A Different Kind of Game
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Chapter 2
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Sanam
lovingly put the finishing touches on the dishes that were to be eaten for that
night's dinner. She had made all of Aahil's favourite foods, and for dessert
she had made an apple pie that was cooling on the counter.
A
bout of nausea and dizziness hit her and she swayed, trying to regain her
balance.
The medicine
will make you dizzy and want to throw up...but it is necessary you take it...
Her
sister's voice rang in her head and Sanam fought to clear her head. This particular
part of the plan was unknown to her and while she trusted Seher, she was uneasy
when she first took the medicine.
Flashback
Seher pulled her
twin into their secret room, glancing around to make sure no one had seen them.
She smiled brightly and pulled at Sanam's cheeks.
"Look at you
Miss Golden Globe!" she squealed "Wah! What a performance! If I hadn't known
any better I thought you would actually break down crying."
Sanam blushed
lightly at her sisters teasing and moved away from her.
"Seher I'm still
very scared," she chewed her lip thoughtfully "What if this blows up in our
face?"
The mischievous
sister tsked and pulled at her twin's hand.
"Oh ho! While doing
these kinds of thing you have to let go of fear, worry etc," she explained,
turning towards her twin with a glass of juice. Sanam watched with wide eyes as
her twin dropped a little white pill that fizzed before dissolving into the
liquid.
"Now onto the
next step," Seher explained handing her sister the glass. "Drink this."
Sanam furrowed
her brows and stared at the juice at hand.
"But why?"
"This juice will
make you feel weak. When Salim comes tonight it'll help with the dramatic tone
and all. You know, he's angry, you're faint and weak and Aahil will be all
worried and attentive," Seher explained with a flip of her hand.
Sanam stared
uneasily at her sister who raised a brow and motioned for her to drink.
"Seher is this
really necessary?" she finally questioned, letting her uncertainty show.
"Yes meri jaan,"
Seher prodded. "Now please just drink this. The medicine will make you dizzy
and want to throw up...but it is necessary you take it. You trust me, right?"
"With my life,"
Sanam replied without a beat. As she turned to drink the juice Seher's eyes
softened softly.
Please forgive me Sanam. I lied to you. About this
pill and about this plan. But if I told you what I want to really do you would
not agree to it. Even you would not be able to trust me in putting forth such a
big lie. The plan was never to make Aahil jealous and insecure. It is something
much bigger than that. By the time Salim comes tonight you would have fainted,
and the doctor would be here to do as I say. Forgive me.
As Sanam drained
the glass, Seher gave her an uneasy smile, trying to hide her own worry about
what was to come.
End Flashback
Sanam
was brought out of her reverie as Lateef came into the kitchen.
"Oh
my goodness Sanam!" he trilled, swinging his braid across his shoulder and
surveying the room "You look like you could feed an army here! And what is
this? All of chote Nawab's favourite food?
Are you trying to get back into his heart through his stomach?"
Sanam
smiled slightly as she plated the last dish. She shook her head.
"Aahil
hasn't been eating properly in the last few days," she explained "He's been
skipping meals. I hoped that if it was something he liked to eat then he'd have
at least a few bites."
Lateef
arched a brow and grabbed a dish as he helped Sanam set the table. Such an odd girl, he thought, On one hand she runs away from their
marriage and on the other she worries about his eating habits.
Soon
the delicious aroma of food wafted the mansion. Tanveer and her two lackeys
arrived, practically salivating at the sight of food.
"Sanam
has cooked today begum Sahiba!" Ghazalla trilled excitedly. She hurriedly sat
down with her husband and they quickly served themselves, relishing the food.
Tanveer gracefully sat down, waiting until Lateef served her.
Too bad she is
my enemy, the
woman thought, savouring a bite of food
She cooks so well...
Amidst
the people eating, Sanam stood aside, waiting and hoping for Aahil to come. It was
almost halfway through the meal and she was beginning to feel disheartened as
he still hadn't shown up.
A
breeze wafted through the air, carrying with it the citrusy musk of her husband's
scent and she relaxed.
Aahil
had tried very hard when the first waft of food tickled his senses. He had been
passing by the dining room when those delicious aromas trickled from the
kitchen, seeming to envelope him in a warm cocoon. He knew immediately that his
chote begum had cooked the meal for that night. He watched as everyone came
down into the dining hall and relished the food, even his ammi seemed content
to eat. It became too much and he finally walked towards the dining table
trying to ignore Sanam's blooming smile as she watched him approach.
He
had spent the day trying to figure out who this Salim was with no luck. The incident
attached to him like a leech and he couldn't seem to forget or ignore it. Aahil
reached out to serve himself, when a hand stayed him.
He
looked up and was enraptured in his wife's eyes. She shyly let go of his hand
and moved to take his plate, serving him herself. He watched as she gracefully filled
his plate, and it was only then that he noticed that everything spread on the
table was his favourite food. Aahil was alarmed to see her suddenly sway
unsteadily, and he got up to help her but she stayed herself and continued on
as if nothing was wrong.
Setting
the plate down in front of her husband, Sanam waited patiently for him to eat. He
held her gaze for a moment before taking his first bite and her heart sang when
his eyes closed in appreciation.
Home.
It
tasted like home to him. Warm and comforting and familiar. He couldn't remember
how long ago he had tasted her food but at that moment it felt like he was
breaking a fast of many days. He enjoyed each bite with relish, wasting not
even a morsel.
And
for Sanam that was her greatest joy in the bleak days that had covered her
life. That single moment was a ray of hope for her and she selfishly committed
it to memory. Even as the pounding headache drumming at her temples became
unbearable and her stomach churned violently she basked in that moment.
Seeing
everyone almost done she entered the kitchen to finish dessert. She grabbed
extra plates and some ice cream bowls and brought out the pie.
Aahil
glanced up at the smell of something familiarly sweet and his mouth salivated
at the sight of his favourite dessert. He immediately polished off his plate
and served himself a large slice with a side of vanilla ice cream and tucked
in, lest Khalla and Khallu decimated the pie before he got a chance to taste
it.
Sanam
smiled and went back to bring out a bowl of rice pudding. As she neared the
table her vision became spotty and she struggled to stay upright. The dining
table seemed to spin and she swayed. The bowl slipped and crashed at her feet
and finally it felt as if the rug had been pulled from underneath her. The last
thing she heard was a shriek.
"SANAM!"
Aahil
abandoned his dessert and bolted towards his prone begum. He gently hauled her
towards his kneeling form and shook her.
"Sanam!
Sanam!" he prodded, distress overtaking him "Sanam please. Wake up."
"Aahil
what is going on?" Aami questioned worriedly. Khalla and Khallu too seemed
distressed, but whether it was over the spilt rice pudding or the unconscious woman,
they would never know.
"Ammi
Sanam has fainted and she won't wake up," he explained.
"Ya
Allah! Sanam has fainted?" Tanveer echoed worriedly. This girl will not let me live in peace! When I wanted to get rid of
her she kept coming back and now that I need her alive she suddenly starts
fainting!
"Aahil
hurry up and take her into the guest room," Tanveer commanded. "Lateef call the
doctor! Hurry!"
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Aahil
paced the living room of his mansion, stopping occasionally to glance up
towards to guest room. The rest of his family sat and waited as the doctor looked
Sanam over. He had gotten their surprisingly fast, and had banished everyone
from the room while he examined her.
"Aahil
beta come and sit," Tanveer requested, irritated with the sighing and strolling
of her adopted son. "Sanam will be fine, but you won't be if you keep worrying
like this."
He
knelt at his mother's feet and took her hands in his.
"Ammi
I-"
He
was interrupted by a commotion by the front door.
"Sir
please! You cannot just barge into the house like this!" his guards frantic
voice echoed.
Aahil
stood up and watched with rapt attention as a man in a black suit stormed into
his home. He was closely followed by two others dressed similarly. His frantic
guards trailed behind them and Aahil put up a hand to show he would handle this
himself.
"What
insolence is this?" Aahil questioned "How dare you barge into my home in such a
way! Who are you people?"
The
man leading the trio stopped in front of Aahil. Removing his black shades he
stared back with light hazel eyes. Unlike Aahil's more boyish features the man's
face was hard and beautifully sculpted with high cheekbones and a strong jaw. His
tousled cinnamon coloured haired gave him a wild look that contrasted with the
sharp suit he wore.
"I
think instead I should ask as to who you are?" the man questioned, a languid
smile working its way onto his face "After all shouldn't the host welcome his
guests first?"
"What
disrespect!" Lateef piped up. "Don't you know that this is Aahil Raza Ibrahim,
the chote Nawab of Bhopal?"
A
curious glint entered the man eyes and Aahil stiffened as he seemed to look him
up and down, assessing him before meeting his eyes once more.
"Ah
so you are Aahil," he mused to himself. "Sanam's husband Aahil?"
The
young nawab bristled at the way the unfamiliar man took his wife's name. His
anger began to brew and he clenched his hands.
"Yes
I am Sanam's husband. But who are you?" He questioned, clenching his jaw and
glaring murder at the man.
He
was met with a small smirk as the man gave a mocking bow.
"My
name is Salim Iqbal Khan. And I am Sanam's future husband."
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Chapter two is up! Let me know what you think! A lot of people are asking for PM updates but I'd like to story to get moving a bit more before I make a PM list. Until then please continue with your support!