Authors: Zeenat Mahal
certainly not welcome in this house.”
“You’re making a big mistake.”
“I think my whole life’s been a mistake, Nudrat. This is the one thing I may have done right.”
He sounded deadly serious. From the safety of the shadowed passageway, she saw Nudrat leave in
a huff and Hussain climb the stairs to his room, looking grim.
Her heart thumping and breath hitching, she retraced her steps back to the kitchen and held onto the
counter to regain her balance. His words still echoed in her mind. She shook herself. There was no
way she was going to believe anything he said. Nor was she going to allow this sudden soft, melting
feeling inside her to take root.
≈
EIGHT
As far as Hussain was concerned, the matter was settled. He told his travel agent to book the hotel
and their flight for the coming week. Shahira had no option but to go. What the hell was wrong with
her? Most women would kill for a free trip to Europe.
He was more twisted about his own reaction to her. Especially that sudden surge of anger he’d felt
because she’d shown disappointment at the possibility that he might accompany them. Hussain
considered himself a rational man. But with Shahira he hadn’t been very rational. From the very first
she’d made it clear to him that she didn’t want this relationship as anything more than a business
transaction. At the time he hadn’t even given it a second thought, but gradually she’d sneaked into his
consciousness. Was he one of those men who interpreted a woman’s disinterest as a challenge?
In all honesty, he could say no to that, but things had changed over time, and he’d become
fascinated with the prim schoolteacher. He was attracted to her and seeing as she was a young and
pretty woman, that wasn’t so strange. It was her reticence that he found strange and it didn’t go down
well with him.
That
problem merited some thought.
Nudrat’s needling of Shahira had made him angry too. He’d had this intense, possessive desire to
protect her. He’d wanted her to feel she could count on him to be her champion. He wanted her to
know that she could depend on him, that he’d protect her.
There was a soft knock on the connecting door.
He opened it. She wasn’t standing in a transparent negligee ready to throw herself in his willing
arms as he’d hoped, but was in fact severely overdressed and looked rather forbidding.
“Yes?” he asked, although he had a fair idea of what it was about.
She looked nervous and agitated.
“I…don’t understand what happened yesterday. I mean, wasn’t our deal to keep out of each other’s
way?”
He smiled tightly. He’d faced off many business rivals and he was used to facing the toughest
opposition and still come out on top. He intended to do just that, especially with her. He was already
looking forward to this family holiday as if he’d been waiting for just such an opportunity. All this
family wedding and hoopla must have rubbed off on him.
“Well, I don’t know about
each other’s
way. It was understood that I would do as I pleased, being
the employer so to speak, or even a husband, if you like,” He tried to joke.
She laughed a bitter little laugh.
“No, I don’t like. It was decided that we would have nothing to do with each other. But how could
I have been so foolish as to think that a woman’s preferences would be important?”
“Oh, please don’t go Mata Hari on me. And in any case, I was just kidding about that—mostly. I
don’t in the least endorse that kind of male dominance. Natasha needs me and so does Shahaan,
whether you like it or not.”
She looked thoughtful.
“You seem to have manipulated the situation so that I have no say in the matter,” she paused and
then looking levelly at him, said slowly, “I just want a reassurance that you remember our deal in all
its aspects and that you guarantee that you’ll honor it. I’m not like Nudrat.”
He cleared his throat. This was not good. He’d hoped to get to know her over the holidays but if
she kept insisting on keeping a distance, how was that ever going to happen? How had he come this
far, this soon? Somehow, she had become the embodiment of all his dreams. All the ones that had
shattered, thanks to Rutaba.
He tried reassuring her, “Nudrat was a very, very long time ago. Sometime after the death of my
first wife.” Even now after all these years the mention of that woman left a bitter taste in his mouth.
“And I know you’re not in any way like Nudrat. You’re a very special woman, Shahira,” he said in
his slightly husky tones. Why did he become more determined to have her every time he set his eyes
on her, or spoke to her?
“Yeah, men like you think that any woman is…”
That
was why.
A low growl escaped him. “
Men like me
? Please, enlighten me.”
She was a little, just a little, apprehensive and seemed to regret her choice of words but she had a
point to make. “Men who are rich and suave, powerful and handsome and are used to women.”
He paused. And in a slightly mollified tone he asked, “And you think I’m all of the above?”
She scoffed, “Er…Duh!”
He was too busy enjoying the fact that she thought he was handsome to say anything for some time.
And here he’d been thinking she hadn’t noticed him. He was obviously off his game.
“Shahira, how about a compromise? How about you promise me that you won’t hold your little
prejudices, your pre-conceived notions against me? And I promise you that I’ll never do anything you
don’t want me to do.”
She gave a hysterical little laugh. “That’s just semantics.” Then added softly, her eyes far away,
slightly glazed, “You know there was a documentary on rape victims, and the rapists—all of them
said that they hadn’t done anything that the women hadn’t asked for.”
Her voice had dropped to a whisper, fear writ large on her face.
“Alright, first off, wrong choice of words, I’m sorry. Secondly, are you seriously implying that I
might…rape you?”
Her eyes flickered and she looked a little embarrassed. “I…I was just…I didn’t really mean…
but…” She breathed deeply and said steadily, “Okay, look. The thing is that I don’t want you to have
any ideas. My experiences were…traumatic for me, and I have issues…” She paused, deliberated for
a moment but then stopped where she’d left off.
His heart wrenched at the sudden insight that she’d been a victim of marital rape. He also got the
feeling that she’d been about to say more but had decided against it.
Gently he asked, “Does this have anything to do with your previous marriage?”
Shahira’s shoulders lifted, she raised her eyes and looked into his squarely.
“How is my previous marriage any of your business?”
Hussain watched her brown eyes, now dead and empty. She’d suffered in that marriage. And she
wasn’t going to acknowledge it. At least not to him. Had she sought any professional help?
Ignoring her rebuff, he said kindly, “I cannot pretend to understand what you may have endured,
Shahira. If I’m right in my assumption that your husband abused you, you should seek help. It’s
something no woman should have to go through, especially not at the hands of the man who’s
supposed to protect and cherish her. I’m so sorry.” He took her hand in his and said softly, “You’re a
woman of courage. Don’t hide from ghosts Shahira. Let me help you.”
She extricated her hand and said, “If you understand that, then you understand my reluctance.”
“Yes, I do, but don’t cheat yourself and me of a chance at happiness, Shahira. All I’m asking for is
a chance. For both of us and our kids. Is that too much to hope for?” Shahira looked at him pityingly,
as if he’d completely missed the point.
“We made a pact. And I’m certain you’ll honor it, being the gentleman that you are.”
“So you’re determined to stick to the contract?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“I’m going to change your mind Shahira.”
“You’ll be wasting your time.”
Exasperated, he said, “You’ve been divorced for six years. Are you going to let that man destroy
the rest of your life?”
“Seven, actually…but who’s counting?” she laughed nervously.
“You’re going to judge me by someone else’s actions?” he asked, his heart constricting.
Resigned she said, “Look, you might as well hear it. My libido’s dead. Has been for the last ten
years and I just can’t…you know.”
Astounded, for a minute he couldn’t speak and then he faltered, “You’re serious? You’re saying
you’ve been celibate for seven years?”
“I’m bound by my cultural and religious constraints, and happily, mind you. I know it’s not
considered very cool these days but this is who I am. And I’m not apologizing for my beliefs.”
One of those traumatic experiences had resulted in Shahaan and it was clear that she was still
traumatized by whatever that bastard had done to her. Shocked that there were still women who could
remain celibate in this day and age, he felt a strange tenderness towards her. She’d given all she had
to give to someone who hadn’t cared, who hadn’t valued or appreciated her.
“Well, like I said, we can go through that together, maybe get professional help if you agree. I think
we could be happy. I think we could have a real marriage.”
He watched her, standing so still, so unmoved. She was so brave. She’d secured her child’s future
in a gamble. She’d never again asked him for anything after that. Her only stipulation was no sex. His
looks, money or seduction routines were not enough to change her mind and he
so
wanted her to.
His feelings were involved, he was sure now, but just how much? He had to make the choice right
then. This incredibly strong woman, who’d taken on his outrageous offer and made a success of it,
had faced God knew what at the hands of the father of her child, now wanted an assurance, one he
wasn’t willing to give, not any more.
When she didn’t answer he smiled and said softly, “I won’t be scared off that easily Shahira. I’m
going to try my best to convince you that not all men are bad. I will change your mind about me, and
our…understanding. But this holiday’s for you as much as for the kids. You don’t have to be looking
over your shoulder thinking I’ll jump you.”
She smiled and then let out a small laugh. He smiled too. And both of them decided to not pursue
the subject of ‘after’. Wisely, each took what the other gave, albeit with misgivings.
≈
NINE
Europe was everything she’d dreamed it would be. She was just as excited as the kids and had her
nose pressed to the cab window, squealing at the landmarks familiar to her through books and movies
only. She laughed with abandon, something she hadn’t ever done in front of Hussain before. But that
night, when they’d talked about things so openly their relationship paradigm had shifted, so she didn’t
feel as conscious in front of him. She thought that perhaps they were almost friends now. Distant
friends, friendly acquaintances perhaps.
She was as overawed as the kids by their hotel. It was stupendous. The huge foyer was ornate,
embellished with gilt and when they reached their suite, she knew exactly how Eliza Doolittle must
have felt like.
The kids wanted to see everything and pretending to keep an eye on them she followed. There
were two bedrooms, one with two single beds, and the other with a double. She didn’t give it another
thought because she was absolutely certain that she and Shahaan would sleep in one room and
Hussain and Natasha in the other.
By the time they came back, Hussain had ordered tea and the way he looked at her, she realized he
hadn’t been fooled and knew exactly why she’d been following the children. Well, so what? She
decided she wasn’t going to be embarrassed, rather she would embrace the sense of fun and novelty
she was experiencing and celebrate it.
“Like it?” Hussain asked no one in particular but automatically, she answered with the kids, “Yes!”
She smiled, “I’m just as excited as the kids. It’s my first time abroad.”
Even though he’d known, it still came as a surprise that something he’d taken for granted was a
source of so much pleasure for her and a novelty.
She wanted to freshen up so she said to Shahaan, “Come on Shahaan, let’s go put our things in the
room.”
“I’ll do that,” Hussain said decisively, and picked up Shahaan and Natasha’s luggage and stacked
it all in the room with the two single beds. She looked at him uncomprehendingly and was about to
say something, when he looked at her and said quietly, “Not now.”
He transferred her case to the double bedroom.
Well, later then, she thought and went to take a shower. She enjoyed a relaxed bubble bath and
came out refreshed, wearing a big sloppy grin.
Hussain smiled when she entered and asked, “Tea?”
She nodded and he poured her some. She tried to get past her shock as she took the cup from him.
“Shahira, is something wrong?” Her father had considered it an honor for her mother to serve him;
Usman had considered it a sin if she
didn’t
serve him. She’d known only a few men in her life, most