Amal

It seemed as if time had slowed down.Each second passing in a millennia.The engines of time slowing down to barely moving, as I sat staring at the window which overlooked the park behind the building.

Three days had passed since I was here at Aunty Shahana's place.But it felt like months.Something just didn't match this time.There wasn't any excitement this time, there weren't any words to converse even.I didn't know what to talk about.

" God have mercy on us."A voice broke through the silence.The words a soft plead to our Lord.I turned around on the bed to face the woman as she walked inside the room.

Her gold bangles clinking together as she moved forward.I smiled as she settled on the bed.Her tired eyes trailing up to my face.The old woman's features softened as she managed to give me a smile.

" I am going to sleep for a while.I have been getting very tired lately."Aunty said closing her eyes making me reply a soft,

" Okay."

My eyes glanced at the window again, the grey clouds alluring me, attracting me towards the cold weather.I looked down at Aunty seeing her turn towards the other side as she rested on her back now.

" Aunty while you sleep, I go down to the park for a while."Aunty nodded making me stand up from my place.Taking the dark maroon warm shawl, I stepped out from the apartment.

My feet lead me to the open park area.The place was barely filled with anyone.The carpet of fresh green grass was spread with old trees here and there.Dark wooden benches remained in a side, making me walk to them.

Sitting down on the bench, I inhaled the cold air.Feeling my skin turn cold now.My eyes swept to the little children that took turns on the yellow slides.A smile spreading on my lips thinking about Saman and Akbar.

The two innocent children that were unaware of their father's identity.The man's cruelty and his brutality.A heavy weight spread through my chest, making pain to sear through.The smile washed down my face as I blinked repeatedly.

My hands reached towards the shawl as I loosened it around my shoulder, holding onto it.I coughed, feeling as if someone was choking me.Everything came closing up on me.As if the park/was shrinking.

A warm hand reached towards my shoulder as shook me,

" Are you okay?"A feminine voice spoke making me look up through my blurry vision.

Managing to nod my head, I tried to make out her feature.Her short curly hair remained on her shoulder, whilst her beautiful features looked down worriedly at me.

" Are you sure? You were panicking."She said again.I looked down at my cold hands as sat besides me.I recognized her immediately.She was the same woman playing with the children few minutes ago.

" Yes I am fine.Thank you for your concern."I said politely passing her a smile.She nodded before smiling and extending her hand,

" I am Chloe."She introduced, her dimple deepening with her smile.

I took her hand, warmly shaking it.

" I am Amal."

" A beautiful name, Amal."The woman said testing the words in her thick accent.I smiled politely at the woman again.A little boy came running to her before he said,

" Mom, I wanna go home."He said addressing her.

The woman looked at him lovely before speaking,

" Okay lets go.Go get your brother."She instructed as the boy ran away to get his little brother.Chloe stood up saying bye and then she went away with her sons.

I looked at the now empty slide area.Shaking my head, I stood up.Wanting to walk for a while, I walked along the jogging track.The cold air whisking past me.

Making my mind to drift to a man like the very cold air.His cold demeanor to the world and his softness in the dark side of night.His mask seemed to peel only when he wanted to.

Arsalan

He hadn't called in three days nor had I.It wasn't as if I hadn't tried.In fact, I had tried to call him countless times, as a sudden urge to just listen to him, bloomed inside me.But everytime, I chickened out.

*

Putting the prayer mat away, I felt aunty lay on the bed.Running a hand over the clean bedsheets, I sat down.The darkness covering the room.My eyes glanced at the clock seeing it read past eleven in the night.A yawn escaped my lips as I freed my hair from the loose braid.

Covering aunty with the warm blanket, I placed my head on the pillow.Aunty Shahana's breathing deepened as she slept peacefully.I turned my head to face the woman I considered as my mother.

Her skin had wrinkled more and she seemed more thin.Her health was deteriorating fastly making me and Sikander bhai more worried.The doctors said everything is fine, just the high blood pressure and age factor.But it seemed as if something was eating her from the inside.

Tears brimmed my eyes as I neglected all the bad thoughts away.The woman that peacefully slept besides me was everything to me.I could never imagine a day without her.Feeling the bubbling cry escape my lips, I pressed my palm on my mouth and turned to face the wall instead.

Wiping away the lone tear, I prayed for aunty's good health.My phone vibrated besides my pillow, making me squint the screen.My husband's name flashed through the screen as I cleared my throat.

Sitting up from the bed, I pulled my white chiffon dupatta before walking outside in the darkened living room.Pressing onto to the answer button, I pressed the phone to my ears.

" Hello."I whispered softly.

" Open the door."The man said in his deep voice as I frowned.Confused on his demand, I pulled the phone back before reading the name again.

Arsalan.

Drawing my eyebrows closer, I took the six steps towards the door before opening it.And there he stood in all his glory.

The phone was still pressed against his ear but when he saw me a small smile broke on his lips.Taking a step closer, he welcomed himself in the house making me move away.Closing the door gently behind him, I turned to look at the man.

The dark house was only illuminated with the lights coming from outside the windows while aunty and Sikander bhai rested in their bedrooms.As the man turned towards me, his handsome face was only visible with the minimal light.

Yet his dark charcoal eyes were quiet visible as he stared at me.My eyebrows wrinkled as I rose a brow at him,

" What are you doing here?"I emphasized folding my hands across my chest.He looked around the silent apartment before he whispered,

" I am here to eat."My lips parted but no words came out as more confusion clouded my mind.

I almost gasped as the man moved towards the kitchen.His large form moving in the small kitchen.With a thudding heart, I followed behind him.My eyes landed on Aunty Shahana's open bedroom door.

Uff! Aunty was always a light sleeper.

" Did you have dinner?"I whispered to the man in black.

" No."His loud voice boomed as my heart almost stopped.

Pulling at his hand, I pulled him down to the floor as we both crouched down.Placing my index finger on my lips, I signaled the man to remain silent.

Due to the winters the nights seemed utterly silent and even heavy breaths could be heard more louder.And now Arsalan stared confused at me demanding a stupid explanation.

" Everyone is asleep and what will they think finding you here at this late hour."I whispered utterly scared at the moment.

Understanding the situation, he nodded leaning against the cabinets of the kitchen islands.Our forms hiding behind the islands.

" But I am really hungry.I haven't had food in days.There wasn't anything to eat in the house."Arsalan whispered with an accusatory tone.My eyes widened and so did my mouth as I placed my hands on my waist.

" I had already prepared food and it was all stored in the fridge."I defended seeing the man look away.A small smile curving his lips making me well aware what game he was playing.

" Sit here.I'll get you some food."I said standing up from the cold floor.

Tip toeing to the fridge I opened it and pulled the container of meatballs and curry out.Putting the food in the microwave, I dreaded the ding of it.

Amal, what if Sikander bhai comes out to drink water or worse-

Shaking the thoughts away, I pull the food out before the microwave could time out.Placing the plate of food in a tray, I moved around to get the glass as the white dupatta mopped the floor.

The glass scrapped against the marble counter in the darkness, suddenly as Aunty coughed.Stilling Arsalan and me.

" Amal, sleep."She said sleepily unaware of my action.

I remained immobile till I was sure she was asleep again.Careful this time, I leaned down with the tray.Sitting on the floor, I forwarded the tray to my husband.

He smiled taking the tray from my hands. I smiled despite the racing of my heart against my ribcage.No words were exchanged between as the man ate silently.But my eyes refused to avert from him.As if I looked away he would disappear from my very sight.

His board muscular chest supported a dark shirt with a black hoodie over it.His dark hair falling messily on his forehead adding more to his features.His stubble had grown more over the days adding the gruffness to him.My hands itched to ran a hand past his jaw.

Blinking rapidly, I blushed thinking about what stupidity dissolved in my mind.

The man looked up as if feeling my eyes on him.His charcoal eyes met my grey ones before they ran down all my features.Pulling my knees up to my chest, I wrapped my arms around my knees before leaning my head down.My long hair cascading down my back making me conscious that they were open.Letting the latter pass.I smiled feeling light hearted.

I wanted to say so much to the man before me.There was suddenly so many things to tell him about.So much to inform him, so much to share with him.

" Isn't it odd that you never married Sikander."The man said taking all my breaths away.

All the calmness from minutes ago washed away and a bitterness smeared through my veins.

" Sikander bhai was always a brother to me.No more no less."I spat feeling the anger radiate off me.Standing up angrily, I felt a hand tug my hand.The glass bangles in my hand breaking apart as I hissed feeling the red blood ooze out.

The man pulled me down making me to land much closer to him than before.His dark eyes glancing at me but my eyes averted to the broken pieces of my bangles that remained scattered on the floor.

" I am sorry."He gritted out.Pulling my arm.Wanting to get away from him, I pulled back but his hold didn't let me.

" Let me go."I whispered.

" Amal, I am sorry.I didn't mean to say it."His voice softened and so did his features.My grey eyes moved his charcoal ones as he loosened his grip.Pressing on the small cut on my wrist, he placed his thumb over it trying to soothe the pain.

" You asked me to trust you.But I ask only one thing from you.Just know that I will always be faithful to you."I whispered softly seeing him look at me.

" I know."He whispered back.

Leaning forward he placed a passionate kiss on my forehead stealing all my breath away.I sighed against his touch that didn't seem as unusual as before.

And as his strong cologne wafted passed my nostrils, I felt as I was home again in the grey living room or in the kitchen.The smell of a place, I loved to live in.

After some time he helped me do the dishes with extra care not wanting the other two sleeping people to wake up.As he walked to the door, I silently blew prayers at him-for his safety.Arsalan stepped out from the door, I felt as if time was slipping from my very fingers.

As if this time would never return and I would never get a chance to say the truth.

Quit running Amal.

Inhaling a huge breath in, I stopped the inner battle inside me and let the words slip.

" I missed you."My words were barely audible but the man had seemed to hear them as he turned around only to grin at me.

A smile curved my lips too as my knees weakened.

" I'll pick you up tomorrow early."He said before walking off.

Contended with how, I had managed to cross some of my walls.I walked off to bed.

He missed me too thats why he was here in the middle of the night.

***

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_Hafsa