In the evening, Haider reached the garden where his mother was seated under the blue shade, enjoying a delicious cup of tea and a nice breeze together. He was been told by a maid that she wanted to see him. At first, he became doubtful about it. Did the drama of a happily married couple become so loose by that girl that someone came to the point of suspecting it? After all, she only had a mouth to speak in the loneliness of their room. In front of other people, she came numb.

Not that she was able to mask her shivering body, sweaty hands, and trembling voice with him as well. Haider remembered the time when he first time saw her; she was too frightened and complied with whatever he was saying. However, he was shockingly surprised to find a girl like her to speak against him- even if all the signs of fear and intimidation were taken out. Yet, he knew what he acted with her on the wedding night was beyond any justification. He needed to pull himself back and take Nisha out of his mind and not to feel the same hatred for Ishmal in this way.

But no. The show-off wasn't that bogus that it would get revealed in just a day. Besides, an early sign of that girl being not deserving of their son would be acting in his favor anyway. After this time, Haider would have a strong lead. His parents wouldn't be able to now blackmail him to get a new wife.

Haider greeted his mother. "You called me here Mom?"

Aqia nodded. "Come Haider. Would you like to have some tea?"

Haider shook his head before occupying the chair opposite him. "I am good."

Aqia kept the cup on the table. "Ishmal's brother was your really good friend. You said you have known him for a while. That means you knew Ishmal very well considering the fact you chose her as your wife."

Haider had an idea that this talk would be about Ishmal and his marriage but this vague question made him raise a brow. What point his mother was trying to make here?

"You are right," he said.

"But I found Ishmal very stiff and fearful. Like she is holding back on something. What's the reason for it? You didn't say anything to her, right?" She again asked.

Haider exhaled to calm himself down. It was all becoming a web of lies. "There's is nothing like that, Mom. Why would I say something to her? I chose her and her brother liked my proposal for her. He must have asked for her opinion. That's the reason she is here as my wife."

Aqia nodded thoughtfully. "Perhaps you are right. Ishmal's family is very small. She only has a brother hence the awkwardness she has here. Also, don't forget that sudden nikkah. But tell her Haider that we are all her family now. And there is no need for her to feel stranger to us. She is your wife and we will love and respect her from this reference."

Haider pursed his lips together. Wasn't it going the other way around than what he thought? She was coming across as someone who was not good in public and rude which he wanted. But maybe Ishmal really needed some time for this. It was all so sudden for her. And after all after three or four months, he would get rid of her by making any excuse.

"You shouldn't worry about it. She will get better with time. There is nothing fearful concerning her. It's all just new for her," Haider retorted, part of it was true as well.

Aqia smiled. "I am so glad Haider that you finally thought about your life. Now Ishmal is your wife and make her your pride. Don't let the past affect your marriage. Just overlook everything and focus on your wife."

Suddenly Haider felt weird after hearing this from his mother. She was so happy for his marriage and here he was making a fool out of everyone by faking it. Nonetheless what he could have done? The hit on his male ego and self-respect got criminally tarnished eight years ago when Nisha betrayed him.

He wasn't like that before. He was known as a very easygoing and nice person by everyone. Even he spoke very gently as well. There was a calm in his personality. But ever since then, he has become totally different. His cool nature was replaced by grim and harshness.

"You should rest assured Mom," he mumbled. Even if it was just temporary, he loved seeing that smile on her face which came because he was finally settled in life according to her. For the first time, Haider wished he would have just moved on from what happened to his first engagement. He hadn't developed that strong hatred for women as he had now. But some wishes never came true and it was one of them.

"Please Haider you shouldn't give me any worry regarding Ishmal. Take care of her and let her take care of you. May Allah always keep you happy," Aqia announced.

And here it made Haider's breath to stick in his throat. But he nodded nevertheless.

                      _________________

Ishmal finally let herself take a deep breath when the door clicked and Haider appeared. Seeing him many of his cousins stopped their interrogation of theirs and left the room, masking their teasing smiles. Haider still had a lot of intimidation over his younger cousins who now just knew that he was that angry man one shouldn't mess up with.

She was happy when the girls walked out, shooting her funny looks. She still recalled their peculiar and even shameless comments. She never even thought about such things lest of saying it due to the very conservative environment of her house. Many of them asked about what she got as a wedding gift from Haider. They were teasing her regarding that sudden nikkah and the supposed love marriage she had.

"So at last Haider Bhai got a bride. We have been waiting for it for so long. But the wait was worth it. Right?" Someone commented it and then the room got filled with laughter.

One of them even got to the extent of asking her what happened on their wedding night. The way Ishmal's face reddened made her embarrassed more.

Now she was totally dressed up as the reception bride. Unlike the wedding, now her in-laws managed to get a beautician for her in the house. In that light blue and gray mixed heavy dress and makeover, when she looked at herself in the mirror like last day she couldn't recognize herself. She found herself very different and odd. Like it wasn't her. It was someone. It was the Ishmal who was the fake wife of Haider, not the Ishmal she knew.

Haider had a half-used cigarette in between his index finger and thumb when his eyes locked on her. He wouldn't deny that she was attractive. Yes, not drop-dead gorgeous but definitely she was nice to look at. As Ishmal herself was stunned seeing her in this makeover, Haider also dealt with the same feelings. Since he had first seen her in that messed up state, he couldn't get that notion of her out of his mind.

A dent appeared on Ishmal's nose when that familiar scent of cigarette struck her nostrils. In just a short span of time she spent with him, she found him smoking so many times. He was still in his routine wear.

Haider clenched his jaw before ambling in her direction. He stood a few steps away from the dressing where she was seated. His dark eyes and calculated steps made her heart to come into her throat. She swallowed thickly while trying to appear relaxed and least affected by him. This made her remember her step father who was so ready to pound on her.

Haider narrowed his eyes at her. "Why do you appear so worked up like this? You had made my Mom suspicious. She asked me that why I looked fearful and apprehensive of them."

"I told you I get very conscious when attention falls on me. I tried my best already," she replied. She knew it must have happened when she became so shocked seeing everyone inspecting her like a new wonder and bombarding her with tons of questions when she first time saw them. After that, Ishmal had took control of her nerves to some extent.

Haider tilted his head quizzically. "That conscious never came when you were talking to me in the morning."

She quickly recognized what he meant there. But she herself knew how much of a self-control she had herself for letting those words out. Ishmal licked her lips. But right now, again it made her tongue get zipped to her palate. She couldn't speak at all. Haider's black stern eyes and rude expressions made her impassive. She couldn't even utter a single word.

Haider sighed. "Look Ishmal, I will fulfill your rights as per our agreement. What happened last night was something that shouldn't have happened. And it wouldn't even happen again. I like it when you raised a point about this. But you should also fulfill my rights regarding our contract as well. And that is to appear as a happily married woman in front of them. Someone who likes me. Understood?"

Ishmal who first was getting nervous of him, now suddenly became angry at him. She glared at him. He always talked to her as though she was a culprit whom he was investigating or giving orders. He maybe only cared about himself and to show the achievement of all the twisted reasons he married her for. He would never give respect and treat her however he wanted and found gratification in.

She detested the time when she came in front of him and accepted his demand. He wanted to get away from everything and put all the blame on her for the break of this marriage. But she was stuck with him. Till the time he needed her for this fake marriage, she was forced to accept whatever this guy would say.

"I need your answer, Ishmal," he spoke, seeing her silent like this.

"I will take care of it from now on," she whispered.

But Ishmal definitely had some plan in her mind. She wouldn't bear all of this. These men just knew how to defame a woman and get away from everything scot-free. That was the case with her stepfather as well who would have put all the blame on her after forcing her. And this guy was also the same. Even though their motives were different but he was also just like Abid. He also wanted to get rid of this marriage by making her take all the burden of not being able to become a good wife.

Why every time woman should suffer? Why do men consider them chess pieces whom they could move however they wanted? They thought they could control the life of women but she wouldn't let it happen to her. Even though the fear was there, but Ishmal wanted to force it away and not let those men walk over her. She wouldn't let this scare intimidate her anymore. She would fight even if she had to put extra effort into it and do something out of the box.

Haider went to have a shower after getting satisfied with her answer. While Ishmal stared at the wedding ring on her finger.

Two could play at that game then. She thought.

And she did catch Haider by shock when she enunciated her demand. He was stunned, to say the least. Perhaps she was also like the woman he hated the most.

                     _________________

AssalamoAlaikum/ Hi guys!

How are you?

Here's a new chapter.

Hope you like it.

What do you think Ishmal is planning to do?

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Till next one Allah Hafiz/ Bye. ❤❤