Three months had passed, Ayesha was pregnant. Her soft bump was visible.

"My dear you have to eat on time"

It'd been months since Seher locked herself in her room. Her doctor stooped to the level of begging her to take care of herself.

"You can have a baby in future. Accidents happen".

That wasn't an accident.

That was murder in her eyes.

Seher was unwilling. But she forced herself to rise when she was told to think of her mother, Saad convinced her to do things and in return she could meet her mother.

"Ya Khuda, give strength to my daughter".

The old lady prayed everynight as she placed her hand on her forehead.

She would smile broadly when Seher would say that she had eaten her meal.

Today she offered to go for a walk outside.

She was excited seeing Seher's progress, having taken care of her for so many months.

But Seher felt guilty.

"Be careful"

When she came outside, she felt much better.

The wind was still a little cold but it was immeasurably refreshing compared to her room, and most of all, the green sprouts made her feel like it was finally spring.

"I am sorry, I must have tired you out", Seher apologised to the servant who lovingly patted her back.

"Are you tired?"

"I love coming out here"

Her steps gradually became joyful.

However, Rabia was lost in her own thoughts, "Madam it seems Sir likes you a lot".

Seher frowned, she wanted to laugh, "Whenever you fall asleep at night he comes to look at you, and stays there for hours".

"That's because I can't bear to look at his face..."

"My lady, he is a handsome lad. What do you hate about him?"

Everything, he was heartless, cruel and a murderer.

"He is a murderer". This made the old woman laugh, "Most men in this village are murderers".

This conversation was taking a crazy turn so Seher dismissed it by saying, " I hate him".

Nothing was said after that. They were enveloped in a warm silence.

"This is so embarassing, let's not do here out in the open".

They heard an unwanted voice when they almost reached the front of the annex beyond the garden. Rabia clenched her teeth, she hated Ayesha, the old lady didn't care if Saad was a murderer, but she hated that he treated his first wife so harshly eventhough he had some kind of obsession with her.

Ayesha and Saad.

The two, who had always chatted in their private chambers somehow decided to take a walk in the garden. As always, they stuck close to each other whispering.

"I don't want to walk anymore let's just go back."

Seher was calm. She didn't show any tears like Rabia had expected.

When Saad had been informed of Ayesha's pregnancy he had warned Seher, "I hope you stay away from my son. I want you out of Ayesha and my sight".

Recalling those words, Seher had let out a laugh.

"You want the safety of your heir. You should stay away from it, because you are the biggest danger to it".

She had said it. He had murdered her kid.

Saad did not greet her when their eyes met instead, he stared intently at her. His gaze was so bitter that her body stinged.

Seher who understood his intentions, turned away, suppressing her anger.

But as she tried to walk again, Saad caught her.

"Come here for a second. You don't talk much with me"

They were short words, but his voice was almost coercive. She approached him without making eye contact with him.

"How are you Seher? This is the first time we meet. I was planning to come visit you but as you can see this morning sickness has been troubling me".

Seher didn't answer her.

What was the use of getting involved with her husband's other wife?

Seher looked down without saying anything, Saad's lips thinned.

He wasn't happy anymore, his lovely outing had been interuppted. He called Ayesha's maid.

"Help her back to the room".

"But I wanted to spend some quality time with you!"

Ayesha, who had been smiling this whole time, exclaimed sharply. She looked at Saad with tears in her eyes, and acted like a wounded lover.

Rabia snorted making Seher hold back her laugh. She really hated Ayesha.

"Darling it's cold, it might affect the baby'.

"I want to be with you".

Saad stroked Ayesha's hair as if to soothe her, he was so soft and gentle with her. His eyes were filled with love as he smiled and kissed her hands without saying a word, then gestured to the maid . Ayesha followed the maid without saying a word.

"Rabia you can leave now".

The maid nodded and left then alone. Saad walked closer to her, so he was towering over her.

"I had said you something but you failed to follow it, I had told you don't come cross paths with Ayesha or me".

She understood why he was angry.

"Seher, it has been three months but you still don't obey me".

He said poking at her forehead as if scolding a child.

"How could I know, you were here? You might as well tie some bells around her so that I would be alerted of her presence and yours".

Her voice was a little sharp. She was annoyed by her bad luck.

"Me spending time with Ayesha... does that upset you?"

It didn't matter to her. It did bruise her ego, but it hurt more when he spent time with her.

She had no words.

"Answer me..."

He came closer to her and grabbed her chin as he leaned his head down. It wasn't strong, but Seher was startled by the sudden touch.

"Why aren't you answering?"

"Stop this, it wasn't on purpose. I have no interest in yours and Ayesha's affairs".

As they continued arguing, the ribbon around her wrist came to his attention. He tugged at it, making it fall.

Seher was frustrated by him.

"Red silk ribbon... who gave it to you?"

Red ribbon was similar to red rose, only given by lovers. Seher had carried it carelessly, because she wanted to keep it safe.

Seher didn't answer.

Although the ribbon was crumpled, Saad could see it was of high quality.

"I don't want there to be rumors that my wife has feelings for another man, what would I look like if you went around like that?"

What was wrong with him?

"Don't cry..."

He wiped her tears away, sweeping the corners of her eyes with his thumb. They were tears of frustration and anger, Seher was unable to hold her patience back.

"Crying will resolve nothing".

He snatched the ribbon and she made a slight protest, but she couldn't reach him because he was much taller than her. He took a step back after taking it from her. The red ribbon, which fluttered in the wind passing by, couldn't have seemed more desolate.

"Give it back, please".

She didn't wanted to lose the parting gift, it was the only thing that had cheered her up and made her hopeful. He caressed the fine silk and strode to the nearby fireplace. Her eyes alternated between the ribbon in his hand and a blazing fire.

"Anything that brings misunderstandings between us..."

The ribbon fluttered down and made contact with the fire. Seher watched the scene, without even blinking her eyes that were not dried yet.

"Needs to disappear".

A red fire started and soon after a few seconds, gray ash bloomed. Some of the ash blown by the wind crumbled and went into her eyes.

___

At night Seher sat at the edge of the bed, looking at herself in the mirror. She was combing her hair, her eyes lost.

"I wish you could come to meet me", she whispered as a tear dropped from her eyes, she was lonely, she wanted to cry. She wished to meet Sahil once again, was he alive? The thought disturbed her. And now she had lost the gift.

"Who did you want to come?"

She was startled by the sudden voice and raised her head. He stood next to the bed looking at her.

"What are you doing here?"

"Came to see you, I thought you would be asleep."

He approached her, making her stand up quickly from the bed, she didn't wanted to be cornered.

He bent down and buried his nose in her exposed neck. Seher opened her eyes wide at the sudden contact, but her body relaxed soon as if she was used to it.

The truth was Saad had never been affectionate towards her, he had never kissed her on the forehead or held her hand. She was nervous all of a sudden and couldn't help but ask as he kissed her neck softly.

"Why were you up so late?"

"Ayesha was sick".

Seher looked sadly at Saad, who said the his second wife's name while rubbing his lips against her neck. Seeing her reflection in the mirror, she quickly changed her expression.

"She had been turning around all night, can't sleep in one position. Because of it, I am unable to fall asleep"

The man, who let out a long sigh as he spoke, looked comfortable, unlike her. She somehow managed to answer, pressing her heavy heart down, "... that's sad"

At her words, he widened his eyes. His brow wrinkled and eyes slightly narrowed. He opened his mouth as he looked at her in the mirror. It was a dark room, so his figure looked more manly than usual, and his red lips stood out.

His large hand wrapped around her waist.

"What?"

At first glance, his behavior seemed friendly, but Seher was strangely terrified. It seemed that he would harm her.

"When women are pregnant, they need support and affection from their..."

She couldn't even spit out the word 'husband'.

He was her husband.

As she spoke those words, Saad fiddled with her lips. His long fingers gently touched the insides of her moist lips and her teeth.

"You know you are such a good wife, a wife who asks her husband to stay with his other wife often is rare. Don't you think so?"

His tone was dry, and full of sarcasm. He was still playing with her lips with his hands.

"Ayesha never stops talking and you my dear can't even open your lips".

His grip became stronger, he pressed her cheeks and her mouth naturally opened.

"Bastard... I don't want it"

Saad forced Seher and pulled her towards him. He bent her back, pressed down on her lips and inserted his tongue  in tasting her mouth.

"I have heard my wife has a knack of seducing men, receiving red ribbons... why do you have a problem kissing me?" He growled as he squeezed her cheeks, her eyes glared at him as she pushed at his chest, digging her nails into his wrist so he could loosen his grip.

"Apart from being disobideint, I think you could be a good seductress... your eyes, your body always seem to seduce me".

A tear dropped from her eyes and another, feeling disgusted by his words as she brought her knees to kick him in the groin but he caught her leg and held it, tearing the cloth that stuck to her skin.

"Even your tears seduce me, these eyes of yours have charmed me since the day I first saw them at the petrol pump. You looked so beautiful, I love it when you curse at me, when you cry with anger. When you fight with me, you seem to look more lovely...".

"I want to drink your tears, and in case you die, I will keep your eyes with me".

He brought his lips closer to her face, making her close her eyelids, he brushed a kiss.

"I want these eyes on me till you are alive"

Seher knew she could no longer stay with this man, she had to escape. To run from away from this crazy man, she didn't care about her father anymore. She only cared about her mother but...

She had no choice. She couldn't stay in this hell anymore.

___

https://twitter.com/TipsyMarie99582/status/1739236824134910139?t=Htrd5lNiZaD-CTuUOXWnPQ&s=19 (you can find the active link for the poll in the inline comment)

Some readers had messaged me.. they wanted Saad and Seher to be the end game, for Saad to fall in love with Seher. I will conduct a poll today on my twitter account (in my bio) , you can share with me whom you prefer, Saad× Seher or Sahil× Seher.

Saad and Seher:

Sahil and Seher: