Obscured Affection (Slow Updates)

57

It was already 8 p.m. The bandage on his hand made him feel weak. His heart wished he could just sleep right there in his cabin. But if he didn’t go home, Sabeena would get worried. So, thinking of her, he stood up and started to put his pen in his pocket.

Suddenly, his hand touched Mahnoor’s notebook—the one where she had poured out her feelings of love for him on every page. Without realizing it, a small smile appeared on his face. He opened it again and started reading Mahnoor’s heartfelt emotions.

His whole day had been stressful and gloomy, but as soon as he held that notebook in his hand, it felt like all his sadness disappeared. He even took pictures of the notebook and carefully put it back in his pocket before leaving.

The office closed at 6 p.m., so by now everyone had gone home, and darkness had settled everywhere. But Ishaq often stayed late until 10 or 11 p.m., so the office was still open. He kept his coat over his shoulder and was heading toward the elevator when he heard a sound. He looked toward the noise and saw the light from Mahnoor’s phone shining on her desk.

He walked closer and noticed a call from Jameel was coming in, and nearby, Mahnoor was asleep. For a moment, he couldn’t tell if she was really there or if it was just his imagination. He quickly cut Jameel’s call because he didn’t want to wake her.

Using his own phone, he messaged Jameel that Mahnoor was with him. Then, kneeling in front of Mahnoor, he looked at her face, which was hard to see clearly in the dark. He switched on the desk lamp, directing its light on Mahnoor’s face to help him see her better.

Her breaths were slow and calm. A peaceful expression rested on her face, and seeing that brought a strange comfort to Ishaq.

Unconsciously, he gently brushed his hand over her cheek. In her sleep, Mahnoor puckered her lips like a child, as if telling him not to wake her. This made a broad smile spread across Ishaq’s face.

He withdrew his hand slowly and sat quietly next to her, watching her face. Then Mahnoor turned her face away restlessly in her sleep. Ishaq’s smile faded instantly.

He got up and moved to stand next to her, trying to see her face, but Mahnoor covered it with her hands.

He took a deep breath and placed a chair near her. Sitting down, he waited for Mahnoor to wake up, completely unaware of the fact that she was lost deep in her dream world.

***

When Sara opened her eyes, she noticed that the gift Arsal gave her which she had left on the bed was no longer there. She got up and began looking for it when Arsal came and sat beside her.

“What happened?”

“That gift…”

“Oh, that... I kept it in your wardrobe. Now hurry up and get ready.”

Arsal handed her a packet and walked away. When Sara opened the packet, she saw a red anarkali inside, along with the necklace Arsal had gifted her on their wedding night.

She got freshened up and began getting ready when there was a knock on the door. She went to open it and found Rida standing outside. Sara smiled and hugged her. Rida came inside and started helping Sara get ready.

“What’s all this? Why did he ask me to get ready? And how come you’re here?”

Sara fired off several questions.

“I don’t know either. We were just told by our son-in-law to come, so here we are,” Rida replied with a smile, and Sara quietly resumed getting ready.

Once she was ready, both Rida and Sara went downstairs, where the hall was beautifully decorated. White drapes, soft golden lights, lots of flowers, and on one table, all of Sara’s favorite dishes.

On one sofa, Arham, Aijaz, and Salim were sitting, though they weren’t talking to each other. Azlaan was also sitting in a corner, busy on his phone. Next to him sat Sadiq. Sara greeted Arham, Salim, and Aijaz and then sat on the sofa across from them.

Arham and Salim wished her a happy birthday, and then everyone began talking among themselves. Arham kept calling Ashar, but Ashar wasn’t picking up.

Not seeing Arsal anywhere, Sara got up and began asking the house staff about him, but no one knew where he was. Feeling a bit disappointed, she started walking toward her room when Azlaan called out and told her that Arsal was waiting for her on the terrace.

She smiled and ran upstairs. When she reached the terrace, it was completely dark. She called out for Arsal, and suddenly the lights came on. The terrace was beautifully decorated with fairy lights and candles. She smiled as she looked around and began walking ahead. The floor was covered in flower petals, and she followed the path until she reached a table with a note on it.

She picked up the paper and read:

Happy Birthday Mrs. Sara... I hope this birthday becomes your most memorable one.

Smiling, she placed the note back on the table and started looking around for Arsal when she heard soft music playing. She turned and saw Arsal walking toward her.

He was wearing a white kurta salwar and looked very handsome. The white made his complexion glow even more. Sara kept smiling, her cheeks blushing red as she looked at him. It was the first time she had seen him in a kurta, and he looked dashing.

Arsal smiled as he came closer, admiring her. She was wearing the red Anarkali dress he had given her, with the dupatta lightly draped over her head. Her hair framed her face beautifully, adding charm to her already stunning appearance. Her light makeup sparkled under the fairy lights.

Arsal knelt in front of her and presented her with a bouquet of red roses, his head slightly lowered. He was naturally a bit shy, and around Sara, he got even more nervous.

Sara took the flowers with a smile, looking at him lovingly. Her happiness was clearly visible on her face. Arsal then stood up and joined her as they both gazed up at the sky. It was a clear night with the moon shining brightly. Sara inhaled the fragrance of the flowers in her hands as she looked at the moon.

Standing beside her, Arsal asked, “Do you remember when I proposed, you rejected me? And when you proposed, I didn’t reply?”

At his words, Sara glanced at him and then looked back at the sky.

“Today, I want to answer that. I know you were restless to hear my reply... But I was even more restless to express my heart to you. And on this beautiful day, I want to make it the most special by confessing my Obscured Affection to you.”

Sara blinked as she looked at him, and he smiled gently at her.

***