Obscured Affection (Slow Updates)

Some time had passed, and Ishaq was beginning to feel a bit better. He sat there silently, smiling softly as he watched Mahnoor sleep, lost in his thoughts.

“Yusuf only confessed to his Obscured Affection… but you’re My Wife. And unless I wish it, no one can take you away from me. I’ll never let you find out someone else loves you, so you’ll never even think of anyone else.”

He sat there, smiling to himself at his own words, when Mahnoor stirred slightly in her sleep. Ishaq straightened and looked at her as she slowly woke up and glanced around.

Her eyes landed on Ishaq, and she immediately covered her face. Then, slowly moving her hand, she peeked at him again. Ishaq was still smiling at her. She was surprised and then quietly sat up and shifted a bit away from him.

“You… you’re here?”

“Why? Can’t I be here?”

Ishaq asked with a smile, and Mahnoor grew even more confused. Ishaq had been surprising her since last night. After sharing coffee with her, something had changed. He’d been distant all day but now was smiling again just like the night before. She looked at him with slight concern.

“No, I mean… it’s your office. You can be wherever you want.”

She replied nervously.

“What were you doing here, Noor?”

“Um… nothing…”

“I told you to call Jameel and go home. Why were you sleeping here then?”

“I… I was waiting for you. I felt maybe I upset you earlier today, and you looked a little angry… so I thought…”

She was speaking hesitantly when Ishaq interrupted her.

“Why would I be upset with you? I was just stressed about a case.”

He spoke in a calm tone.

“I thought maybe I…” She began to say but suddenly started crying. Ishaq, shocked, moved closer to her.

“Noor… look at me. What happened, Noor? Why are you crying?”

He held her face gently in his hands, wiping her tears, and asked softly.

“I thought you were angry and that you’d leave me. I mean, you…”

She couldn’t finish her sentence.

“Silly girl… you’re My Wife. Why would I leave you? And look, it’s your birthday today… such a beautiful day. You should be happy, right?”

“Yes…”

Ishaq was still holding her face like a child, trying to comfort her while she sat silently, eyes lowered, listening to him. Her tears had now stopped, so Ishaq gently wiped her face again and sat back a little.

“Come on, let’s go home. You’ve been here all day, you must be hungry.”

Mahnoor quietly gathered her things and followed him. Ishaq smiled as he walked toward the elevator, and she followed behind.

***

All the guests had left, and now only Sara, Arsalan, Aijaz, and Azlaan remained in the hall. Sara had brought them tea while Aijaz and Arsalan were discussing something work-related, and Azlaan sat silently, listening.

As Sara joined them, Aijaz turned toward her and said, “Sara, it must feel strange for you, being around just us three men. Why don’t we bring someone new into the house?”