
I had a really bad headache, which woke me up the entire night, but one good thing that happened was that I had the whole time to myself to look at my beautiful wife, yeah, her.
She insisted on being on call with me every night I went to sleep, even if she had classes. After my nightmare experience in front of her, she started to look after my mental health like it were her responsibility.
I somehow remember how she ignored me before our marriage, just because she was battling with the thoughts of whether she'd be able to be the best wife for me; those memories just make me smile, thinking how far she has come. She has started to mold herself into being my wife, not losing herself in the process.
My day starts with her and ends with her. I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath when my phone started to ring. I looked at the caller's name, and a silly smile made its way to my lips.
"You're back from the meeting already?" Asked my wife even before she greeted me. She has developed this habit of worrying; she doesn't know, but I have noticed how she'll directly start talking about the problem or anything when she's worrying, and if she's all carefree and happy, she'll greet before starting about a new topic.
"Yes, I just came back, Begum," I smiled and looked at my wife, who was tying her hair in a bun.
"Let your hair stay open on your shoulders begum, don't tie it up, they look beautiful when the wind scattered them on your face," I let out without thinking twice, and in reaction I saw my wife stopped right there with a hair clip in her right hand while the left hand had her hairs in it, hazel eyes widen up, lips slightly parted, I could see her taking a long breath.
She collected herself together, looked at me after setting her dupatta and keeping the hair clip down on the table, "Don't I look beautiful with my hair in a bun, Bubba?"
Once widened eyes were now glaring at me, once parted lips were now in a thin smile, she asked such a question, "I- that- Ahm- you look beautiful always, Jaan, you just make my heart a little flatter with your open hair," I said with a smile and gleaming eyes. She let out a laugh and changed the topic.
We were talking about our day when I told her to hold on so I could go and change as she started to move towards our home office to study, after changing my clothes I came out and looked at my schedule, my mood turned sore after knowing that I had to stay in China for a week more, I have to visit the site with our partner and my assistant while I have to attend four meetings in a row tomorrow.
I was desperate to go home and meet my wife and family; she was all alone in our house, and she didn't want to go to Chachi's or our parents' place either.
I looked at my wife, who had set the camera and was now making notes, her eyes frowned, focused on her laptop, "Ahad, my laptop isn't working, and your laptop is with you. I need to make an assignment, what should I do?"
"Don't worry, wifey, I'll get Ashar to buy you a new one and send it home now," I said and studied her frame, wearing a royal blue dress with a sapphire locket that I gifted her and jhumka paired with some golden color bangles with a gold ring, which Ammi gifted her. She looked damn gorgeous.
"Ahad, Ahad, are you even listening to me?" Coming out of my thoughts, I looked at her as she asked me where I was lost, to which I said, "Yes, in you."
She had a smile on her face, which she was trying to hide by biting her lower lip as she cleared her throat and started talking again.
After having our dinner together, my wife went to put her phone on charge while I did the same to mine. Hearing a knock on my door, I asked Hayat to hold on as I went to open the door, finding Miss Adeline standing there with some documents in hand.
"Yes?" I asked in a questioning way, strictly while blocking the door, not letting her enter my room.
"Mr. Mir, you need to sign these documents so we can further talk about the project site work." I frowned as I didn't remember anything about such documents.
"Miss Adeline, you may need to contact my assistant to talk about these documents. He'll let me know, and I'll sign then. Thank you," I was about to close the door, but she spoke again, "It's urgent, sir."
Now I was getting frustrated, "Miss Adeline, it'll be much better if you leave right now, and contact my assistant. I'll talk to your boss about this behavior of yours. You may leave." I tried to be as polite as I could to her. I closed my room door and called Fawad to let him know about Miss Adeline's.
After a while, I sat in front of Hayat on the bed, hanging up the call with Fawad. I took some deep breaths.
"Jaan, aren't you sleepy?" I looked at her, who just stared at my face, and said, "I guess you should sleep, it's 1 am already, and it's 10 pm here, so sleep, Bubba, and if anything is bothering you, do let me know."
I wanted to laugh. I know she heard everything I said to Miss Adeline and Fawad, "You know already, wifey, what happened just now, and it may have created a lot of problems if I had let her in my room and signed those documents, which may or may not be important at the moment."
She just smiled and, as I turned off the lamp lights while getting inside the covers, "I want to go for a drive, so Bubba, I may sleep late, don't worry, but I'll be on call, I'll just mute myself," I replied with an okay and went to sleep after setting the phone near me with a pillow.
I have been a light sleeper for 4 years now; therefore, Hayat mutes the call whenever she's out, so I won't wake up hearing the noise. The bed was empty, but I still had my wife with me; sometimes technology does the best things for everyone, like right now…
HAYAT POV
I do miss my husband, but I also know how important the project is for him and the company. I won't ask him to come back soon just because of my selfishness.
He's responsible for hundreds of people who are working under him, and he needs to do his best so they'll have their best too. His time and effort change a lot for the people around him, and I would never stop him from doing his responsibility, which links with so many people.
I have not been going on my long drive since we came back from the trip, university, and everything has been much better. I miss my outings a lot, so today I decided to go on a long drive in my car. I got inside my Mercedes G wagon, I put down my wallet in the passenger seat while fixing my phone in front of the dashboard so I can see Ahad clearly, and so does he.
Today I was craving something spicy, so I turned my car towards Bahadurabad and had some Pani Puri, ice cream, and some waffles, and my stomach was full… Yeah. I start with sweets first, then I'll end my meal with spicy food, which makes the food more delicious.
I know I'm crazy, but that's me… getting myself some food packed, I turned my car towards Do Darya, it's been a while since I went there to watch some race and enjoy.
I did order some food for Ashar and his friends. He's my best friend, brother-in-law, and mannerless man; I do have to take care of him, too. The roads were pretty clear since it was late at night.
I took another glance at Ahad as I heard him snoring, light snores, I could hear them. I smiled as I stopped my car near a place and recorded his snore video on my phone, and again made my way towards my destination.
"Hayat," I heard Ahad calling my name. I glance at him for once, just to find him sleeping peacefully.
"You're here, stupid!?" I heard Ashar scream as he came running towards my car after parking his bike, more like giving it to someone else to park it, or maybe take it on a ride.
"Yes," I tried to match his enthusiasm before taking a last glance at Ahad and turning towards Ashar. He smiled and came to stand near my car door.
"What a surprise, Miss Hayat, but what are you doing here?" Questioned Ashar as he frowned.
"Oh, I missed taking my car on long drives, so here I am," I turned to get the food bag to pass him when I heard. "Damn, why does your car smell like food? Did you come here after having your meal outside? Didn't you invite me? Bro, am I not your best friend now?" I laughed as I turned towards him, "For food, you'll call me your best friend, or else I'm the mannerless woman, huh?"
I passed him the bag, "I did get you food, I just had ice cream and some waffles there, I'll have my meal here with you, too." he gave a smug smile as he took the bag and asked me to join them.
"Arham came with his wife, too; she's inside the car with him, and Asfia came here to shoot her YouTube vlog. You're lucky, come join us on the benches," I nodded my head as I got down from my car, locking it.
"Oh, can I take your car for a drive?" Asked a man as he came towards Ashar, and I didn't know what to say; if I said no, he'd think I had ego or attitude, and if I said yes, then I don't know…
I looked at Ashar as he turned towards the man before us, "Bro, she's my sister-in-law, Ahad hadn't allowed her to give her car to anyone, she doesn't let anyone drive it, sorry bro, but maybe you can take my bike on a ride Sajid" the man glanced at my car for one last time, not looking at me he turned around and left.
"I- Sorry- I didn't know what to say," I said to Ashar as he helped me get the bags for others out of my car. I held my phone in my hand, hiding that Ahad was on call, connecting the headphones so only I could hear him.
"It's alright, he's new here and just loves to try taking cars or bikes on the drive, it's okay," Ashar said as we moved towards the benches.
"But you don't give your bike to just anyone, how come now?" I asked as my curiosity was getting the best of me.
"Well, saving one, killing one..." he moved to call others too. I sat on the bench as I saw Ahad changing his side, and now his back was on camera.
"Hi, beautiful," said Asfia as she came towards me with her sunshiny mood to engulf me in a hug, greeting each other, and getting to know the new people she came with. I sat on one side thinking about all the recent events.
"What are you thinking?" Asked Ashar as he came towards me with an ice cream.
"Have you done the work I told you to do? When will it be delivered back here?" I asked as he sat down in front of me and said, "It's done, Hayat, it'll be back within a few days," nodding to his reply, and I again zoned out.
"What are you thinking, bro? Care to share?" I looked at him with hesitation.
"What's the catch, bro?" he asked again, looking all concerned.
"Well, Ashar… Mohabbat ho gayi hain mujhe Ahad se," I mumbled and looked down at my hands, which were tangled in hand-frees that were now on my lap, not connected with the phone, I, in horror, looked at my phone to see Ahad's phone screen blank, maybe he changed sides again, and his phone might have fallen from his place because of it. Hopefully, he hasn't heard me. (Translation: Well, Ashar… I have fallen in love with Ahad.)
"Are you serious?" I heard Ashar. I nodded my head, shying away.
"Why are you upset then?" I muted the call so Ahad wouldn't hear me as I spoke, "I'm missing him, I want to tell him yet I want him to tell me himself about him being in love with me, but I feel I have not done anything to be loved by him till now, and you know the past, I don't know if I'll end up as my mother did, I do trust Ahad but I can't help over think it" I looked at Ashar as he just laughed, his reaction made me relaxed.
"Tu sach mai pagal hai, sabar kr, tujhe tera jawab khud mil jaye ga." You're truly crazy. Wait patiently, and you'll find your answer yourself." He stood up from the bench as some of his friends called him, leaving me alone to think about the situation. (Translation: You're truly crazy. Wait patiently, and you'll find your answer yourself.)
Maybe I'll receive the love back from him. Maybe my exception won't be broken by him, maybe I won't be hurt anymore, maybe he'll come and tell me himself about his love, maybe all his actions, care, and affection towards me were his way of responsibility instead of love… but why are all these questions ending up with MAYBE… at the end?