MAQAAM - Chapter 8: Chapter 8

The door shut behind them and she rushed inside their room. Hurrying and throwing her shawl away, followed by her earrings and bangles unbothered of them flying around in the room. There was a mix of anger, pain, humiliation, and betrayal she felt. But more so, she was lied to face by the very people she had trusted.
Clutching her eyes shut, she felt him enter behind her. She could imagine him picking up her jewelry and shawl while she sat facing the other side.
He wordlessly placed the accessories in their place and her shawl folded neatly near her. Oh, how she wanted him to say a word so she could burst out and demand an explanation?
But seems the man knew what she wanted, more than her as he sneaked inside the washroom, no sound around the room as she heard the taps working. Within minutes, he was out and forwarding her nightwear to hers, tilting his head towards the door.
She had maintained her tight-lip silence the entire ride, somehow he knew she needed time to calm down but what he had mistaken was expecting her to calm down. Oh, no. With each passing second, she had turned into an erupting volcano that could burn the entire city with its heat.
If not city, she could roast this man alive for lying to her.
"Why did you lie to me?" She snatched the clothes and threw them on the bed.
"I am sorry for lying." His eyes moved behind her and back with a grimace but the understanding for her was what knocked her out in guts. "I shouldn't have but thought it would do you no good."
"Good?" She sneered "When and how did lying was justified with it doing good or not? Did you think you would save humanity by lying to me? Or was it a secret between you and my mother? Did she tell you not to tell me?"
He averted his eyes being guilty.
"Oh Allah!" She cupped her face falling back. "Ammi told you to lie to me. How could she?"
She scuffled around to pick up her phone when he dodged her attempts and held it out of his reach.
"No, Inara. You won't."
"Give it to me. I need answers." She claimed jumping to get the damn device out of his hold. "How could she ask my husband to lie? She cannot ask people to act on her whim and commands."
"You won't." He held her struggling form back while his thump pressed on her lock button, switching the phone and throwing it away.
"Rahil!"
"You are too angry to think rationally." He reasoned holding her shaking form, she was seething. "There has been enough drama for the day, Ini. There is no need to cook up more."
"Leave me." Her jaw was painfully tight, molars grinding against each other, and nails digging in her palm as she was made to sit back.
"Look, please. Calm down." He requested her but she shook his hold from her shoulders, only for him to hold her back. "You will sabotage your health at this rate, Ini. Please."
"Do you think I will go and jump from the terrace in anger? I am not an idiot." She scowled. "Let go of me."
"Do you need water?" He asked in hopes of cooling down the simmer inside her.
She watched him with narrowed eyes, the man held her back as if she were a crazy zoo animal who would go on a rampage if let loose. She rolled her eyes and slumped. "Water is good."
As if he apparated back from the kitchen, he kneeled infront of her within seconds and offered her a glass of cold water that she was tempted to dump on his head. His eyes followed her contemplating eyes and he raised the glass to her lips, coercing her into drinking some sips as she felt the burning of blood clashing with the coldness of water.
"Do you want to go change now?" He was treating her like a child who would throw tantrums at the littlest of inconvenience, not that he was wrong.
She hummed disinterestedly and picked her clothes. Entering the washroom, she splashed water on her face. Her eyes were bloodshot crazy and she could understand why he treated her as if she was a fragile glass doll who could fall and break into a million pieces. Changing into the loose cotton shirt and oversized pants, she walked out to find him waiting for her.
"Do you want to eat something?" He asked.
You, raw. How she wished to answer that. Shaking her head, she sat beside him clutching a pillow to her chest. He sighed and sat against the headboard, not touching his phone or laptop, silently giving her the space she needed before she would either burst out crying or lash out at him.
Feeling worse as her anger evaporated, she leaned her head against his bicep and he was quick to shift near her. His palm fisted and eyes taking in her small form sitting bundled.
"Do you think I went overboard with my reaction?" She asked feeling ashamed. He was quick to withdraw from her making her tear up at the loss of warmth only to be pulled closer and hugged to his chest as she sniffled.
"Not if you can justify it in your head." His fingers created soothing circles on her shoulder and played with her hair as she let the first tear out.
He let her.
"I got angry when you said she didn't want you at her place." She chewed her gums to stop herself from hiccupping, or worse breaking into uncontrollable sobs. "Who is she to decide if you deserve to be there or not? I should have pulled her hair and slapped her well for thinking that about my husband."
"She wasn't wrong." His words made her flinch out of his hold.
"What?"
"I have done nothing to be called worthy enough to join the elites." He shrugged nonchalantly. "She was right till some extent. I need to achieve something here. I cannot get free passes because you carry my name."
She blinked in disbelief at him. "You are not worthy? Are you listening to yourself?"
"Ini..."
"Don't Ini me." She snapped facing him, the anger returning with greater force. How she wished to latch on his collar and shake some sense in his head. "You don't deserve? Then who does? She or that scumbag of her husband who was born rich and did almost nothing to be where he is? If not for the average college placement, he wouldn't have been able to get that job in the first place."
He looked ready to reply when she cut him off, not that he was able to utter a syllable out.
"You made this company. You don't work for some businessman but you sit with them as an equal. You are an entrepreneur for crying out loud, Rahil." She pressed, reminding him again if he had suffered short-term memory loss. "You worked your arms and legs off to get where you are today. An 85-crore valuation company is no joke. Your start-up will become a unicorn in another few months and you will give people like them jobs. They will be working for you, not the other way round and you say you are not worthy? What a joke!"
"A valuation alone does not stand, Inara. It is only numbers that get manipulated as and when by Investors and auditors. At their whim and call." He tried to reason, not that she would be listening to him.
"That means a lot more. You own a brand. That right there is enough to make you stand out in a higher category. You made a bootstrap saving and creating your own funds. The numbers could be nothing but your hard work is." She glared at him to refute her claims, she was on her knees and grabbing his collar to make him hear her. "You work day and night on that business. You give everything of yours into that business and then you yourself undervalue it. This is unfair to you, Rahil. And I would rather throw you down from our balcony than hear you undermine your efforts."
"Fine." He raised his palms to calm her down. "Don't go ballistic on me. I am sorry. Sorry, okay?"
"You better be." She scoffed un-fisting his collar and sitting back. "Also, you should make changes to your pitch for tomorrow. I read it and I wouldn't invest in a business that has no idea how to reach its customers."
"Means?" He frowned at her sudden shift of anger.
"Change your advertisement plans and budget allocation. It is too superficial to be believed." Inara rolled her eyes thrusting her book from the side table. "Page number 452 to 489. Read and you will understand."
"Did you go through my presentation file?" He asked frowning. She yawned as she read the time. It was past 3:00 AM and they should sleep if they wanted to go to work.
"I was searching..." yawn "...for my files. I happen..." another yawn that she covered quickly "...to stumble on it."
He raised an amused brow and shook his head snorting. "You should sleep."
"I will..." She yawned, fighting her sleep off as she settled back and adjusted herself in the crook of his arm. "Do you want my help?"
Her eyes met his, head tilting as he pushed his reading glasses up and flipped to the pages she had tattled.
"It cannot be that difficult." He mumbled going over the text and letting her peer at the text, they read the book together, letting her explain topics he stuck on until she couldn't. Her eyes drooped and she settled more into the hard contours of his chest.
Snuggling into the pillow, she grumbled feeling the scruff on her cheeks which was once her soft pillowcase. How the silk cotton had overnight turned into sharp bushes was above her understanding. She cuddled more into the cocoon of the blanket but felt them heavier, harder too.
Blinking, she checked the time on the side table which screamed 11:00 AM in the morning. She sat upright only to be pulled back in bed as the arms around her midribs tightened. She felt him groan in sleep and snuggle into her neck.
"Rahil" She gasped remembering how he was supposed to go for his presentation in the morning, well not so much morning. "Wake up. Your investor meeting."
She shook his shoulder making his frown prominent on his calm face.
"It is canceled." He answered. "And get back to sleep. I am too tired."
"What? What about my office? Why did you not wake me up?" Her hissing had him squeeze open one of his eyes.
"I am not your alarm clock."
Could she stab him with a fruit knife or a pillow would do?
"I missed work." She shuffled around only to make him leave her and turn on his stomach to get his much-needed beauty sleep. Her phone was found at the foot of their bed.
Switched off and unresponsive.
She connected it to power and stabbed the power button to bring it to life. The screen lit up with a series of missed alarms ranging from her fajr to the ones of her office.
She had slept through them all.
Quickly dialing her HR, she chipped on her lower lip to brainstorm a genuine enough reason for missing work on a Monday.
"Hello, Inara?" The woman answered.
"H...hello, Mam." She cleared her throat and modeled it to sound a little tired. "I am sorry, I couldn't come to the office today."
"Yes, why is it so?"
She blinked and let her throat choke. "Rahil...my husband...he had an accident last night."
Well, he could take a little burnt. She said it loud enough to wake him up.
Rahil turned back at once scowling. He hissed. "Ini."
"Oh my god." The poor lady gasped in shock. "Is he okay? How are you holding up?"
"I...I will be good." She teared up in pretense. "I had been with him the entire last in the emergency and slept only in the early hours. I am very sorry, ma'am. Could you consider it as a sick leave? I know I cannot request you but it will be a favour. You know I wouldn't miss work on normal days."
"Yes, sure. I would see what can be done. You please take care of him. Are you sure you don't want more leaves?"
"No, No. Doctors say he can be discharged tomorrow. I will come to the office thereafter but thank you, really means a lot." She sniffed into the call.
"Really, Inara. No problem. You take care, okay?" She asked.
Inara nodded, "Thank you. I will come back tomorrow. Thank you again."
The call dropped and she breathed a sigh of relief.
"You lied." His accusation met her eye roll. "And you made me have an accident. How could you, Ini?"
"You switched my phone off. Get over it." She scoffed and laid back. "Now, I can sleep. I have a whole day to sleep in so come on, you can go back to sleep too."
Rahil rolled his eyes but nonetheless laid back, his arm on his eyes to block the escaping sun rays. She turned to face him with a pout. She removed his arm and used it as a pillow.
"I was comfortable in the morning." She admitted and snuggled in his side.
He glanced at her and gave in with a shake of his head on her level of crazy, holding her closer and burying his face in the crook of her neck giving in to sleep.
This was better, a day off from work was what they deserved after a night like yesterday.
This time it was knocking on their door that had her sat up straight. Her palm searched for him but landed only on a heap of sheets, pillows, and a tangled comforter. She sunk into the headboard and waited as the knock was answered and the lights were switched on in the room some minutes later. It was past 1 in the afternoon she yawned and pushed back her sleep as he said something or other that failed to register in her fogged brain.
"Inara?" He waved his palm infront of her. "Do you hear me? Get up and freshen up. Lunch is here."
She pouted in her sleepy stature and followed his words to the washroom, out, and about as she watched him pass a plate to her to be taken to the living room. Luckily, he had decided against the thought of arranging a table when she could barely function.
A few spice bombs in her mouth and she gained her bearing back. He went through his phone the entire time he stuffed his face, checking his laptop, and some files simultaneously.
"I have the meeting at dinner." He informed feeling her eyes on him. "Do you think you could join me?"
She raised a brow with surprise. He was hardly audible of her involvement in his business, asking to join a dinner meeting was a first.
"Wahid and Reshma would be there. I hope you remember them from our wedding." He piped more information to convince her. "I will be there too. You wouldn't be bored."
"Okay." It was enough, his presence for her to not bother about others. She had come to know how this man cared, he worried much and flocked his attention to the people he considered worthy. And she had held his attention more often than she would like to admit. She would follow him anywhere if it meant the man would be there with her.
He smiled pleased with her answer. "Be ready by 6:30."
She may have agreed to go to dinner with him but she was clueless as she stared at the racks and racks of clothes and still found nothing suitable to wear. It was a business meeting cum a dinner with his business partner and his wife she had met only once. How should one dress with the little information she had?
Simple, casual, heavy, formal, or stylish?
She groaned and ransacked through her clothes to find an outfit that screamed class, yet sober. It was a task but not impossible. Plucking three hangers with all different Anarkali suits but in different styles, she contemplated finding Rahil for help. She peaked at his side of the closet where he must have kept his outfit laid out on the iron table. A white button down – no different than the one he was wearing last night- black trousers pants and a blazer he usually never bothered with. If it was out, the dinner was a big deal.
She dumped her idea of choosing alone and called one person she could rely on.
"Ammi." She pouted on the phone as soon as it was answered. "Why you won't come back home?"
Afreen laughed at the other end. "I will, my Baccha. This Irfan has had me too deep in his chaos of marriage. Blame him."
"I won't leave him when I see him next." She huffed and switched to a video call with her mother-in-law. "I need your help."
"Of course, tell me." A smiling Afreen made Inara break into a smile of her own which soon turned down in a frown.
"I am going to dinner with your son and his business friends." She scrunched her nose in confusion. "I don't know what to wear."
"Show me your options." How this mother-son duo was so calm and collected in times like these?
"Red, White, or this color. I don't know...is this called coffee shade?" She had placed the camera facing her as she showed her options to Afreen one by one. Placing she watched her thinking and shaking her head.
"Try the third one," Afreen advised and Inara placed the dress dipped into the color that she recognised as familiar to frappe. It was a floor-length A-line long shirt with a flare and slit in the middle. Some strings dangled down passed her waist clinching to fit her. The trouser pants of the same color completed the look. She draped the shawl around her head and checked the color complementing her skin.
"This will do." She grinned at Afreen. "Thank you, Ammi. I love you."
Afreen laughed and replied to her before hanging up.
Inara quickly showered and dressed into a dress that looked stunning on her frame. Its dangles made her happy as they chimed as she walked around. While she stood working on her hair, she watched Rahil enter the room and halt in his place watching her.
His eyes took a once over her and quickly averted being caught by her. She smirked finding his ears turn red as he hurried to get ready himself. Taking nude heels and oxidized jhumkis to complete her look, she didn't bother with bangles or other accessories as the long-fitted sleeves snugged her frame.
Some lipstick and kohl on her waterline later, she was ready to leave.
His eyes stole another look on her as he cuffed his sleeves and wore the blazer.
"Someone looks handsome." She decided to tease him. Leaning against the side of the mirror, she passed him her watch and wallet. "I will buy you some cufflinks. I think I like them on you."
"I have enough." He answered combing his hair and using his fingers to push them back.
"How about a black shirt?" She dragged a finger on his chest in the air. "Black would go much better than white. Have you tried all black before? Khuda kasam, koi ladki kese soyegi aapko ese dekhne ke baad." (God knows, girls would have sleepless nights after looking at you.)
"Inara?" He called her name chastising her.
"Did someone tell you it is illegal to look so good in formal? You could go to jail for this, Mr. Sohail." She piped with mischief.
He rolled his eyes. "Are you flirting with your husband?"
"One of us has to." She stepped closer and pulled his collar to adjust it better. "Or else we will both die virgins."
This time he choked on thin air and she bit her laughter back.
"Are you okay? Do you need some water?" She asked innocently.
"No." He glared taking a deep breath. "We are getting late."
"That is all you care about." She scoffed and followed him with her bag. "Think about your wife too. Complement her someday. Bandi itne efforts leti hai tyaar hone me but nahi, sahab ko to allergy hai tareef karne se."
(She takes so much effort to get ready but no, the man is allergic to praise.)
She was sure he was rolling his eyes or grumbling under his breath as he opened a door for her. She sighed in defeat and settled inside the car.
Rahil rounded the vehicle and took the driving seat. "Seatbelt, Ini."
She followed. That nickname was the only step he had taken toward their marriage.
The meeting was a lot much informative and full of meaningful discussion that she would like to hear about. There were men, his investors – Wahid and two other men- and their wives who sat eating and gossiping among themselves. Inara had come to know about them more as she participated in the discussion with the ladies who made it clear to her how this dinner was a monthly affair they had followed for more than a year now. While this was the first after their wedding as in the previous months the men had met alone and discussed more crucial matters.
They were the youngest couple in the group and the only one who was childless. The rest of the three women had a lot to talk about their families, children, their course work, sports, and anything they could join in. They were perfect homemakers while Inara was the working woman here. Even for saving her life, she had no idea about the amount of hard work it was to clear a mud stain from a child's school uniform. To be blunt, she was completely puzzled at the amount of obsession these women had for their homes while she hardly knew where they kept their extra cleaning supplies. She had never bothered to ask Afreen.
While Rahil kept checking on her from the sidelines, she quietly sipped on her water and ate different cuisines on the table as the woman kept talking.
She was a talker but not this much.
"How are you doing?" He whispered in her ears as the waiter took their dessert menu. She was suddenly relieved as the dinner came to an end.
"Alive." She answered pursing her lips while adding "Barely."
"Keep trying." He grinned at her misery. The audacity of this man.
She could have stabbed her fork in his palm if not for the good waiter who was quick to collect the cutleries and carry them away.
"I heard you work in a marketing agency, Inara." Waheed addressed her out of the blue, much to the ladies' chagrin who all glowered at her to get the attention of the males on the table.
She nodded sharing the company name. "I am an associate there."
"She helped me twerk our advertisement plans," Rahil admitted proudly, and suddenly the attention didn't feel worse to her.
"Is it? I really would want you to work directly in the company. We need a marketer as it is." Waheed offered making her grin and face Rahil at the prospect of working together.
"No." His reply dimmed her excitement. "She works for a reputable firm already. I want her to work on her own merits and earn success."
"Your call." Waheed shrugged changing the subject but the painful knife twisted in her chest, slicing deep in her heart all the way down.
She stabbed into the dessert cake, no longer a part of the woman who somehow felt betrayed by her. While they ignored her, her husband squirmed under her glare.
The tab was cleared and she walked out without watching him following her. He knew his way and could come alone.
"Are you angry?" He inquired as he swatted her palm before she could open her own door. "Ini."
She glared at him settling inside as he bit his gums thinking why.
"Did I say something to offend you?" He asked worrying his gums, chewing, and biting.
"Did you not?" There went her will to give him the silent treatment the entire ride.
"Can I make up for it?" He asked genuinely guilty, how was this man capable of angering her and simmering it down within seconds?
She shifted and faced him as he drove. Legs up and crossed while she sat comfortably. "Why can't I work with you? Are you so averse to the idea of me working with you?"
"I never said I don't want you to work with me."
She raised a brow dripping in sarcasm. "Oh, am I hearing things? Silly me!"
He side-glared her. "Don't be sarcastic. I meant you have a good enough job. I don't want you to leave a high-paying job and work for peanuts with me."
"But I like peanuts." She bossed her way around. "I like them roasted, boiled, salted, and spiced too."
"Inara." He groaned her name with defeat. "I wouldn't be able to pay you half of what you earn. You don't want to leave your job, trust me."
She pursed her lips and watched him maneuvering his way with whitened knuckles. He was uncomfortable with the conversation; he always was whenever they talked about his business. "How about..."
"About?" He asked impatiently.
She licked her gums and lay thoughtfully. "If I moonlight with you and work simultaneously. Would you let me? I can work without a salary if you promise to feed me good ice cream every night."
"Moonlight?" He tested the word.
She hummed happily. "We can work together until you are ready to name me as the CMO of your company. I will help you whenever you want and earn more than the peanuts as you say. What say?"
"Have you made up your mind?" He asked glancing at her.
She grinned with determination. "I have."
"Then none can change it I believe." He shook his head smiling.
"You believe just fine."