Mine To Be Called ✓

~~•Fifty six•~~

She had slept earlier, but as soon as he came closer to her, she didn't know how, like a trance, the sleep left her eyes. Why did his words leave such a profound effect on her? It felt like it would snatch away the life from inside her from the intensity. His words were laced with appreciation, love, and hurt at the same time. Why did it make her restless?

How could someone love her this much? Was it real or was he still fabricating it? But why would he do that when he thought she was sleeping? Was it okay to forget everything and just move on? After all, that was what her parents wanted. But no it wasn't that easy to ignore everything. Andaleeb clenched the bedsheet under her fists tightly. Even if she believed in his love, she couldn't forget the twisted way he got her. She could never forgive him.

                      ______________

He had a photogenic memory and once he would look at something, his mind would never forget it. That was the reason why his brush was running speedily and smoothly over the canvas. He loved drawing her. He loved sketching the woman he was so crazy for. And now after getting the sight of her sleeping form in his eyes, he was making it flow over the white page inside his study when the door knocked.

His mother was here who looked anxious. Masab hid whatever he was doing and led Shehwar Begum inside.

"Amma Sayen, why did you come here yourself? You could have asked me to come. Come and sit here," he murmured.

She declined his humble offer and instead shot him a stern look. "Am I hearing everything right?"

Confusion washed over Masab's face as she saw her again. "I don't understand you, Amma Sayen. What's wrong? You seem tensed."

Shehwar Begum sighed. "I can't help but tense when my own son would disappoint me like this."

Masab held her on both shoulders. "Amma Sayen, what did I do to make you think like that? Please clear the things with me."

Seeing his respectful and considerate tone, Shehwar Begum still couldn't believe that Masab could do something horrible like this. She still couldn't bring herself to come to these terms that Masab could go to this extent for his advantage, so far as to use an innocent girl for their benefit.

She removed his hand from her shoulders, leaving him stunned. "I can't believe this, Masab that you can do injustice to my upbringing like this. I nurtured you with so much care and taught you to always do the right things. I didn't expect this from you."

Masab huffed. "Amma Sayen, I can't understand what are you talking about. I didn't do anything which can bring disgrace on you."

Shehwar Begum clenched her jaw. "Are you sure? Think again because I got to know about the truth of this marriage. You married someone because of some ulterior motive, not because you really wanted to get married. How can you do this, Masab."

He closed his eyes monetarily, trying to find any better words to explain this to his mother before opening them again. "Did Baba Sayen told you?"

"That doesn't matter, Masab," she lashed out at him. "What matters is how low you got because of some worldly benefits. It wouldn't put any stake in your reputation but Andaleeb. Did you and her family just use the poor thing for their motives? I didn't expect this from you. I always thought that you were different than your father, but you proved me wrong."

He exhaled loudly. "I knew you would be disappointed in me; hence, I didn't tell you the twisted explanation that I gave to Baba Sayen for this marriage to you and Bi Jan. I have some reasons and some background after doing everything. Since we are at it and Baba Sayen told you the reality, I want to tell the truth to you. Whatever Baba Sayen informed you isn't correct. That was just a lie to make him approve of this marriage. He doesn't see anything beyond any deal; hence, it was necessary."

Shehwar Begum raised a brow. "What is the reality?"

He didn't say anything at the moment but instead strolled over to the window. His stare fell over the garden from the glassy window as he started. "I love Andaleeb. I saw her on my tour to New York last year when she came for a vacation with her sister. That was the time I instantly fell in love with her. I wanted her in my life at any cost. You might be disappointed to know that to make it work, I kidnapped her. She was promised to be the son of her family friend her father, who is now her sister's husband. But I couldn't have allowed that. I wouldn't have gotten her any straight way; hence, I went over to the last resort and kidnapped her. I just ---"

He couldn't get to speak anymore when Shehwar Begum rushed towards him and then she landed a harsh slap across his cheek.

"How can you do something like this, Masab? You just kidnapped a girl. How could you have gotten so low? Am I seeing my son claiming proudly that he kidnapped an innocent girl?" She harshly yelled, her eyes becoming red with fuming anger.

Masab took the slap patiently before he again began. He had to do this so that his wife's innocence would win over the women of his house. Bi Jan was strong and capable of even changing some decisions made by his father as well.

"What could I have done, Amma Sayen?" He almost lashed out. "I never fell in love with anyone. She was the first and only woman who caught my heart. My heart didn't allow me to leave the woman I fell in love with. I couldn't have remained happy without her. The only reason I gave this twisted lie to Baba Sayen was to make him say yes. I don't plan to leave Andaleeb. That was just to make Baba Sayen understand. He would have never said yes if I hadn't made this a deal. He would have asked me to marry Hoorain, but I didn't want to marry her. If that's wrong to wish to live with the woman I love, you can give me any punishment you want."

Shehwar Begum glared at him. "Your wish isn't wrong, Masab but the way you implement everything is very wrong. You hurt that girl. You made her a stigma in front of her family's eyes. There is no doubt that they agreed to your marriage. There were many ways to get what you want and that was the worst one. I am so disappointed in you, Masab."

He shoved his hands in his pants' pockets. "I know what I did was wrong. But I want to give her the respect and love which she deserves. I will always honor her, Amma Sayen."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "That's what you should do, Masab. The betterment is in this now. Give her the respect and love as your wife. Make her happy and that's the least you can do to make up for what you did."

He smiled seeing the growing sympathy for Andaleeb in his mother's eyes. That was what he wanted, and he succeeded in it.

"You aren't angry with me now. Right?" Masab asked, truthfully.

She scowled. "Technically I should be angry at you. That wasn't a very good and worthy thing to brag about. But what was to be done has occurred. I am at least happy that you took the responsibility and didn't leave her after kidnapping her. Now give her the honor as your wife and the daughter-in-law of this mansion. I don't want to hear that you are treating her badly or once you get bored with her, you want another woman. I might not want Bhabi's daughter as my daughter-in-law because of our personal issues, but now that thing is even more forbidden. Your father wants you to marry Hoorain. But you aren't going to do that. Become a good husband for Andaleeb."

He shook his head. "Don't worry about that, Amma Sayen. You can count on me for this. I love her and I'll always remain loyal to her."

Another instant and another time when he became a villain in his love story. But he could do anything for the woman he loved.

                     _________________

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