Chapter 53

Atifa's pov:

He was lost in his thoughts when I went back to my room. The stress lines were visible on his face, making me concerned. I wondered what the matter might be. Even though in the start, I insisted for him to talk, he stayed silent. That was until he snapped at me, most probably annoyed by my frequent questions.

"Accha theek hai. But you know you can tell me anything right? I will-" I was just letting him know that I will be there for him if ever feels like talking to me but his sharp voice had interrupted me abruptly.

(Okay fine.)

"Accha jaan na hai na tumhe ke baat kya hai? Haina? To listen. Your sweet and sensible ammi kidnapped me!" He growled, his voice turning sarcastically sweet in the end, making my eyes go wide. I stared at him in shock and disbelief.

(Okay you want to know what's the problem, right? So listen. Your sweet and sensible ammi kidnapped me!)

"You are kidding me, right?" I asked him, my voice a mere unbelievable whisper. This couldn't be true.

"Yeah, I'm kidding right now." He laughed without any humor before mocking me, his voice void of any emotion.

"I don't believe you. You can't be serious." I replied furiously while looking at him in disbelief.

He couldn't be telling the truth. He was lying. He must have been lying. He had to be lying. I didn't believe him. I didn't believe that my ammi could go this far. I could understand that at times she might be annoying or something, but kidnapping someone? Why? She wouldn't do that. I didn't believe it!

"It's your wish to believe me or not. You believing it or not won't change the truth." He shrugged nonchalantly while looking away. His jaw was ticking as he gritted his teeth, his eyes were cold and had that furious ablaze look in them.

"I. Don't. Believe. You. You get that? You are a liar! You are lying! I can't believe I married a liar!" I uttered through gritted teeth in exasperation while pointing a finger at him. His accusation had brought tears in my eyes and it wasn't long before they started their water works.

"I told you, you don't have to believe me. I don't even expect you to believe me. Actually, I don't know why am I even telling you all this when it doesn't even matter to you or anyone. Just leave it." He replied, turning to look back at me, a tired look replacing his angry one. As he glanced at me, his gaze softened, "I- I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry or anything. Please don't cry." He added, standing up and taking a few steps towards me.

Standing up, I wiped my face furiously before showing him my hand, stopping him. "Stop! Stop right there. Don't come near me. I-" I paused, taking a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. "I will prove you wrong. This... This accusation which you just made, I can't... I just can't stay in the same room as you anymore. At least not until I prove you wrong and you apologise." I continued, and before he could reply, I rushed out of the room.

"Ammi!" Wiping the remaining tears off my face, I called out while rushing downstairs. "Ammi!" I headed towards the kitchen knowing she must be there keeping away the extra stuff taken out while packing food for bhai and bhabi.

And I wasn't wrong, I found her there cleaning the counter. Turning around to look at me with a smile, she asked me. "What happened? Why are you shouting like that?"

"Did you kidnap him?" I asked her, ignoring her questions. As soon as she heard me, her smile vanished.

"What are you talking about? Who would I kidnap and why?" She retorted while looking away, not meeting my gaze.

"Ammi it's a simple question. No need to question me back. I know that. Just answer me in yes or no. Did you kidnap Saad?" Taking a deep breath, I asked her again.

"Who told you that?" She inquired while looking in my eyes, her gaze hard and her voice cold.

"Ammi, yes or no?" I was starting to get annoyed at her stalling and not answering me.

"First answer me Atifa!" She raised her voice this time, making my eyes go wide. She couldn't be serious right now, I thought. Instead of just answering me in no, she was asking me questions of her own. How much time does it take to just say no?

Wait... Does this mean that he wasn't kidding? That he was right all along? That she actually did kidnap him? Ya Allah, I couldn't believe this! Why would she do that?!

I could feel my tears brimming my eyes as I questioned her for one last time, hoping that she would answer me this time. "Yes or no?" My voice was a mere whisper as I looked into her eyes, searching for any kind of emotion or feeling to give away her demeanour.

"Yes, I did." She replied coldly, her face and voice, void of any emotions. I could see a glimpse of that cold and closed off person here. The one which she turned into after that incident. "Are you happy now? You got your answer! Now answer me, will you?!" She added, not moving her gaze away from me.

So he was right all along. I should have expected that. I mean, how else could a person agree to get married to a stranger so soon? "Why?" Was all that I could ask her in a broken whisper. My tears were freely rolling down my face now and I didn't bother to wipe them away or hide them.

"Why ammi, why? Why would you do that? He had his whole life ahead of him and now, just because of you, he is tied down to me. Do you even realise what you did? You have just increased his responsibilities and I- I don't know! What if he already liked someone else? God! You messed up his life ammi. You realise that, don't you?" When I didn't get any reply from her for a while, and I was sure she wouldn't reply, I asked her again, this time my voice audible as I continued while running my hands through my hair in frustration.

Her gaze softened when she saw me like this, "Atifa, I-"

I turned around before she could continue just to find him standing there, in the doorway. "I don't want to hear anything anymore ammi." I muttered, wiping my tears away furiously before starting to leave the kitchen.

"Will you listen to me at least?" He was saying when I shook my head furiously, not being able to meet his gaze.

"Leave me alone." I muttered before running upstairs to my room. I could hear his footsteps following me as I entered my room. Rushing into the washroom, I closed the door loudly before wiping my tears away furiously and washing my face. I needed to get out of there. Coming out, I grabbed my abaya and hijab, ignoring him completely.

"Where are you going?" He asked, his eyebrows furrowed. He was hunched on the couch, his demeanour tired.

"Out." I mumbled, wrapping my hijab quickly.

"Where?" His gaze was curious as he inquired. When I didn't answer him, he heaved a sigh. "Alright, will you listen to me first? I wasn't done when I started telling you."

Tying my niqab, I turned to look at him. "Please not right now. I don't want to hear anything." I gritted out, my jaw clenched as I checked the time on the wall clock before walking out.

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