From contract to ishq - Chapter 9: Chapter 9

Minahil knelt in the expansive walk-in closet of the master bedroom in Yaram’s Karachi bungalow, her fingers lingering on the last pair of her shoes as she placed them on the shelf.
It had been a long, exhausting day. She glanced around, surrounded by Yaram’s neatly arranged clothes—shalwar kameez, casuals, tailored suits, all in perfect order.
Her own wardrobe, now tucked into a small corner, looked meager by comparison, taking up barely a fraction of the space.
Her belongings were here now, moved from her modest apartment , by his command.Her stomach tightened. The day was nearly over, and everything she owned was in his house.
At breakfast, she’d tried again to voice her doubts, to say the nikaah was a mistake.
But Yaram had shut her down, ushering her out the door and into his SUV before she could finish.
A sound at the bedroom door pulled her from her thoughts. Yaram stood in the doorway, watching her. He raised a hand, beckoning.
“Yahan kaam khatam ho gya, jaan? Mujhe tum se baat karni hai.”
Minahil rose with a fluid grace and turned toward him. His intense stare halted her steps.
He reached out, took her hand, and led her to the bedroom, gesturing to one of two armchairs in a cozy alcove.
She sat quietly, her outward calm masking the chaos within. Folding her hands in her lap, she met his gaze.
“Mein nahi chahta ke tum kal kaam pe jao. Tumhari job khatam hai.”
. She stayed silent, absorbing his words. She’d expected this, but not so soon—not without a chance to say goodbye to her colleagues.
“Mein paisay nahi lungi.”
A heavy silence filled the room. His scowl deepened.
“Minahil—”
She cut him off.
“Nahi. Mein paisay nahi lungi. Meine galti ki, aur ab mujhe iske saath jeena hai.” She paused.
“Kuch waqt ke liye. Meine aapse se nikaah kiya hai, yeh mujhe pata hai. Bewakoofi thi meri. Mein aapke sath rahungi aur is nikaah ko asli dikhane ka waada Pura Karun gi. Lekin mujhe paisay dene ki zarurat nahi, aur mein nahi lungi.”
Her heart pounded, her body trembling as she awaited his response.Yaram towered over her, his eyes narrowing at her defiance.
Kuch waqt ke liye? She was throwing that in his face again, not even two days into their marriage?
“Agar tum paisay nahi leti ho, toh do saal wali shart khatam ho jati hai. Mujhe koi masla nahi. Lekin tumhein jaldi talaq nahi milegi, jaan. Mein isse challenge karunga, aur tum bohat lambay waqt tak mere saath phansi rahogi. Tumhari marzi.”
“K-kyun?”
Her voice shook.
“Tumhein kya lagta hai?” He punched the words out.
“Mujhe nahi pata.”
He didn’t answer, his gaze burning into her. His shoulders squared, aggression and desire radiating from him.
His fists clenched as he fought for control.Minahil bit her lip.
“Kya aap keh rahe ho ke aap ye shadi lambe time tak rkhna chahte”
“Yes.”
“Iska kya matlab hai?”
“Iska matlab hai ke mein thak gaya hoon yeh sunte sunte ke tum jana chahti ho, ke tum isse shadi ko pehle hi khtm krna chahti ho. Mein yeh sunna band karna chahta hoon ke tum nikaah khatam karna chahti ho.”
“Yaram, hum ek doosre ko jaante bhi nahi. Mein bas samajhdari se soch rahi hoon. How can this work?”
“Meine tumhein pehle hi kaha tha, Minahil. Tumhein pehle hi idea tha ke mein kya chahta hoon.”
. She shook her head, trying to process. "To aapko koi masala nai Hai mei ke aapke paise na Lun or relationship accept Karun, with no terms?”
He raked a hand through his hair. "That's right, --No terms!”
Her breath caught.
“Yaram, humein baat kiye ek hafta bhi nahi hua. Aap ne mujhe apni convenience ke liye nikaah ke liye bribe kiya, do saal ka deal, aur ab aap keh rahe hain sab khatam?” She stood, legs trembling.
“Kya badal gaya?”
“Kuch nahi badla.”
His eyes roamed her body.
“Yeh waisa hi hai jaise last six months se tha, bas ab ziada bura hai.”
Minahil edged toward the door.
"Aap real marriage chahte hain.”
Her words were a quiet accusation.
He glared as she moved.
“Kahan ja rahi ho?”
“Kahin nahi ja rahi. Calm down. I just need to think properly .”
He took a step toward her.
“Minahil, mein—”
“Baad mein, Yaram. Baad mein baat karenge.”
She slipped out.
An hour later, Minahil descended the stairs, expecting Yaram to be waiting in the armchair.
He wasn’t. It was late, and they’d eaten dinner earlier. All she wanted was to curl up in bed. Alone would be ideal, but deep down, she craved his arms around her.
A soft glow came from his study. Deciding to slip into bed before he joined her, she entered the master bedroom. Already in her sleeping clothes, she slid under the cool sheets, hugging a pillow.Her thoughts raced.
He wanted a real marriage. Why?The bathroom light flicked on, and the shower ran.
Ten minutes later, Yaram dropped his towel and climbed into bed, pulling her into his arms. His chest cradled her back, and he kissed her hair softly.
“Jagi hui ho, jaan?”
“Haan,”
she whispered.
He kissed her hair again, inhaling deeply.
“I want you without any contract. Bina paiso ke, bina nikaah khtm krne ki deadline ke. Mein chahta hoon ke tum bhi yeh chaho.”
She turned to face him, his warmth pulsing into her. His expression was torn. Tenderness surged through her. “Theek hai.”
His grip tightened.
“Thank you.”
“Y-Yaram?”
Her voice wavered.
“Kya yeh… sab drama tha? Kya sach mein office politics ke liye biwi ki zarurat thi?”
He sighed, his fingers lifting her kameez to her waist, caressing her hip.
“Mein tumhein batata hoon, lekin pehle mujhe kuch jan'na hai. Tum meri biwi ho, ya accounts department ki employee?”
His touch sent her heart racing.
“Mein aapki biwi hoon.”
His hand stilled, then gripped tighter. “Zain ne socha tha ke ek biwi mujhe presidency dilane mein madad karegi jab meri ammi retire karengi. Yeh uska idea tha, aur mein bas usse khush kar raha tha. Mujhe koi fikar nahi. Jab waqt aayega, company meri hi hogi, biwi ho ya na ho.”
. She shifted as his hand roamed her thigh.
“Lekin aapne ne mujhse kaha—”
“Yeh bas ek bahana tha, jaan.”
He draped her leg over his waist, his fingers brushing her clothes.
“Zain is bare mein argue kar raha tha, aur tabhi tum samne aayi, mere dream ko sach karne ke liye.”
He slid her clothes off, tossing them aside.
His finger teased her, pressing softly.
“Us waqt mein kuch bhi karta tmhen basil krne ke liye.”
His voice deepened as he slipped inside her warmth.
“Tumhein roz dekhta tha, i wanted you to me mine. But pta nai tha kese?.”
He moved inside her, stroking deliberately, making her arch against him.
“Tum mujhe pagal kar rahi thi, jaan. Mein tumhein date nahi kar sakta tha, bahar nahi le ja sakta tha.”
His mouth found her breast, he sucked them gently.
He lifted his head, whispering in her ear. “I wanted you so badly and my control was slipping , aur har baar jab tum mujhe dekhti thi, tumhari aankhon mein darr hota tha. Mein tumhein dara deta tha, i didn't know how to approach you.”
He rolled onto his back, lifting her over him, positioning himself at her entrance. “Ab aur baatein nahi. Tum meri ho. Hamesha meri rahogi.”
He pushed into her as she sank down, groaning. He guided her hips, his voice raw.
Minahil’s eyes closed as pleasure slammed through her.