Sandal's POV:

What Qurat-ul-Ain Bhabi said earlier was true. I observed carefully what Ahmed says and do around me. He didn't let me go alone outside, except Zohma's house. He got irritated when I kept quiet for long and start interrogating about what's bothering me. He secretly checks my mobile history. It annoyed me that he doesn't believe me when he was the one with the record of a women charmer. But at the same time, I pity him for not being able to trust his own life partner.

The thing that scares me the most is that he got totally pissed off when I feel uncomfortable by his closeness. It's not like I was doing this on purpose. It's just... whenever he was too close I felt my sanity leaving me. My heart started to beat like crazy and I feel out of breath to the point I feel like I might die. I don't know it was just me or he feels the same way. If he does, then he has very good self-control.

I never thought getting married and being in love will be this hard for me... and I would have to figure out on my own path to approach my husband and settled my feelings towards him because he kept himself busy in keeping an eye on me. But sulking will not take me anywhere either. Papa used to say a very famous Urdu quote ' Himat-e-Marda to Madad-e-Khuda.' (If a man will try God will always help him)..... I need to make this quote my mojo. So 'Himat-e-Zanana to Madad-e-Khuda' (If a woman will try, God will always help her). With that, I got up from bed with full motivation but sat down again and grabbed my tablet.

I have to order something ...

~*~

I was getting super bored sitting in my room, alone. Auntie and Muskan went for a family wedding and will be staying there for few days. Therefore, it was only me and Ahmed. I give an off day to our cook too so I can make food for us, which I already did and Dinner was almost ready. To kill my boredom I went to Ahmed's abandoned teenage room and start ravaging his stuff. I found his old notes, books, and other stuff but nothing like a journal, drawing or writing. There wasn't anything that could be used to understand him. Means he cleaned up his past very well.

I was about to leave when my eyes landed on a box at the corner of the room. I opened the box and my eyes widened on the material that was kept inside. There were so many pictures, packed gifts and greeting cards inside it, for different girls and from different girls.

I looked at all the pictures of him, eating dinner, holding hands, hugging with girls. I felt my vision blurring and the next moment I start crying. I unwrapped each gift one by one. All of the things were expensive and the gift I was preparing for him was nothing compared to this. I ran to our room and throwing myself into bed I cried all my heart out.

I was already having a hard time after the wedding. Leaving my family, education, career, coming to a whole new family for a husband who was once called Casanova by his friends and who claims to be in love with me but didn't trust me. And this...

Is he cheating on me???

My phone rang and knowing it was Ahmed's call, I didn't pick up. He usually calls me this time, before leaving the office. I know he will get mad later but I didn't care about it. After a minute he called, again and again, I didn't answer any of his calls. On the fourth time on calling I answered.

"Where the hell you were Sandal. I have been calling you for fifteen minutes." He shouted but I kept quiet.

"Tch...Okay, listen. Did you make dinner or we go out to eat?" He asked gently this time.

"Yes, I am serving Neems and boiled Bitter gourd for dinner and I am not going anywhere with you Ahmed Wali. LEAVE ME ALONE. " I shouted and hung up.

~*~

Ahmed's POV:

"LEAVE ME ALONE." She shouted and hung up. I spent a few moments staring at my phone in shock.

What was that...?

I called her again but she switched off her phone, so I dialled my home number.

"Hello, Assalam o Alaikum?" I heard Chachu's voice (our housekeeper).

"Wallaikum Assalam. Chachu where is Sandal?"

"Beta (son), bittiya (daughter) is in her room for almost two hours. She kept crying and won't open the door."

"For two hours?... Chachu why didn't you tell me before?"

"Bittiya says she won't talk to me if I told you."

"Since when she became more important than me?" I frowned.

"Beta she...."

"It's okay Chachu. I am coming home." I hung up and leave the office, ordering Ali to take care of things.

~*~

"Sandal?" I knocked on our bedroom door.

No response ...

"Sandal open the door."

No response ...

"Come on Sandal. I came running from work for you, open the door." Again no response. A thought of her being fainting came to my mind making me panic.

Damn it, she is not fully recovering yet ...

"Sandal, I have keys and I am coming in now."

"Go away, I don't want to see your face." I heard her heavy voice and sighed in relief.

"But-"

"And I don't want to hear your voice either." I was cut in the middle.

"Fine! Then I won't talk and you can keep your eyes closed and let me in." I suggested.

"I am not an idiot." I chuckled.

"And not a kid."

'Very well then.' I murmured and spun the key in the lock.

Next moment I was standing in the room. The room was dark so I quickly turn on the lights and found Sandal laying on the bed with her head buried in pillows. I briskly walk to the bed and pulled her into my arms, not bothering to take off my suit. She wiggled to get free, so I hold her tightly close to my chest and cupped her face with one hand but she won't stop struggling.

"That's enough Sandal." I said strictly.

She looked at me and tears start dripping from her eyes again. Her eyes are red and swelled. Her hair was a total mess and there were two lines on her cheeks of her ruined Kajal. I have never seen her crying like this before.

What happened to her???

"Why are you crying?" I asked gently.

"None of your business. Leave me." She said without looking at me.

"You are my business. In fact, the most important one and I cannot leave you, you know that."

"Stop with the flattery. It may help you get girlfriends but I am not buying it."

"Girlfriends? What are you talking about?" I asked wiping her tears.

"Don't play dumb with me. You know what I am talking about."

"Okay fine. All those girlfriend things are my past. Now I only have you and I don't want anyone else anymore."

"Then why are you keeping their pictures and gifts?" She looked at me.

"Oh, that! I will discard them all right now. okay?"

"No, I still hate you. You are horrible." I chuckled, brushing my lips against her and embraced her tight to my chest.

"Come on. Let's have dinner. I didn't even take my evening tea."

"I am not hungry."

"But I am and so much." I called chachu and asked him to serve dinner.

"Come." I got up holding her hand.

"Wait. I have to wash my face."

"Hurry up, I am waiting."

~*~

Sandal was busy in the kitchen when I check her mobile. As usual, I didn't find anything suspicious. I should stop doing this, I already hate myself for doubting my wife, it felt like deceiving her. I loved her and yet I keep tabs on hers. I also know she was aware of what I am doing but she keeps ignoring it. Maybe giving me time to correct my mistake. I sighed and threw both of our mobiles on the bed.

After a shower, I came to bed when I saw a circular type machine on my sideboard. I hold it and check it carefully. I saw buttons so I turn them on one by one but nothing happened. Curiosity took over and I sat on the bed, examining it. But when I was about to touch the lens type think on top, I heard Sandal yell.

"DON'T DON'T DON'T." She ran over to me and took the machine from my hand, leaving me dumbfounded.

"Don't touch it okay."

"What is it anyway?"

"Something I bought for you. But it seems you already have many people to buy you gifts." She made a sour face.

"Are you still sulking?... get over with it. It was all in the past... but seriously is that a gift for me?" I asked excitedly.

"Yes." I can't believe Sandal bought a gift for me.

"Than give it to me already?"

"I cannot give you but I can show you."

"Fine, then show me."

"Close your eyes."

"Huh?"

"Close your eyes. I have to turn off the lights for it."

Lights???

"Okay! But stay near me." I ordered and closed my eyes

"I will." I felt bed dipped beside me and then Sandal's hand on mine.

"You can open your eyes but directly look at the ceiling."

"Whatever you say, boss." I opened my eyes and look the thousands of small and big glowing dots on the ceiling.

"What are these?" I asked not taking my eyes away from it.

"Stars... you told me you have never seen the stars... so I bought stars for you... it's a home planetarium." Her voice was full of happiness which made me smile.

"Do you like it?" She asked excitedly.

"To be honest I don't know... this is the first time I have received such a gift which fills up the emptiness in me." We kept silent, looking at the ceiling.

"Sandal turn on the lights. I starting to feel suffocation."

"Okay!" She quickly got up and turned the lights on. I looked at her as she ran towards me.

"Are you okay? Do you need anything?" She asked touching my face lightly. Holding her hand, I made her sit on the bed and place a kiss on her forehead.

"I am fine ... and it was beautiful... thank you." I said with all my honesty.

"You're welcome, but you know. I will love to see the real stars with you someday." She smiled.

"That would be wonderful." I lay down on the bed and pulled her to me.

For the first time in my life, she made me understand what people felt when their old wishes came true. She closed her eyes and I kept looking at her.

I was praying for God to show me a little light to move on... but He sends Dawn to bring morning in the night of my life...

_______________________________________