Adrenaline rushed through his veins. He was not able to tear his eyes off the pictures. How was this possible? It wasn't an old picture. The gold bangle on her wrist glimmering next to the cuff of the winter jacket clearly indicated that it was a new picture. With eerie calmness, he placed the phone on the desk and leaned back in his chair.

His ragged breathing, heartbeat doubling, eyes misting and his mind was numb. There had to be some explanation of these pictures. The closeness, her loving looks, her immense caring for him...was it all fake? Did their relationship mean nothing to her? He immediately straightened on the office chair and clasped his phone in his fist strongly. He was about to call Nawal when a text message beeped and the vibration of the phone raised the hair on his forearms.

A message from his cousin after more than a year...

.

Moving the mouse of his laptop, he hurriedly switched on the tracking application and went through the calls and texts of her phone for the last month or so. He was astonished. How long this had been going on? How much longer she planned to keep this charade up and never reveal her contact with Daud? He didn't want to believe all this and give her the benefit of the doubt. His heart was bleeding as he dialled her number with trembling fingers.

On the second ring, she answered, "Nawal?"

"Ummm...ya?"

"Where are you?" he asked as his eyes were scanning the map that was showing her location on the laptop screen.

There was silence for a few seconds and then she said in a low tone. "I am actually still in university. I had to go to the library."

His eyes closed in defeat. She was nowhere near her college. She was near the City Centre area. She was lying to him. It hurt badly and deeply. But now was not the time to argue with her about this. Instead, he will do as Daud had said.

"Ok I will see you in the evening then." He whispered and before she could reply he ended the call.

Did he have the courage to go to Daud's office?

What if he was bluffing? Then why would Nawal lie? He sought truth and he would go. He was strong enough to face whatever adversary that would come his way and would be able to leave the place unscathed.

But the events of that day were to be marred in his memory forever and altering his relationship with Nawal for the worse...

****

She hated lying to Salman but she had no other option. Telling him the truth right now was out of the question. She hadn't even revealed any of the past encounters with Daud and these pictures had to be deleted at any cost. She clutched her phone tightly as she gazed out the bus window. Just a couple of hours and she would get rid of this torment. She would tell Daud there was no point of keeping any kind of relationship when she was pregnant. She rather wanted to focus on her apparent motherhood and her bonding with Salman.

A small smile lingered on her lips as she remembered how he had been joking earlier in the morning. Bikini? Really? She had never seen him this naughty before. It was a wonderful change and she liked this side of her husband. No not like. She had passed that stage. She was well aware she was slowly falling for him. Tonight no matter what she will disclose about her pregnancy to him. By then, Daud would have left her life and she would be completely Salman's. Only his.

But right now, there were more pressing issues to consider. Why was Daud calling her at his office? What more did he want? He had betrayed her by taking those pictures. He had played with her trust. What was the difference between him and Salman now? At least Salman never threatened her with the pictures or even once gave hints that he had any kind of pictures. But Daud... he had crossed all limits.

She was petrified to go to his office remembering what had happened there last time. Their first kiss. But she reassured herself, that time the office was closed with no staff but now it was a middle of a weekday of course his office would be busy. She would stand her ground. Delete the pictures and leave immediately. There was no point in wasting time with idle talk or whatever. This time she would not be lured by his magical words. Enough was enough.

But not all intentions are fulfilled.

****

Daud was inclined back on his swivel chair as his fingers tapped on the mahogany polished desk. His other hand lifted the cigarette from his lips as smoke escaped his nostrils. He was lost in deep thoughts. Was she coming? He was hoping against hope she would. It would be futile to call Salman if she wasn't.

It had taken months to reach this stage and painstaking careful planning. His lips pressed the cigarette again and he inhaled the smoke deeply. It was now or never. He was taking a big chance.

Just then the intercom buzzer alerted him and he immediately pulled out the cigarette from his lips. "Yes Mary?" he answered his secretary.

"There is a Ms. Nawal here to see you."

A sardonic smile spread across his lips. "Send her in. and oh in the meanwhile if Salman comes let him in too ok?"

"Okay."

He snubbed the cigarette on the crystal ashtray and then stood up. It was time for the ultimate move.

We are about to end this game of chess after all, Salman. The Queen is in my custody now...

****

With quivering fingers, she turned the door knob. Inhaling deeply, just a few more agonising minutes and it will be over, she reassured herself. She stepped in Daud's office on shaky legs. Her anxiousness obliterating the sweet memories she had spent here. Rather she was sweating under her winter jacket and her palms were clammy in stress.

"Aah you made it after all." Daud smirked.

She stared hard at him as she took another step in his office. "What is the meaning of this Daud? Who took those pictures?"

He held up his hand in defence, "Calm down beautiful. Why don't you have seat" he pointed at the sofa in the far end of his office.

She stomped her foot and said through her clenched teeth, "Daud answer me."

He closed the distance between them and wound his arm around her shoulders, "I will answer all your questions." he lightly pushed her towards the sofa, "Sit down and take this awful heavy jacket out. You will roast in it."

Nawal staggered backwards, "Don't you dare touch me. I am sick of these games. What game are you playing at Daud?" Her eyes widening, "Answer me" her voice rising.

"Maybe you need a cold drink that will cool you down a bit. There is no need to be this angry. Just sit down and take a deep breath." Daud softly reassured her.

She perched on the sofa and hurriedly unbuttoned the buttons on her jacket. All this anger had heated her up under the winter clothes. Her eyes never left him, "I don't trust you anymore. Now, what is it you want from me?"

He sat on the edge of the coffee table facing her. Their knees nearly touching, she hastily leaned back. She despised his touch at that moment.

"I am not doing anything. All I wanted was us to talk. And you can delete the pictures when you are leaving."

Her hands curled into fists on her lap, "I don't have time for your idle talk anymore."

His eyes roved from her peach cardigan, white shirt collar that was visible from under the cardigan and up her face that was framed with a dark blue hijab. She was a beautiful woman. A woman he believed could have been his life partner. But his heart had hardened now. He had no romantic feelings or emotional thoughts for anyone. He was burning in a fire of revenge and he was about to burn others around him. If it meant burning the innocent he didn't care.

All his life he had been deprived of everything. Love, affection and even his rights in the family. But not anymore. If he was not given the right way, he will snatch everything. Every fucking right that was his.

His index finger slowly traced the popping veins at the back of her hand, "Nawal why do you hate me so much now? Was it all a lie that you loved me?"

She shot up immediately and stepped back from the sofa. She was distancing herself from him, his hands and his words. "Just stop it Daud. I am getting fed up of the same whining of yours." She spun around unable to see the hurt look in his eyes and gazed at the painting on the wall. "I am a married woman now. My priorities and faithfulness lies with my husband."

"I was the first man in your life. He is the one who tore us apart." He stood up and approached her.

She whirled around and held her head high, "Yes and he has accepted he was wrong. I understand his reasons and I have forgiven him."

"He is taking advantage of your soft heart." he spat.

"So are you!" she countered back.

"Beautiful, I will not take advantage of you. You of all should know that." he took another step closer to her.

She crossed her arms over her chest, "What do those pictures mean then? I am not stupid Daud. You think blackmailing will work. This is the last time I am coming to meet you. I have far more important matters to focus on in my life."

Taking the last step and closing the gap between them, he brushed his fingers over her winter jacket-clad arm, "What is more important?"

She stepped backwards, "I am going to become a mother inshaa Allah. All this is foolishness. I don't have time for your chats, talks and definitely meeting you."

Blood drained out of Daud's face. The bastard got her pregnant. His determination increased. "So Salman is going to be a father huh?"

She nodded taking another step backwards. Daud didn't miss the beat and he took another step closer. Her back touched the wall and she had no place to escape. He close very close. She could easily see the different shades of blue in his eyes that had turned dark. She pressed her hands on his chest and pushed him back, "Will you give me some space. I am feeling claustrophobic."

"I don't think so beautiful. Why don't we end this with a kiss and I promise you then delete pictures and leave."

Her eyes grew large in alarm, "Have you gone mad?" her voice a shrill now.

"On the contrary, this is how it should end." his arms stretching on both sides of her head caging her between the wall and him.

"Daud stop this nonsense. I will scream and you don't want to get embarrassed in front of your employees."

He laughed softly, "Scream as much as you want. These walls are sound proof. And as far as I know you always enjoyed kissing me. Let's see how much you scream."

He bent his head and she turned her face, his lips landing on her cheek. Her pulse was throbbing hard and her heartbeat accelerated. She raised her knee to kick his leg instead he pressed his legs against hers plastering her body against the wall.

Her hands were thrashing on his upper body, trying hard to push him away. "Stop it. Just stop it." she kept on begging over and over again but he grabbed her wrists and raised them high against the wall.

"Let's see how you stop now" he murmured as his lips traced from jawline to her lips. She shut her eyes tightly and tears escaped as his insistent lips moulded against hers. With vast experience, he was kissing her deeply. She never kissed him back. She was trapped. Utterly trapped unable to move let alone escape.

At that moment, the door knob clicked open, the door ajar. A man stepped into the room and froze. His eyes widening as he watched Daud kissing his wife passionately.

Salman didn't see the struggles Nawal went through.

He didn't see how Daud had trapped her.

All he saw was his wife in an intimate embrace with her past love.

His heart shattered into pieces and with it a ferocious lion within him was freed...

--------------------------------