Dinner was served and all had taken their respective seats around the magnificent table, happy conversations were being made.

Aahil was sitting beside me and it was a battle not to look into his captivating face. I fiddled with the food on my plate to distract myself. Thoroughly devastated by the revelation's my mind felt numb. How I wished Aahil would have confided those dark secrets to me by himself.

In vain attempt, I stuffed my current chain of thoughts farther back to my mind and smiled at whatever conversation was being held. I hadn't paid heed to any word of their discussion as the pain in my heart was too much at the moment.

I just wanted to curl like a ball and lick my wounds. Sitting here and acting cheerful was pure torture. But as I had promised habeeba that I wouldn't disclose the matter to anyone, acting normal was the only option.

Aahil raised a morsel of food to my mouth and instantaneously all eyes were upon me.

Do not create a scene.

I smiled weakly and opened my mouth, without making eye contact. I heard murmurs of MashaAllah around the table.

"May Allah bless your marriage and increase your love," Mom supplicated and patted me on my shoulders as she got up from her place. After dessert, all began excusing themselves one by one and made their way towards the living room.

I escaped to my bedroom before anyone would initiate a conversation with me.

After grabbing my bathrobe from the closet, I shut myself in the washroom. I sat in the hot bubble bath shutting my eyes and replaying all the incidents of my life.

A single tear hadn't escaped my eyes until now and I told myself that I wouldn't cry on the matter. I sat there frozen like an icicle for what seemed like ages.

Nothing had broken me as much as habeeba's revelations had. It did not hurt me that Aahil had a past life, what hurt me was he had lost the love of his life in order to protect me.

He gave away his happiness because he was entrusted with my protection. I vowed to myself that I would unite him with the love of his life. He did not deserve to live a forced life. No one deserved it!

I loved him too much to allow him to stay beside me just because he considered it to be his responsibility.

I would return to him his freedom and happiness.

******

I sat in my prayer mat longer than usual, asking Allah to grant me enough strength to let go of my husband.

Aahil's happiness was mine and his sorrow was mine too. I could feel the pain he might have gone through when he had to choose between his love and his father's word. Soul wrenching.

Aahil was a man who had a strong sense of duty towards his family. His loyalty would always take precedence over personal feelings.

I got up from my place and went towards the window sill. The bitter night wind blew with ruthless intensity and I stood there without bothering to cover my bare hands, allowing the harsh wind to caress me.

A jerky little laugh fell from my lips as I found myself analysing my married life. Suddenly I was very grateful that I hadn't confided to him about my feelings. I had a vision of Aahil hop-roped and tied to me out of respect to his father's wishes. "A matter of honour," he would consider it. I winced at the demeaning concept but a tinge of curiosity remained.

"What are you doing? You are definitely going to catch a cold," Aahil confessed with such fierceness that made me shiver.

He stood behind me wrapping his hands around my waist and my heart skipped a beat. I did not turn around to face him, if I looked into those deep eyes I would melt in a heartbeat. I had already learnt my defence but unfortunately, it wasn't working now.

The dark and passionate rasp of his breath made me feel all hot and sort of quivery and even a foot from him, I knew that I was still too close from safety.

"Look at me," Aahil invited softly.

I was in retreat. "I want to sleep."

"And I have none other wishes than sleeping," Aahil drawled with his tone coloured with amusement.

Goosebumps appeared all over my arms. I was too weak. I did not possess enough strength to let go. I closed my eyes as a lone tear escaped my eyes.

Aahil spread eloquent and expressive hands in an explicit invitation.

Involuntarily, I stiffened and backed off a shaken step, forcing him to release me. I felt hideously out of depth and the shock and realisation renewed my grasp on reality. "I'm having a terrible migraine," I said raising a hand to my temple. Wasn't that a universal lie used by desperate wives?

"Do you need pills or I could call the doctor," Aahil replied concerned.

"I do not need anything. I'm sleeping on the couch."

"Who said anything about sleeping?" He grinned. I understood what he meant by his words and I reddened profusely.

"I'm terribly tired and off to sleep," I confided shakily. I grabbled as it struck me with paralysing force that there was nothing I wanted more, nothing I had ever wanted more than I wanted Aahil at that moment, even though every sane sense rebelled my thinking. It was such a devastating truth that I was completely floored by it and incapable of retaliating with my usual fury and aggression.

His ebony brows drew together, contemplating me intently. His soul-destroying sensual mouth compressing as a daze of concern filled his gaze.

Without warning, he swept me up into his arms and laid me on the bed. "What do you think you are doing?" I tried to wriggle free from his hold.

"Ya Allah, what's wrong with you? Why are you throwing such tantrum? Do you think that I would force myself on you," His strained voice cracked as he spoke?

Before I could say anything else, he grabbed his towel and the bathroom door shut with a definitive thud.

He came out minutes later and threw himself on the couch, flinching as the couch wasn't his size and his bruises were still tender.

I went towards him and tapped him gently on his shoulders.

"What do you want?"

"Please sleep on the bed."

"I won't. Don't bother me." He began sulking like a child.

I was in a pure dilemma. I did not want to show any love nor could I allow him to sleep curled on the couch when I knew that his bruises were still raw and hurting him.

"Please stop convincing me and go to bed," He turned towards the other side and shut his eyes.

I stalked back to my bed and once I lowered myself towards the mattress, my face crumpled and my throat convulsed. I pressed my face to the pillow as I fought the choking, burning rush of tears dammed up behind my eyelids.

*****

Hours later, I lay awake in the darkness, unable to sleep. I did not know how I was going to leave Aahil without completely breaking down.

Furthermore, why did Aahil take our relationship further if he was still in love with another woman? It was unfair of him to play with my feelings if this relationship was going to end within a few months.

Confronting him directly did not appear like a feasible idea. I had to find a way to know more about Aahil's past through some other sources.

I couldn't imagine Aahil with any other women. He was mine. I cried my eyes out for a few terrifying moments.

No, I couldn't be selfish. If he still loved Safa then I had to get out of the picture.

It was selfish enough of his father to force him to stay married to me. I was perfectly capable of protecting myself. Well, I didn't need him or anyone else to act as my bodyguard.

Tears burned my eyes and I rubbed them vigorously. I had read somewhere that it was better to have loved and lost than to have not loved at all. I would at least a lovely memory to hold on to. I had lived a few precious days with the man of my dreams and would have a fake privilege to live with him until the case solved.

I grimaced, exhaustion creeping over me like a heavy fog.

*****

Waking with the start, I found Aahil staring at me. Blinking in the lamplight, I jerked bolt upright. A cold spasm of heartbreak impelling me.

"Yaa Allah...What do you think I was about to do? Attack you?" He demanded, openly taken aback by my reaction.

"Get in the bed. It's three in the morning and I have nothing on my mind but an overwhelming desire to sleep," He asserted with distinct hauteur.

I went back to the bed like a zombie, but as soon as I felt his arms around me. I got up abruptly and built a huge wall of pillows between us.

"Do not touch me. Don't you ever touch me again," I shrieked?

"Darling, what's wrong with you?"

I did not bother to reply.

"How am I supposed to know until you tell me. Why are you upset?"

"Who said I'm upset?"

"Aleena, please tell me. Did I do something wrong?"

I made my way across the room and curled up wearily on the sofa.

It felt as if I had just closed my eyes when a loud and persistent knock started hammering on the bedroom door. I pushed my tousled head under a cushion and groaned, snuggling into the warmth of the blanket that hadn't been there when I had gone to sleep.

The knock became persistent and I groaned, covering my ears with a cushion. Only when I heard an impatient burst from Aahil did I lift my head again.

By then Aahil, clad in closely fitting charcoal-grey trousers and white shirt, was already yanking open the door. He stepped outside and left the door slightly ajar.

I heard Noor's voice and then both men got engaged in serious conversation, their tone laced with worry. But I couldn't make out a word so I quickly wrapped myself with a huge shawl and stepped outside.

But Noor and Aahil were in the act of taking the giant staircase which led to the first floor  I stalked behind them and reached the living room.

I was so engrossed in following them that I did not bother to look around and finally when I scanned my surroundings, I couldn't help but gasp out loud.

The house was filled with huge bouquets of red roses and the entire length of the floor was covered with red and white balloons.

A giant beautiful and colourful card was attached to a large red shaped teddy bear.

Aahil opened the card and turned pale. The savage tension in his wide brown shoulders made my stomach muscles clench.

Seething tension emanated from Aahil in waves and ferocious dark eyes slashed mine and I had to stop myself from shivering.

"What's wrong?" I whispered.

"Now I understand." Aahil conceded in a murderously quiet drawl, "This is the reason for your tantrum. You are regretting our closeness, aren't you?"

He threw the card at me and it fluttered down near my feet. I bent down and snatched the item in trembling hands.

My beloved Aleena,

I sincerely apologise for not being able to save you from a forced marriage. I hope Aahil is treating you well.

Well, I have great news for you and it's going to turn you ecstatic. The reasons for our separation has ended and within a few months you will be mine and I will be yours.

With volumes of love,

Your darling Isaac.