"Divorce me."

Salman's eyes widened at the first words uttered from his bride's lips. His jaw clenched and his hand on her arm stilled.

"Divorce?" he said the word out loud to ensure he had heard it right.

She never blinked and daringly continued to stare back at him, ready to face her fate. But this was a façade her fluttering heart was beating erratically like the flapping wings of the caged canary bird.

His hold on her arm tightened and his forehead creased, "You are an ungrateful woman. Do you know that?"

She didn't wince at his provoking words or the pain he was inflicting from his hold. She held her head high shielding herself from any kind of adversary from him.

He leaned closer, his domineering physique overshadowing her. She wanted to cower back in fear but she stayed firm in her stance. "I saved you and your family from humiliation. I am the one who protected your honour."

Not even a single eyelash was abated.

"Where was your precious Daud when he really had to protect your honour? He left you to face the world alone." Daud's name on his lips slashed her heart and she looked away. His name brought a throbbing pain. Immense ache shooting through her blood stream and tearing apart her heart.

"I am the one who stepped up and gave you my name and honour. Even though I know very well what you have been up to with him," he bit out.

Panic rose in her chest and her troubled eyes gazed at him. What did he know?

His fingers pierced on her arm, "Be grateful. Can you imagine your life after divorce? What will the people say?" He shook her and her frail body trembled under his onslaughts, "First the groom changed and the now in a day's time you are divorced."

"You are hurting me," she whispered.

Immediately he let go of her arm and stood up, "I will grant you divorce this very minute. Did you think once what will go through your parents? Your father? You mother?" At the mention of her father, her face paled. He easily discerned that he had hit the target. "But I am thinking wisely not like you. Its better you stop your dreaming of the illusions that Daud had conjured and instead start living in the present."

He whirled around and left for the bathroom.

Closing her eyes, she heaved as tears dripped from her tired and bleak eyes. His words were like spears that hit her soul. She was trapped in a never ending spiral of sorrow and misery. She was in no mood to change the wedding dress instead she curled on her side of the bed, hugging herself, she closed her eyes.

Let dreams take over her despair.

Perhaps in her dreams, she will escape from the harshness of reality.

But sleep was far away as tears trickled to her temple and on to the pillow. A silent plea fled her lips.

Ya Allah help me.... please.

****

Salman was hunched over the bathroom sink. His hands gripping strongly the edge of the sink. His knuckles turning white. His head lowered and chest rising and falling rapidly. His nostrils flared. Furiously, he splashed cold water on his face. Droplets dripped from the front dark locks that were covering his violent eyes. Water dribbled down his huge dark eyes, arrogant nose, perfectly chiselled lips to his dimpled chin.

How dare she?

He wanted to trash things around. Break bones. Especially Daud's. That asshole had corrupted her mind and heart. And it hurt. Hurt deeply trampling his heart with just two words. He gritted his teeth so hard that he felt they might get loose. He had to get Daud's junoon (crazy obsession) out of her mind. She was his and only his.

But how?

His mother's words crept back...

Be patient and gentle with her.

He swallowed, closing his eyes, he pushed back from the bathroom sink and ran his hands through his wet locks, pushing them back from his forehead. Tugging at his hair, he came to a resolution.

When Daud can play the seduction card so can he.

He stepped out of the bathroom with determination. Her back was towards him as she lay on her side facing the window. As he neared the bed, he realized she was asleep but a whimper escaped her lips and her shoulders slightly shook in sobs. Guilt slithered through his chest like a snake in the deep jungle.

His hand extended to touch her. Comfort her. But the hand remained in the air centimetres away from her body. She will never allow him to touch her now. Pulling back his hand, he turned to his side and unfold the duvet on the end of the bed, covering her and himself, he faced the other way. There was a big gap between them.

Will they ever bridge this gap?

****

It was a late quiet night. The star shone and the moon peeked from behind the sparse cloud after the heavy rains of the day. Yousef was asleep on the bed and she was relaxed on the sofa with Pride and Prejudice book in her hands. She had read the book a million times now but she still went back to it. The day's events were heavy on her heart. She felt she shouldn't have stepped between Nawal and Daud. The guilt was eating up her conscience. It was her fate that the man she believed she loved wasn't hers. The father of her son never accepted her. She should have let Daud find his happiness. But at the moment of weakness, she had become selfish and she aspired to find their happiness together.

Why did she agree to reveal their secret?

The words became a blur, her eyelids lowered and she buried her face in her book. Daud hated her now. The dreams that had seemed possible to become a reality were now slipping away from her like sand slipping within the gaps of the fingers. She will lose him. Once and for all. She lifted her head and the wet blotches covered the page.

How many times will she cry over him?

When will he ever see her tears?

The doorbell chimed shattering the silence in the apartment. She jerked and quickly glanced at the clock. It was past 11pm. Who would come this late?

Cautiously, she went to the door and peered through the peeping whole. She gulped. Her hands trembled on the door knob.

Daud was here.

Taking a deep breath, she twisted the door knob. It was time to face the consequences of her actions.

The door was ajar and she gasped. There, standing in front of her was a man she didn't recognize at all. His clothes were wet. His jeans were muddy. Tousled chocolate brown hair, unzipped jacket and the first few buttons of his dark blue shirt were open giving a glimpse of his solid muscles of his chest. He smelled of smoke. Strong smoke.

His puffy moist eyes were brimmed in redness. His gaze penetrated through her. Anxiously, she stepped back. He stepped closer not leaving his eyes off hers. She gulped again, "Daud listen to me." she stepped back again in terror. But he gained another step forward. Hurriedly she stepped back couple of steps. And started talking, "I am sorry. I really am. I thought this would be best for all. Yousef will get his father. I ... I ... only...only... thought of h...h...him." He paid no head to her pitiful excuses.

She kept moving backwards until the backs of her knees and calf touched the edge of the sofa. She was trapped. He was standing right in front of her. They were playing the cat and mouse game. And now she had no escape.

Her shaking hand pressed his chest. Muscles leaped, heart beats raced. He brushed away her hand and leaned forward. She fell on the sofa with a thud. He hovered over her, his hands on either side of her head on the sofa.

"I am not going to be fucking nice anymore. I want you out of this apartment in one week. You ruined my life. And now I will fucking ruin yours." His breath fanned her face. He was close very close. Their noses nearly touching. This close, she could easily see the wrath in his blue eyes. Those eyes that had darkened with passion once upon a time were now on fire of rage. How she wished she could wound her arms around his neck and bring him closer to her heart. Ease his pain. Shield him away from any misery. If only he gave her chance. Just one chance. But his next words ceased her tender thoughts.

"I don't fucking want to see your face ever again, you greedy bitch. The monthly €2000 wasn't enough. You think you'll trap me into marrying you. You are wrong. Fucking wrong. I. WILL. NEVER. MARRY," he fumed.

Her eyes had enlarged in fright and she had plastered her body against the sofa. But now his words flared up her blood. With her hands on his chest, she pushed him with all her might and stood up. Startled, he staggered backwards.

"Do you think we will not live without your assistance?" She pointed at his chest, "Allah has given life to my son despite all the adversaries and He will protect him. You don't have to wait a week. I will be out of here tomorrow. You will never see us. Never," She seethed, breathing erratically but never leaving her eyes off him.

He was taken aback by her temper. She had never spoken to him this way. But he remained nonchalant and instead muttered, "Good." He spun around and strode out of the apartment, banging the door behind him.

She stared in a daze for many minutes and then slowly sank at the floor as the tears flowed.

This was it.

All hopes had been crushed once and for all.

She had lost the man she loved.

But in the silent of the night, the melancholic cry of the ruined woman was heard only by One up above the heavens. He was the only One to bring her out of the darkness of the night to the bright sunshine of the day.

****

He had lost count of the number of cigarettes he had smoked that day. Yet, another cigarette was pressed between his lips as he stood in front of the oversized window at his bedroom he gazed out at the serene Dublin view.

The sly asshole may have married her. But she will never be his. He inhaled the smoke as the tip of the cigarette burned. A rueful smile spread his lips.

It was time to take action.

He had been too considerate of the people in his life. All will change.

It was time for the ultimate revenge.

Salman may have given his name to her. But he still had her heart and body in his clutches.

He will light up a fire. A fire so strong that he will not care to burn in it.

As long as Salman burns in it.

Brother, you don't know who you are facing. It's payback time for your dirty manipulations.

****

The sunlight was flittering through the gaps of the navy blue curtains. Her one eye opened and she peered at her surroundings. Her head was throbbing. Rubbing her eyes, she looked around deciphering where she was. Then it all crashed back to her. She was married to Salman. Shutting her eyes, she wanted to go back to oblivion and never wake up to this nightmare. Her body ached as if she never slept. She had never moved in her sleep, she had been laying in the same position. And now she worried where Salman was? She pushed the duvet off her and sat up. She flinched seeing he was sleeping right beside her.

She was still dressed in the wedding dress. She wanted to get rid of this dreadful dress. She couldn't bear the burden of it on her skin. The dress once she had gushed over and dreamt of being dressed for Daud, revolted her now. Grabbing a simple cotton kurta and cotton slacks from her suitcase, she stepped in the bathroom.

She was definitely not going to dress up for him. If he feels he has done her a favour then there was no need for her to act she was happy. The dress came off, throwing it on the smooth pastel green tiles of the bathroom. Hurriedly she took off her bangles and other jewellery. She was disgusted by them all. They were discarded with a clatter on the bathroom counter. Glancing at her reflection at the mirror, her makeup was still intact. But from now on no more makeup. Freeing her hair from its confinement of the messy fish tail braid, she stepped under the hot shower. The make-up washing away.

She will ignore him.

Then and only then, she will find sanity in her crazy life. But the most difficult task was to bury the beautiful memories of her past. How will she ever forget Daud? It was all too surreal to believe he abandoned her. She didn't trust her mother, she had to dig up the truth. The warm water healed her aching head and body but how was she ever going to heal her heart and soul.

Even now her heart craved for him. Even now her heart ached to be in his arms again. Tears mixed with the warm water of the shower.

She had lost him.

But instead gained the man she despised the most.

Her body shuddered despite the warm water. How will she go on to live like this?

She remorsefully smiled, she had been known as the best actor in school plays. It was time to act out the biggest play of her life.

The role in her married life as his wife.

She shuddered again.

****

She had missed the fajr prayer. After praying, she left his room. It will never be their room. The dupatta loosely wrapped on her head covering her slightly wet tresses as she climbed down the downstairs. The house was quiet. It was still early but she didn't want to stay in his room anymore. She wanted a respite from him. His soft snores echoed in the room and his scent lingered in the room. Entering the kitchen, she greeted, "Assalam u alaikum khala."

Seema was stirring sugar in her tea, a smile graced her face, "Walaikum salaam. My daughter is awake already. It's too early. You don't have to be up now. Go and sleep more if you want."

She shook her head, "No it's ok khala. I rather stay down here with you."

Seema's eyebrows furrowed, "You always love to sleep late. What's the matter?"

That Nawal was dead now. In its place was an empty body with no soul, "I can't sleep. The room is new to me, that's all." She glanced at the backyard, "Can I go outside for a walk?"

Seema smiled gently, "This is your home now. You don't need to ask me for permission to walk around your own home."

Nodding, quietly she sauntered to the backyard door. Stepping outside, she inhaled the scent of the summer flowers that were blooming around her. Picking a red poppy flower, she rubbed the soft red petals between her fingers.

Life was like a flower. Blossomed for few moments of happiness and then wilted to sorrow. The cheerful sunny day was a contrast to her own bleak thoughts. Laying on the sun lounger, she closed her eyes. Draping the dupatta on her face to obstruct the sunshine, sleep took over her. It was blissful to sleep under the sun on this warm summer morning. Away from her thoughts. Away from noise but most of all away from him.

This is how, he met his wife on the first day of their married life. Stretched on sun lounger, dozing off in the sun. A smile curled his lips as he approached her. He knelt down beside her on the grassy ground, gazing at her. With his fingers, slowly he glided her dupatta to her neck, revealing her beautiful face. His breath hitched. Even without a single stroke of cosmetics, she was gorgeous. And she was his.

Her thick eyelashes rested at her high cheekbones. Her cheeks flushed naturally under the sun. Her rosy lips were slightly agape. He wanted to drink their sweet nectar. How much longer will he have to wait to have a taste of them?

The backs of his fingers caressed her cheek. Her forehead creased slightly. She tilted her face towards him. His thumb lightly traced her bottom lip. A sigh escaped her lips, her eyes still closed and she whispered,

"Daud"