CHAPTER FIVE
761 Words
‘Say, “Indeed I fear, if I should disobey my Lord, the punishment of a tremendous Day.”- Surah Az-Zumar, verse 13.
***
At exactly 11 a.m. I dress up in a kurta and straight pants and make my way downstairs. When I enter the dining room, I notice that my in-laws and 'husband' are already there.
"Assalamualaikum (May there be peace upon you)." I greet them.
They all look my way, acknowledging my presence.
"Waalikumassalaam (And on you be peace)." My mother and father-in-law greet back.
And of course Rohaan doesn't reply, funny how just a while ago he was acting all sweet. Two faced man.
"Come sit down next to Rohaan, Ayra." My mother-in-law says and gestures to the chair next to Rohaan.
I smile and do as she says. She asks the maids to serve the food. Looking at the delicious food in front of me, my mouth waters.
"Rohaan can you- oh, never mind." I wanted him to put in the food for me. Wali used to serve me back home. But no luck here.
Okay, maybe I’m a little bit of a baby. But whatever.
Rohaan looks at me and asks softly, "What?"
I shake my head, "It's nothing."
I know for a fact that he's only being nice because his parents are here. And I don't ever want to depend on someone like him.
While we're eating, Aunty asks, "So, when am I becoming a grandmother?"
Rohaan chokes on his orange juice and I'm sure I look like a tomato. I certainly feel heat rising along my neck and my cheeks.
To my utter shock, Rohaan says, "Soon."
WHAT! NO WAY IN HELL! He's already a father but he doesn't need to know that. I don't plan to tell him for a very long time.
Wait, that does bring memories of me telling him that I'm pregnant with his child. He didn't care. I'm sure he doesn't right now either. Bastard.
Just you see, Rohaan. Just you see.
"Rohaan, you and Ayra have a dinner invitation." Uncle says, squirming in his seat uncomfortably.
Rohaan cuts into his pancake and shrugs. "By whom?"
"Adil." He replies curtly.
Rohaan's eyes turn dark. His jaw clenches and he presses his lips into a thin line.
"Who's that?" I ask, confusion lacing my voice.
Sensing Rohaan's silence, Uncle replies with a short, "My brother."
I nod, still not understanding why Rohaan is acting so weirdly. I shrug it off. It's probably nothing. But I notice the tension going on around the three of them.
"I'm not going." Rohaan says gravelly.
"You are. Both of you. It's been four years since you've met them. You even refused to see them on your wedding. Now you have to see them. I'm hearing no excuses." His father says as a matter-of-fact.
Rohaan gets up and bangs a hand on the table, causing the contents sitting on the table to move vigorously and making me flinch.
He looks at both of his parents. An expression that I don't recognise is plastered on his sculpted face.
"Sometimes I wonder why I bothered to come back. Thank you for always being so damn understanding." His harsh tone is sarcastic but his eyes are dead serious.
With that being said, he strides out of the room.
"Please go check on him, Ayra." Aunty pleads, tears trickling down her face.
"Sure." I say and get up.
***
I walk inside the room to notice that it is a complete mess. Vases are thrown on the floor; the dressing table seems to be missing some of its contents too. And Rohaan sits on the wooden floor, his back resting against the dressing table.
His chin rests on his palms. His face is a sculpted figure of sadness. I walk towards him and sit down by his side.
"You okay?" I ask and then mentally slap myself. Of course he's not okay, you fool.
"Fine." He says in a brittle voice.
That's when I notice his bloodied knuckles. I take that hand in mine and gently touch his wounds.
He looks at me, a bit dazed. And quickly snatches his hand back.
His eyes are empty, devoid of any emotion. He says to me while he gets up into a standing position, "I'm going. I'll be late, don't wait up for me. As I'm sure you weren't going to."
"But-" I start and he cuts me off.
"No buts. Bye!"
With that he walks out of the door.
Great! Just perfect! He's so confusing. Ughhh.
- Writer
